Hollywood Studios Update: October 2018
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the next stop in our ongoing October 2018 Walt Disney World construction updates, and as the park with the most ongoing work, it stands to reason that this update should be the most exciting, right?!
In this DHS update, we’ll cover the latest on PizzeRizzo, the bus stop death march, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Story Land, and other areas of the park. Also, we’ll get to the bottom of the mysterious case of the disappearing stage.
You might have caught a notable omission: Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Unfortunately, without riding Slinky Dog Dash–and we didn’t have a FastPass+ for it (womp womp)–it’s tough to ascertain any changes as compared to our September Disney’s Hollywood Studios Construction Update. It’ll still be an exciting update, though. Eh, hopefully…
We’ll start with the death march from the bus stops at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to the front entrance of the park.
This time, I did this walk during the middle of the day when temperatures were over 90 degrees, with a ‘feels like’ of ~120. It was absolutely miserable–to the point that I was beat by the time I got into the park, and not really in the mood to do the rest of this update. (The only reason I was there.)
In our last update, I joked about this walk: “Due to all of this construction/demolition, it’s now a 13.1 mile walk from the bus stop to the front entrance. (Half marathon ‘I Did It’ shirts coming soon.)”
I found this to be an amusing quip, and while reasonable minds may differ on its degree of humorousness, I didn’t expect it to be taken seriously. However, multiple people questioned whether it’s really a 13.1 mile walk. I understand that not everyone is a runner, but even if you didn’t know that’s the distance of a half marathon–and ignored the parenthetical informing the joke–that’s such a high number that it should be patently obvious hyperbole.
The distance between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios Florida is 12.7 miles, so even if you parked at the wrong studios theme park, you wouldn’t have a 13.1 mile walk to the front entrance of DHS. Just so we’re clear.
Not much progress is visible on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which isn’t too surprising as most of the work is occurring inside the building. The only noteworthy change is that anchors have been added to the building facade, which will presumably be for the attraction marquee.
The most interesting “development” has been the appearance of a new website called Backdoor Disney, which has some interesting construction photos taken in May and June. Great Movie Ride fans might not want to look…
After transforming from Toy Story Pizza Planet less than two years ago, PizzeRizzo will go seasonal on October 20, 2018.
It remains to be seen what this means for the future of the Muppets themed counter service pizza restaurant, but we do not assume “seasonal” is a code word for Disney silently killing PizzeRizzo, as is often the case.
While seasonal status is frequently the kiss of death for Walt Disney World attractions or restaurants, in this case, it makes perfect sense. (In fact, what didn’t make sense was opening PizzeRizzo two years ago instead of just shuttering it for a few years.)
PizzeRizzo is at the end of a dead-end that’s “anchored” by MuppetVision 3D. As much as we love that attraction, the general public does not share our good taste.
A little over a year from now, this no longer will be dead-end. It’ll be the chaotic entrance area for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Not only will that bring a ton more foot traffic, but it’ll also mean a lot of guests waiting for their FastPasses (either for attractions or to enter the land itself).
In the long term, we think PizzeRizzo is totally fine. Well, not totally fine. The food will still be awful, but that’s correctable with a menu change.
One thing I wasn’t able to do while visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios was get photos of the interior work at Tatooine Traders. The store was simply too crowded and I didn’t want to wait out the crowds.
Based on what I could see, the redesign is pretty utilitarian, and I’m guessing the idea is to open up more floor space. Presumably, Tatooine Traders will be a spillover gift shop for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. If entry to the land is timed or otherwise limited, having a second, high capacity outpost for that land’s merchandise makes sense.
Speaking of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, I also didn’t get new construction photos of it. Toy Story Land was utter chaos, and I was already losing my patience from the heat and crowds.
You can see a couple of the rock spires above this photo of Slinky Dog Dash. What I could see looked about the same as progress last month, but most of the work is done at a lower level, so you really need to ride the coaster to get a good look at progress.
You might’ve noticed the stage wasn’t in our top photo of Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away, which is because the show is currently down for refurbishment.
This used to occur on occasion because the stage was permitted as a temporary structure, meaning it would need to be disassembled and reassembled every so often to comply with that technicality. However, Disney switched to a rolling stage about a year ago. This time, the show is going dark for concrete work.
Very soon, we should start seeing the prep and installation work occurring for Sunset Season’s Greetings and Echo Lake Christmas.
Last year, Echo Lake was drained for ~2 months for repainting and cleanup, plus the installation of support structures for Christmas decorations. With that already accomplished, it should be a much quicker set-up process this year.
That does it for this Disney’s Hollywood Studios update. I know that I missed a couple things, but the weather and crowds were a one-two punch for which I was not prepared. I debated going back to rope drop Slinky Dog Dash for a glimpse of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, but I didn’t want to hassle with it. I’ll probably hold off on another update from DHS until the bus/parking situation improves–or the weather cools considerably. While my “13.1 mile” comment was hyperbole, the unpleasantness of that experience really cannot be understated. I guess whoever is in charge of the projects at Disney’s Hollywood Studios right now really hates shade.
