Disney’s Hollywood Studios

IT’S A DATE at WDW

Well, we finally have some dates for the openings that we have all been waiting for!

Thanks to CEO Bob Iger, we now know that Pandora-The World of Avatar is set to open to the public on May 27, 2017 in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! That’s Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial beginning of summer, for those of us in the U.S. I think that the new attractions and adventures will bring a new life into DAK, and awaken the nighttime activity. In Pandora, guests will be able to get their eating, drinking and shopping on in the new outlets within this land.

Also announced, was the ‘opening’ of Star Wars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as well as, Disneyland California. However, in the usual cryptic style, a SPECIFIC date was left out of the announcement. At this point, we have been told that the new land will open sometime in 2019. If I had to venture a guess, I’d say probably around Memorial Day of 2019. also!

There was no mention of the progress or an opening for Toy Story at DHS.

Thanks for reading…

Keeping the Magic Alive!!

WDW Fave GONE!

As of today, one of my favorite places to hit is closed! I can’t believe it! I am hoping, beyond hope, that it may return after all of the construction in some form or another! Oh, what am I writing about? The famed Disney’s Hollywood Studio quick service goodie shop, Starring Rolls, has closed it’s doors!

I don’t know about any of you, but I loved this place! They had good sized sandwiches, tasty treats of all kinds, and specialties only found at this spot in all of WDW! Can you say, Butterfinger Cupcake?

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With all it had to offer and a nice outdoor sitting area with a view of folks headed down Sunset Blvd. toward Rock N Rollercoaster or Tower of Terror, this will be a strongly missed venue!

A moment of silence, please?

Thanks for reading and remember…

Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!!

DHS Open For Business

By now, nearly the entire planet is aware that there is construction taking place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (DHS) at Walt Disney World. What many may be asking is: What’s Left to visit? Today, we will look at what there is to do, and if it is still worth a visit!

First, the attractions! Still available for your entertainment are: Star Tours: The Adventure Continues, Toy Story Midway Mania, Tower Of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, and The Great Movie Ride presented by TCM.

There are several shows to view during your visit to DHS. Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Beauty and The Beast, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Disney Junior Live! on Stage, and Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show (due to close on April 3, 2016. If the schedules match up well, you could find some very enjoyable moments with some of these offerings.

There are many restaurants available at this point, as well. Make sure to take time to try one to make your day even more delightful! My favorite? 50s Prime Time Cafe!

So, while there will be many, MANY construction walls around DHS, there is still plenty to do during your stay. Is it worth a One-Day ticket price? Maybe not! Is it worth a visit during a week-long stay with Multi-Day Magic Your Way tickets? Absolutely!

Go, Have Fun!

Until next time, have a Blessed and Magical day, my friends!

Welcome to the Sci-Fi Dine In for Breakfast

Beginning November 1 2015, breakfast will be served at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. There will be a variety of breakfast entrees available in an all-inclusive menu. Entree offerings include:

Puff Pastry filled with Scrambled Eggs, Crab, Asparagus and Gruyère Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes
Grilled Beef Tenderloin on Baby Spinach, with Bacon and Cheddar Custard on a Roasted Tomato and Cheesy Horseradish Potatoes
Scrambled Eggs, Crispy Bacon, Sausage Links and Breakfast Potatoes
Macadamia Crusted Brioche French Toast with Mascarpone and Fresh Berries

The cost for this breakfast will be $23.99 for adults and $12.99 for children ages 3 – 9. This cost does not include taxes and gratuities. And, if you are on the Disney Dining Plan it is a ONE Table Service Entitlement for this meal.

A pre-rope drop reservation is available beginning at 8:00am.

This meal is currently being offered through January 23, 2016.

Star Wars Addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Star Wars experiences were announced for Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, Florida at the D23 Expo this weekend. Here are a few of the highlights…

Star Wars Launch Bay will open later this year and allow you to experience exhibits, behind-the-scenes action, visit some new characters, food, and new merchandise from the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This experience will be located in the current Animation Courtyard portion of DHS.

