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Star Tours
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33 Days: Star Tours

Star Tours

Star Tours – The Adventure Continues is our choice for #Day33 in our #DisneyWorldCountdown! Image ©Disney Parks

Star Tours – The Adventure Continues is a great attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and is our selection for #Day33 in our #DisneyWorldCountdown.  This attraction was redone in 2010 and into 2011, and it was totally transformed.  The Imagineers converted it to a 3D attraction, and the computer technology behind it is so much more advanced that you can ride it 54 times before you see the same ride story twice!  The story is well written, and the audience even plays a roll — as one of you is accused of being the Rebel Spy by Darth Vader!

Star Tours

Have you ever been the Rebel Spy?

Just so you know, I WAS the Rebel Spy the first time I rode Star Tours after they redid the ride, and it was so funny to me, I just started laughing!

However, one thing to be aware of is that this attraction can lead to some queasy stomachs for some people.  My wife Cindy can’t ride it anymore because it just doesn’t agree with her anymore, and for others the same may be true.  Also, because of the “newness” of the attraction, a FastPass+ reservation is recommended, especially for a park like Hollywood Studios where your choices can be somewhat limited at times.

Star Tours

The queue for Star Tours can be a bit long at times, but there is plenty to check out too!

So tell me, please, do you and your family ride this attraction, or do you skip it, or do you split up and some ride and some don’t, or what?  Let me know in the comments, and thanks for stopping by today!

Bloggers, Disney World Countdown, My Dreams of Disney, Walt Disney World
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Sorcerer Mickey
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Exploring Disney Hollywood Studios Shows

Sorcerer Mickey Hat

In a new series, today I’m taking a look at all of the different shows throughout the Walt Disney World Parks.  In today’s episode, we’re taking a look at Disney’s Hollywood Studios shows.
For our purposes, a show is something on screen or on stage, that you watch as you would watch a movie or play.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with it’s dedication to Hollywood and the great things dedicated to movies, you will find a lot of great shows, some of which are among my favorites in all of the parks.  At Hollywood Studios, you will find the following shows:

The American Idol Experience

Image ©Disney Parks

Image ©Disney Parks

I’ll admit it — I’ve never watched a single episode of American Idol.  However, Scotty McCreery won American Idol, and seeing as he lives in Garner, just a stones throw from where we live, I actually found myself thinking about this show, and also thinking about watching an episode of Idol.  I haven’t done either, but that may change when we go visit Hollywood Studios during an upcoming vacation…

Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage

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Beauty and the Beast is the only Disney Movie where the stage show opened on the day that the movie was released to theaters.  Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite shows in all of Disney World, and one that I love to see.  It has it all, great music, lively entertainment, that wonderfully romantic story that I love, and a happy ending at the end!  If you’ve never seen Beauty and the Beast, you are doing yourself a disservice.

Disney Junior — Live on Stage!

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This is a new version of a show that we saw when Sophie was younger.  When we saw it, it was the Playhouse Disney show, and we had fun with it because it featured a lot of the characters that Sophie was into at the time.  We were able to see it with Sophie’s friend Sofie last July, and it was as much fun now as it was then!

Fantasmic

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Image ©Disney Parks

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, Fantasmic is actually a show that I’ve never seen before.  From what I hear, though, it is an awesome show, and I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to see it this year.

Muppet*Vision 3-D

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Muppet*Vision 3-D is, of course, brought to you by the Muppets, and while extremely corny, I love it!  I grew up with the Muppet Show, and to see all of my favorite Muppets on the big screen, in 3-D no less, is really cool.  The only thing about it is that it is the same as it has been since the first time I saw it, and I would love it if they would upgrade it.  Still, we love it, so I can’t wait to experience it again!

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

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I’ve only seen the Voyage of the Little Mermaid a couple of times, as it’s not bad, but often has a really long line so we generally skip it.  However, Sophie likes it every now and then, so we see it every couple of years or so.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has some really great shows, and there seems to be something that everyone will love, so take care, and enjoy the shows!

