star tours hollywood studios ride

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

• Replay Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

• 40in (102cm) or taller
• Small Drops

Explore a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Board your Starspeeder 1000 and prepare for take off! When a series of mishaps unwittingly causes your starship to launch too soon, protocol droid C-3PO takes the controls.

Suddenly, the ship is intercepted by Imperial—or First Order—forces searching for a Rebel spy. To avoid capture, you’ll embark on a thrilling, unpredictable flight that rockets you to the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

Featuring a flight simulator, digital 3D video, Audio-Animatronics characters and “in-cockpit” special effects and music, this attraction immerses you in the Star Wars mythology for an unforgettable intergalactic adventure.

Will your starspeeder elude capture and make it back to the base? May the Force be with you—always.

Featuring Favorite Star Wars Characters

Always a new adventure.

Find yourself in a unique story again and again—including one inspired by Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Anytime you ride, you might fly into the middle of a furious battle on Crait, dodge blaster fire from TIE fighters on Jakku, swoop into the dreaded Death Star or dive deep under the oceans of Naboo. 

Plus, to celebrate Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker , Star Tours now features an all-new destination from the movie—the ocean moon of Kef Bir.”

Because the many story twists are random, you never know where you’ll go or who you may encounter along the way! 

©Disney/Lucasfilm Ltd.

Know Before You Go

Play disney parks achievement available.

Related Activities

Star wars : galaxy’s edge — new, even more magic – as you wish, more star wars, safety, accessibility and guest policies, times for star tours – the adventures continue.

Star Tours — The Adventures Continue

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Guests Must Be

40" (102 cm) or Taller

Age Interest

Kids, Tweens, Teens, Adults

Thrill Level

Small Drops

Make the jump to hyperspace as you ride aboard a 3D, motion-simulated space flight to popular destinations from Star Wars .

Explore a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Blast off on a thrilling tour of the Star Wars galaxy aboard a Starspeeder 1000. Come face-to-face with Kylo Ren, Boba Fett or Darth Vader as you voyage to amazing alien worlds like Jakku, Coruscant, Naboo or even Crait—an all-new planet from Star Wars: The Last Jedi!

Featuring state-of-the-art technology—including a flight simulator, digital 3D video, Audio-Animatronics characters and "in cockpit" special effects and music—Star Tours — The Adventures Continue immerses you in the Star Wars mythology for an unforgettable intergalactic adventure.

Pre-Boarding Hurry along the forest moon of Endor—home to rustic Ewok cottages and a towering AT-AT—and make your way through a sleek Rebel bunker to a bustling Star Tours spaceport. Inside, behold R2-D2 and C-3PO tinkering away on a Starspeeder 1000—your cosmic transportation vehicle—amid a throng of projection screens, glowing scanners and blinking droids.

Weave your way up a ramp past customs and baggage screening before picking up a pair of 3D flight glasses and continuing to your departure gate. Following instructions from an overhead monitor, board your interstellar vehicle for your journey through outer space.

Become a Hero of the Rebellion! As you prepare for lift-off, a series of mishaps unwittingly causes your starship to launch and C-3PO to take control. Suddenly, your space cruiser is intercepted by Imperial forces. Fearing capture, C-3PO pilots your ship on an unpredictable flight that will rocket you to the farthest reaches of the galaxy and back!

Tour the Universe During your voyage, interact with many of the otherworldly characters and places made famous in the Star Wars saga.

Hold on tight as you exit hyperspace and find yourself in the middle of a furious battle on Crait. Plunge into the oceans of Naboo and avoid the clutches of monstrous sea creatures. Retreat inside the dreaded Death Star to escape Darth Vader before facing off with Boba Fett.

Will your starspeeder elude capture and safely transport you—and the rebel spy—safely back to the Alliance base? May the Force be with you.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

• Replay Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

• 40in (102cm) or taller
• Small Drops

Explore a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Board your Starspeeder 1000 and prepare for takeoff! When a series of mishaps unwittingly causes your starship to launch too soon, protocol droid C-3PO takes the controls.

Suddenly, the ship is intercepted by Imperial—or First Order—forces searching for a Rebel spy. To avoid capture, you’ll embark on a thrilling, unpredictable flight that rockets you to the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

Featuring a flight simulator, digital 3D video, Audio-Animatronics characters and “in-cockpit” special effects and music, this attraction immerses you in the Star Wars mythology for an unforgettable intergalactic adventure.

Will your Starspeeder elude capture and make it back to the base? May the Force be with you—always.

Featuring Favorite Star Wars Characters

Always a new adventure.

Hold on tight as urgent transmissions from Ahsoka Tano, Cassian Andor, the Mandalorian and Grogu may soon be part of your next Starspeeder flight.

Starting April 5, 2024, embark on exciting new Star Wars adventures featuring characters and locations from some of your favorite Disney+ series. With these additions, you’ll have the opportunity to experience one of more than 250 storyline variations, including a visit to the planet Seatos from Ahsoka . Because the many story twists are random, you never know where you’ll go or who you may encounter along the way!

©Disney/Lucasfilm Ltd.

Know Before You Go

Play disney parks achievement available.

Related Activities

Star wars : galaxy’s edge, even more magic – as you wish, more star wars, safety, accessibility and guest policies, times for star tours – the adventures continue.

Join Our Mailing List

• Date Calculator
• Annual Events
• Vacation Planning
• Vacation Packages
• Money Saving Tips
• Disney Genie
• Magic Kingdom
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Blizzard Beach
• Typhoon Lagoon
• Disney Springs
• Restaurants
• Dining Packages
• Dining Tips
• Resort Guides
• Resort Tips
• Planning Tips
• Ship Guides
• Things to Do
• Cruise destinations
• Dining Options
• Disneyland Park
• Disney California Adventure
• Downtown Disney
• Universal Studios
• Islands of Adventure
• Epic Universe
• Volcano Bay
• Theme Parks

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue is a 3D motion simulator that takes guests on a lightspeed journey through the Star Wars universe. Guests enter the Starspeeder 1000 for a scenic tour courtesy of Star Tours. This tour is quickly halted due to the presence of a spy from the Rebel Alliance. Guests are taken on a whirlwind tour of the Star Wars universe. Because the attraction is randomized, you never know where you might end up.

Guests may visit Coruscant, Naboo, or even the Death Star, in addition to other locations. You may even end up being chased by a bounty hunter like Boba Fett! On your Star Tours tour, you will be piloted by C-3PO and R2-D2. In addition to these characters, you may encounter Princess Leia, Admiral Ackbar, Darth Vader, Jar Jar Binks, Chewbacca, or any of a variety of other Star Wars characters. There are over 50 combinations of Star Tours adventures with scenes from all of the Star Wars films, even The Force Awakens. You can experience unique adventures nearly every time you ride Star Tours, making it a ride that can be enjoyed again and again.

Ride Information   Restrictions   Location   Fun Facts   Top 5 Tips

Ride Information

Opening Day: December 15, 1989

Type of Ride : Flight Simulator

Age Recommendation: School-age children, Teens, and Adults

Duration of Ride: 7 minutes

Typical Queue Time: Moderate to Long;   35 – 40 minutes on a typical day

Single Rider Line: No

Chicken Exit Available:  Yes

Baby Swap Available:  Yes

Type of Vehicle:  Simulator

Type of Restraint:  Lap Belt

Attraction Open During Early Theme Park Entry: Yes. See our Early Theme Park Entry page for more information.

Ride Photo Available For Purchase:  No

Ride Restrictions

Height Requirements: 40″

Flash Photography or Video Allowed: No

Other Rides/Attractions In the Area:  This attraction is located in the Echo Lake area of Hollywood Studios. Nearby Attractions include Indiana Jones Stunt Show and Muppet Vision 3D .

Shopping: Star Tours exits into Tattooine Traders, a Star Wars gift shop. Star Wars merchandise is available for purchase at Launch Bay Cargo in the Star Wars Launch Bay.

Dining/Refreshment: The Backlot Express is next door to Star Tours.

Restroom:  Restrooms are located across from the attraction, next to the Olaf meet and greet location.

Smoking Location: Permitted in designated smoking areas only. Disney parks are smoke-free.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continues Fun Facts

Did you know.

• Star Tours closed and re-opened in May 2011 with new adventures and randomized scenes.
• In the queue, look to the left in the baggage check area. You can see the droid Rex, the pilot of the original Star Tours.
• Anthony Daniels, the original C-3PO continues his role in the attraction.
• If flight simulators make you nauseous, sit towards the middle of the attraction for a less aggressive ride.
• When The Force Awakens released, scenes changed in the attraction.

Hidden Mickeys:

• Look for a white Hidden Mickey on a tree trunk in the Ewok Village portion of the queue.
• In Tattooine Traders, the gift shop, look for a Hidden Mickey with bullet hole “ears” on a counter.

Top 5 Tips for Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

• Sit in the middle of the simulator to avoid motion sickness.
• Prepare in advance by watching a few Star Wars films.
• Pose for a photo on a speeder near the entrance of the attraction.
• Ride it again for different experiences!

Privacy Overview

Disney's Star Tours - The Adventures Continue

Disney's Star Tours - The Adventures Continue improves on the original attraction in every way—and sets a new standard for motion simulator rides. What had become a slightly tired trip to a Star Wars galaxy far, far away is now a giddy jaunt to... well, half the fun is you never know where in hyperspace the ride will whisk you.

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy, 10=Yikes): 4.5. Relatively mild motion simulator thrills. Those prone to motion sickness may experience discomfort (although closing your eyes should quell any queasiness). The ride also offers Star Wars -style action. It makes our list of Disneyland's most thrilling rides .
• Location: Disneyland , Disney's Hollywood Studios at Disney World , Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland.
• Height requirement: 40 inches

Disney Raises Its Own Bar

When it debuted at Disneyland in 1987, the original Star Tours was the first major motion simulator attraction at a theme park, and the newfangled virtual reality concept ushered in a new era for park attractions. If theme parks are about escaping from the everyday world, motion simulators offer an ideal means of escape. Using seats that move in sync with filmed action projected onto a screen, the destinations are only limited by the imagination of the attraction's designers. Star Tours was also a bold departure for Disney which, up until that point, had used its own content as the basis for its attractions.

Since the ride film made its debut, developers have added Omnimax screens (such as The Simpsons Ride ), roving motion base vehicles (such as Transformers: The Ride 3D ), and other features to enhance the you-are-there experience. The movie ride space cowboys at Walt Disney Imagineering, Lucasfilm, and Industrial Light & Magic (Lucasfilm's visual effects mavens), have upped their own ante with a retooled version of the attraction that launched in 2011.

The impetus for the re-imagined ride dates back to the late 1990s when Episode 1 of the Star Wars prequel trilogy was being filmed. According to Tom Fitzgerald, executive vice president and senior creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering , "George Lucas contacted us and said the pod racing scene in the movie would be perfect for Star Tours." Anyone who has seen the movie would agree; the largely point-of-view sequence, with the hover vehicles tearing through a desert course, seems tailor-made for a park ride. So what took so long? "We needed to raise the bar," says Fitzgerald. Thankfully, the bar has indeed been raised.​

3-D Without the Gimmicks

The infrastructure of the attraction remains essentially unchanged. Guests still make their way through a mythology-packed "spaceport" en route to their Starspeeder 1000 boarding gate and an allegedly uneventful journey to some friendly planet. Star Wars stalwarts R2-D2 and C-3PO are on hand to help ready the vehicles (and entertain riders stuck in line). After some pre-flight safety instructions, guests enter the familiar Starspeeder cabins and buckle up for a bumpy ride.

Once the ride begins, however, it's clear that this is not the same Endor-bound Star Tours that lurched ad nauseam through the cosmos for 24 years. Speaking of clear, the super high-def clarity of the digitally projected film is remarkably crisper than the original ride. And by adding 3-D to the mix, the attraction offers a vivid sense of depth, while the dorky 3-D goggles don't noticeably dim the alluring brightness of the images.

