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Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World

simpleprocedures1 | May 25, 2010 |

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Disney's Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World, located in Orlando, Florida, and opened on May 1, 1989, and is the third theme park to open at Walt Disney World, after Magic Kingdom in 1971, and Epcot in 1982. Disney's Hollywood Studios encompasses more than 135 acres, and its main theme is show business.

Attractions

Disney's Hollywood Studios consists of 6 themed areas that all intertwine with each other without any real defined area, so as to make it look and feel like a real Hollywood studios back lot with streets and buildings meshing together throughout the park. The 6 themed areas are:

Hollywood Boulevard

As soon as you enter Disney's Hollywood Studios you are immediately greeted with the famous Crossroads of the World, which is a statue of Mickey is standing on the world welcoming you into the history of Hollywood. This is where the excitement begins as you walk down Hollywood Blvd. and experience the Hollywood of old, as well as the new. There is guest services available, tons of snack shops and shopping available that all leads to the huge Sorcerer's Mickey Wizard Hat in front of the replica of the Grauman's Chinese Theater. There guests can take a ride on the Great Movie Ride that takes guests on a journey and pay homage to current and former Hollywood stars and classic films that have entertained and inspired us all.

Several Disney characters appear throughout the day, including block style party parade, called Block Party Bash, featuring Disney and Pixar characters where adults and kids can join in on the fun as they dance and sing along as the parade strolls by down Hollywood Blvd. There is also the High School Musical 3: Senior Year-Right Here! Right Now! musical live show that plays all of the music from the popular movie series that takes place on Hollywood Blvd as well, and then there is the occasional spotting of real Hollywood movie stars. On occasion Hollywood movie stars show up for special events throughout the year to sign autographs and meet their fans.

There is a great selection of dining choices in which to choose from, such as the fun 50's Prime Time Cafe, offering American cuisine set in a 50's style diner with a black and white t.v., and an assortment of 50's nostalgia, Hollywood and Vine, offering American cuisine with an all you can eat dinner buffet featuring seafood, pasta, poultry, and other meats. Last, but not least, you have the popular The Hollywood Brown Derby, offering American cuisine featuring steaks, salads, soups, and adult beverages set in warm and inviting atmosphere that celebrates the Golden Age of Hollywood that is long gone, but never forgotten.

For those seeking to do a little bit of shopping there is a multitude of shops in which to choose from that will have something that will catch your eye, such as Celebrity 5 & 10, Classic Car Memorabilia, Disney and Company, Golden Age Souvenirs, Crossroads of the World, Keystone Clothiers, Oscar's Superstation, Sid Cahuenga's, Studio Prop Shop, Movieland Memorabilia, Mickey's of Hollywood, Tailor to the Stars, The Darkroom, Studio Showcase, Adrian and Edith's Head to Toe Costume Shop, and Sunset Ranch.

Echo Lake

Echo Lake includes several fun attractions, such as the American Idol Experience, where guests get to experience of being a singer or an audience member that gets to vote on the best singer of the day, all in fun of course. You have the Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey show, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza, the Jedi Training Academy, an interactive show that teaches kids the art of fighting and using a light saber, and then get a chance to duel with Darth Vader. Star Wars: Star Tours, a thrill simulator ride that all Star Wars fans are sure to enjoy, and the great Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! stunt show that lets viewers get an inside look at how stunts are performed during a movie, as well as how they were done for the Raiders of the Lost Ark movie.

There is a nice choice of quick dining options available in the Echo Lake section, such as The Dip Site #1138, offering American cuisine style snacks, beverages and beer, and the Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream, offering American style ice cream sweets and treats.

There are some small shopping carts that are strewn about Echo Lake, but no store fronts, for those that are looking to do some shopping in the Echo Lake section of the theme park.

