Episode #141: Making the most of your day in Hollywood Studios

Ever wondered how to conquer the thrills of Hollywood Studios without missing a beat? That's exactly what we're unpacking today. Join us as we navigate through the park with Genie Plus in our holster, ready to snag those early Lightning Lane selections like pros. We'll share the lowdown on how to make the most of attractions like Rise of the Resistance and why an Individual Paid Lightning Lane might just be your golden ticket. Our episode is sprinkled with laughter and personal touches that'll have you reliving our Disney adventures and gearing up for your own.

As the morning sun peeks over the horizon, we've got your battle plan for that all-important rope drop. Hear our firsthand strategies for hitting the ground running towards Tower of Terror or Toy Story Mania, and why these picks might just transform your day. Then, as your stomach starts to rumble, we've got the scoop on the tastiest breakfast spots—whether it's the fan-favorite Ronto Morning Wrap or a character-filled buffet at Hollywood and Vine. 

As dusk settles on Hollywood Studios, we ease into the enchanting night ahead. We're talking atmospheric strolls through Galaxy's Edge, where the buzz of Batuu comes alive, and dishing out our favorite dinner spots that fuse theme park excitement with culinary delights. Learn how to pace your day to culminate in an evening filled with shows like Fantasmic, or perhaps a chilled cantina visit. It's all about creating those unforgettable Disney nights—and we're here to guide you every step of the way. So grab your Mickey ears and let's make some magic!

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Transcript

Speaker 2: 0:21

Hello and welcome to Circular Parks podcast episode number 141. Today we are continuing our series with how to make the most of your day in Hollywood studios. There is far too much to see and do. We are here to help guide you through. But before we do that, we must talk Disney merch. And this week at Disney Storecom I came across a new frozen t-shirt for adults.

Speaker 2: 0:57

Now, this isn't your typical Anna Elsa merchandise. This is Wandering Okan's Trading Post and Sana shirt and you would even like, if you didn't know anything about Frozen, you wouldn't know that this was a Frozen shirt. So warm your bones in our hot souvenir t-shirt from Wandering Okan's Trading Post and Sana. And it's green art. It's got his store on it, kind of a mountain picture with some trees, real subtle looking, kind of an off green color, and it is priced at $32.99. And I think this would be a ZAC shirt. Actually it's not so in your face or anything. And that is this week's Disney merch. And as far as talking about merch, we have merch. So if you go to our website, circleofparkscom, click on merch, it takes you directly to the T-Public website. You can get some stickers, coffee mugs, sweatshirts, t-shirts and more. So please go check that out.

Speaker 1: 2:06

If I see it in the Emporium when I'm there next month, I may get it. Okay.

Speaker 2: 2:11

yeah, but if I don't see it, I'm not going to get it Right or you're not going to go out of your way.

Speaker 1: 2:14

Looking at the stores no, and I'm not going to order it either. Right. But if it's there, If it's in the Emporium or I don't know. I'm going to be spending a lot of time in Adventureland and Frontierland doing more research. I don't really know how much time I'm going to have to just look around.

Speaker 2: 2:31

Right right.

Speaker 1: 2:32

So if I do see it in the Emporium when I'm just casually walking through, I may grab it, but I'm not going to go out on my way to look. But it does look cool.

Speaker 2: 2:38

Yeah, yeah, you did show it to me earlier today. It does look pretty cool, yeah, so you know, if you weren't a frozen fan or you know, have watched Frozen and don't know who Okan is, you know then it doesn't scream Frozen at all. There's nothing that says it on there. Yeah, so yeah.

Speaker 1: 2:57

So thank you everybody for joining us. Episode number 141, how to Make the Most of your Day in Hollywood Studios. I'm Zach, I'm Britt and we do this podcast every single week and our goal is to help you have a better Walt Disney World vacation and to just kind of take you to Disney during the middle of your week. Yes, we're not professionals, we're just, you know, a couple of parents with some kids that we just wanted to share our Disney experience with all of y'all and talk about the mistakes we've had and what's worked for us and just kind of give you a break during the week. It kind of cure those Disney blues a little bit. Take some stress out of middle of the week, take you to Disney. Yeah, that's what we do here.

Speaker 2: 3:38

Yeah, we do lose a little bit because it's spring break time and we're not down there and I'm seeing pictures of people who are and I'm like oh, and to top that, since last week was, like the rest of the country, spring break, yeah.

Speaker 1: 3:51

Wait times this week.

Speaker 2: 3:53

So far I've been good.

Speaker 1: 3:54

Have been remarkably well, like last yesterday when I looked during like two or three o'clock in the afternoon, space bound was like 20 minutes. Yeah, flight of passage was like 45 minutes.

Speaker 2: 4:05

Oh my gosh, wow, you never see that.

Speaker 1: 4:08

I mean it was a walk on. Tower of terror was a walk on.

Speaker 2: 4:12

Yeah. Like this would be the week to mine train was like a 70 minute wait. You know, maybe we can look up some last minute stuff. Well, we've already pawned the kids off this week.

Speaker 1: 4:21

So you know so anyway, how to make the most of your day in Hollywood studios. Now we're going to get to our experiences in a minute, but before that, we highly recommend Genie Plus for Hollywood studios. Yes, for sure it is a I don't want to say it's a must do, but if you want to ride all the bangers in, this park you're going to have to have it.

Speaker 1: 4:46

That's the thing, and we're going to get to our experiences. Talking about that here momentarily, do not forget, if you are staying on property 7am, make that first lightning lane selection on Genie Plus Very important. Do not forget 7am. The rest, if you're not staying on property, it's when park opens, and on today, when we're recording this, march 18th, it opens at 9am. So you're getting a huge advantage Now if you, when you make that first selection at 7am, the two hour time window to make the next selection does not start until the park opens.

