What Else is Coming to Disney World's Hollywood Studios?

Just recently, Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World Resort opened up its latest expansion, Toy Story Land. For the theme park, it is a much needed update as the small space (or at least smaller than the other three theme parks) consists of a majority of dated attractions.

Because of the aforementioned, Toy Story Land is definitely vital in making Hollywood Studios more relevant to today's standards. However, one expansion by itself isn't enough. Thankfully, Disney has plans to further expand the aged theme park to keep up with the times. What do Disney guests have to look forward to in the future?

The next major expansion for Hollywood Studios will take Disney guests to the edge of the galaxy in Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. Most likely expanding off of the Star Wars simulation ride (kind of like how Toy Story Land expands off of Pixar Place), Disney guests will get to explore Batuu, a remote post planet on the Outer Rim Territories. For Star Wars fans, Batuu has been a prominent planet throughout the space odyssey's history. At times, it was either controlled by The Empire or The Resistance.

In Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, Batuu is now a market in which Disney guests can explore stores and restaurants all themed after the saga. There will also be two attractions to check out too. The first puts you in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon as you try to complete a custom quest. The second puts you in the middle of a dogfight between The Resistance and The Empire.

So far, we only have promotional test images of what the finished land will look like. For those who had the chance to check out Toy Story Land, they were also able to check out construction of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge in the distance.

Early next year in 2019, there will be a brand new show featuring Lightning McQueen of Disney Pixar's Cars Trilogy movies. It is called Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy.

According to the Walt Disney World Official Website, the brand, new show has a synopsis as follows:

"At Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, located near Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, you’ll come face-to-face with racing legend Lightning McQueen, who is excited to showcase what he’s learned over the years with you – the next generation of rookie racers. Of course, as Lightning McQueen has discovered throughout his career, things don’t always go according to plan, and he has to think fast to get back on course. With friends Tow Mater, Cruz Ramirez and the gang from Radiator Springs on his side, Lightning gears up for the challenge."

Going by the synopsis above, it is possible the new show is based off of events and situations in Cars 3. It is uncertain if the events of the show take place after the events of the movie. The one think I am certain about is that Lightning McQueen will sport his classic red exterior, not the new paint job similar to "Hudson Hornet" Doc Hudson, seen in the third movie's ending.

During the D23 Expo 2017, it was revealed that the first Mickey-themed ride-through attraction would be made in Hollywood Studios. It is known as Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.

According to Disney representatives at the show, the ride takes inspiration from classic Mickey Mouse short cartoons often played at movie theaters during Walt Disney's time. Disney guests will "step into a Mickey Mouse short" where wild and zany things can happen. It is quite possible that Disney got the idea for such a ride with the popular animated short Get a Horse. I won't spoil it, but if you've seen it, you'll know that the latter half was quite unexpected.

If Get a Horse helped inspire the upcoming Mickey-themed ride, then it makes sense why Disney Imagineers are toting it as a "2-1/2D." It will be a ride that will have a new Mickey Mouse story with a new sing-a-long theme. What will stand out is the new technology that turns the flat world of a colorful cartoon into a "dimensional display of amazingness."

Kevin Rafferty, one of the Disney Imagineers spearheading the project, provided a statement on the impact the new ride will have overall.

"This is one of the boldest…most impossible things I’ve ever worked on in almost 40 years of being an Imagineer. And you know what? That’s what I love about it. Well, that, and Mickey."

Just so you know, the new ride will replace the outdated Great Movie Ride inside the Chinese Theater. For those who were hoping to ride that ride one last time, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but its last day of operation was back in August. It is not shut down to make way for this upcoming ride many Mickey Mouse fans are looking forward to.