Bloggers, Disney's Hollywood Studios, My Dreams of Disney, Vacation Planning, Walt Disney World
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Tanya’s Review of Fantasmic! at Walt Disney World!

Image courtesy & ©Magical Mouse Schoolhouse

Image ©Disney Parks

By Tanya.  Fantasmic! is the premiere nighttime show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is truly a spectacular show which follows the storyline of what would happen if we could look into Mickey Mouse’s dreams and nightmares. Fantasmic is filled with pyrotechnics, water projections, music and live entertainment that rival any nighttime show in the Disney Resort. Any evening in the Hollywood Studios park should be capped off with this beautiful display!

Fantasmic! takes all that is wonderful about Disney and rolls it into one amazing adventure! I rank it among the best live entertainment Disney has to offer in the entire resort and highly recommend it for everyone. While this show is recommended for all ages, bear in mind that the show may be loud or intense for younger viewers. Don’t let this discourage you and your family, as young visitors will see every major Disney character (and some surprises) in one fun filled, beautifully choreographed show that ends with the good guys prevailing!

Walt Disney World Gallery Photo

Image ©Disney Parks

Keep in mind that this show has limited seating and is subject to the evening’s weather. Ask any cast member or check your park map for show times during your visit. I highly recommend you arrive at least an hour prior to show time and enjoy the pre-show entertainers, resting with your family, and doing the “wave” with the crowd. Consider grabbing dinner from a quick serve restaurant or snacking on goodies from the vendors inside the amphitheatre area for your evening dinner. You may also consider making reservations with one of the reserved seating dinner packages Disney offers.

Fantasmic! is an impressive display of Imagineering and a must see attraction in the park. This is not a “fireworks” show. It includes a cast of entertainers, characters, and oh so much more. Get your smile ready, put your camera down, fix your eyes on the stage, and enjoy all there is to take in during the amazing show! You’ll tap your toe, bite your nails, and believe in Magic when it’s all over.

Image courtesy & ©Magical Mouse Schoolhouse

Image ©Disney Parks

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Resort Wednesday – Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

Keister Coaster at BoardWalk Inn

I know that last week I discussed Pop Century which is at the other end of the scale from the BoardWalk Inn but the BoardWalk Inn is a beautiful hotel that I truly enjoyed staying in and I would love to stay there again.

When I stayed at the BoardWalk, the trip was actually booked to stay off property but after the hotel I had checked into was disappointing (to say the least), my mom and I decided that we would stay in a Disney hotel. We narrowed it down to the Grand Floridian or the BoardWalk. I decided I didn’t want to walk through the opulent lobby of the Grand Floridian in my bathing suit so the BoardWalk was our new accommodations.

The BoardWalk Inn is themed as a 1940’s Atlantic City and they carry the theme throughout the hotel without being overly kitschy. The hotel is on the water between Epcot and Hollywood Studios (you can take a boat between the hotel and the two theme parks). There is a boardwalk area with restaurants, shopping and seaside entertainment. Interestingly, you can see Tower of Terror from the BoardWalk’s parking lot and when I listened closely, I swear I could hear screams from the riders of Tower of Terror.

The Miss America crown, cape and scepter.

The Miss America pageant originated in Atlantic City which clearly matches the theme of the hotel.

Our room had two queen-sized beds along with a small balcony which held a table and 2 chairs. The best part to me was that from our balcony, I could see the Moroccan prayer tower at Epcot which also afforded views of Illuminations nightly. As Illuminations has some of the best fireworks I have ever seen, this was an extra bonus.

The hotel’s main swimming pool includes a great water slide which is made to look like a roller coaster. In addition, there are 2 “quiet” pools which lived up to their name. I didn’t see any children at the quiet pools and found it very relaxing.

As I said before, I would stay here again in a heartbeat. Have you stayed at the BoardWalk Inn? If you did, what did you think of it?  Tell us in the comments below!

 

Bloggers, Disney Vacation Club, My Dreams of Disney, Vacation Planning, Walt Disney World
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