Unlike the gotcha gimmickry of most 3-D park rides, the extra dimension of the spiffed-up Star Tours is more understated. With its easy availability at the local cineplex, the novelty of 3-D has long since worn off. Wisely, the Imagineers have seamlessly incorporated the effect in a largely unself-conscious and elegant way that helps bring Lucas' alternate-universe to life.

You Are There. But You Never Know Where.

The most compelling improvement over Star Tours 1.0 is the ride's random sequence generator. By slicing together many different destinations and transition scenes, Disney says that there are over 50 possible story combinations. No two rides, therefore, would likely be the same (unless uber-fans boarded Star Tours a lot ). That keeps the attraction fresh and makes it eminently re-rideable. It also makes other motion simulator attractions, with their fixed been-there, done-that plots, seem so 20th century.

Like the original Star Tours (and nearly every other motion simulator ride), what all versions of the attraction have in common is that things very quickly go horribly wrong. Rookie pilots R2-D2 and C-3PO are unexpectedly drafted into action, rebel spies are discovered lurking among the passengers, and the Starspeeders must periodically engage in evasive maneuvers and travel to distant planets to avoid certain calamity. Other destinations include the ice planet of Hoth, Naboo, and the ominous Death Star.

It's quite impressive to experience the attraction more than once and be treated to an entirely unique story arc each time. Different characters (which might include, among others, Boba Fett, Yoda, Princess Leia, and supreme baddie Darth Vader), different missions, different locations, and even different gags will have you marveling at the audacity of the ride. "It was a challenge to sync everything," says Spiegel, referring to the on-the-fly nature of the stitched-together film, the corresponding motion sequences, and the in-cabin effects. “We wanted to be able to take guests to many places in the Star Wars universe. And now we can."

Even More Places to Visit

Because it is screen-based, Disney has the ability to add sequences and make updates to the attraction, which it periodically does. For example, in late 2019, the parks introduced new scenes inspired by Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker , the latest installment in the movie franchise. Among the places added to the Starspeeders' itineraries was the ocean moon Kef Bir.

Since the introduction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , the groundbreaking lands at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it has been a bit disconcerting to have Star Tours exist outside of the contained Black Spire Outpost, the trading port on the planet Batuu. It is especially strange at the Disney World park, where Star Tours is just a couple of blocks away from Galaxy’s Edge. Disney has explained the disconnect by saying that the Star Tours attractions pay homage to the movies and mythology while Galaxy’s Edge represents the “real” Star Wars lands.

It may be some time before we actually have the technology to fly off to faraway stars. Until then, the mighty impressive technology that fuels Star Tours - The Adventures Continue can virtually transport us, if only for a few minutes at a time, to places that were previously unthinkable.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, TripSavvy believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our  Ethics Policy .

Top 13 Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Thrill Rides

Disneyland Tours You Will Be Delighted You Took

Soarin’ Around the World Is One of Disney's Best Rides, Here's What to Expect

Space Mountain

Disneyland Attractions that Have Stood the Test of Time

Why Disney's The Little Mermaid Ride Is Charming

Paint the Night Parade Review

His Submarine Voyage to Find Nemo

Using RideMax for Disneyland

Disneyland Shopping Directory by Park Location

Jumpin' Jellyfish

Things for Your Disneyland Bucket List

Golden Zephyr

Mickey's Fun Wheel Ride at Disney California Adventure

Francis' Ladybug Boogie

Five Things to Know About Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Star Tours was Disney’s first modern simulator ride, and based on the Star Wars saga it was (as Yoda would say). Thanks to over 700 possible scene combinations in the high-def 3-D film at the heart of the attraction, you could ride all day and not have the same experience twice! Read on to learn more – or if you’d rather zip through hyperspace to the nuts and bolts, here’s your shortcut .

1. You enter the spaceport under an AT-AT.

Your Star Tours adventure begins outdoors, where the surroundings have been designed to resemble an Ewok Village (as seen in Return of the Jedi). You get to pass under a full-size AT-AT walker to get to the entrance of the ride’s building, which in and of itself is pretty cool.

Once indoors, you’ll find yourself in a spaceport where C-3PO and R2-D2 are working on your ride vehicle, the Starspeeder 1000. These life-size audio animatronics look and move exactly like their cinematic counterparts. The queue captures the familiar feeling of a train station or airport of today, but as it might exist in a galaxy far, far, away. It’s complete with a flight status board, weather reports, even a luggage scanner.

Just before you board, you’ll watch on overhead screens as C-3PO gets trapped in the Starspeeder cockpit while doing maintenance. After you enter the simulator and don your 3D glasses, the doors shut on C-3PO’s complaints about accidentally becoming the pilot, and your Starspeeder takes off.

2. You won’t know who you’ll see or where you’ll go.

The ride’s plotline comprises five general segments: an escape scene, a destination, a mission, another destination, and a concluding scene. Disney has multiple film clips from all nine episodes of the Star Wars saga that can be used for each segment of your journey, which creates a different experience each time you ride. So basically, you won’t know where you’ll go or which Star Wars characters you will see!

There are some limitations on how the scenes can be mixed, for instance, characters and scenes from Episodes 7-9 are not mixed with those from earlier movies. Still, it’s been noted by Star Wars purists that the randomized scenes can create a confusing timeline. Probably because of this, the ride experiences are not considered canonical in the Star Wars universe. But that doesn’t make them any less fun!

3. You may be the Rebel Spy!

In the escape scene at the opening, a villain (maybe Vader, maybe Kylo Ren, or ???) is searching for a Rebel Spy. A picture of an actual guest riding with you is shown onscreen and they are identified as being the spy. They’re chosen randomly or by a Cast Member and it can add a bit of fun if it’s someone in your own group – maybe even you!

Once you’ve made your escape, you may find yourself attacking AT-ATs, joining a pod race, being pursued by Tie Fighters, or more. The simulator is modeled after those used for training pilots and astronauts, so you’ll experience real dips, turns, twists, and climbs. It can be a little rough, but all the bouncing around helps to create a pretty realistic experience.

You’ll make it back into hyperspace and the action will pause for a moment. You can catch your breath, and receive your mission from a Star Wars character who appears as a hologram. Sometimes the mission is just to deliver the Rebel Spy to safety, but there are other plotlines . Then you’ll take off and visit another planet for some more action.

Your adventure ends after a jump to hyperspace and a landing on Batuu, or possibly Spaceport THX1138 (the number is a nod to George Lucas’ first film), or one of a few other conclusion scenes. The entire attraction lasts about 7 minutes, the ride portion is about four and a half minutes. You’ll exit through the space terminal and into the Tatooine Traders gift shop, designed to suggest a desert outpost in Mos Espa.

4. It was different, a long time ago…

The first Star Tours attraction opened in 1987 at Disneyland, four years after the release of Return of the Jedi. Disney World’s version came two years later, in 1989. Since there was no Galaxy’s Edge at that time, it was placed in the Echo Lake area of Hollywood Studios.

This original version only had three movies (Episodes 4 through 6) to work with, and the premise was clear and simple. Star Tours was a transportation agency offering trips to Endor. However, according to the droid pilot R-3X (“Rex”), it was his first day on the job and he wasn’t used to his programming. As a result of his mistakes, guests never made it to Endor. But their ride did include crashing through comets, jumping to light speed, and the classic trench run on the Death Star.

Star Tours closed in 2010 for updates, and reopened as Star Tours: The Adventures Continue in 2011. Rex was retired from this version, but later became a DJ. You can see him today at Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Fun fact: R-3X was voiced by the late Paul Reubens.

Today’s version offers 3D film and randomized scenes, and Disney updates the adventures with newer characters. A Jakku scene was added in 2015 for The Force Awakens, Crait was added in 2017 for The Last Jedi, and the planet Kef Bir was added in 2019, after the release of The Rise of Skywalker. As Disney continues to add new scenes, the number of possible adventures changes over time.

5. The Nuts and Bolts.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue is located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Echo Lake between the Backlot Express and Grand Avenue. Since the attraction is indoors, it is not affected by weather, although part of the (covered) queue is outdoors.

You’ll be seated in rows in the Starspeeder 1000 simulator. Each of the five rows has 8 padded seats with a fabric lap belt and a shared armrest. A net bag below each seat holds your stuff.

Guests must transfer to a wheelchair and then to the ride vehicle. Disney advises that you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride.

Guests must be at least 40″ tall to ride, and as with all attractions that have a height limit, Rider Switch is available .  It’s worth noting that flashing lights, the use of weapons, loud sounds, and the appearance of aliens or intimidating figures may frighten or disturb some guests, especially the younger set. Service animals are not allowed. Video Captioning and Handheld Captioning are available.

Wait times for Star Tours are very low in the first two hours the park is open. It’s also a good choice between noon and 4 p.m. Alternatively, you can secure Lightning Lane entry via Genie+. Star Tours: the Adventures Continue is also open for both Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Theme Park Hours.

The Bottom Line.

Our recommendation: Star Tours: The Adventures Continue is not to be missed. Would it be nicer if it were in Galaxy’s Edge? Maybe. Nevertheless, it offers a great experience from takeoff to landing. No matter where you go or who you see!

Have you ridden Star Tours? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.

You May Also Like...

New on-sale dates have been released for Walt Disney World’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Here's when members of special groups and…

Who doesn't want to ride a Hunny Pot through the pages of a huge picture book? You’ll see Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore…

• Four Places For a Quick Breakfast in the Magic Kingdom
• Getting to Know Universal – On-Site Hotel Overview

Bob Jacobs lives in Wisconsin where he retired as Editorial Director for a well-known catalog company. He and his wife Cristie have four children, seven grandchildren and a cocker spaniel named Penny the Dog. They’ve visited Walt Disney World regularly since 1992.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

Complete Guide to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at Hollywood Studios

May the force be with you on this thrilling 3D space flight to legendary destinations from the  Star Wars  saga.

You’ll take to the stars with C-3PO and R2-D2. But watch out for some familiar, less-than-friendly faces like Kylo Ren or Darth Vader!

In 2024, more stories and characters will be added to Star Tours at Hollywood Studios. Further details haven’t been announced just yet, but we will let you know about the changes as soon as we learn more.

Blast off with our complete guide to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue!

In this article

New Adventures Coming April 5, 2024

As announced at 2023 Destination D23, beginning April 5, Star Tours will include new locations and adventures from Ahsoka , Andor , and The Mandalorian .

Once added, the ride will have over 250 different adventure combinations for guest to experience.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue Quick Facts

• Location:   Echo Lake , Hollywood Studios
• Height req : 40 inches
• Suitable for: Anybody 40″ or taller who can handle simulators and some rough movement.
• Attraction length: About 7 minutes
• Do we recommend? Yes, especially for Star Wars fans
• When to visit: 2nd hour
• Scheduled Refurbishments
• Tip(s): The exit area is a great Star Wars gift shop that has areas to build LEGO Star Wars characters and affordable light sabers. If this store seems too busy, you may have better luck at Once Upon a Toy store in Disney Springs where you can get the same items.
• Description: 3D flight simulator that takes guests through one of dozens of different Star Wars experiences including new characters and adventures from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as well as Star Wars: The Last Jed i and Batuu, the home planet of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue is located in Echo Lake near Backlot Express, a Quick Service restaurant.

Here is the location on the map:

• Download the PDF

How to Ride Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue has a Standby Line and a Lightning Lane. There is no  Single Rider Line .

Do I need to use Genie+ at Star Tours – The Adventures Continue?

Genie+ is available at Star Tours – The Adventures Continue however this wouldn’t be an early priority ride to grab those Genie+ reservations because availability rarely runs out.

This ride is also available for Early Entry to those who qualify.

Be sure to check out our  touring strategies for Hollywood Studios for more Genie+ advice.

Rider Switch/Child Swap

Since you must be 40″ to ride Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, this attraction does offer Rider Switch.

Rider Switch is Disney’s system that allows guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one.

You can  learn more about Rider Switch  via our handy guide.

