Character Hunting Spree! - DHS (2)

Character Hunting Spree! - DHS

Disney's Hollywood Studios Part II

Entertainment, Parades, & Fireworks

[x] Block Party Bash - Duration: 22 min. - Location: Hollywood Blvd.

* Unlike a parade, the Pixar-themed Block Party Bash is not a continuously moving procession. It's a staged street performance that rolls out and stops. Twice. Dressed as everything from cowgirls to ladybugs, cheerleaders dance to disco, Motown and rock classics. Joining them are acrobats and jumping stilt-walkers, as well as characters from the "Toy Story" films, "A Bug's Life" (1998), "Monsters, Inc." (2001), and "The Incredibles" (2004).

[ x ] Fantasmic! - Duration: 25 min. - Location: outdoor pavilion off of Sunset Blvd.

* My favorite show BY FAR. Disney seems to pull out all of the stops the company could muster--boats, cannons, characters, fireworks, flames, fountains, lasers, music, smoke, even video projected onto water screens. It tells a story of good versus evil, as a dreaming Mickey Mouse imagines colorful animals and princesses and vanquishes Disney villains. Most of the action takes place on a 60-foot-tall island mountain, which sits about 100 ft in front of a semicircular amphitheater. In between is a narrow lagoon that's filled with fountains and hidden special effects. It only places a few times a week, but sometimes twice in one night.

Character Meet & Greets

+ Little Einsteins - Animation Courtyard

+ Belle - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Chip'n'Dale - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Daisy Duck - Sorcerer's Hat, Hllywd Blvd.

+ Donald Duck - Sorcerer's Hat, Hllywd Blvd.

+ Friar Tuck, Little John - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Geppetto - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Green Army Men - Pixar Place

+ Goofy - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Handy Manny - Animation Courtyard

+ Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Frozone - The Magic of Animation, Animation Courtyard

+ Jojo, Goliath - Animation Courtyard

+ Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable - New York Street, Streets of America

+ Lightning McQueen, 'Mater - Luigi's Garage, Streets of America

+ Lilo, Stitch - Sorcerer's Hat, Hllywd Blvd.

+ Luxo Jr. - Pixar Place

+ Mary Poppins, Penguins - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Mickey, Minnie Mouse - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd. and The Magic of Animation, Animation Courtyard (as Sorcerer's Apprentice)

+ Mike, Sulley - Streets of America

+ Pinocchio - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Pluto - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Pocahontas, Gov. Radcliffe - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Power Rangers - in front of Lights, Motors, Action; Streets of America

+ Prince Caspian - Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian, Mickey Ave.

+ Queen of Hearts, Tweedledee, Tweedledum - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Snow White, Evil Queen - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Woody, Buzz Lightyear - Woody's Picture Shootin' Corral, Pixar Place

Street Performers

Improvisational Troupe

+ Citizens of Hollywood - Hollywood Blvd. and Sunset Blvd.

Musical Revue

+ High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd. - Duration: 20 min.

Lightsaber Training

+ Jedi Training Academy - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd. - Duration: 20 min.

Musicians

+ Mulch, Sweat and Shears - Streets of America - Duration: 25 min.

Have a Magical Day!

(c) The Complete Walt Disney World 2010

Disney-MGM I mean, Disney's Hollywood Studios -- Part I

Yes. Years later I am still bitter and resentful towards this unnecessary name change. Anyway, enough with my griping and belly-aching. On with the show...

I want to work at this park so badly. It has everything: Tower of Terror, RNR Starring Aerosmith, the Beauty and the Beast Show, Toy Story Mania-- just wow. Besides Fantasyland and Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom, it has by far the BEST shopping ever. Minus the JoBros & Hannah Montanna stores, but I can deal.

DHS is a park dedicated to the process of making films, theater productions, television shows, and music. This intimate park is one for the whole family. Boys are especially well served (unlike any other park besides probably EPCOT). It is the park with the smallest public area, but by no means does it mean this park is small. The main thoroughfare, Hollywood Boulevard, is just 500 ft. long, and from there nearly every attraction is just a few minutes away. Thematically the park is divided into two sections. The front is Old Hollywood, a 1940s world with period architecture, signs and stoplights. The rear resembles a modern production studio and backlot. The entrance arch is based on the Paramount Studios Bronson gate.

HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD

With its palm trees, pastel buildings, and flashy neon, Hollywood Boulevard paints a rosy picture of the 1940s Tinseltown. There's a sense of having walked right onto a movie set in the olden days, what with the art deco storefronts, strolling brass bands, and roving starlets and nefarious agents (Citizens of Hollywood).

