Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Because there's far too much to see and do. We're here to help guide you through. We are a married couple with two boys age 9 and 6 talking all things Disney World. This podcast will cover the tips and tricks we've learned along our journey, history of the parks and attractions, and most importantly why and how Disney makes us feel how we do while in the parks and that it's ok to feel that way.
Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Episode #197: Hollywood Studios Attractions: Under, Over, or Properly Rated?
We explore whether Hollywood Studios attractions live up to their hype, examining each experience to determine if it's under, over, or properly rated in this 2025 update.
• Breaking news: Disney World begins piloting the return of Resort Airline Check-in service at Pop Century
• Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage is underrated with its impressive Broadway-style condensed performance
• Tower of Terror debate: amazing Imagineering and storyline but could use more thrilling drops like Mission Breakout in California
• Rockin' Roller Coaster (soon to be Muppets-themed) feels overrated with outdated themes
• Walt Disney Presents is criminally underrated and should be required viewing for first-timers
• Galaxy's Edge attractions: Rise of the Resistance lives up to expectations while Millennium Falcon varies dramatically based on your position
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along is surprisingly underrated with hilarious royal historians
• Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway has grown on us with its impressive technology
• Two new shows arriving May 27th: The Little Mermaid Musical Adventure and Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After
Book your next Disney vacation with Travel Planner Erica at travelplannererica.com and receive a Disney gift card on arrival day for being a Circle of Parks listener!
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Hello and welcome to Circular Parks podcast, episode number 197. Today we are talking about if attractions in Hollywood studios are under, over or properly rated. 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. So this week, DisneyStorecom they're featuring a new line for Goofy Movie. Yes, that's right, they have Goofy Movie merch shirts to magic bands and more. It's hard to believe it is the 30th anniversary for that movie Makes me feel old. Now we're really old.
Speaker 2:Yes, Because I remember not liking this movie when it came out, because I was too old.
Speaker 1:Well, it was a fun movie. Still is a fun movie. So yeah, 30 years, okay. So I couldn't really narrow down like a specific item. You know, there's a cute long sleeve shirt, magic band's pretty cool, a couple other items as well. So yeah, so that's this week's Disney merch.
Speaker 2:Thank you, everybody for joining us. Episode number 197. Hollywood Studios Attractions Under Over or Properly Rated 2025 Edition. We did this episode back like episode number 23 or 4. Something like that Things have changed, Our opinions have changed and there's new stuff Coming. Yes, and so well, new show. We've added some shows and stuff that we haven't previously done before.
Speaker 1:Well, yes, that too.
Speaker 2:And so, excuse me. Breaking news, though, did come out today via blogmickycom Walt Disney World begins piloting return of resort airline check-in service. This is massive.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:This is pre-COVID days.
Speaker 1:Right Been a few years.
Speaker 2:Been a while Back to the Magical Express days, when you would go on a Walt Disney World trip, staying on property. About a week prior to your arrival date, they would mail you colored bag tags and you would put them on your bags. You would check your bags wherever you were coming from at the airport and then they would just appear at your resort after you got there. Now it would be usually a few hours afterwards, but you never had to worry about them none of that, and when you were at the resort going home, you just checked them at the resort the day you were leaving, and then you never had to take them to the airport.
Speaker 2:They were already transported there and on your flight, and you picked them up when you got home.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, it was awesome, it was. It was. We did that the first few trips and, yeah, that's exciting if they are in fact bringing it back.
Speaker 2:So this is per blog Mickey dot com Starting today. A very limited pilot is underway as Walt Disney World explores bringing back the popular resort airline check in offering. As you may remember, resort airline check in is where guests were able to check in their bags at their Disney resort and the bags would magically appear when they arrived at their destination airport back home. Resort Airline Check-In was one of the offerings that kept guests in the Disney bubble while on vacation. The Resort Airline Check-In offering was discontinued in the post-COVID era at Walt Disney World with a number of other offerings, but it looks like it could very well return Again. This is per blogmikicom Starting today. Today is March 31st, not april 1st. Yeah, so this I'm not thinking this is an april fools.
