Category Archives: Hollywood Studios News

mike and sulley concept
Hollywood Studios News

Monsters University meet and greet at Hollywood Studios

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Last week I mentioned that Mike and Sulley are getting a makeover for their meet and greet at Hollywood Studios.  This week Disney released this concept art.  Sulley is wearing a jacket that looks very similar to one I used own.  I like that they will receive new costume overlays and some props in the meet.  What do you think?

Monsters Inc Laugh Floor at the Magic Kingdom will receive some changes as well.

mike and sulley concept

Not only will they receive this makeover at Hollywood Studios, but for Disney’s California Adventure as well!
mike and sulley dca concept

The college boys will even lead the DCA parade.mike and sulley dca parade concept

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Hollywood Studios News

Wreck-it Ralph and Vanellope begin appearing October 28

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Disney Parks has confirmed the news that I’ve been telling you about for quite some time.  Wreck-it Ralph and Vanellope will begin meeting guests at Hollywood Studios on Sunday, October 28 in the Magic of Disney Animation area.  It’s the same area that houses Sorcerer Mickey and the Incredibles. 

My best guess is that the movie will be a big success, but the character may be short-lived.  Ralph can get pretty exhausted wrecking all day and he may not last more than a few months.  Costumers have described him as a “hot mess” when it comes to how difficult it is for him to move about.  Think of James P. “Sulley” Sullivan in terms of movement, only worse.  Ralph will be incapable of signing autographs, so that will be left to Vanellope – the princess of pulled taffy.  I don’t have their official schedule yet, but I expect them to meet 10-6 daily, or something like that.

Be sure to check out their new movie which opens November 2.  It’s a great movie with lots of laughs, nods to classic video games and a big heart.  If you’re a character hunter, meet these guys in the next few months or you possibly may never see them.

Character Rumors!, Hollywood Studios News

Possible date for Wreck-it Ralph’s first appearance

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I’ve been hearing “late October” for the first appearance for Wreck-it Raplh and Vanellope for a while now, even though the Disney blog announced his appearance as beginning in November.  Recently, I was given the date of Sunday, October 28th as Ralph and Vanellope’s first day to meet and greet guests at Hollywood Studios Magic of Animation, where Winnie the Pooh used to meet.  Stitchkingdom.com has also heard the same date, so I feel reasonably comfortable releasing that date.  Delays can always occur, especially when dealing with a refurb for an area, but that’s the date I’ve heard Disney is shooting for right now.

Character Rumors!, Hollywood Studios News

Wreck-it Ralph and Vanellope VonSchweetz confirmed to be coming to Hollywood Studios

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Wreck-it Ralph

The Disney Parks Blog has confirmed the rumors that this blog has been posting for some time that Wreck-it Ralph and Vanellope VonSchweetz are indeed coming to Hollywood Studios this fall.  Their blog states that the characters will be arriving in “November.”  I’ve been hearing for a while that the characters would arrive in late October.  Either the characters are being delayed a bit or the late October timing is more of a soft opening?  The actual movie opening date is November 2, 2012.

Here’s a description of the meet and greet that comes from the Disney Parks Blog:  “Wreck-It Ralph” is going to be great, and meeting Ralph and Vanellope in the parks will be just as fun. At The Magic of Disney Animation attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll step through Game Central Station, catching glimpses of the various game worlds from the film on your way to “Sugar Rush,” where Vanellope and Ralph are waiting to meet you at the finish line.

Winnie the Pooh will cease meeting guests in the Animation area in October and is supposed to rejoin the other Hundred Acre Wood characters for meet and greets at the hat in the mornings.

Hollywood Studios News

Character Palooza testing on the Streets of America

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(Update 9/21/2012:  Character Palooza was being held on Echo Lake yesterday)

I have heard from a number of people that the “Character Palooza” that usually takes place in the animation building beginning around 4:50 pm each day took place on the Streets of America yesterday.  No autographs were allowed and the characters were basically just wandering the streets looking for people to meet.  This could be a one-time or short-term test, but if you’re in Hollywood Studios this week, it might be worth arriving around 4:30pm on the Streets of America to see if the characters appear.

Hollywood Studios News

Wreck-it Ralph to be joined by Vanellope

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Wreck-it Ralph evidently won’t be alone this fall at Hollywood Studios.  He will be joined by Vanellope, who is another major character in the self-titled film.  (Source:  asianway wdwmagic) This may also explain why Mrs. Incredible is set to retire soon.  It’s going to be a great fall and winter season for character hunters!

Hollywood Studios News

Disney Villains Hollywood Bash – Run for the Villains?

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Disney Villains Hollywood Bash

September 29, 10:30 p.m. – September 30, 2012, 4:00 a.m.

Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

(Update 9/22:  I have my tickets in hand!!!  It’s being reported by WDWCharacterHunt that the same Villains that appear for MNSSHP will also appear for the Villains Bash and that some rare characters will appear for the 5K and 10 miler)

Marathons and other Run Disney events have become a great way to meet rare characters like Darkwing Duck and Hercules.  The marathons and half-marathons typically sell out well in advance.  Many of us could never complete a full or even half marathon at a 16 minute per mile pace, so we think our chances of meeting these characters are low.

Run Disney is now offering a Disney Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run race (99% full on 9/22)  with a special Villains party (96% full) that includes all the best rides of Hollywood Studios along with great Disney Villains.  The 5K race costs $50 and the Disney Villains Hollywood Bash costs an additional $54. However, Disney will offer a limited number of the Villains Bash tickets to the general public on the day of the race at ESPN Wide World of Sports.  It’s actually less than the cost of a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ticket and will probably include the same villains (maybe more?).

http://www.rundisney.com/tower-of-terror-10-miler/registration/

“Runners and Guests can party in the shadow of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ at the Disney Villains Hollywood Bash where you will enjoy Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ , Star Tours, Muppet*Vision 3D, The Great Movie Ride, and Toy Story Mania!, in addition to DJs and character meet & greets with your favorite Disney Villains.

Disney Villains Hollywood Bash Ticket quantities for friends and family are limited and not guaranteed. Based on availability, Disney Villains Hollywood Bash Tickets will be available for purchase at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex during Packet Pick-up. Tickets are non-refundable.”

Hollywood Studios News

Jake and the Neverland Pirates Character Meal

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UPDATE:  It doesn’t appear that this meal change will be taking place any time soon.

RUMOR

There’s a new rumor going around that Jake, Izzy (pink bandana and shirt), Captain Hook and Mr Smee will be taking over the breakfast and lunch “Play and Dine” character meals at Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood Studios.  The current meal isn’t nearly as popular as Walt Disney World Entertainment would like to see.  It’s seen as an underperforming offering and they hope by adding Izzy as a new character and bringing Hook and Smee out more will inspire new bookings.

The move would send Agent Oso and June into the rare/retired character status and Handy Manny will continue to meet in his usual location.  I think it would be even more fun to put Peter Pan into the meal (he has appeared on this show) and have him interact with Capt. Hook.  We used to have some great interactions with those to characters a few years ago in the Magic Kingdom.  If they had to drop Smee to add Pan, I think it would bring a broader appeal.