Category Archives: Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Can’t Miss List

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DSC_0528Glitz and glamor. Action and adventure. Disney’s Hollywood Studios gives you old school Hollywood paired with thrills.There is much to love about this park – starting with its charm. Right when you walk into Disney’s Hollywood Studios and stroll down Hollywood Boulevard you’re transported to the golden era of Hollywood.

No matter your age or what you like to do, you’ll find something of interest here. There are thrill rides, live stage and stunt shows, insights to Walt Disney and animation, spectacular eats, and one awesome nighttime stage show. While I love the scenery and atmosphere of this park, I am split on the attractions. There are attractions I love to visit here and ones I’m OK with skipping. For me, this park doesn’t require more than a day.

Need a stroller? You'll find it here at Oscar's.

Need a stroller, wheelchair, or electric vehicle? You’ll find it here at Oscar’s Super Service.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is not a large park, compared to Epcot and Animal Kingdom. But it does pack a punch in theming. As you are walking around, take time to look – this park has wonderful scenic details.

So, without further ado…

The Walt Disney World Blog’s 2015 Disney’s Hollywood Studios Can’t Miss List:

(by area) Hollywood Boulevard and Echo Lake, Sunset Boulevard, Streets of America and Commissary Lane, Pixar Place, Mickey Avenue, and Animation Courtyard.

* “Super Favorites” – Things we always do at least twice.

  • The Great Movie Ride – Head inside the Chinese Theatre for this gem that takes a look at classic films. This tram ride is about 20 minutes long – which is a nice way to cool off and relax while you take in some film history. At the end there’s a movie montage on a huge screen, which is my favorite part. This ride fascinated me as a kid. Personally, now I think its due for an overhaul. But even with that being said, it makes my list.
  • DSC_0842Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – Looking for some insight on how Hollywood does special effects? Scenes from Indiana Jones are reenacted to show you stunts that include plenty of pyrotechnics. Want to be part of the fun? This show also includes a few audience volunteers. They don’t take many so you should arrive early for a chance to be part of the action.
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue * – Star Wars fans will adore this 3D flight simulation attraction that includes all of your favorite characters. Even the queue for this ride is entertaining. A few years ago Disney overhauled this attraction and gave it some mega upgrades – including the 3D technology. The other big change came by Disney gaving the ride over 50 story combinations. This means you can visit this attraction many times and enjoy a different experience each time.
  • DSC_0419Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster * – As I’m sure you know, I LOVE roller coasters and this is one of my all time favorites. After visiting Aerosmith’s studio you snag a “limo” to catch their concert. This limo takes you from 0 to 60 in no time, loops you upside down and in a corkscrew, all in a dimmed, neon atmosphere. And the best part? You’ll be rocking out to Aerosmith’s music the entire time.
  • DSC_0415The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror * – Check into this hotel that is frozen in 1939 for a wild elevator ride. The lobby is dusty, full of cobwebs and dead plants. Creeping bellhops will escort you to the basement so you can take the service elevator. After boarding the elevator you’ll enter the 5th dimension and the fun really begins. The elevator has a 13 story drop that is on a randomized sequence. You never know if you’re going up or down first. But I assure you – you will drop down. And you’ll love every heart pulsing, palm sweating second.
  • Fantasmic! – This stage based nighttime spectacular is formed around Mickey’s dreams. Hosted in a large amphitheater, the show includes fireworks, lasers, and water special effects. The show is 30 minutes long and every second is entertaining. If you do not have FastPass+ or a Fantasmic! Dining Package, plan to get in line early to ensure you get a seat.
  • Muppet Vision 3D * – This was the second 3D show to join the WDW ranks, following Epcot’s Captain EO. By our standards today, the 3D technology is very dated. But the story, wrapped around all of the Muppet greats, is quite loveable. While you’re waiting to enter the theater there is a pre-show (not 3D) that I’ve always loved. I may even have been known to quote from it. We never miss this one on a trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
  • Pizza Planet Arcade – If you enjoy pizza and you are a Toy Story fan – this is your dining spot! This Quick Service spot resembles the Pizza Planet arcade in Toy Story from the logo to the decor. If you want to beat the heat, there is ample seating inside. Seating outside offers tables with cheery, red umbrellas and views of The Muppets fountain. The menu, offering a variety of single serve pizzas paired with cesar salads is simple, but delicious. Meatball subs are also available. This is one of our favorite lunch spots at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
  • Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure – This is an attraction especially geared for young ones. Stepping inside makes you feel as though you were bug sized and hanging out in a back yard. Mingle among giant blades of grass, climb a spider web, or slide down an over-sized branch. Music and sound effects help bring the set to life.
  • Toy Story ManiaToy Story Mania * – This is one of my favorite attractions in all of Walt Disney World. It’s an exciting combination of ride, games, 3D technology, and beloved Toy Story characters. After stepping into a car and donning 3D glasses, you whiz through a series of carnival style games such as balloon pop and ring toss hosted by Toy Story characters. This attraction has proved immensely popular with guests. So much so, in fact, that they are building another track for the ride. (Frequent WDW visitors all rejoice!) This is definitely an attraction you will want to visit, at least once. If you can, make sure to make a FastPass+ reservation for it. Try going early in the day or during parade or Fantasmic! times for a lower stand-by wait.
  • Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream – This attraction isn’t one of thrills and chills, but it is informative and full of neat models and information. Walk yourself through a gallery of Walt Disney history that includes models, sketches, and memorabilia that includes a peak inside Walt’s office. You can also view a 15 minute film in a small theater, hosted by Julie Andrews offering a glimpse of Walt Disney’s life. One of the great things about this attraction is you can move around at your own pace, making it last as long as you wish.

