PHOTOS - Changes come to Grand Avenue and Star Tours areas ahead of Galaxy's Edge opening this summer

Mar 25, 2019 in "Disney's Hollywood Studios"

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Grand Avenue construction pre-Star Wars

Posted: Monday March 25, 2019 3:02pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Grand Avenue will become one of the main entrances into Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and work is underway on preparing the area for the expected crowds.

Grand Avenue will lead most guests into Galaxy's Edge. Photo by @cchard

As you can see from the aerial view above, the old speeder bike outside Star Tours has been removed, and much of the queue for the Mickey and Minnie meet and greet has been removed.

Similar to the opening of Pandora, it is likely that guests will need to be a holding area prior to entering Galaxy's Edge, and Grand Avenue appears to be where that is likely to happen.

Grand Avenue construction pre-Star Wars

Construction walls surround much of the area, and a new Disney Vacation Club kiosk has setup shop across from the Baseline Tap House.

Grand Avenue construction pre-Star Wars

Aerial photos for WDWMAGIC by @cchard.

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KikoKeaJul 08, 2024

I hear ya. Mainly, I was talking about using that big rock wall to hide a big blue box (looking at you, Guardians). I'm not sure where they could put an entire coaster without tearing out part of the massive rockwork. But, they could create an entrance that is interesting with movement and design. Maybe it could give a glimpse of the coaster beyond (if that would not break the "immersion" of being in Baatu). Personally, I'm ok with seeing a coaster...if done right. With the rain in FL, there is something to be said for coasters being inside.

PurduevianJul 08, 2024

I don't think any new attraction should be out of sight/indoors. The land desperately needs kinetic energy outside of the ROTR queue waterfall and a few droids that shake their heads.

KikoKeaJul 06, 2024

A Landspeeder coaster placed out of sight behind the buildings could work. It could be a chase theme- tight turns, moderate hills, launches and a stop or 2 for a scene and maybe a corkscrew or other thrill, all placed inside an area of varying obstacles such as trees, rocks, caves or water, etc. While I do admire and appreciate the amazing rock work and theming that went into Star Wars Land, it doesn't offer us much more than a very pleasant stroll between Muppets and Slinky.

BocabearJun 25, 2024

If the Landspeeder coaster's visible outdoor section were elevated and the track masked by the building facades it could look like they are traveling over the rocks and buildings...It would actually add something kinetic to the incredibly dead space... which would look great... The land should be a bustling hive of illainy.... so there should be spaceships and land speeders and droids etc.... not a vacant, burned out half abandoned outpost... Make it fun and more vibrant....

Stevie AmsterdamJun 25, 2024

Most landspeeders are ground based but it would be funny to see them glide over the roofs 😅

Stevie AmsterdamJun 25, 2024

I would think this is because it's suposed to feel authentic and real. Obviously it is a fictional planet with fantasy characters, but it could be real. A coaster, especially one with an outside part that goes through Galaxies Edge, would break the illusion immediately. Then again so do tourists with Mickey Mouse ears on their head but you know what I mean, right? ;)

ToTBellHopJun 24, 2024

I think they could really spice things up at Ronto Roasters with a lightsaber injury line of food items.

AdventureHasANameJun 23, 2024

You can fix this by putting the track on top of buildings and then hiding the track (but not the vehicles) with a portion of the building roof.

mickEbluJun 23, 2024

I could expand. And I have… ad nauseum for the last couple years so I’ll spare everyone and the mods this once. Haha

easyrowrdwJun 23, 2024

I really don’t see much authenticity or hyper reality in Tiana. I know they did research trips but the ride itself doesn’t seem very connected reality. You spend the ride looking for critter musicians and get shrunk down to the size of frogs. Honestly, the whole ride seems to be focused on fun. It’s all up beat music on your way to a party.

mickEbluJun 22, 2024

I dunno. I see some of the same failures in TBA that I see in GE. A prioritization and staunch commitment to authenticity or in GE’s case hyper reality/ “immersion” at the expense of fun and end user experience.

IncomudroJun 22, 2024

I totally get why Disney did what they did, avoiding coasters in GE because they wanted everything to appear "real." And I support that - though I wish they gave us what they promised in terms of characters and other kinetics. Having said that, if anything can be a coaster and still work within the land - a well done Speeder coaster (like Hagrid's) is something I would support.

999th Happy HauntJun 22, 2024

I’d throw the concept of being 100% in-universe out in less than a second if it meant we could get a ride as good as Hagrid’s in GE.

BocabearJun 20, 2024

If it were a new version of a spinner....that perhaps was more of a thrill spinner.....where the arms extended quite high.... THatmight be a good thing... and a flat ride for the toddlers...Yoda's Dagobah Swamp Buggies....lol