A construction permit filed this week has confirmed that something new is coming to Alien Swirling Saucers in Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
The Permit That Revealed the Plan
On May 28, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a Notice of Commencement for work at 200 Ascot Dr, Bay Lake, Florida — the address of Alien Swirling Saucers in Toy Story Land. The document describes the project as work to “install set elements” and lists Icarus Exhibits as the third-party contractor attached to the job. Icarus Exhibits has been active across Walt Disney World Resort recently, with credits that include The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios and the Indiana Jones retheme of DINOSAUR at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
The identity of the filing party is telling. Construction permits for standard upkeep and routine refurbishment at Walt Disney World Resort are typically processed by the resort's Facilities Asset Management team. This permit was filed directly by Walt Disney Imagineering, signaling that something more creative and guest-facing is in the works, rather than a behind-the-scenes fix.
Walt Disney World Resort has not publicly acknowledged the project or shared any details about what guests can expect when the work is complete. No construction timeline has been announced.
A Toy Story 5 (2026) Connection?
The timing of the permit is difficult to ignore. Toy Story 5 opens in theaters on June 22, 2026, and Walt Disney World Resort has already begun building anticipation for the film at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Promotional banners featuring Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the film's antagonist Lilypad recently appeared on the streetlamps lining the walkway from Pixar Plaza to Toy Story Land.
With Imagineering now moving to install new set elements inside Alien Swirling Saucers just weeks before the film's premiere, a Toy Story 5-inspired update to the attraction seems like the most logical conclusion. However, Disney hasn't publicly confirmed this connection.
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