Jared
06-02-2009, 08:34 PM
I never can sleep well on the first night. I’m not sure anybody can. Who wants to lie in bed with an entire world of fun awaiting when the sun comes up. Somehow, the first night feels endless. I tossed and turned most of the night, maybe settling down for four or five hours of legitimate sleep, but I woke up at 7:15 a.m. energized and excited. Stitch and Mickey called to wake up my brother five minutes later, as I was getting ready to shower. Neither of us wanted breakfast, we went down to the Classic Hall, bought or three-day Park Hoppers and went outside to the bus stop. The bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios was waiting for us, so we hopped right in. This was our first experience with the Pop Century bus service, and I will comment more on it as the report goes on. Generally, we were quite happy with it, but there were flaws that I will discuss.
We approached the gate around 8:30 a.m., and I was immediately struck by how many people were already inside the park. I knew Star Wars Weekends drew big crowds, but I didn’t expect the park to be so crowded so early. Little did I know it was Extra Magic Hours. That’s what I get for doing virtually zero planning for this trip. The type-A’s out there are probably having a conniption just thinking thinking about it.
The line for Toy Story Mania was 55 minutes at 8:40 a.m. Just reading that sentence over is mind-boggling. I don’t even think Soarin’ drew crowds like that. There was literally a sea of people all the way from Voyage of the Little Mermaid to the building entrance. Nobody had any idea where the line started or ended, and there was no discernible FASTPASS queue. Finally, after fighting through a mess of human bodies for at least 10 minutes, we were able to get to the machines and obtain FASTPASSes for 11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m.
With a lot of time to kill, Justin and I started meandering around the park, not exactly sure where to go. The wait times for the two Sunset Boulevard attractions were already insane, and we couldn’t use FASTPASS for another two hours. We wound up at Star Tours, hoping to fly to Endor with a group of crazed Star Wars junkies, dressed in full costume for Star Wars Weekend. There were two young kids dressed as Luke and Leia, and a few others with light sabers attached to their belts, but nothing crazy. I was hoping to ride with someone dressed as Chewbacca or Yoda. Nevertheless, the space capsule was full, and the crowd was clearly excited to be there. I won’t waste anybody’s time explaining why this attraction needs to be updated. It’s been discussed enough. But whenever I watch the preshow, I can’t help but laugh hysterically. How can Disney legitimately pass that off? Have you seen that woman’s hair? It’s almost embarrassing.
Fortunately, we eventually arrived safely at Endor (yet somehow wound up at a shop in Tatooine moments later) and continued our journey through the park. Next up was one of my all-time favorites, The Great Movie Ride -- another attraction desperately in need of a major facelift. Maybe it’s the film buff in me, but I still love this ride, even though it’s pathetically old and antiquated. Starting with the trailers from all-time classics like “The Searchers,” “Alien” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” the entire experience oozes of cinematic excitement. Sure, the concept is tired. And, yes, I admit it could use a few changes (Do kids even know who Sigourney Weaver is anymore?), but I still get a thrill from cruising through Oz and the Nostromo. I’ll keep riding The Great Movie Ride the way it is, always hoping it one day receives the treatment it deserves.
After exiting, we walked down Sunset Boulevard to check the wait times for the two thrill rides. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was running a queue of 70 minutes, but Tower of Terror was just at 30, so we lined up. It was actually the first time I ever waited on the standby line for this ride, usually opting for FASTPASS, and I was quite impressed by all the detail and intricacy of the hotel’s surroundings. I had always heard such wonderful things about the Tower of Terror’s intense theming, and it was thrilling to finally see it up close.
Unfortunately, the wait was longer than 30 minutes. For the first 15 or 20 minutes, I swear we were not moving at all. It was strange, because it seemed like the ride was fully operational. I heard periodic screams coming from the building. I couldn’t figure out why were stopped cold. I don’t mind a long wait, as long as the line is moving. Standing in one place is brutal, because it feels like you are making no progress.
