Disney’s Hollywood Studios Closing Numerous Attractions In Early April At Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is currently undergoing a lot of changes and the majority of those are at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The major expansion coming to that park will include Star Wars Land (working title) and a Toy Story Land, but with progress comes change. Word has gotten out today that a number of longtime attractions at the park will be closing and soon removed entirely.

On Friday morning, the Disney Parks Blog confirmed that the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show will be closing as of April 2, 2016. That will give guests two-and-a-half more months to catch the show which has been in place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since March of 2005.

All of this is being done for the expansion of the new lands. In that report, Disney also revealed another interesting tidbit.

“In order to bring our new lands to life, the first steps of the expansion will be happening soon. We wanted to let you know that Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show and nearby locations around Streets of America will be closing on April 2, 2016. The Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show attraction will continue its daily shows until the closing date.”

Since then, many have been wondering what those “nearby locations” are going to end up being. Well, now it appears as if that information is known as well.

One of the things that will be going away is the Earful (or Earffel) Tower, which is a symbol of the studios itself. The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that a date has not yet been set by Disney, but its removal is coming.

It appears as if a number of other attractions in the area of Lights, Motors, Action! will also be going away, and are likely going to close on April 2 as well.

• Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
• Monsters Inc. meet-and-greet with Sulley and Mike
• Studio Catering Co. restaurant
• Streets of America

This whole area is expected to become part of the Star Wars-themed land that is breaking ground this year. It’s also a huge reason that 2015 was the final year for the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights that spent 20 years being put up and enjoyed every holiday season at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Changes are being made, and not everyone is happy about them. Some are welcoming the new additions and expansions, but others feel some Disney nostalgia should be reserved.

Already within the last year-and-a-half, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has seen a number of attractions close and other changes. Here are the changes that have come about at the park recently:

• American Idol Experience permanently closed
• Backlot Studio Tour permanently closed
• The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow permanently closed
• Magic of Disney Animation permanently closed – Turned into Star Wars Launch Bay
• Phineas & Ferb meet-and-greet permanently removed
• Cars meet-and-greet permanently removed
• Big Sorcerer’s Hat permanently removed

Just about all of the attractions in that list had seen drastic declines in attendance and didn’t get large jumps until the week or two before their scheduled closing. It’s actually not a huge surprise that Disney’ Hollywood Studios ended up getting rid of them.

The changes to Disney’s Hollywood Studios are making way for an almost complete overhaul of the park that opened in 1989. A name change was confirmed for the park last year, but Disney has yet to say what it will be or when exactly it is coming.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will see a lot of changes in the coming years and things are beginning already with Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land. Walt Disney World has a lot of history, but it is ever evolving to bring more to more guests.

[Image via Disney]