Disney World 2023: Hollywood Studios

 

On Day 6 we finally made it to Hollywood Studios. Jenny had done a late night Animal Kingdom Safari the previous evening, so she slept in a bit, and Oscar went for a run again, so it was just me and the kids going to early entry at Hollywood Studios. We arrived around 8:45, and I accidentally got in the regular line of people waiting for the 9:00am opening instead of the resort early entrance. We stood around for about 7 minutes in a non moving line with someone smoking nearby wondering why the line wasn't moving. I realized my mistake just before they shut down early entry. We were able to get in before the rest of the crowds, but I was bummed to have missed those 7 precious minutes. 

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is the first ride you get to, and I wanted to ride it since it's new from my last visit here (it used to be the Great Movie Ride). We did that then walked over to Rockin' Roller Coaster. Oscar arrived but couldn't get in the line with us, so he went over to Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy nearby. 

This sign in the picture on the right found our magic bands and featured us on the poster. First it said I was the headlining act direct from Peyton, then it found Allison's and featured her. 

We found Oscar afterward and did Tower of Terror with him, which everyone enjoyed. 

Jenny had arrived in the park and gotten us a return time for Rise of the Resistance. We grabbed a pumpkin spice cookie, met up at with her at Muppet Vision 3D, then went to our pre-select Smugglers Run. It is so impressive how realistic this looks. It meant more to me too since I've watched all the films and cartoons that these characters are in. We let Tyler and Oscar be pilots, which is the most interactive role on the ride. They really enjoyed it.

Rise of the Resistance was even more mind blowing. Those storm troopers with minimal movements are just out of this world. I loved this ride, especially the drop at the end, but I am a big Star Wars fan. The cast members there boss you around like they're members of the first order and you're their prisoners.

After that we saw the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular show before heading over to Toy Story.

We used our return time for Toy Story then sent the kids back to the hotel take a break. There are no play areas or interactive kids' activites at Hollywood Studios like there are in the other parks, so there was no reason for them to stick around during the busiest, hottest part of the day. We still had to wait with Jenny's DAS pass, just not in line, and they wouldn't have had anything to do during that wait time. We also wanted them to nap so they'd be able to stay up for the 9:30pm Fantasmic show that evening. It worked! Allison, Oscar, and even Tyler all managed to sleep for at least 30 minutes when they went back to the hotel. 

Jenny and I stopped for lunch at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. She got a glowing ice cube, and I got a peanut butter and jelly milkshake (which could have used more jelly). Our food was really tasty! The table next to us was punished for having their cell phones out during dinner, so they had to sing "I'm a Little Teapot" with actions. 

During our meal we grabbed a return for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway since Jenny hadn't done it yet, but it shut down just as we arrived. That gave us a free lightning lane for another ride, so we walked over to Tower of Terror, getting photos along our way. We then got a return time for Slinky Dog dash, which had a 150 minute wait by then! Good thing the kids were back at the hotel! What's interesting is they said Hollywood Studios was their favorite Disney park, but I think it was just the park with their favorite rides. We gave up a second day here so they could have one more day at Animal Kingdom playing and getting their Wilderness Explorer badges. We've learned from previous theme parks that as much as my kids like rides, they need them to be balanced with activity.

We got some cute pictures, magic shots, and Hollywood film roll in front of Mickey's Runaway Railway.

Tower of Terror was great as usual, and we got another Tinkerbell juggling fall leaves magic shot.

Since we couldn't use return times for a while, we walked back to Galaxy's Edge and got lots of fun photopass pictures. The photographer told us that Jenny was using the dark side of the force by having her hand up, so she had me stare at her in shock for this photo.

This guy who was in line before us wanted to look like he'd been shot by storm troopers and have us point at him.

Here are our photos and video with the Millennium Falcon.

At the droid area they gave us magic shots with BB - 8, a loath-cat, Chopper, and some other small droid I didn't recognize.

Here are Jenny and I with an X wing fighter.

This cute little star trooper posing with a full size star trooper in front of the Tie Fighter was just adorable.

Jenny and I got photos with the Tie Fighter and with her getting messages from Grogu and Ahsoka.

We also stood in a decent sized line for pictures with lightsabers.

In Galaxy's edge some cast members act as citizens of the Star Wars Universe. This woman was pretending to be a resistance fighter recruiting this little girl to help her spy on the enemy. 

We got a few more pictures before we walked out of Galaxy's Edge. We got the Loth-cat again and Grogu in his little carrier.

The family was starting on their way back into the park by then. We got some pics in Toy Story Land on our way over to meet the family at Rockin' Roller Coaster.

I would have liked to get the kids in these Toy Story photos, but it didn't work out.

The family met us right near a photopass photographer, so we got some pics under the Rockin' Roller Coaster sign then got in the lightning lane line. Fortunately we were able to use our free lightning lane from the previous day's shut down of Dinosaur to skip the standby line on this ride. 

By then it was finally time to return to Slinky Dog Dash. It actually timed out perfectly since the sun was setting while we were in line and we were able to ride the coaster in the dark. The kids appreciated all the toys and games themeing in the queue line and pointed out that the lamps above us were made out of giant K'nex. I got some cute pictures of them in front of other people riding the coaster.

After how much Allison loved this ride, I bought her a light up slinky dog. I'd also picked up a BB-8 sipper when Jenny bought a popcorn bucket.

Tyler enjoyed the decorations as we were getting close to the loading area. He jumped for the picture and I caught him in mid jump in one of them.

I have to admit Silnky Dog Dash was super cute, and even more fun at night, but it would not have been worth the 150 minute wait. 

We got a return time for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and did standby on Aliens' Swirling Saucers while we waited. Tyler really wanted to do this one since he was wearing his Toy Story aliens shirt. 

This is a scene in the queue line for Runaway Railway when Mickey and Minnie's car breaks through the wall shortly before you reach the loading zone.

From there we walked to Tower of Terror so we could all ride it in the dark. It meant missing about 2/3rds of their new animation show that lights up the buildings, but we all decided riding Tower of Terror at Night was more important to us. 

Jenny and I caught about 5 minutes of it at the end while Oscar and kids went to Star Tours just before they closed. That one makes both of us feel motion sick, so Jenny and I were happy to pass on it. 

From there we walked over to get in line for Fantasmic, which was AMAZING! I just love being able to see it in a giant amphitheater where everyone gets a great seat, especially if you go to the 9:30pm show. Oscar, of course, did planks in the middle of the show on the empty bleachers.

I'd been told Hollywood Studios was a 2 day park, but thanks to DAS and our other extra return times, we were able to get it all done in one day and still let the kids get a substantial break back at the hotel.