We made it out to Hollywood Studios this morning to check out what’s new and what’s changing.
Let’s start with the Chinese Theater. Disney has recently replaced larger palm trees with much smaller ones.
The planter that separated Star Tours and the Backlot Express has been removed to allow for more space for Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. Kylo Ren is rumored to take the place of Darth Maul as the villian that a fully grown Jedi battles. Children will still be able to battle Darth Vader if the rumor holds up.
Nearby, the former American Idol audition area is under construction for a rumored Meet & Greet.
The Streets of America remain a spot that either shows that you’re lost or nostalgic.
The Osborne Electric Company window will more than likely remain until the Streets close on April 2nd.
The Premier Theater is permanently closed now. A sneak peek sees the doors taken off their hinges, presumably to allow the theater to be gutted easier.
Finding Dory replaces Inside Out on the billboard near the former Backlot Tour.
Empty.
Sorcerer Mickey has a permanent sign now…
…at least on the ground.
Zootopia is all the rage at Walt Disney World right now. It has a billboard near One Man’s Dream and has taken over the theater.
Kylo Ren is now meeting as the villain in the Star Wars Launch Bay.
New Rey and BB8 props have been added to the Star Wars Launch Bay as well. I wonder if more props might be added or removed in the future.
Maybe the biggest loss of the addition of the Star Wars Launch Bay was the removal of the handprints of Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Ward Kimball, Marc Davis, Ken O’Connor and Ken Anderson. I hope they’re preserved somewhere.
Making our way down Sunset Blvd, we find the second half of the Sunset Ranch Market is now under refurbishment.
We can see the new roof section in green as well as much needed gutters.
As quick as it arrived, it shut down. Club Disney is now a “seasonal offering” and we’re not in season anymore. It may reopen for spring break or the summer crowds.
We’ll wrap up this photo update with a look at the spring floral in front of the park.
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