Season Of The Force will debut in early 2016 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This will be a new fireworks show set to the score penned by the brilliant composer, John Williams. This will be a seasonal event and will take place on the weekends. Dates have not been announced, as yet. And, I’m not sure if this is a replacement for Star Wars Weekends, or in addition to SWW.

Star Tours – the Adventure Continues will be getting an update. But, it doesn’t seem like there will be a need for much refurb time. There will be new scenes added to the current ride from the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This should ad a bit more variety to this random experiential attraction.

Disney VISA Cardholders will be able to order new cards with Star Wars characters on them. And, there will be the Star Wars Imperial Meet and Greet for Disney VISA holders, as well.

The Star Wars Land experience will take us to a new, never before seen planet near the outer rim. It will include two new ride experiences, and the much anticipated Cantina will be quite a draw. This 14 acre additions is being considered the MOST ambitious undertaking in Disney Company History. There will be a mirrored experience built at Disneyland Park in California, too. No time line has been announced for completion of these projects, but I hope progress will be seen quickly!

Thanks for reading, sharing, or commenting! Have a Blessed and Magical Day, my friends!

News from around the Disney Galaxy

As we all prepare for the debut of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, news of two new offerings came out of the Disney Company Annual Meeting. First up is a new spinoff titled Rogue One. At this point the only announced actress is Felicity Jones. There hasn’t been anything said about the story or other roles. This film is set to be released on December 16, 2016. And, Star Wars Episode VIII is set for release on May 26, 2017 with Rian Johnson in the director’s chair. And, again, no other information has been given about the story or who will be playing in this next chapter of the Star Wars franchise.

Frozen 2 has also been announced (BIG SURPRISE). The original film making team will be at the helm of this newest production. However, there are no details about the original cast, songwriters, or story. So, we shall have to wait and see!

And finally, Disney CEO Bob Iger let it slip that Disney’s Hollywood Studios WILL be undergoing a name change. However, he said nothing about the new name or the timing of this change. There has been some speculation that the new name could be Disney’s Florida Adventure to reflect it’s California counterpart.

All this to say, we have few details, but some excitement coming along within the Disney Galaxy!

Changes In Ticket Prices at WDW

It has happened, my friends. The annual, sometime semi-annual, ticket price increase has taken place overnight! The biggest impact is to the one-day ticket price, but all prices have increased! Here’s what it will cost you now.

One-day Adult Ticket to Magic Kingdom…………$105.00 plus tax for a total of $111.83 each.

One-day ages 3 – 9 Ticket to Magic Kingdom…….$99.00 plus tax for a total of $105.44 each.

One-day Adult Ticket to EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom …………………….$97.00 plus tax for a total of $103.31 each.

One-Day ages 3 – 9 EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom………………..$91.00 plus tax for a total of $96.92 each.

3- day Adult Magic Your Way Tickets………………$275.00 plus tax for a total of $292.88 each.

3 – Day Age 3 – 9 MYW Tickets………………………..$256.00 plus tax for a total of $272.64 each.

You get the idea! Most of the daily changes are only a few dollars, but those add up with larger families. Multiple day tickets are still the best way to go as the daily average decreases considerably with the more days you plan to be in the parks.

If you want to add the Park Hopper Option, you will pay an extra $64.00 per ticket, and it doesn’t matter how many days are on your ticket! So, let’s look at an example of the Adult Ticket portion of a vacation package.

A 5-day Magic Your Way ticket……………………$315.00

Park Hopper Add-On…………………………………….64.00

Tax………………………………………………………………24.64

Total…………………………………………………………$403.64

You can add Water Park and More for an additional $64.00, as well. Or, combine Park Hopper and Water Park and More for a combined package of $90.00. And, Memory Maker can also be added for $169.00 if done at least 4 days ahead of your arrival.

Thanks for reading, my friends, and have a Blessed, Magical, and hopefully warm day, today!

News from around THE World of WDW

Hot off the presses!!! Be Our Guest Restaurant will be accepting reservations for lunch beginning February 25, 2015. There is also the option to pre-order your meal beginning at 30 days out up to 5 minutes prior to your arrival time. Lunch will be served from 10:30am – 2:30pm. Call 407-WDW-DINE to make your reservation.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios welcomes Starbucks into the park under the banner of The Red Trolley Car Cafe located at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Sunset Blvd. With this addition to the Starbucks locations, only Animal Kingdom has yet to open a location. But, no worries, it’s on the way this summer!