Speaker 2: 5:27

Okay, so once it's advertised as 9am, it would be 11.

Speaker 1: 5:31

It would be yes. So what you're going to make another Genie selection is if you ride the first one or two or 120 minutes, okay, so keep that in mind. The 120 minute window does not start at 7am, starts when the park opens, as today would be 9am All right so, but if you've ridden your first one, then Then you can make another one.

Speaker 1: 5:54

Do not forget, at 7am make that first selection. Individual paid lightning lane for Riser Exist. Do not forget that Once you can select the time, there's a time window you can select for this for the individual paid lightning lane.

Speaker 2: 6:06

Right.

Speaker 1: 6:07

Slinky Dog Dash is usually the first attraction to run out of lightning lanes, so that is something to consider when you're making your first selection.

Speaker 2: 6:14

Right. Think about what you and your family want.

Speaker 1: 6:16

Yes, so as I said, on this day, march 18th, we're recording Hollywood Studio is open at 9 am. Early entry for Disney Resort guests Take advantage of this Starts at 8.30. Yes, 8.30 am. And again, they will open those front gates at 8 am, 30 minutes prior to that, for crowd control. So Disney Transportation will start running an hour prior to that. More often than not. Again, double check with the cast members at the resort, but you want to be there by before 8 am.

Speaker 2: 6:51

Yeah, for sure, because, like you said, for crowd control, and you may only get so far into the park after that. But it's so, the lines aren't just backed up. Backed up at the entrance, yes.

Speaker 1: 7:03

Take advantage. If you're staying on property, take advantage of this early entry. You can knock out a couple of things pretty quickly here. We'll get into that in a minute.

Speaker 2: 7:12

Yes.

Speaker 1: 7:13

Also take advantage of mobile order. Here there are lots of mobile order places and the lines will be so long. You're already waiting in long lines here. You don't want to wait in a line for what do you use. You want to get in and out of there as quick as possible because it is intense there.

Speaker 2: 7:31

Yes, so when you mobile order it gives you like a timeframe window and when you get there you kind of say, when you're in the window, click I'm here and they'll start preparing it Now.

Speaker 1: 7:44

it could take 15, 20 minutes, whatever.

Speaker 2: 7:45

Right, but it'll update you on your phone and say when it's ready. All right.

Speaker 1: 7:50

So now we're going to talk about our experiences and our history of Hollywood is because I don't think we've quite figured this out yet, at least for our family. Now, when we first started going was in 2019, galaxy's Edge was not open, toy Story Land had just opened and they were still using the classic fast passes, right.

Speaker 2: 8:08

Right, correct.

Speaker 1: 8:10

So again, we knew nothing, had no idea what we were doing, we didn't. We just went with my brother and sister-in-law and said here. They said just show up.

Speaker 2: 8:19

Right yeah. So, Didn't do a lot of research. Anything, yeah, nothing.

Speaker 1: 8:26

So our first Hollywood. If you're hearing in the background, our dogs are going nuts. Our first experience may not have been the best one, but I think we saw it a good time and Ryan and I did get pixie dusset at the end and I think that was what sealed Disney for me. I'm not going to go into that story right now.

Speaker 2: 8:42

Yeah, you've told it several times. Tell it several times.

Speaker 1: 8:44

So then COVID happened.

Speaker 2: 8:47

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 8:48

And did you hear the?

Speaker 2: 8:50

dogs, sorry, the dogs are kind of playing with each other and barking and stuff.

Speaker 1: 8:54

And so when COVID happened, we went back in 2021 and there was no lighting lanes, no fast passes, it was just waiting the queues. And so we planned two full days to do everything.

Speaker 2: 9:08

Yes.

Speaker 1: 9:08

So we got spoiled with the standby queues running the way I think they were really supposed to be, and then, when they came out with Genie Plus, we went again and then we were like oh, how do we do this now?

Speaker 2: 9:21

Right yeah.

Speaker 1: 9:23

We were overwhelmed by so many bangers in this park. It's like how can we get everything done? Oh, now Genie Plus and now this. So we have gotten everything done using Genie Plus, but you're going to have to pick and choose how to do it and you're not going to get all the shows done. You can pick one or two shows to do, but I think we always rush because we think we're not going to get anything done. We agree with everything done that we want to do and then, by like two or three o'clock in the afternoon, we're like okay, now what? Here are the dogs.

Speaker 2: 9:57

Yeah, yeah, I agree, because it does feel like okay, we got to do this, we got to do that, we got to do this, this, this, this. Oh, make sure we don't forget this. And then later in the day it's like hmm, okay, we've got some time now.

Speaker 1: 10:10

And that's good to relax. You just have to laugh.

Speaker 2: 10:14

You have to laugh and I'm sorry. Guys. We've been gone for a few hours and just got home and I guess they slept and now they're hyper.

Speaker 1: 10:22

They're ready to go Again, we so we've always had the one dog we just adopted, a five year old golden retriever, and they're just like brother and sister, anyway. So I think next time we have a full day, we just need to like, hey, okay, we can get everything. All this stuff we want to get done. We just don't need to stress over it, right? And I think that would go a lot better. And I'm not saying our times at Hollywood Studios has been bad, it's just I think we've always put pressure on ourselves to make sure we got everything done and then, once we did, we're like huh.

Speaker 2: 10:56

Now, what do we do?

Speaker 1: 10:58

Now okay, there's no more fast like lightning lanes. I'm not waiting two hours for this.

Speaker 2: 11:03

Right.

Speaker 1: 11:04

And then we again. I think this is a great park in the evening to hang out, in which we have done.

