Why Hollywood Studios is My Favorite Disney Park!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

I LOVE Hollywood Studios!!! Some of my favorite shows, rides, and restaurants are there. Plus, with the addition of Toy Story Land and, soon to be open, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, I am literally salivating to get back to WDW to see the new attractions. This park has some of the more unique attractions that you don’t necessarily associate with being Disney.

A lot of people have a negative opinion of this park when comparing it to Magic Kingdom or Epcot. It does not have the typical Disney nostalgic feeling. It does not have a heavy variety of rides like the Magic Kingdom. It does not have the plethora of the dining options of Epcot. However, what it does have are a combination of attractions, shows, and dining options that balance the park perfectly.

Since visiting for the first time in 2010, Hollywood Studios has underwent a tremendous amount of change. Some of these were necessary to accommodate the changes that needed to be made to enhance the park, some are a little bit harder to get over.

Book Your Next Disney Trip Now! Click Here!

While the addition of the “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away” is a decent stage show that recognizes the characters of the movie franchise, and the March of the First Order is a neat thing to witness down the streets of HS, they still do not take the place of Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat, that was a staple of the Hollywood Studios landscape.

So here are my top 5 reasons why Hollywood Studios is my favorite Disney park.

The ShowsI

I believe Hollywood Studios has the best combination of shows of any park at WDW. While the park does not have the ride attractions of some of the other parks, although with the additions of Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge that changes, every one of the shows there is an enjoyable time.

The “Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular” is my favorite show to visit each trip to Hollywood Studios. Between the pyrotechnics, the choreography of the stunts and the comedic spots during the course of the show itself, this show takes the audience inside some of the best scenes from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (which, btw, is the best movie of the franchise, in my humble opinion).

Another show that I enjoy visiting is “For the First Time in Forever; A Frozen Sing-along Celebration”. I know what you are thinking, but no. I do not sing along. This is a fun show for the kids to sing along to all of the frozen songs but also get a hilarious history lesson from the official Royal Historians of Arendelle.

“Beauty and The Beast – Live on Stage” brings the classic tale to life in the open-air Theater of the Stars on Sunset Boulevard. This broadway-style show has been giving audiences a shortened version of the Disney movie since the park opened in 1989.

Beauty and The Beast

In “Muppetvision 3D”, you are treated to a 3D show that is more than just that. There are different times where the screen becomes just a piece of the overall theater and the theater itself comes to life, with Statler and Waldorf doing their typical heckling from the booth above and a cannon shot from the screen to the back revealing bricks and a hole in the back wall of the theater.

The Rides

While Hollywood Studios does not have as many rides as the Magic Kingdom, the rides that it does have are all worth riding.T

The “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror” and I have a love/hate relationship. I am not a huge fan of these types of rides that simply take you up and drop you several times, but this is different. The whole theme of the ride is fantastic. The back story, the look, the feel, the drama, the suspense of not knowing when it will drop, to wondering how many times it will drop (it drops a different amount each time) all works to make this one of the best rides at WDW.

Rock n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is another must when on a trip to WDW. From the speed on the initial launch from 0-57 mph in 2.8 secs, to the awesome soundtrack, this ride is literally a blast. Riders will experience a 5G start, and travel through 3 inversions while flying past bright neon road signs.T

Toy Story Mania has been the one ride at Hollywood Studios that seems to always have long wait times and is the one ride at HS that a fastpass makes a huge difference. This 3D shooter ride is one of the more technologically sophisticated attractions ever developed by Disney Imagineers.

Don’t Wait – Book Now!

This ride puts 2 people head to head, competing in 6 mini games ranging from tossing pies, darts, eggs, baseballs, rings, and suction cup type arrows. This game is so much fun and, for me, blows away another toy story shooter ride in Magic Kingdom. Always a great family adventure (and maybe a little competition)

Fantasmic

While this could have been added in the Shows category, doing that to Fantasmic would simply not do it justice.

This night-time multimedia event features fireworks, lasers, lighting effects, and music. It stars Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Fantasia as he fights the forces of evil.

Mickey invokes the characters and spirits of favorite Disney classics such as Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Aladdin, Pinocchio, The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Tarzan and more. 

The show takes a dark turn when the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs appears and gathers classic villains like Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Scar, Frollo, Jafar and a larger-than-life Maleficent, to turn Mickey’s dreams into a nightmare. Mickey must fight back the villains with all of the magic in his arsenal.

This 30 minute show might be the highlight of your HS visit and you will, no doubt, walk away amazed.

