>A Fifteen Year Old gets Passionate.

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Hello John.

Hi.

So, John what would you like to talk about today? Something that might be an Unknown in Disney World, maybe?

Quick food Stands, vendors.

Like what? What do you mean?

The vendors that sell foods at little stand in the parks, or sometimes the resorts.

I just looked at him, so he continued.

The people that sell food at little stands like ice cream. They have them at Epcot, they sell one thing, like popcorn and stuff.

So, what would you like to tell people about these stands?

Of the wonderful things they sell, like food and merchandise.

How about if we stick with food?

OK, we’ll just go food now.

So, tell me about some of these stands.

Let me set the scene for you, it’s in the 90’s high humidity, you’re dying to quench your thirst to cool you down. You don’t see a restaurant in sight, then you hear a man yell, Ice Cream (they don’t yell). You turn and you spy a little stand, off in the distance, you see the man selling ice cream, and a great joy rises up within you, because you know your needs will be met momentarily.

I don’t type as fast as he talks so, I had him stop talking. Then he said, “Let me know when I can continue.” When I nodded, he continued.

And, as you approach the stand the man asks you can I help you? You say yes, I need a chocolate fudge bar, pronto. He hands you one after you pay a small fee and all your needs are met for the time being.  I should write novels.

Anyway John, What kind of foods besides ice cream do these little stands sell?

They sell, drinks, sodas, in Epcot they sell Turkey Legs, and I think you can get one in the Magic Kingdom near the Hall of Presidents that’s right, right.

Yes, it is. You can also get one in Disney Hollywood Studios also, but please don’t tell John this.

Epcot is the best, because the food is usually better, well the food is more diverse. You can also get alcoholic beverages if your kids are bothering you too much,
Don’t write that. (If this is your first time reading, you’ll find that I transcribe exactly what John says.) If you feel the need.

Why are you talking so fast tonight?

Because this is a topic I am passionate about and have much knowledge about.

What other kinds of food did you say they have?

They basically have your basic snacks. Pretzels and ice cream, it’s tough to explain, it’s like a ball game.

Besides the turkey legs what is your favorite thing to get at one of these stands?

The lemonade slushy in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom; we get one there every time. They are great for cooling you off on a hot day.

What is the most unique thing they sell at the stands?

Margaritas, No wait, the Rose and Crown sells the really big beers.

Outside the Rose and Crown Pub in Great Britain in Epcot, they sell what are called, Yards of beer and they are actually three feet of beer in a rather long tubular mug.

What is something you have seen sold at one of the stands that surprised you?

Probably the margaritas near Mexico, No probably the turkey leg the first time I saw it, I couldn’t believe they sold a big hunk of meat at a stand.

Do you remember what is special about the stands in Animal Kingdom?

No.  Then very softly, Can you remind me?

What they don’t give you when you buy something.

Napkins.

Or

Straws.
Because they don’t want you littering around the animals.

Where is your favorite stand in each park?

Magic Kingdom- Frontierland; Lemonade Slushy

Disney Hollywood Studios- the one that sells Popcorn (it is near the entrance to the animation courtyard).

Epcot- Turkey Leg

Animal Kingdom- an ice cream one, because it seems way hotter there than it does at the other parks.

Are there any other stands that you think people should know about?

No, but I recommend the chocolate fudge bar.

At this point I gathered we were about done, because he started pacing the kitchen.

Well, thank you john, you were very informative tonight.

You’re welcome, I’m glad I could be of service.

>Take a Load Off

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Sometimes, Finding THE spot to sit and relax, when you are in Walt Disney World  is an Unknown Magic. Some of the spots in Disney World are right there for you to enjoy while others are hidden and you need to search for them. Today is all about the seat, the bench, the chair, the rock wall, whatever you find that you can sit on and take a load off. There are some really great places throughout the Walt Disney World Resort to do this, so let’s find a few!

I’ve talked before about the little courtyard off of the side street from Main Street USA, but there are other places around the Magic Kingdom that are good places to get off your feet. One is the tables and chairs across from Casey’s Corner. Here the ducks and other birds congregate looking for food. Another great place in the magic Kingdom to set a spell is over in Frontierland. On the porch across from the entrance to the Country Bear Jamboree, there are rocking chairs. A rocking chair is always a great place to sit down and to do it in the Magic Kingdom is no exception.