SUNSET BOULEVARD

This avenue pays tribute to famous Hollywood monuments, with facades derived from the Cathay Circle, the Beverly Wilshire Theatre, and other City of Angels landmarks. It's pretty much the place to be and is home to some of my favorite attractions and shops.

ANIMATION COURTYARD

Animation Courtyard pays tribute to the the era of Disney animation including Lilo & Stitch, Mulan, Brother Bear, and Home on the Range (the forbidden Disney movie that should have never been made), which were being produced in Florida. It is also home to Playhouse Disney, which though I am 20, I still find highly entertaining. Shame.

PIXAR PLACE

Once known as Mickey Avenue, Pixar Place has a fresh new look. Where television and film production soundstages once stood, warm brice facades welcome you to the land of Woody and Buzz. It's also basically a replica of the Pixar Studios in California. Bricks here match the same texture, look, and color as the ones in California. Talk about authentic, right?

STREETS OF AMERICA/BACKLOT

This avenue gives you a glimpse into the streets of New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. The buildings are all facades, but you'll spot a London street, and even a street right out of Chinatown. If you listen closely, you'll often hear the sound effects of a busy city in the background, too.

ECHO LAKE

Echo Lake represents an idealized southern California. In the center is the cool, blue lake of the same name, an oasis fringed with trees and benches and ringed with landmarks, including Gertie the dinosaur. The architecture reflects Los Angeles' programmatic style, California Crazy or duck. du * ck' : one who's exterior is in the shape of the everyday object they relate to and is a building in which the architecture is subordinate to the overall symbolic form.

Attractions

[ FAVORITE / * Fastpass Available / [ x ] Experienced ]

Hollywood Boulevard

[ x ] The Great Movie Ride - Duration: 22 min.

Sunset Boulevard

[ x ] Beauty and the Beast-- Live on Stage! - Duration: 30 min.

[ x ] The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror* - Duration: 10 min.

[ x ] Rock 'N' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith* - Duration: Preride 2 min., Ride 1 min. 22 sec.

Animation Courtyard

[ x ] Playhouse Disney-- Live on Stage! - Duration: 22 min.

[ x ] The Magic of Disney Animation - Duration: 22 min.

[ x ] Voyage of the Little Mermaid* - Duration: 17 min.

[ ] Walt Disney: One Man's Dream - Duration: 20 min.

[ x ] Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian - Duration: 15 min.

Pixar Place

[ x ] Toy Story Mania* - Duration: 7 min.

Streets of America/Backlot

[ x ] Studio Backlot Tour - Duration: 35 min.

[ ] Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show* - Duration: 33 min.

[ x ] Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure Playground - Duration: up to you!

[ x ] Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D - Duration: 25 min.

Echo Lake

[ x ] Star Tours* - Duration: 5 min.

[ x ] Indian Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!* - Duration: 30 min.

[ ] The American Idol Experience - Duration: 25 min. preliminary show, 45 min. finale

[ ] Sounds Dangerous Starring Drew Carey - Duration: 12 min.

Have a Zippidy-Do-Dah Day!

(c) The Complete Walt Disney Guide 2010

(c) Fodor's WDW 2010 Guide

(c) The Color Companion to Walt Disney World

(c) Photo by Jeff B.

Quick Service Food & Bev!

So you're officially in the Disney College Program. You've accepted your role: QSFB, chosen an arrival date, and are now super pumped about coming to Disney! You look at the Disney College Program Fall 2010 Facebook group page every so often (or if you're me, ever 10 seconds) and you are seeing that a lot of people are requesting locations to work. Now you've become worried because one of two things have happened to you: you've never been to Disney World, or Disney is so huge that you can't possibly think of anywhere to request! Never fear! I've come to save the day by providing you with a list of most QSFB choices in each of the four parks-- Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom.

MAGIC KINGDOM

Aloha Isle: Dole whip, pineapple spears, juice, floats. Adventureland.

Aunt Polly's Dockside Inn: Desserts. Frontierland.

Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies: Soft-serve ice cream, smoothies. Tomorrowland.

Casey's Corner: 11A-park close. Hot dogs. Main Street U.S.A.

Columbia Harbour House: 10:30A-park close. Sandwiches, fish, chicken, veggie chili. Liberty Square.

Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe: 10:30A-park close. Chicken, burgers, ribs, kosher. Tomorrowland.

Diamond Horseshoe: Open seasonally. Sandwiches. Frontierland.

El Pirate y el Perico Restaurante: Open seasonally. Tacos, taco salads. Adventureland.

*Note that if you work at Pecos Bill's you may get moved to work here.

Enchanted Grove: Swirls, slushes, orange juice. Fantasyland.

Friars Nook: Hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, salads, fries. Fantasyland.

