Here's to Mothers Day... and Butterbeer!

A nice little shot from our recent trip to Universal Orlando Resort and of course, Walt Disney World. As I was looking for a photo of all four of our kids with their mother, I realized I only had old ones from years ago. That's ok- I have a recent one of our youngest son- the Harry Potter fan- sitting in Hog's Head enjoying a butter beer with his Mom, I mean Mum. 

Islands of Adventure is quickly becoming one of my favorite parks in Florida due to the great Jurassic Park thrill Velocicoaster and my love for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. 

More of our trip report to come. Next up? Universal Studios Florida park.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Jesus Says Judgment is Coming

Jesus himself says it's Heaven or Hell for each of us as we must give an account for how we've lived our lives. Let me say this clearly- I love writing about Disney and Universal parks, music- especially that of Carpenters- Karen Carpenter and her brother Richard, travel, and many other things. But this is important stuff. Jesus himself speaks of both Heaven and Hell in terms of judgment and His impending return more often than you'd first think when you read the Bible:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.  Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me." (John 5:24-30)

The great Apostle John, in his revelation of the future and the final judgement says this:

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. 

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 20:11- 21:8)

Thankfully, this King Jesus also provides a way for sinful broken people- that's me and you- to escape an eternity in Hell without Him. Two very famous verses- but sometimes the second half is forgotten!

For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)

Yes, me and you are guilty as charged- With the smallest lie to the evilest of actions, we deserve our punishment- and yet we're all given the same opportunity to turn to Jesus, change our focus in life, and start fresh in a way that pleases Him. No one is turned away. The Great Apostle Paul writes to the Romans who were part of the earliest believers:

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach), because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  (Romans 10:8-13)

It's stunningly straightforward. It's simple. It's life-changing one way or the other, for now and for all eternity. The choice is yours. Choose your own "final destination" (in the words of the classic Haunted Mansion spiel). The greatest part for the here and now is the joy, freedom, and sense of a fresh start you get the moment you give Jesus your life. He's not afraid of your past, worried about your present, or without a plan for your future. He has it under control once you give it to Him.

Let me say it again- I love writing about Disney and Universal parks, music, my family, lots of things- but nothing you will read on this blog is as important as what you just read right now. Nothing. And nothing you do will be as important as the decision you must make now that you know the truth.

Three Absolutely STUNNING Nighttime Photos from Tokyo Disneyseas' Fantasy Springs

Aren't these beautiful? Why is it that Japan continues to get incredibly gorgeous and fully immersive themed lands while we in the States and elsewhere get truncated versions of attractions for Disney's epic Frozen films? At this new expansion of Tokyo Disneysea, those artists at Disney Imagineering has just hit it out of the park from any way you look at it!

But it's just not Frozen this time. Peter Pan's Neverland Adventure is housed in a beautifully designed land! Running close is Disneyland Paris' great Adventure Isle, but that doesn't have an E Ticket attraction based on the classic animated film. 

After seeing these shots of Frozen Kingdom and Peter Pan’s Never Land, I might be the most jealous of Rapunzel's Forest and the main attraction: Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival. Tangled is a wonderful film- one of my favorites- and the lantern scene the most beautiful piece of animation ever. 

Could these come to the Disneyland Resort as part of the long term plans  for DisneylandForward? We can only dream.

(Photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Walt Disney World vs. Universal Orlando- Day One: Islands of Adventure- Breaking Theme Park Design Rules, But Is It The Best Family Park for Thrillseekers?

The Disney vs. Universal Conundrum. If you have smaller kids and are visiting Orlando, you might think that Walt Disney World has to be your headquarters and Universal Orlando Resort must wait for several more years. The answer is "It depends".

Our first full day meant an early start as we had a one hour in park advantage over guests not staying on the Universal property. The busses come so often to the hotels and to the main station at the City Walk and park entrances, that it is very, very, fast and easy to go back and forth between even the least expensive hotels. 

Once off the bus, security is also fast and efficient. Then, it's a short scenic walk through the main thoroughfare of City Walk to the Islands of Adventure entrance. We arrived at the gates half an hour before opening and were within 15 or so people to the front of the line. 

This tower lets you know Islands of Adventure is straight ahead.

For better or worse, Universal Creative has broken some design rules or created their own, depending on how you view it. First case in point: the park icons are outside the park.

At Universal Orlando, you'll quickly understand why the newer Islands of Adventure was designed by ex-Disney Imagineers, and why the older portion of Universal Studios Park (meaning everything but Diagon Alley) feels redundant and cheaply built in comparison. 

From my first visit in 2007, I instantly loved Port of Entry, the park's opening act, a Main Street of sorts but with an Adventureland meets very whimsical feel. There's not a single attraction here, but the variety of architecture, lush vegetation, and vibrant colors create a funky, carefree vibe,  a place you want to explore. But not right now.

The most direct route to reach the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade is right through Seuss Landing and through the Lost Continent. 

Seuss Landing is a charming and quite colorful area without much to do unless you have smaller kids. This is unfortunate as it is a pretty big chunk of great theming to just pass through. Then, the lineup of attractions is quite extensive. 

There's the dark ride Cat in the Hat. It's not Disney worthy, but then again, the source material doesn't give you much to work with in terms of atmosphere. But as a chance to ride inside for a story, it gets the job done.

Oh, the places you will go!

Outside, the Caro-Seuss-el allows guests of all ages to ride a classic merry-go-round on animals straight from the imagination of the book author.  The high flying One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish lets you soar in the air above the crowds, but the best attraction in this elaborately themed area is People Mover like The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride. The views are great, and it's more fun for adults than you'd imagine.

The Character Zone and a stage show complete the offerings along with some very creative places to shop and eat- including the famous Green Eggs and Ham. 

Seuss Landing is Kid Central in this thrill-focused park, but it is not the only area where you'll find family friendly attractions for the younger set. 

The Lost Continent's truly incredible theming is mostly missing (pun intended) on park visitors in 2024. Why? Compared to the park opening and through the area now has no attractions left and remains as a place to eat and shop and pass through on the way to Harry's world. 

It's so sad there's no longer any attraction in this wonderfully themed area!

It's unfortunate as the theme is unique and it's rich in detail. The shops and eateries are well themed, but the attractions were just elegantly executed in terms of style and appeal. There was once the Dueling Dragons coaster, the Eighth Voyage of Sinbad stunt show, and a terrific walk through adventure, the incredible Poseidon's Fury. Toss in Mythos for table service dining, and the land was multi-faceted with something for the entire family. (I go into detail with photos on this trip report from 2007.)

All said, for an adult without any children- or without any desire to do kids' rides- that's two immediate lands that are strictly a walk through on the way to the stellar attractions. That's a lot of wasted potential, making for a less lengthy park visit.

Back to day one of our trip.

Early park entry meant quick access and very short queues to the park's headliners: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Jurassic Park's breath-stealing Velocicoaster- each with substantial height requirements. 

Just beyond the arch is the meadow into the Forbidden Forest.

Which way do the bikes travel? 

You'll have to ride it to find out!

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure may be my favorite roller coaster in Orlando. Or it's a close tie- but I'll get back to that in a future post. (I've also got a future article on ranking the best coasters, but I'll publish that sometime after the trip reports.)

I love this part of the queue when the motor bikes take off overhead!

I'm a fan of theme and story, and Hagrid's has hit all the right notes. From the archway entrance to the highly detailed queue and the ride itself, this is the must- do attraction in Islands of Adventure. This may be due to J.K. Rowling's insistence, but this coaster is as rich in design detail as any of the Harry Potter dark rides. Audio-Animatronics join visual effects, incredible landscapes, and a rather funny on-board audio narration in perfect execution. Universal Creative has hit a grand slam home run with this. As with Rise of the Resistance at Disney Studios, the crowds know this is the first attraction you've got to line up for or risk paying the price with hours long waits. One day, I will ride this at night- and I just can't wait.

My wife endured the attraction, while we loved every minute. She's not a fan of launched coasters, and Hagrids- being a motorbike themed one- befittingly has seven of them, hitting top speeds of 50 MPH. Plus a surprise or two. It's as good as ride in the sidecar as it is on the bikes, making it quite repeatable. From start to finish, there's a smile on my face! I'd ride this all day- all day long if I could.

First view of the beast.

As much as we were tempted to get right back in line for another journey- and I wish we would have- my son and I were determined to hit Jurassic Park's menacing Velocicoaster before the massive crowds descended. Last trip, the dinosaur themed attraction scared the scat out of me. I wasn't sure I'd ride it again even though I wanted my son to have some company. 

Here's another place where new theme park design rules apply: It's ok- if not preferable- for roller coaster track to be exposed. This may be considered sacrilege among hardcore Disney fans, but not here. In fact, you kind of expect it. This is part of what makes this park thrilling- the joy (terror?) of anticipation.

The detailed queue and strong backstory for this extreme coaster are impressive. Chris Pratt reprises his role as do others. The animated raptors are amazingly lifelike and quite freaky as they stare you down while you wait just inches away from them. They twitch, their nostrils move, and their eyes glare in the darker setting. But the best is yet to come.

What could possibly go wrong?

Look at these stats!

No lie- this ride is intimidating. Four raptors waiting to devour you as you run the course through their enclosure are the very least of your worries. What you can see as you approach this beast- even from the first view across the lagoon- will give you pause to think twice about getting in line. But what you can't see is just as scary, if not more so.  

With only the tiniest of lap bars and no overhead restraints, the fear builds quickly. Just when you might think it's come to an end, the ride's second launch kicks into gear. Taking you over a 155' "Top Hat" (with a great view of the park) and eventually into a inverted stall- riders are parallel to the ground and fully upside down for 2 solidly terrifying seconds- the ride ends with a barrel roll just a few feet over the lagoon. The coaster never slows down all the way through. All this action happens in a mere 1.5 minutes- but it feels like a lifetime!

As a second time rider, it was much less scary than my maiden voyage. But still terrifying. I will admit, I watched the official POV video more than a handful of times in preparation. I walked off relieved and happy, with the adrenaline rush still pumping. It was not Velocicoaster that did me in. That was our next ride.

My smile did not last long.

Even with a good dose of dramamine in me, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey makes me very sick to my stomach. Not a single other ride in Orlando has that same strong effect on me.  It's too bad. 

I don't know what this is, but I like the photograph.

Where forced perspective on Beast's castle in the Magic Kingdom is woefully executed, here in Hogsmeade, Hogwart's is a masterpiece of thoughtful design and elaborate detail. Like the rest of the land, you are in the world of the movies. Fans of the crew too short to ride can walk through the queue, and it is definitely worth the time to do so. Each room offers it own charms and chills as you approach the enchanted benches that take you on your journey. 

In another Disney vs. Universal comparison, Forbidden Journey is this park's much darker version of the Haunted Mansion. Where there's humor in the Disney ghost ride, there's not a shred of it here, and the villains are right in your face instead of at a safe distance. Parents take note of this.

I was hoping my ride this time would be different, and I would walk off it feeling fine. But no. I think it is the large swooping arches during the Quidditch match that get to me.  It's really a shame as the story, setting, and overall experience rival Escape from Gringotts next door.

It's next to impossible to get photos of these lands with few people in them.

You have to be a superstar blogger and influencer in order to do so.