Speaker 2:No, if it came out tomorrow maybe, but tomorrow maybe starting today, march 30, monday, march 31st 2025, a very limited pilot of the resort airline check-in offering is taking place at disney's pop century resort. The pilot is only at pop center for now, but it will be rolling out to more value resorts in April. The resort airline check-in service is extremely limited during the pilot, with Southwest Airlines being the only supported airline at this time. If there is more interest in service in the future, it will be expanded to other airlines. So I can imagine Disney paying for this in the past cost a lot of money because they had to pair the airlines.
Speaker 2:They had to transport the bags like this was a big logistical thing yeah, yeah but to me this makes me think that they're not. They're having to find ways to compete with universal because they got epic universe opening. We're not going to epic universe, me and ryan, but we're going to universal this next week that it's opening. But we're not going to epic universe, we're just going to the normal parks I think the week after it opens, not next week.
Speaker 2:No, the week after epic universe opens, we are me and ryan are taking a day and going to universal just the og parks, not the new parks. But to me it's telling me that Disney's trying to find ways to compete again with Universal.
Speaker 1:Right, I mean, and there's a lot of things that Disney has coming up, but it's going to take some time.
Speaker 2:This is something that they can make an immediate difference between them and Universal. So we'll see, I'm excited for it. Hopefully it'll come back to the way it was. Maybe Magical Express.
Speaker 1:Oh, I would love, love if they brought back Magical Express that immediately puts you in the bubble. It was great.
Speaker 2:It was great.
Speaker 1:All right, yes, all right. Hollywood Studios attraction Hollywood.
Speaker 2:Studios. So, excuse me, we're better now with allergies. It's still just a little.
Speaker 1:Well and now? So it went from like springtime weather and pollen and stuff to having storms last night and now it's like 48 degrees outside yeah, springtime in tennessee, all right, hollywood studios attractions, and they under over or popular rated and we're doing some shows as well as rides and we used a very scientific method of what we think of the attractions versus what other we think other people think of.
Speaker 2:What we think of the attractions versus what other we think other people think of it, and kind of the online youtube hype around the attractions versus the wait times that are in the parks. Yes, so it's not scientific at all. It's just what we overall think. So take it with a very big grain of salt, but it's fun. Some of y'all will disagree, some will, y'all will agree and this is just a fun show we like to do.
Speaker 1:Sometimes we like to stir the pot with our friends. Sometimes we do as well.
Speaker 2:All right, so Hollywood Studios Attractions. We're going to start with Beauty and the Beast, live on stage. Brittany, tell us about this.
Speaker 1:So keep in mind this show is 30 minutes long. You're reliving the romance and magic of a tale as old as time in a lavish Broadway style musical version of Beauty and the Beast, and they do a really good job of doing like a condensed version of the Broadway show. For sure it does definitely feel like a small version of if you've been to Broadway shows elsewhere. So be our guest. The heartwarming tale of bell and the bee swirls to life in this lush stage performance with colorful costumes, gorgeous scenery and songs you've come to love. You know, think of. Be our guest, be our guest. So I absolutely enjoyed it. We didn't do it for the first several trips that we we did not know.
Speaker 2:And then I think it was.
Speaker 1:You one day was like hey, we haven't done this yet, let's you know you love being the beast, you want to do it, let's experience it and voila, yeah, yeah. So again, please keep in mind though, especially if you have like younger children that might get antsy after a little. While the show itself is 30 minutes, they do seat you probably 20 minutes or so before it starts you can walk up right before you can get seats, like you're not gonna miss the show, true and and they have, you know, show times posted.
Speaker 1:You know so there's times throughout the day, so if you miss, like an 11 o'clock showing, you might be able to go to a one o'clock or two o'clock and so on don't use a lightning link for this. Yeah, definitely not um, but I, again, again, I enjoyed it. It definitely, like I said, felt like a condensed version of a full Broadway show.
Speaker 2:Okay, so what did you rate it?
Speaker 1:Are you not going to talk about it?
Speaker 2:at all. I will when I talk about it.