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Your Thoughts
Have you done the “13.1 mile” death march from the buses to Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Do you agree or disagree with our take on its unpleasantness? Thoughts on PizzeRizzo going seasonal? Did you look at the carnage inside Great Movie Ride? Anything else we covered in this update? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I had to laugh at your description of walk (death march) at DHS. My husband and I were there on September 28. It was 96 degrees that afternoon. We arrived and did Voyage of Little Mermaid and Muppet 3D attractions and ate lunch at SciFi. It would have been a 3 hour wait for our Toy Story mania FP. Literally there was NOTHING to do as we were not going to stand in line for hours for Slinky Dog. We left. It was so hot I couldn’t think straight. We drove and walked to tram pickup area except it’s not well marked along there and we missed turn. We found ourselves at the walkway to Epcot! This is not a mistake to be made in that heat. We had to turn around and ask directions. I said to my husband this is a death march and I’m not amused at lack of signage to get to parking lot
My husband and I were there last week of September celebrating our 47th Anniversary. The heat was brutal, especially at Hollywood Studios. The bus stop is ridiculous, and our bus driver even suggested that we take boat to Epcot to return, if we came back during the day. I couldn’t even do slinky dog dash, as I had such a headache, even with my FastPass. Love Disney though! We were married the day after it opened. It is our happy place, and I feel like we were sprinkled with pixie dust.
Congratulations on your anniversary! You must have a great guy to love Disney as much as you! I bet y’all have some great stories to tell about your Disney World adventures! Much more happiness to you both!
My wife and I honeymooned at WDW for 10 days back in September and we will always remember the walk to and from DHS bus terminal. It was dreadful. Luckily we had water! It was around 100-105 each day we went to the part (twice). I was exhausted after walking back from the park to the bus.
We also did the “half marathon” death march. Four times round trip over the course of our stay at WDW. It was awful. Every time. That was the second week in September and just as hot as it could be. This lack of design planning for guest comfort in hot weather at all the parks has always been an issue. This goes back to Disneyland. It had been open about a year the first time I went there and besides taking my first ride on the fire engine I just remember the unrelenting sun and complete lack of shade. So you can say this entire situation today is just another Disney Tradition…
Bus stop death march is SO accurate. With those high green walls, you feel like you’re slogging along just waiting for that inevitable moment when the sun’s rays cause you to spontaneously combust while you’re walking.
Also, DHS is kind of depressing. It used to be one of my favorite parks, and now it just feels like an afterthought. Even Toy Story Land is so devoid of shade and is so boxed in that there’s no breeze to make it somewhat bearable. The lack of an indoor seating area for Woody’s Lunchbox is just like pouring salt on an open wound.
It used to be my favorite! So much fun when it opened! Our first visit was 1989. The superstar television attraction was the best! My dream came true to play Ethel in the chocolate factory scene. Also did Golden Girls neighbors. The back lot tour, sound stage and those booths where you felt like you were getting a haircut. Great movie ride everything movie making related, it was there. Now. Not so much. Hope it return to former glory someday
Thank you for slogging this one out, Tom! I agree with you that someone on the DHS design team must hate shade.
I have always felt DHS was the worst park for those that hate heat–it’s nearly all outdoors and not nearly adequate shade. The only air conditioned spaces aside from restaurants were The Great Movie Ride which we didn’t like (too many old movies) but did to cool off when it was open, Muppets 3D and Toy Story. It will definitely be a winter-only park for us, esp with the added Death March.
Are there any estimates when the new bus stops will be done?
We were in Disney mid August this year and every bus ride there was filled with dread due to the “death march in the scorching Florida sun. It wouldn’t have been as terrible if they put more shade up while waiting for the bus. Hopefully the new bus stops are done by the time we go back next year!
We were there last month in unbearable heat. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who found that walk pure torture. By the time we finally got through the entrance, all I wanted was to find some a.c.! Who decided that Toy Story Land should be 100% without shade? It’s adorable, but hard to appreciate and enjoy when it’s so hot. Hoping to go back in the winter next visit.
I think we need to cut the pizzas at PizzaRizzo some slack. The rest of the CS offerings at DHS are poor enough that these aren’t that big of a step down in quality. (Why is it that AKL and Epcot can have such great CS places and DHS can’t?)
I don’t understand the stage in front of the theater at all. “Let’s create a new nighttime show and then put up obstructions so that people can’t see it!” “Sounds great!” It would be one thing if the stage were there for a good reason, but that Star Wars “show” is not a good reason.
I have been reading all the comments about the long walk from the bus stop. Does anyone know how long the walk would be if you did it from the boardwalk? Would it be better to take the boat from Epcot? We are going at the end of November so the extreme heat should not be a problem.
