Disney’s Hollywood Studios Update: Star Wars Land, Toy Story Land & PizzeRizzo Construction

Alicia Stella Construction Updates

It has been a few years since I’ve visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios so I thought I’d check out this currently front-heavy theme park and see how all the new (massive) projects are coming along. Toy Story Land, which should hopefully be opening within the next two years, is off to a good start. The third track for Midway Mania is open and keeping lines short(er). They’ve made great progress clearing the land and moving out all the debris so construction can begin soon. Star Wars Land (or the Star Wars Experience as it’s being referred to in-house) is not as far along. With much more to tear down on the Streets of America and surrounding areas, there will still be some time before we actually see vertical construction I’m afraid. That being said, it is surreal to be able to see clear across the Streets of America without facades in your way. Seeing Muppets from Writer’s Stop is interesting for sure.

01058-mts-still005bbbAnd speaking of The Muppets, the newly re-themed restaurant PizzeRizzo is coming along nicely and should open for guests within a month or two. This former location of Pizza Planet is receiving a makeover to create a more cohesive “land” for the Muppets called Muppets Courtyard. The only last remnants of a true backlot, Muppets Courtyard has a New York street feel, and the new PizzeRizzo facade really shows that. (If they could only do something about the unthemed soundstage smack in the middle of the area that currently houses a Muppet gift shop.) I was happy to see a little nod to Pizza Planet in the newly designed pizzeria. It says “Best Pizza on the Planet”, but PIZZA and PLANET are in big block letters. Beautiful way to remember the former location. New outdoor bathrooms are being added as well, aptly named Gonzo’s Royal Flush. Check out the video plus many images below and stay tuned for more theme park updates!


Toy Story Land Update

When Toy Story Land opens Pixar Studios will go away and this street will once again be a cast member only backstage area

When Toy Story Land opens Pixar Studios will go away and this street will once again be a cast member only backstage area

I love the toy theming here

I love the toy theming here

Looking down the road towards construction (or deconstruction as it were)

Looking down the road towards construction (or deconstruction as it were)

Work walls up at end of road

Work walls up at end of road

Walls covering a very empty back half of theme park

Walls covering a very empty back half of theme park

What little city theming there is back here still remains on this corner

What little city theming there is back here still remains on this corner

You used to be able to see Honey I Shrunk the Kids Play Area from here. It is completely gone now

You used to be able to see Honey I Shrunk the Kids Play Area from here. It is completely gone now

Facade and entrance to Backlot Production Tour now complete gone as well

Facade and entrance to Backlot Production Tour now complete gone as well

Piles of debris sit where Backlot Tour Entrance once stood

Piles of debris sit where Backlot Tour Entrance once stood

Fountain from "Splash" gone, Backlot Catering Co. gone, and most Streets of America gone.. Only City Hall remains on back half of street now

Fountain from “Splash” gone, Backlot Catering Co. gone, and most Streets of America gone.. Only City Hall remains on back half of street now

Concept Art posted on work walls shows off Slinky Dog family coaster...

Concept Art posted on work walls shows off Slinky Dog family coaster…

And an aliens spinner ride

And an aliens spinner ride

Toy Story Midway Mania main entrance will move from this street to the backside of this building. This street will go back to being a backstage area (as it was not intended to be a guest pathway when park was built)

Toy Story Midway Mania main entrance will move from this street to the backside of this building. This street will go back to being a backstage area (as it was not intended to be a guest pathway when park was built)

This sadistic monkey should probably be put back into the barrel

This sadistic monkey should probably be put back into the barrel

PizzeRizzo Construction Update

I am sooo happy The Muppets are still here. I would be so very sad to see the show go away like it did on the west coast

I am sooo happy The Muppets are still here. I would be so very sad to see the show go away like it did on the west coast

KERMIT!

KERMIT!

Fountain at the center of Muppets Courtyard

Fountain at the center of Muppets Courtyard

Newly themed PizzeRizzo, opening soon!

Newly themed PizzeRizzo, opening soon!

Neon on the sign looks like it might be slightly animated when lit up

Neon on the sign looks like it might be slightly animated when lit up

Concept art on the work walls

Concept art on the work walls

Heckler tomatoes, for all your throwing needs

Heckler tomatoes, for all your throwing needs

This sign feels old, and yet it's new! Disney magic!

This sign feels old, and yet it’s new! Disney magic!

Truly feels like New York here now

Truly feels like New York here now

Mmmm, the banquet hall sounds delicious

Mmmm, the banquet hall sounds delicious

Famous already?

Famous already?