In Epcot one of the best places to sit is off to the side of the World Showcase Promenade, between China and Germany. Right around the refreshment area out there, there is a set of tables with umbrellas, which you can sit at and enjoy some peace and quiet, as this area is rarely busy. Of course there are benches all around the World Showcase for you to sit on, but one of the nicest places to sit in Epcot is on the wall around the entrance

fountain. This is a neat place to sit and watch people pass by on their way into or out of the park. It is also very peaceful as the gurgling water is very relaxing.

In the Animal Kingdom, you can sit in the shadow of a Dinosaur outside of the attraction with the same name. They also have benches throughout Animal Kingdom and Disney Hollywood Studios also. Years ago when my family was in

Disney, my son John (whom helps me with my Tips From a Teenager Tuesday articles) was on a quest to sit on the perfect bench. He found the one in Animal Kingdom most enjoyable. He also liked the ones at the Winter Summerland miniature golf course.

But a bench is a bench is a bench. You can find other great places to sit throughout the parks too. For example, in Disney Hollywood Studios at the Streets of America there are stoops to sit on. If you aren’t from a city or have never had a chance, these are a great place to sit. Especially when the sun is just starting to go down; because the lights on the houses and the streetlamps come on and the sounds of the city fill the air.

So, now you know, there are places where you can sit and relax and take a breather when you need one. The places I talked about aren’t the only ones, there are many others. So, take the time to find the Unknown places to sit and take a load off.

>A View into the Life of a Dreamer

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One of my favorite Attractions in all of Walt Disney World, started on Main Street USA back in 1973. Originally, it was called “The Walt Disney Story” and the 23 minute  movie that was shown was narrated by none other than Walt Disney himself. This attraction closed down in October of 1992. Then in 2001 as part of the 100 Years of Magic Celebration, a different version of this attraction opened under the name One Man’s Dream.

One Man’s Dream is an often overlooked Attraction in Disney Hollywood Studios, which is why it is today’s Unknown Magic. The Attraction itself is actually two different attractions. The first is a mini-museum to the life and accomplishments of Walt Disney and the Walt Disney Company (mostly brother Roy). The second is a movie shown in the Walt Disney Theater at the back of the building.
As you walk through the museum part of the building, you pass by memorabilia that goes back as far as Walt Disney Brother’s Studios in the 1920’s. Actually the walking tour starts before that, with Walt’s early life in Kansas City and Marceline, Missouri. There are pictures of the early days of Walt’s professional life; things like Oswald the Rabbit movie posters and scenes from the “Alice” movies.
The walking tour is arranged in chronological order and you follow the progression of the studio through the decades; the movies of the Forties, lead you into the Disneyland years of the Fifties, which carry you into the years of the sixties when Walt and the Imagineers were preparing for the World’s Fair and then Disney World.

There aren’t just pictures in One Man’s Dream, though. There are displays of Disney Studio props and there are models of the different Disney parks. There is a model of the original Main Street USA from Disneyland, and there is a scene set up as Walt explaining the Florida Project in front of a television camera (incidentally, this was one of Walt’s last appearances in front of a camera). To see this you need to look through an old television camera that they have in front of the display. They also show some Audio Animatronics figures in construction. One of the neatest things they show is a Dancing Man figure that Walt made after filming actor Buddy Ebsen dancing. This was one of the first animated dimensional figures that Walt had made.

Some of my favorite things in the walking tour through One Man’s Dream besides the Florida Project film are the models of the four Disney World Theme Parks. They are very neat to see. One of the parts that gives me goose-bumps every time is the picture of the crying Mickey-world when they talk about Walt’s Death.
The other part of this attraction is the film shown in the Walt Disney Theater. This movie is about 15 minutes long and is narrated by Julie Andrews. She starts the movie with a line, “They say that Hollywood is a town built on dreams and one of its greatest Dreamers was Walt Disney.” She then says that no one can tell the story of Walt better than Walt himself. Here the Imagineers start using clips from interviews with Walt to tell his story. He talks about his parents, his childhood, going off to war and then his early failures in business and movie making. Then the story of the Disney Brothers Studio and the Walt Disney Studios is told. The Film takes you right up to Walt’s death but shows scenes of Disney World. It is a very informative and interesting film.
Everyone should see this movie at least once, as it is a great piece of Americana. This is one of the attractions though that many people overlook even if they haven’t been through it, as they think it is as the Hollywood Studios guide map says just a “walking tour of Walt’s life.” But it is so much more than that. It is a view into the life of one of the World’s Greatest Dreamers.