I just did the walk last week. It was roughly 15 minutes. No need to take the boat from Epcot. There is one right on the Boardwalk.
You definitely want to take the boat. It is worth taking a bus to Epcot first as long as you don’t want to rope drop. Rope drop early the heat wasn’t so bad. When we decided to park hop at 11 because of the relentless heat it was awful. I love Tom’s description. I described it as walking on the surface of the sun for a mile and then baking in an oven while waiting for the bus. When we went back to the park in the afternoon another day we made sure to take the boat. Don’t walk!! The Epcot walkway is the farthest point on that walk to the busses.
We’re staying at the Contemporary in November and are currently scheduled to do the Star Wars Guided Tour at DHS. The tour starts at 8am. We have a car and don’t have to pay for parking at DHS since we are resort guests. Do you think it would be better to drive ourselves to DHS or take the bus? Thanks.
We were there end of August and took the bus once and drove once…both were equally miserable. I’m not sure there was much difference in the distance.
I think lt would be best to take the car it’s along walk from bus stop.
We were there the same week and agree the wait for Slinky Dog Dash was nuts. On Thursday the day we went, the ride was down to start the day and there was still a wait a mile lone. Fortunately we had a Fast Pass later in the day and I took my 8 and 5 year old girls on it and they loved it. It ended up being their favorite ride in Disney. Ironically my 8 year old (who is afraid of most things) initially didn’t want to go on it after seeing a You Tube video of it before out trip.
Did the “death march” yesterday. Then back to Pop bus stop (furthest one). My Slinky and Mania fastpasses were for later in my trip but thought I needed a sneak peek. Well, fast passes are cancelled and I won’t be going back for a long time. Hate the look of the Skyway and terminal, what a dumb idea in the lightening capital of the world!!!!
The whole bus situation at Hollywood is horrible. The walk and then no shading who ever designed this area during the construction did not think the whole thing out wisely. I was amazed we were there in September and just went back last weekend and the Star Wars stage was gone. I loved the March of the Storm troppers and it was gone as well.
“The distance between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios Florida is 12.7 miles, so even if you parked at the wrong studios theme park, you wouldn’t have a 13.1 mile walk to the front entrance of DHS. Just so we’re clear.”
I got the humor and loved it.
We were there 9/30 and 10/2. The walk from the Pop Century bus stop was the longest (as usual).
When it was busy, the major merges to and from the main gate really slowed down the general flow.
As a side note, Tom, did you still see the crowds being “low”? Parks seemed really busy to me.
We completed the death march/half-marathon last week (and I’m waiting for my t shirt)! It was still very hot for October and the crowds were a little much for me. We only went into Toy Story Land twice and that was to ride the two rides we had FastPasses for and then we got out. You really couldn’t enjoy it and see all of the details of the Land because it was wall to wall people. I usually avoid WDW during school breaks but that’s how my vacation fell this year- will plan more careful next time!
We went the first week of October and walked in mid-day (we slept in). The walk was very hot, but bearable because we went straight to Mama Melrose’s for lunch and cooled down a bit.
Toy Story Land was great, but we had multiple FastPasses or would have been horrible waits! Went with kids 7, 5, and 4, and all agreed that Slinky Dog Dash is the “scariest” roller coaster behind Splash Mountain (worse that Seven Dwarfs, Space Mountain, Big Thunder, etc.), so just be aware for littles! My 4-year-old was terrified to ride any ride that might have a “bump” after Slinky!
We were at Disney the last full week of August, and one thing I will say about PizzeRizzo was that it was a FANTASTIC place to spend an hour out of the rain. We actually sat on the upper balcony (outside, but under complete cover), were able to charge our phones, eat pizza, and hang out and rest while it stormed. I wish it was more muppety though. I’d love to see some blogger do a feature on “best places to sit out a rainstorm in Disney parks” – this would be one of my top picks at DHS!
My big issue with the walk was not the length of the walk itself, but rather the complete lack of shade – in August, with the heat coming up off the pavement, it was completely unbearable and left us grumpy when we arrived. I’m somewhat shocked that Disney hasn’t found some way – even the stupid umbrellas from TSL – to mitigate this.
Maybe because we’re big Star Wars fans, I will say that unlike most other people we found plenty to do at DHS – even to the point of not making everything we wanted to do (I’m looking at you Slinky Dog!). It continues to be my son’s favorite park (at age 12), despite the fact that the only rides he wants to ride are Star Tours and Toy Story Mania. Between the shows, the meet and greets, the assorted Disney “stuff”, our beloved MuppetVision … it was a full day. We’re looking forward to our next visit and whatever madness Star Wars Land has in store for us.
Not totally the same as the list you’re asking for, but along the same lines: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/quiet-spots-disney-world/