Category Archives: Walt Disney World

Happy 25th Anniversary Disney’s Hollywood Studios

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Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ElevatorBack in 1990 when I first visited Disney’s MGM Studios, it was just 8 months old.  Fresh, new, exciting – I was amazed by its unique charm and the surprises it seemed to cram into every alleyway and corner.  I liked its more adult humor and how it felt like a real working studio.  A lot has changed in 25 years!  “MGM” is gone and so are some of the coolest things from way back when, but Disney’s Hollywood Studios is still a great place to visit!  There are a few naysayers in the Disney community who don’t like the studios, think it’s a half-day park and needs improvement – they’re certainly entitled to their opinion.  And, if you want to focus on the way things used to be, the good ol’ days always seem better – as nostalgia tends to provide a glossy coat of perfection.  Personally, I’m still crazy about the Studios!  I think the park has plenty of entertainment to offer guests of every age.  And so, on this very special occasion, I give you…

25 Things to Love about Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

1. Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream – For true Disney fans, this is a must-see exhibit; sure to bring a tear to your eyes.

2. Do Not Pull Rope – I love this little surprise over by the Indiana Jones theater.  If you’ve not had the pleasure, go ahead, pull the rope – you’re bound to get a kick out of what happens.Sign in Toy Story Midway Mania

3. It’s Not About the Score – I know I’ve complained about the standby line for Toy Story Midway Mania, but I LOVE this ride!  Launching all those virtual missiles and wreaking havoc on the midway makes me irrationally happy!  Even if my score is notoriously low.

4. Pixar Place – It’s fun!  A bit of a hidden surprise if you don’t know what to expect as you’re on your way to ride #3  – I like that!

5. Foot and Hand Prints – If you didn’t get to visit in the early years, pre-giant-Sorcerer’s-Hat, the Chinese Theater was the main attraction!  Before you head inside to the Great Movie Ride, take a minute to enjoy the collection of famous foot and hand prints in the cement outside the Dessert in Disney's Hollywood Studiostheater.

6. Starring Rolls – This stellar café, located on Sunset Blvd is the perfect place to stop for breakfast, lunch, or a snack.  Butterfinger cupcake anyone?

7. Random Drop Sequences – Everything about the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is perfect to me, but the ride’s random drop sequences – which ensure every visit to the tower is different – are what makes the trip in the service elevator so fantastic!

8. Fantasmic – It is great.  Nothing else to say.

9. Aunt Sandy – and ALL the other waitresses and waiters at 50’s Prime Time Café!  You’ve got to dine here at least one time – but you’ll be back for more.  A word of caution:  Don’t put your elbows on the table or fail to eat those veggies!IMG_3527

10. Streetmosphere A.K.A Citizens of Hollywood – This is a huge part of what makes the Studios so special and charming.  If you can spare the time, do not miss an impromptu performance of these amazing characters if you see one taking place.

11. A Net Full of Jello – I’m sure it takes an above average intelligence to appreciate all the puns and sight gags in the Studios and that explains why they’re my absolute favorite details.  Inside the MuppetVision 3D building’s pre-show area, look up for this tribute to one of the very first Mouseketeers on the Mickey Mouse Club – Annette Funicello…get it?

Star Wars Merchandise at DHS12. Star Wars Weekends – Compared to others, I’m not a huge Star Wars fan, but the excitement in the air in the Studios during weekends in the late spring is irresistible.  So much fun!  I’m pretty stoked about the special fireworks during this year’s festivities – Symphony in the Sky.

13. Munchkins – People are always saying the Great Movie Ride is outdated, getting old, needs an update, young folks don’t “get” the movies referenced – Pfffft!  Heck no!!!  You young’uns, so fond of stuff like Netflicks, need to get some classic movie education and THEN you will better appreciate the perfection of each scene.  Oh, hush up about the guides and their cheesy skit – this is GREAT!  Best part is the Wizard of Oz scene, no?

14. Toluca Legs – I’ve dissed the legs here for their fat gram and calorie count, but they sure do smell delicious!  Everything in moderation, right?  Maybe just a bite.

15. Remnants of Roger Rabbit – Back when the Studios was a brand new park, Roger Rabbit was in his heyday.  Tons of movie memorabilia and merchandise could be found all over the place.  Then almost all evidence of Roger’s existence was annihilated.  So sad.  Detailed information can be found in this Mouse Planet article by Jim Korkis (why Roger disappeared) and this one by IMG_3023from the Mickey Mindset blog by Mitchell Stein (where to find the remnants).

