It’s Star Wars week at Dateline Walt Disney World, so we’re naturally heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios park. Let’s jump to hyperspace.

Welcome to the Studios!
Welcome to the Studios!
Holiday decor looking nice!
Holiday decor looking nice!

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There is a Santa Claus meet and greet on Sunset Blvd.
There is a Santa Claus meet and greet on Sunset Blvd.

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Disney has a new Express Transportation option for guests who would like to spend more money to get from park to park faster. This involves being picked up from a backstage area. I don't like it at all. Backstage areas were at one point treated very differently than they are today, and this is just another money grab.
Disney has a new Express Transportation option for guests who would like to spend more money to get from park to park faster. This involves being picked up from a backstage area. Would you pay an extra $15/day for this? I’ll tell you my opinion in the comments section below – and please,  you tell me yours!

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Hmmm.

Yes, I thought a few weeks ago that the area that used to house the New Fantasyland model would have been getting a change for a Pandora or Star Wars/Toy Story Land model. It is just a Moana meet and greet. Kind of a shame to see part of One Man's Dream get chipped away.
Yes, I previously assumed that this area (which housed the New Fantasyland model) would have been updated for a Pandora or Star Wars/Toy Story Land model. Unfortunately, it is just a Moana meet and greet. Kind of a shame to see part of One Man’s Dream get chipped away for this.
No more signs to Doctor Strange at all.
All the Doctor Strange signage has been removed
All decorations are down, so this must have been a short experiment.
All decorations are down, so this must have been a short experiment.

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Nothing to see from this vantage point of Star Wars or Toy Story Lands.
Nothing to see from this vantage point of Star Wars or Toy Story Land construction
They really need to change this billboard.
But Dory is still around.

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Star Wars Launch bay has seen some changes with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story releasing in theaters this week.
Star Wars Launch bay has received a few updates with “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” releasing in theaters this week.

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The preview gallery that had The Force Awakens props now has Rogue One props.
The preview gallery that had The Force Awakens props now has Rogue One props.
The Death Star.
The Death Star.
Jyn Erso's cap.
Jyn Erso’s cap.

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Chirrut Imwe's LightBow.
Chirrut Imwe’s LightBow.

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Death Trooper helmet.
Death Trooper helmet.
Shoretrooper from Scarif.
Shoretrooper from Scarif.

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You can just hear the iconic TIE Fighter noise.
You can just hear the iconic TIE Fighter noise.
Supposedly, there will be Death Troopers roaming the area, but when we visited, it was just Stormtroopers.
Supposedly, there will be Death Troopers roaming the area, but when we visited, it was just Stormtroopers.
ABC Commissary is testing a new fast casual way of serving guests. A friend of mine waited 30 minutes and never saw his food and ended up getting a refund.
ABC Commissary is testing a new fast casual way of serving guests. A friend of mine waited 30 minutes and never saw his food and ended up getting a refund.
More trees blocking Star Wars construction on the old Street of America lot.
More trees blocking Star Wars construction on the old Street of America lot.

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Pizzerizzo is now open.
Pizzerizzo is now open.
Here's the menu.
Here’s the menu.
There is an outdoor seating area.
There is an outdoor seating area.
These jokes on the trash cans are great!
These jokes on the trash cans are great!
Very different on the inside than it was as Pizza Planet.
Very different on the inside than when it was as Pizza Planet.
Downstairs indoor seating.
Downstairs indoor seating.
Upstairs indoor seating.
Upstairs indoor seating.
Lots of jokes in the theming on the walls.
Lots of jokes in the theming on the walls.

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The 'banquet hall' has a changing light pattern.
The ‘banquet hall’ has a changing light pattern.

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There is also an outdoor area on the second floor.
There is also an outdoor area on the second floor.

It will eventually provide us views of construction!

 

Piggy still has a planter and not a fountain.
Piggy still has a planter and not a fountain.
Star Tours will be going back to being fully random this weekend.
Star Tours will be going back to being fully random this weekend.

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More News From Around Walt Disney World

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is offering a new casual quick service breakfast. “Kuamsha,” meaning awakening in Swahili, is available from 7 to 10am daily. You’ll be able to create a made to order breakfast while taking in the stunning Savannah view. In case you don’t have time for a Dine in experience, Grab and Go options will be available  as well.

Don’t miss out on a  new limited edition Ray Ban sunglass style featuring Mickey Mouse. Available at Sunglass Hut throughout the WDW resort (including Disney Springs.) This classic Ray Ban Wayfarer design might just be the perfect gift for the Mickey Mouse fan in your life.

The Art of Disney, The Marketplace at Disney Springs will feature Artist Greg McCullough from 1 to 8 pm, December 13th thru 16th. Disney’s Days of Christmas will be host to Disney Design Group Artist Costa Alavezos. He will be available from 6 to 8pm on December 17th.

Time to leave Hollywood and head back to Orlando!
Time to leave Hollywood and head back to Orlando!

That does it for this week. Are you excited to see Rogue One? Is Pizzerizzo worth closing Pizza Planet, or just more of the same? And what about that up-charge bus service between parks? If you are paying all that extra money for a park-hopper ticket, shouldn’t this sort of transportation be included? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

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Cory Disbrow
Cory likes Walt Disney World so much, he recently packed his bags and moved to Orlando. Cory is a photographer and writes MiceChat's Dateline Disney World columns every Friday.