What we originally thought would be EPCOT fireworks testing turned out to be something else entirely. Last night, Walt Disney World revived the long-dormant Hollywood Studios fireworks launch site across World Drive for a round of overnight testing. Periodic fireworks launches came from the site throughout the night. The launch site has sat unused for years. As of right now, it’s not clear what the testing was for, but we have a few ideas.
Hollywood Studios’ Dormant Fireworks Launch Site Was Tested Overnight
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Overnight fireworks testing took place at Hollywood Studios’ World Drive launch site
- The launch site has sat largely unused for years
- We break down the most likely explanations for the testing
What Guests Saw Overnight
Fireworks launched periodically from across World Drive last night. They came from the launch site that has sat dormant for years at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney spaced the launches out over the course of the night rather than presenting them as a continuous show. That pattern points to testing of specific elements, not a full show rehearsal.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has had a fireworks launch point across World Drive since crews built it in a previously wooded area ahead of the debut of Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. That show’s fireworks launched from a point off-center from Hollywood Boulevard. Disney made that tradeoff for logistical reasons tied to the site’s location. We got an aerial look at the launch point the following year. That look showed a clear line of sight from both Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, both under construction at the time.
Hollywood Studios has effectively abandoned the World Drive launch site since Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular ended its run. Any fireworks the park has presented since, including its recent New Year’s Eve countdown shows, have relied on smaller rooftop launch points instead. Overnight testing from that larger site is an interesting departure. But why is Disney testing the site now?
Why Test Fireworks Now?
There are a few realistic explanations for why Disney would test fireworks from this specific site now.
The most likely explanation is testing tied to an upcoming private event at the park. Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a private buyout scheduled for the evening of October 20th tied to the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, an annual conference held nearby at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. It wouldn’t surprise me if Disney was testing the site to ensure that everything is working. The testing comes early enough that they would be able to make adjustments should anything need fixing before the private buyout.
A second, less likely possibility ties this testing to bringing marquee fireworks back to Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM during this year’s Jollywood Nights. That holiday fireworks offering has run without a large fireworks component in recent years. Reintroducing fireworks from the full World Drive launch site would be a wonderful return to form for the show.
The least likely possibility, but the most exciting one for Hollywood Studios fans, points to early groundwork for a brand new nighttime spectacular at the park. Hollywood Studios currently lacks a signature fireworks show of its own. Speculation about which park might land a bigger investment in nighttime entertainment has come up before, including in the context of broader discussion about where new drone shows could go across Walt Disney World.
We don’t yet know which of these explanations is behind last night’s testing, and Walt Disney World did not return a request for more information. It’s also possible the real answer is something else entirely. That said, a launch site that has sat dormant for years is active again, and that alone is worth watching closely. We’ll continue to follow this story as more information becomes available.
Keep Reading
- We took a first look at this launch site back when it was still under construction.
- Curious why this site produces an off-center show experience? Here’s the explanation.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!