WDW 2024 - Part 3 - Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, Magic Kingdom
OCT 6 - CHANGING HOTEL DAY
In the original plan, today was our “rest” day and where we would change hotels and move from the Drury over to Animal Kingdom. As we got up and around we were greeted by storm clouds and rain. With more news about Hurricane Milton and it’s projected path, we decided that instead of resting today, our time would be better spent visiting parks despite the rainy weather.
After a quick breakfast, we let Amelia play at the arcade and then we were on our way to the Animal Kingdom Lodge!
By 10:00 AM we had made our way over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Since it was so early, our room wasn’t ready but bell services held our luggage so we could take a quick look around the property and go on with our day. We also enjoyed a quick lunch at “The Mara” which would become our restaurant of choice on site because it was pretty quick and they had a good variety of food options.
3 PARKS IN 1 DAY!
1 - HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Disney's Hollywood Studios is a dynamic theme park that immerses guests in the worlds of film, television, and entertainment. Highly rated attractions include Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, an innovative ride that combines multiple experiences, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, which features a whimsical journey through a cartoon world, and Toy Story Mania!, an interactive 4D shooting game that appeals to all ages. Dining options are equally impressive, with the upscale Hollywood Brown Derby offering fine dining and classic dishes, 50's Prime Time Café (one of my favorites for dinner) providing a nostalgic atmosphere with comfort food, and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre Restaurant, where guests enjoy meals in vintage cars while watching sci-fi movie clips. The park's blend of thrilling rides, engaging shows, and unique dining experiences makes it a must-visit destination for Disney fans. Overall, Hollywood Studios captures the magic of storytelling and cinematic adventure in a vibrant setting.
We drove over to Hollywood studios and found ourselves a parking spot. Since we were staying at a Disney property now, basic parking was free, and the walk to the park entrance isn’t too far from the parking lot. We took some time to go through some of the shops on the main road to sort of get dry before starting to use our magicband+ features at the golden statues around the park.
This would be our basic scenery for the next 2 days. Rainy.
FROZEN SING ALONG
While the previous day, we were doing shows to get out of the heat, today we’re doing shows to get out of the rain. For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration is a lively musical show at Disney's Hollywood Studios that invites guests to join Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff in singing beloved songs from the Frozen films. Hosted by the Royal Historians of Arendelle, the 30-minute performance humorously recounts the story of Arendelle while featuring animated clips and projected lyrics for audience participation. Popular songs like "Let It Go," "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?", and "Love is an Open Door" create an engaging atmosphere for fans of all ages. The show takes place in the Hyperion Theater, providing a fun-filled experience that captures the magic of Frozen while encouraging everyone to sing along.
STAR WARS; GALAXY’S EDGE
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is an immersive themed area at Disney's Hollywood Studios that transports guests to the planet Batuu, specifically the village of Black Spire Outpost. The land features two major attractions: Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, where guests can pilot the iconic ship, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, a groundbreaking ride that combines multiple ride systems for a truly unique experience. Visitors can also explore shops selling themed merchandise, enjoy Star Wars-inspired dining options, and encounter characters from the franchise, enhancing the overall experience. Opened on August 29, 2019, Galaxy's Edge allows fans to live their own Star Wars adventure in a richly detailed environment that feels like stepping into the films.
There was a little break in the rain, so we headed over towards the new Star Wars area, and so did a lot of other people. This area looks like something right out of the movies for sure! Ride times were approaching an hour and since we didn’t get any virtual queues or lighting lanes we decided to cut our time short at this park and try out the sky liner next.
DISNEY SKYLINER
Our first ride on the Skyliner! The Disney Skyliner is a gondola lift system that connects two theme parks—EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios—with several resort hotels at Walt Disney World. Opened on September 29, 2019, it features five stations, including the central hub at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, as well as stops at the Riviera Resort, Pop Century, and Art of Animation. The Skyliner provides guests with a scenic and efficient transportation option, allowing for easy access between the parks and resorts without relying on buses. Each ride offers stunning views of the surrounding area, making it a popular choice among visitors for both convenience and enjoyment.
