UPDATED: IT'S HAPPENING!! Star Wars, Toy Story officially coming to DHS! Plus new Soarin'!

[IvyWinter]

I am THRILLED! I've never been so excited for a new theme park addition in years. New fantasyland is great, but I'm an older adult visitor with no kids, so Star Wars... STAR WARS! Ugh. The moment they announce a year/season it'll be open, i'll be booking a trip.

 

[DrewJB]

Can you book trips for 2021 this far in advance?

 

[Tonyz]

Gonna be awesome! I cannot wait to stand in line opening day with my grandkids!

 

[cindyfan]

'
Hey, I'm 60 now, I just hope it happens in my lifetime.

Hope it happens in my lifetime too!!! haha..... AND hopefully my grandkids haven't outgrown the new attractions by then!!!

 

[Aurora0427]

I know I'm probably in a significant minority here, but I am disappointed to see the expansion of Star Wars. To me, I just do not associate this with Disney, and I think there are so many other Disney/Pixar opportunities that could be realized instead. I'm pleased to hear that along this line, Toy Story will play a prominent role in the expansion. I understand Star Wars is/ is going to be a huge profit center for Disney drawing new people in to the parks, but it just feels so distant from Disney's roots... I feel the same way about the Avatar expansion in AK.

Disney has breathed new life into the Star Wars franchise. My personal opinion is that with the release of The 3 prequel films, George Lucas proved he'd given the franchise his last. The best thing for Star Wars fans everywhere was Lucas selling the franchise to Disney. We now have new movies, TV Shows, and an upcoming theme park that never would've happened without Disney.

Walt Disney was a visionary, same as Lucas. I think they fit very well together.

 

[minniesBFF]

If you can dig up a source for this, I'd be thrilled.

I read it on a disney instagram account, I assumed that it was an official statement since they were instagramming live from the D23 expo, but I'm not 100% sure. Here is what they posted:

"The reimagining of Disney's Hollywood Studios will take guests to infinity and beyond, allowing them to step into the worlds of their favorite films, starting with the all-new 11-acre Toy Story Land. Guests will become part of the adventurous outdoors of Andy's backyard, including two new Disney Parks attractions and one expanded favorite."

That line led me to believe that Toy Story was just the beginning of the Pixar expansion. Although now that I think about it, the statement might mean that they will start construction on Toy Story Land first, and finish Star Wars land later. Still, I would hope that Toy Story wouldn't be the end of the Pixar attractions added to the park.

if you're interested, @lotso_at_disneyland is the instagram account I read this exact statement from.

 

[HopperFan]

Thank so much for this... so sad to see the Osborne Lights just totally gone like that. Such a great area even when they're not up. But lord knows DHS needs it.

That is just someone's idea. They said it multiple times today "single largest expansion" - expansion means adding on not re-theming. DHS is too small as it is. More likely they are closing the rarely used entrance and going outside current park behind Star Tours.

 

[cindyfan]

I still want to see a Pixar Coaster based on the Door Room from Monsters Inc.

OMG!!! YES!!! I can't believe they haven't already done it!!!

 

[Bullseye]

That is just someone's idea. They said it multiple times today "single largest expansion" - expansion means adding on not re-theming. DHS is too small as it is. More likely they are closing the rarely used entrance and going outside current park behind Star Tours.

Excited to hear about Stars Wars Expansion, but I hope you're right. I would hate to see Osborne Lights gone.

 

[JimmyV]

Disney has breathed new life into the Star Wars franchise.

Disney has released exactly zero Star Wars movies. It remains to be seen if what Disney does is an improvement over the most recent three movies. Disney is capable of producing live action movies that bomb. (See John Carter, Lone Ranger, Tomorrowland among others). It is also capable of churning out live action franchises that kick butt. (Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man, Pirates). I agree that Disney has breathed new hype into the franchise. But we have to wait to assess the quality. Fingers crossed.

Here is what they posted...:

Thanks. I tend to agree with your latter assessment that "starting with" is an inference to Star Wars opening later.

 

[andyman8]

I read it on a disney instagram account, I assumed that it was an official statement since they were instagramming live from the D23 expo, but I'm not 100% sure. Here is what they posted:

"The reimagining of Disney's Hollywood Studios will take guests to infinity and beyond, allowing them to step into the worlds of their favorite films, starting with the all-new 11-acre Toy Story Land. Guests will become part of the adventurous outdoors of Andy's backyard, including two new Disney Parks attractions and one expanded favorite."

That line led me to believe that Toy Story was just the beginning of the Pixar expansion. Although now that I think about it, the statement might mean that they will start construction on Toy Story Land first, and finish Star Wars land later. Still, I would hope that Toy Story wouldn't be the end of the Pixar attractions added to the park.

if you're interested, @lotso_at_disneyland is the instagram account I read this exact statement from.

Yep, that exact verbiage in that post was taken from the official Disney Parks Blog's live updates from the D23 Parks & Resorts presentation. This is for sure just the beginning of the DHS news, but my guess is that they're trickling the details out to spread out construction and not make it seem like such a long wait. I'm still expecting Cars and potentially some other IPs to be coming to DHS by the end of the decade.

