Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a park mid-transition right now. This year’s D23 Expo emphasized just how entirely different this theme park will be by the time Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary rolls around in 2021. While we already knew about the Star Wars and Toy Story lands coming to Hollywood Studios, Disney announced that Mickey Mouse will get his first ride-through attraction, coming to the heart of Hollywood Studios.
Find out more about this upcoming ride, plus new details on Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway to replace Great Movie Ride
After 62 years of Disney theme parks, Mickey Mouse is finally getting a dedicated ride-through attraction. Based on the hilarious new Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will feature an all-new story, innovative cartoon visuals, and an original theme song promised to be another Disney World earworm. Guests will step into Mickey and Minnie’s animated world for a “zippy zany out of this world adventure.” Mickey and Minnie are driving to a picnic, when they discover a train with Goofy as the engineer. As you can probably guess, things get out of control from there as you go on an escapade through this cartoon world.
Imagineer Kevin Rafferty emphasized the stunning visuals at the D23 Parks & Resorts presentation. They have developed a techinique they are calling “2.5D,” where 2D visuals will pop out of the screen without the need to 3D glasses. According to Rafferty, they’re not letting “any real world logic or physics” get in their way. He also promised that this attraction will have the most Hidden Mickeys ever.
While it had been rumored as “The Great Mickey Ride,” it’s still a bit surprising to hear it confirmed that Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will be replacing the Great Movie Ride. The Great Movie Ride will close on August 13th. No word on when Mickey’s ride will open. While we’re sad that Hollywood Studios is losing its iconic thesis attraction, this Mickey Mouse ride looks like it will be a ton of fun.
Toy Story Land opens Summer 2018
Toy Story Land is officially opening next summer. The land will feature two all new attractions: Slinky Dog Dash, a family roller coaster with a similar swinging coaster mechanic to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Alien Swirling Saucers, a spinner ride similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree at California Adventure. The Parks & Resorts presentation also confirmed that Toy Story Midway Mania will be getting a new entrance in this land.
Star Wars Land Name and Model Revealed
Disney revealed the official name and a massive model for its Star Wars Land coming to Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be a 14 acre expansion, featuring two major attractions. You can read my breakdown of the massive Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge model here. The land will open in 2019, first at Disneyland and shortly followed by Hollywood Studios.
Disney Skyliner to provide transportation between Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and resorts.
Transportation at Walt Disney World is about to become a bit easier, and a bit more fun. In a semi-comeback for the Magic Kingdom Skybuckets, the Disney Skyliner will provide gondola transportation between Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, and the upcoming Riviera Resort.
Are you excited for all the new things coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Let me know in the comments below!
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