Speaking of DHS, the Sorcerer’s Hat is nearly gone! Latest pictures show only the naked base remained as of Friday, February 6. Once completed, the view from the main entrance will be the facade of The Great Movie Ride. A view I hope to see, soon!

There are only a few days left to save up to 30% on select Disney Resorts at Walt Disney World! You need to book this deal before February 16, 2015 to get this savings! And, it’s good for travel on most days between February 22 and June 15, 2015. After that, the savings is ONLY 25% if booked before March 28, 2015! AND, if you upgrade to as room and ticket package, you receive one more Disney Park ticket day FREE!

If you have any questions about any of these items, or anything else, feel free to contact me at: threestrandswdw@outlook.com. I will be happy to refer you to one of the many Disney Travel Specialists I have become acquainted with over the past few years.

Thanks for reading and have a Magical and Blessed Weekend, my friends!!

What if DHS Closed for Total Refurb?

With the widespread closing of attractions, rumors of expanded areas and new lands, and complete congestion trying to get from one area to another, I couldn’t help but wonder if it might be possible that leadership at Walt Disney World might decide to close Disney’s Hollywood Studios completely in favor of a complete redesign of the space? Rumors of and expanded Pixar Place, the addition of anything Star Wars, and the need for better flow throughout the park, it may make better sense.

Being a huge Disney World fan, I am struggling to afford the once in two to three year trips with the current prices. It takes a bit of time to save up! Obviously, prices would likely increase long-term, but in the meantime, I wonder if they might actually give us a small break on the multi-day park tickets?

What would the overall benefit be if DHS were to close for a period of three to five year? Assuming the rumors are true, there would be new attractions to explore themed to the NEW Star Wars movies. There would be expanded Pixar Place with a larger version of Toy Story Midway Mania, possibly new area themed to other Pixar hits like Cars, The Incredibles, or Monsters Inc/University, upgraded eateries with improved menus, and a Fantasmic! show that makes a larger impact. And, getting around would be much simpler with an entrance area that leads you directly to the lands you want to explore, as well as connectors between lands to make the flow work more efficiently.

Of course, I’m just speculating, but I’m not opposed to this type of idea if the reward is WORTH the wait! And, I am trusting WDI and Disney Leadership to produce something worthy of park guests.

I’d love to hear what some of your ideas might be should something like this happen at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Leave your comments below! Thank you for reading! May you have a Blessed and Magical day, my friends!

News Tidbits From Around WDW

First up…PLAY BALL! For you sports fans who want to have an intimate experience with professional baseball, the Atlanta Braves will be returning to the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex for Spring Training, March 4 – April 4, 2015. Tickets for Braves ‘Home Games’ range from $14 for lawn seats to $54 for lower level reserved seats. Parking is FREE!

The Memory Maker Pre-purchase Package price increased as of December 3, 2014 from $129 to $169. The price paid during, or after, your visit will still be $199. It may be worth it with the enhancements that have been made to add ride pictures and videos.

Star Wars Weekends will be returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Fridays – Sundays, May 4 – June 14, 2015. There will be a

Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast featuring some of the ‘villains’ from the Empire. Darth Vader, Bobo Fett, Greedo, Jawas, and Stormtroopers will be a part of the experience. Cost will be $49.99 for adults and $31.99 for kids ages 3 – 9. Breakfast will be offered during Star Wars Weekends at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, and the hours will be 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine will be held at Hollywood and Vine, and will include the Fantasmic! Dining Package. Along with Jedi Mickey will be Princess Leia Minnie, Darth Vader Goofy, Storm Trooper Donald, and Ewoks Chip ‘n’ Dale. Cost is $57.99 for adults and $34.99 for kids ages 3 – 9, and gratuities are not included.

Advanced reservations are strongly suggested for both dining experiences, and character appearances are subject to change. Call 407-WDW-DINE for more information and reservations!

Thanks for reading, and have a blessed and magical day, my friends!!