2016 - June 24th - Disney's Hollywood Studios Park

We're off to our next adventure at Walt Disney World ... our day to enjoy Disney's Hollywood Studios Park. We got off to an early arrival so that Evan, Ella and Ruby could be registered to participate in the Jedi Training Academy. We arrived at the entrance to start our glorious day with all the thrills of new and different attractions and sights!

               
The streets were full of marvelous buildings with great graphic signs and plenty of shops and restaurants.

We enjoyed looking at all of the structures such as the Pluto Building, to the Dockside Diner, to the Hollywood & Vine Restaurant and much more.
The Hollywood Studios Park has a lot of Star Wars themes going on ... which all of our family love! We saw Star Tours - The Adventure Continues, Star Wars Launch Bay, Star Wars: The Path of the Jedi, and many Star Wars Photo Opportunities.
                                  
             
Speaking of photo-ops, we found the Speed Bike from Return of the Jedi nestled in the shrubbery that all took the opportunity to get their picture taken as a memorialization of the Star Wars Adventure at The Disney Hollywood Studios ...

Ed and Ruby aboard the Speed Bike from Return of the Jedi ...
And the Facey's loved the Speed Bike as well!
In the early afternoon, the show time that the kids were selected to participate in at the Jedi Training - Trials of the Temple, arrived to much enthusiasm by Ella, Evan & Ruby. We enjoyed watching them, perhaps almost as much as they enjoyed being in the show. The Disney photographers took a lot of pictures during the performance as well as pictures by the proud parents! They're all in the photo album at the end of the blog, but here are a few examples:
             
 
                 

And what's better than battling with Darth Vader? Perhaps meeting Kylo Ren in the Star Wars Launch Bay!!!
                        
Carrie wanted a special photo with Kylo Ren and didn't know/forgot that the Disney characters can touch you, but you can't touch them without prior permission! But all was smoothed out and forgiven and she enjoyed her time with Kylo Ren!
Eric and Kylo Ren have a stare-down!
The Grandkids take on Kylo Ren ...
The Facey-Kim clan with Kylo Ren ...
The kids found the Sci-Fi Drive-In Theater Restaurant while walking the Studios. We had eaten there many years ago when we visited, but we didn't have the time today to dine here. It's a great restaurant where everyone sits in cars, the car-hops brings the food (generally burgers and milk-shakes), and you eat while watching old black and white B-Horror Movies like in a drive in theater. It's fun and the kids all enjoyed at least seeing it!

Eric was chosen from the audience to be a cast member in The Indiana Jones Action Show and appeared as a costumed extra in select sequences of the show! Against the backdrop of temple ruins, Indiana Jones makes a grand entrance and the show swings into non-stop action. In pursuit of the golden idol, Indy and his companion Marion battle dangerous bad guys, leap from tall buildings and make other daring escapes as fake bullets fly and a moving vehicle bursts into flames. The edge-of-your-seat suspense comes to a climax in an explosive finale!
In yet another Star Wars setting, a Jawa from Phantom Menace, a New Hope, and Return of the Jedi poses with Ella, Ruby & Evan and Ethan, Kendall & Jordan ...

At The Celebrity Spotlight, we took full advantage of taking our pictures with Olaf!
             
Lunch time was at The Commissary where we had a great selection of tasty food for everyone!

Another attraction that is a must-see is The Great Movie Ride at the Chinese Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios. We were able to relive some of the greatest movie moments in history during our tram ride. We crossed a soundstage designed to recall 1930s-era Hollywood and boarded a tram for a captivating tour of some of Tinseltown’s greatest film scenes. Gliding beneath a flashing movie marquee and crossing over into a world that could only exist in the movies we began our journey. The Great Movie Ride features nearly 50 lifelike Audio-Animatronics replicas of legendary movie stars, lavishly produced set pieces and wondrous special effects.
 
Always having fun with everyone, but really enjoy the "Papaw time" with our youngest two, Ruby and Evan.

We had Fast-Pass+ for The Rock'in' Roller Coaster by Aerosmith for those not faint at heart. I stood in line with the sturdy crew, but when the time came to board, I backed out and just watched them take off ... so my lunch would stay put! Everyone said it was a blast! From the WDW information site, the description is "Hop inside a gleaming, super-stretch limo and hold on tight as you take off at a whopping 60 miles per hour into the Los Angeles night on your way to the big show—hard-rockin’ grooves of Aerosmith echoing all around you. Careen up and down into the inky, nighttime city darkness. Rocket through the famous Hollywood sign and speed past illuminated landmarks. Maneuver through city traffic and swoop in and around 3 thrilling inversions—2 rollover loops and one corkscrew—as the wind races across your face." So by the looks of the faces that came through from the Disney cams on the ride, it seems that description was right and I made the correct choice to wait it out!



After that, we all needed something calm for everyone, so it was off to The Voyage of The Little Mermaid. We follow Ariel's adventures as this show recreates selections from the Disney animated classic, using large and colorful puppets, live performers, special effects and movie clips. Sebastian the calypso-ing crab opens the show with a splash as he croons “Under the Sea.” We couldn't help but to sway with him as he sang alongside a happy chorus of dancing fish and pink snails. Ariel longs for a world out of reach in “Part of Your World.” Someone hears her plea—unfortunately, it’s Ursula the sea witch. Ursula reveals her terrible solution to Ariel’s problem in the catchy and cautionary “Poor Unfortunate Souls”—and the warmth when Ariel wins back all she’s lost.

Walt Disney - One Man's Dream - From Mickey Mouse to The Magic Kingdom is a wonderful attraction. Specially created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Walt’s birth, Walt Disney: One Man's Dream invites you to discover the man behind the mouse, his many achievements and his ongoing legacy. A Treasure Trove from the Disney Vault allows the discovery of a vivid and intimate portrait of Walt through the presentation of over 400 artifacts featuring one-of-a-kind animation art, paintings, storyboards, photos, models, props, costumes and set pieces. This reminded us a lot of the Disney Family Museum that we went to in San Francisco. This home for and of Walt's artifacts is a great setting here in Florida.
  
Mary Anne and I went to the Fantasmic show while the others were finishing some sights of their own. We ended up with terrific seats even though we were at the end of the cut-off line. Fantasmic takes you into the colorful imagination of Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice. We join Mickey as he invokes the characters and spirit of such favorite Disney classics as: Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Aladdin and The Lion King. But when the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs gathers Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Scar and a larger-than-life Maleficent to turn Mickey's dreams into a nightmare, leave it to Mickey and the power of imagination to save the day.

Pyrotechnics, laser lights and one million gallons of dancing water make the dream come alive. Sitting in an amphitheater that curves around a lagoon, we’re perfectly situated to experience it all. The night sky suddenly illuminates by a burst of light. A spotlight falls on Mickey Mouse who's conducting ''dancing'' waves. And an animated comet sweeps across the sky before it sprinkles stars. As 50 costumed performers sing beloved Disney tunes with lighting, smoke, fog and animated effects surrounding them, we think we’ve seen it all— until a 40-foot-tall dragon appears. Then, we see the most magical laser show of all!

                  
Exiting the Fantasmic! amphitheater, we met up with the family for some late night strolling and to watch the skies above the Hollywood Studios fill with colorful light from the Star Wars Fireworks display. Another spectacular spectacle in the sky!
      
The day was filled with excitement and many memory makers. It was a thrilling day enjoyed by all. The complete photo album can be clicked on this link. Tomorrow is our final Park day at the Animal Kingdom. That will be fun!