Walk in the Theme Park: Woody, Wookiee, cranes
COMMENTARY
Sunday’s walk in the (theme) park was through Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Among the highlights of the quick trip were a full and boisterous crowd on Tower of Terror (with – PSYCH! -fake ending) and walking straight onto Star Tours, where we visited the Wookiee planet and saw Princess Leia, on a second ride, flew to Batuu.
Other notes from the scene:
The parking lot for Hollywood Studios continues to be a challenge to our love. We try to embrace this change while not running into fellow visitors. Today, while idling I thought I saw a cell phone tower in the middle of the lot but then realized – duh, there are several of descending height. Yep, they’re the supports for the Disney Skyliner, the gondola-based transportation system that will connect Hollywood Studios with Epcot and select Walt Disney World resorts.
The latest news out of Toy Story Land was the appearance of the 20-foot-tall statue of Woody that will prop up signage and greet guests. But right now, DHS guests can only see the tip-top hat of our hero and a yo-yo that says “Toy Story” on it. Beyond that, we can see more of the Tinker Toys and such that will decorate the land, designed to make visitors feel like they are the size of toys. Toy Story Land opens June 30.
In other entrance news, we like the stark entrance to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, although the trees that may be mean to hide the enormous cranes at work make us laugh a little. The transition from old-timey Los Angeles to the planet of Batuu will be interesting when SW:GE opens in 2019.
Consider this pic a tableau of Hollywood Studios: A cast member twirling a souvenir lightsaber, a crowd gathered to watch another Star Wars attraction, cranes building yet another Star Wars attraction, a shuttered Great Move Ride, children on shoulders and a double-wide stroller.
I had a story idea based on the theme “Can we have too much Star Wars.” I mean, at WDW alone, there’s Star Tours; Star Wars: Galactic Nights; Star Wars Trading Post; Star Wars Launch Bay; Star Wars: Path of the Jedi; Star Wars Galactic Outpost; Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular plus Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party; Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away; Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire … and eventually Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and a Star Wars hotel.
So, too much Star Wars? When my previous editor responded by making his head spin around R2-D2 style, I decided to move on.
It ends where it begins … the lot. From here we can see Galaxy’s Edge rising, and it gives us a flashback to the construction of the floating mountains of Pandora over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.