Soundstage 1, the area that is adjacent to Toy Story Mania, and once home to Wandering Oakens during Frozen Summer Fun, is now behind construction walls. A permit was filed in September 2014 for what is believed to be a 3rd track for the popular Toy Story attraction. Work has obviously been continuing inside since September, although it now looks as though work is to begin on the exterior of the soundstage. Photo below from WDWMagic user 'cjk0318'...
The Sorcerers Hat has nearly completely been dismantled now. It is unknown what, if anything, will replace it as the park icon for Hollywood Studios... More information when we get it. Categories: Hollywood Studios, Construction Projects
Disney has recently filed paperwork for a new meet and greet location coming to the Norway Pavilion at Epcot. The building will be about 13,000 sq. ft and would play host for the Frozen meet and greet, new restrooms and potentially a shop. The building will be located between the Mexico and Norway Pavilions and will be a standalone structure to the existing facility. It is expected to open in 2016 and will re-home Anna and Elsa from their existing location at the Magic Kingdom. It is also rumored that Olaf, Marshmallow and Kristoff may also be able to meet guests in this new facility.
The removal of the Sorcerers Hat icon at Hollywood Studios is to commence on 7th January 2015. It was confirmed that the hat would be removed in October 2014, and no replacement has been announced. The pin trading location and shop that currently situates the area below the hat will be relocated to Sunset Ranch on Sunset Boulevard. What were your opinions on the hat? Are you sad to see it go? Categories: Hollywood Studios, Construction Projects
According to Bob Iger, Disney is planning on putting Star Wars themed attractions into the parks - but they will be based on the new Star Wars films, and not the old ones. Information about this has only just been released as Disney were waiting for information to be released about the films themselves.
"There will be a much larger Star Wars presence in our parks globally" said Iger in a recent Q&A session. Although no information has been released about the attractions - this is expected next year - it is thought that the Star Tours attractions in Disney Parks around the world will be updated. A few new rumors have surfaced, and some more details have been released about the expansion projects, opening in 2017. Some of these rumors are based around the rides and attractions that will feature, especially the Banshee Ride. Banshee Ride: - Expected to have a budget of around $600 million, this E-Ticket attraction will be a simulator ride comparable to Soarin'. - Disney have said that "Guests will also discover what it feels like to soar into the sky riding a Banshee". - Capacity at opening similar to Soarin' with four theaters and three seating rows in each theatre. Guests are rumored to enter the attraction queue on floor 3, and each row will board on a separate level. - Exact nature of attraction is still unclear but Disney have mentioned this attraction a few times publically. - Rumored name for the attraction is "Flight of Passage". - Rumored to use an advanced version of the Soarin' ride system known as the Vekoma Pandora's Box. Ride thought to be a combination of Soarin' style video screens with 3D action too. Disney Magic believes that this may be similar to the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction at Universal's Island of Adventure. C-Ticket Boat Attraction: - Reported to be called "Nav'i River Journey". - May not open in 2017 with rest of Avatarland. It is expected to open 18 months after original land opening. - Housed within ride building - possible 143' floating mountains. There is thought to be bioluminescent plants etc. which come to life at night. In May 2014, James Cameron revealed the full name of the new land. He also had some more information to say about the attractions and offerings that would be provided in "Pandora: The Land of Avatar". It’s going to have floating mountains. It’s pretty cool. I’ve seen the model and the design work the Imagineering people have done is spectacular. They’ve got a quarter inch to the foot scale model of the whole park and I’ve looked at all the sight lines…it’s not a park, it’s a land within the park but a land is not just a ride. There will be several rides and a number of other attractions. It’s really just a place you’re gonna wanna go and hang out. It’s gonna be gorgeous. Of course it’s gonna be gorgeous at night and they’re using every new trick, every new bit of technology that they’ve created. |