Blog Entry Six - Hollywood Studios

"Movies can a do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood.” 

- Walt Disney 

       On May 1, 1989 the doors to Disney's Hollywood Studios opened in Bay Lake, FL. It was the first park Walt Disney didn't personally have a large part in creating. Nonetheless the park is still of the most visited parks, not just in the U.S. but the world. Disney teamed up with the company Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer and gave it it's first name, Disney's MGM Studios. MGM Studios functioned as a actual production site for movies and had an animation studio. When the park opened there were only two attractions, the Studio Backlot Tour and The Great Movie Ride (my personal all favorite). Since the opening the Backlot Tour has closed to make room for upcoming projects and rumor has it the Great Movie Ride could be next. Eventually Sunset Blvd. was added to the park which brought Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror into the park. The name of the park was even changed in 2008 to Hollywood Studios (its current name). 

   
      When Guests first walk into the park they are transported from the outside world to Hollywood Boulevard. It is lined with multiple shops, food carts, and ends with the a replica of Grauman's Chinese Theater home of the Great Movie Ride.  There is also the  Muppet Courtyard with a fun show for all ages featuring your favorite muppets! You can also travel down Sunset Boulevard and drop thirteen stories on the Tower of Terror, or go from 0-58 mph on Rock 'n' Roller Coaster! You can also see a musical version of Beauty and the Beast or Fantastic a show where Mickey Mouse steals the show (it's best to watch at night!!).

      The park is also home to Star Tours, a ride that takes you to a galaxy far far away. It is one of the parks most popular attractions. Due to the rise in Star Wars popularity (and Disney now owning the rights) an upcoming addition called Star Wars land will be built, it is set to open sometime in the next few years. As well as a Star Wars expansion to the park there will also be a Toy Story Themed area as well. This was decided due to the popularity of the ride Toy Story Mania, where the ride wait can be up to three hours!

    

  Though this park is undergoing some major renovations it is one of the most interesting places on property and will be one of the best surprises Disney lovers will recieve! Tune in next week to take a look at Disney's Animal Kingdom!

Blog Entry Five - EPCOT

“The most exciting and by far the most important part of our Florida Project - in fact the heart of everything we’ll be doing in Disney World - will be out Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow! We call it EPCOT” 

- Walt Disney 

       EPCOT was opened on October 1st 1982. It was the second park to open on the Walt Disney Property (after Magic Kingdom),  in Bay Lake FL. The park spans over 300 acres and has only two “lands”, Future World and the World Showcase. However, the World Showcase is split up into 11 sub lands known as the countries. EPCOT is widely recognized for it’s 18 story geodesic sphere, also known as the giant golf ball in the middle of the park. It is the first thing guests see as they enter the park, it is also a ride called Spaceship Earth that takes the guests back through time and into the future. 

Future world is split into two different spaces, Future World East and West. The eastern area is home to Ellen’s Energy Adventure, Mission Space, and Test Track (some of the parks most popular attractions).  Mission Space is a simulated adventure to Mars. Guest’s are put into a chamber that holds 4 people (a navigator, pilot, engineer, and commander). In the chamber space explores feel around 2.5G forces (two times the force of gravity you feel just walking around). There is a Green Team and an Orange Team, it is with the orange team that you can feel the G forces aka the full experience. Future World East is also home to the fastest ride on property, Test Track (sponsored by GM (General Motors)). Not many people know this, but if you are an employee of General Motors you can check in at the desk and an attendant will take you up to a lounge that overlooks the park. 

Future World West holds a large building named “The Land”. The Land is home to a food court, The Circle of Life, and Soarin’. One of the Walt Disney Company’s most famous ride since opening is Soarin, which simulates the guest in a hang glider soaring over California (now changed to the world). Outside of “The Land” there is The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Turtle talk with Crush and one of my person favorites Journey into imagination with Figment. 

Coming around to talk about World Showcase, which is one of the most interesting places in Walt Disney World. There are eleven “pavilions” in the World Showcase: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, America, Japan, Morocco, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Each country has its own attraction or shops and restaurants. Mexico has the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros along with 2 restaurants. Norway recently opened a Frozen attraction, a boat ride that takes you through the kingdom of Arendelle, along with Princess Fairytale dining. China has two restaurants, an exhibit about its history and a show called “Reflections of China”. Italy has two eateries (pizza and pasta…of course!). America has a thirty minute show called “The American Adventure” it is also where you can see the Voices of Liberty perform (I would tell you all about them, but I don't want to spoil the magic!!).

The Mexican Pavilion at EPCOT

The German Pavilion at EPCOT

Moving into Japan you can go to 4 different dining areas and enjoy the Japanese culture through an interactive shop. Morocco is one of the most under appreciated pavilions in the World Showcase, you can get henna, explore the twists and turns of the country and even meet Jasmine and Aladdin! Once you get to Germany I have one piece of advice, have a pretzel or try the caramel. You will not regret it!!! The United Kingdom is where you can meet Mary Poppins and Alice, all the way from Wonderland. In France you can dine at the Monsieur Paul (expensive but some of the best food I have ever had) I will include a picture at the bottom!! In Canada you can enjoy the show perfectly named, O Canada! along with a nice steak and seafood meal at Le Cellier Steakhouse. One thing many people don’t know about working in the countries pavilion you have to be from the country. For example I couldn’t work in the Canadian pavilion only someone from Canada is permitted to work there!

Tune in next week for a look into Hollywood Studios!

Blog Entry Four - Magic Kingdom

"It is you who will make Disney truly a Magic Kingdom...." - Walt Disney 

Walt Disney World – Florida 

Walt Disney World in Florida was opened October 1, 1971 the day Magic Kingdom opened its gates. When the park first opened it consisted of: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, and Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. For those of you who have never been to the happiest place on earth, this entry will take you through the Magic Kingdom.

                                                                       Main Street USA

Walking through the main entrance the first thing you stumble upon is Main Street. The street is lined with shops, restaurants and an ice cream parlor. During parade time hundreds of people line the streets to get a glimpse of their favorite characters on larger than life floats.

                                                    Adventureland

 Adventureland is home to swashbuckling pirates, magic carpets and believe it or its very own jungle. Adventureland’s main attractions are Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise, and Magic Carpets with Aladdin. My personal favorite ride in Adventureland is the Jungle Cruise because of its many, many corny jokes. (A joke from the skipper: Those of you sitting in the back are going to get a charge out of this trip. Yeah- you're sitting on thebattery. Some people find that revolting, but I think that there is a positive and negative side to everything. Shocking, isn't it.)

                                                                               Frontierland 

Frontierland is home to 2 of the 3 "mountains" in the park. Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain are the main attractions. You can also meet your favorite rootin' tooting cowboy and girl, Woody and Jesse. Along with meeting your favorite characters you can sit and watch the Country Bear Jamboree, a singalong and storytelling attraction. Liberty Square is one of the original six lands in Magic Kingdom to receive minimal additions since the park opened in 1971. 

Liberty Square
Liberty Square is home to the Haunted Mansion, Liberty Square Riverboat, the Hall of Presidents, and its newest addition The Muppets Present - Great Moments in Americas History. Though not many people know the next two facts about liberty square I think they are amongst some of the most interesting Disney trivia facts! The brown sidewalk that goes throughout liberty square (as seen in the picture) represents the river of sewage present during the time period of the revolutionary war! The second trivia fact is that in the lobby of the Hall of Presidents attraction there is the Presidential Seal, it required an act of congress to allow Disney to put a seal in the park!