Disney’s Hollywood Studios Update Including Kylo Ren’s Grand Arrival

As we head toward April and the closing of about half Disney's Hollywood Studios, we take a look at some of the things that will be sticking around and others that will disappear into yesterland.

First, let's take a look at what's sticking around... as far as we know.

Well, maybe this view is changing, but still the Great Movie Ride is still one of the best photo ops right behind Cinderella Castle. The back side of GMR updated the movie posters to include Disney's Zootopia, joining The Jungle Book. For The First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-a-long seemed at one point to be the future of Disney's Hollywood Studios, but thankfully those plans seemed to be scaled back. Sunset Blvd. seems to be the only part of DHS not being touched. Star Wars is of course the focus with the expanded Star Wars Land coming soon, but luckily Star Tours is still going to be there for us to get our fix. That is not to say things are staying the same in the area. With the growing popularity of the new Trials of the Temple Jedi Training show, the small area has been expanded to try to accommodate more parents attempting to get photos of their little Padawan. One of the more surprising locations that is apparently staying put is the Backlot Express. Located right next to Star Tours, most "armchair Imagineers" were predicting this would be gone sooner rather than later, but no plans have been announced.Even though they are surrounded by areas already announced to be going,Muppet Vision 3D, the Stage 1 shop and Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano are all sticking around and still looking great. Two of the "on the bubble" locations, Walt Disney One Man's Dream and The Little Mermaid show, are still going strong but, as we have learned, nothing is safe in this park. Now for the areas currently in a state of flux and we know will be gone as of April 2, 2016:As of now, only a few areas actually have construction walls including expansion of the covering of the seating area at Sunset Ranch dinning area, the former Premier Theater with meet and greet areas, Pizza Planet, and the former Radio Disney area. Now for the areas we know are going the way of Sounds Dangerously, we start with the current home of Sorcerer Mickey photo spot, Pixar Place, and Toy Story Midway Mania. I am sure some of you are reading this and thinking "wait, Toy Story Midway Mania is not going anywhere" and while that is true, it is not 100% true.If you look almost center of the concept art from Disney of Toy Story Land you see a giant toy box which will most likely be the new entrance of Toy Story Midway Mania. Also, Toy Story Land (judging from the above art) will wrap around the current backstage area and exit near the former Backlot Tour entrance and Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. The other downside of Toy Story Land is loosing some of the small touches of the park like the often overlooked Splash fountain, as featured in the movie of the same name.One of the things that will really have a major effect on the crowd dispersion of the park will be the closure of the Studio Catering Company counter location and the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area. Of course, the biggest lose to the Studios will be the Streets of America. This area was part of the original Studio Tram Tour when the park opened in 1989 and has been home the Osborne Lights for the past 20 years. But, with a 14 acre Star Wars Land coming, some things will have to go. Now that we have taken a look at things staying and going, let's take a look at the newest addition to Disney's Hollywood Studios... Kylo Ren!After just 2 months the Star Wars Launch Bay received its first major upgrade.Out is the Sith Lord Darth Vader and in his place is his grandson Kylo Ren.