6/28/07) Lots of changes are in store for the Disney-MGM Theme Park, revealed to Cast Members in a series of meetings this week from
Disney World management. Confirmed new additions include the arrival of the Block Party Bash parade from California Adventure sometime in March 2008, an updated Playhouse Disney show will open in February 2008 following a month long closure of the theater. A new show of some kind will open in the ABC Theater in May 2008, though details were not given. Many expect this to possibly be a new indoor version of the High School Musical show. Jedi Academy will now be a permanent fixture in front of Star Tours that will take place on an all new stage that will be built. Over at the Toy Story Mania area of the park, that entire back area will be renamed Pixar Place. It was also revealed that the old Soundstage 1 building formerly used for the Mickey Meet & Greet area will not be used for Toy Story Mania but is being reserved for another new attraction that will come online in 2009-2010. Given the size of the space in the area, including the now unused building once used for the walking portion of the backstage tour, and some would like to think that another Pixar based attraction could be headed here, such as Crush’s Coaster, but that’s just random speculation at this point and not even a rumor. The park is planning some kind of lightning effects updates to add to the Sorcerer’s Hat in the future and the Playhouse Disney concert series will return this fall but take place in a backstage parking lot area next to Rock ‘n Roller Coaster and take place around the time of the coaster’s planned rehab.