mgm studios. disney hollywood studios

It all started with this guy! Checking out the One Man’s Dream Exhibit at Disney Studios – 2015

Part 4 of 6 will discuss a visit to Disney Studios. This park is undergoing many renovations and additions right now, but it is still worth stopping at for a day. Read on to find out what you need to do to get the most out of your visit to Disney Studios. Click other posts in this series about Walt Disney World below.

Walt Disney World, Family Edition, Part 1
Walt Disney World, Family Edition, Part 2
Walt Disney World, Family Edition, Part 3

Disney Studios was put in to Walt Disney World in 1989, a year before Universal Studios-Orlando. It was originally called DIsney’s MGM Studios and it was very much like a working studio. They shot the rebooted Mickey Mouse Club there, had a studio tour, and studio shows. Since then, the park has dropped the studio tour and the MGM name and added some of the best thrill rides you will ever experience. It will also be home to the new Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land, which is quite exciting. While these major renovations are taking place, there will still be plenty to see and do, so make sure you make a stop to play and eat at this park while you are visiting.

Disney Studios -Tips and Tricks

Fast Pass + – Make sure you have reserved your fastpasses for the day on your Walt Disney World account. See my tips on Fast Pass + in part 1 of this series. Attractions worth getting fast passes for, if possible:

Twilight Zone’s Tower of Terror
Aerosmith’s Rockin’ Roller Coaster
Toy Story
Star Tours
Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular

Used our first fastpass on Toy Story on night 1

My little Star Wars fans out in front of Star Tours

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, pretty much the greatest thrill ever.

Don’t let the cheese factor full you, this is a thrilling roller coaster with multiple loops.

Remember: If you get three attractions reserved early in the day, you can go back and order more fastpasses on the My Disney Experience App once you have used them all. That is the only way to get more than three fastpasses in a day. Also, don’t forget to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours at this park.

MVP (My Vacation Pants) Tip: Fantasmic is a combination water show, pyrotechnic, and theatrical show that if you have not seen, you will want to see during your visit. The show is located in a large stadium by Tower of Terror. I don’t get fastpasses to large shows like this because there is usually plenty of seating for it. Especially at the later showing. Don’t waste your fastpass on this high capacity show. Also, if you have seen the one in Callifornia, this show is very similar, but not as intimate, and it uses less impressive set design, so if you have seen the California one, you can skip it for something else.

Educational Guide – This park gives you a backstage pass to old Hollywood and although it may seem hard to find things that our educational at a park dedicated to Hollywood, there is still plenty to learn about. Make sure you check out the One Man’s Dream film and exhibit. There is so much history about Walt Disney and the making of his empire. My young children loved learning the history of Disneyland and they made us sit in the front row for the movie. They have cool pieces displayed in the exhibit hall as well. You can talk about how things were different in the 1930s, and how animation was drawn by hand. The Great Movie Ride is a tribute to many great movie classics your children may have never heard of. One small note, there is one super scary scene from the movie Alien, keep your kids close and cover their eyes for that part if they get scared about things like that. A lot of children have never seen an old black and white movie and they have a great montage at the end. Talk about the history of movie making with them. Lastly, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is a really fun way to show your kids how movies are made. Plus, adults get a chance to be a part of the show. I was picked to be in half the show, so my kids paid attention.

Me as an extra in the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.
Vintage Cool Attractions – The whole park is themed like vintage Hollywood. All the glamour and sophistication of the 1930s. It is a great piece of cinematic history, and is fun to see in a Disney way. Make sure you take in the architecture and the music that this park has to offer. We enjoyed checking out the front of the Great Movie Ride which has celebrity hand prints and autographs just like is does in the real Hollywood. Inside the queue for the Great Movie Ride, there are some Hollywood collectibles from favorite movies. Always fun to see. Do not miss the Muppet 3D Show. It is an original that was in the park when it opened, and it is the last thing that Jim Henson worked on before he passed away. It is hilarious and cute. This attraction is extinct at other Disney parks, so this may be your last chance to see this beloved show. Plus, see below for some places you have to eat at to fully experience the vintageness of this park.

Classic Hollywood in Florida

Like I said…vintage cool.

Pacing – This park is small right now. It will grow much bigger with the editions, but you can probably spend part of the day here and hit another park if you want. My family can never manage to do that, but we are the type of family that has to try every little thing. If you just want to try the highlights and move on, you can spend more time in the larger parks.

My son loved The Great Movie Ride so much, he made Daddy take him twice.

What To Eat

50’s Prime Time Cafe – This place is such a blast. The premise is you are stepping into an old 1950s television show. Everything in the restaurant is themed like a suburban 1950s household. It’s so cute. Your waiter/waitress plays your Mom or Dad. They are hilarious, loving, and a little bit grumpy, but it’s all part of the show. Make sure you keep your elbows off the table, and don’t talk with your mouth full. Above all, eat your veggies. The fried chicken is a fantastic choice at this place. They have some homestyle favorites. Make sure you check it out while you are there.

Had to get the vintage black and white shot at the 50s Prime Time Cafe.

This is the waiting area. So cute.

When you see the sign, enter.

Sci Fi Dine In Theater – Okay, this has to be our favorite experience place to eat because it is so unique. You walk in to a building that looks normal on the outside. The host whisks you around the corner and you enter an old fashioned drive in theater. The cars have tables facing a huge drive in movie screen. You get to watch kitchy cool old sci fi movies and old 1950s commercials. It is pretty much a dream come true. The food is pretty much your typical diner fare, but it is worth the experience to see it. Again, don’t miss it while you are there.

Our amazing car tables at the Sci Fi Dine In Theater

The Sci Fi Dine In Theater. Yeah!

The Hollywood Brown Derby – The Original Brown Derby in California is famous for inventing the Cobb Salad and well, you can’t really find someone who loves Cobb Salad like this lady right here. I am a blue cheese fanatic. So I guess I was the one who was most excited to come here because even though I live near Hollywood I have never been to the original Brown Derby. Everyone else in my party enjoyed the experience, but weren’t huge fans of the intense flavors in the Cobb, so this is definitely something you have to crave. If your mouth watered when I talked about Cobb Salad, you have to go. The ambiance is fun too and I imagine it is similar to how the original Brown Derby looks and feels. It is very art deco and visually stunning.