Speaker 1:All right, so I put Beauty and the Beast live on stage is underrated, I agree, underrated, yeah, because we didn't even really hear a lot about it before we went and you still don't?
Speaker 2:No, and so I'm not a Broadway guy but I do like Beauty and the Beast. I grew up in the Disney early 90s era and this is a great movie and I think they did a really good job of doing the movie and we did see the actual Broadway play when it it came to nashville of beauty and the beast, remember was it beauty and the beast?
Speaker 1:yes, it was. I remember the beer clanging scene oh yes, yes, I'm sorry I remember the one thing, the one thing is that's it, yes, I surprised you.
Speaker 2:Was it for your? Was it yes, no?
Speaker 1:you're right. Sorry, I was drawing a blank for something because I was you just see how much I know I was picturing scenes in this mini version for a minute, but yes, they the the bigger Broadway version. They do have an extra scene that Zach really liked so I I thought they did a really good job.
Speaker 2:I was really impressed. I remember walking away, going wow that was really good. Yeah, really really well done.
Speaker 1:Yes, completely underrated, yes yeah, for sure I mean the boys liked it too yeah, it keeps you entertained and you know again, plenty of seating. Uh, be our guest is always a fun song, so yeah yeah, I I really enjoyed.
Speaker 2:They had some good special effects in there as well, with the beast turning into the prince I thought that was really well done.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this is good overall, a really really good show yes, definitely yeah, because again I mean, we didn't know much about it and again, like zach echoing off of him, like you still don't, so all right, we're gonna stay on that side of the park.
Speaker 2:We're gonna go to the twilight zone.
Speaker 1:Tower of terror, britney yes, the twilight zone tower of terror. So hurdle up and down aboard a haunted elevator style lift. You're about to enter the Twilight Zone. You must be 40 inches or taller. It is a thrill ride. Some big drops, dark, debatable, can be scary. And so your next stop is the Fifth Dimension. Step uneasily inside the infamous Hollywood Tower Hotel and find a dusty lobby frozen in time. Even the subdued hotel staff seems strangely out of another era. Suddenly, a television set springs to life and Rod Serling welcomes you. On a gloomy Halloween night in 1939, some hotel patrons were riding the elevator when a violent storm struck the building and they were never seen again. Now you're saying debatable on the drops. When I wrote it you even said those were some of the biggest drops you've experienced on that ride Okay, so what are you rating it?
Speaker 1:Well, hold on. Let me explain the drops a little more. It does different sequences.
Speaker 2:There is, like I can't remember the net number. It's like 52 different sequences.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's quite a few. So I mean, sometimes you ride it and you may not get as big of a drop, you know, but yeah, the time that. But anyway I put overrated.
Speaker 2:Okay, Okay. So I think when we did this episode three years ago- I think I said underrated.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:I love the storyline here. I love the imagineering, I love the detail. If you like, the Twilight Zone episodes. There's so many Easter eggs to the Twilight Zone TV show.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And there are some beloved fans of this TV show.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because it aired from 1959 to 1964.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and there's some iconic episodes. I've watched a few here and there. I love the story Again, the Imagineering, the detail with the Mahjong board, the players being just got up and left, so it looked like they vanished when they were playing Mahjong to just the overall attraction. I love every bit of it. It belongs in Hollywood Studios, right? Well, yeah, I mean, I of it.
Speaker 1:It belongs in Hollywood studios, right, well, yeah, I mean I think it belongs in the park, but I just, I don't know, like, I think our age, maybe slightly younger and then older, can have more of an appreciation of it. But like the younger generations may not Because, again, like the show itself, the series aired, you know, 59 to 1964. So, um, but I don't know like I think it.
Speaker 2:I think as a whole at least, sooner rather than later, I think it might start becoming overrated so and I also go back to our first trip in 2019, when ryan wanted to go ride it but we had tickets for phantasm and it was like a 90 minute wait and I was like, buddy, we just can't do it. And he was bawling and crying and walking away and a cast member who was plain clothed which I don't know if they do this still anymore was like hey, it's okay, I've got fast passes, we'll go and made his day, made our trip, we loved it. We still ride it together, me and him. So I take all this into consideration in the long wait times that it still gets, it still gets upwards of 90 minute wait.