Last trip, I openly declared Diagon Alley to be the best themed land ever created. (See "Why Every Disney Park Fan Must Visit Universal Orlando's Diagon Alley".) I was much harder on Hogsmeade. The much more narrow walkways and fewer shops to explore made it all seem less than complete. Perhaps because I live in a state that has snowy Winters and Springs, the setting didn't seem as magical. But in Florida's humid April heat vs. our previous Fall visit, I was much more impressed by the placemaking this time. 

After a stomach-churning ride on the original Harry Potter attraction, it was more than necessary to stop, slow down, and explore the rest of the park. We wandered through the village. Taking in all the details, I was struck by how alive the area feels. It was still just under the hour before park gates were open to all, so it took me a moment to place it: There was movie music playing. It made all the difference adding a subtle but important backdrop to every detail around us. 

There's no arguing whether or not the land is wildly successful. How can it not be with such stunning environments, incredible attractions, and great entertainment and shopping? Truth be told, there's only two areas in which there could be improvement. One is obvious. The other is not.

The first is food. Other than the must eat and drink in any form iconic Butterbeer, the food (in both Universal parks actually) is mediocre at best. I'm not talking sweets and treats. I'm talking breakfast, lunch, and dinner selections.  It even seemed the food quality was a bit worse than it was previously, and it was expensive for what it was. This must be fixed if Universal wants to match Disney. 

Secondly, Hogswart's Express aside, there isn't a single Harry Potter attraction without a significant height restriction. Exploring the land and making use of the wand experience can take up a large chunk of time, but there is nothing for kids to ride. That is a major misstep in my opinion. Until they can come up with something, adding a small Magical Creature interactive meet and greet would show some special consideration for families with littler ones. 

However, all said, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Hogsmeade wins hands down compared to its younger sister, Diagon Alley in the Studios, on the strength of its incredible attraction lineup. It may even be equal in atmosphere. Yes, a guy can change his mind.

In actuality, we took the Hogwart's Express over to the Universal Studios Florida park and exited at Kings Cross Station, destination Diagon Alley. But for the sake of a more consistent look at each park, I'll lump together my observations into an individual post for each one.

Moving counter-clockwise, we left Hogsmeade and entered through the massive gates of Jurassic Park. 

We are all food- not friends- in the areas thrilling attractions!

It took this visit to make me see something very clear: Jurassic Park is an excellently themed, fully immersive area with attractions for the whole family, not just the thrill seekers.  The design detail here is truly astonishing, second only to the two Harry Potter worlds. 

This truth was easy to miss this because Central Florida's weather and landscapes make it seem like a fairly easy accomplishment for those at Universal Creative to come up with an area that resembles the famous movies' location of Isla Nublar. But make no mistake- this is a very well thought out land! Unexpectedly, it is also one that has plenty of things to do for kids.

The first obvious go to place is Camp Jurassic. Think of a dinosaur themed, land locked version of Tom Sawyer Island over at the Magic Kingdom. It's got multi-level places to climb and explore, dark caves filled with amber - and a surprise or two- and more. High above it all is Pteranodon Flyers, providing a bird's (reptile's?) eye view of a large portion of Jurassic Park. You have to be with a kid to ride. It's turnabout fair play for the times the kids are too little for the more intense attractions in this park. But I'd still like to see it one day.

Switch in restrictions- 

Adults need a kid in order to ride this!

There's nothing here to see. Or is there?

I was in Camp Jurassic and setting up this shot, waiting for a duo of flyers to pass by. I couldn't time it right. But as I waited, I caught one incredible design detail. Do you see it? I did not at first.

If you look closely at the middle of the photo, just below the track, you'll see a small mountain backdrop. What you're seeing is a piece of the Skull Island building that could have been left exposed (like many are in the Studios park next door). 

Not only did the clever designers camouflage the building of that huge attraction, they did it in such a way that it enhances the feel of the camp far away from it. It's a subtle but intended attention to guest's perspective that makes the whole of Jurassic Park seem real. You can just envision being on Isla Nubar, exploring on your own. 

Are those claws I see holding up the lighting?

On the way to the Discovery Center, the theming continues on. Inside, there are hands on exhibits and a hatching nursery for little creatures, plush recreations of more gentle creatures, and more. 

Speaking of purchasing plush, the shops have a large assortment of very clever merchandise that makes you want to whip out your wallet. All very humorous. There's even a new assortment of Jurassic World attraction posters up for sale.

I can't speak to the eateries in this section of the park. Usually, it is too early in the day for a meal break. This could change when the less popular islands are retimed to something different. If there's good food here, that would be a first.

The nearby Raptor Encounter provides some close up thrills, and the famous River Adventure caps off a great land that the whole family can enjoy together. The river ride is not quite as intense as the soon to be extinct Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom, even if the element of suspense is equally built. But then again, Jurassic World is not being demolished either. After my first visit, I gave Disney the win in the dinosaur competition. Not this time. Now, Disney bias put aside, I saw it for what it was.

Lurking in the shadows and the daylight.

It's really too bad that Disney gave up on Dinoland U.S.A., isn't it? But in the primeval world, it is survival of the fittest.  The hard truth is no matter how hard they tried, Imagineering couldn't kill the beast that is the Jurassic Park/World franchise. And the roar of Velocicoaster just killed off the Carnotaurus and the rest of Disney's efforts. It's a clear countdown to extinction once the changes are announced at D23 in August. Goodbye Grant Seeker, hello Indiana Jones.

It really is a lost world!

Jurassic World might be penned in, but if it is not, the thrilling jeep adventure in China's park would be an amazing addition. Better yet, a kid friendly jungle jeep safari with gentler creatures for them to see. You could put a smaller sized predator way in the back of it all to build a mild thrill element. This may be the only thing truly missing from a great land. Regardless, there's more than enough here for the entire family.

Next door, King Kong's Skull Island plays like an extension of sorts to Jurassic Park, adding yet another thrill ride but it's one that can be enjoyed by the youngest kids. We had our longest wait of our two days at Universal for this attraction as it kept breaking down. But at least we were indoors, sheltered from the sun. Like Forbidden Journey, no 3D this go around. Not much different, though. 

Walking into Toon Lagoon after the previously excellently themed lands, you can see where the place needs a refresh. There's two great water rides here and a cleverly designed kids water play area, but the painted flats and the sections themed to old comics of decreasing popularity didn't cut it. 

Be forewarned: both the flume ride Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls and the rotating rafts of Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges will get you soaking wet. It does not matter where you sit in either attraction. The splashdown does the trick for the flume, while going under a waterfall on the raft ride finishes off any dry riders. I was a very bad husband and delighted father. I did not let my wife or son know what was coming. But I was just as soaked as they were once we got off with huge smiles on our faces.

Painted flats and more painted flats. 

The theme's unique but the execution falls...flat.

Butting Toon Lagoon right next to Super Hero Island made it seem like more painted flats one after another, even if the attraction line up in both areas is pretty solid. My bet is, this comic strip themed area is set to be on the chopping block in the nearby future.

Much better than the copycat attraction

found in the Studios.

We'll wrap up our 2024 look at Islands of Adventure by taking in Marvel Super Hero Island and two of its strongest attractions: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk Coaster. 

While the human king of the arachnids may no longer sit on the throne of must-see attractions in this park, it is still an excellent and thrilling adventure. Now, I prefer fully realized sets over 3D, but this one is just plain fun. Fun enough to make me overlook my preferences.

In comparison to its flashier neighbor, The Incredible Hulk Coaster is not as complete an experience. There's less theme and the ride is much rougher. It's not Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rock-It rough (so I'm told), but there's more rattle and rumble. For a younger family member finally tall enough to try an adult coaster with inversions, this is a good first step before moving on to the much scarier ride in a raptor paddock.

For families with smaller kids, the character meet and greets may be this area's saving grace. Storm Force Accelatron is one ride they can go on, a flat ride with an unrestricted all-you-can-spin feature. But right next door is Doctor Doom's Fearfall, a drop tower attraction that is not available to them.

Walking out of the park through the Port of Entry, I thought of how much fun I had. I also thought of how much potential this place has to overtake one or two of the Disney parks down the road. What does it need? First, add in some attractions at the Lost Continent and replace all the flats in Toon Lagoon. Then, throw in some great dark rides with no height restrictions, add back live entertainment, and then some great food in an atmospheric,  compelling environment. 

Universal Creative's new design rules work, and they work very well with few exceptions. You can see the evolution of what they are all about by looking first at the Studios, then here at Islands of Adventure, and next at what they are creating for Epic Universe. 

So, to answer the initial question: Is Islands of Adventure the family park for thrill seekers?  It depends on the make-up of your group.

If you have elementary aged kids, it's just about perfect with its mix of attractions, shows, and character experiences. For the toddler set, and if you are touring with grandparents, however, it is not yet the place to go if everyone wants to ride together. That realm still belongs to Disney's Magic Kingdom. 

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Next up on this trip report- a look at the Universal Studios park. What I love... and why I may not go back next trip.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Love Bomb Us

 Lord, let Your light, light of Your face

Shine on us 

That we may be saved

That we may have life

To find our way in the darkest night

Let your light shine on us

Lord, let your grace, grace from Your hand,

Fall on us 

That we may be saved

That we may have life

To find our way in the darkest night

Let Your grace Fall on us

Lord, let Your love, love with no end

Come over us 

That we may be saved,

That we may have life

To find our way in the darkest night

Let Your love come over us

Let Your light shine on us

(A recording by Phillips, Craig, and Dean. Word and Music by Deborah and Michel W. Smith.)

Moana Finds Her Home at Magic Kingdom's Legendary Fire Mountain

Are you a Moana fan? If so, listen up. After making its theme park debut in Epcot of all places, it seems the Polynesian themed Disney hit movie is set to be star of one more new attraction. Where? In a place it fits! Imagine that.  Over the very last expansion pad in the Magic Kingdom's already quite crowded Adventureland, Moana is rumored to take the area once designated for the infamous Fire Mountain. 

This rumor first hit about two months ago per Jack at the DSNY Newscast. 

Here's the Infamous Fire Mountain in three color variations. I'd been looking for a piece of Imagineering concept art for years. I found the concept art on the Neverland Files site and did a few quick fixes to highlight the details.

This was incredible idea would have also sat across the Seven Seas Lagoon from the Polynesian Village Resort. Not a bad thing to be looking at while you're on the beach waiting for fireworks!  

If you look closely at the art (and as always, click on it for the largest size), you'll see the project also went by the name Volcania.   

What is that front and center? Well, your eyes are not deceiving you. That is, in fact, the Nautilus submarine. Would that be a nod to 20K Leagues Under the Sea or a full-blown attraction? If you're thinking as I am that the suits at Disney would try to pass this onto the Oriental Land Company for Tokyo DisneySea, my guess is we are right.

Moana may be just the thing to bring some new adventures to the Magic Kingdom- and it could be in theme too. Maybe then the suits will rip out the misplaced Aladdin!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Bright Future or Fading Star? Disney's Hollywood Studios at 35

It's been 35 Years since Disney's Hollywood Studios premiered at The Walt Disney World Resort, and it is still in a state of becoming. Do you want to see all my photos from that 1989 opening year? Sure, this is a MEGA huge post on the history, creations, and development of the park, but my photos from that very first trip make this something special. Because of their retro look and use on so many websites, my young family are unintentionally internet sensations. Just kidding! Read on.

