Hollywood Studios! 02/11/2026
Outfits
Morning everyone! Time to rise and shine! I am doing my hair and makeup while Anthony is be an absolute hero. It's 5:00 A.M. and he has a cup of Joffrey's brewed, he's listening to his podcast, and he's ironing our clothes for the trip. Now one might think that we would go in Star Wars gear for today, but this time we're not going to be one with the force. A few years ago I bought a Woody bag and have never had a chance to wear it, well all that stops today!
I'm going to be wearing my Toy Story Cowboy ears, my Woody backpack, a bright yellow Woody T, and a denim skirt. To match us up appropriately Anthony is going to be wearing a Buzz Lightyear Space Cadet T with grey shorts. Anthony here - If the shoe fits...
Rope Drop
We got some coffee at Cafe Rix and split a breakfast burrito, and made our way over to the bus stop at Gran Destino Tower. We got to Hollywood Studios around 7:30 and made our way through security and to the entrance. We were second in line, the sun thankfully cutting through the cold bitter air. I had gotten our Lightning Lanes in order, and we gamed out our first moves. Once Early Entry started, we pathetically fast walked straight to Mickey's Runaway Railway. Unfortunately the pre-ride show wasn't cooperating, and it's one that I love. Oh well, just makes me want to ride it again next time. After Mickey's Runaway I went to get breakfast while Anthony used the early entry time to ride Rockin Rollercoaster. I don't do those rides.
Anthony here and I'll say, I love this ride. I've loved it since the first time I rode it in the year 2000. I'm old enough to appreciate Areosmith, having listened to them throughout the '90's, and going back to hear their amazing work throughout the decades. I'm not mad that Rockin is changing to the Muppets. The kids of today and tomorrow don't know who Areosmith is or was, and Disney as a brand should attempt to revitalize the Muppets. That being said.... I'm BAAACCCKKK in the Saddle again! One last time with Steve and the boys for trip out of the studio and onto the stage.
Alright, Ash back on the keys, the big win here is that we used Early Park Entry perk to get two rides out of the way. We didn't have to use Lightning Lanes and we didn't have to wait in long queues. Using the perk effectively gave us a big launch on the day so we could hit everything. In the end, I only had to buy two single use Lightning Lanes for the day, one for Rise and one for Slinky Dog. Using that Early Park Entry kept us from having to use the Mid-Tier option, and saved us a decent chunk of change. Did we spend more because we were on property? Sure. But we didn't pay for parking or a car rental. This was the experience we were willing to pay for, but also control costs elsewhere. If you want to be in the bubble, but want to save cost, make sure you maximize the available perks.
Park Opens
Okay, now that Anthony and I have had some Mickey Waffles and a Mimosa, it's time to go. We made our way down Sunset and onto Hollywood Blvd and hit all the shops. I was hunting for a gift for my mom, the Official 2026 Valentine's Day Pin, and well anything I liked! Anthony was looking for a #1 Sister keychain, matching the #1 Brother keychain his sister got him. After making our way through we got a locker toward the front of the entrance. I love Lockers. I know they can be seen as a bit pricey, but it definitely beats lugging around a backpack all day. I know some folks can get by with storage under their stroller, but hey, we don't have one of those. Anthony was used to carrying a backpack, but has since understood that when it comes to lockers, this is the way.
The Shows
Indiana Jones - For our first show we went to the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular! Now the ball had rolled off the track a week prior and that part was missing, but other than that, it was so awesome to see the show again. I know it's been around forever, but it still has spectacle, and since I did try my hand at acting for awhile, seeing the performers entertain the crowd day in and day out has a special place in my heart. Anthony love's these movies (Ahem, only the first and third), anyways, he was super happy to watch the performers make their way through the sets and help us all feel like we were truly seeing a live action experience. Great to see some of the kids dressed up as Indy!
Villains Unfairly Ever After - I was excited to see this show. I had heard some mixed reviews, but for me and Anthony, it did not disappoint. The performers, especially Maleficent and Captain Hook, were absolutely spectacular. The mirror being the catalyst that brings all the Villains together was adorable, and the theater was setup perfectly for a spooky and villainous take. The songs were super fun and overall it was a great experience. When the sun is high in the air and that Florida heat is getting to you, make this show a priority not only to cool off, but for a fun time!
Frozen Sing Along Celebration - I had just made Anthony watch Frozen a few weeks before we left. Like everyone else, he got the songs stuck in his head. We weren't originally going to go to this show, but we were walking by and it was about to start, so we made our way in. What a gem. The performers are hilarious, not only for the kids, but also for the adults. They keep you laughing while also retelling the Frozen story, but in a way that keeps it fresh. The songs are a joy, and the fake snow falling at the end helps you forget all the worries in your life. It's such an escape.
The Little Mermaid - Anthony was going through the app as Frozen was ending, because The Little Mermaid was about to start. We speed walked through the middle of the park and were one of the last ones to enter. The ushers were kind enough to help us find seats, and we were at the very front on the far left. Now I do not know if it was because of these seats that we were able to see a bit of the production in the back, or if everyone could see it, but it actually made it far more interesting for us. This show has gotten some flack for not being as good, but we both agreed that this was really good! The young woman playing Ariel was amazing, and the way the imagineers used projection for certain characters and live action for others actually helped the immersion for us. It wasn't like Nemo over in Animal Kingdom where you have puppeteers holding fish in their hands or on sticks, in this show the puppeteers are either hidden behind the screen or the character is animated. To see the production that went into creating this show made us appreciate it all the more. Next time you're in Hollywood, if time permits, go check out The Little Mermaid.
