Walt Disney World Resort has been rolling out a new generation of trash cans across its theme parks, hotels, and Disney Springs — and the latest installations have landed at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Here's what guests should know before their next visit.
A Park-Wide Upgrade With a Few Wrinkles
Over the last several months, Walt Disney World Resort has been replacing waste receptacles throughout its properties with a modern, upgraded design. The new models feature hygienic foot pedals and interior trash compactors, which reduce the need for custodial Cast Members to change bags as frequently.
The change hasn't been entirely smooth sailing, though. Outdoor versions of the new trash cans are powered by solar panels mounted beneath a rounded cover — which makes it impossible to safely place anything on top. That proved to be a real issue at EPCOT, where guests had long used flat-top trash cans as impromptu high-top tables during busy festival seasons.
The new design also turned out to be a bit more complicated to use than Walt Disney World Resort anticipated. The resort even released a how-to video on Facebook to walk both guests and Cast Members through the process of disposing of waste and recycling during their visits.
Despite the bumps along the way, the rollout has continued — and Disney's Hollywood Studios is the latest park to see the new cans arrive.
New Trash Cans Spotted Across Hollywood Studios
On September 22, WDWNT reported that generic silver versions of the new trash cans had shown up at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Unlike many of the updated receptacles installed elsewhere, these latest additions are not themed to match their surroundings — a noticeable departure from the immersive detail Disney parks are known for.
The silver-and-black solar-powered cans were spotted in several locations across four different areas of the park:
- Outside the Mickey Shorts Theater along Echo Lake
- Near BaseLine Tap House on Grand Avenue
- Outside Oasis Canteen, also along Echo Lake
- At the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular attraction
- On the walkway to Toy Story Land from Pixar Plaza
- Outside The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure in the recently reimagined Animation Courtyard
It's worth noting that Walt Disney World Resort has already installed themed versions of the new trash cans in other parts of Hollywood Studios — including near the Chinese Theatre and the Magic of Disney Animation attraction. Why the latest batch arrived without any decorative theming remains unclear. Walt Disney World Resort may add theming or swap them out down the line, but for now, guests will find plain silver receptacles in those spots.
Have you spotted any of these new trash cans — or other changes — around the parks? We'd love to hear about your experience!