Even before Disney bought Lucasfilm, the two companies have joined forces to create some incredibly memorable theme park experiences. From the Indiana Jones Stunt Show to ‘Star Tours’ to the massive fan gatherings known as Star Wars Weekends, the brand certainly has had a presence at Walt Disney’s parks all over the world. But a new rumor has surfaced stating that ‘Star Wars’ may be getting a lot more real estate in Florida in the coming years.
According to Theme Park Insider, former president of the Disneyland Resort. George Kalogridis. has been transferred over to the East Coast to oversee Walt Disney World, where he’s planning on expanding Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the same manner that he did over at Disney’s California Adventure. Except this expansion includes a whole lot more ‘Star Wars’. In fact, rumor has it that the legendary franchise from the mind of George Lucas will be getting it’s own land.
The report says that the expansion, which will also include an East Coast version of the extremely popular Cars Land, would probably clear out attractions such as the Lights, Motors, Action stunt show, Catastrophe Canyon, the Muppet Theater, and the ‘Honey I Shrunk The Kids’ play area. If the ‘Star Wars’ side of things were to expand out from the other side of ‘Star Tours: The Adventure Continues’, then it would knock out the Backlot Express restaurant and the Indiana Jones Stunt Show theater, but seeing as the theater hosts a number of events throughout the year, no one really sees that going anywhere.
The plan is for the expansion to be completed in five years, so we could be getting this new Star Wars Land in Hollywood Studios by 2018, but no official word has been spoken about this project just yet. That leaves this firmly in the rumor column for now, but we might get a better idea of how true this is when the D23 convention rolls around in August. However, just as they’re doing with Marvel over in Hong Kong Disneyland, I wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t some serious talks of adding more ‘Star Wars’ to the Disney Parks right now, especially since J.J. Abrams’ film is slated to drop in 2015.
While it’s a bummer that the fan favorite Muppets attraction looks like it could be closing it’s doors, the addition of a ‘Star Wars’ area might be the best possible thing that could replace it. With Universal’s plans in place to expand The Wizarding World of Harry Potter into their Orlando park as well as their California one as well, Disney could definitely use the force to strike back and reassert their theme park dominance in the Sunshine State. And let’s face it: This will totally be better than whatever they’re planning for Avatar Land at the Animal Kingdom.
What do you think of Disney’s Hollywood Studios getting a whole new area dedicated to ‘Star Wars’? What sort of new attractions do you think the Imagineers will conjure up for this new land? Share your ideas in the comments below.