Speaker 2: 11:08

Yeah, yeah, we have. So take this. We're just gonna try to go about it a little bit differently.

Speaker 1: 11:13

Take this for what it's worth, and these are our suggestions, and I did ask the internet about stuff too, so we'll get to that. So what attractions to rope drop? Sorry for the long explanation there. All right, I put, and this is what Ryan and I always do we rope drop Tower of Terror.

Speaker 2: 11:31

That y'all do.

Speaker 1: 11:32

We do, and you and Nolan do.

Speaker 2: 11:36

Toy Story Mania.

Speaker 1: 11:37

I think y'all are the only two people rope dropping Toy Story Mania.

Speaker 2: 11:41

There's always a good handful of people there, and usually when we rope drop it we can get off and get right back on, you know, like two or three times before the line fully develops, right, yeah?

Speaker 1: 11:55

Also put riser resistance. If you do not want to do the individual paid lightning lane, this is another good one to rope drop. Also, if you don't want to use your first genie, plus lightning lane on Slinky Dog, this is another good one to rope drop.

Speaker 2: 12:10

And that is where a lot of people go as well.

Speaker 1: 12:13

A lot of, especially people that are park hopping. This is one they go to for this or riser resistance. Yes, is what they're going to first. Yes, anything else you put on there for rope drop.

Speaker 2: 12:22

Well, y'all have done, I think, rock and Roller Coaster once too. I'm going to get to that, okay.

Speaker 1: 12:26

But we've rope dropped. Tower of. Terror first Right. So we have. We've been Rock and Roller Coaster first. You've done both.

Speaker 2: 12:32

Yeah, we've done both.

Speaker 1: 12:33

Yeah, so I put a. Put anything else you want to say.

Speaker 2: 12:36

No, I think you covered it. But yes, linky Dog, though that line will develop very quickly. So if this is a part that you're, you know park hopping and you're starting off here and Slinky Dog is important to you, that might be where you want to go.

Speaker 1: 12:51

Yeah, so to.

Speaker 2: 12:53

And the only reason why we know this is it's across from Toy Story Mania. So, like Nullen and I, we'll see that line getting a little linked.

Speaker 1: 13:01

So I asked the internet what attractions to rope top of Hollywood studios, and this is what the internet said. So I put a poll on Twitter X, whatever and asked what people rope dropped, and the majority voted for Tower of Terror.

Speaker 2: 13:14

Oh, interesting.

Speaker 1: 13:15

No one voted for Rock and Roller Coaster or Slinky Dog. There was a few for rise or resistance, but the overwhelming majority, by like 80%, was Tower of Terror, I mean, and you see a good amount.

Speaker 2: 13:25

There are definitely that way, in that direction, rock and Roller Coaster, probably because it's being it's down right now. It's down right now being refurbished.

Speaker 1: 13:34

I'll get to that more in a little bit. Yeah, I have more to say about that.

Speaker 2: 13:37

Okay, but I'm just yes Saying, yeah.

Speaker 1: 13:39

On Instagram, be Lee 8519 said Tower of Terror.

Speaker 2: 13:42

Okay.

Speaker 1: 13:43

DGZR said Slinky Dog. Karen in the Kingdom said Mickey and Minnie's runaway railway If I have a lightningling for Slinky Dog, okay. Darth Mouse said Rock and Roller Coaster or Slinky Dog, mm-hmm. So thank you all for putting those up there.

Speaker 2: 14:01

Yeah, and I didn't put Mickey and Minnie's on here because it just for us. It's never been like a rope drop one. We usually do that later in the day.

Speaker 1: 14:10

So what other attractions and breakfast will you do in the morning? So here's what Ryan and I do. We will either rope, drop Rock and Roller Coaster and then, as soon as you get off, you can go right on to Tower of Terror and knock those two out in those early magic hours, right, or Tower of Terror first and then go immediately right to Rock and Roller Coaster. You can knock both of those out in that first 30 to 45 minutes. Yeah, pretty easily.

Speaker 2: 14:37

For sure. And then Nolan and I, like I said, you know, there's been several times where we've done Toy Story Mania multiple times, sometimes, not always because of the location Sometimes we'll even head over to Alien Swirling Saucers in Toy Story Land, and you know, because it's usually a walk on still early in the morning and it's right there while you and Ryan are doing your thing.

Speaker 1: 15:01

Right.

Speaker 2: 15:02

And then as a family, one of the last times we were there early in the day, we also did Star Tours.

Speaker 1: 15:09

Yes, Also, if you're a rope dropping Slinky Dog, once you get off you can probably get on Toy Story Mania pretty quickly as well.

Speaker 2: 15:15

Yeah, that is very true.

Speaker 1: 15:16

And then also put Alien Swirling Saucers for breakfast. There's not a lot of breakfast options here. I've got a couple, though I've got a couple. If you're in Galaxy's Edge, get a Ronto Wrap at Ronto Roasters.

Speaker 2: 15:27

They're great. It's the Ronto Morning.

Speaker 1: 15:29

Wrap. It's what's on it. It's like more pork cheese X. Yeah, it's pretty good, it is very good.

Speaker 2: 15:38

Yes, and then you have Joffrey's locations that have some pastries and donuts and things like that as well.

Speaker 1: 15:44

And also Andy's lunchbox. Get the tart in the morning, that's pretty good.

Speaker 2: 15:47

A little pop tart Woody's lunchbox.

Speaker 1: 15:48

Andy's lunch. Woody's lunchbox. Yes, sorry, I don't know why I put Andy's here. Woody's lunchbox. They have that tart in the morning.

Speaker 2: 15:55

Oh yeah, I forgot about that.

