Have you ever felt STRANDED in Disney World?
You’re looking all around you, but you don’t recognize any of the signs or buildings. You try to find your way to a familiar spot, but didn’t you pass that same snack stand 3 times already? How can you possibly escape?
The Disney World parks are BIG and sometimes a little confusing, so one of the most useful souvenirs you can get (which is also free!) is a park map! These maps are available near the entrance of each park, and they show the layout, attractions, and more details about what’s available and where it’s all located.
There are also interactive maps on the My Disney Experience app, which show ride wait times and other useful info. But the physical maps can be a fun memento from your trip, and they also have all of the rides, restaurants, and other attractions listed in one easy-to-find place. Today, we saw a NEW map in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
All of the Disney World parks got new maps for the 50th Anniversary celebrations, but now there’s a new version in Hollywood Studios. And we spotted a few differences! First of all, the cover photo is now Minnie Mouse from her character meet and greet at Red Carpet Dreams in this park. Previously, this photo showed the Tower of Terror lit up with EARidescent lights.
Minnie is rocking her Hollywood gown in the photo, and she looks fabulous. The change highlights the return of many individual character meet and greets, which have been slowly returning to the parks since late last year. (And remember that the Disney CFO has announced that traditional meet and greets will be returning to Disney World soon!)
On the back of the map, there’s a COVID-19 warning, some health and safety reminders, and information about the My Disney Experience app.
Inside, there’s a section all about the 50th Anniversary, with information about the limited-time snacks and drinks, the new and returning nighttime shows, and other extras that are in this park for the celebrations.
The other inside flap has some practical tips for guests, including info on how Guest Relations can help, details about park rules, and a short guide to the transportation available to and from this park.
Inside, you’ll find the map itself, which shows the layout of the park. This can be a lifesaver if you get stuck somewhere unfamiliar or need to find your way to an attraction quickly! The map is marked with numbers and symbols, which correspond to the guide located to the right of the map.
The guide has all kinds of information for you. The rides and attractions are listed here, as well as restaurants, restrooms, gift shops, and more. On the far right, there’s a key to the symbols used on the map. Whether you need to find Guest Relations, a quick snack, or stroller rentals, this guide can help you out.
We spotted a few key differences in this map, which have changed since the previous 50th map was released. Under the Echo Lake section, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular was added in because that show finally reopened last December. Celebrity Spotlight was also added into this section because Olaf is back greeting guests at that location!
Under the Commissary Lane section, the character meet and greet with Minnie and Mickey Mouse has been added at Red Carpet Dreams. Both Minnie and Mickey are meeting guests at this location now.
In the Toy Story Land section, the Toy Story Mania gift shop has been removed from this map. This is likely because the shop is under construction right now as part of a few updates to this land.
And on Sunset Boulevard, the Beverly Sunset Boutique has been removed from the list of shops. This store has been closed for a while now, and Cast Members have told us that supply chain issues have made it difficult for Disney to keep it stocked with souvenirs. Staffing problems could also contribute to its closure. While the closure is likely temporary, it seems that this gift shop will remain unavailable for a while longer.
Those are all the differences we spotted on this map! Keep following AllEars for more updates, and head into Hollywood Studios soon to pick up the newest park map.
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Is there anyone else here that gets confused with the EPCOT map? I realize they are going from north to south but I have to hold the map upside down to get my baring’s straight. I’ve been there more than a dozen times and still can’t get it right.