Liberty Square Market: Corn on the cob, baked potatoes, fresh fruit. Liberty Square.

The Lunching Pad: Turkey legs, frozen drinks, pretzels. Tomorrowland.

Main Street Bakery: park open-park close. Bagels, pastry, yogurt, parfaits, quiche. Main Street U.S.A.

Mrs. Potts' Cupboard: Soft-serve ice cream. Fantasyland.

Pecos Bill Cafe: 10A-park close. Burgers, wraps, salads. Frontierland.

Pinocchio Village Haus: 10:30A-park close. Pizza, chicken, salads. Fantasyland.

Plaza Ice Cream Parlor: Hand-dipped ice cream. Main Street U.S.A.

Scuttle's Landing: Muffins, pretzels, coffee. Fantasyland.

Sleepy Hollow: Funnel cakes, caramel corn, soft-serve ice cream. Liberty Square.

Sunshine Tree Terrace: Frozen orange juice swirled w/ vanilla soft-serve, slushes, floats. Adventureland.

Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station: Seasonal. Menu varies. Tomorrowland.

Toontown Farmer's Market: Yogurt, fresh fruit. Toontown.

EPCOT

*please note that I am only putting up those in Future World because I have heard that the QSFB that are in the World Showcase may only go to International CPs. If anyone knows if regular CPs can work there, let me know and I will include the World Showcase in this section.

Electric Umbrella: 11A-9P. Burgers, salads, sandwiches. Innoventions Plaza.

Fountainview Ice Cream Shop: 10:30A-9P. Hand-dipped ice cream. Innoventions Plaza.

Sunshine Seasons: 9A-9P Quality salads, soups, sandwiches, noodle dishes, grilled meats, bakery, breakfast egg dishes, oatmeal, cereals. The Land.

DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

ABC Commissary: 11A-park close. Burgers, chicken, fish. Commissary Lane.

Backlot Express: 11A-8P. Burgers, hot dogs, grilled sandwiches, salads. Echo Lake.

Min & Bill's Dockside Diner. 10A-8P. Shakes, beers, pretzels, frozen lemonades. Echo Lake.

Peevy's Polar Pipeline: Flavorful frozen drinks. Echo Lake.

Starring Roles Cafe: 9A-4P. Pastries, sandwiches, coffee. Sunset Blvd.

Studio Catering Co.: 11:30A-7P. Sandwiches, chili dogs, salads, dessert. Streets of America.

Sunset Ranch Market: park open-park close. Food court. Bagels, burgers, fresh fruit, hot dogs, pizza, salads, sandwiches, turkey legs, hand-dipped ice cream. Sunset Blvd.

Toy Story Pizza Planet Arcade. 11A-7:30P. Individual pizzas, salads. Streets of America.

The Writer's Stop: Coffee, baked goods, frozen drinks. Echo Lake.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Flame Tree BBQ: BBQ meats, baked beans, corn on the cob. Discovery Island.

Pizzafari: 9A-park close. Individual pizzas, salads, sandwiches. Discovery Island.

Restaurantosaurus: 11A-park close. Burgers, chicken, hot dogs. DinoLand U.S.A.

These are just the main QSFB locals and does not include the different carts that are prominent throughout the parks. As for requesting, nothing is a guarantee, but it doesn't hurt to try. They don't choose where you're going to work until they have a good idea of what they have to work with, so I'd say you still have a window to request. I know that it's hard to request during your interview because depending on what role you chose would change where you'd want to work! I hope this list helped some of you!

Have a Magical Day!

What's New? WDW 2010

So it’s a new year. A lot of us won’t get to see Disney until our arrival date—I know I haven’t been to WDW since Sept. ’08. So, because of this, I thought I’d blog about everything new and exciting that’s waiting for us down at our new home!

MAGIC KINGDOM
Barack Obama has finally joined the Hall of Presidents! The attraction has been completely redone, including a new movie with a new narrator (Morgan Freeman) and all-new staging.

Tinker Bell and her fairy friends now pose and sign autographs at the Toontown Hall of Fame.

The seven-month $12 million refurbishment has made Space Mountain more exciting with a darker, quieter track and faster swoops and drops; a more colorful view of space; and an optional souvenir photo.

The Tomorrowland Transit Authority has new audio narration.

Donald Duck is among the Disney characters who shake their tail feathers at the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party.

New characters have been added to the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade.

Princess Tiana has now officially joined the princesses and now greets and signs autographs with Prince Naveen in Liberty Square.

The Pirates League makeover salon transforms adults and children into swashbucklin’ pirates.

Say goodbye to the long-empty Tomorrowland Skyway Station as it has been demolished & removed.

