If you are a Disney fan, or a regular reader of this blog, you know that major changes are taking place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Saturday, April 2, 2016 marked the closing of several park features. These closings are in addition to the first wave of closures that took place in January. There is hope on the distant horizon as these closures are to make way for Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land. It will probably be a few years before these new lands are ready to be enjoyed by Disney guests. In the meantime, a large portion of the park is closed.
A few weeks ago my husband and I went to the Studios to say goodbye to to the back of the park. We will be there again this coming Friday and I’ll post updated photos on my Instagram account so make sure you are following along there. I’ve titled this post “Saying Goodbye to Disney’s Hollywood Studios” because in my opinion, this is now a park with no identity and not at all the park it started out to be. Originally a working studio where guests could learn about movie making, see the backstage inner workings and even meet TV and movie stars, then Disney-MGM Studios was a great concept. Then, feature animation left Florida, fewer TV shows and movies were made here and the relationship with MGM dissolved. The park was renamed Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This park will be renamed again when it is ready to rebrand with the two new lands, until then it is a shell of its former glory.
The January closings included:
- Phineas & Ferb Meet & Greet
- Lightning & Mater Meet & Greet
- Joffrey’s Coffee Kiosk
- Pizza Planet (rumored to re-open in late 2016)
April Closings:
- Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
- Mike & Sulley Meet & Greet
- Prop Shop
- Studio Catering Company
- Watto’s Grotto
- High Octane Refreshments
- Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show
- New York News
- Youse Guys Merchandise
If you are visual like me and can’t imaging how much of the park will be under construction, Orlando Theme Park News has a good, fan-generated graphic for you to take a look at.
I hate to be Debby Downer but I want you to be aware of what is going on at Disney’s Hollywood Studios so that you can make your touring plans accordingly. For us this park will be an afternoon/evening half day park for the foreseeable future. If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World, I highly recommend using an Earmarked Disney Travel Agency so that you know you have the best of the best planning your vacation. To get started planning, fill out this vacation quote form.
My daughter and I are going back to Disney in August, but have no plans at all to go to Hollywood Studios. We thoroughly enjoyed it before all the closures. We got to see the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights for the first time this past Thanksgiving. That was so beautiful! We will spend our extra time at Epcot this year in place of Hollywood Studios. Thanks for the updates on the closures.