What to Expect when you Ride

The queue at Star Tours – The Adventures Continue is designed to resemble a spaceport terminal.

You’ll see posters advertising voyages to different planets with Star Tours and a large LCD screen informing riders of flight statuses and planetary weather forecasts.

You’ll also see some of your favorite characters like C-3PO and R2-D2, as well as Captain Rex from the original attraction. He occasionally has a power surge and delivers a line from the first Star Tours ride.

Two G2 droids process passengers’ “luggage” on a scanning system that reveals the contents to you as you wait in the queue.

You’ll then retrieve your 3-D “flight glasses” before you are directed by a flight agent to a gate where you’ll wait to board.

While you wait, you’ll be entertained by a pre-show on the screen above you. C-3PO has been assigned to maintenance on the StarSpeeder 1000 that you’re about to board and he gets trapped in the cockpit after the ship’s captain leaves!

Make sure you then pay attention to the safety instructions before you board.

Play Disney Parks  is available for Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. This free mobile app is only available for select attractions and allows guests to pass the time as they play games, trivia, and earn achievements along the way.

Ride Vehicles

The ride vehicles at Star Tours – The Adventures Continue are large 3D flight simulators.

When the door to your flight simulator opens, make your way inside to the last available seat. There are four rows in the simulator and each row contains 10 individual seats with armrests and a place to store your personal items below.

Make sure you buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

Accessibility Information

Guests who wish to ride Star Tours – The Adventures Continue must transfer from their ECV to a wheelchair and then to the ride vehicle.

Keep in mind, Disney has issued a warning that those who ride Star Tours – The Adventures Continue should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back, or neck problems. Expectant mothers should not ride.

Video and handheld captioning are available and those under 40″ are not allowed to ride.

Motion Sickness

Since Star Tours – The Adventures Continue is a 3D flight simulator, this ride is highly turbulent and includes sharp turns and sudden bumps which can aggravate motion sickness.

If you experience motion sickness in general, check out our  guide on motion sickness  for any Disney World attraction.

On the Ride

If you prefer to experience Star Tours – The Adventures Continue without spoilers, make sure you skip over this section!

Board your Starspeeder 1000 and prepare for takeoff! While you’re supposed to be heading off on a relaxing tour (hence Star Tours), a series of mishaps ends up launching you early, forcing C-3PO to take control.

But as soon as it appears that your trip is back on track, your ship is intercepted by Imperial — or First Order — forces searching for a Rebel spy. This spy is chosen from one of the guests on your ride vehicle— it could even be you!

To avoid capture and not give up your rebel passenger, you’ll be taken on the ride of a lifetime to the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

Since the attraction features several different segments that are selected randomly, your ride will be different each time! You may end up facing off with First Order villain Kylo Ren, bounty hunter Boba Fett, Princess Leia, or Jedi Master Yoda.

Just a few of the scenes you may encounter is a narrow escape from a battle on the planet Crait, following Scout Troopers as they chase after Chewbacca and a Wookiee warrior on Kashyyk, or discovering the still-to-be-finished Death Star.

With so many story twists, you never know where you’ll go or who you may encounter on your Star Tour! 

May the Force be with you as you and your fellow passengers attempt to elude capture and make it back to the base on Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.

Is Star Tours – The Adventures Continue Kid-Friendly?

The height requirement for Star Tours – The Adventures Continue is 40″ and there can be some dark moments during the action so this ride is more for older kids, tweens, teens, and adults.

We have a list of things that may scare little ones at Disney World that you can check out, if you’d like.

Strollers are not allowed in most queues or theaters at Walt Disney World.

You’ll need to leave your stroller in the designated stroller parking area near the entrance to the queue at Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.

In 1986 Disney and George Lucas, the creator of  Star Wars , partnered on the Captain EO attraction, a 3-D musical film starring Michael Jackson at Disneyland. Since the partnership was so successful Disney then approached Lucas with the idea for Star Tours.

The original Star Tours ride opened on January 9, 1987 in California’s Disneyland. Two years later, Star Tours opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, then known as Disney’s MGM Studios.

Set in the  Star Wars  universe, the motion simulator attraction sent guests on a tour to Endor, where they got caught in an altercation between the New Republic and an Imperial Remnant. The attraction featured Captain “Rex” RX-24 along with series regulars R2-D2 and C-3PO.

In 1998, Disney began planning to upgrade Star Tours as part of the release of the upcoming 1999 film  Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace , the first film of the new prequel trilogy.

This version would be in 3D and feature new flights. However, since more films for the franchise were in pre-production, officials chose to wait until 2003 when production began on  Revenge of the Sith  before remodeling Star Tours.

In April 2005, at  Star Wars  Celebration III, creator George Lucas confirmed that a revamp of Star Tours was in production. Then at the 2009 D23 Expo it was announced that Star Tours at Disneyland and Hollywood Studios would close in October 2010 for renovations.

The rides would reopen in May and June 2011 as Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.

On August 14, 2010, Hollywood Studios hosted the “Last Tour To Endor” event for Celebration V attendees. This extravaganza included an appearance by George Lucas, character appearances, Jedi Training Academy, Death Star Disco,  Raiders Of The Lost Jedi Temple of Doom: A Fan Film of Epic Proportions  live show, Hyperspace Hoopla, and  Symphony in the Stars  fireworks.

It also included the Star Tours shutdown ceremony which was a live show with C-3PO, R2-D2, Boba Fett, Darth Vader, as well as a few Stormtroopers, culminating in the official power-down of Star Tours.

The ride remained open until September 7, 2010, when the attraction held its “Final Flight to Endor” for D23 members.

In Orlando, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue began soft openings on May 14, 2011, with the official opening held at midnight on May 20, 2011.

Since its opening, the planet Jakku from  The Force Awakens  has been added to the attraction as well as the planet Crait from  The Last Jedi  and Batuu, from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Finally, the ocean moon Kef Bir from  The Rise of Skywalker  was added on December 20, 2019, the film’s release date.

In 2023, Disney announced at Destination D23 that Ahoska would be added to Star Tours in spring 2024 .

Other Fun Details

• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue is inspired by all nine films of the Star Wars Skywalker saga: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Episode IV – A New Hope, Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Empire VI – Return of the Jedi, Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, and Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker .
• There are Star Tours attractions at four different Disney Parks around the world: Disney World’s Hollywood Studios, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland in California.

• The exteriors of all four Star Tours attractions are different in their respective parks. The attraction in Florida is inspired by an Ewok village on the forest moon of Endor.
• Listen closely just before boarding your spaceship. You may hear a reference to THX1138. THX1138 was in all of the Star Wars movies because it was the name of George Lucas’ first movie, so he included it in all of the Star Wars films as a nod to his origin.
• Other boarding call announcements in the first area of the indoor wait queue gives names that are actually anagrams for people like  Star Wars  creator George Lucas (“Egroeg Sacul”) and Tom Morrow (“Mot Worrom”). When you reach the baggage check area, many different Disney attractions and franchises like Haunted Mansion ,  Toy Story, Aladdin, WALL-E, The Incredibles , and  Captain EO get cameos as G2-9T scans boarding IDs. 
• Paul Reubens, perhaps better known for his famous character, Pee Wee Herman, was actually the voice of Captain RX-24 (Rex) in the original Star Tours ride. He was the pilot talking as R2-D2 was being loaded. In the new version of the ride, you can see him in the droid maintenance section in the queue.

• Patrick Warburton, who is known for delivering the safety spiel before boarding Soarin’ at Epcot and for also voicing Kronk in Emperor’s New Groove , is the voice of security officer G2-4Ton Star Tours — The Adventures Continue. You can spot him as you pass through a series of security scanners.
• As part of the attraction, you’ll see scenes with archival footage of Princess Leia, played by Carrie Fisher. The dialogue, however, is re-recorded. Carrie Fisher collaborated with Imagineers to re-record her dialogue so that it fits the attraction seamlessly.
• While the original Star Tours ride didn’t open until 1989, Imagineers originally had an idea for a simulator ride themed to another Disney movie. The 1979 live-action film  The Black Hole  followed astronauts investigating a mysterious spaceship inside a black hole, but it was a commercial flop. This, combined with the high costs for the planned ride, led to the concept being scrapped. It wasn’t until Disney partnered with George Lucas and Lucasfilm in 1986, that the simulator idea was revisited, this time with Star Wars in mind.

Other Attractions in Echo Lake

• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
• Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular!
• Mickey Shorts Theater
• Star Tours – The Adventure Continues

Family Travel Magazine

The Best Disney Hollywood Studios Rides and Attractions

Posted: August 14, 2024 | Last updated: August 14, 2024

The third theme park at Walt Disney World in Florida is also one of the most exciting. With many changes over the past few years, Disney’s Hollywood Studios features themed rides, thrill rides, and fun live shows – with things to do for the entire family. Here’s our ultimate guide to the best Disney Hollywood Studios Rides and Attractions. This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission being paid to us. We have received complimentary admission in the past and have also paid our own way.

Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

My favorite Disney Hollywood Studios ride (and one of my favorites across all theme parks) is the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. This ride offers a lightning lane, a  single rider line , and a standard standby line. The Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster features loud Aerosmith music, which adds to the atmosphere.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Another one of my favorites is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. While the  Disneyland attraction  was transformed into a Guardians of the Galaxy-themed ride, the Hollywood Studios ride has stayed with the original Twilight Zone theme. The Tower of Terror shoots up and drops down at random intervals. It’s unlike any coaster-style ride because you won’t know when you are about to drop up or down.

Toy Story Mania

Battle your family and others in your ride vehicle with this fun midway-style ride. As you pass through the ride queue, you can grab 3D glasses, which are important for the ride. After you board the vehicle, you’ll ride into a brief practice area to learn how to use the shooting mechanism. Then, it’s off to the world of Toy Story to play the games.

Slinky Dog Dash

One of the newest Disney Hollywood Studios rides is Slinky Dog Dash. This family-friendly coaster, part of the new Toy Story Land, is themed after everyone’s favorite Slinky Dog. The standby queue is fun, with plenty of elements from Toy Story.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

There are two rides at Galaxy’s Edge – including Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. This ride features a lightning lane, standby, and single-rider lines. The ride vehicle accommodates six passengers. Two serve as pilots, two as gunners, and two as engineers. You’ll be given a random card with your assigned role as you enter the ride pre-show. The two pilots are the most interactive of the roles, but if you are in the single rider line, you’ll almost definitely be an engineer.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

This immersive experience is more than just a ride; it’s a full Star Wars adventure. Rise of the Resistance is one of the most popular rides and is considered one of the  best attractions at Walt Disney World . It’s also one of the longest rides – running about 15 minutes. During this time, you’ll join the resistance, get captured by the first order, and travel in several different vehicles.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

This ride opened in the former location of the Great Movie Ride. Surprisingly, it’s the first ride at any Disney Park that stars Mickey and friends. It’s based on the popular Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts. It’s such a fun, cute ride.

More Information

If you are planning a Walt Disney World vacation, we recommend booking through  Get Away Today . This post explains all of Disney’s Hollywood Studios rides .

More for You

Donald Trump Committing 'Political Suicide,' Republican Pollster Says

Warren Buffett says income from these 2 investments 'will probably increase in the decades to come' — calls them 'solid' holdings for his kids, grandkids. Here's how to get in on the action

New Twist in U.S. Gymnast Jordan Chiles’ Bronze Medal Dispute

I Asked 4 Food Editors To Name the Best Vanilla Ice Cream, They All Said the Same Brand

Mystery of Stonehenge deepens after ‘jaw-dropping’ discovery

'Megaquake' fears for Los Angeles as earthquake strikes just miles from city after 'Japan quake'

1923 season 2: Everything we know about the Yellowstone prequel

Ford, Mazda issue "do not drive" advisory for 457,000 vehicles

US military destroys two Houthi vessels in Red Sea

Kyiv May Have Hit Intelligence 'Gold Mine' With Kursk Train Station Capture

Scientists have discovered why humans no longer have tails

I’m a Real Estate Agent: 6 Places I’d Retire If I Had $500,000

How to Avoid the 'Widow's Penalty' After the Loss of a Spouse

Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird vs. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant Career Comparison

Dog and deer caught playing a game of tag in yard by Ring camera

Holes in Your Yard, But No Mounds? 8 Causes and What to Do About Them

There’s a New M&M’s Snack on Shelves and I’ve Already Finished 3 Bags

Archaeologists Discover 4,000-Year-Old Artifact Cited 25 Times in the Bible in the 'Cave of Skulls'

I won a housing lottery with over 5,000 applicants. Now I pay $1,260 a month for a brand-new home.

