Well, as we write this we are putting on a black armband… sad times for a WDW icon, the Hollywood Studios bridge is being taken down and taken away. Sniff.
The hugely iconic bridge was the start of the adventure that awaited you for this particular park as you drove up World drive and you see the turning for Hollywood Studios the excitement levels began to rise, the famous “film reel” bridge was the marker for the Studios. But alas it’s to be no more! With the ginormous new car parking lot and the Skyliner they have changed the route in so the bridge will no longer be needed as all the surrounding roads have been altered to accommodate the increase in traffic.
Also the archway inside the studios has lost its classic logo from the MGM themed era, and is going to be replaced with the new logo. *SIGHS* At least we are keeping Mickey on top of the crossroads spire!!! To be honest we’ve been a few times in the last 6 years and boy, you cannot believe just how much work has taken place in that short time! Not just the parks but the local roads and infrastructure has had a much needed upgrade.
Hollywood Studios is not the only casualty in Disney’s birthday celebration preparations, the entrance to Epcot has been drastically altered in the last few weeks to accommodate the new look and feel to the place. Gone are the stone monoliths that had people’s pictures on (thank goodness in our opinion, personally we always thought they spoiled the entrance to the park!). They are making way for a new look to the entrance and some new and improved lands and restaurants. They’ve taken out the iconic Fountain of Nations and are demolishing the Mouse Gear store and the Starbucks! Fingers crossed they open an new one ready for our visit next summer, Mr Oh! needs his large flat white fix 1st thing on entering the parks.
The Universe of Energy building in Epcot has been repurposed into part of the Guardians of the Galaxy ride, Cosmic Re-wind. This was a rather large building and now attached to it is the ride building for G.O.T.G ride, a structure so big you could fit 4 Spaceship Earths inside. Wowsers! Impressive. Near to that will be the new restaurant called Space 220, because you will be 220 miles above the Earth! Really! (Not really…) there will be no windows in this restaurant but it will be all screens and projection to give you the feeling of being in a spaceship orbiting the planet. There will be over a 1,000 bottles of wine and a vast array of craft beers, Space 220 will be a full service restaurant in the $$$ price range. (See earlier blog for Disney price codes). We can’t wait to try this place – craft beers, over 1,000 different wines – win win!
This work is being done to change the landscape at Epcot and there will be 4 distinct lands – Celebration, will be the main thoroughfare as you enter, to the left will be the Discovery ‘land’ and to the right will be Nature and the World Showcase as ever around the lagoon. Pride of place will be the huge 3 storey pavilion with the perfect place to meet and view the fireworks at the end of the day. Epcot’s plaza will be transformed with new experiences that connect you to the world, with a new fountain and pathways, and behind Spaceship Earth there will be a stunning view of the World Showcase and a new statute celebrating the original dreamer Mr Walt Disney himself.
Just up the road on the I-4 in Universal they are no slouches either. Lots of work going on in and around here, better roads all for the new theme park opening in 2023, yes…you read that right, 2023. Universal’s Epic Universe will be a huge new development for the area. A lot of what’s happening here is still secret but little nuggets have been teased such as Nintendo-land , How to train your Dragon-land and areas such as Classic Monsters and Fantastic Beasts and a yet unannounced dual launch roller coaster. There will also be a hotel on site with and dining area in the centre, this use the classic ‘hub and spoke’ design.
In other Universal news building work is still ongoing in front of the Discovery Center over at Jurassic Park, another ‘top secret project’ that everyone can see being built!! The rumour mill has it that this MAY be a new coaster that wraps around the lagoon in front of the Discovery Center, still no news on this yet. But several sources say that many different names have been trademarked at a Florida Courthouse. So, watch this space!!
See you all soon, and if anyone has any old pictures of the original MGM logo please feel free to tag us in post on social media. See you all soon.
theohorlando.blog 