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W. T. D. W. – Muppet Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

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Muppet Vision 3D is what I think of as a WDW Disney classic. Joining the Hollywood Studios in May of 1991, this was the second 3D show to open at Walt Disney World. (The first was Captain EO starring Michael Jackson at Epcot which opened in 1986.) Jim Henson’s Muppets are all beloved characters, and in this quirky, silly, 3D show you get them at their best. It’s been around for a long time, and while 3D animation has improved immensely since this attraction was built, you appreciate its “vintage” quality.

Muppets Fountain

Muppet Vision 3D TheaterUpon entering the theater, you will be guided in to a pre-show. This is a large open room that has the feel of a backstage area. Many TV screens are located up high, appearing to look like packing crates, where you can watch the pre-show. This part is not in 3D. I will admit, when I was younger, the pre-show seemed to take FOREVER. I was just so anxious to get into the theater and see the 3D portion. In reality it’s the same length as the show, about 16 minutes. (Quite the forever when you’re 9.) As an adult, it might be my favorite part of this attraction. It features a lot of Scooter, Gonzo, Rizzo, and Sam Eagle – more minor but awesome Muppets characters.

Muppet Vision 3DOnce you’re inside the theater and settled in with a pair of lavender 3D glasses on, the show kicks off with oldtimers Waldorf and Statler, who are up in box seats in the theater. I absolutely love them. I think they’re hilarious. After they get in a couple of snarky words, the 3D magic is underway with all of your favorite Muppets characters. Periodically through the show Waldorf and Statler will interject with a remark or two. Outside of the film 3D effects, you’ll find a few extra touches such as a bit of water spray, wind, and bubbles.

What’s to love about this attraction:

  • It’s kid friendly. There isn’t anything scary about this attraction, it’s just good fun with the Muppets so the whole family can enjoy it together.
  • There usually isn’t a long queue. The theater holds a lot of people, and of course there is the pre-show too. So you usually don’t have a long wait long for this attraction. The last couple of times we visited were peak seasons and both times we were able to go right into the pre-show.
  • Both adults and kids will have a chuckle. There is a lot of silliness kids love, and Waldorf and Statler provide sarcastic humor that adults tend to appreciate. Hubby and I love Sam Eagle as well – he has a great couple of lines.

Muppet Gifts

 

All in all, it’s a must see. And, it’s a great chance to rest your feet and enjoy the AC when its hot outside. If you like the Muppets, (like my very fun friend Pat) you will delight in the Muppets gift shop which has a plethora of Muppets goods.

Muppet Detail

W. T. D. W. – Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

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Hello WHAT TO DO WEDNESDAY friends! I am so excited about this week’s attraction: Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Let’s all agree once more that an acronym would be appropriate, and call it TSMM! for short today. TSMM! is what I think of as a “big ticket item.” It’s one of the best attractions in all of Walt Disney World, and it is certainly one of the most popular.

Pixar Place

DSC05220Here’s the rundown: this fantastic attraction is a ride where you get to play 3D carnival games hosted by beloved Toy Story characters. Once in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll find TSMM! at Pixar Place. This is also where the Pixar Place Camera Dept. is located, where you can meet some of your favorite Toy Story pals. Entering the queue transports you into a child’s toy wonderland. Everything is large and scaled to make you feel as though you are suddenly toy-sized. The ceiling and walls are constructed of game boards. Crayons, blocks, Lincoln Logs, playing cards, and game pieces are scattered everywhere.

Recently UpdatedToy Story Mania RainerIn the back of the queue you’ll find Mr. Potato Head in a straw hat and carnival striped sleeves, armed with a microphone. He moves and talks, entertaining guests with songs, jokes, and general commentary. I’m not sure if Disney included him as an added element of fun, or if they anticipated the popularity of this attraction and knew the queue line could frequently be lengthy. Either way, Mr. Potato Head certainly provides some welcome amusement while waiting in line, making time pass more quickly.