Record-Breaking Copperhead Snake

Accommodations

Theme parks, disney cruise line – what you need to know, cruise line ships, disney private islands, recent walt disney world, recent disneyland, disney world reviews, other park reviews, recent reviews, allears style, newsletter home, recent disney and florida attractions news blog.

• Universal Orlando Annual Passholder Appreciation Days Start Tomorrow!
• ALERT! Disney Just Released a New Dole Whip Collection (Including a Loungefly)
• A POPULAR EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Activity Is BACK — but Not for Long!
• This Iconic Magic Kingdom Attraction Reopens NEXT WEEK!
• An EXCLUSIVE Annual Passholder Souvenir Just Landed at Disey World -- And It's FREE!
• ( view all posts )

ALERT! A Monsters, Inc. LAND Is Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Well, it’s been a HUGE day for Disney Parks announcements.

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is underway, which means we’re getting a ton of new announcements from Disney about everything from movies to TV shows to future plans for Disney Parks. Well, we’ve now got ANOTHER huge update to share and it’s all about Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Disney World.

Disney just announced that a brand new land is coming to Hollywood Studios, and it’s themed to  Monsters, Inc. ! During the Disney Experiences showcase, it was announced that the new land will pick up after the events of the original movie, and you’ll even be able to visit the iconic factory itself.

But that’s not all! “The first time I saw  Monsters, Inc ., all I wanted to do was ride on one of those doors like Mike and Sulley,” Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro told the crowd. “ You’ll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park . Remember in the movie how those claws grab the doors and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We’re doing that, too. And you’re going along for the ride.”

A new land AND a new coaster?! Work on this project is expected to start next year . We’ll make sure to keep you updated with any additional details.

Wow — that’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? We’ll be covering ALL the big announcements from D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, so check back with AllEars again soon for more.

FULL SCHEDULE Revealed for Disney’s BIGGEST Fan Event of the Year!

What do you think of this news? Let us know in the comments!

Trending Now

Are we losing Kermit and Fozzie to make room for Mike and Sully in Disney...

We are listening to our reader's reviews, so is this Grand Floridian restaurant a one-and-done?

It's official! FULL MENUS have been released for the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival!

Caramel apples may be missing from Walt Disney World for the next few weeks.

Disney World just filed a permit that could mean BIG things for Cars Land construction!

Flying Delta Airlines soon? Here are the unspoken rules you need to know!

There is a new Hocus Pocus collection on the Disney Store, and Disney+ subscribers can...

Disney has just released details about where Cars Land will be going in Frontierland!

Disney has confirmed WHERE the new Villains Land in Magic Kingdom will be built!

Let's talk about some of the most "secret" souvenirs in Disney World!

This series may hold the key to Hollywood Studios' upcoming land.

We've recently seen several treats and snacks released with the Disney Eats collection, and this...

We get why someone might not want to stay at a Disney-owned hotel when visiting...

Hold on, Spirit Airlines is changing their budget-friendly ways?

Look what celebrity we just spotted filming in Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

We now know when the DinoLand, U.S.A. transformation will start in Animal Kingdom!

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is seeking to get a lawsuit dismissed because the plaintiff...

If you've been struggling with what to pack for your trip to Disney World, Emma...

Peter Pan's Flight reopens NEXT WEEK in Magic Kingdom after its weeks-long refurbishment!

Two Disney World rides are closing, but their wait times are shockingly low!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

One Reply to “ALERT! A Monsters, Inc. LAND Is Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios”

Yay! Hollywood Studios is getting more love!

Follow us on Social!

Shop the Disney Store | AllEars® Merchandise | Shop Amazon | Press Room | Contact Us

Read more About us or Advertise with us . We respect your right to privacy. Please take a moment to review our privacy policy and terms of use .

Copyright ©1996-2024 AllEarsNet, LLC, All Rights Reserved. AllEars.Net, AllEars® Newsletter and any other properties owned by AllEarsNet, LLC are not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with, The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any of their affiliates. All Disney artwork, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Disney Enterprises, Inc. or, its subsidiary, affiliated and related companies. For official Disney information, visit http://www.disneyworld.com

DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!

What's Included

2.5-hour TMZ bus tour

See celebrity hot-spots with stops to get your best selfie shots in Hollywood, the Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills & more!

Amazing TMZ Celebrity Tour guides

Great opportunities for celebrity spotting

Luxurious custom-designed TMZ tour buses

TMZ VIP Badge (discounts at local restaurants & stores)

Opportunity to win one-of-a-kind TMZ prizes

2-hour TMZ bus tour

See celebrity hot-spots  made famous by TMZ in Hollywood, the Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills & more!

TOUR PRICING

Adult (13+)     $59, child  (3-12)     $49.

FOR MORE INFO CALL

1-844-TMZ-TOUR

The TMZ Hollywood Selfie Tour will be the ride of your life, because you're gonna leave L.A. with a pic portfolio that'll make your Instagram besties drip with envy!!

We will take you to the biggest landmarks in Hollywood -- the Walk of Fame , the legendary Paramount Studio gates, the Beverly Hills Sign , the Paul Smith Pink Wall and so much more.

SEE THE SELFIES!

Our guide will give you the lowdown on all the locations, and show you precisely where you can shoot your best shot.

It's super fun taking a ride in the TMZ busses -- the most comfy around -- seeing the sights that make L.A. one of the greatest tourist destinations in the world.

Book your tickets now and keep your eyes peeled and your cameras ready… there’s a good chance we’ll see celebrities along the way.

Have tour questions? Check out the TMZ Selfie Tour FAQ page for more tour details.

The TMZ Celebrity Tour is actually more than a tour -- it's a 2-hour show on wheels , where we take you to the hottest, most interesting and infamous places in town ... and along the way there's a good bet you're gonna see a celeb !

Join our awesome TMZ guides who take you on a 2-hour tour through Hollywood , West Hollywood and Beverly Hills . You'll hear all about the places that have made headlines, and you'll get inside dish to boot! You'll also see video and photos that bring these locations to life.

Now, as for seeing celebrities ... we see them all the time -- Kim Kardashian , Ben Affleck , Justin Bieber , Rihanna , Vanna White , Diddy , Sly Stallone , The Rock , Kevin Hart , Dave Chappelle , Mariah Care y, ALL the "Selling Sunset" stars, S ofia Richie , Charli D'Amelio , Lizzo , Lance Bass , Mark Wahlberg , Jay Leno , Howie Mandel , John Legend , Jeremy Piven , Jared Leto and every Real Housewife you can name!  And that's a VERY small, partial list.

And our bus ... it's the best, most luxurious in town, with plush seats, phone chargers, and a state-of-the-art audio/video system!

And there are games and prizes along the way.

Have tour questions? Check out the TMZ Celebrity Tour FAQ page for more tour details.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!

SPOT CELEBS AS YOU TRAVEL THROUGH HOLLYWOOD, BEVERLY HILLS, AND THE SUNSET STRIP!

CUSTOM CHARTERS

Company outings, personal celebrations, or just because you want to roll like a VIP — Custom Charters are the perfect opportunity to do our tour, your way!

EXPERIENCE HOLLYWOOD...TMZ STYLE!

Tours depart daily at multiple times. Click “Book Now” to see a full calendar of availability.

Disney Dismantles Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in United States Parks

in Disneyland Resort , Star Wars , Walt Disney World

The Walt Disney World Resort is set to undergo major changes over the next few years, with one recent announcement confirming the continued dismantling of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge timeline.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Through the Years

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is an immersive themed land that opened in 2019 at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The version in Disneyland Park welcomed guests first on May 31, 2019, with Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Star Wars land opening on August 29, 2019.

Set on the planet Batuu at Black Spire Outpost, it fully immerses guests in the Star Wars universe with intricate details, full-size replicas of starships, and atmospheric design.

Originally, the world of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge existed completely in the sequel trilogy era, with guests able to interact with characters such as Rey and Chewbacca (played by Daisy Ridley and Peter Mayhew in Disney’s movies).

The land features two main attractions: Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, where guests can pilot Han Solo and Chewbacca’s iconic ship on a smuggling mission, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, a groundbreaking ride that places visitors in the midst of a battle between the Resistance and the First Order.

Most recently, Disney World’s Rise of the Resistance–one of the theme park resort’s most popular attractions–began testing a single-rider line, although it has since abolished the option in recent weeks . The e-ticket ride can be accessed using Disney’s new Lightning Lane Single Pass offering, which replaced the Disney Genie+ Individual Lightning Lane Selection option in late July, or via the traditional standby line.

In addition to rides, Galaxy’s Edge offers various interactive experiences, such as building custom lightsabers at Savi’s Workshop or droids at Droid Depot. Themed dining options like Oga’s Cantina and Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo provide unique Star Wars -inspired cuisine, while shops like Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities offer exclusive merchandise.

The land is designed to make guests feel like they are truly in a galaxy far, far away, with character encounters and interactive elements enhancing the experience.

However, while at one point being firmly situated in the world of Disney’s sequel trilogy era , the Disney resort broke the spell after debuting characters such as Din Djarin (AKA the Mandalorian), Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, and former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano. These characters, of course, hail from Disney’s New Republic era, a period of time set decades before the sequel trilogy.

On this matter of dismantling the core element of Galaxy’s Edge, Lucasfilm’s Matt Martin spoke to io9 earlier this year to clarify the strict timeline of Batuu.

“ Star Wars storytelling is [set] across so many eras,” Martin told the outlet (via Gizmodo ). “And we wanted to give people the opportunity to meet characters from some of those new things that are coming out that may not be within the original, intended timeline. So, what we do is we try and look at the area each character is in as that exists where they are.”

The executive continued:

“They’re visiting Batuu in the time that you know them from the series—or somewhere close to it—and you’re getting to meet them [then and] there. And Walt Disney Imagineering has a pretty good way of ensuring that those characters don’t intrude on each other. That way your immersion isn’t broken when you’re meeting Sabine in one place and walk off and meet Kylo elsewhere.”

Looking ahead, more timeline-breaking events are set to occur . Fans of Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau’s Star Wars era can expect more of the New Republic heroes coming soon, and this time, they are coming for the attractions.

Disney now risks altering the complete immersion of the land, establishing it as more of a collage of Star Wars as opposed to a fixed part of the canon. Galaxy’s Edge will not be the same as it was when it opened five years ago…

The Mandalorian and Grogu Take Over Galaxy’s Edge

Last weekend, the House of Mouse’s top executives returned to Anaheim, Southern California, for the bi-annual D23 Expo. There, Disney Experiences chairperson Josh D’Amaro took to the stage at the Honda Center to lead the company’s headline event–Horizons: D23 Disney Experiences Showcase.

From the confirmation of the Tropical Americas and its attractions at Walt Disney World Resort’s Disney’s Animal Kingdom to the news of the Cars and Monsters, Inc . franchises in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios and that big climactic reveal of Villains Land , D’Amaro and associates pulled out all the stops.

Related: “RIP Frontierland,” Disney’s Latest News Rocks Disney World Community

“At Disney Experiences, Imagineers dream, create, design and build these stories into real places. And we have Imagineers in place right now all around the world because everything we’re going to share with you is in active development,” said D’Amaro after years of complaints that Disney does not follow through on its plans. “Plans are drawn. Dirt is moving. I just want to be clear about this: We are doing everything you’re going to hear tonight.”

