Here’s a recap of our Disney journey, publish 3 of 4! We spent our third day at Hollywood Studios. If you missed them, listed below are our first two days at Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
Picking our third and closing park
In retrospect, we most likely ought to have scheduled 4 days of parks or carried out a park hopper choice as a result of we didn’t get to Animal Kingdom.
I debated lengthy and onerous whether or not to do Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom for our third and closing day, and I selected Hollywood for the nearer location and extra rides I assumed the youngsters would love. Maybe we’ll do Animal Kingdom subsequent time (and we will certainly be again for Universal).
I believe I made the best alternative although as a result of Hollywood Studios was Mazen’s favourite park by a protracted shot! He LOVED the Star Wars land, and the Aerosmith Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was his prime experience of the week.
Disney Trip: Hollywood Studios
Boat Ride
Our resort had an 8-minute boat experience to Hollywood (versus buses to Animal) so we additionally picked it for being shut. We might truly hear the exhibits from Hollywood every night time and see the Tower of Terror from our lodge! Just one more reason why we actually preferred the Swan Reserve’s location.
Genie+
Once once more we bought Genie+ for $60. I used to be scared to not! We didn’t look ahead to any rides all day so I believe the $180 we spent over the course of the three days was value it.
Also value it: the improve to Lightning Lane for Rise of the Resistance. Your solely alternative there may be pay for a lightning lane or wait in a 2-hour line. I bought Mazen, Thomas and me all a reservation within the 12:00 hour.
Our solely Genie+ Mishap
I booked Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway for 9 a.m. after studying it was the headlining experience at Hollywood. After we hopped off the boat, we went by the gates. Just like Epcot, the crowds weren’t too dangerous.
We made a beeline to Toy Story Land hoping to experience the Slinky Dog Dash, however the wait was already 40 minutes! And once I checked Genie+, the time slots have been already at 7 p.m. So we missed out on attending to experience Slinky. Mazen and Thomas have been each fairly unhappy.
Mickey + Minnie’s Genie+ by no means went greater than an hour or two forward of us, so looking back I ought to have gotten Slinky first and simply carried out Mickey and Minnie each time. Take be aware in the event you’re heading there! (The Slinky standby line by no means bought beneath an hour all day both.)
Toy Story Alien Saucers
So we headed to Alien Saucers very first thing which spins you round like a carnival experience. Birch liked it! Thomas opted out for worry of morning movement illness.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (G+)
We then headed to our first G+ and needed to wait about 10 minutes in line. The experience is like Remy the place you’re in a magnetic automobile with particular results. I assumed it was good, however inferior to Remy! Birch preferred it!
Toy Story Mania (G+)
We booked Toy Story Mania proper after Mickey with Genie. The line was 45 minutes for standby however we walked proper on! It’s a slower experience the place you sit in a automobile and shoot at targets to get a excessive rating. I didn’t adore it, however the boys did.
Meeting Pluto
On the best way to our subsequent cease, we bumped into Pluto and for the primary time all week Birch stated he wished to go say hello! So we waited in a 10-minute line they usually took a pic. Birch appeared much less afraid of the characters in costume than the true individuals dressed up (Aladdin, Jack Sparrow).
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (G+)
We felt somewhat extra scattered at Hollywood going throughout the park a number of occasions however I wished to get our large rides out of the best way so we wouldn’t miss out on them like we did with Slinky.
Next cease was Rockin’ Roller Coaster which has an Aerosmith theme. We ended up doing this one as a rider swap, which meant that Mazen bought to go twice. He was somewhat nervous to go at first, nevertheless it ended up being his favourite experience of the week! I assumed the start was unbelievable – you go SO quick with G drive proper into going the other way up. It’s indoors and at midnight which is my new favourite sort of coaster.
Star Wars Lunch at Docking Bay 7
By now it was about 11 a.m. and it was beginning to rain. So we walked over to Star Wars Land the place we knew we wished to attempt to have lunch. We bought there simply in time for a downpour.
Docking Bay was fairly cool. We all agreed we felt like we have been actually in a Star Wars film.
TIP: Here you’ll be able to sit down and chill out and order meals in your cellular app and then you definately’ll get a notification when it’s prepared. A solid member informed us this, however there have been plenty of individuals nonetheless ready in a line.
Mazen had some blue milk, the adults bought hen salads and a beer, and Birch bought mac and cheese, one of many 10 or so youngsters meals we paid for that he didn’t contact.
The rain let up for a couple of minutes so we went to take some pics and to go to the reward store. But the window was quick as a result of it began raining more durable once more. This is when my footwear bought moist and didn’t recuperate for a number of hours. My toes have been frozen and I used to be fairly chilly till I warmed up my socks in a toilet dryer.
