17 Aug 2015
Disney reveals plans for major Star Wars, Toy Story and Marvel-themed lands at D23 Expo
BY Tom Anstey
It’s been a big weekend for Disney, after the company announced details for its first Marvel attraction, a Toy Story-themed expansion at Hollywood Studios and the long-rumoured plans for a Star Wars land at two of its US theme parks.
Speaking at Disney’s biennial D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, company CEO Bob Iger called the Star Wars expansion "the next chapter in the long and exciting history between Disney parks and Star Wars.”
The largest land expansion in Disney’s history, the 56,655sq m (609,840sq ft) Star Wars Land will make its debut at Florida’s Hollywood Studios and at Disneyland in California. Included in the expansion will be a Millennium Falcon ride allowing guests to “take the controls of one of the most recognisable ships in the galaxy," the iconic cantina first seen in Episode IV and a new ride themed to the upcoming Episode VII, putting the visitor in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance. The Star Wars Launch Bay, recently announced for Shanghai Disneyland, will also be making its way to the US, with the attraction to open later this year and Star Wars Land to debut at a date still to be determined.
“We’re creating a jaw dropping new world that represents our largest single theme land expansion ever,” said Iger. “Nothing in the land will be out of character or stray from the mythology of the Star Wars legend.”
In addition to unleashing the force on Disney’s theme parks, plans have also been announced for a 44,515sq m (479,160sq ft) expansion of Hollywood Studios which will see the debut of Toy Story Land.
A different concept from Disney’s existing Toy Story Playlands at its parks in Paris and Hong Kong, Toy Story Land will ‘shrink’ visitors “to the sizes of Woody and Buzz and the other toys in Andy's collection as you explore Andy's backyard," according to Disney Imagineering’s Kathy Mangum. The expansion will feature two new larger-than-life attractions, including a spinner ride themed to resemble the alien’s flying saucers with ‘The Claw’ hanging above, and a family rollercoaster linked to Slinky. Toy Story Land will also feature an expanded version of the Midway Mania 4D shoot ‘em-up ride, already existing at Hollywood Studios.
Disney also revealed preview footage from the Iron Man ride coming to its Hong Kong theme park in Q3 2016. The first Marvel ride to appear at a Disney Park, the US$100m (€90.1m, £63.9m) Iron Man Experience is a 3D motion simulator ride that will take riders on a virtual flight around the city, with the evil Hydra making its presence felt on the trip to the Stark Expo. Though not confirmed by Disney, the ride will reportedly be part of a Stark Expo area at Tomorrowland, where guests will be able to view and try out inventions created by Marvel’s Stark family.
Avatar creator James Cameron was also in attendance to speak about Disney’s upcoming Avatar Land and Disney Parks chair Bob Chapek announced that a new Soarin' Over the World film will debut in 2016 on the Soarin' attractions at both Epcot and Disney California Adventure. Finally, Disney will also be adding a new seasonal event, Season of the Force, which will update Space Mountain to become Hyperspace Mountain, where guests will participate in X-Wing battles while riding.
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