From HS the skyliner takes you to the Caribbean Beach resort where you swap lines and get on one that takes you over to EPCOT. It drops you off on the “back side” of the park. Overall the trip was pretty quick, maybe 10-15 minutes and was a lot better than getting back in the car and having to drive over and park and walk in.
2 - EPCOT
EPCOT, or Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, is a unique theme park at Walt Disney World that combines futuristic innovation with international culture. Among its highly rated attractions are Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a thrilling indoor coaster; Soarin' Around the World, a breathtaking flight simulator; and Test Track, an exhilarating car design experience. For dining, Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada pavilion offers exceptional steaks and poutine, while Teppan Edo in Japan provides an entertaining hibachi experience, and Space 220 Restaurant offers an immersive "space dining" adventure with stellar views. EPCOT is also known for its World Showcase, featuring pavilions representing 11 countries, and hosts popular annual events like the International Food & Wine Festival and the International Festival of the Arts.
We were surprised at how busy EPCOT was on this dreary day. Part of it had to do with the food and wine festival, and part of it was because Joey Fatone (from Nsync) was doing a concert there and hundreds of people were already gathering in lines hours before the show started.
THE SEAS WITH NEMO AND FRIENDS.
Keeping with our “show” series on this trip we walked over to The Seas with Nemo & Friends from the skyliner and it was a haul! The Seas with Nemo and Friends at EPCOT is an engaging attraction that combines a gentle dark ride with an impressive aquarium experience. Guests board clam-shaped vehicles called "Clamobiles" to embark on a journey through scenes from Finding Nemo, where they search for the missing fish alongside beloved characters like Marlin and Dory. After the ride, visitors can explore the expansive aquarium, which houses various marine life, including manatees, sharks, and tropical fish, providing educational exhibits and interactive experiences. Additionally, the pavilion features Turtle Talk with Crush (one of the kids’ favorites!), an interactive show where guests can converse with the animated sea turtle. Overall, The Seas with Nemo and Friends offers a delightful blend of entertainment and education for all ages.
3 - MAGIC KINGDOM
MICKEY’S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY (MNSSHP)
After the fun at Hollywood Studios, we ran back to resort to get ready for the Halloween event at Magic Kingdom. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a festive, ticketed event (aka extra cost) held at Magic Kingdom during select nights from August to October, celebrating Halloween in a family-friendly atmosphere. Guests can enjoy unique character greetings, themed attractions, and special entertainment, including the "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade and Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show. Trick-or-treating is a highlight, with numerous stations throughout the park offering complimentary candy. The event encourages attendees to dress in costumes, allowing for a magical Halloween experience that appeals to all ages. Overall, it combines Disney magic with Halloween fun, making it a beloved tradition for many families.
We got lucky and the rain actually held off for most of the night until the very end! Amelia had a blast riding around getting shovels of candy dumped in her bag and seeing the fun characters at the parade.
"Boo-to-You" HALLOWEEN PARADE
At the end of the parade, we did a little shopping at the stores right around the entrance and then headed out because the rain had started really coming down and it was cooling off. It took us a while getting to the car using the transportation and it also took us a while to find the car (black) at night, in the rain. So make sure and do something unique so your car stands out amongst all the other cars at night!
NEXT - 4 Disney World Parks in 3 days! - Part 4
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Kyle Root is a published and award winning photographer based out of Decatur Alabama. Working in the area since 1999 has helped him become one of the most recognized photographers and videographers in North Alabama. His work has been featured both locally and on the national stage. Honesty, Integrity, Quality Products, Amazing Customer Service, and just being a nice guy have helped propel him to the spotlight in the North Alabama area as a photographer. If you're looking for professional photography, you're in the right spot.
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