The Force became clearer at Disney’s Hollywood Studios tonight, but only for a select few.
Archive for Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Photos – Final Days of Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Take a look at some photos from the last days around the Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The area is now closed to make way for Star Wars Land.
Photos – Construction Around the Old Pizza Planet Building at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
By now you are aware that Disney’s Hollywood Studios is undergoing a transformation as it adds Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land. One of the apparent casualties is Pizza Planet. There is no word whether this restaurant will be closed for good, made over into a new themed restaurant, or simply just moving its location into Toy Story Land.
Take a look at some photos of the current construction of the building.
New Disney’s Hollywood Studios map shows major changes at theme park
As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. That’s the case with the updated park maps for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Water Animation and Fireworks Combine For Fantasmic! Show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
In a word, it’s Fantasmic!
Another dream comes true at Walt Disney World Resort, only this time it’s Mickey Mouse’s dream that comes to life in a brilliant display of lights, lasers, fireworks and water animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The 25-minute spectacular “Fantasmic!” features 50 performers and combines dazzling special effects, colorful pyrotechnic explosions, beloved Disney characters, animation and dancing waters synchronized to the melodies of timeless Disney classics. The presentation lights up the sky on select nights above the 6,900-seat amphitheater behind The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror off Sunset Boulevard. The specially designed amphitheater also can accommodate 3,000 standing guests.
The show takes guests inside the dreams of Mickey Mouse — where his magic creates dancing waters, shooting comets, animated fountains, swirling stars, balls of fire and other amazing wonders. When Disney villains intrude on Mickey’s fantasy and turn his dreams into nightmares, he uses the powers of good to triumph over evil.
The opening scene takes place on a darkened island surrounded by a 1.9-million-gallon moat. A faint musical note pierces the air as a brilliant cone of light reveals the star of the show, Mickey Mouse. Mickey’s imagination brings the waters surrounding the island to life as he conducts the “Fantasmic!” musical score.
The music builds as animated comets soar across three giant water screens, sprinkling the night with twinkling stars. At the direction of Sorcerer Mickey, the stars dance in unison to the melody of “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” while pyrotechnic comets soar across the water.
To the sounds of African drums and the chatter of wild animals, vividly costumed animal characters emerge from behind the water screens. They perform a wild, upbeat version of “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” from “The Lion King” while animated characters Simba and Nala splash playfully in the water.
A cascade of bubbles fills the water screens as Disney characters dance to a medley of Disney favorites including “Under the Sea” and “Be Our Guest.” More bubbles rise and guests discover Jiminy Cricket trapped inside a large rising bubble. Jiminy escapes the bubble only to find Monstro the whale in pursuit. Monstro’s tremendous body sends waves crashing against the rocks and water onto guests seated in the front rows.
With the waters again calm, the silence is broken by the thunder of a cannon. The island transforms into the “New World” as scenes and music from Disney’s “Pocahontas” fill the island. The action reaches a climax when Pocahontas abruptly stops a battle and appears face-to-face with John Smith as colored leaves whirl across water screens to the tune of “Colors of the Wind.”
The leaves transform into puffy white clouds as the mood turns to love and romance. Disney character-couples Cinderella and Prince Charming, Belle and Beast, Aladdin and Jasmine, Ariel and Eric, and Snow White and her Prince float above the water in a magical dream-like setting filled with twinkling lights and Disney love songs.
The merriment fades and the music becomes haunting as the Evil Queen from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” brews a magical spell to defeat Mickey Mouse amidst lightning, flares and smoke effects. She calls on villains including Ursula, Cruella, Scar, Frollo, Jafar, Maleficent and Hades to harness the positive energy Mickey possesses and make it evil. Mickey is terrified when Maleficent unexpectedly transforms into a ferocious 40-foot-tall dragon whose breath ignites the waterway with a sea of flames that overtakes the island.
Mickey pulls a magical sword out of the mountain and summons the waters, creating a giant curtain which surrounds the island. The fountains begin to dance again, smothering the fierce flames while Mickey defeats the dragon.
The mood brightens in the festive finale of fireworks, sparkling effects and a full orchestral score as favorite Disney characters sail past the audience aboard the Steamboat Willie River Boat in a celebration of Mickey’s triumph over evil.
“Fantasmic!” premiered at Disneyland in California in 1992. The Disney’s Hollywood Studios production features many new show elements and incorporates scenes from animated releases such as “The Lion King,” “Pocahontas,” “Hercules” and “Mulan.”
“Fantasmic!” is presented on select nights with performance times varying based on park hours.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios immerses guests in the glamour of show business 365 days a year with thrilling attractions, incredible Broadway-style shows, world-class atmosphere entertainment and interactive film, television and radio production facilities. The theme park and working production facility is part of the 25,000-acre Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.
For more information, call 407/824-4321 or visit www.disneyworld.com.
Disney might give the Muppets their own themed land, for some reason
The nearby Pizza Planet closed earlier this year with no confirmation of whether it will reopen with similar branding or not.
Disney World’s Least Popular Park Shrinks Again
Yesterday was the last day for several attractions at Disney’s least visited Florida theme park. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure — the long-standing attraction where kids play on a super-sized backyard playground — and the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show closed on Saturday.
Another Reason Disney World’s Least Popular Park Will Bounce Back
Fans of Indiana Jones got their wish yesterday: Walt Disney announced that it is going through with a fifth Indiana Jones movie. This will be the first film in the franchise since Disney shelled out more than $4 billion for Lucasfilm.
WINDOW SHOPPING AT SUSIE’S SPEED SHOP BY SAM ALLEN
Originally constructed to be a backlot film set, most of the buildings along the “Streets of America” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are nothing more than a series of false fronts. Since the camera only needs to see the exterior, that’s all that was built.
Reservations Extended for Club Villain at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Guests at Walt Disney World Resort now have even more opportunities to experience an evening of frightfully fun entertainment, decadent desserts, bewitching beverages and more during “Club Villain,” a specially ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Additional shows have been added now through March for this new dining event that began in January and runs select nights at Sunset Showcase.
With Dr. Facilier as the host for the evening, Club Villain invites guests to mingle with Disney villains Maleficent, the Queen of Hearts, Cruella De Vil and the Evil Queen, dance the night away to wicked music from the house DJ and be dazzled by spectacular live performances.
Guests also can enjoy themed cocktails, beer and wine, and non-alcoholic beverages from the Potions Bar, and savor New Orleans-inspired culinary delights such as Voodoo sticky “pig wings,” and spicy shrimp sautéed with Andouille sausage and veggies.
Tickets are $129 per person, tax and gratuity included. Reservations are recommended and can be made at DisneyWorld.com/Dining or by calling (407) 939-3463. A separate ticket for admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is required and not included in the price of the ticket for Club Villain.