As I write this 35th anniversary article with brand new content, I'd like to thank the now deceased Alain Littaye of Disney and More for his support in making the 25th anniversary post so successful. And I'd like to thank Blog Mickey for the 35th anniversary at the top.

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I still can't believe it's been 35 years! Our young family of five was there shortly after the Disney-MGM Studios opened its doors. Then CEO Michael Eisner was adamant that they beat Universal Studios Florida to the punch. But when the park finally opened, did it succeed in creating a tourist buzz? Did hoards of visitors come in? Was it instantly seen as a half-day park?

Is it still seen as a half day park? Even the new map would make a first time visitor ask that question.

This fun ride wouldn't premier until years later.

Back in 1989, the Studios was part of a very large expansion that included Typhoon Lagoon and Pleasure Island and two new resorts. But the third park was at the very the heart of it all. I've seen the park drastically change both for better and for worse over the years- and I've been watching its transformation and taking photos and notes of it all. What you're about to read is a detailed history of the creation of the park, personal trip reports with tons of vintage photos from 1989 (many have been used on popular blogs like AllEars Net), and lots and lots of concept art.  

If all you know is today and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge,

you're missing so much more of the story!

Sit back, grab a beverage and maybe something to eat, and relax! This certainly is the most lengthy, most concept art and photograph filled article in the history of the Insights and Sound blog. I know you'll love it! 

Five years ago- a preview of Mickey and Minnie in their Runaway Railway look.

We were there in the month of May opening year. Subsequent visits took place in 1992, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2018, 2019, and 2021. In all these years, we visited this park each trip with only one single exception: My solo trip in 2007 when I had two days at Disney (Epcot and Animal Kingdom were my two choices), one day at the beach, and one day at Universal Orlando's great Islands of Adventure pre Harry Potter. (I just had to see the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. I was not disappointed! If you want to see photos of Islands of Adventure in its pre-Harry Potter days, go here.)

Concept art for a brand new theme park!

Let's start our story and go back in time to the 80's... 

For years, Walt Disney World consisted of two wonderful theme parks, the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center, a handful of hotels, and the understated Disney Village. The whole resort made for a very relaxing and charming vacation destination.

Guests could arrive with just room reservations, visiting theme parks and the attractions, even making meal reservations, without difficulty getting either. No Genie+, no Lightning Lanes, no Disney Dining Plan to consider. You didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn 60 or 90 days in advance to book your reservations for those popular restaurants and attractions. Once at Walt Disney World, you didn't have to get up and on your phone for the 7:00am reservation system for the newest park attractions. Vacation life was good and simple.

The Disney World in 1989. From e-bay.

Those easy to plan days would forever disappear when the Disney-MGM Studios and the resorts largest expansion to date debuted in Florida. Now, there was Pleasure Island and Typhoon Lagoon to factor into a week's time. Three parks, a nighttime entertainment complex, and a beautifully designed sparkling new water park to enjoy. Hard decisions had to be made. And to this day, I have never visited Blizzard Beach. 

(For more detail about the overall expansion in 1989, you can look at a series of articles beginning here. Go see Pleasure Island at its peak. Remember to click on all the images to see them in a much larger size.) 

The famous annual report photo of Eisner and Wells!

This massive change in the Disney resort was precisely what was planned by its new leadership, and it would only be the beginning of the Florida complex's total transformation. It all set the stage for the Disney Vacation Club invasion of later decades.

When Michael Eisner and Frank Wells came to the Walt Disney Company, it was time for something new. The beloved company had grown rather quietly after Walt's passing. It was no longer the place to look for great family films and those that would also thrill a teen and more adult audience. The baton had been passed to others, and the public responded enthusiastically to the likes of George Lucas and those like him.

The Eisner / Wells team was very optimistic they could once again make Disney a major player in Hollywood, but this meant every part of the company came under their scrutiny. Movies to theme parks and everything in between. Their bold and controversial choices made a huge impact.

Star Tours at Disneyland opened in January 1987. I was there!

It would not make its way to Florida until a few years later.

Photo by Disney.

Disneyland was seen as old school, but not in a good way. It was now the realm of young kids and the retirement crowd. As the Company's first and most beloved theme park in the U.S.A., that had to change. When it came time to examine the Walt Disney World property, Eisner and Wells immediately saw its potential as an even larger international destination, a huge money printing machine that was, in their rightful estimation, underdeveloped and not built to its fullest potential. There was a lot of money to be made. No one would get in the way. This was the impetus for the creation of the Disney-MGM Studios theme park (and later Disney's Animal Kingdom as well).

The very reason the third park exists is because of Michael Eisner's vision and his ultra-competitive nature. He decided to take on the upcoming Universal Studios and bested them by opening the next Disney park before Universal opened their own.

A Film-making pavilion at EPCOT was once planned next to Imagination.

The true beginnings of the Disney-MGM Studios!

Disney historians tell the origins of the park came from a pavilion once imagined for Epcot. While some viewed the idea as a fit for Florida's second Disney park, Michael instead saw potential for an entirely new one. With Universal making its move next door, the genius minds of Imagineering was immediately put to work taking the best of a studios tour from California and adding a Disney twist. The centerpiece of the park would be The Great Movie Ride, a classic "E Ticket" Audio-Animatronics attraction on par with the greats of old like Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, and definitely on par with the lengthier attractions found in Future World at Epcot (may they Rest in Peace).

A third Disney park would increase guest's stay as well as grow profits. Not just ticket sales but room reservations, always the biggest money maker. Being a studio park, it would also do double duty and numb the urge to go to Universal's similarly themed destination.  This new park had to be very good, but it also had to open before their competition's.

Disney parks look fantastic at night, but even with it's nighttime glow,
there's no mistaking that the park is a tiny one!

The original Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris makes the original Florida park

look like the Magic Kingdom in comparison.

Disney's ever ready publicity machine stormed into high gear announcing the project. At opening, there was no Star Tours, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Toy Story Midway Mania, Rock N Rollercoaster, American Idol Experience, or Fantasmic. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge wasn't even on their mind as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was years away from rocking Disney to its core. 

The Disney-MGM Studios was built as a half-day park at a full-day price, designed to be complemented by an evening at Pleasure Island or a morning at Typhoon Lagoon. What was there on opening day was rather charming and well done. Before the age of behind the scenes featurettes on videos and DVDs, if you were a movie fan, this was the place to discover how the magic was made real.

Sadly, the little park was poorly laid out for expansion, and that would create major headaches for decades. In addition, it opened with the smallest attraction roster ever seen in a Disney park while also using the tiniest amount of acreage to date. The Studios were, nonetheless, a huge hit with guests. Certainly more than the suits expected.

The park is small- and sometimes size does matter!

The size of the new park and its very small attraction line up was the concession for beating Universal to the punch. Had they had more time, it should had been more well-rounded. But better a very small, cheap, and under built Disney park than no park at all. At least that was what they thought until the Walt Disney Company learned its lesson the hard way with California Adventure in 2001.

Look in the upper left corner for some unbuilt ideas!

Art courtesy AngryAP.com

Part of the big problem with the smaller size of the studios park was that potential attractions and areas never made it past the Imagineering drawing boards. The sweet piece of concept art above shows some unbuilt ideas mixed in with what finally opened. Yes, do you see it? That is the backside of the Matterhorn clone and a slice of Mickey's Toontown. Ideas might be built, changed, or even forgotten, but nothing ever goes to waste at Disney. Even if the art only makes table top coffee books.

Pre-opening construction photo from MickeyCity.com.

Disney guests used to the massive 2 day park Epcot or the fairly large Magic Kingdom would be in for a surprise. A very, very small one. In order to hit short production timelines, blueprints were quickly drawn and approved. Construction ran at breakneck speed, proving once more that Disney can build attractions- or any entire theme park- quickly when the suits really want to get something done! (Here's looking at you, Epcot transformation!) Even Disney's own promotional materials couldn't hide the fact this was one very incomplete theme park.

Let's take a quick look at their promotional piece:

Above is the cover of a limited edition preview booklet that I was very happy to obtain several years ago. As you can see, Disney's advertising team was really selling the park with a preview presenting as much substance as possible! Lights! Camera! Glitz and glamour!

Above is the park layout as planned for the grand opening. Notice that The Great Movie Ride was once called Great Moments at the Movies and sponsored by Sears. The very popular Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular was once known as the Stunt Show Theater. This was a park built on the fly. Names and rights to use certain movie franchises  were still being negotiated.

Steven Spielberg might be throwing his considerable weight behind Universal Studios Orlando, but Disney had Bette Midler, Tom Selleck, and a host of other recently bankable actors in their court. Would it all work?

So, Disney began bringing out the stars from their recent Touchstone hits to promote this new film based park. The Disney-MGM Studios would be hip and edgy even as it celebrated the accomplishments of the past while looking to the current state of the film industry. (When will they ever learn this hip and edgy approach does not work in their favor?)

Although movie centric, television was not excluded from any of the promotional materials. Production was scheduled to happen for hit shows as well as movies at the park. Here's where it all started, the tag line "Where fantasy is real and dreams come true!" is used to remind guests this is the domain of Walt Disney World.

What would Disney Studios be without the Disney movies! At this point in its history, animation not live action was the studios bread and butter. With its Animation Courtyard, the Studios park would be guests' chance to see the whole process up close. (Although I don't ever recall seeing an animator I recognized by name... Would have loved to see Glen Keane!) 

When The Little Mermaid hit theaters later in the year, it hit big. Kids all over the globe wanted to be part of Ariels' world. Animation was hot again. The suits took notice.

More attractions had to be built and fast. The popular Indiana Jones based stunt show wasn't even fully ready on opening day. Star Tours made it on the promo materials to advertise future attractions, but it wouldn't open until 1990. Ah, the drawing power of the galaxy long ago! Audio-Animatronics of Gene Kelly, Mary Poppins, Tarzan and Indiana Jones had to bring the star power. The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca would rightfully be celebrated.  

More stars and backstage secrets were revealed- what a fun day this should make! Although it wasn't a bad move, the original incarnation of the park emphasized the process of movie making versus focusing on entertainment related thrills and single lands built on single  Intellectual Properties. I still wish some of those original elements were in the park that exists today, but that ship has long sailed thanks to the resounding impact of the Boy Who Lived - and he would live down the street at Disney's biggest competitor.

The back cover, wrapping it all up!

Intense and splashy advertising, along with a full park mock up presented in the Magic Kingdom on Main Street and a "star studded" television special, were all quite successful at bringing a great opening year for the park. It worked like magic, but it created bigger crowds and higher expectations the resort and the Disney Company certainly wasn't prepared for.  

Now back to our story...

Nighttime Disney publicity shot reveals the small park.

Everything you see was all that could be seen.

On May 1 1989, The Disney-MGM Studios was officially opened, and it was our main reason for traveling to the World. It's not too often a lifelong Disney park fan gets to experience the opening of a brand new location. Less than two weeks after its debut, our sweet young family was on its way to see it for ourselves. I couldn't wait!

When it opened, Disney-MGM Studios was a theme park with some wonderful details- and the only place you could see Oz- but as we would soon discover, it was a park with a small amount of things to do. And even less for small children. Most of the attractions were lengthy, so that did help fill out some of the day. If you timed it well, however, it was no where close to being a full day park for a full day price. Yet, it was so different than the two other parks, it had an appeal all its own.