16. Love on a Roller Coaster – Step back from the actual ride itself – it’s often too much thrill for a lot of folks on the spiraling super-fast Rock’n’ Roller Coaster – and just take in the details!  Special version of a classic Aerosmith song recorded JUST for this attraction…I think that’s cool.

17. Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights – Holiday dancing lights from early November through Early January…amid rumor’s of its demise, this attraction has become tradition for so many families!  If the rumors are true, the holiday season at Walt Disney World just won’t be the same.

18. Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner – I go for a beer.  Makes me happy.  ‘Nuff said.

19. The (Once) Glorious Studio Backlot Tour – It really was the best attraction in the park.  Don’t dismiss it because it’s not as special now – it’s still pretty good.  Army Man in Pixar Place, DHS

20. Characters – They’re just so special in the Studios.  Changing all the time and different from the ones you find at the other parks – I’m partial to the green Army Man in Pixar Place, but have had meet and greets with many really great characters over the years – most of the time purely by accident.

21. Miss Piggy as The Statue of Liberty – Outside the MuppetVision 3D theater is this fountain.  If you haven’t really taken a good, close look…it’s worth a visit.

22. The Nostalgia of Indiana Jones – Those naysayers who spout negativity about poor Indy’s Epic Stunt Spectacular aren’t watching it with my 50-year-old eyes.  The nostalgia of this DSCN2592attraction!  Takes me right back to the summer of 1981 when Raiders of the Lost Ark was the best movie I had ever seen.  Ranked right up there with Rocky and Star Wars.  Seriously.

23. The Rebel Spy – Star Tours was, you know, just okay before its upgrade – now it’s a LOT of fun.  Especially when an unsuspecting member of your party is the Rebel Spy!  I love it.

24. Gertie the Dinosaur – On the shore of Echo lake, Gertie’s an important fixture.  There’s speculation she’ll have to go if the park expands – I’ll be pretty sad about that if it happens.  The Studios just wouldn’t be the same without her.

25. The Fountain from Splash – Again, unless you remember when the movie Splash came out (Ron Howard directed, Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah starred along with John Candy and Eugene Levy) in 1984, you might not appreciate how very cool it is that the famous fountain from the movie is sitting right there near the Studio Catering Co.

Happy 25th Anniversary Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

I’m sure you can think of a few things you love that didn’t make this list.  What would you add?

The Dis Life Podcast with David Hodges

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The Dis Life & GoofyAs I’ve mentioned many times before, I’m addicted to and crazy about Disney podcasts.  They’re popular with Disney fans because they serve a number of purposes – they’re entertaining, they keep the Disney magic alive between vacations, they keep people informed about Disney news, and, personally, they help me feel better about my Disney obsession…there are a LOT of Disney-loving folks out there just like me and a bunch of ’em host podcasts.

Disney podcasts come in lots of forms and even focus on sub-topics.  I’m partial to ones that focus mostly on Walt Disney World and have a couple of hosts that interact well with each other.  One of the newest shows in my weekly podcast listening lineup is The Dis Life Podcast. 

The Dis Life is hosted by David Hodges and most of the time, his daughter, Dannielle.  Dave The Dis Life Podcast Hostsalso has guests from time to time and  his low-key style of Disney-speak makes for a good listen.  I discovered The Dis Life when I wrote my first post about podcasts and a reader suggested I listen to this great new father/daughter podcast team.  I took that advice and have been a loyal listener ever since.

A while back, Dave was kind enough to answer a few interview questions so we could get to know a bit more about the man behind The Dis Life…

The Dis Life eat the kitchen sink before1.  What unexpected surprises (good and/or bad) has podcasting brought you? 

When my daughter and I started this we were doing it just for our own entertainment.  We hoped for an audience, but didn’t really believe that people would listen on a regular basis.  What we actually received was so much more in the way of friendships and real connections and many loyal listeners.  It was a very welcomed unexpected surprise.

2.  Who are the top three guests you’d be most thrilled to have on your show? 

If we’re dreaming big, I would say first off Walt Disney himself, but that may be a little too big. If I were to choose people who are still alive I would like to have on the show: 

A. Joe Rohde David Hodges of The Dis Life

B. The longest employed CM who still works in the parks, not an imagineer or office worker or head cheese, but a regular worker, like a custodial worker or someone like that

C. A cruise director from any of the 4 Disney ships 

3.  What’s your Disney lucky charm – or most favorite, treasured Disney item? 

My most treasured Disney item is actually the Walt Disney biography by Bob Thomas. I am David Hodges' Favorite Disney Treasurebeyond fascinated with the life of Walt Disney. I have a lot of Disney stuff from pins to coffee cups and snow globes, but if I could only keep one item it would be this book.