Walt Disney Presents - We caught this toward the end of our day. We honestly just wanted to look at the exhibits that covered what Walt and Roy had built but ended up walking into the theater and sat down to catch the show. It was a seven minute trailer for Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which seemed like an interesting take on the novels. I know the movie didn't take off, but the books were well liked. Maybe we'll give the show a try when we get home.
The Rides
Toy Story Mania - Anthony kicked my butt in this one. It was great to jump on the ride and laugh. For those of you that don't know, the best way to launch as many 3D balls at the targets is to rest the back of your hand against the gun, put the string between your index and middle fingers, and flick your wrist backward. I should have cheated and just slapped his hands away. I'll get him next time.
Slinky Dog Dash - I had a single use Lightning Lane for ride. Normally, I hate coasters, which is why I did not go on Rockin earlier with Anth. I make an exception for coasters where I can hang on to someone. It was a great ride as the sun was setting, and Anth had some anti-motion sickness tabs for me. I didn't have any issues, maybe it was because of the motion sickness tabs, or maybe it was because of him. Quick sidenote, we stopped at the restroom later and Anthony pulled the motion sickness tab out of my hair as it had fallen off. A wonderful woman who happened to be a doctor told us to wash our hands, as the medicine in the tabs would cause our pupils to dilate and possibly blur our vision. We thanked her profusely, and this is what I love about Disney, the wonderful people you encounter. She didn't have to speak to strangers, and she didn't have to help, but she was kind enough to see some folks who were unaware and keep us safe. This is what makes this place magical - Disney has a way of bringing out the best in us (most of the time).
Smuggler's Run - Speaking of the best of us, we got into Smugglers and we were seated as the engineers, which we were both okay with because these two young kids that were maybe seven and eight, were seated as the pilots. Their parents were the gunners, and the kids were simply having a blast. Anthony kept cheering them on from the back while performing his duties, and even though we smashed into every wall possible, the kids walked away with smiles on their faces, their parents appreciating us trying to make their trips memorable.
Rise of the Resistance - Okay, I'm an OG trilogy girl, and Anthony loves the prequels, so the sequel trilogy isn't big for both of us. That being said, this ride is a lot of fun. They make Kylo Ren a true threat, and the immersion throughout the ride is unparalleled. The fact that the cast members are outright mean to you throughout makes you feel like you've been taken by the First Order. Being broken out of holding and getting into the cars, sweeping underneath ATAT's (Anthony here, please for the love of God, everyone understand that it is pronounced A.T. A.T. not at at.), and being chased by Kylo. I love this ride, it's always a thrill. I just wish, well I wish they'd embrace Vader.
The Food
Woody's Lunch Box - In my original itinerary I had us going to Roundup Rodeo BBQ, but considering we wanted to focus on rides and shows, I switched it to Woody's Lunch Box. I did a mobile order so that we could get our food and sit down, but even then the line was pretty significant. Always remember to mobile order for Woody's. It's the fastest way to get your food and keep going.
Docking Bay 7 - All I wanted was my Ronto Wrap. I have been craving it for MONTHS. It was Anthony's first time eating a Ronto Wrap, and I'll let him speak to it.
"It's overrated."
IT IS NOT!
"Zip it, my turn. Listen, it's a hot dog between a tortilla wrap with lamb. I don't like hotdogs and I don't like lamb. This just wasn't for me. It's gyro and I'm not a gyro guy. For the rest of you, if you like hotdogs and you like gyros, yes this is for you... you weird people like my girlfriend."
Fantasmic
Anthony here to finish out the day. We didn't make it to Beauty and the Beast, Star Tours, or the Cantina, and neither of us do Tower of Terror. The biggest problem we ran into was we had completed so much by 6:30 and we were still tired from the previous day, that we didn't have motivation to keep plugging along. Ash still wanted to wait for Fantasmic, which means we had HOURS to kill.
If you have a tired party, whether they're kids or not, need to have a backup plan. We got into the theater for Fantasmic, but had another hour to wait. Thankfully I had the Play Disney app on my phone. I kept Ash thinking as we played simple Disney trivia together for awhile.
Yes, you can go to one of the sit-down restaurants (Hollywood Brown Derby, Hollywood & Vine, Sci-Fi Dine-in, and 50's Prime Time Cafe) and get the Fantasmic Dining package that gets you reserved seating, and you can show up later, but if you're not looking to do that, think about leaving the park, jumping on the Skyliner. If you have Park Hoppers, you can swing by Epcot and tour a few countries, and if you do not, go to The Riviera's Topolino's Terrace for dinner, and in either case you can come back to the park to get into Fantasmic.
The show itself was absolutely amazing. Ash was under the impression that it would break, just like it did on her last year but I had faith. It had been an awesome day, and nothing was going to stop it. It was my first time doing the show, at least that I can remember, and I was impressed by every aspect of the show. Using the water as a curtain but also a projection, allowing them to change the set while keeping the audience engaged was such an imaginative way to execute the production. Bravo to the performers and everyone else involved in the production. Awesome show, my feet hurt, and I'm happy tomorrow is a resort day. Can't wait to tell you all about it! Bonus
Down at Galaxies Edge Ash took video of the little show at Kylo's Ship. Toward the end, I was standing behind her telling the First Order that she had the information. Their response is priceless.
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