1989 Map scan courtesy the excellent Yesterland site.

Please note most all these photos are from May 1989. Each of them is untouched, left with all the original, now faded colors.  No Photoshop at all. Taken before the days of digital photography, all were shot using Kodak film with special types for either day or nighttime photography. It was quite the challenge! Now, as they say in the movies, "Let's continue with our story..."

If you thought California Adventure's Buena Vista Street 

held all new design ideas, you'd be wrong.

Although my wife and I had both visited the World previously, our cross country journey in 1989 was the first of several visits with our children. 

This was also our first time staying on the property, and we chose the Caribbean Beach Resort, which had just opened as well. Back then, it was truly affordable- and you'd be shocked to know the price was a mere $69 a night. (In that regard, we should have stayed at the Polynesian for our honeymoon back in 1982 when the price was still reasonable.)

Touring the Walt Disney World complex would be entirely different this time, with a much slower and relaxed pace due to three preschoolers in tow. But how cute they were! I miss those days...

Going slowly at a relaxed pace would end up being to our benefit. For our kids, this meant a less stressful experience and an easier entry into what it meant to visit Walt Disney World. We could really slow down and enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy our kids. We didn't have to plan everything in advance and worry about getting all those important reservations. It's such a different world for our grandkids now and their parents who have to over-plan in advance for everything!  

Due to the fact there was such a small number of attractions and only a few theater presentations, this little theme park had to wow its guests with atmosphere, detail, and charm. Mission accomplished! It was easy to spend the time going in and out of each shop and restaurant and seeing everything the park had to offer. More than once.

                                                 A brand new Disney park just two weeks old!

As someone who appreciates retro design and architecture, I found the park to be a visual feast. Beginning with the Pan-Pacific inspired gate, (Olivia Newton-John's film Xanadu would later make them famous once again), the opening scene of Oscar's Super Service and Sid Cahuenga's, (above) perfectly set the mood and put a huge smile on my face. There was so much to explore! And how often does a Disney geek get to have a first visit to a brand new park? I couldn't wait for more!

The kind of things that used to be found inside Sid's.
Before the Disney Vacation Club...

Strolling down the main avenue, Hollywood Boulevard, is stepping back in time with the attention to detail evident all around. Period music filled the air and street performers interacted with guests. Back then, I was charmed just as if I were walking down Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland in California (and later down Buena Vista Street at California Adventure since its rebirth). 

There was a refreshing warmth and intimacy here that made the Studios something different. Shops and restaurants were in theme and so was the merchandise. It wasn't just cheap Chinese plush animals. This was almost like visiting Disneyland in the 1960's when the suits under Walt Disney made sure things were perfect. Guests, too, were different. They were kinder and more appreciative of the gift of being able to do something that really is very special. This new park and its crowds seemed gentler and more relaxed- quite approachable- at once new and yet familiar.  

Safer and cleaner than what you will find in the real Hollywood. By far!

The beautiful replica of Grauman's Chinese Theater sat at the end of the street, a perfectly fitting icon for a park devoted to the art of film making. The sense of dignity and pride in the Hollywood of the "Golden Age" was honored and evident in this design. Imagineering may have copied this theater as its icon for the park, but elsewhere, it was a clear love letter to Hollywood of old.

The charm of this hub like area was diminished much later with the addition of the giant sorcerer's hat right in front. The suits in charge lost a sense of direction for the park, and like each of the parks, it was very clear it had also become a giant ATM. But one that only took your money. 

Deciding to go for the more obvious instant Disney identification, the Sorcerer's Hat showed much was lost in translation. Sometimes less is more. Much, much more.

An official photo from Disney.

The park map of 1989.

Mickey is easier to see.

The Disney-MGM Studios park also displayed the largest "Hidden Mickey" ever created, and it birthed the craze of placing Mickeys all over. The lovely, open plaza in front of the Chinese Theater along with nearby Echo Lake formed the face of the world's most beloved mouse. (Now you know why that lake is so small! The park definitely needs more water. Why couldn't Andy's backyard in Toy Story Land have a puddle at least? ) The Hidden Mickey was then easily seen from the air, but it's now just a nice surprise when looking at the opening day park guides handed out at the gate. (Look at the map above.)

This was the park's top dining experience. It still is.

Realizing the much profitable success of creating unique dining at Epcot, designed into the plans were some wonderful, perfectly themed restaurants. Isn't the recreation of the famous Hollywood Brown Derby  a great place for a relaxing midday meal? Interestingly, in all our visits, we have never been able to catch a reservation to dine there! Not once. Oddly, Universal Studios Orlando also has a similar spot. 

The historical accuracy of what was built to represent Old Hollywood can be found by looking at photos of Los Angeles in its prime. Sure, there are some liberties taken, but the essence and style of the city is certainly there... without the graffiti that plagues many cities all over the world. 

In the opening days, the Disney-MGM Studios were designed to be part theme park, part actual production facilities. There was a bit of both, making for an odd mix that has made it difficult for expansion and planning in later years. 

The convoluted layout- much worse than at opening!

Hence, when it was re-Imagineered for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, planners rushed to make the back forty more accessible. The awkward placement of each land makes for a difficult maze of walkways to this day. Multiple levels, strangely built walking paths, and poor visibility into the different lands. Navigation can be exasperating or an adventure depending on your mood.

No, this isn't at Epcot's Mexico pavilion.

Design detail is everywhere.

Wanting to one up their competitor, the centerpiece attraction for the production half of the park would be a studio tram tour past sound stages, wardrobe warehouses, and outdoor sets. It was a very strange combination of buildings, but at the beginning, it seemed to be enough at least for awhile. 

Beyond the gateway into the area celebrating animation.

A fairly bland entrance to such an important aspect of Disney film making!

The color scheme would change many times over the years.

The entrance gate would also be the way to get to The Art of Disney Animation. This attraction would be the first time Disney animators would be on display working on real upcoming theatrical releases.

"I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way!"

The idea of showcasing animators and animation was not new. In fact, this attraction was a greatly expanded concept from the much smaller "The Art of Animation" exhibit housed in Disneyland's Tomorrowland during the first half of the 1960's. The real highlight for fans of the art was watching the animators. 

Two late greats- Walter Cronkite, and Robin Williams in animated form.

There was also a very clever film, "Back to Neverland" with Robin Williams and Walter Cronkite,  to be found here. (Many years later, the popular little film was also presented in the Animation attraction at California Adventure. It was later removed when Turtle Talk with Crush took over the same space. With Disney, recycling isn't limited to conservation of the planet.)

Back in 1989, Disney had not saturated their previous parks with present day celebrities, so to do so seemed a better fit for the new movie focused park than Epcot putting in Ellen's Energy Adventure or Gary Sinese (Got to love the man!) in next door's Mission: Space.  

The animation, the characters, the celebrities all belonged at Disney-MGM. You'd expect this at a park called "The Studios". Their absence would create an obvious void. The attractions gave a nod to the true stars of old as well as promoting the latest stars and starlets. It was this attention to honoring the past as well that made the park a place for families of all ages to appreciate. A very wise choice, and it made for good marketing as well.

New plantings and green spaces.

The Studio Tram Tour was great fun and yet was very different from its final incarnation before it said goodbye decades later. The sheltered queue was filled with overhead televisions, and many of the Disney Studios' name performers made cameo appearances here and entertained guests waiting for the next bus. 

Backlot Tour concept 

Inside the Magic sign announces the walking portion of the tour.

Between our first two visits, the tour was split out into two parts.

Our sweet little family patiently waited in line for the tram, the kids oblivious to the actors on the overhead screen. On the other hand, the adults enjoyed the wait. The presentations seemed witty and fresh as we hadn't seen them before. Soon enough, we boarded the tram and were on our way.

This view no longer exists.  It's been years since I've taken the tram tour, even in Paris.

While the tour was enjoyable, the highlight was easily Catastrophe Canyon. The special effects, a combination of earthquake, raging fire, and flash flood was thrilling, unexpected and a crowd pleaser. Thrilling enough to make grandparents and children smile and teens take notice but not at all terrifying enough to make my preschoolers cry. We all enjoyed the backside of it all, seeing how it happened. Had we been able to experience this part without having to take the whole tour, our kids would have happily jumped back in line! 

By the time we visited the Walt Disney Studios Paris version years later, (trip report and photos here), we were much less interested. So was everyone else in Florida as attendance started to drop. Change had to happen to keep folks coming back. 

Buildings galore- all part of the tram tour.

The concept art was true to reality!

What remained of the Studio Tram Tour just before its closing was a truncated version of the tour with a very tired presentation and aging sights not relevant to current movies and television. (FAR worse in Paris!) Although Catastrophe Canyon was still impressive, it was long overdue to finally get rid of the tour and replace it with something fresh.

But back to 1989...

Where Streets of America replaced this and they were eventually replaced as well.

The rest of the Studio Backlot Tour was a pretty calm experience, with the elongated open-air bus cruising past street scenes and cityscapes from popular movies and television productions. The tram tour did eat up a fair chunk of time with the expected but very uninteresting backstage facilities, warehouses, and offices. 

Bugs- why does it have to be bugs?

Once the tram ride was completed, a walking portion of the tour provided the chance to experience how certain special effects were created (the flying bee scene in the then new and popular "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" film) and get a glimpse at how live action is filmed ("The Lottery"- a special studio production starring Bette Midler). I was chosen to ride the bee, but I'll be darned if I can find the photo! Maybe it's better...

Little kids and big props!

The post-tour area was filled with playful, over sized props and photo opportunities. This made for a lot of fun for all of us. Even my two year old daughter was able to join the fun. Disney's 1988 blockbuster Who Framed Roger Rabbit? became the core film referenced in this area, much to the delight of the park's male guests... me included. (Man, my wife has a good sense of humor when it comes to my "appreciation" of Jessica Rabbit!)

Little did I know I'd find a giant sized Jessica at Pleasure Island.

Exiting the Studio's production area, we headed into the theme park portion of the park. There was not too much here in the way of attractions. Lots to see, not much to do. None of us are really stage show fans, so we were at a bit of a loss. 

From our 2021 trip.

Once home to the Monster Sound Studio.

But back to our first visit.

The Great Movie Ride was an Audio-Animatronic extravaganza in the best old school Imagineering tradition. Like most of the attractions in this new park, it was lengthy and fully put you in the midst of the action. Somewhere along the line, short but intense attractions began to replace longer and more leisurely ones in both the Studios and Epcot. What happened to variety?

Even the small exhibits were great here at the Studios. The Stars in the street were just one example. Citizens of Hollywood was another. My wife and I loved the museum like quality of The Great Movie Ride queue, something our kids didn't get at when they were little but would certainly appreciate now. Were those really the famous ruby slippers?

And the ride that followed? Wow!

Before the Hat invaded Hollywood!

Billed as "A Spectacular Journey into the Movies", The Great Movie Ride had to live up to its hype. Just look who is featured on the poster (below). What an incredible line up of stars and the movies they made famous! 

Unfortunately, it's one of the few attraction posters created for the park.