Speaker 1: 15:56

And they also have like Tats and like Tater Tats and stuff like that. But right, get a breakfast in here. But again, there's not a lot of breakfast areas here. We usually bring like granola bars and stuff like that in our backpacks until lunchtime.

Speaker 2: 16:09

If you're, if you are a bigger, like a person that's big on breakfast and you want to experience character dining, there is Hollywood and Vine breakfast buffet as well.

Speaker 1: 16:21

No, but I'm saying for our listeners. I don't want to do that. The listeners can, I don't.

Speaker 2: 16:25

Yeah, like we, that's not on on what on R to do, that you know. But if that's something that interests you, that's another option for breakfast.

Speaker 1: 16:34

How much does breakfast cost there? You don't have a put up.

Speaker 2: 16:37

I do not. I'm sorry.

Speaker 1: 16:38

Sorry, never mind. Probably like $37 for kids and like $47 for adults for your.

Speaker 2: 16:44

Well, why are you saying when you don't know, I said probably Okay, I didn't say for sure. Well, if you talk about something else, I'll pull it up.

Speaker 1: 16:51

So by this time you've gotten some breakfast, you've knocked out a couple of attractions. You've knocked probably locked knocked out your first lightning lane. Now it's going to be early lunchtime, later lunchtime, right? So what are you going to do? Lunchtime attractions and lunch, I think during when it starts getting hotter start looking at a couple of shows.

Speaker 2: 17:14

Yes, for sure. Now hold on.

Speaker 1: 17:15

Hold on spot, all right.

Speaker 2: 17:16

So Hollywood and Vine. While I have it pulled up, I'll just go ahead and say the prices for later in the day too. But for breakfast it is $47 per adult plus tax and gratuity, and $30 per child. Again, that is ages three to nine plus tax and gratuity, and it's your. You know your typical breakfast foods from waffles, potatoes, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, eggs, benedict, cinnamon, buns, yogurt, parfait, spicy chicken and donuts, omelets and more. So those are the prices for breakfast. Now, again, this is character dining. So while I have the money pulled up, I'm just going to go ahead and say the prices for lunch and dinner too, is that okay?

Speaker 1: 17:59

Sure.

Speaker 2: 18:01

Or no.

Speaker 1: 18:01

Just fine, go ahead.

Speaker 2: 18:02

You don't sound happy, so I can wait.

Speaker 1: 18:04

It's dining, it's character dining. I never sound happy about character dining.

Speaker 2: 18:07

So, if you are interested, there is a lunch and dinner buffet and it's $63 per adult and $40 per child.

Speaker 1: 18:15

See, I was pretty close on the pricing. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 18:18

Overall yeah.

Speaker 1: 18:20

So this is after you've knocked out a few attractions, had some breakfast Later on you may want to start looking at a couple of shows. I agree To kind of break up the day a little bit, get you out of the sun. I recommend two shows Frozen Ever After Show. Okay, Now guys hear me out, it is a frozen show.

Speaker 2: 18:39

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 18:39

It is hilarious.

Speaker 2: 18:40

It is Now. It is called For the First Time in Forever Sing-Along Celebration, but there's more to it than that.

Speaker 1: 18:45

You don't have to sing along, nope, but it is a funny show and I do find myself laughing throughout the show.

Speaker 2: 18:52

Yeah, because the Royal Historians just have a twist to it.

Speaker 1: 18:56

It's pretty good. They do a really good job. Yes, this is one of the more entertaining shows. And then I also put the classic you Gotta Go With. It's Been there Since Opening Day Indiana Jones Stunt Pectacular. It is just a classic Hollywood studios back when it was called MGM show. Still great to this day. They haven't. There's something about a show they haven't changed in over gosh how long, 40 years. It opened in 89, 88.

Speaker 2: 19:24

I don't know that 30 years Like yeah, 36, 30.

Speaker 1: 19:29

There's something to a show that they haven't changed anything since it opened. That tells you something. Yeah, it's a great show, and they encourage you to snack during the show too, which I'm a big fan of.

Speaker 2: 19:40

Yeah, well, the way this seating is is kind of like bleacher seating outside, in a way.

Speaker 1: 19:44

But you're out of the sun, yes, and if you have boys, they're gonna love the explosions. They're stunt actors, all this stuff. How I got Ryan to go to it? We were actually at the Frozen show and I was like, hey, ryan, do you want to go watch the last Indiana Jones show? And he's like, ah, I was like there's explosions. He's like let's go. He loved it.

Speaker 2: 20:03

He did, he did and you know, and we've gone together as a family since and I remember going as a kid once or twice myself and it made my list. I put you know because, like Zach was saying, that time of day sometimes, depending on the time of year, it can get very hot out, so why not catch some shows? So I did put the Frozen show, I put Indiana Jones and also another option, not saying to do all these three, you know, in one day, depending on what works for your family. But another one is Beauty and the Beast live on stage.

Speaker 1: 20:37

I was surprised at how good this was. Yeah, this was a really good show. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed this show.

Speaker 2: 20:43

And it is outdoor seating as well, but it still, you know, gives you a chance to just sit back and relax some yeah.

Speaker 1: 20:49

It was a great show. I also put Star Tours as a good like midday attraction.

Speaker 2: 20:54

Yeah, for sure it's a good one Now for lunch.

Speaker 1: 20:58

there are several options here and ones that we have tried. We're going to talk about. The first one, and probably my favorite restaurant in this park, is Syfy Dine and Theater Restaurant.

Speaker 2: 21:09

They made my list too.

Speaker 1: 21:10

I think this is a very well. I don't want to call it underrated, because it's a pretty popular restaurant, but it's not hard to get a reservation here. Is the food here going to knock your socks off?