New Additions

Disney has put a lot of time, fortune, and imagineering into Hollywood Studios in recent years with the 2 newest additions of Toy Story Land and the new, yet to debut, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, as well as new attractions such as Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.

Toy Story Land transports you into Andy’s backyard where you feel like the size of one of Andy’s toys. This new section which opened in June of 2018 features new rides in Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers, as well as the aforementioned Toy Story Mania. It also gives HS a counter-service restaurant in Woody’s Lunch Box. You may also see the Green Army Men Drum Corp or be made an honorary Green Army Man by participating in the Green Army Men Boot Camp.

Galaxy’s Edge opens in August of 2019. It will introduce 2 new ride attractions, a new restaurant, and transport a person into the worlds of Star Wars. I will refrain from speaking on this too much except to say, I cant wait for this to open.

Me in My Element

50’s Prime Time Cafe

This is my favorite restaurant in all of WDW. This meal has the feel of being in the 1950’s “every family kitchen”. The waiters/waitresses treat you as if you are a guest at their dinner table and must display appropriate manners or be punished for various things. The food is also pretty terrific. Give this place a try and allow the staff to put you in the middle of their show and you will walk away full from food and fun.

Best Times of the Year to Visit WDW

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

So you have decided to take a trip to Walt Disney World, the first question that must be answered is…WHEN? What are the best times of the year to visit WDW?

Most of the time, the answers to these questions are dependent on your family’s schedule. Here is a short list of some of the other questions you need to ask yourself before setting a time of year to go.

  • When can I get time off of work?
  • When are the kids not in school, or are we OK with taking them out of school for a vacation?
  • What type of weather do we want to encounter in central Florida?
  • How much do we want to spend?
  • What type of crowd size are we comfortable with?
  • What special events do we want to experience at the parks?

There are pros and cons to going at different times of the year. You need to weigh out all of your options and understand the cons that do exist at certain times.

Book Your Trip with Michelle Waitt at www.bestmickeytrip.com

When we went to Disney World for the first time as a family, our daughter was 2 years old. We wanted this trip to be special for her (even though, I am sure she doesn’t really remember much from that first trip). We chose to go during Christmas Week. We understood the cons associated with this time of year but felt the special atmosphere of Disney at Christmas time outweighed the cons.

Since that time, we have went a few different times of the year. My wife and I decided, early on, that we were willing to take our kids out of school for a week (and by the way, I am an elementary school teacher). The memories we have made on these trips have far surpassed the 1 week a year that the kids have missed of school.

We have visited Disney in early December, February, April, and May. We refuse to go in the summer time and have planned on going in October in the next couple of years.

Knowing the pros and cons can save you time, money, and frustration.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing!” –Walt Disney

Note: 2019 ushers in the opening of Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios so expect heavy crowds here even at times which are normally low crowd times.

Summer (June-August)

This is probably the most convenient time for people to go to Walt Disney World. Schools are out for summer break for June and July and even early August. Less scheduling conflicts for families in the summer months, means more people visiting the parks. These are 3 of the busiest months of the year which will mean longer ride wait times (some being well over 2 hrs) and less dining accommodations and choices.

Because of the larger crowd sizes, the parks will extend their hours to accommodate longer wait times and have more in-park shows available. However, with the longer hours comes a higher cost.

Early June sees the end of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival which features amazing topiaries around the park and the last few concerts in the Garden Rocks Concert Series. July 3rd and 4th will feature a special Fourth of July fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom. Mid-August begins Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on select nights which means early park closure at Magic Kingdom for those without event tickets.

The weather in these summer months can be grueling with the Florida heat and humidity. This can be a true test for even the biggest Mickey fan combined with very long wait times due to the heavy crowds. Make sure to prepare accordingly. This is also the rainy season in Florida as well as June being the beginning of hurricane season.

Winter (December-February)

The winter season can bring some lighter crowd sizes depending on the week. The holidays bring a heavy crowd but if you plan it right, you can find some light crowd levels during this season.

The parks are decorated festively and there are always special holiday themed events throughout the month such as Mickey’s Very-Merry Christmas Party.

One highlight of December at Epcot is the Candlelight Processional. This retelling of the Christmas story features a celebrity guest narrator and full orchestra.

Early December also welcomes hundreds of youth groups as the ESPN’s Wide World of Sports hosts the Pop Warner youth football championship tournaments and Cheer and Dance National Championships

While the holidays bring heavy crowds, there is just something about being at WDW on Christmas day.

Daylight temperatures hover around 70 degrees which makes walking the parks and standing in lines less of a frustration. The park hours will, however, decrease as the New Year begins and the festive decorations will begin to come down. The two Disney waterparks are also closed during this time.

