I'm going to start with one of the high points of our first day.
We loved "Magic of Animation." The opening film is nothing intense. It provides lots of funny moments due to the genius decision of featuring Mushu as co-host. The animator that talks during the film is actually there- I had thought it was all pre-done, but they interact with the video image. A few children might even think that the conversation is really happening as Mushu jumps between screens. Of course they throw in a preview for their latest animated feature and an art gallery featuring it. This may be an advertising technique, but the gallery is actually fairly interesting. I just wish I could have gone in the days leading up to ''Princess and the Frog," "UP," or "Tangled" instead of being stuck with "Brave."
Once you exit the theater, you are free to roam around the rest of the building. The lines for the drawing class were absolutely ridiculous. They seemed small at first but the group size they let in at a time is quite small. These are half-hour classes, so be prepared to wait. We decided we just didn't have the time to do it. While there, you can also meet a bunch of characters. The Incredibles, Pooh, and Fantasia Mickey are always there. We also saw Daisy and Stitch walking around, but those characters switch out throughout the day. There are little stations where you can record your voice in a VERY brief scene as a Disney character, take a personality test to find your character match, and 'paint' a character on a screen. "Animation" is a really cool place to escape the heat and it can eat up a lot of extra time you might have.
The first thing we did, as you might guess, was "Muppet Vision 3D." This was a wonderful little film that definitely falls into the 'mislabeled as 3D but actually 4D' category. There's a wonderful surprise that comes down from the ceiling and at one point you feel a light sprinkle of water. The ending is a loud one- fireworks and a cannon blast- but it doesn't seem as overbearing as one might think, especially if they know what is coming. The new 3D character (Waldo) was pathetic. A little animated bug flying around doesn't exactly cut it based on Muppet standards. However, there's a great scene with Beaker and lots of other giggles as Waldorf and Statler provide side commentary and a few other characters surface in real time, including a penguin orchestra. We all enjoyed this movie.
If it's pouring then go ahead and spend a little time in "One Man's Dream." This is a mini-museum of Walt Disney's career that includes models and pieces of a few attractions and parks at multiple resorts. It's a little dark in places and a few displays have fairly creepy elements but this isn't the tone of the whole exhibit. There's a video at the end. We didn't watch it but it's supposed to be about Walt's life. I don't know what the live stage show "Disney Junior!" is like at all. It has a large building all to itself. I remember "Playhouse Disney! Live" being too much for me when I was little, but this new attraction might be different.
"Rock 'n' Roller Coaster" sends you upside down at extremely high speeds in a dark building with loud rock music blaring in your ears as you ride. We passed on this one. We also didn't do "Star Tours." This attraction's existence alone proves that there must be more obsessive fans than I thought. It takes place in an indoor ride simulator and may feature battles and loud noises, depending on which experience you get. The characters all creep me out to the point where I can't even look at them. But if your family loves the Star Wars films, they should do this. The other scary ride at the Studios is "Tower of Terror." I don't think I have to elaborate on this one, which is great because it gives me nausea just typing the name. Use the FASTPASS system for all three of the attractions I just mentioned.
A decision I regret is skipping "The Little Mermaid." The Ursula puppet is huge and creepy and the show can get dark, but there isn't anything here that wasn't in the movie. We heard there were laser effects (?) which would have been too much for another family member. The wait is also very long with no FASTPASS available. The best part of the Studios does utilize the FASTPASS option, though. (Get at least one by lunch because they always sell out by then.) Enter "Toy Story Mania." This ride was a complete blast. We had a great time on it. I liked the feel of the turns in the actual ride. The queue is huge and the line sometimes even goes outside (it can be over two hours long.) Get here first thing in the morning then grab a FP or two from the machine. You might not be able to get another one depending on the return time marked on your FP ticket. The ride does take place in the dark, but you don't even notice that as your focus is intent on the large, bright screens with targets in front of you. This ride is one of the best attractions of both Disney World and Disneyland. It is an absolute must-do.
This rounds out Hollywood Studios; next will be Epcot. As always, please comment with any questions you might have or comments regarding your own personal experiences!
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