For Star Wars fans, D’Amaro invited Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer, Dave Filoni, on stage to announce a new chapter for the rogue bounty hunter and his loveable green ward.

Disney Parks Blog wrote:

JUMP TO LIGHTSPEED IN 2026 — Mando and Grogu have a new adventure on the horizon coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Join the Mandalorian and his youngling on brand-new adventures coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in celebration of the new Star Wars film “The Mandalorian and Grogu” coming to theaters in 2026.

A more in-depth blog post shared Filoni’s comments from the D23 showcase, writing that “with the expanded partnership between Disney and Epic Games, Epic’s Unreal Engine will help bring to life the latest adventure in a galaxy far, far away.”

“The intersection of storytelling and innovation has always been central to Lucasfilm, and we’re excited to see where this collaboration will take us next,” Dave told the audience (via Disney Parks Blog). “Just imagine it: you’ll be able to fly alongside Mando and Grogu on thrilling and dangerous missions.”

Presently, guests riding Smuggler’s Run can take on the role of pilot, gunner, or engineer as they embark on a thrilling flight through the Star Wars universe. It is unknown how the Disney park will adapt the attraction to specifically include the Mandalorian and Grogu.

The popular characters’ addition to Smuggler’s Run will be the third major addition of the pair to the theme park space. First, there was the meet-and-greet at Galaxy’s Edge, and then earlier this year, the characters arrived in the recently rebranded and updated Star Tours–The Adventures Continue outside of Galaxy’s Edge .

“Hold on tight as urgent transmissions from Ahsoka Tano, Cassian Andor, the Mandalorian, and Grogu may soon be part of your next Starspeeder flight,” the official Walt Disney World website states. “Starting April 5, 2024, embark on exciting new Star Wars adventures featuring characters and locations from some of your favorite Disney+ series.”

Star Tours–The Adventures Continue now features over 250 randomized storylines for guests to enjoy.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Movie Coming Soon

The 2026 opening date for this new Mando and Grogu experience at Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run lines up with the expected release date of Lucasfilm’s next big movie and what will be the first in seven years.

At the beginning of the year, Lucasfilm announced the surprise news that the beloved duo would be transitioning to the big screen to lead the Star Wars studio’s movie slate .

Related: ‘Star Wars’ Replaces Mando and Grogu, Iconic Duo’s Future Uncertain

The Mandalorian and Grogu , which opens May 22, 2026, is being helmed by Jon Favreau, who created the original series for Disney+. Pedro Pascal will reprise his role as Din Djarin, the eponymous bounty hunter.

Favreau’s film is not to be confused with Dave Filoni’s New Republic-era movie, which Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy announced at last year’s Star Wars Celebration Europe .

Filoni’s is expected to be a crossover of the Disney+ shows ( The Mandalorian , The Book of Boba Fett , Ahsoka , and Skeleton Crew ) and is being colloquially called the Heir to the Empire movie due to its focus on Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen).

What do you think about the major changes coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Walt Disney World as a whole? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!

• Testimonials
• Search Trip
• Trans-Siberian Tours
• Saint Petersburg
• Northern Lights
• Lake Baikal
• Russia For Expats
• Winter Trains
• Arctic & North
• Golden Ring
• Russia Cruises
• Trans-Mongolian
• Sightseeing
• Trans Siberian
• Wildlife & Nature
• The Snow Empire
• Under 8 Days
• Kid Friendly
• Small Groups
• Senior Travels
• Expats Travel
• Luxury Trains
• Luxury Travels
• Russian Cruises
• Snowmobile Tours
• Youth Travel
• Why Book with Us
• Sustainable Travel
• At a glance
• Dates & Rates
• Terms & conditions
• Destinations

Trans-Siberian: Moscow to Vladivostok

Culture, history, cuisine, people and nature - this is all-in-one adventure

Discover Moscow, Russia's capital. visit Kremlin and take a ride over Moscow River

Cook national Tatar meals in Kazan & have a glass of champagne at Europe - Asia border near Yekaterinburg, Ural mountains

Visit the largest in Russia open air tank museum

Cross full breadth of Siberia & take a ride at Lake Baikal,

Reach Vladivostok, the Pacific Ocean

Taste Siberian honey and vodka, meet locals, visit Russian Banya

Best places to stay, to eat, to go out and have fun - safe and secure with the tour operator, that specializes in Russia

Discovery Russia 24/7 English-speaking support line

Fully customizable on request

Day 1, Arrive Moscow

Day 2, Kremlin & The City

Day 3, Discover Moscow

Day 4, The adventure begins!

Day 5, Discover Kazan

Day 6, Day on board

Day 7, Yekaterinburg: Europe/Asia border

Day 8, Across Siberia

Day 9, On board to Irkutsk

Day 10, Arrive Irkutsk & Taltsy tour

Day 11, Lake Baikal Tour

Day 12, On board to Vladivostok

Day 13, On board, the Far East

Day 14, Almost there

Day 15, Discover Vladivostok

Day 16, Departure

Choose your package

Accommodation.

• 3-, 4- or 5-star hotel of your choice, hand-picked by our staff for their excellent amenities and central location
• 3 nights Moscow // 1 night Kazan with early check in // 2 nights Ekaterinburg // 2 nights Lake Baikal/Listvyanka // 1 night Vladivostok with early check-in
• 6 nights on board
• Full breakfast at the hotels (except Day 1)
• 3 lunches: Buryat lunch at Lake Baikal // Tea & honey degustation at the Taltsy Museum // Tatar cooking master-class with lunch in Kazan
• Farewell dinner

Transportation

Train 1st class compartment (2-berth) as per itinerary

from Moscow to Kazan by train fare first class

from Kazan to Yekaterinburg by train fare first class

from Yekaterinburg to Irkutsk / Lake Baikal by train fare first class

from Irkutsk / Lake Baikal to Vladivostok by train fare first class

Train 2nd class train compartment as per itinerary

from Moscow to Kazan by train fare economy

from Kazan to Yekaterinburg by train fare economy

from Yekaterinburg to Irkutsk / Lake Baikal by train fare economy

from Irkutsk / Lake Baikal to Vladivostok by train fare economy

• Superior trains on the route with a/c, heaters and dining carriage for your comfort. 1st class: one place in 2-seats compartment. 2nd class: one place in 4-seats compartment. If you'd like more privacy, we can buy out an entire compartment for you.
• Meet & greet at the airports/train stations
• Private return airport/train station transfers
• Metro pass in Moscow
• Private transportation on tours as per program in a comfortable a/c car/minivan/bus (except on walking tours)

Sightseeing & Activities

• Moscow full day (8 hours) guided tour: the Moscow Kremlin, the Kremlin Armory, the Red Square, Moscow metro tour, Arbat area
• Cable car ride over Moscow River
• Moscow full day (8 hours) guided tour: the State Tretyakov Gallery, panoramic city tour, the Novodevichy Convent with the guided tour inside, Sparrow Hills, the VDNKh and the guided tour to the Museum of Cosmonautics, cable car ride over Moscow River
• Full-day (8 hours) guided tour of Kazan: highlights include the Kazan Kremlin, Kul Sharif Mosque, Syumbike tower, Old Tatar village
• Full-day (8 hours) guided tour of Yekaterinburg: highlights include Ganina Yama Monastery, Church of All Saints, Europe-Asia Border, the Pyzhma military museum
• Irkutsk half-day (4 hours) guided tour: St. Epiphany Cathedral, Kirov Square, Taltsy Museum guided tour with national folk performance
• Lake Baikal (Listvyanka) full day (8 hours) guided tour: Shaman rock, Baikal Museum of Limnology, Chersky Stone observation point, local souvenir market
• Full-day (6 hours) guided tour of Vladivostok: Highlights include harbour, Submarine S-56, Golden Bridge, viewpoint Eagle’s Nest, Vokzalnaya Square, the monument of the Trans-Siberian Railway, Vladivostok fortress museum

Entrance tickets & visas

• Entrance tickets to all included sightseeing attractions (except optional)
• Russian Visa supporting documents, including an official visa invitation letter, and step-by-step guide on how to apply for your visa

We value your comfort

• Dedicated local English-speaking guide in all places as per program
• 24/7 support before and during your trip with us
• Best places to stay, to eat, to go out and have fun - safe and secure with the tour operator that specializes in Russia. Tips already included
• Group tours are fully escorted by a bilingual tour director
• Maximum group size 20 people

Rosina Gould, UK: Wonderful trip!

Peter Megens, USA: Discoveryrussia's Trans Siberian first class!

Yvonne Hill, Australia: Trans Siberian Adventure

CHECK OUT WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT TRAVELLING WITH US

Thank you! One of your our travel experts will contact you within 24 hours.

• Sign up for newsletter

PIPELINE COMICS

European Comics.

North American Perspective.

The Three Smurfs Theme Parks in the World Today

Truly one of the signs of the end of American Exceptionalism is the news from 2020 that there are now three Smurfs-themed parks located around the globe, but none of them are in the United States of America. Where are there Smurfs theme parks, then?

The three Smurfs theme parks are located in Moscow, Dubai, and Shanghai. The last one, dubbed “Dream City”, is the largest and most recent, having opened in May 2020, with room for further expansion. The parks feature photo opportunities with larger-than-life-sized Smurfs, rides, and activities.

From here in the United States, we can only look through the window at the birthday party we weren’t invited to. There are still no Smurfs theme parks planned in the States, and I’m not holding my breath.

Let’s be virtual tourists, instead, and take a look at the three parks in order of their openings. Also, let’s touch on the park that was announced, but never happened…

Dubai: Motiongate

The Smurfs park in Dubai is part of a larger “Hollywood-inspired” theme park called Motiongate that opened in December 2016. Being indoors means it stays open 365 days a year.

It features areas themed on movies from Columbia, Dreamworks, and Lionsgate. Rides and experiences are based on such movies as Hotel Transylvania, Kung Fu Panda, Ghostbusters, and Zombieland.

They also have the Smurfs.

It’s a bit like the Middle Eastern version of Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Universal Studios.

From a Smurfs point of view, you can ride the Smurf Village Express roller coaster , enjoy the Smurfs Village Playhouse live stage show, or take in the Smurfs Studio Tour (a dark ride that includes AstroSmurf).

Currently, that Playhouse and The Smurfberry Factory, a kids play zone, is currently closed due to COVID. This is doubly a shame because the Playhouse is where the Papa Smurf Meet-and-Greet used to be. Hopefully, they found a safe way to continue meeting the characters.

The Smurf Express roller coaster ( starting here in this family vacation video ) looks to me like the same model they have at DisneyWorld themed as Goofy’s coaster, which is the same, if I remember correctly, as the Rescue Rangers ride at DisneyLand. In Dubai it just features more mushrooms.

You can get a good point of view video of the ride on YouTube , of course, though the rider in the video seems a bit too excited about this relatively mild coaster:

Similarly, you can see the entire Smurfs Studio Tour . If you’ve been on any Disney ride, you’ll get the idea of the ride, though this one is trackless. Epcot has one of those in the works now for Ratatouille in the France pavilion.

If you happen to be in the area, the annual pass to Motiongate is just a hair over $100 US dollars. For roughly $25 more, you can pair it with an annual pass to the local LegoLand, too. That’s quite a deal!

Moscow: Dream Island

The Smurfs park in Moscow is park of a larger facility called “ Dream Island .” It’s the largest indoor theme park in all of Europe, and the first theme park in Russia. It opened in February 2020, just a couple months ahead of the park in Shanghai we’re going to talk about next.

It’s a large, totally indoor park that looks like a giant warehouse. It has sections dedicated to the Smurfs, Hello Kitty, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Hotel Transylvania (again!), and some generic dinosaurs, amongst others.

The theme park part is gigantic, taking up 300,000 square meters. That’s only half of the land that the park occupies. In addition to the theme park, it also has cycle paths, a concert hall, a movie theater, and something Wikipedia refers to as a “children’s sailing school.”