Aside from the Holiday weeks, prices during this season are some of the best that you will find all year.

Fall (September-November)

***Galaxy’s Edge Opens August 29th — Expect much larger crowds during a typically low crowd season***

Magic Kingdom and Epcot both celebrate their birthdays October 1st. The Fall season typically brings low crowds and the heat of the Florida summer begins to subside. September brings low wait times for attractions while also giving visitors the option of visiting the 2 waterparks with temperatures still higher but not as grueling as July and August.

Schools are now back in full swing which means that Disney needs to provide an incentive for people to still visit. This incentive is Free Dining Plans during the month of September. This is a huge cost saving opportunity if your schedule allows for a September trip. Overall, these months provide the best financial opportunity if you are wanting to save some money.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is in full swing. Special parades, characters, and fireworks help celebrate the experience of Halloween magic throughout the parks and resorts.

Children AND adults are able dress up and go trick-or-treating during this evening party session.

November can be a great time to go with the exception being Thanksgiving Week. It is a transitional month for the parks as they go from Fall decor to celebrating the Christmas season.

Overall, these months provide a ton of advantages to visiting.

Spring (March-May)

This time of year is our typical destination time. Choosing your week carefully is a must. If crowd size is an issue, avoid late March and early April with school letting out for Spring Break during these times.

The weather begins to trend warmer as this season progresses. With warmer temperatures comes more events and celebrations in the parks. Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival runs a majority of these months with flowers blooming and character topiaries taking form.

Prices have not reached their Summer hike so good deals are still able to be found.

The waterparks also begin to reopen in early March giving crowds more options.

As May rolls around, crowd sizes begin to trend upwards to moderate levels, as does the potential for an afternoon thunderstorm becoming a common occurrence.

Understanding what you want out of your trip is key in picking the appropriate time of the year to visit. There are always going to be challenges to a Disney trip. However, by prioritizing what is important to you and your family, the positives can far outweigh any negatives. Just understand your choices.

For more information on how to book your own Disney adventure, Click here or the Book Your Trip tab at the top!

Why Now, Why Disney?

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Why would someone like me, do something like this?

That question is one that even I am not confident on how to answer. First off, I am an Elementary School teacher and High School varsity boys basketball coach from a small town in north central Indiana. Why would I be the type to create a blog about Walt Disney World and all things Disney?

Second, I am a married father of (now) three crazy, awesome kids who does Disney on a teacher’s salary. Why is Disney so interesting to me?

The answer to the first question is simple….I HAVE NO IDEA!

I have no idea why, one day in January, while I am waiting on my 3rd (and LAST) child to be born, I got it in my head that I wanted to write. Most would think the first thing that a guy like me would write about is basketball since that is what I spend so much of my time doing. Coaching high school basketball has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember and after finally getting the chance to lead my own high school program, naturally one would think that I would write about basketball. NOPE!

“You’re dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up.” — Walt Disney

I remember going to Walt Disney World once as a kid. My family didn’t take huge vacations very often. My wife and I decided that when we had children of our own, we were going to take them places. Places they would remember. Some friends from church one day 8 years ago asked if we wanted to go with them to Walt Disney World. Our first child at the time was 2, so we said sure.

Image may contain: 3 people
First Disney Trip – Christmas 2010

I fell in love with Disney on that first trip. I saw the reactions of my 2 yr old daughter and understood why they called it the “Most Magical Place on Earth”. I didn’t remember much from going as a kid, so EVERYTHING was like brand new to me. The rides, the shows, THE FOOD, the characters. That probably answers my second question…why Disney?

Image may contain: 4 people, including Michelle Waitt

Why Not? It’s fun, it’s exciting. It is expensive (Luckily we have a travel agent in the family that makes these trips easy and as inexpensive as possible – Michelle Waitt), but it has been worth every penny (and a lot of pressed pennies) along the way.

Get your Disney vacation questions answered today by clicking HERE!!!!

Since that first trip, we have went almost every year, as well as other places with our vacation family, the Waitt’s. However, Disney has taken what were vacationing friends and has molded us into a family.

Image may contain: 10 people, including Kenneth Keith Ostler, Michelle Waitt and Kenny Waitt, people smiling, people standing and wedding
Disney 2018 – Cinderella’s Castle

This blog will hopefully be a collection of thoughts and opinions from our WHOLE Disney family which has begun to expand in recent years. Please join in on the conversations, because that’s what this is meant to be…a place where fans of all things Disney can come together and enjoy one man’s ultimate DREAM and enjoy what that dream has meant to each of us.