Once you’ve meandered through the game and toy pieces room, you pick up a pair of nifty 3D glasses and proceed to the loading room and board a vehicle. The vehicles are cream, each painted with a Toy Story character such as Bullseye or Little Bo Peep. The vehicles seat 2 couples that essentially sit back to back, making a total of 4 people per vehicle. In front of each person is a miniature cannon with a pull-string for playing the various carnival games.

Toy Story ManiaBefore you know it, your vehicle is zooming, twisting, and turning. Through the ride, your vehicle will travel to several different screens, each featuring a different scene, characters, and a classic carnival game (ring toss, balloon darts, pie toss, etc.) My favorite is the third game hosted by the Green Army Men, where you toss balls to break plates. Listen carefully and you’ll hear “I am not your mother!! Break those plates!” Makes me smile. Each game is timed and your scores are recorded so the player with the highest total points at the end of all the games is the winner.

Here are the 5 reasons why I think this attraction is beyond awesome:

  1. Toy Story Characters – Lovable, fun, and enthusiastic, the Toy Story characters bring this attraction to life.
  2. Movement – The way the vehicles move in TSMM! is so much fun. They zip around quickly, but the movement isn’t harsh in any way and  it’s often a bit unexpected. It always has me giggling as the vehicle hastens along.
  3. Game Variation – I love that you get to play several different games. It’s like having several attractions in one!
  4. 3D Technology – Disney gets better and better at presenting 3D technology and this ride proves it. The scenes are clear, crisp, bright, and very effective.
  5. No Height Limitations – This ride is something the family can enjoy together as there is no height requirement. But it goes beyond that; TSMM! is fun for all ages. And, if you’re anything like my family, the element of competition elevates the stakes. The winner gets bragging rights.

So now that everyone is pumped and ready to go whiz around and champion the games, let’s mention the downside. Because this attraction is so wildly popular, the queue line can often be long. REALLY long in peak seasons like summer and Christmas. Here’s how to help avoid an excessively long wait time:

  • Arrive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios early and make this your first stop. Early to rise and seize the short lines!
  • If you are staying at a WDW Resort Hotel (which you should be!) try to visit this park during Extra Magic Hours, especially the morning ones. There are less people in the parks at those times, and therefore queue lines are shorter.
  • Utilize Fastpasses! It feels so amazing to step into the Fastpass queue and bypass the standby queue. Especially when the standby queue is over 45 minutes long.

M.M. – Prime Time Cafe

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Welcome to week two of MUNCHY MONDAY! Last time we launched MUNCHY MONDAY by paying homage to my favorite WDW snack: Pineapple Dole Whip. Whenever I say Pineapple Dole Whip, I hear the sparkling sound of an angel chorus singing harmonious “ahhhhs” in my brain. It’s just that good.

But as delicious as Pineapple Dole Whip is, sometimes you need a full meal. So this week MUNCHY MONDAY is devoted to a delicious restaurant that delivers lunch and dinner with a side of silliness: 50’s Prime Time Café at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Prime Time Cafe Entrance50s Prime Time Cafe TVAs the name suggests, stepping inside this restaurant is like stepping into the 1950s. But more specifically, your mom’s kitchen in the 1950s. Teapots and other knickknacks are scattered about, the walls are covered in wallpaper, square black and white tile stretches out over the floor, the chairs are decked in vinyl and chrome, and lacy curtains hang in the windows. Old fashioned televisions with knobs dials are scattered around the restaurant playing clips from classic black and white television for your enjoyment as you eat.

Prime Time Cafe 2The menu shows off the entire family’s best recipes. Favorites include Dad’s Grilled Pork Chop, Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken, Cousin Ann’s Traditional Meatloaf, Mom’s Old-Fashioned Pot Roast, and Grandma’s Chicken Pot Pie. There are plenty of mashed potatoes, green beans, and collard greens to go around! Milkshakes make a special treat with dinner. Be sure to try the 50’s Prime Time Café’s specially flavored Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshake! For the adults in the house, specialty cocktails are served from Dad’s Liquor Cabinet. Or, check out the Tune-In Lounge where you can watch television, try one of the classic cocktails, and order from the menu if you get hungry.

Eat Your Veggies - 50s Prime Time Cafe View Master Dessert - 50s Prime Time CafeWaiters clad in yellow aprons and waitresses in pink gingham dresses are all members of the family here, and they treat you as if you’re at home. Mind your manners and keep your elbows off the table or you may just hear a mini-lecture. Be sure to eat your veggies too, if you don’t, they may be spoon fed to you or you may be denied dessert (not really of course!).

When it comes time to order dessert, you’ll be handed a View Master to take a look at the menu. Flipping through, you’ll see choices such as warm apple crisp, ice cream sundaes, and cheesecake. No sweet tooth will go unsatisfied in Mom’s kitchen.