It’s fronted by, of course, a shopping experience with areas that mimic the architecture of major cities. (That includes Gaudi’s Barcelona .)

The Smurfs section of the park is definitely aimed at the youngest visitors, but still has child-sized Smurfs statues that would be an Instagram favorite, full-size mushroom houses, and the cutest tiniest rides for your five year olds to jump on.

It features “ Gargamel’s Tower ,” a drop ride with interactive elements. Riders can wave their wands around to free Smurfs while the tower is in motion. Sounds like fun. And like Disney’s Toy Story Mania, you get a score at the end.

Check out this video for a fuller tour of the complete facility.

Screenshots in this section come from this video of the theme park area.

Shanghai: Dream City

In May 2020, the world had shut down due to COVID-19. In China, they opened a theme park.

It is designed by KCC Entertainment Design , who describe it thusly:

The fantasy forest (2.500sqm) contains several great attractions and is the gateway to two other zones: The wonderful Smurfs village (3.000sqm) where children can meet their favourite Smurfs, explore and play in the Smurfs houses and go on different rides experiencing how Smurfs live. The other zone is Gargamel’s house (2.500sqm), the Smurfs archnemesis! Here the visitor awaits an exciting and thrilling time trying to rescue captured Smurfs and escape Gargamel’s house!”.

Be sure to click through on that link to see plenty of great pictures of the park.

The good news is that this park isn’t even complete yet. This is only the indoor portion. Another 10,000 square meters of outdoor park is being built for this year.

Here’s a six minute video of two girls visiting the park. They have roughly 30x the number of subscribers to their YouTube channel as I do. I’m not jealous. Nope, no sir-ee…

I’ve taken a couple screenshots from that video to illustrate a few points below.

Here’s a restaurant at the park:

Maybe this is a feature for all theme park restaurants now, but it reminds me a bit of the layout at DisneyWorld for the “Be Our Guest” restaurant, which has that prominent statue on display in the middle of the room. You also have Lady and the Tramp on a statue front and center in Tony’s Town Tavern.

You can, of course, get a blue drink there.

They also have the Toy Story shoot ’em up game with a Smurfs skin on it. This is not to be confused with the Gargamel Tower in Dubai. This is more a traditional “sit in the chair and fire away at the walls as you pass by” ride.

Yes, I know that theme park rides and attractions are built, by and large, by small handful of companies, who make their money by theming the same ride wildly different at different parks. The roller coaster fans on the internet keep very close track of that kind of stuff, in particular.

The Smurfs character costumes are less than thrilling, though. Here’s a shot from the parade:

The Smurfs Gift Shop could drive me into bankruptcy. I was happy to see that they proudly set aside a corner of the story for the actual comics:

Or, at least, the signage is there. Those don’t look like comics against the wall under that mushroom….

For further reading:

Shine.cn has an account of a visit , including the hotel build inside a quarry to the ride over to the park, and more. Here’s one blogger’s account of a visit to the park.

The Missing Spanish Theme Park

In December of 2014, word broke out that the town of Lleida, Spain was to get the world’s only Smurfs theme park.

There’s lots of coverage of that announcement, but never any follow-up.

According to all the media coverage at the time, it would cost a mere $58 million to set up, employee 200 people, and bring in about $17 million.

This park would have pre-dated all of the other parks I talked about above, though not by much.

Here’s where things get confusing: Construction on Motiongate in Dubai began in December 2013, a year prior to this Spanish park’s announcement. Not only was the Spanish park never going to be the only Smurfs theme park but, in fact, someone else had already started construction on the project that would beat it to the punch!

Maybe they meant the only one in Europe? Maybe they meant the only theme park exclusively dedicated to the Smurfs?

I’m not sure, but it doesn’t seem to matter as the project never happened. I can’t find any news anywhere about its cancellation. If anyone has a link, please put it in the comments below. I’d appreciate it.

One thing’s for certain: the division of The House of Smurfs responsible for theme parks (IMPS — International Merchandising, Promotion & Services — led by Peyo’s daughter) sure kept themselves busy in the twenty-teens setting up parks elsewhere in the world!

Where Would I Go?

Each has its own advantages, but I think I’d choose Shanghai’s “Dream City.” I’d want to stay in the nearby hotel, though, that’s built on the edge of a quarry and sounds pretty spectacular. Plus, they have a shuttle that runs to the park.

While the Meet and Greet characters look the least impressive, I just like how this is the only park that is totally focused on the Smurfs. It’s not just a corner of a larger thing along with Hotel Translylvania.

I’m not even going to DisneyWorld these days, though, so I probably shouldn’t even bother dreaming about this.

In any case, I’d rather visit Belgium first…

Comic fan since 1989. Letterhack from 1991. Pipeline writer since 1997.

What do YOU think? (First time commenters' posts may be held for moderation.) Cancel reply

“The three Smurfs theme parks are located in Moscow, Dubai, and Shanghai” Sure. But… you forgot the two which are in Belgium, Walibi-Schtroumpf and the Schtroumpf Experience https://www.parcattraction.org/walibi-schtroumpf/ Just sayin’

But there are no Smurfs there anymore, are there? From the research I did, Walibi Smurf/Big Bang Schtroumpf has been re-themed and aren’t Smurfy anymore. From that link:

“The park now has 4 roller coasters and 5 water attractions, and all of the Smurfs attractions have been renamed.”

Also, the official Smurfs licensor doesn’t include them on their website.

The Schtroumpf Experience doesn’t quite feel like a theme park to me. It’s interesting and I’d love to go to one, but it feels more like a kids’ activity center than a theme park, you know? Character meet-and-greets, VR experiences, lots of photo ops for parents with Instagram accounts, but not quite a theme park. Maybe I’m splitting hairs here…

(And, yes, there IS a Big Bang Schtroumpf article in the works. We’ll see if it ever sees digital print, because there might not be enough of a story there. I’m still researching. There’s LOTS of information about the place on-line. We’ll see….)

As Disney Tips Shuttering Muppet*Vision 3D, Fans Decry ‘Devastating’ Move | Exclusive

The closing of the Hollywood Studios attraction, Jim Henson’s final performance, was nearly announced at D23 before a last-minute change, TheWrap learns

Mere hours after Disney Experiences held its big showcase at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and touted major and exciting new film, TV and parks projects at D23 , the “ultimate Disney fan event,” it appears one fan-favorite attraction could be closing for good. Walt Disney Imagineering, the secretive arm of the Walt Disney Company responsible for the theme parks, has only a few weeks to decide whether to keep Muppet*Vision 3D or to shut it down, an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap, and its closing was originally going to be tipped during a D23 presentation until a last-minute swap.

The original attraction opened in 1991, exactly a year after Jim Henson’s tragic death and has since become something of an institution. The film itself is a hilarious trip to the Muppet Labs, where your favorite characters are working on demonstrating a new 3D technology. It’s very much in the spirit of “The Muppet Show” and the recently aired “The Jim Henson Hour” (Waldo, the spirit of 3D, first appeared on the show), with technological breakthroughs being delivered with the anarchic spirit audiences have loved since “The Muppet Show.” And the whole thing lasts just 15 minutes.

During the D23 showcase, artwork for a proposed “Monsters, Inc.”-themed land was shown that would feature a coaster themed to the door chase from the first movie, along with monster-fied shopping and dining locations and be housed within Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a park that had started as a place where you would go behind the scenes of film and television production and has, with the addition of “Star Wars”- and “Toy Story”-themed lands, become the Disney theme park equivalent of the drawer at home where you shove all the stuff you don’t have a place for.

But where the “Monsters, Inc.” land would go within Disney’s Hollywood Studios was not disclosed.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, there was alternate artwork that was going to be shown during this presentation that would have more directly pinpointed that Muppet*Vision is on the chopping block. At the last minute that artwork was swapped for something more nebulous. There were fears, internally, that Josh D’Amaro, the unflappable and widely beloved chairman of Disney Experiences, would get booed as he delivered the news. Eagle-eyed fans still spotted a telltale water tower that gave away the location, taking to social media to express their outrage.

Disney declined to comment for TheWrap’s story. The Jim Henson Company did not return TheWrap’s request for comment.

Hours before the event, an insider told TheWrap that the ride would be placed within animation courtyard, an area of the Hollywood Studios park that formerly served as the demarcation point between the Disney-MGM Theme Park and the area where actual production was being done. The animation courtyard’s name comes from the fact that a Disney Animation satellite studio used to be there, and it was later where guests would load onto trams for a backlot tour of the Florida facilities.

It made sense – the area is very open and not being used for much besides a “Star Wars” walkaround exhibit called Launch Bay that was built in service of promoting “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Now the area is mostly abandoned.

But another individual with knowledge of the situation pointed to why Muppets Courtyard (or Grand Avenue, as it is currently known), would be more ideal for the “Monsters, Inc.” land – there’s already a restaurant (themed to Rizzo, the lovable Muppet rat) and infrastructure for shopping. And, chiefly, there’s already a faux city aesthetic to the area, perfect for the converting Monstropolis. “It’s a perfect way to stretch that $60 billion,” said this individual, referring to the $60 billion Disney has earmarked for theme park expansion around the world, which also includes additions to international parks and beefing up the company’s lucrative cruise ship line.

At the moment it looks like it’s curtains for Muppet*Vision 3D. And this, for some, is a huge issue.

“If this replaces animation courtyard, this is a pretty neat addition. If this replaces Muppet*Vision 3D, this is the worst thing that has happened in my entire life,” said one fan on X . Another wrote that Muppet*Vision 3D “needs to be protected it is the most important piece of media in American history.”

“It’s devastating for me because I love Muppet*Vision and it still plays really well. They also just refurbished it and the effects look better than they have in a long time. Hollywood Studios is a park that has very little history left and while not an opening day attraction, Muppet*Vision was from that bygone era,” Kevin Perjurer, the man behind the Defunctland video series, told TheWrap. He recently made a multi-part Jim Henson series released on YouTube.

Perjurer points to the attraction as an example of “Henson humor from the ‘70s meets Eisner humor from the ‘80s,” adding, “Muppet*Vision treats Mickey Mouse as a celebrity. It treats the parks with reverence.”

Dan Becker, who creates content as Disney Dan (and owns some props from the Disney California Adventure version of Muppet*Vision), called the attraction “a living relic of a media empire.” “It’s a national treasure. It’s the last bastion of Jim Henson’s legacy. It’s the thing that embodies everything that the Muppets are, at the peak of the greatness of the Muppets. For that to go away would be the closing of a door on a huge legacy that I think would be counterintuitive to what Disney is,” Becker said. “The idea of perhaps one of the best pieces of American media that survived from the ’90s that we still indulge in daily going away is really sad. And for what? A ‘Monsters, Inc.’ sushi restaurant?”

The move is all the more devastating to Disney fans given the attraction’s legacy, both in the parks and when it comes to the Muppets.

The product of a historic union

In 1989, Jim Henson entered into an agreement to sell his company to the Walt Disney Company, then run by Michael Eisner and Frank Wells. At the time, Wall Street analysts valued the deal at costing around $150 million. Under the agreement Henson would become, in the words of a contemporaneous New York Times report , a consultant “under a long-term agreement and will produce television shows and films exclusively for Disney.” The announcement of the union was made at Disney-MGM Studios, where soon, it was revealed, Henson would produce new theme park attractions, including a new 3D movie.

Soon after, guests on the studio tour would pass by a wall that promised not a single attraction but an entirely new themed land – The Muppet Studios, which would also include The Great Muppet Movie Ride, “a backstage ride explaining how movies are shot but all the information is wrong,” Henson described at the time. There would also be a restaurant where animatronic rats would run around guests (this restaurant opened without the animatronics, as Mama Melrose’s). A charming primetime special, “The Muppets at Walt Disney World,” was produced for “The Wonderful World of Disney.” And Henson worked on a live stage show called “Here Come the Muppets” for Disney-MGM. He even bought a house in Windermere, an affluent area just 30 minutes north of Walt Disney World.