Speaker 2: 21:20

No.

Speaker 1: 21:21

But the it's good. Yeah, it's more of the atmosphere it is, but it's got good burgers and stuff like that. But you sit in an old timey car, like a 1950s car, like in a dinin theater, like an old dinin movie theater, and they play classic like 1940s, 30s movies like clips of them and waltz on there Some. It's just a great relaxing, chill environment and you need that in this park because there's so many bangers here.

Speaker 2: 21:51

Yes, and you know, I mean you like, and it's dim lighting like you feel, like you are, you know, at night watching these movies.

Speaker 1: 21:59

Yes.

Speaker 2: 21:59

Yes, and, but you know the food it. You know, like Zach was saying, it's nothing spectacular, but it still is good. You know, there's there's different options out there, but Mainly burgers. Mainly burgers there are some other sandwiches and salads and milkshakes and you know they have some gluten free options as well. I had a chicken salad wrap on a gluten free wrap and it was pretty good. But again, it's just. It's back to to the experience and the environment.

Speaker 1: 22:30

Yes, it's definitely. I had the American burger, classic American cheeseburger. It was good, wasn't great? Is it the best burger in the park? No, not even top five, right. But the atmosphere here, I think, really slows you down, relaxes you like I felt like a whole another person after eating here and going getting back in Hollywood. I was like, oh man, I feel so refreshed.

Speaker 2: 22:52

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 22:52

Like it was so relaxing. The boys were chill. I think it's just what everybody needed during the middle of the day.

Speaker 2: 22:58

Yeah, and I don't know. I think the lighting even has some to do with it too Not just cooling down and relaxing, but just just yeah. Calm, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 23:07

I also put now this isn't going to calm you down, but I also put 50s prime time cuff. I did too. It's a cool themed restaurant. I don't think we had the best experience with our server. He was kind of blah.

Speaker 2: 23:18

Yeah, where some of them really play into their parts.

Speaker 1: 23:21

They do, but they're going to kind of act like your aunt or uncle and kind of get onto you a little bit and Like wire your elbows on the table, your walkie talkies with your phone and it's like you're going back to 1950s and the the theming in here is really really good and the food here, I think, is much better.

Speaker 2: 23:39

Yes Than at sci-fi dining. The food is really really good.

Speaker 1: 23:42

And then these are going to be classic aunt Liz's golden fried chicken, a sampling of mom's heart recipes. Which is what I got Golden fried chicken, fork tender pot roast the pot roast was so it took me back to my grandmother's when I was 10.

Speaker 2: 23:57

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 23:57

So good and the meatloaf was good with all the fixings. Again, just classic comfort food.

Speaker 2: 24:04

Yeah, the food was really good. The the environment, though itself, I mean it's. It's like you're in a house from that time and the decorations, everything.

Speaker 1: 24:13

Again, it's not going to be a chill place though. No, no. So if you're looking for relaxing lunch, 50 prime time is not going to be it. If you're looking for fun, energetic, with good food go for it. Yeah, I also put one more quick service place. Okay, do you have any more?

Speaker 2: 24:29

Not food. No.

Speaker 1: 24:30

Okay, backlot Express.

Speaker 2: 24:33

And we've done that before, and here's why.

Speaker 1: 24:35

It's inside, it's usually not that crowded and there are some really cool old school Hollywood studios memorabilia and pictures in there that people just gloss over.

Speaker 2: 24:47

Right.

Speaker 1: 24:47

Like parts of like Star Wars film stuff is in there, a lot of stuff from who Framed Roger Rabbit used to be or still is in there. Just a lot of classic photos with Eisner and other like Michael Eisner and other people just, and people just like completely gloss over that. There's some cool stuff in here if you take the time to sit around and look.

Speaker 2: 25:09

Right.

Speaker 1: 25:11

So I'm saying this because I want you to slow down. It's a quick service restaurant. It's just your basic burgers and chicken tenders and pulled pork sandwich. They got a chicken teriyaki bowl, they got a Cuban sandwich, so I mean nothing spectacular, but there's some really cool stuff in here, and there's usually not a lot of people in here as well. Again, but mobile order.

Speaker 2: 25:34

Yes, still mobile order, because you never know, it could be the day where everybody decides to eat there.

Speaker 1: 25:39

Yeah, and they changed the wookie cookie. Oh, I heard that I'm disappointed in that because it was like an oatmeal cream pie, but they changed it. It's a little different.

Speaker 2: 25:50

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 25:51

I'm skeptical.

Speaker 2: 25:53

Maybe still try it.

Speaker 1: 25:54

I don't know. But again, don't sleep on Backlod Express. It's kind of out of the way. If you don't know where it's at, you will rock right by it. But I think this is really a good place for lunch.

Speaker 2: 26:02

Is that by Star Tours? It's before you get to Star.

Speaker 1: 26:04

Tours behind Indiana Jones Tunk Spectacular. Yeah so again, if you're not looking for it, you'll walk right on by it. We have not been to ABC Commissary, but this may be another place you might want to check out. They have revamped their menu and they've got some more healthier options, some more adult options, but then they still have your basic kid stuff there too.

Speaker 2: 26:22

Yeah, I put that for later in the day, OK, so my other thing that I have listed as a lunchtime attraction, this might would be a good time, just because it's more like center of the park is Mickey and Minnie's Run Away Railway.

Speaker 1: 26:38

That's a good one too, because the weight here again we're basing this off of normal crowds, not crazy spring break or fall break or holiday or marathon weekend crowds. This is what we're basing it off of. Mickey and Minnie's usually does not get over 45 or 50 minutes. Or again, if you've already got Genie Plus, use a lightning lane for this.