As the only Audio-Animatronic attraction in the park- and with a title that proclaimed greatness- The Great Movie Ride had to be terrific. We were not disappointed! As with the world famous Jungle Cruise, this attraction was one were the guides made all the difference. Their enthusiasm from playing a unique role and being placed in a brand new Disney park, made it all so much fun. 

Gangsters, Cowboys and Aliens!

There were surprises galore as we journeyed through scenes that gave honor to multiple types of movies and its well-known stars. Who wasn't surprised the first time the train of cars were held up and the bad guy took over driving? Weren't we all delighted by the good guy's triumphant return? Anything was possible in the movies!

We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

 

Here's the attraction as it was in 2013. A great ride-through.

Finally, our young family was awestruck by the tornado, landing in Munchkinland, and finallywitnessing for ourselves the Wicked Witch's extremely believable arrival in the Wizard of Oz. This was our families favorite piece of the whole attraction, even if it was a bit scary. This section alone made for a repeat journey. The ending collage of great films was perfectly placed to remind me of what a powerful and enjoyable medium film can be. 

After the attraction, we were excited about the ride and slowed down by tracking down our favorite stars hand prints. Watching our kids interact with their favorite actors, all animated characters, was quite a joy. Disney wisely had them up front and center at the park, and the lines were manageable. We didn't even need a reservation to see them.

Time for lunch. The Backlot Express was filled with props- and some pretty good food, if I remember correctly. Nice spot to take a break, sip some soda, and plot out the rest of the day. The food was reasonably priced and the shaded area much appreciated in the hot Florida sun. My kids were able to burn off some energy as well exploring some more of the well placed props. 

I have to give kudos to my children here and especially my wife. The kids were always well behaved in public. It was as if they knew without us telling them that it was other people's vacations too and to be considerate of the way they handled themselves. It made traveling with them so easy.

We taught them how to respect others and use their "inside voices" in shops, restaurants, museums, and at the movies. We could take them anywhere. Thanks, guys. And thanks to my wife for being the excellent mother that she was/is. By the way- If you look at the photo below, you'll see our youngest daughter aged two in a stroller, the older two kids, ages 3 and 4, walking the park with us. We always thought the natural breaks needed to rest smaller legs gave us a chance to regroup, talk, and enjoy the details all around us. All of our kids walked the parks without complaint.

Long before Drew Carey played a detective here in this building, the Monster Sound Show, gave us a chance to laugh while guests tried to match audio special effects to the action on the screen. It was a much more fun display of technology in movie making than the shows which came after it. The hands on interactive area was a nice touch and allowed us to explore some more. As one of the centerpiece buildings in the park, it really deserves something terrific inside of it. Don't you agree? And wouldn't it be a fun nod to the past if Monsters Inc took over the old Sound Show building? And it would provide some variety to the attraction line-up. The current rehash of Mickey Mouse shorts that you can see on Disney+ is a disappointment and an embarrassment.

Echo Lake with Superstar Television top left.

Superstar Television was one of my favorite attractions in this new park. Imagine being "inserted" into old favorite television shows! The trick was also used at the Imagination pavilion at Epcot but put to even better use here. 

Superstar Television concept from AngryAP.com

Who wouldn't love to be filmed with Lucille Ball on an "I Love Lucy" episode? Even though none of us were chosen to participate, it was great fun to see it happen right in front of us.

My first of many photos of Dinosaur Gertie!

Every visit I get a photo of her.

Walking around Echo Lake, we couldn't help but notice Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Creams of Distinction- and we couldn't help but stop and share a tasty little treat to hold us over until our dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. Taking in all the details was well worth the time spent sitting on the bench eating our confections.

Gertie again!

There also wasn't much for us to do from here on out. We did see a rehearsal for the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Since Raiders of the Lost Ark was my favorite movie, I was particularly happy to watch a very talented cast of stuntmen and visitors reenact its famous scenes. It wouldn't open officially until after we left, but we couldn't resist queuing up with the hundreds of other people looking for something else to do.

Somewhere along the day, I realized that we had seen it all. It wasn't even nighttime. I was very disappointed by that revelation as we had paid full price to visit the park. One Audio-Animatronic ride? No dark rides a la Fantasyland? Not even a spinner for the kids? Yet... what was here was a lot of fun. The place was filled with potential and the subject matter provided endless exciting possibilities. What would the Imagineers do next?

It was still light at early evening, so it was the right time for our young family to sit down to a meal. In a season before themed restaurants became much too plentiful and therefore ordinary, the 50's Prime Time Cafe was a real treat. 

The atmosphere was so much fun, and the wait staff only made it better. Gotta love those in character cast members! Having good food at a decent price was an unexpected plus. Our eldest daughter was chosen to leave her preschool artwork on the house refrigerator, much to her delight.

Above- a hint of a blog to come 20 years later?

After dinner, we wandered around and waited for darkness so that I could take some nighttime photographs. This gave me time for some souvenir shopping, and to take another peak into our favorite places. The kids did take a little rest. 

I looked around and noticed folks were exiting the park in large numbers. Unfortunately for them, they were missing the best attraction at the park. It's an unannounced one, but one of the best parts of a visit to the Studios.

Small park- big potential- and mostly ignored for decades.

For all its daytime charm, the Disney-MGM Studios theme park is just gorgeous at night! Seeing all that neon turned on when it's dark is an attraction itself- something the Imagineers learned and put to great use when building Cars Land at Disney California Adventure.  Years later, the Studios park is still incredibly lit at night, although the Star Tours side of the park is sorely lacking. Galaxy's Edge, on the other hand, is mesmerizing. Anyway, my camera got quite the workout and all to good result. Again, no photoshop. Just look.

Even the humblest of the park's buildings took on grandeur and drama never hinted at during the day. Oscar's, in particular, looks terrific!

What the artists imagined...

As you can tell by comparing concept art to reality, this is a case where the Imagineers did an incredible job! The beautiful artwork is nothing compared to the reality of what was built in steel and concrete. Ok, I'm admittedly a sucker for neon, but wow! Just wow!

...what the guests saw when it was built!

At this point, I could have wandered around all night taking shot after shot of the glamour of Old Hollywood that will never be. Once again, the Imagineers took great care to present this small part in the best light possible- day or night. I would say, and certainly some will disagree, that at opening, the Disney-MGM Studios had as much loving detail and charm as Florida's Magic Kingdom park. 



The Carthay Circle Theater at night. It is lit differently but it is just as beautiful in full scale as the centerpiece of the new Buena Vista Street at Disney's California Adventure. 

Glad the hat is gone again!

I just had to walk down to the Chinese Theater just one more time! 

Lights, camera, action!

We kept walking around the park. I really didn't want to leave now, and eventually we took in another tour on The Great Movie Ride. This time, much to our surprise, we encountered gangsters not outlaws! Once again, Disney had done the unexpected- and all without video screens, I may add. Instantly worth additional rides through. Clever! 

Of course, Indy looks good day or night!

A shimmering Echo Lake.

Echo Lake takes on a whole new look, and Gertie just shines like the lake it sits on. Absolutely beautiful! Don't you agree?

Above, my favorite nighttime shot

Although the park still had some time left until its closing, I had dragged our kids through a pretty long day. We decided to join our bus back to the Caribbean Beach for a well deserved night of rest.

As always, our visit to Walt Disney World was filled with surprises. At Disney-MGM Studios, we were delighted at what we saw but also surprised, amazed actually, by the new park's obvious shortcomings- its lack of attractions, in particular those that physically transport you into prop and Audio-Animatronic filled environments. These remain the hallmark of the greatest Disney attractions. 

This was the first clear example of Disney designing and opening "theme park lite", a trend that would notoriously continue in later years as the Walt Disney Company opened future projects: Disney's Animal Kingdom (1998), Disney's California Adventure (2001), Walt Disney Studios Paris (2001), and eventually Hong Kong Disneyland (2005). Have you noticed how each of these had to add costly, big attractions or have a total re-Imagineering job to get the bigger crowds the suits wanted? Is this a lesson they are finally learned by the time they built Shanghai Disneyland? After all, before it opened Disney announced even more money going into attractions for opening day. Are the Chinese on to their game, demanding more... or is it just government payouts as some have believed?

The infamous service elevator.

A taste of attractions to come...

This little Studio park had to expand and quickly. The crowds were crushing the new park as folks were anxious to see it. The Company had more than enough promotion with the huge expansion of Walt Disney World, and perhaps, the results were more than successful, even totally unexpected. Deliver on the promise, if you will. What would come next?

The official opening of the Indiana Jones Stunt show helped relieve the crowds a bit as well as fill out the day at the park. It certainly wasn't enough, but something pretty strong was coming. Star Tours was on its way. 

We would return to the park just three years later in 1992. Finding some changes to the small park, this trip we would have almost enough to fill an entire day- if we did every attraction and show. It was a good beginning.

Back in the 80's, CEO Michael Eisner made concerted a effort to revitalize and energize the Disney parks to make them much more appealing to a young crowd that would prefer thrills over detail and charm. The teen market was one Disney could not afford to miss. The decision to bring in outside properties had its plusses even if it had its detractors.

 Such a difference compared to Disneyland's Star Tours exterior!

Endor comes to Florida. From our visit in 1992.

Disneyland premiered one of the first big changes, bringing George Lucas' mega-smash Star Wars films to the Disney parks in 1987. 

Thanks to EndorExpress.net for snapping this shot of Star Tours art.

It was a highly controversial move but highly successful and the beginning of other properties being incorporated into territory once restricted to Disney films. The attraction, heralded for its cutting edge flight simulator technology, made its debut in Disney-MGM Studios just in time for the Christmas season. 

What should have made it to Toy Story Land.

A quick but popular playground with the preschool crowd opened about a year later when the Honey I Shrunk the Kids themed attraction came on line. The movie was great fun and family friendly. The playground was another place to direct the crowds, spend some time, and add to the still very small attraction roster.

A once planned Muppets Studios (top) was scaled down to a 3D movie (bottom).

For years, the park relied on a series of innovative theater shows such as Muppet Vision 3D and Beauty and the Beast indoor stage show in 1991 and Voyage of the Little Mermaid in 1992. Disney suits had their eye on Jim Henson's creation and would later buy it. 

A Little Mermaid's maiden voyage into the Disney parks.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid was a fun stage show, but the film did cry out for a full-length ride through attraction. As we know, it would come years later, but you have to wonder what everyone at Disney was thinking for it to take so long...and why the suits approved the one that was finally made!

A much needed dining addition.

With a very cool exterior sign! (From 2009.)

Family photo circa our 1999 vacation to the World.

Another visit, but now with the grandkids a couple of years ago.

A sidebar thought: One of my favorite places to eat at the park, the Sci-Fi Dine In, appeared during this time. It's a difficult reservation to get. In fact, last time, it took a hurricane during our visit to open up a reservation. That should say something. We try to eat here as often as budget and scheduling allow it. It's great fun. You can't beat the environment! Should YOU eat there or not? Check out my Dine or Ditch review from our last visit to this iconic Disney restaurant. 

The promise of thrills to come. The billboard ad for Tower of Terror in 1992.

With characters labeled Streetmosphere to fill out the day for guests,  Imagineering focused on what would be next after Star Tours, and smaller attractions like Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Muppets, and the Little Mermaid. These shows were nice and family friendly, but if Disney wanted to draw a crowd, they needed something that would pull them in and not just flesh out the attraction roster of the park. It had to be immersive, unique, and just plain groundbreaking.