What makes this so incredible is that the flurry of activity pre-dated the deal between the two companies being signed. There was a handshake agreement in place but nothing legally binding. As Brian Jay Jones wrote in his indispensable Jim Henson biography, “There were some inside the [Henson] organization who wondered why Jim would keep doing work for Disney without a formal agreement in place.”

This would become a huge area of contention when Henson died, unexpectedly, after a brief illness, in May 1990. Frank Oz, one of Henson’s closest collaborators (who became a Disney Legend during a ceremony on Sunday), said in 2021 that, “the Disney deal is probably what killed Jim.” The TV special aired just a few days before his death.

Muppet*Vision 3D, meant to be the beginning of a whole suite of Henson/Disney products, became the last thing that Henson directed and performed in. That made the attraction, as bright and hilarious as it was, something more . It was now a living memorial to one of the 20th century’s most celebrated, powerful and profoundly influential creative voices.

Muppet*Vision 3D history

Along with Henson’s death, the deal between Henson and Disney dissolved. “Jim’s death and the subsequent, staggering estate taxes put both sides in such a complicated and untenable position that neither could make the deal work to anyone’s benfit,” wrote Jones. “Just as crucially the tone of the discussions – always important to Jim – had become toxic.” Henson’s family, including a young Brian Henson, who now found himself unexpectedly running the company, and John, who at the time of Jim’s death was training performers for Muppet*Vision 3D, talked about pulling the attraction from the park.

Ultimately, an agreement was made between the Henson family and Disney, and the attraction opened on the one-year anniversary of Henson’s passing. When it opened, the “4D” attraction, which featured audio-animatronics, walkaround characters and mind-boggling in-theater effects, felt like an instant classic – the kind of thing that could only be achieved thanks to the mixture of Henson and Disney. Even the pre-show film, meant to amuse restless guests as they waited for the film, was a work of art, with characters scuttling between mounted television sets.

And it’s hard to overestimate just how hot on the attraction Disney was. They saw it as a potential It’s a Small World or Star Tours – an attraction that could be replicated in parks across the world. At one point, according to former Imagineer Mark Eades, the movie was being considered for the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln theater on Main Street in Disneyland. (There’s a reason that when the fire engine breaks through the wall of the theater at the end that the background, shot on the Disney lot in Burbank and featuring the gazebo from “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” looks vaguely Main Street-ish.) Tony Baxter, then head of Disneyland, shot the idea down. But the attraction did wind up as an opening day attraction at Disney California Adventure. In 2014 the DCA version of the attraction went down for refurbishments and never reopened. The giant Kermit from outside the theater currently resides at the Jim Henson Company studio, which was recently put up for sale.

Somehow, the Florida version of Muppet*Vision 3D survived, through the construction and opening of both Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land (both in close proximity) and through endless theming changes to the area around it, now known as Grand Avenue. Most of the fun Muppet-y theming of the building was jettisoned in 2017 and a charming mural was painted over in 2019 (which led to Disney having to reiterate to fans that the attraction would remain operational). Just last year the show received a major upgrade, with projection mapping being added for a moment when the CGI character Waldo gets replicated and flies around the theater.

It’s always there and always open, reassuring and warm like your favorite hometown diner. Until now.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

As part of the Disney Experiences panel on Saturday, the company also announced that a new Walt Disney animatronic show would be installed at Disneyland, in the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln theater (yes, the same theater that would have shown Muppet*Vision 3D). But they were also quick to acknowledge that the show would rotate with the original Lincoln show, which opened at Disneyland following its debut at the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Queens. Still, it was the closest Disney came to admitting something beloved was going to have to shut down to make way for something new.

Rebecca Alter, a writer for New York Magazine’s Vulture, recently wrote a piece about how the attraction should be registered as a National Heritage Site, describing it as “a triumph of formal experimentation, a playfully subversive piece of studio satire, and a timeless piece of family entertainment.”

When TheWrap talked to her on Monday, she described herself as “not someone who is that reverent.” She appreciates Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, for example, but isn’t dazzled by it. Muppet*Vision is different. For Alter, the attraction is “the physical embodiment of this artform that is Muppets.”

“What makes this special is that it’s the final thing that Jim Henson directed and performed in and in a park that feels like it’s lost its way a bit, in all the investment in shiny new attractions, it’s a lot of wide, hot, empty concrete and lacks a cohesive vibe,” Alter said. “Muppet*Vision feels like that early ’90s MGM-Studios magic and vibe. Even though that park had way less E-ticket attractions it felt more cohesive. It’s this example of really great Imagineering and this partnership of Imagineering and Henson to combine forces to make this wildly lovely creative thing.”

Walt Disney once said that the parks are always in a state of change and those who followed in Walt’s footsteps have maintained this ethos of evolution. That nothing really should stay the same; this is not a museum, after all, but a place where people can indulge in flights, real and imagined, to fantastic, magical worlds. But losing this attraction would mean something very specific and very important to those who adore it. It would be saying goodbye to Jim. Something that few are still ready to do. Muppet*Vision stands as a towering testament to the man and all that he created.

And in a very Muppets-like twist, there are only a few weeks left to save it.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Advertisement

Disney world closing muppet*vision 3d would be a colossal mistake for its legacy, share this article.

On a sweltering Orlando Sunday in August 2022, my dutiful wife accompanied me to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for my 30th birthday to stroll about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and celebrate a turning of the decade like most, ahem, adults do.

Although, the sticky Florida summer hits you like a baseball bat to the jaw the second you walk into any Disney park in the summertime. After wandering around for a bit, she asked if we could get some air conditioning. Obviously, I obliged with the best Trojan Horse idea I could possibly have.

I knew of the perfect place with ample A/C and plenty of seats to beat the heat. A place where you could play the music, light the lights, raise the curtain and get things started for a theme park attraction that’s, well, one of the most most sensational inspirational, celebrational and … Muppetational … things to do in all of Walt Disney World.

The exacerbated look on my wife’s face once she realized that I was leading her into Muppet*Vision 3D to get out of the sun is one I’ll never forget, yet another memory from one of the great Disney World attractions I’ll tuck in my back pocket to give me a smile when I think about that trip, and countless others to Orlando. She’s not the world’s biggest Muppets fan, but I sure am.

Although, the beloved Muppets attraction now needs our help more than ever.

With Disney announcing a host of new park experiences at its D23 convention over the weekend, news of a Monsters Inc. land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (including the long-awaited thrill ride based on that film’s iconic door chase) quickly gave way to concern about where exactly Disney was planning to build its Monstropolis replica.

The Wrap’s Drew Taylor , an authoritative voice on anything Disney, confirmed on Tuesday what many feared about this new Monsters -themed expansion. The area where Muppet*Vision 3D sits in Disney’s Hollywood Studios was a possible zone for construction for the Monsters Inc. land, which would mean shuttering the Muppets attraction for good. According to Taylor, the fate of Muppet*Vision 3D would be decided in mere weeks.

“Walt Disney Imagineering, the secretive arm of the Walt Disney Company responsible for the theme parks, has only a few weeks to decide whether to keep Muppet*Vision 3D or to shut it down, an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap, and its closing was originally going to be tipped during a D23 presentation until a last-minute swap,” Taylor reported.

Taylor spells out varying reports about where the Monsters Inc. world could be placed on Disney’s Hollywood Studios property, with a possible landing spot being the barren animation courtyard that once housed a Little Mermaid live show and still holds the remains of an event space that featured a Disney animation showcase and, more recently, a catch-all for Star Wars .

However, Taylor’s reporting detailed why Disney might raze where the Muppets attraction stands to build a home for Mike and Sully.

“But another individual with knowledge of the situation pointed to why Muppets Courtyard (or Grand Avenue, as it is currently known), would be more ideal for the “Monsters, Inc.” land – there’s already a restaurant (themed to Rizzo, the lovable Muppet rat) and infrastructure for shopping,” Taylor wrote. “And, chiefly, there’s already a faux city aesthetic to the area, perfect for the converting Monstropolis. ‘It’s a perfect way to stretch that $60 billion,’ said this individual, referring to the $60 billion Disney has earmarked for theme park expansion around the world, which also includes additions to international parks and beefing up the company’s lucrative cruise ship line.”

This would, quite simply, be an absolutely horrible decision for Disney to make, even if the Monsters Inc. land does sound pretty neat.

Consider the history behind the attraction. Muppet*Vision 3D is one of the last great works of Muppets creator Jim Henson, who tragically died in 1990 before the attraction opened in Orlando in 1991. It’s one of the last things he created as steward of Kermit the Frog and the gang, one of the last examples of his megawatt creative spirit, deadpan comedic genius and genial Muppet anarchy that defined these beloved felt entertainers during their golden run in the 1970s and 1980s. Heck, it’s one of the last times we ever got to hear his voice as Kermit, guiding us along another zany Muppets adventure.

Muppet-Vision 3D is comedic gold Like this is some of the best Muppet material pic.twitter.com/fmTT4uLllX — Muppet History (@HistoryMuppet) April 21, 2024

In a world where Disney has allowed the Muppets to gather dust after a two-film theatrical run in the early 2010s, an ill-fated sitcom in 2015 and a couple of fizzled-out Disney+ projects, Muppet*Vision 3D feels like the primary way that Disney is keeping Henson’s memory alive. To bulldoze through it in the name of theme park progress would feel like a moral abdication and a cruel, corporate calculation that erases the great testament to Henson’s genius and the long-lasting appeal of the Muppets for audiences of all ages.

Disney has never shied away from updating and outright replacing some of its older rides and shows, but there’s an unspoken truth to the legacy attractions that would spark widespread outcry if altered or closed. You can’t imagine Disney dismantling Dumbo the Flying Elephant for a snack shack or blowing up the big Spaceship Earth ball to make the entrance to Epcot more walkable for guests. Some parts of Disney parks are too sacred to replace.

With The Great Movie Ride reaching the closing credits and the Studio Backlot Tour going to the great Disney theme park in the sky, and Muppet*Vision 3D is one of the few attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that hearken back to its roots as Disney–MGM Studios. The show, still unique and immersive in a way that few theme park attractions are, opened just two years after the actual park did, making it one of the anchor attractions that has withstood the park’s extensive changes over the last couple of decades.

While Disney has hacked up the Muppets Courtyard over the years down to just the attraction and the Rizzo-themed pizza parlor, it feels like a precious corner of a world gone by. Part of a Disney park’s appeal is how the passage of time slows down just enough to where you can recreate specific experiences you had as a child as an adult and even with your own children.

Muppet*Vision 3D embodies that mentality so well. The show hasn’t aged a day with its humor and heart and has remained surprisingly buoyant with its 3D technology and mix of pre-filmed material, involvement of a live performer (a Disney cast member in a Sweetums costume) and usage of impressive animatronics scattered throughout the theater.

Ironically, the only film that’s even slightly dared to match what Muppet*Vision 3D has offered in the past couple of decades may well be Francis Ford Coppola’s upcoming Megalopolis , which utilizes a live actor in the theater having a conversation with Adam Driver’s character on the screen. Hypothetically, Henson did it first, and Disney World kept it going for more than 30 years. It’s an absolutely singular theatrical experience.

Vulture’s Rebecca Alter wrote an excellent piece recently on why Muppet*Vision 3D should be made a National Heritage Site, something we’re sure Disney would fight tooth-and-nail in order to retain the flexibility to close the attractions if it so pleases. The point Alter made still stands very sharply, even amid this troubling possibility of the show’s closure.

Henson’s last great piece of Muppets creation remains one of the great achievements at a Disney park, one where the pre-show waiting area will make you belly laugh in ways that 99-percent of ride queues fail to entertain (Max from the Union forever) and the actual show itself plays as wonderfully as anything Henson ever mounted with the Muppets.

Heck, Sam the Eagle’s “A Salute to All Nations, but Mostly America,” and the absolute mayhem it inspires, might be the single funniest thing that Henson and company ever devised with the Muppets. It still makes me howl all these years later in a way few things do.

