Spoiler Alert: Just want to let everyone know that in the section of this post that deals with the Disney Jr. character lunch, I've written something that may spoil things for some younger children who might read it. But it is necessary in order to share one of the more humorous moments of our trip. As a true Disney fan I never want to be the one to pull back the curtain and spoil the magic. Believer's discretion is advised.
On our 2nd full day in Florida, my family and I had another day centered around Aria meeting even more of her favorite Disney characters. That would be the theme of the first half of our day in Disney Hollywood Studios with special lunch being the biggest event of the day.
The 2nd half of the day would consist of exploring the park together with a stop at one of the most popular attractions in all of Walt Disney World over in Pixar Place.
We had a little more time at home in the morning because our first Fast Pass reservation time wasn't until after 11AM.
Now Disney Hollywood Studios is currently a park "in transition". To make room for the announced Star Wars and Toy Story lands there have been closings of major areas of the park. While many of the closings were pending at the time of our visit there were some noticeable changes.
The first change we saw when we entered the park was at the end of Hollywood Boulevard. The park's long time icon, Mickey's Sorcerers Hat was gone. Changing the view from this...
Although it was only announced and not yet done, the DHS change I will miss the most is the removal of it's current "official" park icon, The Earful Tower. The one on the right side of this picture.
The new icon along with the new name of the park is set to be announced sometime in the future.
Now back to our day.
The walk from the parking lot was a lot longer than I expected but soon we were looking down at our guide map heading into the park.
At the end of Hollywood Boulevard we turned right to the Animation Courtyard area of the park. Disney Junior-Live On Stage, was our first Fast Pass of the day. It's a show using puppets to tell a story that includes elements from all the shows that run on the Disney Junior channel.
The Stage 5 theater is a large stage in front of an open floor area with no seats. Occupying the floor isn't a problem for the main element of the show's audiences, preschool children and their parents. But for those who can't easily get up and down, there are some benches along the back of the theater.
I sat on a bench while the rest of my family sat on the floor; Paula, at Aria's insistence.
I really think that Disney's use of puppetry in their shows and attractions is one of my favorite things about their parks.
As far as Disney Junior Live On Stage was concerned; it was a fun and entertaining 20 minute show; a quality Disney production.
Our next Fast Pass time led us out of the Animation Courtyard so we browsed around the area where the hat used to be. We saw Chip & Dale out for a meet & greet. The line was too long to wait but at least we got a picture.
While we were browsing at one of the merchandise carts, Aria spotted a plush of her favorite character from her favorite Disney movie, The Aristocats. It was pure white with a really long tail.
Our next Fast Pass was for a show: For The First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-A-Long show.
After about 15 minutes waiting for the theater doors to open they let us in. I led our group down the aisle to where the cast members directed us to an open row of seats. This was our view of the stage.
I was glad that Aria and Brandi were sitting next to me. That didn't happen much during our times in the park.
Here's a picture of us with Aria being silly.
Aria and I listen to the Frozen soundtrack together quite often. While I really liked the show watching my granddaughter enjoy herself in this attraction gave me yet another one of those "sentimental moments."
The show consisted of the two ambassadors of Arendelle, Eric and Aria, who were funny and very entertaining guiding the audience through the story and the songs of "Frozen". I loved their tongue-in-cheek and deprecating humor. If you haven't seen this show I highly recommend you do on your next visit; especially if you have little ones who love "Frozen"
Here's a link to a You Tube video of the entire show:
For The First Time In Forever: Frozen Sing-Along Video
The music, the characters, and the special effects (including the indoor "snowfall") helped make this show one of my favorite things we experienced during our entire visit.
Upon existing the Hyperion Theater I walked through the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Plaza. I saw Walt Disney's likeness along with Bob Newhart and Betty White. But Bill Cosby was no where to be seen. He had been removed sometime in late 2015.
With an hour or so until our reservation time at our special character lunch at the Hollywood and Vine restaurant our group split up and headed to opposite sides of the park.
James and I headed over to ride Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. It was one of the DHS attractions on my "must do" list for this trip.
Since Star Tours' refurbishment back in 2011 part of the "show" includes one of the passengers being singled out as "the rebel spy."
While getting into my seat for the ride a young lady who was going to be sitting next to me helped me with my seat belt. As she did, I said to her "Thank you very much, I hope you are not the rebel spy." As it turned out she was.
Walking back through the Echo Lake area James and I talked about the last time we were in the park together back in 2004. He said that he didn't really remember much about it.