Sadly, I do not remember where I got this attraction poster.

The long wait between attractions was worth it when The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror finally opened its doors in the middle of summer of 1994. It was an instant game changer in the theme park industry, signaling Disney was serious about getting into the thrill market in Central Florida. If the Magic Kingdom was for families with small kids and Epcot was for adults, the Studios would now be the park for thrill seeking teens.

A different incarnation of what would become Tower of Terror.

For the best website on the attraction, go to TowerofTerror.org!

Happily, our next visit to Walt Disney World came just a few years after the opening of Tower, and we were able to experience this happily scary and suspenseful attraction for ourselves. 

Two official photos by Disney, showing construction of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

as well as the building of Sunset Blvd.

With our kids now older and able to experience a wider range of attractions all over Florida, Tower of Terror was now on the top of our must-see list. My good natured wife rode with eyes closed- and missed some of the best parts of this instantly classic elevator ride gone bad.

The quietly abandoned queue through an old hotel perfectly set the stage for what was to come. Anyone outside could see the big drop (perfect advertising!) but the thrills began right when we entered the library with the small television off to the side. Lightning, thunder, and unexpected darkness do a lot to up the thrill factor. And that's only the beginning... We were not disappointed! The version found in Florida seems to remain the best of all, even if I must admit that the version at Tokyo DisneySea is one I have yet to ride.

The final product.

A new version of Disneyland's acclaimed Fantasmic! nighttime show made its debut in Florida in 1998. Although it is entertaining, those guests (like me) familiar with the California version will notice the short cuts in the presentation. Fireworks, lights, actors, music. It is a great way to end the day at the Studios- and guests can exit right into the parking lot located right next door. Shrewd and convenient. We also found it to be a place where Disney vendors hawked their wares. 

Universal's second park, Islands of Adventure opened a decade after Disney-MGM Studios- and the year after Disney's Animal Kingdom- in 1999. The full weight of what Universal was hoping to accomplish wouldn't hit Disney on the spreadsheets until The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in 2010. Then, Disney was immediately behind the 8 Ball and in defensive mode. They had fumbled the rights to the incredibly successful J.K. Rowling books and then the theme park representation. It was something they would always regret- even if they'd never admit it publicly. 

The Disney suit's response to Islands of Adventure was baffling at best. Beginning a trend of re-using existing facilities instead of creating new attractions in new builds, early in 1999, comedian Drew Carey's audio attraction Sounds Dangerous replaced the Monster Sound Show. It was a fun but minor attraction, not nearly as clever as the previous, but it was at least something. A bigger and more popular attraction would come later in the year.

Five years after the stunning success of Tower of Terror, Disney again showed they were in to win the teen market or at least keep them on the property and away from going down the street. There was now more competition in the thrill department with Universal Orlando's brand new Islands of Adventure. Even  Busch Gardens in nearby Tampa had a strong coaster line up. The suits didn't know what impact the high thrill ride focused, Islands of Adventure park would have, but they were not taking any chances. 

How about a high speed trip with Aerosmith?

A giant guitar advertises the ride but ruins the atmosphere of Sunset Blvd.

Now matter how you view it, competition is good for the consumer. In the case of theme park fans, Universal coming to the table with a whole new plan of attack was a good thing. And it remains so. Just watch when Epic Universe opens next year. It aims squarely at both Disney Studios and the Magic Kingdom with its line-up of attractions and massively popular intellectual properties. My bet is the impact will be felt on the Disney property for years to come. 

Now, a bit more history.

Disney's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is basically an off-the-shelf, quickly built, coaster given the dark ride treatment a la Space Mountain. With the rock band Aerosmith on board promoting the attraction, attention was once again called to the fact that the Studios park was the place for thrills when on the Disney property.  

Rumors persist that a new version with Taylor Swift is on its way. If so, expect big lines and more congestion!

Courtesy AngryAP.com, a map showing the park after the 1999 expansion.

Of course, with the coaster attraction opening just a couple of months after Island of Adventure in May 1999, Disney was there to steal some focus from the new park as well as capitalize on some additional tourism cash. The park premiered its latest thriller in July. It's a small and competitive world after all!

There's one Disney attraction that almost made it to completion, and I sure wish it would have! Magician David Copperfield and the Walt Disney Company had great plans to create an attraction, the Magic Underground, that would have been a showcase for his magic and special effects. 

The CEO and the Magician.

Sounds like a television show.

In between the completion of Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster in 1995, this combination theater presentation and restaurant would have brought a bit of adult thrill seeking of a different kind to the park. Magic Island in California proved there was an audience for this type of attraction. It would have been a sure-fire hit, but it was not meant to be.

The park's history continues with a lot of nothing. Really. There were several years of nothing major coming. Not a smart business plan, but Disney was resting on its laurels while it was cashing in at the bank. 

Even as a hard core Disney theme park fan, we stopped going. We began to focus on visiting other countries. And we had a great time doing so! Our kids became savvy travelers, curious about life and about other people, and we loved the adventures together. No regrets. Absolutely none at all. 

A new year and a new century. Opening in 2001, One Man's Dream, reminds guests of the incredible man who started it all and his vision for family fun. Essentially, it is a new version of The Walt Disney Story once housed at Disneyland and in Florida's Magic Kingdom but with all the bells and whistles any fan would really want. Any true Disney geek/historian has got to see this place to believe it! The enticing  combination of park models, the artwork, and the movie about his life make this a must-see attraction. The first time I walked in, I had to be dragged out of the place. Even non-Disney geeks find it fascinating.

Another major but unfortunate event in 2001 was the insertion of the giant Sorcerer's Hat in front of the Chinese Theater. As a pin trading station, it works fine. As a structure designed to enhance the park, it fails miserably. It was both a dominating eyesore that blocks the elegant view once was seen from the park entrance. My first view of it was something that I won't forget- and not for good reasons.

The incredible...Pin Trading Station.

The Walt Disney Company launched one of their many celebrations, 100 Years of Magic. Focused on the birth of Walt Disney, the Disney-MGM Studios joined the fun by adding the giant sorcerer's hat from the film Fantasia.

The beautifully designed and detailed park was all the worse for it! Not only did the giant hat hide the beautiful replica of Grauman's Chinese Theater, it was a stark reminder of the inept and uncaring perception of the park was just another way to make a buck. Ugh!

Gone were those days of period appropriate memorabilia found throughout the newly named Disney's Hollywood Studios park. This kind of downgrade cheapened the overall experience and misjudged the guests. For awhile, elegance and charm were a thing of the past. Happily, that monstrosity of a hat was removed. At least that was a good move.

Sometimes, the change of Chief Executive Officer is a good thing for the parks. In 2005, Robert Iger took over for Michael Eisner after a nasty in house fight gone public. Whereas Michael was good for the parks, particularly during his first decade, Iger basically left the American parks to rot. What was up next for the Studios in Florida?

Next up was... nothing. For years. The once beautiful and growing park became stagnant. The Studios were living off its reputation as the home for Tower of Terror. The Great Movie Ride, left without an update for the most part, became stale. Robotics failed and special effects no longer worked as designed. It felt tired because it was left unchanged and uncared for- not because it was unpopular. The guides lost their enthusiasm, and it seemed all through the park, things were getting worse. And they were.

For a CEO who championed the purchase of Pixar, then Marvel, (and later made the grab for Indiana Jones and Star Wars), you'd think there' due some effort to quickly and wisely get them into a movie studios based park.  Yet, Robert Iger seemingly couldn't care less- at least in the States.

Straight from France (copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

There was one bright spot in the park's history at this point in time. Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show burst onto the scene in 2005. The great high energy show from Paris is at times plagued by some things not going as planned, but it is a huge crowd pleaser to men, teens, and boys. In our viewing, the show closed midway through due to malfunctioning effects. I have never seen the entire show, even when I was in Paris at the abysmal Studios park. But this was the end of adding anything to the Studios for awhile.

Aiming squarely for the teen market- and succeeding!

We finally returned to the World. With some great friends and our two youngest teenagers in tow, we headed back to the World in 2005. Sure enough, we quickly realized that the Studios park would be one of their favorites. Between Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Rollercoaster, they wanted to stay most of the evening riding the two as often as they could. And we did because people were not visiting this park in the numbers they used to. The neglect was finally producing its fruit.

The Stunt show was a hit with the guys.

Our visit to the Studios began just before lunch, as we had spent much of the night out the day before at the Magic Kingdom, seemingly alternating between nighttime rides at Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Splash Mountain. The ladies had an evening alone at Pleasure Island eating and shopping, which left the gents to take the sons out for a boys night.  The thrill rides were are target. See a trend here?

 Looking down Sunset Blvd. Tower of Terror beckons!

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was supposed to be the centerpiece attraction of Sunset Blvd., and smaller, well-themed dark rides were once planned along the street. They unfortunately never happened. It was probably a case of building on the cheap, but in fairness, the premier thrill/horror attraction did cost so much money. Yet, I ask how much did it bring in, hmmm?

 Creepy lobby- much darker and threatening than its younger sibling to come in California.

Evening rides took us back and forth between the coaster and the Tower. I was so proud of capturing this image (above)! It took me a few times to get it, but I'm so glad I did. After several rides between the two, the ladies sat and enjoyed their Mickey ice creams, and the guys got a few more rides in before the performance of Fantasmic!

This was a replacement for attractions.

Mr. Iger seemed to leave things as they were at the Studios. After some substantial activity in the 90's, things were quiet again, and the suits took on a different strategy for this park. It made its name- and money-  hosting Star Wars Weekends and Christmas displays with the Osbourne Family light display. It's a trend that has grown since Epcot's Springtime Flower and Garden Festival and its Fall Food and Wine gatherings. Profitable but very secondary to a great new attractions at either park.

It was during Iger's reign, that the Studios park moved into 4th place among my Florida Disney favorites. (It may be even lower if I look at a list that includes the Universal parks now.) It was still home to a few unique attractions and some great atmosphere, but the Imagineers and suits did not know how to revitalize the park nor did anyone have a vision for it- and I'm not sure the suits would have funded them even if they materialized.

Unfortunately, back in California, the Walt Disney Company and its leader had a crisis on their hands. The brand new California Adventure park had just opened, and it tanked. Big time. So much so it became the laughing stock of the theme park industry. Because of this disaster, the Studios stayed the same while everyone attended to the major embarrassment found on the West Coast. 

During this same year, the incredible Tokyo Disneysea opened, and the Company made sure it was hidden from view from their public in the States. How could they explain such a masterpiece overseas when they had wasted all the money and potential of their second park land in Anaheim?

By the time we ventured back to Walt Disney World in 2009, just a year after the name changed to Disney's Hollywood Studios, and only months after both the Journey into Narnia exhibit and Toy Story Midway Mania 3D shooter ride opened, not too much had changed when we looked at the big picture. My wife and I were visiting alone this trip, and we missed the grand opening of the American Idol Experience by one month. We did not consider it much of a loss, and the new attractions were not a draw.

Still crowded after all these years.

During this visit, we found the park layout was as frustrating and confusing as ever. Every avenue seemed to hold a traffic jam as folks moved toward Sunset Blvd. and its two superstar attractions. The street was a sea of people clammoring toward The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock 'N' Rollercoaster. It felt as if we were somehow back in the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland between Splash and Big Thunder Mountains.  It was not enjoyable.