Suddenly, the line picked up, though, and we were whisked through the lobby and into the library to begin our experience. I have fully come around on the Tower of Terror’s merits. I admit I didn’t ride for the first time until a few years ago because I was scared. The first two or three times through, I was too nervous to pay attention, much like how people react to Splash Mountain the first time. After this ride, the Tower of Terror vaulted into my top-10 list for favorite attractions in the four parks. The technology is astounding, and it really is about more than just the drops. It’s scary, but in a good way. As a funny aside, as we were boarding our elevator, I frantically told my brother I would never ride again. About 10 minutes after leaving, I asked if he wanted to go back on later in the day. Talk about coming full circle.
By now, we were allowed to grab more FASTPASSes, despite having an hour to wait before riding Toy Story Mania. The return time for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster wasn’t until 3:55 p.m., which worked well for our schedule, so we quickly snagged the tickets and hurried to the 11:30 a.m. showing of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Here’s another oldie but goodie, and an attraction my brother still enjoys, despite having seen it many times. Of course, it would be exciting not to know what was about to happen, but it’s still fun. We had some time to kill, anyway.
It was now finally time to ride Toy Story Mania, after waiting for what seemed like forever. This is my favorite attraction in the park by far. Before it opened, I was willing to skip the Studios altogether, preferring to spend my time at the other three parks. Toy Story Mania has brought me back because it is so wonderful. This is what all new attractions should be like. The FASTPASS line moved quickly, though I hated having to miss the giant Mr. Potato Head. Justin actually beat me, giving me my first loss ever! I was winning the entire game. Not sure what happened. My hand slipped off the string for a few moments during the bonus round, and I think that was enough to let him catch up. How disappointing. It gave him serious bragging rights to the rest of the family.
Considering neither of us had breakfast, we were pretty hungry by this point. We could have scarfed down some mediocre Hollywood Studios counter service fare, but there was a certain soda shop we vowed to visit this trip. We sprinted at full speed to catch the boat before it pulled away from the dock. Of course, after running that fast in the 90-degree heat, it turned out the boat was waiting for us all along. I think the Cast Members just wanted to see us look silly and then laugh about it when we arrived panting and wheezing for air.
Beaches & Cream had a 35-minute wait, which we happily accepted. We killed some time at the nearby arcade, wasting away by shooting hoops and playing Mario Kart until our pager buzzed. We were seated at the counter, directly in front of the ice cream, so we had the pleasure of watching a Cast Member craft those gigantic and scrumptious sundaes during our entire meal. Quite the temptation. Justin ordered the basic cheeseburger with fries and a chocolate milkshake, and I went with the grilled chicken sandwich with fries and a coffee milkshake. We also shared an order of onion rings. Sitting at the counter was an awesome experienced and added to the old-time feel of the restaurant.
I don’t eat burgers, but Justin seemed to enjoy his. He devoured it quickly and most of the fries. My sandwich was actually better than expected. The chicken was seasoned well without being spicy, and the grilled onions I ordered as extra were a nice touch. Add some ketchup and mustard, and I was in good shape. The onion rings were not quite as good as I remembered. I tried them for the first time last May and thought they were simply heavenly. These were considerably thicker and heavier than what I remembered. Last time, they were thin and crispy. We still ate most of the dish, though.
And for the ice cream, there’s not much to say that hasn’t been discussed already. I don’t know if it’s the wonderfully nostalgic atmosphere or the grease of the fries, but I don’t think I’ve had a better shake in my life. It’s so thick, you could probably flip it upside-down, and the sprinkles and whipped cream are a perfect finish. It’s practically impossible to finish what’s in the glass, let alone the rest of the gigantic metal cup. Overall, our lunch at Beaches & Cream was a perfect way to start our Disney dining for this trip and a huge improvement over anything at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Why can’t that park maintain a single good counter service location? The other three don’t seem to have that problem. Backlot Express is edible, but incredibly vanilla.