Speaker 2:Yeah it is one of the higher ones but after riding guardians of the galaxy mission breakout in disney's california adventure and just how much fun that is. It's way more intense but you don't notice it because you're having so much fun. It is a party on board your thing, your elevator, on Mission Breakout. I want them to bring the sequences that they do there in DCA to here.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Because every time since we've done Mission Breakout me and Ryan once we get off of it we're like that was it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's it. So you want the theming changed too? No, no, no, no, no. Okay, just the sequence.
Speaker 2:I just want the more sequence the drops to be like they are in DCA. So I know they can do it, I know they can do it. I know they can. It's the same attraction, just rethemed, so I know they have the capability of making it more intense.
Speaker 1:Make us more intense.
Speaker 2:Yeah or just have me on it, and then it becomes that way. So, with all of that being said, I'm saying properly rated, okay. I want the thrill factor to be more thrilling, because this is not After doing Mission Breakout and DCA. This is not thrilling at all anymore. It's just not.
Speaker 1:But I love the story Right and.
Speaker 2:I love the Imagineering.
Speaker 1:Right. Yeah, I mean the theming in the lobby and everything. Yes, very well done, but it's just not me.
Speaker 2:All right, we're moving on next to Rockin' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith. For the time being, it's going to be Muppets. Eventually, yes, but for now it's Aerosmith For now, yes, as of March 31st March 31st 2025. Yes.
Speaker 1:So race along the darkened freeways of Los Angeles in a super-stretched limo to the rockin' tunes of Aerosmith. You must be 48 inches or taller. Gotta be tall, yes, 48 inches or taller. So live life in the fast lane inside their Hollywood music studio. Legendary rock band Aerosmith is wrapping up a recording session when their manager tells them they're late for a concert across town and the band invites you to ride along. And so you're riding along in this limo, speeding off into the night listening to their harmonies filling the air.
Speaker 1:Um, it's zooming you through the city and, yes, talk about the launch and stuff you go from zero to 60 in about two seconds yes, it's pretty awesome yeah, it's a fun coaster yeah, and I mean, and it sounds like the music is probably pretty good too you get some good aerosmith songs on there yeah, yeah, yeah, and's like 125 speakers, 24 subwoofer and all of that good stuff.
Speaker 2:So you can't rate this though.
Speaker 1:No, but the songs include Walk this Way, do Looks Like a Lady, sweet Emotion Back in the Saddle, love in an Elevator, and so, except it's rewritten as Love in a Roller Coaster. So those are some of the songs. Yeah, I can't rate it because I have not written it.
Speaker 2:So I think way back when, three years ago, I said this was properly rated. I'm going overrated now. Oh okay, overrated. It's a great coaster. It's thrilling. I loved Aerosmith 20 years ago.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Not so much anymore.
Speaker 1:And I think that's why it's being updated in different ways, retheming it to.
Speaker 2:Muppets, I hope.
Speaker 1:They do it right they do it right.
Speaker 2:I think they will. I hope they will. Yeah, but you know when we go in June if we don't do it.
Speaker 1:You're not going to be upset than waiting 90 minutes to ride this.
Speaker 2:That's just how it is, you know. It's just the theming. It's outdated now. It is, it is, it really is All right. Moving on to Disney Junior Play and Dance Now. We did this way back when in 2019.
Speaker 1:Yes, when we had smaller children, yes, and so join Dot McStuffins, vampirina, timon and Mickey for a high-energy musical celebration All ages, lasts about 10 minutes. Times run throughout the day, like 9.55, 10.35, 11.15, and more, and so it's a dance and sing-along. Show off your moves, catch bubbles, which?
Speaker 1:Nolan really did Lots of bubbles and laugh yourself silly at a Fun-Filled Party featuring Disney Junior characters and music. Get in the groove on the dance floor as the DJ starts the celebration, playing songs you know from the shows you love. So again, doc McStuffins and more so, yeah, we have not gone to it in several years.
Speaker 2:No, probably won't go back.