>“What’s Your Problem?” *

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One of the Reasons I started this blog, was because I get excited about the little details in Walt Disney World, The Unknown Magics that you find when you aren’t looking, but just taking your time and relaxing at the Happiest Place on Earth. They can be at the Resorts, at the Parks, or when traveling around Walt Disney World. Some of our families most Magical Experiences are things we happened upon. As I have stated over and over, we are not Disney Commandos. We take our time, we stroll, we relax, and we take breaks. That isn’t to say we don’t do the extra morning hours, or haven’t been at a rope drop, we do, those things. And actually that is how we found today’s Unknown Magic.

We did an Extra Morning Hour at Disney Hollywood Studios, when we were there last summer. It was nice as usual to get into the park before the crowds, and we made our way to Toy Story Mania. We got a FastPass (because the day before FastPass was empty for the attraction by 10:15 am), we figured we’d go on it when we were there and then go back later. So, we took our ride then had 2 hours to do something with before our FastPass time. We decided to stroll through the shops on

Hollywood Boulevard. After shopping for a while, we decided to head to over to Epcot. For those of you that don’t know, From Disney Hollywood Studios, you can get to Epcot by getting on one of the boats called Friendship Launches that are stationed on Crescent Lake.

When we got to Epcot, Future World was open, so we went there. We decided to go into Innovations West, which we don’t always do and probably haven’t done in about three years. We walked through looking at different presentations and games and then

happened upon, Slap Stick Studios, presented by the Velcro Company. The show they present here is called “What’s Your Problem?” it’s billed as an Interactive Game Show. This peaked our interest, so in we went, (mainly because they were letting people into the show as we walked up). I am so, glad we went in. This Show gave us a Magical Experience that we still are talking about. So today, I present to you The Unknown Magic of “What’s Your Problem?”

When you first enter the “studio” there is a small stage to your left and bench seating to the right. When we went there may have been 20 people watching this show, but that would be a kind estimate. There are two hosts for the show, the one let’s you into the studio and then the other joins him on stage. They started the show by talking to the audience (since we are the kind of people to talk back, they liked us, right from the beginning). They start off by giving you a history of hook and loop fasteners, what we commonly refer to as Velcro. They do let you know repeatedly throughout the show that what you call Velcro is actually hook and loop fasteners, not Velcro, as Velcro is the name of the Company. They also tell you that the name Velcro comes from the French Words, “velour” and “crochet”, put together to become Velcro.

Then they start the Game show. At our show, they called three kids up first to play. Then they had the kids get their parents up to help them. The game they played was about traveling by plane to Florida and not taking a second bag, because they charge for them. It was funny to see the kids pack all their things, with the help of hook and loop fasteners, on their parents.

The next game that was played, I was called up onto stage. They had me and another gentleman come up and put on aprons that had the loop part of hook and loop on it. Then they rolled out a cart of baby dolls. Our job was to diaper the baby dolls using diapers with the hook side of the hook and loop and then stick the babies to our aprons. We were given 60 second I think, it was hysterical. The diapering part wasn’t bad, but the babies wouldn’t stick to my apron. I think I lost 4 to the floor. My wife and son laughed the entire time as they enjoyed our Magical Experience.

The show ended soon after and the as the crowd dispersed we talked a little to the hosts. They made the show fun, and even if I wasn’t on stage I know we would have enjoyed it.

So, now you know, take the time to stop in Innovations West and find the Unknown Magic of “What’s Your Problem?”

To see more about this neat show you can go to: http://www.slapstickstudios.com/

* I loved this attraction and was discussing it over the weekend with someone. I decided to repost this article since few people know about this Unknown Magical Attraction. This article originally appeared as I was Loopy.

>A Snack Stand that is ICE Cold

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We were in Walt Disney World last summer in the middle of July. It was hot. We knew it would be, but it was still hot. This is one of the drawbacks to travelling when the kids are out of school. But we have to do this because as teachers, that is when we are off from work also. So, it was a hot July day, we were in the Disney Hollywood Studios and we decided we would head for Epcot and get some lunch. As we walked up Hollywood Boulevard, we discussed the fact that we needed something to drink. Soda, water, anything to quench our thirst; the problem was walking toward the entrance, Hollywood Boulevard offers few places to get a drink. So, as we were looking around, we thought maybe we could get a drink at the Crossroads. But alas, they only sell gifts and items you may need to get you through a day in the

park, batteries, suntan lotion, etc. So, even though this tower at the entrance offers an Unknown Disney World Magic (Mickey’s ear acts as a lightning rod) we couldn’t satisfy our need for liquid refreshment.