With our Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster FASTPASS time approaching, we jumped right back on the boat and headed back to the park. We still had some time to wait, so we moseyed over to Muppet*Vision 3D, another older attraction that definitely still has merit. The 3D technology does not compare with the incredible effects at Mickey’s PhilharMagic, but the jokes are hilarious and script still feels fresh after all these years. The preshow is legitimately as clever as the main presentation, and we were lucky enough to see every hilarious moment of it before entering the theater.
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We approached the gate around 8:30 a.m., and I was immediately struck by how many people were already inside the park. I knew Star Wars Weekends drew big crowds, but I didn’t expect the park to be so crowded so early. Little did I know it was Extra Magic Hours. That’s what I get for doing virtually zero planning for this trip. The type-A’s out there are probably having a conniption just thinking thinking about it.
The line for Toy Story Mania was 55 minutes at 8:40 a.m. Just reading that sentence over is mind-boggling. I don’t even think Soarin’ drew crowds like that. There was literally a sea of people all the way from Voyage of the Little Mermaid to the building entrance. Nobody had any idea where the line started or ended, and there was no discernible FASTPASS queue. Finally, after fighting through a mess of human bodies for at least 10 minutes, we were able to get to the machines and obtain FASTPASSes for 11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m.
With a lot of time to kill, Justin and I started meandering around the park, not exactly sure where to go. The wait times for the two Sunset Boulevard attractions were already insane, and we couldn’t use FASTPASS for another two hours. We wound up at Star Tours, hoping to fly to Endor with a group of crazed Star Wars junkies, dressed in full costume for Star Wars Weekend. There were two young kids dressed as Luke and Leia, and a few others with light sabers attached to their belts, but nothing crazy. I was hoping to ride with someone dressed as Chewbacca or Yoda. Nevertheless, the space capsule was full, and the crowd was clearly excited to be there. I won’t waste anybody’s time explaining why this attraction needs to be updated. It’s been discussed enough. But whenever I watch the preshow, I can’t help but laugh hysterically. How can Disney legitimately pass that off? Have you seen that woman’s hair? It’s almost embarrassing.
Fortunately, we eventually arrived safely at Endor (yet somehow wound up at a shop in Tatooine moments later) and continued our journey through the park. Next up was one of my all-time favorites, The Great Movie Ride -- another attraction desperately in need of a major facelift. Maybe it’s the film buff in me, but I still love this ride, even though it’s pathetically old and antiquated. Starting with the trailers from all-time classics like “The Searchers,” “Alien” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” the entire experience oozes of cinematic excitement. Sure, the concept is tired. And, yes, I admit it could use a few changes (Do kids even know who Sigourney Weaver is anymore?), but I still get a thrill from cruising through Oz and the Nostromo. I’ll keep riding The Great Movie Ride the way it is, always hoping it one day receives the treatment it deserves.
After exiting, we walked down Sunset Boulevard to check the wait times for the two thrill rides. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was running a queue of 70 minutes, but Tower of Terror was just at 30, so we lined up. It was actually the first time I ever waited on the standby line for this ride, usually opting for FASTPASS, and I was quite impressed by all the detail and intricacy of the hotel’s surroundings. I had always heard such wonderful things about the Tower of Terror’s intense theming, and it was thrilling to finally see it up close.
Unfortunately, the wait was longer than 30 minutes. For the first 15 or 20 minutes, I swear we were not moving at all. It was strange, because it seemed like the ride was fully operational. I heard periodic screams coming from the building. I couldn’t figure out why were stopped cold. I don’t mind a long wait, as long as the line is moving. Standing in one place is brutal, because it feels like you are making no progress.
Suddenly, the line picked up, though, and we were whisked through the lobby and into the library to begin our experience. I have fully come around on the Tower of Terror’s merits. I admit I didn’t ride for the first time until a few years ago because I was scared. The first two or three times through, I was too nervous to pay attention, much like how people react to Splash Mountain the first time. After this ride, the Tower of Terror vaulted into my top-10 list for favorite attractions in the four parks. The technology is astounding, and it really is about more than just the drops. It’s scary, but in a good way. As a funny aside, as we were boarding our elevator, I frantically told my brother I would never ride again. About 10 minutes after leaving, I asked if he wanted to go back on later in the day. Talk about coming full circle.