4.  The one thing you love most about Disney parks?

I have thought about this many times and I think I enjoy the detail in everything the most. I have been to Disneyland and WDW so many times in my life that I still enjoy the rides, but that is not why I go. I love exploring the new areas as well as finding things that have been there forever, but I just never saw them.

5.  Best advice about podcasting you’ve ever received?

The best advice I have received was to have fun with it and be personable and authentic. When you start thinking of it as a job, paid or unpaid, the fun ends and it becomes a chore. No one like chores.

We’ve only been doing this podcast for about 7 months and I have followed all that advice. It is continuing to be fun and I have made a lot of friends in the process. 

David Hodges6.  Best advice about vacationing at a Disney park you’ve ever received – and you think everyone should know?

Take a break! I was told this long ago and I have done it both ways with trying to go from rope drop to close and also by taking breaks. My vacations that I took a break each day were more enjoyable than the one’s that I didn’t. If you think you can do it all in one day, you are mistaken and you will miss half the magic.

I think this advice is more valuable than making budget or looking for the deals or finding shorter lines during parades and fireworks. I think it’s the key to truly enjoying your time in the parks.

7.  How did you first learn about Disney podcasts?  Was that your inspiration for starting one of your own?

I have been interested in podcasting for a long time. I didn’t really know a lot about Disney podcasts at first. I listened to a lot of self-help and business podcasts starting off. I also listened to a lot of how to podcast podcasts. 

I eventually decided that it was time to start my own podcast, but I had a few ideas on what I D Hodgeswanted to talk about. My first thought was to do a family podcast since I have a degree in psychology, I’m not a psychiatrist by any means, but I was going to talk about life and things that most people go through. More of a support podcast. That is still on my radar as well as a few other things. I eventually said I wanted to do something I was passionate about and also something I could do with my 16-year-old daughter (now 17). We spend a lot of time every year at WDW so it was a no-brainer to do a Disney podcast. This is when I started researching other Disney podcasts. This is also when I realized that there were a lot of them ranging from news to travel info to adults only. I was surprised to see how many Disney podcasts were rated “explicit”. Even though I was going to be presenting info that was already being talked about we were going to be the only father/daughter Disney podcast out there. At least I didn’t see any and still have not seen it. My thought was that people would like to hear about Disney from different age groups. I guess, to answer the question, my inspiration to start the podcast was my daughter and having an opportunity for us to do something different together.

The Dis Life Podcast is available on iTunes and Stitcher.

Follow David Hodges and The Dis Life:

Website: TheDisLife.com

Instagram: thedizlife

Twitter: @thedislife

 

Walt Disney World – Six Days, Seven Snacks

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Caramel Apples in EpcotI’ve got a small dilemma and I need your help.  My ODPS (Obsessive Disney Planning Syndrome – it’s not a rare condition, I’m told) has kicked into overdrive now that we’re under the 30 day mark.  I’ve been listening to you here in the blog’s comments and out there on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other Disney blogs – everyone has a favorite Disney food…I’ve been meticulously planning my vacation snacks based on all this info-gathering.  I’ve also got an item on my Disney New Years Resolution list I need to cross off.  I’ve allowed myself a $50 snack budget – here’s my problem…I’ve planned out 7 snacks over 6 days and still have a little money left over!  I KNOW, right?  Who would have thought it possible?  Oh, not to worry, I’m planning on splitting these snacks with The Fam so there aren’t any unanticipated consequences which might result in my vacation wardrobe becoming…shall we say ill-fitting.DSCN2519

So, I’m going to list the snacks in my plan, their price, and where they can be purchased.  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be to recommend additional snacks I can add to the list with the $13.29 I have left over.

Here we go:

1. Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar $3.75 – can be purchased at any park.  I know, why waste a snack on an ice cream bar – plain old vanilla dipped in chocolate…it’s my favorite snack and I have to have one, that’s why.

2. Sweet and Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich $7.19 – Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square.  Sure, if I count it as a meal (and don’t share!), I can save the 7 bucks for other options…and that might happen, but as of now, we’re all planning on taking a taste and group voting on this highly praised food item.

Dole Whip courtesy of the Disney Dream Girls

Photo Credit: The Disney Dream Girls

3. Dole Whip $3.79 – Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland.  Going with the traditional version of this incredibly popular snack food that I have never tasted…shocking, I know.