Then out of the corner of my eye I saw something I had never noticed. At Oscar’s Super Service Station off to the left of the front gate as you are leaving the studios, there is a refreshment stand off to the side of it. We decided to grab a soda here, but when we got to the counter, all that changed and we enjoyed a special treat that we never would have had. The special treat on this oppressively hot day was, Iced Coffee. This cool refreshing drink that we stumbled upon was just what we needed. Not only was it cold, but it was very tasty also.

The little stand that we found at the front entrance alongside Oscar’s is called the Ice Cold Snack Stand. It is presented by Coca-cola. It even has a Coke bottle on the sign. They don’t offer much to eat, a few cookies and such, but they offer all kinds of drinks. Of course they offer Coke products, Diet Coke, Sprite, and Barq’s root beer. They also offer bottled water, in two sizes. And apple and orange juices, great if you have younger kids. And then they have Coffee choices. The coffee choices are enough to make Dunkin’ Donuts jealous. They offer Espresso, Cappucino, and regular Coffee. Then they also have Iced French Vanilla, Iced Mocha and Iced Latte. They also serve hot tea and Cocoa.

The Ice Cold Snack Stand is a great place to get a cold drink. It is definitely one of those places that you see, but you don’t pay attention to. I don’t know how many times my family had walked by it over the years, before we finally went over to it. It is just a tiny little refreshment stand, there was only one Cast member working there when we walked up, but not offering as many items, made it easy for her to quickly fill our order.

So, next time you are either entering or exiting Disney Hollywood Studios, look to the side just inside the front gate, to see an Unknown Magic that can help you enjoy your day just a little bit more, by quenching that thirst.

>A Good Cookie and a Great Place to Read!

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My problem rright now is that I am sitting in New Jersey. This is a problem because I was saying to my wife last night that I would like to go to the Writer’s Stop today and sit and read Kingdom Keepers IV, the new book by Ridley Pearson that came out yesterday. Ridley was in Walt Disney World signing copies on Monday and Tuesday of this week. On Monday he was in Downtown Disney at Once upon a Toy. Yesterday he was at a great place to sit and relax and take a break from the parks, one of my favorite places for a Hakuna Mawednesday,* the previously mentioned Writer’s Stop.

The Writer’s stop is a little coffee shop/bookstore in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. My wife says the coffee selection is pretty good, I don’t drink coffee, but I do enjoy the snacks they sell at the Writer’s Stop. Many people LOVE the Carrot Cake Cookie; I personally like the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie, although I don’t think I have ever had a bad muffin there either. They also sell, other assorted pastries, brownies and of course the Mouse Head Rice Krispie treat.

Being that it is a coffee shop, that sells merchandise, they sell a lot of coffee related items; coffee cups, travel mugs, cans of coffee, tea bags, and things like that. They also sell an assortment of books, magazines and Disney DVDs. The book selection is mostly books about Disney World and Disney History, but they also sell some books that are on the best seller’s lists.

Once you have your coffee and treat, you can enjoy them and a new book on one of the sofas or chairs that are in the sitting area of the store. This area reminds me of a little living room or the coffee house on the television show Friends. It is a comfortable place to sit and enjoy your drink. The shop also has high tables around the small sitting area.

Every time I have been to the Writer’s Stop, (which we do most trips to Disney Hollywood Studios) the Cast Members have been wonderful. We usually go in and get something to drink and eat, sit down and browse through a book or two and enjoy some conversation. As I said earlier, I would love to be sitting there now an enjoying Kingdom Keepers Power Play, the newest in the series.

If you haven’t read the series, I’ll give you a quick intro to the books, as reading is also a great Hakuna Mawednesday thing to do, whether in Disney or not. The stories revolve around five kids that were chosen to become holographic images in the Magic Kingdom. These kids then find themselves actually traveling to the Magic Kingdom when they are sleeping to become their holographic selves. While there, the find that a group called the Overtakers (an evil group of Disney Villains) is trying to take over the parks. The Kingdom Keepers, as the kids become known, then have to save Disney World. The three other books that have been released take place in all four of the theme parks. I have just started the fourth and am looking forward to the adventure.

So, now you know, there is an Unknown Magic in Disney Hollywood Studios where you can enjoy a great Hakuna Mawednesday. One that offers a good cup of coffee a great cookie and a relaxing place to read a new book.