Speaker 2: 26:58

But it's a good ride. It is. It is like it's not one of our favorites, but it's a fun ride and it is inside indoors, so it's a way to get you out of that heat, especially in the summer. So that's why I put it down for the middle of the day, definitely.

Speaker 1: 27:16

All right, so brings us to our sponsor. If you want to check out any of this stuff, go check out our sponsor, main Street Travel Company. They are the official sponsor of this podcast and we use them for all of our Disney and non-Disney vacation needs. They can plan your Walt Disney World, disneyland, disney Cruise Line Adventures by Disney Alani and Disneyland Paris Vacations. They can also do the beach places.

Speaker 2: 27:43

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Speaker 1: 27:44

The, I'm going blank right now Vero Beach. Vero Beach. We're going to Vero Beach. We haven't said that we're going to Vero Beach in May.

Speaker 2: 27:49

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Speaker 1: 27:50

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Speaker 2: 28:36

Yeah, I mean, we don't stress about it at all. It's a few days out, erica will reach out and, hey, are these the restaurants you still want reservations for? Have you changed your mind? Are these the times you're still interested in? And then she does the rest.

Speaker 1: 28:52

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Speaker 2: 29:28

Yes, thank you we do appreciate it.

Speaker 1: 29:30

They appreciate it. Take Evangelist Offers. Yes, all right. So we've gotten through lunchtime. It's early evening, dinner time. What are you doing?

Speaker 2: 29:41

Well, I think we as a family have enjoyed Galaxy's Edge more in the evening.

Speaker 1: 29:50

Definitely, yes, definitely.

Speaker 2: 29:52

Especially if it's closer to nightfall.

Speaker 1: 29:54

Yes.

Speaker 2: 29:54

And so for us, I think, going forward, that's when we may spend more time here and do the rides there, because in the past we have zigzagged this park so much and I think sometimes, at least for like Nolan and I, no-transcript in the evening, we're kind of like, oh you know.

Speaker 1: 30:15

Right.

Speaker 2: 30:16

So if we can kind of wait until later in the day, this would be a perfect time for millennium falcon smugglers to run rise of the resistance whether you have the lightning lane or not. But if we could select a time of day, it would be good to save it for later for us.

Speaker 1: 30:35

I completely agree how. The one caveat to that I'm going to say is and I completely agree, I've got this stuff here at night too. If the characters are a big thing that you want to see like you want to see Chewie, you want to see the Stormtroopers, you want to see Rey, you want to see the Mandalorian with Grogu, you want to see who's the bad guy in the last three movies, Kylo, Kylo Ren they're out during the day, not during the night.

Speaker 2: 31:03

That is true so that's one caveat that I will make to this, but I agree completely we love the night and don't get me wrong, it is still very exciting to see, no matter what time of day you're there.

Speaker 1: 31:13

Yes.

Speaker 2: 31:13

But we, as our family has gone multiple times now, we have always said we enjoyed it more later in the day.

Speaker 1: 31:20

Completely agree.

Speaker 2: 31:21

But there's so much to do there besides the marketplace and the two rides. Like Zach was saying, the characters during the day. You may enjoy that frosty, green or blue milk better during the day.

Speaker 1: 31:36

It does hit the spot when it's hot. Yes, it does.

Speaker 2: 31:39

It does. But for us, going forward, I think the evening time, millennium Falcon, millennium Falcon Smugglers, run and Rise of the Resistance would be good, and then we like to end our night with Slinky Dog.

Speaker 1: 31:56

Yes, so also before I get to Toys R'Lane. Tower of Terror is a good one at night too.

Speaker 2: 32:02

Oh yeah. I don't really like the rides.

Speaker 1: 32:05

I think it sets the mood. It's dark. You're walking up to that hotel, creepy plus a great view at night once you're on the top Right Star Wars, galaxy's Edge, great at night. I'm also going to say this Toy Story Land at night is great.

Speaker 2: 32:23

Love it, love it, and that's why we like Slinky Dog at night.

Speaker 1: 32:25

Yes, I think it's much better at night. It's a little more chill During the day. It gets animal kingdom hot, yeah, and it's nuts, and here's why I think it is. The pathways are not that white right. Right so you have the line for Slinky Dog Dash way out, you've got people waiting for Woody's Launch Box backed up and you've got people transiting through to get to Galaxy's Edge Right. Yeah, all of that combined just makes for a very crowded, not very enjoyable place during the day, and that's why I do not like this place during the day.

Speaker 1: 33:04

It's just a little too much.

Speaker 2: 33:05

Yeah, it can be, you know, but I mean, I love it anytime personally, but at night it just takes on a different characteristic and it's so pretty and Slinky Dog just seems a lot more fun at night. Now, mentioning the Star Wars characters, though I don't know I should have pulled it up. Star Wars Launch Bay has a lot of characters there and I don't know what time they stop meeting in there.

Speaker 1: 33:32

I don't know. They're probably like six or seven.

Speaker 2: 33:33

That's another option, maybe early evening, that you could go do as well if your day is kind of winding down at that point, or even mid-afternoon if you want to get out the heat. It's all indoor and you can meet BB-8, chewie Kylo.

Speaker 1: 33:53

No, no, no, Darth Vader.

Speaker 2: 33:54

Darth Vader, sorry.

Speaker 1: 33:56

Kylo's grandfather.

Speaker 2: 33:58

And I think one more I think that's it.

Speaker 1: 34:01

Do you have some cool memorabilia in there?

Speaker 2: 34:03

Yeah, they do Like. At first you're like, what type of place am I walking into? But the more you walk around in there, the more you'll see. And so that is another option as well, and especially to get out of the heat.

Speaker 1: 34:13

So for dinner, where we eat dinner at I've got two options.

