Originally Posted By dagobert Construction will start in 2016. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-begin-star-wars-theme-821755">http://www.hollywoodreporter.c...e-821755</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros A 2016 start isn't too surprising considering all they have to do, and presumably all of the design they've already done. It also isn't especially clear exactly what will begin construction in 2016, since there are so many things that need to be relocated in the process. I still wouldn't realistically expect it to open until at least mid/late 2019 or 2020
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>He announced that construction of new lands based on Star Wars would start next year in both California and Florida, but still would not say when the attractions might actually open to the public.<< Considering they haven't even revealed where this is going for Anaheim (but we can guesstimate where) ... The obvious thing that has to happen first .. is whatever backstage necessities have to be dismantled and placed somewhere else .. the new locations have to be prepared and ready. That would be the first place for any construction .. related to Star Wars land. Then demolishen to those old facilities happen, clear the land ... THEN actual construction of the land takes place. Take a seat back folks .. and put your attention on other things in life for the next 3-4 years ..... because it's going to be a long time. Talk about "a long, long...." Never thought DLR would have this drought of nothing .. between Carsland (2012) to Star Wars land (2020, most likely) .. an 8 year period of "The Nothing". While Tomorrowland continues to rot like a stinking corpse that's been dead for more years than I want to count.
Originally Posted By oc_dean How funny Ferret .. you and I were on the same thought there simultaneously.
Originally Posted By dagobert I also think that SWL will not open before 2020. If you look how long it takes to build Avatarland and SWL seems to be a lot bigger. It looks like SWL will open after the Sequel Trilogy ended.
Originally Posted By dagobert Star Wars Weekends are coming to an end and a first look on Jakku coming to star tours. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/11/disneys-hollywood-studios-to-debut-new-star-wars-experiences-in-december/">http://disneyparks.disney.go.c...ecember/</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Not too surprising that Star Wars Weekends is ending; it seemed like that was the intent of Seasons of the Force, even if they hadn't officially stated it yet. Depending what all is included with the new offerings, it seems like it could be an upgrade, but it's a shame to lose the actual celebrities and the huge hordes of characters (many from the 501st) that are only really feasible for weekend events That said, it will be nice that they can spread the crowds out throughout the entire week, rather than having everybody descend on the park on the weekend. Hopefully they'll expand the fireworks to a nightly event too
Originally Posted By oc_dean Why WDW as the only place for new Star Tours destinations? Why no mention of Star Tours in Anaheim?
Originally Posted By monorailblue It wasn't mentioned in that Disney Parks Blog post because the subject was WDW's offerings. Disneyland's offerings all open earlier and do include the new sequence for Star Tours.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Disneyland Star Wars stuff will take a lot longer to develop because of all the infrastructure changes needed to replace the PPH hotel with the Star Wars themed hotel and to provide easy access from DCA to the Simba parking lot location being used for the expansion. ;-)
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>It wasn't mentioned in that Disney Parks Blog post because the subject was WDW's offerings.<< Yep. And in addition to the new sequence opening later this month in Anaheim, it will also be added in Tokyo in February
Originally Posted By monorailblue Accessing the fabled Star Wars Simba Lot Launch Bay Paradise Pier Land was going to be easy: the Red Car Trolley (hourly capacity: 38) was going to be extended down the performance corridor for that purpose. Don't you know? It would have been so amazing.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>the Red Car Trolley (hourly capacity: 38)<< Don't forget that this amazing hourly capacity only counts the time that the attraction is up and running. If there's a performance by Five & Dime, the bell ringers/carolers, a parade, or (god forbid) the Red Car Newsboys, that oh-so-high capacity goes out the window And when they eventually extend it all the way to the Simba lot, you can also expect impacts from the Phineas & Ferb show (do they still do that?), Viva Navidad!, and even World of Color. What's not to love?
Originally Posted By dagobert Lights, Motors, Action! is closing on April 2nd to make way for the SW and TS expansion. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/01/experience-lights-motors-action-extreme-stunt-show-one-more-time-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/">http://disneyparks.disney.go.c...studios/</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros ^^Additionally, the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playground, Studio Catering Company quick service restaurant, and the Earffel Tower will all be going away at that same time: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2016/01/15/several-permanent-closures-including-park-icon-coming-soon-disneys-hollywood-studios/">http://www.laughingplace.com/w...studios/</a> I don't particularly care about the others, but it's a shame that they couldn't find a way to save the water tower. I understand that it's in a really terrible location, and it doesn't exactly fit the new theme of the park (franchise mishmash land?), but it just feels wrong to rip out the original icon like that I'm also a little sad about the HISTK playground because I enjoyed the film so much as a kid, and vaguely remember exploring it on an early trip, but that one isn't the end of the world
Originally Posted By FerretAfros In addition to all the closures in the Studios, it sounds like Bruce Vaughn is out as the head of WDI and Bob Weis will be his replacement <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2016/01/15/bruce-vaughn-reportedly-leaving-head-imagineering/">http://www.laughingplace.com/w...neering/</a> With the timing of this news, I can't help but think that Bruce isn't leaving on his own will. I also think that Bob is an interesting choice, considering how much of a disaster the Shanghai project has been ever since construction began
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn The water tower in spirit takes after the water tower on the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank. Evidently, WB's tower doesn't even below the WB. It belongs to the LA Water authority.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros The Disney lot also has its own water tower, though it doesn't have ears on it like the theme park version: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5129/5380238564_c5c97b7c70_z.jpg">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/...70_z.jpg</a> Due to the way that the old movie studios acted as mini-cities (and the frequency of fires at them), most had their own water tower, and the designs on the side became a way to distinguish them from a distance. Although WB's is probably the best known (at least of the real ones), they were quite common and are one of those symbols that's pretty iconic to people in southern California. For the rest of the world, however, it's not quite as clear-cut of a symbol, so it always seemed like a somewhat odd choice to pick something so utilitarian for the park Since the hat was removed, Tower of Terror has been used as the park icon on the MyDisneyExperience website and on merchandise, which I don't exactly love. Although iconic, I'm not sure I like the image of a dilapidated building getting promoted everywhere, and I'm not a fan of using a ride that excludes so many people (height requirement, health warnings, etc) as a symbol for the park. Now that it's visible again and has been restored to its former glory, I think it would be great to see them use the Chinese Theater more often
Here's a new nighttime look at SW Land. Star Wars-themed Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios To Dazzle at Night, New Star Tours Adventure Coming