4. and 5. Side by side, head on comparison of the new and allegedly amazing Cronut (officially called Croissant Doughnut) $4.49 and my beloved Chocolate Croissant $2.99 – both at Epcot.  The Cronut is available at the Refreshment Port and the Croissant at Sunshine Seasons.  Will the new snack on the block be able to hold its own against the tried and true perennial favorite?  We shall see.

6. Churros $3.75 – Magic Kingdom, Frontierland Churro Cart.  Nah, I’ve never had these either – Sunshine Season's Chocolate Croissantgo ahead and set that shocked gasp free!  It’s the missing sweet tooth…but I’m going to give them a try and see if I will join the legions of churro lovers everywhere.

7. Empanadas de Queso $10.75 – La Cantina de San Angel, Epcot’s World Showcase, Mexico Pavilion.  Another meal disguising as a snack, but we can all have a taste and do that group voting thing again.  The Mexico Pavilion will just not get the family’s vote for a meal, but in the interest of research, I’m sure I’ll have no shortage of taste volunteers.  I like Mexican food – the others would rather dine elsewhere.  My friend Heather from over at one of my favorite Disney blogs, Disney for Five+, swears these empanadas are a not-to-be-missed culinary masterpiece and I believe her!

So, here I sit…$36.71 down, $13.29 to spare.  What should I add?  If you’re thinking adult beverage, that’s an entirely different list with a separate budget!

Shout it out, now…don’t leave me hanging.   Tweet me if you have to…. @life_of_green.

Embracing the Rainy Day at Walt Disney World

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Rainy Day in Disney's Animal KingdomI’m going to be a little bossy here for a second (imagine that!):  Do NOT go home from your Walt Disney World vacation whining about the weather.  Do. Not. Complain.  In the summer, it rains in Florida.  A lot.  If you don’t realize that going into the trip, you’re going to be surprised and disappointed!  Plan for rain – during certain times of the year, you’ll need to plan for daily rain.  That’s right – it rains every afternoon sometimes – a quick shower that comes and goes, but may be a torrential downpour for a while.  The average monthly rainfall is over 7 inches for June, July and August.  It’s HOT in Florida, too – but I’ll save being bossy on that topic for another day.

Back to the rain. You have two choices when it rains.  Tough it out or pack it in.  Here are my suggestions for IMG_3351embracing the rain – no matter which choice you go with.

1. Make like a good Boy Scout and bring a rain poncho to the parks during the rainy season.  Shoes that are water resistant or will dry quickly are helpful, too.  Flip-flops can become hazardous, near deadly instruments of torture in a downpour as they become very slippery on both the bottom and the foot bed….beware! Walt Disney World in the Rain

2. Hang in there.  Try to stay as dry as possible and wait it out.  Go for an indoor attraction like Mickey’s PhilharMagic or Hall of President’s in the Magic Kingdom, a movie in Epcot’s World Showcase (in Canada, China, or France), wait in the LONG (but dry) line for Soarin’ in Epcot’s Future World, check out the Great Movie Ride or MuppetVision 3D in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  In Animal Kingdom, you can see It’s Tough to be a Bug.  If it’s not raining hard, grab a snack and a seat and people-watch for a few minutes.  Wait and see if the clouds clear up.

3. Shop.  There is no shortage of shops in Walt Disney World!  Take the time to browse – if you’reIMG_1194 usually rushing from thrill ride to thrill ride, you’ll find an undiscovered treasure trove of unbelievable Disney items for wearing, decorating, eating, and collecting.  Find souvenirs and gifts for everyone including your dog.  Just the number of different hats is staggering.

4. Head on over to Downtown Disney for bowling or a movie or both.  We wouldn’t normally spare the time for an activity we can experience at home, but rainy days may call for some adjustments and accommodation. Splitsville, the new bowling hotspot in Downtown Disney and an AMC Theater (complete with dine-in options) are side by side in the Westside district. Walt Disney World Resort Pizza Delivery

5. When the going gets wet, the wet get going.  Pack it in, people – sometimes the rain just won’t let up – everybody’s wet, cold and cranky.  This is the time to head on back the resort and order a pizza, watch some TV and rest up for better weather…which should come around unless you happen to be in Orlando during a hurricane.  Then you have my permission – encouragement even – to dismiss my bossy directive at the beginning of this post and complain away.  Whine til the cows come home.  If your entire vacation has been wiped out by a hurricane (it’d probably have an oddly mild name like Dudley), you deserve sympathy and a do-over.  I hope this hasn’t ever happened to any of you and hope it never does.

What are your Walt Disney World rainy day tips?