As a card-carrying member of the Muppets Fan Club, I’m deeply biased in my deep desire for Disney to leave Muppet*Vision 3D the heck alone so that I can continue to enjoy it as a park guest and one day experience it with kids of my own.

It’s a timeless piece of Disney history that should stand for as long as the theme park surrounding it stands, and closing it would feel completely antithetical to the way Disney treats its other classic attractions, with deep reverence and keen understanding of how awful it would be to snuff out that corner of irreplaceable Disney magic forever.

Muppet History’s Joshua Gillespie , a fierce defender and noted historian of the Muppets and Henson’s work, put it as well as anyone could in a social media post on Tuesday about what Muppet*Vision 3D means: “It’s an important piece of Muppet history and to lose it would be losing a significant part of Jim’s legacy and the joy he brought to our world.”

Disney is far from a perfect company, but it’s got a layup of a decision to make with Muppet*Vision 3D . Let it live for another 30 years, and put the very promising Monsters Inc. land elsewhere in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

To close the last great living Muppets experience would be an unfathomable error that the company could never take back. It’d be the ultimate sign of disrespect for Henson’s memory and yet another example of why Disney is proving itself unworthy of keeping the Muppets alive for future audiences.

If Disney is really serious about being the proper steward for Kermit and friends, then keeping Muppet*Vision 3D going is the very least it can do.

Muppet Vision 3D isn’t just a great attraction, it was also the final Muppet project Jim Henson was involved with before he passed away It’s an important piece of Muppet history and to lose it would be losing a significant part of Jim’s legacy and the joy he brought to our world pic.twitter.com/BrIDzllf2d — Muppet History (@HistoryMuppet) August 13, 2024

More Pop Culture

Max explained why the latest episode of hard knocks was late to platform, 1 gambit line from channing tatum in deadpool & wolverine has become a hilarious meme, the next bachelor has been revealed, and he's a contestant from jenn tran's bachelorette season.

Matt Damon, Casey Affleck discuss movies, premium video on demand with The Instigators hitting Apple TV+

NBC's Noah Eagle met the moment with an incredible call of Steph Curry's gold-clinching 3-pointer

Kenan Thompson brought back All That's Pierre Escargot for the Paris Olympics, and it was glorious

Most popular, all 40 gold medals won by team usa in the paris olympics, the 6 best things i drank at great taste of the midwest, from old fashioned seltzer to more new glarus wizardry, 1 photo shows breanna stewart knew gabby williams had her foot on the line when trying to tie the gold medal game, 2024 fantasy football mock draft: 2 players deserve consideration at no. 1 before things get more interesting, can you spot the hiding rattlesnake the homeowner’s dog did, the french pole vaulter who hit his crotch on the bar made the perfect tiktok in response.

Please enter an email address.

Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.

Something went wrong.

Gen Z’s loneliness crisis may be changing entertainment tastes. Can Hollywood adapt?

• Copy Link URL Copied!

Gen Z is lonelier than previous generations, and that could present opportunities for Hollywood.

Social scientists say the group of people born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s, a cohort who grew up communicating digitally, is more socially isolated than their elders, thanks to a double whammy of the COVID-19 pandemic and social media supplanting in-person connection. Last year, the World Health Organization deemed loneliness to be a pressing global health threat .

Entertainment companies and researchers are trying to learn more about how this generational trend is changing young people’s tastes and preferences in media.

UCLA’s 2023 “ Teens & Screens ” study found that people ages 10 to 24 wanted to see more platonic relationships between onscreen characters, and weren’t as interested in media that portrayed romantic entanglements and sex. The survey, conducted by the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, found that among 1,500 U.S. adolescents, more than half (52%) wanted to see more content focused on friendships and platonic relationships.

Beverly Hills-based United Talent Agency, one of Hollywood’s biggest representation firms, took the study of Gen Z’s entertainment habits a step further.

In a nationwide poll conducted in June, the firm’s data division, UTA IQ, found that nearly 70% of U.S. Gen Zers’ favorite TV and film character duos were friends, while just 17% of respondents favored a romantic couple. When asked to name their top two favorite TV shows from the last three years, many Gen Z consumers listed series that emphasize friendships, putting “Stranger Things” at No. 1. Nostalgic hits “The Big Bang Theory” and “Friends” also ranked in the top five. The firm polled 830 people, ages 16 to 27.

“Friendship is more universal,” said Matt Feniger, who leads cultural insights in UTA’s entertainment marketing group. “Love comes in many different forms, and Gen Z is discovering how they identify, and they’re really going through that coming of age process. But friendship is the same, no matter what.”

Trying to understand what makes Gen Z tick is one of the great obsessions within the entertainment industry, which is largely run at the upper levels by people approaching retirement age. Younger people are more active online, they’re apt to cancel streaming services quickly, and they’re more motivated to use their purchasing power to advance their preferred social and political causes. Film and TV producers have to adapt to these rapid generational changes to stay relevant.

Of course, Gen Z’s stated interest in stories about platonic friendships doesn’t mean that Hollywood should give up on romantic stories. Sony’s “ It Ends With Us ,” starring Blake Lively (herself a millennial), just opened with a better-than-expected $50 million in its domestic box office debut. The same studio released a rom-com sleeper hit late last year with “Anyone But You.” It’s not as if American Gen Z audiences are becoming like the government of Qatar in their aversion to onscreen steaminess.

But certain cultural insights can be helpful to studios when they’re thinking about where to place their bets, and they’re also potentially useful for agencies such as UTA as they figure out how to best position their clients for success. Advertisers also have an opportunity to better entice customers by emphasizing friendship in their brand campaigns, rather than couples.

There are anecdotal signs that some studios and programmers are already heading in this direction. An April UTA research report noted that Apple TV+ renewed its series “ Platonic ,” which follows middle-aged best friends played by Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. Additionally, Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd are starring in an upcoming comedy film titled “Friendship.”

Buddy comedies are hardly new, but young audiences say in surveys that they’re looking for content that is more authentic and relatable to them. HBO, for example, this year ordered a pilot from Rachel Sennott about a codependent friend group.

UTA reps say their podcasting and digital content creator clients are employing strategies to grow and engage with fans by encouraging them to connect with each other in person. Podcasting is ripe for fostering IRL (in real life) togetherness, they say, because fans often feel as if they’re part of a friend group with fellow listeners. This idea was bolstered by the findings of a UTA-commissioned survey of 1,000 consumers from last year, in which 78% of U.S. Gen Z podcast listeners said they view themselves as belonging to a community with others who listen to their favorite shows.

These parasocial relationships, the kind that people experience with celebrities and influencers through social media, have been around for a long time. TikTokers and Instagram influencers have leaned into this idea, creating vertical videos that give followers the illusion that the creator is FaceTiming directly with them.

While the podcast charts are still dominated by long-running interview shows such as “The Joe Rogan Experience” and political and news formats including “The Tucker Carlson Show,” the New York Times’ “The Daily” and Crooked Media’s “Pod Save America,” UTA agent A.J. Leone said younger listeners are gravitating more toward friendship-driven shows hosted by buddies.

“You want to actually create a show that feels authentic to your listeners,” Leone said. “We’re not casting these shows, right? It’s got to be two hosts that are friends. They’ve gotta have great chemistry. And Gen Z, in particular, has really gravitated towards an authentic experience.”

Examples of shows that have taken this approach include Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers’ “Las Culturistas” and Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone’s “ Ride .” Many of the shows have inside jokes and in-group nicknames for fans, similar to how Taylor Swift’s dedicated followers call themselves “Swifties.”

That kind of fan enthusiasm has led to opportunities for creators to build their businesses by touring, selling merch and holding in-person fan meetups. UTA client Alex Cooper, the host of the popular “Call Her Daddy” podcast, encouraged her fans to connect with each other in real life and make friends during her “Unwell” tour .

These events address a desire among certain audiences to feel like they’re connecting with someone on the other side of the screen.

“The key is helping us connect with each other,” Feniger said. “I’m not gonna say it is the remedy. ... It’s just helping fans truly meet in person and make friendships with each other. And that exists then beyond the creators themselves.”

You’re reading the Wide Shot

Ryan Faughnder delivers the latest news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Stuff we wrote

At D23, even Disney’s biggest fans feel the pinch of high park prices . Disney’s D23 fan convention came days after an earnings report that showed softening demand at the company’s parks business. But good news: major “Avatar” and “Coco” attractions are coming to Disneyland .

Veteran TV trade journal Broadcasting + Cable is shutting down. Multichannel News also will close, reflecting changes in the TV business. Parent company Future is keeping Broadcasting + Cable’s annual Hall of Fame dinner alive. Sign of the times.

Popular Netflix shows leaked in security breach. Company ‘aggressively taking action.’ Yet-to-be-released episodes of popular Netflix shows, reportedly including “Arcane” and “Heartstopper,” were leaked online because of a breach at a postproduction firm.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds both declare box office victory ‘It Ends With Us’ banned in Qatar Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki dies at 56 Roy Wood Jr. will host CNN comedy program Smartmatic execs indicted for alleged bribery scheme

Number of the week

When Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global wrote down the value of their cable assets by billions of dollars last week, it was an admission of a reality that everyone following the media industry already knew.

The traditional television business is in big trouble , and has been for a long time, thanks to cord-cutting, streaming and all the other factors hammering the linear pay-TV bundle.

Warner Bros. Discovery said its networks, including CNN, Animal Planet and TBS, are worth $9 billion less than they were two years ago. Paramount’s TV portfolio, which has Comedy Central, MTV and others, took a $6 billion hit.

But while linear TV is in structural decline, these two companies have unique problems that contributed to their struggles.

Paramount’s cable brands have shrunk in relevance thanks to various mistakes by corporate leadership, including chronic underinvestment. Warner’s TV assets have struggled with a lack of strategic direction and debt-driven cost-cutting, exemplified by the loss of TNT’s NBA rights deal to NBC and Amazon.

At Paramount, the reevaluation of the cable business comes as the company is preparing to merge with David Ellison’s Skydance Media, which is what triggered the write-down. Paramount had to reconcile its valuation of the segment with the valuation the deal placed on the company.

Write-downs are backward-looking indicators, but the immediate future doesn’t look particular happy either. Paramount, on its second quarter earnings call, said it plans to lay off 15% of its staff , equating to about 2,000 people. The first phase of those cuts begins Tuesday, Paramount’s co-CEOs said in an email to employees.

Best of the web

— Atop ABC, a personal connection to Kamala Harris. (New York Times)

— HBO dominated Sunday nights . What happened? (Slate)

— Muppet*Vision 3D should be a national heritage site . (New York Magazine)

— Lean times at Warner Bros. Discovery. Except for the movie studio . (Wall Street Journal)

Finally ...

I, like everyone else, enjoyed the Paris Olympics. Ready for 2028, L.A.? Here’s The Times’ wish list for how the Games should showcase the city . I really do hope someone tries to pommel horse on top of Randy’s Donuts.

The Wide Shot is going to Sundance!

We’re sending daily dispatches from Park City throughout the festival’s first weekend. Sign up here for all things Sundance, plus a regular diet of news, analysis and insights on the business of Hollywood, from streaming wars to production.

Ryan Faughnder is a senior editor with the Los Angeles Times’ Company Town team, which covers the business of entertainment. He also hosts the entertainment industry newsletter The Wide Shot. A San Diego native, he earned a master’s degree in journalism from USC and a bachelor’s in English from UC Santa Barbara. Before joining The Times in 2013, he wrote for the Los Angeles Business Journal and Bloomberg News.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Hollywood Inc.

Paramount shutters television studio, begins major layoffs ahead of Skydance merger

Aug. 13, 2024

‘It Ends With Us’ movie banned in Qatar for kissing scenes

Aug. 12, 2024

Universal Music inks major licensing deal expansion with Meta to include WhatsApp

At D23, even Disney’s biggest fans feel the pinch of high park prices