Chasing EverAfter

Coming in at number two on our Walt Disney World park rankings, Hollywood Studios

Third on our list and second in our rankings is Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which was truly a pleasant surprise for us. When planning our trip and going over all the things we wanted to do, we actually felt the least excited for Hollywood Studios. Now, don’t get me wrong, we were looking forward to Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge, as much more, but for whatever reason, Hollywood Studios was lower on our list of parks we couldn’t wait to visit. Naturally, that means we severely underestimated it and then ended up having an incredible time there, which was also a great way to start our most recent trip, as it was the first park we visited.

Hollywood Studios is home to some of the most iconic attractions and shows in Disney, including the aforementioned Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. It is also home to the exhilarating Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock N Roller Coaster, and a plethora of fun and exciting shows. You enter into Hollywood Boulevard feeling like a star, which is fitting considering the theming here; this park was made for movie lovers. Hollywood Boulevard then opens to Echo Lake and Sunset Boulevard, followed by Animation Courtyard, Pixar Plaza, Commissary Lane, Grand Avenue, and then Star Wars and Toy Story rounding out the back of the park. That’s a LOT of ground to cover, but it all flows really well together and makes for a park day that offers literally something for everyone and all ages. Want to ride some exciting rides? You’re in the perfect Disney Park to accomplish that goal. Want to get something good to eat? You’ll have an abundance of options. And looking to meet some characters? You won’t be disappointed by the many (understatement) opportunities here to meet your Disney faves.

We started our day by riding Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which was a lot of fun and a fantastic start to our latest family Disney trip. Fun fact, this is also the first Disney ride to feature Mickey and Pals as a headline, and during the beautiful ukulele version of the theme song, “Nothing Can Stop Us Now,” original Minnie Mouse voice actor, Russi Taylor, is featured. Talk about a way to set the tone for a Disney day!

After that, we grabbed some breakfast at Hollywood & Vine, where we met Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, and Pluto while enjoying a delicious buffet. This was our first ever character dining experience, and we loved it. It allowed us to enjoy both a satisfying breakfast in the park to kick off our day, while also affording us the ability to meet some of our top priority characters while saving time not waiting in line. Our package also granted us priority seating for Fantasmic! later in the night, which was the cherry on top for this experience. Once we finished up eating and headed outside, we were able to see the two remaining members of the sensational six, as Donald and Daisy were outside taking photos with guests in front of Echo Lake. Instantly, it was shaping up to be a day filled with magical memories for us and our girls.

We followed up our character dining breakfast with a bunch of character meet and greets at Pixar Plaza. On the way there, we ran into Pinocchio which was a fun surprise, and then we took photos with Joy from Inside Out, Frozone from The Incredibles, and Sully from Monsters Inc. We also were able to see Elastagirl, but had to move on due to our busy schedule before we had the opportunity to meet her. Pixar Plaza as a whole though was a lot of fun for our family, and it’s such a nice way to meet characters you may not get to elsewhere.

Heading out from Pixar Plaza, we made our way to Toy Story Land, where we again met one of our favorites in Buzz Lightyear, and then enjoyed some of the best theming we have experienced in any park. Right away when we walked into this larger than life section, you felt like you had been transformed into one of Andy’s toys. From the rides and structures that look like blocks, arts, and a child’s plaything, to the little green army men marching around the area, Toy Story Land pulls out all the stops to immerse you in one of your favorite films. We had a blast competing to hit the targets on Toy Story Mania, went dizzy with laughter on Alien Swirling Saucers, enjoyed some lunchbox tarts at Woody’s Lunchbox, and even had our youngest ride her first “big girl” roller coaster on Slinky Dog Dash!

We then made our way to Galaxy’s Edge for some Star Wars fun, where once again we were blown away by the theming and immersion. At every turn, it felt like we had truly stepped into a galaxy far, far away, and we enjoyed every moment. From meeting the Mandalorian, being waved at by Rey, being warned by Storm Troopers, and being threatened by Darth Vader himself, Galaxy’s Edge will make you feel like you’re officially a part of your favorite Star Wars film. This is also where you can enjoy some of the most unique dining on Disney property, as well as create your own Droid, or even your own lightsaber! Galaxy’s Edge is also home to some incredible rides, including Star Tours, Smuggler’s Run, and Rise of the Resistance. Rise of the Resistance was a particular hit for us, with an amazing pre-show that includes several walk through areas, incredible sets, and finally a ride that easily became one of our favorites of any park. You’ll be assisted by some of your favorite characters as you attempt to escape a star destroyer, the empire, and Kylo Ren.

We also enjoyed some lunch and snacks in Galaxy’s Edge, including Ronto Wraps, a Cold Brew Black Caf, the famous Blue Milk, and Outpost Popcorn, with each different item living up to the hype.

After finishing in Galaxy’s Edge, we ended up seeing several shows, of which again Hollywood Studios offers an abundance. From the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, to the new Disney Villains: Unhappily Ever After, Hollywood Studios got the memo on showing off the stars, and nowhere is that more apparent than in their stage shows. We particularly enjoyed the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration and the Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure show, where we sang along with Ana, Elsa, and Ariel, while being engulfed in snow and bubbles, but the best show of all would come later in the night.

After finishing our gauntlet of stage shows with Disney’s Villains: Unhappily Ever After, where you hear the other side of the story according to some of the most famous Disney villains, we found ourselves on Sunset Boulevard, home of the recently refurbished Rock N Rollercoaster featuring the Muppets and the Tower of Terror, and decided it was time for one last thrill before the grand finale. Unfortunately, no one was willing to ride Tower of Terror with me, so I ended up single riding, and it was every bit as fearful and fun as I had remembered.

We grabbed some dinner at Fairfax Fare, and then after resting our legs a bit, headed for our priority seating at the biggest show of all, Fantasmic!

This was actually the first time for us all to see Fantasmic! and I have to say, this is the only show for us that ever rivaled Disney’s Happily Ever After fireworks show at Magic Kingdom. We sat third row, close enough to feel the spray of the water and the heat of the fire, while we witnessed Mickey dream of being the sorcerer’s apprentice, watched him fight off Disney’s villains as they twisted his dreams into nightmares, and finally emerge victorious as he uses the power of his imagination to overcome the villains and welcome other Disney heroes in celebration. This was an incredible experience, which amazed us and our girls, who continued to talk about it for many days after our visit. To finish off the night with such an exciting show, and then have so many Disney characters wave us goodnight, was an exclamation point on an incredible park day.

From start to finish, our recent trip to Hollywood Studios was a massive hit, and one we will remember for quite some time. From the dining, to the rides, to the many characters we interacted with, and the unique shows we watched, Hollywood Studios outshined our expectations and then some, and for that, we had to rank it number two in our list of Disney World park rankings. Whether you’re a Star Wars diehard, or grew up a Toy Story kid, or whether you’re a Pixar fan, a thrill ride seeker, or simply love a good show, Hollywood Studios is sure to be a hit for you and your party, and has officially become a must do for us going forward.

With three parks down, the element of surprise may be gone, but the reasoning and review are still sure to be entertaining and informational, so be sure to tune in for the final part of our series, ranking Disney’s most Magical park of all!