Also, keep in mind, the Star Wars Launch Bay (which will likely be going in the old Animation building) is not necessarily permanent. Think of it as a Star Wars preview center for upcoming SW films and content and eventually Star Wars Land. Once or just before SWL is online, that should come down as part of the last phase of DHS' expansion.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

I am surprisingly excited about this news. Probably because I loathe the Cars movies, so Toy Story, to me, was highly acceptable based on that alone! I would have given it a shot anyway, though; I had less than zero interest in Avatar and can't stand James Cameron, but darned if that addition doesn't look beautiful.

 

[HopperFan]

Excited to hear about Stars Wars Expansion, but I hope you're right. I would hate to see Osborne Lights gone.

Already filed permits in June to do all ground testing for road into DHS parking from Victory Dr. Open this and close the rarely used S Stage Rd entrance. Take it SWLand straight out. Plenty of space in Backlot for PixarLand. Leave LMA and Streets of America. Osborne Lights may be biggest single draw at holidays. They fit no where else. And someday maybe Marvel can call that area home. Fingers crossed. Hey it was just was announced Hulk going down for long rehab. New name maybe ?

Picture. Yellow is where permits show new potential road. All that pink would now be available.

 

[Aurora0427]

Disney has released exactly zero Star Wars movies. It remains to be seen if what Disney does is an improvement over the most recent three movies. Disney is capable of producing live action movies that bomb. (See John Carter, Lone Ranger, Tomorrowland among others). It is also capable of churning out live action franchises that kick butt. (Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man, Pirates). I agree that Disney has breathed new hype into the franchise. But we have to wait to assess the quality. Fingers crossed.
.

It's more than just movies. The shows they've released are very well done, the theme park expansion, the return of new merchandise. The franchise wasn't going anywhere really until Disney bought it. Quite frankly, no movie Disney could release could be as bad as Phantom Menace.

I stand by my statement. New life.

 

[JennyHall]

Everything sounds so exciting EXCEPT the Alien Saucer attraction! We do not need anymore flying rides, rides like Luigi Flying Tires (that was just a mess,) or similar "carnival" style rides. I am hoping it will be different or unique especially since they are featuring the aliens! I also wonder if they will revamp the Pizza Planet because of this expansion, that would be awesome! The Pizza Planet has so much potential then what its current state is!

 

[soniam]

Everything sounds so exciting EXCEPT the Alien Saucer attraction! We do not need anymore flying rides, rides like Luigi Flying Tires (that was just a mess,) or similar "carnival" style rides. I am hoping it will be different or unique especially since they are featuring the aliens!

They are going to close Luigi's soon and completely redo it. So, I think they learned a lot about not using that techonology.

 

[Lesverts]

Sorry this might be a long post.

Star Wars Land:

In total there will be 3 attractions, the first phase of WWOHP had 3 attractions. So it is in line with their main measuring stick. The artists impressions of what it is going to look like make it look amazing. But the description of the rides is less then stellar. You would expect one E ticket ride in this new area, so hopefully the 2nd attraction is something more intense and interesting. I am not the hugest fan of Star Wars, but this looks promising and hopefully it will have some good eateries and shopping to compliment the new world being created.

Toy Story Land:

About what I expected, and hope that there is more to come from Pixar because there is still just far too much potential from the movies to limit it to just Toy Story. I love the idea that there is going to be different rides and lands between WDW and DLR. Since DCA has 2 Pixar themed lands hopefully this is going to be the Big's Life appetizer to the Carlands (hopefully Monster's Inc or Incredibles and not Cars) main course.

Overall I am happy that something new and exciting is coming to DHS, but I still don't think 4 new attractions is enough to fill the voids that park has. I still think there needs to be another 4 new attractions, a new show and some more and hopefully higher quality dining options.

I am disappointed that Soarin' over the world is coming to both parks instead of leaving California in California and World in Florida.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm surprised when I read that people are disappointed with so much Star Wars because they don't see it as a Disney product. I don't either (yet) but DHS has never really been about just traditional Disney properties. Pixar and Indy and the Muppets are all non-Disney IP's just as much as Star Wars.

I'll reserve judgment on whether the new movies do anything to "revive" Star Wars. The original trilogy and the last of the prequels are quite good and my hope is that Disney makes something at least as good as Return of the Jedi or Revenge of the Sith. I don't expect anything as good as A New Hope or The Empire Strikes Back but you never know.

 

[Angel Ariel]

They are going to close Luigi's soon and completely redo it. So, I think they learned a lot about not using that techonology.

I believe Luigi's is already closed

 

[Hunterr]

Already filed permits in June to do all ground testing for road into DHS parking from Victory Dr. Open this and close the rarely used S Stage Rd entrance. Take it SWLand straight out. Plenty of space in Backlot for PixarLand. Leave LMA and Streets of America. Osborne Lights may be biggest single draw at holidays. They fit no where else. And someday maybe Marvel can call that area home. Fingers crossed. Hey it was just was announced Hulk going down for long rehab. New name maybe ?

Picture. Yellow is where permits show new potential road. All that pink would now be available.

I like the idea of certain things NOT being effected by this expansion. I'd hate to lose Osbourne lights or Sci Fi diner.
BUT, I feel like it very well may be areas taken over by Pixar and Star Wars.