Lights, camera, action! We're off to Disney's Hollywood Studios!
I'll start with my most memorable experience at Hollywood Studios - the 50's Prime Time Cafe.
Whoever came up with the idea to have the servers act like your mother was absolutely brilliant!
"Get your elbows off the table! Were you born in a barn?!!"
"You eat every scrap of food on the plate! There are starving children in Africa you know!"
"Chew with your mouth closed!"
All of you Boomers out there will know exactly what I'm talking about. 50's Prime Time Diner will transport you back to your 50's childhood dinner hour, your server playing the role of "Mom". You'll even get called to your table with your last name followed by "kids". "Table ready for the Jackson kids! Jackson kids front and center!"
The more you play along with this shtick the more fun you'll have at the diner.
The job Disney did with the decor in this restaurant is phenomenal, everything reflecting the typical 50's home. The waiting area is called "Dad's Living Room" (slide 7 above). There's a bar in this area as well. Everything in the dining room itself is 50's vintage, right down to the old black and white TV's at some of the tables, that are playing old TV shows we watched as kids - Dennis the Menace, Car 54 Where Are You, Father Knows Best, the Mickey Mouse Club.
Hint: Ask for a TV table. You may get lucky and get one.
If you're caught not following "Mom's" dinner rules, one of several things could happen:
-
You could find yourself standing in the corner
-
You could be made to sing “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of the whole restaurant
-
You could find your server making airplane noises, armed with a fork full of green beans headed for your mouth
The menu here is short and simple. Mom and Dad’s favorites are here — meatloaf, fried chicken, pot roast, and chicken pot pie are the staples — along with a few extras to spice it up.
The food isn't 5 star but the fried chicken is great, as are the chocolate malts. Then again, it's really the shtick I chose this restaurant for to begin with.
And the refrigerator. My parents still had one exactly like it in their lake house, still working perfectly well. It had become something of a family icon. In fact, when I remodeled the house my cousin wrote me saying "Please tell me you didn't get rid of the old refrigerator!"
Buried in a box somewhere in my basement is a photo of my sister and I standing in front of the 50's Prime Time Cafe refrigerator, taken for posterity.
One note: If dining at the Prime Time Cafe, go in the FIRST entrance. Beyond that is a second entrance that leads to a buffet, where 3 British gals we met had only 3 salads for lunch and their bill was over $100!
On with Hollywood Studios...
MILLENIUM FALCON
Step into the cockpit of the iconic Millennium Falcon and take control of the ship on a daring smuggling mission. This interactive simulator lets you pilot, engineer, or gun your way through the galaxy in an unforgettable Star Wars adventure.
AEROSMITH ROCK 'N ROLL
Blast off on a high-speed indoor roller coaster featuring loops, corkscrews, and an epic rock soundtrack by Aerosmith. This thrilling ride takes you on a lightning-fast limo ride through the neon streets of Los Angeles. Most of this ride is in the dark!
STAR WARS: RISE OF THE RESISTANCE
Experience one of Disney’s most immersive attractions, where you’ll join the Resistance in an epic battle against the First Order. This groundbreaking ride combines multiple ride systems, animatronics, and storytelling for an unforgettable adventure.
THE TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER OF TERROR
Take a terrifying elevator ride into The Twilight Zone. This freefall drop ride offers spine-chilling thrills and incredible views of the park.
STAR TOURS - THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES
Embark on a randomized Star Wars adventure aboard a flight simulator. With different missions and destinations, every ride offers a unique journey through the galaxy far, far away.
MUPPETVISION 3D
I love the Muppets, especially the Swedish Chef. Back in the day before he rose to Muppet fame, Frank Oz was an instructor of mine. This was a cute show and it'll give you a chance to cool down on a hot Florida day.
SLINKY DOG DASH ROLLER COASTER
Slinky Dog is a family fun roller coaster that twists and turns its way past giant toys.
ALIEN SWIRLING SAUCERS
Take an intergalactic spin with the adorable aliens from Toy Story.
INDIANA JONES EPIC STUNT SPECTACULAR
Cheer as Indy and Marion perform incredible stunts with explosive special effects—and learn the secrets behind the magic.
I'm not all that into Hollyweird so maybe that's why I got bored about 10 minutes into this show. I don't really care how they blow things up.
MICKEY & MINNIE'S RUNAWAY RAILWAY
Zip away on a zany adventure through a cartoon universe crammed with surprises. This is a tame ride more for the kids.
TOY STORY MANIA
Zip through an exhilarating 4D shootin’ game starring Toy Story characters—and blast away.
This is just basically a replica of the Buzz Lightyear shooting ride in Magic Kingdom.
It looks as though Disney has considerably beefed up the number of shows it's now offering at Hollywood Studios but since I haven't seen them, I can't comment on them. They're shown on Disney's official website.
As I said before, Hollywood Studios really wasn't my favorite and if I had to do it all over again, I'd skip Hollywood Studios and spend the day in the Animal Kingdom park instead.