Happy 25th anniversary, Disney's Hollywood Studios!
Hard to believe that Disney's Hollywood Studios is twice my age! When the park opened on May 1, 1989 it was the third theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. (Disney's Animal Kingdom didn't open until 1998.) Today, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Disney's Hollywood Studios VP Dan Cockerell will honor 25-year cast members during a special ceremony. There will be more fun, including a motorcade of "Stars of the Studios" like Captain Jack Sparrow, Darth Vader and Sofia the First (Lily's favorite), and a fireworks show high above Sorcerer Mickey Hat. So cool! Makes me wish I could just hop over to the park today to experience the festivities.
It got me thinking about all of the awesome things there are at Disney's Hollywood Studios. I couldn't name them all, but if I had to choose just 5 reasons to visit Disney's Hollywood Studios, these would be it. Think you've got a better reason to visit Disney's Hollywood Studios? Let me know in comments below! Today may be the anniversary, but any day is a great day to visit the studios.
1. Refining my shooting skills at Toy Story Midway Mania!
This arcade-style shoot-'em-up is one of the best rides in all of Disney World. It's fun, it's interactive and the whole family can get in on the action. Personally, I like to go head to head in a battle against my dad for most points. The only downside to Toy Story Midway Mania! is the waits, so make sure you FastPass+ it or you are at the park before opening so you can be one of the first ones to ride it. This is my no. 1 FastPass+ pick at Disney's Hollywood Studios. I like to ride it first thing in the morning and then go back again later in the day with FastPass+ to see if I can get a higher score.
2. Watching imagination come to life at Fantasmic!
What can I say, watching Mickey harness the power of his imagination is pretty impressive. Lily gets a little bit afraid when the Evil Queen tries to turn Mickey's dream into a nightmare, but it's Disney, so you know Mickey will eventually win! What's most amazing are the walls of water, where the scenes from Disney's most famous movies like Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King play out before your very eyes. We always plan to catch the second show during the busiest times, so we don't have to wait so long to get into the theater.
3. Experiencing the terror at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™
Yeah, I love roller coasters. And Rock 'n' Roller Coaster ... Starring Aerosmith is one of the best. But NOTHING compares to the Tower of Terror. The theming of this attraction is second-to-none, and the ride itself takes away your breath -- literally. The elevator drops are randomized, so even if you ride it again and again, it's still a surprise! There is nothing like the feeling of free-falling, especially when you don't know when it will happen. It's my no. 2 FastPass+ pick at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
4. Enjoying super thrills at Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular! and Lights, Motors, Action!® Extreme Stunt Show®
OK, I love both of these shows SOOOOO much that it was too hard to chose which one was the best. I love to see how real-life movies get made with stunt-tricks, and both of these do just that! If you like action-adventure set in temple ruins, you will probably like Indian Jones more. If you like high-speed chases, Lights, Motors, Action! will be right up your alley! Make sure to get to the shows at least 15 minutes early for the best seats.
5. Saying "hi!" to my favorite friends
Sometimes I act like I'm too cool for character meets or I'm just there to film the characters for our YouTube channel, but I still get excited when I get to meet my favorite characters. I just don't show it as much. For Lily, meeting the characters is the best part of Disney's Hollywood Studios, especially because it's the only place at Disney World where she can meet her two favorite characters -- Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First . Both of them meet in Animation Courtyard right across from Voyage of the Little Mermaid.
These are just five reasons why Disney's Hollywood Studios is so amazing. Why do you love it?
Hoppy 25th anniversary, Disney's Hollywood Studios! Stay cool!
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