*For those people new to the Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World, welcome to Hakuna Mawednesday. On Wednesdays we share with you great places and ways to relax and maybe enjoy some recreation while on your Disney Vacation. These ideas may be things that you do not know about. Every week I try to share with you different Unknown Magical Places that you can go for these Magics.

>Ooh, Ahhhh… Part 3

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Over the last two weeks, Saturday’s posts have been about Fireworks in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, today we will finish up the Firework Series at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Firework Show in Disney Hollywood Studios is called Fantasmic! This Fireworks extravaganza takes place in the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater. This is truly an Extravaganza. This Show is so wonderful, that Author Ridley Pearson* used it as a focal point in his new book Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow. The show is only able to be viewed in its entirety in the Amphitheater. What makes this an Unknown Magic is not that it’s a Fireworks Display, but something special for the whole family.

Before I tell you about the reasons why this show is worth seeing, I need to give a warning. This is one of those things in Walt Disney World, where people get a little crazy. I’m not talking about them getting out of hand or rowdy, No, I’m talking about the Craziness of Waiting. At the Magic Kingdom and Epcot people will set themselves up for the Fireworks about an hour before they begin. At Fantasmic, the gates open to the Amphitheater two hours before the show. If you want a seat, and actually if you want to be able to see the show, you need to show up about an hour before it starts, or you will not be able to watch.

SO, what makes people want to wait for this show for two hours? Well, first of all it is a great show. It involves the Disney Villains, against Mickey Mouse in a battle of Good vs. Evil. It is technologically amazing to see, the effects are amazing. When you finally walk out of the 25 minutes show, you are Satisfied that Disney has given you something you will remember.

Knowing that Disney does Fireworks like no one else, I’m sure that even first time visitors expect a great Fireworks show in “Hollywood”. So what makes this an Unknown Magic? The show itself is not the Unknown Magic. It’s how to see it. In Epcot and Magic Kingdom, you can see the fireworks from other places. No, the Unknown Magic here is not where to see them, but how to see them better.

The Hollywood Brown Derby, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano and Hollywood & Vine, three big restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, offer a Fantasmic! Dinner Experience. What this is basically is a FAST PASS for Fantasmic! You make an Advanced Dining Reservation for one of these

three eateries for dinner, and you are given a pass that allows you to go to Fantasmic! 30 minutes before the start and you are guaranteed a seat. There is No Additional Charge for the package, but at this time, you must book your reservation with a credit card and you will be charged a nominal fee if you do not show up.

As a person that doesn’t like to wait 2 minutes for a microwave burrito, I think this is a great thing! I mean not only can you have a great meal, Momma Melrose’s is Fantastic, but the fact that you don’t have to go to the stadium an hour to two before the show begins to me is Wonderful! This Makes this Magical Experience even better!

One other tip on Fantasmic, sometimes they offer two shows when the crowds are high. If they do offer two shows, try to go to the second one, the crowds for this show are usually smaller.

So, now that you know, Have a nice dinner and then catch Fantasmic! It will make your Magical Experience even better!

*Ridley Pearson’s next book, Kingdom Keepers IV Power Play is scheduled for release next week; April 5, 2011

>Target Practice in Disney

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As a writer, I know that sometimes the ideas flow easily, other times, not so much. Sometimes, the Interviews with my son John, my co-writer on Tuesdays, follow the not so much path. Today was one of those days. Although I ask the same question every week, “Tell me something people should know about Walt Disney World,” this week it seemed like I was asking it for the first time. He had trouble coming up with something he wanted to talk about. He thought about it for a while and then came up with a place, that we frequently visit, but I wanted him to talk about something else, so I nudged him toward an attraction. He came up with one of his favorites. Here is our discussion of Toy Story Mania.

What would you like people to know about it?

The whole ride in general, and the tips for getting on, FastPass and stuff.

By tips for getting on, he’ll talk about when to ride this great attraction.

Why don’t we start with the ride in general,what is it about the ride that people should know?

It is fun for all ages, you will find almost every age on the ride.

Which is true, this is one of those rides which everyone in the family will enjoy. The queue for the attraction is one of the neater ones to walk through as you are actually walking through Andy’s room and seeing some of his things. Mr. Potato Head is the carnival barker in the queue and is a very interesting Audio-Animatronics figure to behold.

Why is it fun for all ages?

Because it is interactive and fun.

What do you mean interactive?

It is a 3-D ride where you get points for shooting, can’t say really shooting, but for, hitting targets in various places from toy story.