Rise of the Resistance
We took turns occurring Rise with me going first alone. The experience was fairly cool! I appreciated all of the theatrics earlier than it began in numerous phases earlier than the experience half began. I additionally liked how the guards stayed in character and have been sort of imply to us. The experience itself was one other magnetic one with the vehicles transferring in all instructions. There’s an enormous drop close to the top that was so enjoyable.
And proper after our drop, the experience truly broke down on me as we have been leaving, so it was closed for about an hour. The boys needed to delay their experience and I bought a second experience at no cost, however I didn’t find yourself utilizing it simply in order that they wouldn’t have to attend on me alone once more.
Smugglers Run (G+)
After Rise, we went to Smugglers. Thomas and Mazen went first after which Mazen and I went second. Let’s simply say I’m not a really expert pilot! I do love all of the digital actuality rides although. They appear to be getting extra interactive, too.
Star Tours (G+)
Mazen and I did Star Tours whereas Thomas and Birch have been on their very own. I keep in mind this experience from once I was a child! It felt fairly outdated, however the 3D results have been nonetheless cool. I think about again within the 90s this was the highest of the road know-how!
Frozen Sing-Along + Muppets 3D
While Mazen and I have been in Smugglers and Star Tours, Thomas lucked into ducking right into a Frozen sing-along proper when extra rain began. I’m devastated that I missed this present as a result of Thomas stated I might have liked it!! But I didn’t need Birch to must do it once more, so when Mazen and Thomas went to Rise, I took Birch to the Muppets 3D. Birch preferred the Muppets, particularly the bubbles.
Both exhibits have been nice when the climate was lower than preferrred.
Afternoon Pool + Hot Tub
After these exhibits we have been all fairly chilly, so we went again to the lodge to get within the scorching tubs! The pool was heated and I bought in it too, however solely after getting fairly heat within the scorching tub first.
Dinner at Flying Fish
We went to our room to bathe after which walked over to the Boardwalk (in jackets, lengthy pants, and layers – the temp drop was loopy!) for dinner. I had deliberate to put on a sleeveless gown and sandals, however went dressed for winter!
Flying Fish was VERY good however VERY costly ($58 for an entrée). The wine listing was good, and I had Matanzas Creek’s Sauv Blanc.
This salad was wonderful (break up with Thomas on two plates). The bread was additionally nice.
And our seafood couscous dish was fairly good. This was probably the most ‘normal’ restaurant meal we had on our journey – it didn’t really feel as mass produced because the In-park eating places did.
Birch was over it and didn’t contact his noodles, fruit, and carrots.
Ice Cream Repeat
Since we have been strolling by the ice cream store once more, we had to return! Mazen, Birch, and I all shared this unbelievable sundae!
Hollywood Studios Overview
This half would have felt fairly outdated to me if it weren’t for Toy Story and Star Wars lands, which have been each fairly cool. It simply appeared to lack the vitality of the opposite parks, however that may have been me low on vitality too! And the chilly and wet climate that began round 11 didn’t assist me love this park.
Tower of Terror + Shutdowns
We didn’t get to go on Tower of Terror as a result of 1) Mazen didn’t wish to, and a pair of) it shut down for a superb a part of the day. Slinky Dog Dash additionally was shut down for the climate, so even when we had gotten a Genie+ for it we would not have been capable of go. With Rise of the Resistance additionally shutting down for an hour, it appeared like every part was on pause!
Half a day was nice
We actually solely wanted half a day to do all we wished to do there, so I’m glad we didn’t have dinner reservations or we would have felt obligated to remain.
The Best Parts
I believe the very best half was Star Wars, particularly seeing all of the followers of the flicks dressed up! But between Rise, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Mickey’s experience, it was a superb day.
If you may have younger youngsters, I might most likely skip Hollywood Studios, however because it was Mazen’s favourite we have been glad we determined to go.
Our Hollywood Studios Itinerary
- Toy Story Saucers
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (G+)
- Toy Story Mania (G+)
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (G+ with rider swap)
- Lunch at Docking Bay 7
- Rise of the Resistance (Kath / ILL)
- Smugglers Run (G+ with rider swap)
- Frozen Sing-along
- Star Tours (G+)
- Rise of the Resistance (Thomas / Mazen / ILL)
- Muppets 3D
- Pool Time
- Dinner at Flying Fish
- Ice cream
I’ll be again tomorrow with an enormous recap of all our suggestions from our lodge to journey to what we delivered to the parks!
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