Walt Disney World - Part 6

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Sunday - January 20th 2008

Disney's Hollywood Studios was the only park we haven't done yet. Again after a coffee at the food court in the hotel, we took the Disney shuttle service to the park. Today it was very cold and so after we had breakfast at the Starring Rolls Cafe, we returned to our hotel to get the wintercoats. For breakfast we ordered coffee and bagels with sun dried tomato spread and jam.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Back in the park we could now enjoy the sunny weather, because we weren't freezing anymore. Disney's Hollywood Studios park is themed to Hollywood and it is about cinema, television, music and stage shows. After entering the park Hollywood Blvd. leads guests into the park. Hollywood Blvd. serves as a shopping and dining venue, like Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. At the end of the boulevard is the Mickey's Sorcerer Hat from the movie Fantasia, the centerpiece of the park.

Hollywood Blvd.

Hollywood Blvd.

Echo Lake

Hollywood Blvd.

Hollywood Blvd.

Our first attraction was The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror at the end of Sunset Blvd. Tower of Terror is a drop tower thrill ride, based upon the television show The Twilight Zone. After we travelled to the twilight zone, we got in line for Rock'n'Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. That's a coaster that accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in three seconds, but the Florida version seems to be not as fast as its counterpart in the Walt Disney Studios in Paris.

Sunset Blvd.

Sunset Blvd.

Sunset Blvd.

Sunset Blvd.

The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror

Rock'n'Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Rock'n'Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Before we had lunch at the Toy Story Pizza Planet we watched the Beauty and the Beast Musical. It was a nice little stage show, but not as great as the Finding Nemo Musical in Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.

Beauty and the Beast Musical

After lunch we did the Great Movie Ride, a journey through the history of cinema. The attraction is housed in a replica of Mann's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles and before Mickey's Sorcerer Hat was built, guests had a great view on the building from Hollywood Blvd. We enjoyed that attraction a lot and later in the afternoon we did the ride again.

The Great Movie Ride

The Great Movie Ride

Hollywood Studios

Afterwards we watched Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. That's a fantastic stunt show inspired by the famous movies. The show gives a behind the scenes look on how stunts are performed. It was very informative.

Indiana Jones Stunt Show

Indiana Jones Stunt Show

Now it was time for the afternoon parade called Disney Stars and Motor Cars. It was nice to watch, but nothing special. After the parade we decided to give Muppet Vision 3D a try. I was never a big fan of the Muppets, but this 3D movie was very funny.

Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade

Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade

Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade

Muppet Studios

Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3D

Muppet Fountain

Later we escaped the Death Star and flew with Star Tours to Endor. Star Tours was exactly the same ride like in Disneyland Paris, but still a great ride and a lot of fun.

Star Tours

We spent the rest of the day in the Backlot area of the park. First we met Lightning McQueen and Mater and later we did the Hollywood Studios Backlot Tour, which was similar to The Walt Disney Studios Paris version, but a bit better in my opinion.

Lightning McQueen and Mater

Backlot

Backlot Tour

The highlight of the day was the nighttime show Fantasmic! and we didn't want to miss it, although it was terribly cold. It was so cold that the park sold out of plankets and so people purchased towels to warm up. We got a pretzel and a hot chocolate and enjoyed that amazing show.

Fantasmic

Fantasmic

After the show the park closed and we returned to the Pop Century Hotel and enjoyed a wonderful evening with Veggie Burger and Penne Alfredo at the food court.

Leaving the Disney's Hollywood Studios