50’s Prime Time Café brings great home-style favorites to the table and their silly antics guarantee you’ll have plenty of laughs as long as you’ve brought your sense of humor. As with any Table Service restaurant, be sure to make a reservation.

WTDW – The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror & Expedition Everest!

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Welcome to week two of WHAT TO DO WEDNESDAY! We kicked off the initial WTDW (What To Do Wednesday) last week by visiting two of our favorite attractions: Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom and Soarin’ at Epcot. This week we are rounding out the main parks by visiting two of our favorite thrill rides, one from Disney’s Hollywood Studios and one from Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

DSC03066Service ElevatorThe Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Stroll down Sunset Boulevard to find this delightfully eerie attraction that’s based on the old television series The Twilight Zone. The story goes that in 1939, something unusual and unexplainable happened to guests in an elevator during a nasty thunderstorm at The Hollywood Tower Hotel. The glitzy hotel was left abandoned and frozen in time, until now. Upon entering the hotel, you’ll pass through the lobby where ornate rugs, luggage, dead plants, and a welcome desk are covered in dust and cobwebs. Creepy and off-centered bellhops give you strange looks and guide you through the hotel. You make a first stop into a library filled with hard cover volumes, vintage telephones, globes and busts. The lights go out suddenly and an old television set springs to life with a Twilight Zone style movie, recounting the mysterious 1939 events that left the hotel deserted. You are then invited, if you dare, to travel to the basement and step into a service elevator much like the one the guests rode many years ago. Once seated in the elevator you will find yourself rising up and moving forward to enter the “5th dimension.” The elevator will then begin a series of drops and rises which will have your heart hammering and palms sweating. The sequence of drops is randomized so you never know what to expect. Sometimes you have several long drops. Sometimes you shoot upwards, pause and then drop a little, before plummeting down all over again. Sometimes the elevator rises to the top of the shaft, and the doors open to reveal a spectacular, albeit brief view before you fall.

You have to put on your big kid pants and muster up some courage to brave this ride. I’ve visited this attraction dozens of times, and my nerves waver every time I walk into that hotel and get into that elevator. (It’ll make you think twice about getting into ANY elevator!) But let’s face it, I crave that pit in the bottom of my stomach – being scared is half the fun.

Guests must be at least 40 inches tall to ride, and guests who are claustrophobic or children afraid of the dark may want to consider passing it by.

Expedition EverestExpedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Rising into the sky, a snowy peak beckons guests to experience the excitement of Expedition Everest. Join the quest to discover the legend of the Yeti, the guardian of the forbidden mountain.

DSC03020DSC03018DSC03023DSC03024Expedition Everest trackOpening in spring of 2006 this is the newest high-thrill roller coaster to join the Walt Disney World fleet, and one of the newest attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Upon entering the queue, guests are guided through a covered area where large metal bells are suspended, begging for someone to reach up and give them a swing so they can sing out. I hit every one I can reach, even if that means jumping and swinging my arms like a monkey. All of the bells are different sizes and therefore have different sounds. Prayer flags dance in the breeze over stone yeti statues piled high with fruit offerings. Next you enter the Yeti museum devoted to the pursuit and legend of the elusive snow monster. Artifacts and fossils are in glass cases, photos, drawings, and maps hang on the walls among plenty of signs displaying quotes endorsing the existence of the Yeti. Camping equipment from Yeti seeking excursions is scattered everywhere –  snow shoes are mounted on the wall, while mittens and campfire coffeepots dangle from the ceiling. You almost want to have to wait for this coaster so you can check out all of the compelling evidence supporting this monstrous mountain dweller.

After passing through the museum you come to a platform, where you board a train to pass through the forbidden mountain and embark on your quest to discover the Yeti. With a puff of steam the train pulls of the station and begins to twist and turn before making a steep ascent up the mountain. (I love this part – gravity is pulling your back into the seat, but looking left and right grants you breathtaking views of WDW’s property!) As the train begins to ease down the hill and curve around, the train comes to a halt as broken track is exposed, leaving nowhere to go. The track literally flips upside down behind you, and with a woosh the train is suddenly flying backwards on an entirely new path. This roller coaster is full of twists and turns as you plunge through the mountain with the Yeti right on your heels.

This is one my all-time favorite attractions WDW. It’s the perfect blend of special effects, speed, smooth twists and turns, and drops that make my stomach flip. It’s also just fat lot of fun. Who doesn’t want to hop on a run-away train to a forbidden mountain in search of a legendary monster?!? Expedition Everest was an exceptional addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom (I wouldn’t mind seeing a couple of similar new attractions there, *sigh*). Anyway, this is always the first thing we do once we arrive to Animal Kingdom in the morning. However, the jury is still out on whether or not breakfast should be consumed before or after riding!

Guests must be 44 inches or taller to ride. There are dark sections in this roller coaster, as well as loud noises that could be frightening to young children.