Speaker 2: 34:17

OK, so for a quick service, I put Backlot Express that we already talked about, and then ABC, commissary, which does have your shrimp tacos, chicken club sandwich, mediterranean salad with chicken, buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich, pork carnita tacos and a California burger. For plant based, you have steak fries, mexican rice, black beans, arugula salad for sides, and then for kids you have salads and you have a chicken salad sandwich, pork taco, grilled ham and cheese sandwich, and then you have a mint chocolate chip cheesecake for dessert. And then I also put, depending on where you're at, if you are kind of ending the day between Galaxy's Edge and Slinky Dog, then Woody's Lunchbox.

Speaker 1: 35:09

So I put two options One, quick service, woody's Lunchbox, because I do like to display it at night. I do love hanging out in Andy's backyard at night and the food here, it's pretty good. It's actually pretty good. They got a barbecue brisket milk, which I've had, shredded, smoked brisket pickles and tangy barbecue sauce between Melt the Cheddar and Monterey Jack on grilled sourdough bread. It's really good. And I've had the grilled three cheese sandwich Melt the Provolone Cheddar and American cheese on grilled sourdough bread.

Speaker 2: 35:37

It's really good too. Yeah, the boys like it also that bread is just so buttery.

Speaker 1: 35:41

It's like the perfect grilled cheese. It's so good and they got tachos here. But the barbecue, brisket milk and the three cheese sandwich will come with tater tots. So I think this is a good quick service. At night it's a little more chill. People's not yelling as much, it's a lot cooler Right, and there's something about sitting in Nandy's backyard with the lights on like the string lights. At night it's a pretty cool atmosphere.

Speaker 2: 36:08

It is. It is for sure, I also have one sit down.

Speaker 1: 36:14

We may have the same one.

Speaker 2: 36:15

This is Arthen H.

Speaker 1: 36:17

Yes.

Speaker 2: 36:17

Hollywood Brown Derby. Yes, yes, you do the talking.

Speaker 1: 36:21

Okay, so we had lunch here. Mm-hmm, is it the best meal you're gonna have? No, it's just basic flamin' yawn fish. It's fancy, but it's nothing to write home about. I don't think You're going here more for the atmosphere than the food.

Speaker 2: 36:38

I think unless you want that cop salad. Well, at the time we went they didn't do it the way that they're known for either.

Speaker 1: 36:44

But I think if you're wanting an early evening, hey, let's take a break. Hour, hour and a half, slow down, get inside, relax. I think this is a great place for that, because it is gonna slow you down. The servers immediately tell you we're not gonna rush you here, right, we're gonna slow you down. And you need this in this park.

Speaker 2: 37:05

You do. And again, like Zach said, we went for lunch or anything and I did get that cop salad and it was great, but they it was like right after reopening for COVID?

Speaker 1: 37:17

It was yeah.

Speaker 2: 37:18

And so they didn't mix it up and everything for me, like they were known to do. But again, it was still good. But there's a lot of memorabilia and everything.

Speaker 1: 37:29

Yeah, and that's cool. You're going to hear more for the atmosphere. For the kids they have a chicken breast, grilled fish, grilled beef filet and a hot dog. So again, not great stuff. It is good food. I had the filet. I mean it wasn't bad. I grill better ones personally.

Speaker 1: 37:45

But, you know. If that's what you're wanting and you want to again slow down, relax for a bit, before you start your last couple of hours at Galaxy's Edge or Toy Store or Land, whatever, I think this is a really good option as well To slow you down.

Speaker 2: 38:01

Right, yeah. And another thing to slow down that's not food related is Walt Disney Presents.

Speaker 1: 38:08

Yes, yes, yes yes.

Speaker 2: 38:12

But Walt's memorabilia there, video playing. It's just a way again get out of that One man's dream is so good. Yeah, get out of the heat, just kind of take it all in. You know so, whether you're winding down for the day or that mid to later afternoon when it's super hot out, that is something else as well. Now, the night. I did mention Slinky Dog. Now to end the night, we've done that. Like. As far as closing out the park before Other options, there's Phantasmic.

Speaker 1: 38:44

Yes, so Phantasmic is a great show. We have yet to completely watch it all the way through.

Speaker 2: 38:49

Well, we did our very, very, very first time.

Speaker 1: 38:53

So for today, March 19th, there is only one showtime.

Speaker 2: 38:57

Oh, okay 8.30 PM.

Speaker 1: 38:59

Interesting Some nights there's two showtimes. There's an earlier one and then a later one. So the park closes tonight as we're recording this nine o'clock, so this one, when this show's over, you're done. Park is your. Park day is over. You're not going to get in line for anything else, right? So keep that in mind. Also, do not bear left when exiting. You're gonna go, they're gonna put you in the parking lot.

Speaker 2: 39:24

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 39:24

Because you want it's nighttime here, I'm gonna say it this is my favorite park at night. Hollywood Studios is my favorite park at night.

Speaker 2: 39:31

Yeah, it is. I don't know, like we don't really go to the shops much during the day or walk around the main. What's that intersection?

Speaker 1: 39:40

Hollywood Studios and Sunset. I'm sorry, hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard.

Speaker 2: 39:44

Yes, we don't really spend a lot of time there during the day, but at night it just it takes on like another personality.

Speaker 1: 39:51

We linger.

Speaker 2: 39:52

Yeah, we linger, we enjoy the shops, we take it all in more. The music's great yeah.