Backlot-Mickey Avenue-Streets of America

The Backlot-Mickey Avenue-Streets of America looks much like a backlot where streets have been created to look like New York City and San Francisco. There is the American Film Institute Showcase that showcases movie memorabilia, such as costumes, props and sets from some the greatest movies and television shows of all time. The very fun Catastrophe Canyon effects show that puts riders in a scary situation with explosions and rushing water, Honey, I shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure based on the popular Honey, I Shrunk the Kids movies, Walt Disney: One Man's Dream that explores the history of the man that had a vision to entertain the world, and the must see Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show that shows audience members how extreme stunt car driving is done, as well as the ever popular and funny, Muppet Vision 3-D show featuring all of your favorites from the classic and popular Muppet show, but in 3-D, and Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian is a walk-through attraction that shows guests a behind the scenes look into the making of the hit movies.

The Backlot area offers a wide range of dining choice for guests to choose from, such as the Backlot Express, offering American cuisine such as vegetarian sandwiches,, soups, salads, chicken strips, and more. Pizza Planet, offering American cuisine with pizza, salads, sandwiches, and for some extra fun, an arcade. The Sci-Fi Dine In Theater, offering American cuisine that places diners in a replica of a 50's style car while watching an old drive-in movie. Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano, offers Italian style cuisine featuring brick-oven baked pizzas, pasta, seafood, and more in a casual setting. The ABC Commissary, offering American and International cuisine featuring a fast food service, such as burgers, fries, curry, Cuban dishes, and more, and all with a little flair. Another fast food type restaurant in the Backlot is Studios Catering Company, offering American cuisine featuring a large assortment of salads and sandwiches.

If you like to shop, then the Backlot-Mickey Avenue-Streets of America has some very good choices, such as the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost, featuring all things Indiana Jones, as well as other merchandise. The Indiana Jones Gift Truck, also featuring all things related to the Indiana Jones movies. Tatooine Traders, featuring Star Wars related merchandise. There is also Youse Guys Moychundice, and It's a Wonderful Shop.

Animation Courtyard

Animation Courtyard includes The Magic of Disney Animation, a 20 minute show that explores how the animation comes to life to make movies and television shows, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, a 15 minute live action and puppet show featuring the world of the Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!, a 20 minute show featuring all the characters from the popular Playhouse Disney, along with the Earffel Tower looming high above in the background.

There are a few snack carts located in Animation Courtyard offering light snacks and cold beverages, but no sit down dining options.

Shopping choices are The Studio Store, In-Character-Disney's Costume Shop, and the popular Animation Gallery featuring framed and unframed animated art.

Pixar Place

Pixar Place includes the ever popular 4-D Toy Story Mania! a ride where guests can play games with the popular characters from the hit Disney/Pixar Toy Story films.

There are no sit down dining options available in the Pixar Place section of Hollywood Studios, but there are some snack carts available that offer light snacks and cold beverages.

There are some carts that offer some shopping, but no stores that do at this time as Pixar Place is still relatively new.

Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard includes the must see Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage show featuring the cast of the popular Disney animated hit, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, a thrill ride of a coaster featuring songs from the popular band, The Tower of Terror, where guests are taken up in an elevator and dropped in a set of sequences, and is the most popular attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The wonderful Fantasmic! stage show that is played on select nights, featuring Mickey and a cast of Disney characters in a fireworks and water extravaganza, and the occasional Disney characters that appear throughout the day.

The dining choices offer a nice selection, such as Hollywood Scoops, offering American style ice cream, Fairfax Fare, offering BBQ specialties, salads, ice cold beverages, beer, and more. The Sunset Ranch Market, offering American cuisine, such as veggie burgers, fresh fruit, turkey legs, ice cold beverages, and more, and then there is the very popular Starring Rolls Cafe, offering American style baked goods, as well as coffee products, and ice cold beverages.

There are plenty of shopping choices for those that like to shop, or just browse, such as Once Upon a Time, Rock 'n' Roll Gear, Sunset Club Couture, Rock Around the Shop, Tower Hotel Gifts, Legends, and Beverly Sunset Sweet Spells.

Disney's Hollywood Studios has grown over the years and become the park that everyone hoped it would be. There are several events held throughout the year, from Star Wars Weekend to the famous Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, and ESPN The Weekend, as well as Summer Nightastic and Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade. Disney's Hollywood Studios offers great family fun and is accessible by boat, bus, or car. The theme park is conveniently located near the Epcot theme park, as well as the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, Disney's BoardWalk Resort, and Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, and these can all be accessed by boat for quick transportation.