
So lets start off with the Big news.
STAR WARS LAND HAS FINALLY BEEN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED!!!!
D23 happened this weekend and day one was a lot of expected stuff. Then day 2 happened. Bob Iger let out a comment about Star Wars land early in the day. Later on it was confirmed. Star Wars land will be coming to both coasts. Disneyland and WDW are to get 14 acre expansions for this new world.
During the announcement they said that the 'Land' will be designed like that of a planet we have not seen before - a gateway planet located on the outer rim, full of places and characters familiar and not so familiar. There will be 2 new rides. One will set you in the Millennium Falcon and fly what is described as a "secret mission." The other is a battle that puts visitors between the New Order and the Resistance. Bob Iger also confirmed that there will be a Cantina
Star Tours will get an update to include scene setups from the upcoming film, Star Wars 7: The force awakens. This is set to be done in 2016
Another new attraction in Hollywood Studios will be Star Wars Launch Bay. Set to open in early 2016, it is an interactive experience that will preview the new movie. When it opens it will be in the Animation Courtyard. It will include opportunities to visit with Star Wars characters, special merchandise and food.
Also a new seasonal event called Season of the Force beginning in early 2016 will feature a new fireworks show set to the score of the Star Wars movies on weekend nights. It sounds like this will be an extension of Star Wars weekends.
Disneyland's Space Mountain will get a overlay during the Season of the Force and will be renamed Hyperspace Mountain. I have not heard if this will also be coming to WDW.
STAR WARS LAND HAS FINALLY BEEN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED!!!!
D23 happened this weekend and day one was a lot of expected stuff. Then day 2 happened. Bob Iger let out a comment about Star Wars land early in the day. Later on it was confirmed. Star Wars land will be coming to both coasts. Disneyland and WDW are to get 14 acre expansions for this new world.
During the announcement they said that the 'Land' will be designed like that of a planet we have not seen before - a gateway planet located on the outer rim, full of places and characters familiar and not so familiar. There will be 2 new rides. One will set you in the Millennium Falcon and fly what is described as a "secret mission." The other is a battle that puts visitors between the New Order and the Resistance. Bob Iger also confirmed that there will be a Cantina
Star Tours will get an update to include scene setups from the upcoming film, Star Wars 7: The force awakens. This is set to be done in 2016
Another new attraction in Hollywood Studios will be Star Wars Launch Bay. Set to open in early 2016, it is an interactive experience that will preview the new movie. When it opens it will be in the Animation Courtyard. It will include opportunities to visit with Star Wars characters, special merchandise and food.
Also a new seasonal event called Season of the Force beginning in early 2016 will feature a new fireworks show set to the score of the Star Wars movies on weekend nights. It sounds like this will be an extension of Star Wars weekends.
Disneyland's Space Mountain will get a overlay during the Season of the Force and will be renamed Hyperspace Mountain. I have not heard if this will also be coming to WDW.
No dates or time frames were given on the Star Wars Land and also no land layouts were shown. Now I am hoping (as are a lot of people) that this doesn't become another stunt to keep the Star War fans at bay. Last year at D23 there was all kinds of teasers of Star Wars Land, or hopes of one. It was called Orange Harvest. And as the picture says, It apparently was nothing but speculation because nothing ever came of it.
So, we again have speculations until we get an official time frame and landscape design. So what is on the block to be removed to make way. Well, there is possibly a lot. Muppets is on the fence. It is rumored that it will end up surviving. The two pictures show earth view and map view.
As you can see, Indy will probably be going. American Idol is already gone and being used for Frozen right now, (Ugh, so sick of Frozen.......). Now star Tours is not going anywhere but will become a part of the area.
There is one possibility that they may keep what is in the park just because they can't afford to lose too much at this park. Now this is a stretch but it is a possibility. There is a section of land on the other side of Studios Drive. There is then a waterway next to that. Right now that is in a "Conservation" set aside and is also in the 100 Year Flood plain. It would be a lot of work to get approval to use this land but, if they get approval, and of course if there is a solid base to build on, they can swap the conservation land with other unusable land they own to offset that value. Move Studios Drive to the other side of the waterway. Then they can infill the area to raise it above the 100 yr flood plain and boom. Up to 25 Acres added to Hollywood Studios.
There is one possibility that they may keep what is in the park just because they can't afford to lose too much at this park. Now this is a stretch but it is a possibility. There is a section of land on the other side of Studios Drive. There is then a waterway next to that. Right now that is in a "Conservation" set aside and is also in the 100 Year Flood plain. It would be a lot of work to get approval to use this land but, if they get approval, and of course if there is a solid base to build on, they can swap the conservation land with other unusable land they own to offset that value. Move Studios Drive to the other side of the waterway. Then they can infill the area to raise it above the 100 yr flood plain and boom. Up to 25 Acres added to Hollywood Studios.
Now, One benefit I see to trying to reclaim this portion for expansion is there have been rumors of more Pixar areas. Toy Story land has already been confirmed, and I will discuss that in the days to come. The Honey I shrunk the kids play area has been speculated to be re-themed into a bugs life. If they get this land, they can expand the new Star Wars Land without closing any more of the park. Which is a huge plus. Also that section in the above picture is about 25 Acres. If 14 was for Star Wars then the rest can be future expansion.
Now another thing that has not been mentioned is a timeframe. I have heard some people say that these new lands will not start until Avitarland opens in 2017 and that is possible. I do however feel that they will have an end timeline of 2021. Why 2021? That will be WDW 40th anniversary. What better way to kick off a 40th Celebration than to have Star Wars land, Toy Story Land, Possible other Hollywood studio areas, the Animal Kingdom Nighttime events (Yes, Animal Kingdom is looking like it will soon be open past 5pm continuously), all done and ready for the 40th celebration and no major construction going to take away from the events that may occur that year. So many possibilities.
So that is what I have heard and think. Let us know what you think or what your ideas are. We look forward to hearing them.
Now another thing that has not been mentioned is a timeframe. I have heard some people say that these new lands will not start until Avitarland opens in 2017 and that is possible. I do however feel that they will have an end timeline of 2021. Why 2021? That will be WDW 40th anniversary. What better way to kick off a 40th Celebration than to have Star Wars land, Toy Story Land, Possible other Hollywood studio areas, the Animal Kingdom Nighttime events (Yes, Animal Kingdom is looking like it will soon be open past 5pm continuously), all done and ready for the 40th celebration and no major construction going to take away from the events that may occur that year. So many possibilities.
So that is what I have heard and think. Let us know what you think or what your ideas are. We look forward to hearing them.