Speaker 1: 39:58

So bear to the right. It will take you to Sunset Boulevard and you can slowly walk down, enjoy that music, check the shops out, because the shops will be open still. Just take that all in. I love that. I love it at night. So I got Fantasmic. They have a wonderful world of animation show that plays on the Chinese theater. Again, for today, march 19th, there's only one showtime. It's 8 30 PM Now. This show is only 12 minutes long so you can watch this show and run over and get in line for Slinky Dog Dash or Rise of Resistance or Tower of Terror or Rock and Roller Coaster before the park closes.

Speaker 2: 40:41

Right, as long as you're in that line before posted park closing.

Speaker 1: 40:44

Yes, you can get those in there. I also get a late reservation for Ogis Cantina. Spend a little time there and then enjoy Galaxy's Edge with nobody in there.

Speaker 2: 40:56

Right Now. You're not riding rides or anything at that time, but we've gone as late as what? 9, 30?.

Speaker 1: 41:01

Our reservation was like 45 minutes after park closing.

Speaker 2: 41:04

Yeah, and it's definitely a different feel, but it's very interesting.

Speaker 1: 41:11

It's peaceful, yet you feel like you're in kind of an urban area and you're kind of on edge a little bit. Yeah, because you don't know. It's dark, it's murky. You hear weird noises from the corner, like the dark alleys, and you can hear ships flying over Like. You hear all that stuff at night when there's nobody in there, right, and it's so cool. And the Millennium Falcon lit up at night, oh my gosh.

Speaker 2: 41:37

Oh yeah.

Speaker 1: 41:39

Everything about it is so cool that is a sight to see.

Speaker 2: 41:41

And then Oga's Cantina just having DJ Rex and the beverages and everything.

Speaker 1: 41:47

It's a cool atmosphere. It's a great way to do it in the night. Yes, so that's our opinion. Do you have anything else there to do in the night with?

Speaker 2: 41:55

No, and again, this is just us learning along the way what's worked for us or what we would like to do, maybe the next time we are there, but what works for us might not work for you guys, but this is how we've tried to get everything in. But we have learned multiple times, as we said earlier, to slow it down a little bit more, because we've always been able to really get in what we truly wanted to get in, but we've just rushed so much in the early part of the day.

Speaker 1: 42:28

That's true. So, again, slow down. If you're using Genie Plus, again on a non-crazy busy day, you will be able to get the bangers done that you want to get done and still have time to relax and do a show or two and a sit down, because you got to budget about an hour and a half for these sit down restaurants.

Speaker 2: 42:47

And this is, if you're there, open, to close, correct.

Speaker 1: 42:51

And don't forget mobile order. Mobile order is key. It bugs me when I see people standing in line. I'm like why, why? But again, like Brittany said, take this and maybe get some ideas about how you think would be best for your family to tackle Hollywood studios.

Speaker 2: 43:10

Yeah, I think the key to if you're going to rope drop, make that decision on which to rope drop and then kind of plan your day from there, right?

Speaker 1: 43:20

Yeah, so before we go I asked the internet what side of road showcase they start on. We did that last week, right?

Speaker 2: 43:28

Right, yes.

Speaker 1: 43:29

And so the pull on X was split with either Canada or they don't care.

Speaker 2: 43:34

OK.

Speaker 1: 43:34

Nobody said Mexico on Twitter or an X.

Speaker 2: 43:36

Really no Interesting.

Speaker 1: 43:38

I thought it was interesting too. On Instagram, DGZR said Canada. Raindropfairy said Mexico, starting in Canada. Just messes with me and I feel off the rest of the walk.

Speaker 2: 43:50

Yes, starting in Canada.

Speaker 1: 43:53

Starting in Canada makes her make some feel weird.

Speaker 2: 43:56

See, and that's my thing too, like I know the order a little bit better coming from Mexico, because we've done that so many more times.

Speaker 1: 44:02

Yeah. So that brings us to this week Disney's trivia. I threw some people off with this one, so this week's question was what is the name for the coaster kit Andy uses to build Slinky Dog Dash? Now, keep in mind, this is a roller coaster that Andy built in his backyard and put Slinky Dog on it as the coaster. So imagine, andy built the coaster and you are riding on the coaster that Andy built. Ok, OK. So that's the storyline of the coaster. Yes, and a lot of people put connects.

Speaker 2: 44:39

Because there are connects in Andy's backyard right.

Speaker 1: 44:43

That is not the correct answer. The correct answer is Dash and Dodge Mega Coaster Kit, and that is this week's correct answer. The winner from X Sweeney has been dethroned. Deservations is this week's Disney Trivia winner, so congratulations.

Speaker 2: 45:01

Deservations, so I like that name too you are this week's Disney Trivia winner Again.

Speaker 1: 45:07

I do that every single week on Thursdays and I try to keep it related to what we're going to be talking about on the next episode. Yes, so next week we're doing Animal Kingdom, correct?

Speaker 2: 45:17

Oh, I got a lot of good Animal Kingdom trivia Be ready.

Speaker 1: 45:20

So thank you everybody for joining us. We really do appreciate. If you want to support the show. The best way to support the show is book your next Disney vacation with Mains Street Travel Company. They cost you nothing to book your trip with them. It's going to save you time, anxiety, stress and money. Again, tell them we sent you. Take advantage of those special offers exclusively for our listeners. They're on wwwmainstreettravelcocom. They're on Instagram, facebook and YouTube and again, call them 1-800-593-1262. Tell them we sent you. Again, take advantage of those special offers. If you want to reach out to us, you can email us circleofparkscom. Our website is wwwcircleofparkscom. We're on Facebook, instagram and X, all at Circle of Parks. And again, leave us a 5-star rating review on Apple Podcast. Really helps us to grow the show. We really do appreciate it and just thank you so much for listening. We will talk to you next week.

Speaker 2: 46:16

Talk to you soon.

Speaker 1: 46:30

Huh.