There's a sucker born every day.

The terrific looking Pixar Place created a huge traffic jam as folks love the shoehorned Toy Story Midway Mania. This video game ride has its older sibling in California Adventure. While I enjoy it, I chose not to wait the hour and a half to ride here. 

In a park void of attractions the whole family will enjoy, this not quite an "E Ticket" was an instant winner. There's only thrill rides on one end of the spectrum, stage shows on the other, and not much in between. A major misstep. The once planned dark rides for the Sunset Boulevard expansion would have gone a long way in making the park more attractive for those looking forward to adventures the whole family could enjoy together. Where have I heard that before?

Crowd control was even worse surrounding Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show. Yet areas of the park were strangely empty, creating pockets that felt like a ghost town. Particularly the Star Tours side of the park.

And still prices continued to rise. 

Indy still looks good in 2009.

I noticed the Indiana Jones Stunt Show was still very popular- go Indy!- and that The Great Movie Ride was very busy. Of course they were. The park is lacking attractions. Passing by The Prime Time Cafe, I took a photo of the sign- it was becoming a habit to capture all the great signage here- and thought of the year my then 4 year old daughter's coloring page was placed on the home's refrigerator. Sweet memories! We walked on. Cruising by American Idol, I recalled the fun of Superstar Television, but realized tastes change, and folks seemed to be queuing up for the new show. Was it a test run? 

 Walking around exploring is not a replacement for attractions! 

We wandered around this area of the park past the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playground, Muppets 3D, and the streets of the backlot. All amazingly devoid of people, allowing the amount of detail to really show itself. That is one nice thing about the strange phenomena of few guests in the park.

Heading down the main avenue for the exit, I was disappointed we didn't have more time. A stop at Sid Cahuenga's memorabilia shop was a short treat, although the store seemed much smaller than I remembered. Hearkening back to a time when you could find unique merchandise in each park, I enjoyed the vintage photos and retro inspired atmosphere. Overall, the park seemed like a shadow of its former self- but it was still easier to fill a day there than at the sorely neglected Animal Kingdom.

Walking out the gates, I honestly wished I had swapped days and spent this one at Animal Kingdom instead. Expedition Everest and the centerpiece Kilimanjaro Safaris were quick and easy to do in an hour or so.  A walk around the park and the Tree of Life could fill out the two and a half hours we had before our departure for the Orlando Airport. This would have given us a full day at Disney's Hollywood Studios- something I never had thought I could do in the past.

On this trip, the charms and compelling attractions of one park were highlighted while the shortcoming of another became evident. Although Expedition: Everest, one of my favorite Florida attractions is there, Disney's Animal Kingdom had at the time officially moved to the bottom of the four in Orlando and Disney's Hollywood Studios has moved to third place.  

I say all this cautiously since both Florida parks are at an interesting crossroads. For that matter, Epcot is also needing an infusion of life and money. It's hanging on by a thread. The Florida property at large feels neglected, stale, and shortchanged by the Company.

This 2009 trip was our last one to Walt Disney World for a decade.

We've spent our time and money in Europe and Asia as well as visiting family across the States. Our only Disney park travels have been as part of a family visit to California after Cars Land and Buena Vista Street premiered at California Adventure and  one day at Disneyland Paris as part of a short stay in my favorite international destination. 

But back to the history part of this mega-post.

Official Disney blog Legend of Jack Sparrow photo.

When the Studios park opened the Jack Sparrow video based show in 2012, there was no incentive to plan a trip. With nothing on the table, we had no desire at all to return. None. If anything, it would be a visit to Hogsmeade and all the Harry Potter attractions at Islands of Adventure that would have brought me back. (When it finally did happen, I sadly discovered the truth: Walt Disney Imagineering was bested by Universal Creative. Their Diagon Alley at the Studios park is the best single Intellectual Property based land on the planet. Don't believe me? Read this next.)

That would change in 2018. Why? Our little kids grew up into adults with now young children of their own. Our youngest daughter invited us to join her family on a week long trip to the Vacation Kingdom of the World. How could we resist? We couldn't and didn't.

A fancy logo to celebrate 25 years- and that's all!

Visiting the park with little kids is an entirely different experience. I had forgotten that. Especially when your 5 year old grandson is a Star Wars fan!

It was 2018 and our dreaded last day of vacation at Walt Disney World before we stepped foot into the Studios. We had just a few hours before checking in for our flight at Orlando International Airport, so we thought, "What better place to spend it than going to Disney's true half day park, the remnant known as Disney's Hollywood Studios?" We were at the gates earlier than opening to make the most of our time. 

                           

Be gone, Big Hat!

I was excited to see that park after so many years away. Honestly, walking into the park was a mixed bag experience. I loved seeing the Chinese Theater once again since that Hat was finally gone. Guests could once again see what the Imagineers had in mind- Hollywood in its glory days. 

Once that glow of delight wore off, I noticed how faded the buildings were and how poorly they were maintained. The street itself had little tree cover. There was no Red Car Trolley as in the renewed California Adventure.  I actually preferred the opening street of the California park to what I found in Florida. That would be confirmed less than a month later when my wife surprised me with a trip to California, and I did two parks and 26 attractions in one day. (See how I did it here.)

                          

Sid's. It used to be so much better. 

How different the park felt than when my little family first visited years ago! My guess is 90% of the park has been demolished or at least drastically altered. And the Studios park seemed even smaller than ever, if that is all possible. What did I find?

                          

Yes, Mickey does belong in the park

but never at the expense of the Great Movie Ride!

The lovely Chinese Theater is still a fitting "castle" for this park. It was perfectly cast in its role, land it looks great from a distance and just wonderful up close. The detail is strong, setting the mood for adventures to come. The hat was gone, but the stage needs to disappear as well. Perhaps in the future that is something in the planning. 

At this point in time, we only had a few hours, so we had to plan our Fast Passes well. This meant Rock n Rollercoaster followed by a hopefully quick queue for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Our other choice was Star Tours, as Star Wars is a favorite of my grandson. I had to make sure he didn't miss out due to our limited hours. 

                               

Only the music headbangs here.

Since the coaster height limit was too much for the kids, we split our party, and they used a last minute golden ticket for Toy Story Midway Mania later in the morning. Big hint here- it was about four days prior to our departure that I was able to snag Fast Passes for the beloved Toy Story ride. It had been sold out the entire planning period. Always check at the last minute! You never know what becomes available if you time it right.

Time for a new act.

Continuing our three hour tour (a three hour tour). Do you get the reference? If not, do a little research.) The weather wasn't getting rough, but it was already pretty hot and humid. No matter, we hit the hub, the plaza, whatever they call it here and took a quick look at the theater, future home of Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, the replacement for the epic original, The Great Movie Ride. (We did get to ride it in a later trip.) 

                  

Gertie and Indy make quite a pair.

At this point, the charm of the park kicked in, almost making me forget there was just so little left of the place. It's a beautiful area, filled with the quirkiness of Old Hollywood without the shady, seedy, drug dealer and prostitute ridden side you find today. 

While some of our crew got a little breakfast and a drink, my daughter and I jumped on a limo to get to the Aerosmith concert in time. The nighttime sky wasn't as dark as I remembered, but the ride was as smooth and thrilling as always. The attraction is still a winner, even though they desperately need a new band in there. (No, not a Marvel makeover. I said a new band. If you want a ride like that, you have to -unfortunately- head to Epcot.)

Time to anger a few parents. We took the kids on Tower. They seemed a bit apprehensive, but we assured them it would be ok. Let's say even though it really wasn't their favorite, it didn't cause any meltdowns. Their father actually had a rougher time with it. Man, those kids are easy to travel with! ("Nice job!" said Grandpa.) 

As I mentioned, this version of Tower remains the definitive one. Everything about it screams Headliner Attraction. The whole approach down Sunset Blvd., the correct placement in the park, the spookiness of the boiler room- and the cars that work like a real elevator- make it top notch. Does Twilight Zone Tower of Terror still have a place in a park that is now dominated by Star Wars and Toy Story? Yes- but it is time for enhancements and refreshed special effects. Please Disney suits, don't let this one fall apart.

It was amazing how quickly we covered the two biggest "E Ticket" attractions! And how strange that there was so little left to do in the park after 30 years of "growth". With just about a half hour before our reservation for Star Tours, we walked a bit enjoying the scenery.

Light speed to Batuu!

Once we arrived at the entrance, the line was still fairly short, so we saved our tickets for a second trip after the first. Smart choice on our part! My granddaughter had never been on the flight. Gotta say, it was pretty sweet to hear her big brother encourage her and give her riding tips before we took off. She loved the journey!

 

Love seeing this droid in the park!

By the time we walked out, Star Tours had a healthy line, so our plans paid off. Using our Fast Pass, we got in line and happily had an entirely different trip, including a preview scene of Batuu. Nice touch and a great way to sell a return visit to the Florida park. 

Appropriate synergy for once.

Pricey but fun.

Should be on its way to Cars Land in revised form!

After the kids fashioned their own light saber, we walked around, and I spotted Sci-Fi Dine In, one of my favorite places in the park. We had not been able to get a reservation earlier, but when I noticed the door was open, I took my son-in-law inside to get a glimpse of what I had told him about. It was absolutely empty with all the lights on. 

Truthfully, in my mind the park was not prepared for the onslaught of visitors coming when Galaxy's Edge opened up later. There's a massive and obvious shortage of places to eat, shady spaces, and most of all, attractions to eat up the crowds. When you add in old and tired shows, you can be sure you'll be reading stories of disastrous days at Disney's Hollywood Studios or whatever the new name will be.

If you're not a big show guy, there's not much to do.

From here on out, the park began to show these weaknesses. Again. My son-in-law and I went to find some food, something beyond a Starbucks snack to eat. Although we walked all the way around Echo Lake, not a thing was open, reinforcing my observations made above. I then began to notice all the concrete, large swaths of park with little vegetation, and not much to do. In fact, aside from Echo Lake, the park has no water to be seen. That fact alone creates a weary tourist as the emotional and psychological impact of water brings refreshment to the mind and heart. 

Bad transition.

Really surprising this is the best they could come up with!

For as much emphasis and effort the suits seem to put into building new restaurants, the results are not so good at the Studios. The Base Line Tap House may have a decent menu and fill the void for beer flights, but little thought seemed to go into the design. The exterior on its own is pretty nice, but next to the Sci-Fi sharing a wall? It's just horrible. Adding a mock third story to the Tap House would have created a better visual transition. Yes, the look of Disney Springs is just amazing, but they dropped the ball here.

       

No resistance here. 

While we were busy looking for food, the rest of the crew stood in line for some Star Wars themed show/mini-parade. As a long time park fan, I knew this to be filler, but you can tell by the look on this fan's face (above), that as far as he was concerned, this might as well have been the full bore "E Ticket" filled land with its sure to be mega-hit attractions.  

This was just another reminder that Disney made the right move to buy the franchise and place a full blown land in the park(s). It's the right park for the addition here, but it should have been the centerpiece of a 3rd Disney park in California. 

Coming to a Studios park near you!