But as we stopped to get something to drink at a concession stand near the theater that houses the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular some small memories came back to him. It made me feel good to help him connect with the park a bit more.
While we were on the Star Speeder the "girls" were back at the Animation Courtyard for one-on-one meet and greets with Aria's favorite Disney Junior characters.
Sophia The First...
and Doc McStuffins.
At 2PM it was time to check in at the restaurant where we made our lunch reservation.
Our group reunited on the sun drenched waiting area of the Hollywood and Vine restaurant. It was a little warm. There was some shade but not much. I let Brandi and Paula sit under the shadow of the umbrella. We only waited a few minutes before our table was ready.
The Disney Junior character lunch, like the live stage show we saw earlier in the day, is aimed at preschool guests to give them an "up close" encounter with a variety of their favorite characters all in one setting.
The logistics of the meal played out like this. Like any other buffet in America, once the family is seated, drinks are served and then they are directed to the buffet.
The Disney Junior characters (Sophia, Doc McStuffins, Jake the Pirate and Handy Manny) cycle around the dinning room one at at time stopping at each table to say "hi", get hugs, and have pictures taken. I took mostly videos of their visit to our table. But here's a couple still shots:
Every 15 minutes or so a cast member would call the characters to the open floor area near the center of the dinning room. She would then invite the kids to join them for a mini-dance party. Aria was all in for that.
Let me take a few lines to explain my impression of the entire Hollywood & Vine experience.
First of all, this was a buffet lunch priced at a 5 course dinner level (about $50 per adult after gratuity) mostly because you're paying for privilege of seeing the characters. These types of dinning experiences are all over Walt Disney World and they are pricey.
The food wasn't bad but other than the chocolate covered strawberries made fresh from the fondue fountain, I couldn't tell you what I had to eat. But it's your typical buffet offerings from soup to dessert. For a more detailed review of this meal check out the online resources.
The atmosphere was a bit chaotic. Of course you are dealing with mostly preschool children.They have a tendency to be a bit intense. But that's not what bothered me. I actually felt rushed. It was like the wait staff was under orders to: get'em in, get em fed, bring in the characters and then get'em out. Guess that's just the nature of the character meal. With my only other character meal having been more than 12 years earlier, I'd forgotten what it was like.
But of course, giving Aria the opportunity to hang out with the Disney Jr. gang is what it was all about. Here are the videos of her meet & greets with Sophia the First, Doc McStuffins and Handy Manny.
But it is the video of Aria's hugging Jake from the Neverland Pirates that will always be the best memory of our character lunch.
Now we all know that in order to bring animated characters to life in parks, they have to have some "friends" on "the inside", if you get my drift. It's these inside friends that allow them to walk around the restaurant and greet the guests. The real magic is that the child only sees the character and is usually thrilled to meet them. But from time to time an over ambitious hugging of a character is a little uncomfortable for an "inside friend." That's what happen when Aria said "hello" to Jake. Take a look at what I call the "America's Funniest Home Videos" moment of our trip.
Once our lunch was over we walked out into the bright Florida afternoon sun taking some time to enjoy the atmosphere around Echo Lake.
Aria noticed some ducks swimming in the lake near her and decided she wanted to feed them. James gave her some gold fish crackers and she had some giggly fun with the ducks.
We had some free time to explore the park before our Fast Pass time for, what would be the highlight of our day, our first ride on Toy Story Mania.
James wanted to see the newly opened Star Wars Launch Bay area. So we headed back to the Animation Courtyard.
The Star Wars Launch Bay is now in the building where the Magic of Animation tour used to be. Although I never got to experience that attraction I've been told that the transformation of the area into the guest's gateway into the galaxy far far away is quite impressive.
If the goal of the announced "Star Wars Land" expansion at The Studios is to be an immersive experience Launch Bay is a very good start.
Before we even went into the building we encountered Storm Troopers patrolling the grounds, looking for members of the rebellion.
A classic Star Wars scroll welcomes you...
...into the area filled with all kinds of characters and props from all 7 films including the very popular BB8.
There was a Jawa walking around "scavenging" and interacting with guests who wanted to "trade" with him.
Pretty soon it was out of the Launch Bay and on to Pixar Place to get in the Fast Pass line for the Toy Story ride.
Up Next: Midway Mania, Face painting, Another Aria and more. Keep checking back for the 2nd part of our day at Disney Hollywood Studios.
