The park that started off as Disney’s MGM Studios and is now Disney’s Hollywood Studios has always held a special place in my heart. I mean, let’s face it, all the parks hold a special place in my heart, but there is something unique about Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The park seems to constantly be changing and expanding, creating a new experience for each time we visit, much like the movie and theatre industry itself! Every time I visit, there are 4 Hollywood Studios Must-dos
Similar to my 4 ‘Must-Dos’ at the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Epcot, I like to have a variety in my must-do activities in order to have a well-rounded day. Join me as I share my favorite four things that I have to do every time I am at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Ride the Tower of Terror
Tower of Terror is one of my absolute favorite rides in all of the Disney parks. The hotel, the story, the unexpected drops, the perfectly timed music; I love it all. As you come up to the ride, you are able to step back in time to 1939. The Hollywood Tower Hotel is just as it was on the night when the unfortunate elevator incident occurred. Creepy old artifacts and music from the Twilight Zone sufficiently creep you out before you climb aboard an old service elevator. As you sit in your seat and the ride begins, you know what is coming: the drops!
The absolute best parts of the ride are the drops and then the rises of the elevator. You will plummet towards the ground and just when you think you’re going to bottom out, the elevator shoots up towards the sky again. This happens over and over again in a random sequence. At one point the elevator will stop on the 13th floor, the side of the building is gone and you are able to peer outside of the Tower of Terror ride. The view below is amazing as you are able to take in all of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Just as you start to relax and really enjoy the view in front of you, the elevator plummets towards the ground again.
It’s the best!
Eat a Giant Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich
Eating a giant ice cream cookie sandwich isn’t a completely unique activity to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. For me, however, it’s the place where it needs to be completed. Hollywood Scopes, located on Sunset Boulevard, serves up a variety of ice cream flavors. To make their amazing cookie sandwich, they smoosh generously sized scoops in between two freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. It’s ooey, gooey and so very messy.
It’s also pretty much heaven on earth.
The cookie sandwich ends up being so big that it’s a good dessert for sharing. I can never make it through the whole thing. We usually order one for our family of four and often can not make it through the whole thing. The ice cream sandwich gives us a good excuse to take a break and do some people watching on Sunset Boulevard.
Muppet Vision 4D
Muppet Vision 4D is a classic staple at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Staring the cast of Jim Henson’s muppet crew, the show takes guests on an adventure of a 4D world with all the ‘cheap’ stunts and predictable jokes you’ve come to know and expect. Wocka wocka!
Of course, Kermit and Miss Piggy play prime roles in the show, but the usual supporting cast also makes an appearance. Two of my favorite characters, Waldorf and Statler bring their own special blend of heckling and unnecessary opinions to the performance. The Swedish Chef, my absolute favorite muppet character, also makes an appearance. For some reason he always makes me laugh and I love anything that involves him. Considering you can’t really understand what he is saying, you might not feel the same. None the less, I think he is amazing. Bork, bork, bork!
As Disney’s Hollywood Studios begins to expand, I wonder if Muppet’s Vision 4D’s days are numbered. For now, however, it is still going strong, so I am going to embrace it and try to catch it every chance that I can.
Enjoy Toy Story Land
When Toy Story’s Midway Mania attraction was first made I remember marveling at the uniqueness of the ride. It was so cool to board the ride and see many of the life-sized pieces of the toys surrounding the ride, then to play the carnival games with the cast from Toy Story. I love fast paced, highly competitive games, so this one was right up my alley.
Imagine my excitement when I heard Midway Mania was going to become a part of a brand new Toy Story Land expansion! In my mind there would be life-sized toys as far as the eye could see. There would be more than just Midway Mania to ride and Woody, Jessi, Buzz and Slinky Dog would all be there!
It was like a ‘dream’ come true with the Toy Story Land expansion was finished and the ideas in my imagination came to life. Of course Disney brought Toy Story more to life than my creative thoughts took me, but seeing everything in person was an exciting experience.
It was as though I was a real life toy, walking around Toy Story Land and seeing everything first hand through the eyes of Andy’s toys. While I love all the rides at Toy Story Land, one of my absolute favorite things to do while at Hollywood Studios, is to just sit back and take in the land. There’s nothing better than grabbing a quick snack at Woody’s Lunchbox and enjoying all the details the Imagineers put into these cool new world of toys.
Out with the Old, In with the New
While, my previously favorite attractions, such as the ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’ Movie Adventure Set and the Studio Backlot Tour are definitely missed, their replacements have been unique. The park has welcomed the new addition of Toy Story Land, immersing you into the world of toys with Woody, Buzz and the gang. Plus, soon in 2019 it will include a brand new Star Wars Land.
There ya have it! The four things I love to do every time I go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The landscape of Hollywood Studios is definitely changing and my list may change as the new attractions come about. For now, the above four summarize what I feel would be a perfect day blending some new and some old at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. What would make your day at DHS perfect?