For the last attraction of the day, the kids and the ladies went on Toy Story Mania. The guys stayed behind and went into Walt Disney Presents, browsed the exhibits and at the urging of a cast member, posed with an invisible celebrity. It was an odd bit of cast member interaction, bordering between plain old weird, slightly creepy, and strangely disconcerting. Clearly, the guy loved his job, but...

A good sport!

As I mentioned in another post, the new Toy Story Land was not yet opened during this trip. We missed it by two weeks. For us, it was off to the airport and our trip home. We'd see it next time. Little did we know that would be the following year.

Slinky Dog Dash.

Concept art for Mater's- I mean Alien Swirling Saucers.

Toy Story Land opened to fairly good reviews a couple of weeks after we left. Though I love the movies, I am not a fan of the execution of bringing them to the parks. These attractions and the land in general seems cheaper than cheap. 

                          

We were able to visit again in 2019 with our oldest daughter and her family. So Toy Story Land and Galaxy's Edge were at the top of my to do list for this park.

Unsuspecting thrills for what looks like a kiddie ride.

Time to admit I was wrong: Slinky Dog Dash is a great addition to this little park. Yeah, it is pretty bare bones, but man, the actual ride a lot of fun! Not to mention it provides great views of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The whole Toy Story land itself just needed more: more shade, more food options, more theming, and even an attraction or two that wasn't a spinner. But our whole family did enjoy what was there.

Ka-chow!

Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy stage show was an unexpected addition that same year. Combining a character show with a great Audio-Animatronic McQueen and a meet and greet with his friends afterwards was a much needed addition to round out the attraction line up as well as sop up the crowds that would hit the park. I expected it to be quite a bit of fun for the younger set and even enjoyable for those adults with an open mind and younger heart, It was truly only fun for the little guys, and even that, a one and done.  

Could reality be as good as Disney concept art?

Now about Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge before Rise of the Resistance...

When Universal hit their Grand Slam by opening Hogsmeade at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Disney panicked. Cars Land in California would be great, but what could they do in Orlando? Animal Kingdom's World of Avatar / Pandora was gorgeous, but it was not the "Potter Swatter" the suits wanted. They knew they could not blow it by turning the beloved Star Wars movie franchise into less than a killer theme park destination. Years of planning went into it. 

Galaxy's Edge opening on August 29, 2019.

Photo from blooloop.

In California, this much anticipated Star Wars land opened in May of 2019. It would be several months later in Florida but without its "F Ticket" attraction, due to an ongoing and major problem with Rise of the Resistance. 

The inside of "Attraction Number Two" in Star Wars Land. 

The first attraction to open- and the one we experienced on this trip was Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, another mouthful of a title for a ride that promises to take Star Tours to the next level. As anyone can see, this is the secondary attraction compared to what would follow. But for kids and adults accustomed to playing video games, this is truly an "E Ticket" ride with its excellent pre-show and eye popping set piece of the full blown Falcon. To say differently is just not an honest appraisal of the attraction. 

The Falcon as we dreamed it. Photo by Disney.

It's a terrific ride, but definitely second fiddle in the attraction mix. The land itself is still breathtaking! By the time of this trip, I had just seen it a few weeks before in at Disneyland due to an emergency trip where my son and I were given a day off in the middle of it all.  

Florida's richer color palette.

As far as the differences between Walt's park and the Studios, the colors of Galaxy's Edge are clearly more saturated in Florida. It's probably part necessity and partially as design choice, but it works very well. The land feels as if it has much more life with all the additional color. After learning from the disastrous opening in California, the suits filled the land with more activity. Characters seemed everywhere. Cast members were even more animated and took time to "play" with us, and there was just a larger overall sense of pride in the addition. Certainly, this is the park Star Wars belongs in!

We explored it all over two days plus worth of time. The Studios was the clear favorite park of the kids...and maybe their parents too. We cut  days short at Animal Kingdom and Epcot to go back to Batuu.

The biggest Star Wars fans are the youngest here.

But it's growing on me!

The real one worth waiting for.

Rise of the Resistance was the one everyone wanted to experience- and for good reason! This was set to be the new century's version of the old time classics like Pirates of the Caribbean. The epic adventure was not be open to the public when we went this trip.

Kylo Ren isn't a big draw for me, nor is the series as a whole, but I certainly understand its importance to the park as it looks to the future and the ongoing battle with Universal's growing world. The one I was most excited about stars the one who started it all: Mickey Mouse. But that had to wait for the next trip as well. 

Little did I know we'd would do Disney yet again in 2021.

Oh, boy!

This trip would be very different as there would be no kids. Just three adults and a two day / two night side trip to Universal Orlando that would change how I view their theme parks. For our youngest son, Universal is "his" resort, but being a fan of theme parks like dear old dad, he wasn't about to miss Galaxy's Edge and Rise of the Resistance. 

His last Disney trip was as a 15 year old. Now many years later, he's a very responsible, highly respected young man with an important and stressful career- who just happened to need a theme park vacation. And he is a single man with a lot of disposable income. This would make for an entirely different vacation experience, every bit as fun as those with the grandkids, but certainly very different. We'd do it again in a heartbeat, by the way.

The three of us (our son and my wife and I) planned this trip together. For the first portion of the trip, Disney was up first, and the Studios were our first park because of Rise.

Check out our boarding group number.

We'd do even better the second day at the park!

Our flight arrival at night meant dinner at Raglan Road (full review here) and a surprisingly relatively early turn in time at Old Key West. We just HAD to get those early reservations for Rise of the Resistance. We were not going home without experiencing it- and we would end up with two rides. 

Before our first ride on Rise.

Let me state up front that I cannot tell you how much I hate the entire Boarding Group / Lightning Lane process now necessary to get on Disney's newest attractions. It's a cash grab pure and simple. Walt would be mad as Hell about it as it creates a caste system of park visitors. 

It's the first day of vacation, and we were up at 6:30am to get ready and attempt to get a boarding pass. This is NOT vacation. Yet, a ride on Disney's hottest attraction was our priority. So, we all grabbed our smartphones and headed out to the balcony where the reception was better. At 7:00am on the nose, we pushed our buttons. Our son "won" boarding group number 13, and we were on our way.

Such a great ride!

From all my reading and yes, video watching, every incredible effect was working as designed. It was the first time in many years that the actual experience of a Disney attraction was just as good as the marketing materials made it out to be. What a great start to a great vacation.

Great drinks, fun atmosphere, overpriced food.

In a more than fair assessment of Galaxy's Edge and a real look at the current values of the Disney corporation, to experience the best of it, it is the case of the upsell.  

We wanted to see it all, so as we were doing pre-trip planning, I went on line to book Oga's Cantina and scored a mid-afternoon spot on our first day. It ended up being at just the right time as the Florida sun and soaring humidity called for a break. Building a light saber was on our son's agenda as well. We were covering the entire Batuu experience list, Ronto Wrap and all.

His light saber build.

Should I be worried at his choice of weapon?

Thankfully, we had all set aside adequate funds, and my son decided when he built a light saber to take me along as his plus one. In my humble estimation, it's a "nice" show but no comparison to the free Harry Potter wand show at Universal. The light saber is very high quality, but for the pricer of it all, you'd expect an Audio-Animatronic Yoda and not just a voice over.  And why isn't there one somewhere in this land anyway?

Our latest trip included a visit to the Tune In Lounge-

with our son who was not even born in 1989.

The drinks are more expensive than our full meal prices back then.

Times passes quickly!

In a COVID related twist, the next attraction to debut was one with the little mouse that started an empire.

This is just the queue.

In a perfect world, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway would be built in the Animation Courtyard where it belongs.  That said, I do understand why Mickey is at the center of the park. I just wish The Great Movie Ride didn't have to go at its expense. 

As time goes by, I have wondered if the Walt Disney Company can still build attractions filled with charm. This one proves they can when they wish to do so. Some may quibble with its execution, but I find it to be a must see attraction. It's one I will ride again and again. 

A restaurant urgently returned to the forefront.

And then discarded after COVID-19.

Back and now open to mixed reviews.

The latest addition: The restaurant expansion for Toy Story Land (above) was needed. Shade and food and a chance to sit down. But at a very high price per person. It's not an attraction, but it is a necessary addition in a park that needs much more to offer than it currently has. It should have been there at opening, but live and learn, I guess. Although the Walt Disney Company has had 60+ years of running the world's best theme park, Disneyland, they still miss the mark at times about what guests really need. But back then, they had the company's best leader. Walt Disney cared first about guests, knowing the bottom line would be more than fine if the guest was taken care of first. What a groundbreaking concept that would be today, right?

The new direction of the park is clear by this new logo.

What's in the park's future? Certainly more Intellectual Properties. That will be the mandate for all Disney parks. D23 for 2024 is almost here, but they have teased fans for years now about what could be coming. 

Animal Kingdom was supposed to be next to get new attractions, but it seems that Disney's Hollywood Studios may jump the line. As park fans are getting smarter about what is built in Disney's international parks, it is time to free up some of that advanced technology. Make use of the Shanghai Disneyland technology used for their Pirates of the Caribbean and add something to the Indiana Jones side of the park. Lord know this dry and concrete filled park needs a water ride! Spread out those crowds.

Unbuilt Star Wars restaurant and supper club. 

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge needs additional experiences and attractions to help it feel lively and more complete. That planned restaurant, working roaming droids, a small show. Just about anything. How about building a speeder bike attraction to compete with the great Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure down the road? It fits the IP and would be a compelling reason to come back to the park.

No major investments for 2023 or 2024-

just one expensive kid-themed BBQ joint and a drink stand.

Our trip just a few weeks ago revealed the weaknesses of this third Disney theme park in Florida. After the very large investment into Galaxy's Edge and the smaller expansion in Toy Story, I understand spacing out the money. Yet, the park's weaknesses were so apparent this trip. We spent a few hours there and left. Rise continued to be down most of the day... and the week, actually. Rock N Rollercoaster was closed for an extended refurbishment, and we were not about to wait 2 hours in line for Slinky Dog Dash. We are not huge stage show fans, not were we with young kids, so the pickings were slim. 

Truthfully, the Studios park just needs many more rides! Smaller scale rides, even a dark ride or two would be good. But no Simpsons please. And no ride replacement. What a mistake to rip out the Great Movie Ride when Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway could have been built somewhere new in a park that news more to do. New builds only to increase capacity.

This park needs other types of attractions to round out the day. This includes revamped stage shows and theater presentations. Although not my personal favorite, they do eat up time. But they must be the kind that appeal to more than just kids. Playhouse Disney and a Frozen Sing-a-long are not enough. Unique shopping would be a plus. Smaller exhibits to draw in crowds. With regards to food, the park is in desperate need of air-conditioned indoor restaurants and quick service facilities. 

Years later, we still have the same problem when we visit this park. Nine rides is not enough. Shows alone do not cut it for us. New ones or old favorites are not that interesting to us as we are not theater geeks. Disney has coasted long enough on this park. Time to free up the money and get going- especially with Epic Universe on the way. If it doesn't happen, the Disney Studios park will be the one we skip when we take a three days for Universal Orlando.  Universal feels fresh to us, and I know we are not alone in this view. It's time, Disney, it's time.

(Photographs by Mark Taft. Concept art and some photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company. I'd like to thank AngryAP.com for three of the harder to find pieces. Go check out that great site, by the way.)