By now, we were allowed to grab more FASTPASSes, despite having an hour to wait before riding Toy Story Mania. The return time for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster wasn’t until 3:55 p.m., which worked well for our schedule, so we quickly snagged the tickets and hurried to the 11:30 a.m. showing of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Here’s another oldie but goodie, and an attraction my brother still enjoys, despite having seen it many times. Of course, it would be exciting not to know what was about to happen, but it’s still fun. We had some time to kill, anyway.
It was now finally time to ride Toy Story Mania, after waiting for what seemed like forever. This is my favorite attraction in the park by far. Before it opened, I was willing to skip the Studios altogether, preferring to spend my time at the other three parks. Toy Story Mania has brought me back because it is so wonderful. This is what all new attractions should be like. The FASTPASS line moved quickly, though I hated having to miss the giant Mr. Potato Head. Justin actually beat me, giving me my first loss ever! I was winning the entire game. Not sure what happened. My hand slipped off the string for a few moments during the bonus round, and I think that was enough to let him catch up. How disappointing. It gave him serious bragging rights to the rest of the family.
Considering neither of us had breakfast, we were pretty hungry by this point. We could have scarfed down some mediocre Hollywood Studios counter service fare, but there was a certain soda shop we vowed to visit this trip. We sprinted at full speed to catch the boat before it pulled away from the dock. Of course, after running that fast in the 90-degree heat, it turned out the boat was waiting for us all along. I think the Cast Members just wanted to see us look silly and then laugh about it when we arrived panting and wheezing for air.
Beaches & Cream had a 35-minute wait, which we happily accepted. We killed some time at the nearby arcade, wasting away by shooting hoops and playing Mario Kart until our pager buzzed. We were seated at the counter, directly in front of the ice cream, so we had the pleasure of watching a Cast Member craft those gigantic and scrumptious sundaes during our entire meal. Quite the temptation. Justin ordered the basic cheeseburger with fries and a chocolate milkshake, and I went with the grilled chicken sandwich with fries and a coffee milkshake. We also shared an order of onion rings. Sitting at the counter was an awesome experienced and added to the old-time feel of the restaurant.
I don’t eat burgers, but Justin seemed to enjoy his. He devoured it quickly and most of the fries. My sandwich was actually better than expected. The chicken was seasoned well without being spicy, and the grilled onions I ordered as extra were a nice touch. Add some ketchup and mustard, and I was in good shape. The onion rings were not quite as good as I remembered. I tried them for the first time last May and thought they were simply heavenly. These were considerably thicker and heavier than what I remembered. Last time, they were thin and crispy. We still ate most of the dish, though.
And for the ice cream, there’s not much to say that hasn’t been discussed already. I don’t know if it’s the wonderfully nostalgic atmosphere or the grease of the fries, but I don’t think I’ve had a better shake in my life. It’s so thick, you could probably flip it upside-down, and the sprinkles and whipped cream are a perfect finish. It’s practically impossible to finish what’s in the glass, let alone the rest of the gigantic metal cup. Overall, our lunch at Beaches & Cream was a perfect way to start our Disney dining for this trip and a huge improvement over anything at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Why can’t that park maintain a single good counter service location? The other three don’t seem to have that problem. Backlot Express is edible, but incredibly vanilla.
With our Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster FASTPASS time approaching, we jumped right back on the boat and headed back to the park. We still had some time to wait, so we moseyed over to Muppet*Vision 3D, another older attraction that definitely still has merit. The 3D technology does not compare with the incredible effects at Mickey’s PhilharMagic, but the jokes are hilarious and script still feels fresh after all these years. The preshow is legitimately as clever as the main presentation, and we were lucky enough to see every hilarious moment of it before entering the theater.
NEXT POST