EPCOT
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure is a new high-tech scavenger hunt around the ‘world’.
Living with the Land is reopened in 2009 after a refurbishment.

Test Track now features a post-show area displaying a Chevy Volt Extended Range Electric Vehicle that appeared in Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

Remy from Disney’s Ratatouille now appears as a small audio-animatronics creature at Chefs de France.

At the Japan pavilion the Tin Toy exhibit has been replaced by Timeless Beauty: World Heritage Sites of Japan.

Mexico’s new La Cava del Tequila offers 70 varieties and a ‘tequila ambassador’ to teach the history of the drink.

Kidcot children’s arts-and-crafts stations in Future World have been removed.

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
The American Idol Experience lets you compete for a chance at ‘stardom’.

A street show High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! features songs from HMS3.

Luxo Jr. (Pixar’s hopping desk lamp) performs in Pixar Place.

Fantasmic is now only performing a few nights a week.

The indoor ABC Commissary no longer serves breakfast. Instead outdoor Fairfax Fare food court will.

The Sounds Dangerous sound-effects show is only open seasonally.

The ambient sound inside Once Upon a Time gift shop is now the actual radio broadcast of the 1937 premiere of Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Kids can now draw and color at the new arts and craft area near the exit of Rock n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

The colorful chicken coop featured in Hannah Montana: The Movie is now a prop on the Studio Backlot Tour.

The Coca-Cola bottle in front of the Studio Backlot Tour has been replaced so now it opens to spray mist.

The hot air balloon outside of MuppetVision 3-D and Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat have been repainted.

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM
At Festival of the Lion King host Timon’s eyes now blink and move.

Two male giraffes were born at AK in Oct. ’09.

Amphibian widows at Conservation Station now display unusual frogs, newts, salamanders, and toads.

WATER PARKS
Summer guests can now meet Goofy at Blizzard Beach and Lilo and Stitch at Typhoon Lagoon.

DOWNTOWN DISNEY
Characters In Flight takes guests on a 400 ft hot-air balloon ride above the West Side.

The Virgin Megastore and Starabilias memorabilia shop is now closed.

Although the Pleasure Island’s club scene was closed in 2008, their new restaurant and bar, Paradiso 37, features ‘street cuisine’ from North, South, and Central America and nightly entertainment.

SPORTS AND REC
The ESPN Wide World of Sports complex is installing large video screens at many of its venues.
Disney has introduced two new tours: Epcot’s Nature-Inspired Design and Holiday DeLites.

The Richard Petty Driving Experience has lowered the minimum age for it’s ride-along program to 14.

The Pirate & Pals Fireworks Voyage, formerly the Magical Fireworks Voyage, is now open to all guests, not just those booking Disney’s Grand Gatherings.

Two foot races are no more: Disney’s Race for the Taste during Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K… the Wine & Dine Half Marathon will pass through multiple theme parks and end at Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival. It will be held Oct. 1 & 2.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Rooms at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort have undergone an extensive renovation that includes flat-screen TV's and all-new furnishings and carpet.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort has redone some rooms in a pirate theme; all others have a subtle 'Finding Nemo' decor.

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground have added archery lessons as well as bicycle abd surrey rentals.

The Downtown Disney Holiday Inn is scheduled to reopen this year.

Three new Disney Vacation Club properties opened in 2009: Bay Tower Lake at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Kidani Village at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort.

A Four Seasons hotel, golf course, and vacation-home complex is being built on the site of the former Eagle Pines golf course.

First announced for 2009, a luxurt pet resort is now promised for 2010-2011.

RESTAURANTS
Kouzzina is opening at the BoardWalk Resort (replacing Spoodles).

The Wave at the Contemporary Resort (replacing Concourse Steakhouse).

Sanaa at the new Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Effective Feb. 7, 2010: Cinderella's Royal Table will feature Cinderella in the lobby and other Disney princesses mingling with guests in the dining room.

Walt Disney World no longer sells all-beef hot dogs. They will now be a mixture of chicken and beef.

PRACTICAL MATTERS
Disney is experimenting with a centralized Fastpass distribution system where guests can pick up multiple Fastpasses at one location.

A new handheld device delivers audio descriptions of visual images at 33 attractions for use by the blind; the same device has captions for hearing-impaired guests.

You can now order over 500+ theme-park merchandise items online at DisneyStore.com.

A new mobile website mdisneyworld.com offers a handy overview of the resort.

SPECIAL EVENTS
MK's Totally Tomorrowland Christmas show has replaced Twas the Night Before Christmas.

At Epcot, Lights of Winter has been removed and gospel choir D'Vine Voices has been added.