The scenes in the attraction aren’t from Toy Story, but actually are different Midway games set up by the Toys in Andy’s room. Each area has you trying to hit a target with a different type of projectile coming from your “Spring-action Shooters”.

So, it isn’t just 3-D but you participate in the ride?

Yes.

How does it work?

You sit in the car with the 3-D glasses on and there is a little cannon in front of you and you go around in the car and do what the people on the screen tell you to do. It’s like target shooting in Disney.

What kind of targets do you shoot at?

Like balloons, uh, targets on top of army vehicles, ring toss at the aliens, targets on farm animals. I don’t remember all of them, but I know the characters. The very first targets you aim at are Woody and Buzz, and this round is considered Target Practice.

So which characters are there?

Woody, Buzz, Little Aliens guys, green army men, the girl (Jessie), the pony (Bull’s-eye), and a few others.

So what makes this ride fun?

It can get competitive with the people you are with, you may want to do it more than once. It’s very similar to Buzz Lightyear.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is also a target shooting attraction in the Magic Kingdom. It has you shooting “laser” beams at Zurg and other targets throughout the galaxy.

It seems like it would be a popular attraction.

Oh yes it is.

So, is it easy to do over and over?

No, because of the rather long lines during the day. You have to get a couple of FastPasses or do it as the park is closing or opening. No, do it at closing because people run to get to it when the park is first opening. So, definitely get some FastPasses, one of Disney’s greatest inventions.

Actually riding it over and over as the park is closing is as difficult as in the morning, because of the popularity of this attractions. This is one of the places you want to visit during Extra Magic hours.

Is there anything else people should know about Toy Story Mania?

Definitely take your kids to ride it, they will love it and love beating their parents if they can. That is something exciting, and who doesn’t like 3-D?

Do you normally beat your parents?
I’m the best, of course, playing against either of my parents is good.
Do you pout when you lose?
I usually don’t lose, and no, I just want to play again.

Thanks John.

You’re welcome, Dad.

>Get Small

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A Bugs Life was on TV last night. My Son John and I were watching it and he commented that there aren’t any Bug’s Life attractions in Walt Disney World. I reminded him of It’s Tough to be a Bug in Animal Kingdom and then he was right. Besides it’s Tough to be a Bug, there isn’t another. You can see Flik

around Animal Kingdom, but there aren’t any other attractions. In Disneyland, they have A Bug’s Land, where they have the Tough to be a Bug attraction and a few other attractions and where you walk through a garden where you are the size of a bug. Although they don’t have this in Walt Disney World (yet), there is an Unknown Magical Attraction that is very much like this. It is the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure.



Picture from Amazon, where you can order this movie

 “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure, is based on the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movies. Where scientist Wayne Szalinski, first shrinks his kids, then “blows up” the Baby and then shrinks himself and his wife. These were cute family movies released in the very late ‘80’s and early 90’s and became an attraction in Disney World in 1990, after the first movie was released.

“Honey I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure, is located in the Disney Hollywood Studios off the Streets of America and across from the Studio Catering Co. This is a great place to stop before heading into the Lights, Motors Action Extreme Stunt Show or after taking the Backlot Tour. Younger kids will have a ball here. The Movie set Adventure is more like a playground with HUGE props that add some fun to your visit. You can climb on the back of a very large ant, dodge 30 foot blades of grass and get squirted by a 52 foot long garden hose, as well as experiencing other things that make you feel as if you were shrunk.

The attraction is promoted by Disney as a “play area for little ones and preschoolers”, but when we were down and John was eight, he still had a good time playing around here. Truth be told, we did too! It is a neat place to walk around and think about how they make movies where people are smaller than
real life things and the items they have here for the kids (and yes adults) to play on are pretty neat. My favorites were the Spider web and the plant root maze. The Nose is kind of funny also; it is a very large nose that sniffs from time to time (that is a weird sensation).

“Honey I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure is one of those attractions that many people look in at and then keep walking right on by, because it doesn’t seem like much. It really isn’t much, but it is a great place to enjoy as a family and a wonderful place for the little ones. You will definitely get some great pictures and even more laughs when you take the time to get small.

>Getting Ready for the Toys

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This week’s Magical Attraction Monday was about one of my Favorite Attractions in Walt Disney World, Toy Story Mania. The pre-ride queue for this attraction is fantastic. Here are some pictures taken in this attraction, as you wind your way through the line. Enjoy the walk through.