Love this homage to the former Pizza Planet on the sign

Love this homage to the former Pizza Planet on the sign

Funny sayings on work walls

Funny sayings on work walls

Looks like progress windows might be coming soon

Looks like progress windows might be coming soon

Silly permit for work being done on "This Street"

Silly permit for work being done on “This Street”

As interesting as this gift shop entrance looks, it doesn't really fit the NY streets theme they're going for now

As interesting as this gift shop entrance looks, it doesn’t really fit the NY streets theme they’re going for now

A normal city alley up against an incredibly strange out of place messy soundstage

A normal city alley up against an incredibly strange out of place messy soundstage

New bathrooms next to PizzeRizzo being themed to Muppets as well

New bathrooms next to PizzeRizzo being themed to Muppets as well

Gonzo's Royal Flush... he must be so proud of his establishment

Gonzo’s Royal Flush… he must be so proud of his establishment

Star Wars Land Update

For a park that is getting a new Star Wars themed land, there's already a lot of Star Wars here

For a park that is getting a new Star Wars themed land, there’s already a lot of Star Wars here

Some rumors say Star Tours will close and turned into a different simulator ride after Star Wars opens. I hope not. I love this ride, in all its incarnations throughout the years

Some rumors say Star Tours will close and turned into a different simulator ride after Star Wars opens. I hope not. I love this ride, in all its incarnations throughout the years

Passing by bickering old friends

Passing by bickering old friends

I will admit having Tatooine right next to the forests of Endor is a little odd and the exterior would certainly need re-theming if this ride were to remain Star Wars

I will admit having Tatooine right next to the forests of Endor is a little odd and the exterior would certainly need re-theming if this ride were to remain Star Wars

The view of future Star Wars land

The view of future Star Wars land

(Early) Concept art on work walls

(Early) Concept art on work walls

The backside of one of the only few remaining structures left in Streets of America

The backside of one of the only few remaining structures left in Streets of America

All of the two-dimensional city facades remain as of now

All of the two-dimensional city facades remain as of now

Structures still being demolished across the street

Structures still being demolished across the street

Clearly not near enough. It'll be years before this is done!

Clearly not near enough. It’ll be years before this is done!

Big indeed. And with big plans, comes long construction periods

Big indeed. And with big plans, comes long construction periods

The view over on the Muppets side

The view over on the Muppets side

Much of Streets of America is completely leveled. I will miss the Osbourne Family Lights

Much of Streets of America is completely leveled. I will miss the Osbourne Family Lights

View from behind Muppet area

View from behind Muppet area

Old Phineas and Ferb meet and greet still not demolished

Old Phineas and Ferb meet and greet still not demolished

There's the backside of City Hall, still standing, but no traces left of Lights, Motors, Action from this vantage

There’s the backside of City Hall, still standing, but no traces left of Lights, Motors, Action from this vantage

One last look at the two-dimensional buildings at the end of the street

One last look at the two-dimensional buildings at the end of the street

I'm thinking these may be gone by the next time I visit the park

I’m thinking these may be gone by the next time I visit the park

Bye bye flat Chrysler building

Bye bye flat Chrysler building

Star Wars Launch Bay and More

This was my first time visiting Launch Bay. It's nice to have something to do with so many attractions recently closed

This was my first time visiting Launch Bay. It’s nice to have something to do with so many attractions recently closed

Mini-sized Cantina

Mini-sized Cantina

Blue milk

Blue milk

Mischievous Jawas are afoot

Mischievous Jawas are afoot

Playful Jawa playing peek-a-boo

Playful Jawa playing peek-a-boo

Rey's Speeder and BB-8 on display

Rey’s Speeder and BB-8 on display

He's so cute

He’s so cute

Weapons on display

Weapons on display

Kinda makes you wanna buy your own don't it

Kinda makes you wanna buy your own, don’t it

Very detailed model

Very detailed model

Me and Ben. He's kinda intimidating in person

Me and Ben. He’s kinda intimidating in person

He had some words for me

He had some words for me

Everything must end in a gift shop

Everything must end in a gift shop

Inside the Star Wars gift shop

Inside the Star Wars gift shop

200 dollar lightsabers

200 dollar lightsabers

Roaming R2 unit

Roaming R2 unit

Roaming BB droid

Roaming BB droid

Toys!

Toys!

From the new Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away show

From the new Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away show

Pretty much the entire show is little vignettes where characters come out, pose for photos, and leave while effects, music, and video plays around them. No story, just full on nostalgia overload.

Pretty much the entire show is little vignettes where characters come out, pose for photos, and leave while effects, music, and video plays around them. No story, just full on nostalgia overload.

That's all for this Hollywood Studios update! Stay tuned for more theme park news!

Gertie thanks you for stopping by! That’s all for now. Check out my recent Avatarland update here too!


swthemedland_thumb2That’s all for this update. See all Hollywood Studios updates here and subscribe to the feed for more continual updates!

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