Speaker 1:But when we did like, nolan had a blast.
Speaker 2:Ryan did too, and Ryan enjoyed it too.
Speaker 1:He tried to hide it, I think, a little bit as far as how much he enjoyed it.
Speaker 2:But as we were walking out of it, he was like that was a good show.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Because when we watched it it was Mickey and the Roadster Racers and that was was like one of the boys favorite tv shows at the time, and so they did like a thing with mickey and the roadster racer there wasn't doc mcstuffins.
Speaker 1:No, doc.
Speaker 2:Mcstuffins was there too in it, I'm pretty sure I don't remember, okay, well yes, and I believe vampirina that they did make appearances because they were just becoming very popular popular at the time.
Speaker 1:They weren't around as long as they are right, I think they were at the time. There were like one or two other characters that made appearances too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah so what do you think this is under, over or properly?
Speaker 1:so I think it like as a whole it's hard because you know it caters more towards the younger crowd, even though it's for all ages. So I think, like if you have younger kids in your family, you may not hear about this as much as some of the attractions.
Speaker 2:They don't promote it. Yeah, they don't promote it.
Speaker 1:So in that, if I'm looking at it from that scenario, I feel like it is underrated, right Because the families with the younger children may not know about it.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And it is a fun experience if they are watching Disney Junior. Yeah, now if your family, you know, is with older kids or no kids, you know you're not really going to care about this. We're not going to, you know. So it's fine that it is underrated, but I think you know there's a lot of families out there that may not know about it and would love it. So I think it's in that scenario. I think it's underrated. I put properly rated, okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because it depends on your family right. Yes, and you're just waiting for the next show. You're not going to be waiting for a long time for this. Don't use a lightning lane on it, which I think we did Back then. It was a fast pass Maybe.
Speaker 1:I think yeah, I want to say yes.
Speaker 2:We didn't know any better Right right, better right right um. But yeah, if you have kids that watch disney jr, you're gonna want to go to see this show because they're gonna love it.
Speaker 1:There's tons of bubbles. Our boys loved it. It's a fun dancing. It was a fun show, yeah so I think it's properly rated. No one really talks about it yeah, no, and that's where like again, like to have younger. It would really help to know about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that's what we're talking about today. Yes, all right, I think this may be.
Speaker 1:This next one.
Speaker 2:A requirement for everybody to go through before you step foot in a park. If it's your first time, Well then it would be too crowded in there. Good, excuse me, sir ma'am, is this your first time to Walt Disney World?
Speaker 1:Well, yes, it is Okay, Walk this way you need to come over here, please.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right, where are we going? You got water.
Speaker 1:Sorry, just taking a sip. I thought you were going to keep talking for a minute and I thought you were going to keep talking for a minute, and so we are going to the attraction Walt Disney Presents. Yes, and this is located in Animation Courtyard, in case you're wondering. Explore Walt Disney's legendary legacy through a fascinating multimedia journey that includes rare artifacts. You can be any age height and it's 100 years of Disney on display, so discover the man behind the mouse, from Mickey Mouse to Magic Kingdoms and beyond. Originally, it opened to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Walt's birth. The gallery showcases his life story from small-town America to Hollywood, but you're exploring a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind sketches, photos, models, costumes, artwork and more In Walt's own words. After your gallery tour, catch a screening of Walt Disney One Man's Dream, which is a 15-minute documentary that showcases the life and times of the visionary creator. Featuring rare audio recordings, historical footage and rarely seen home movies, this film traces the dramatic tale of how Walt turned his dreams into reality.
Speaker 2:Underrated, 100% completely underrated.
Speaker 1:And I put underrated as well.
Speaker 2:This has to be a requirement for first timers.
Speaker 1:Well, it has to be. I think it gives you a different appreciation of what all it meant to him, seeing him like with his family, why he did certain things. You know those rare audio recordings to just you know it's kind of gets you in the feels there's just some really cool stuff in here.
Speaker 2:There's Walt's like schoolhouse desk from when he was in Marceline.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:There is a multi-plane camera which, how they did depth on early animations. It is massive, it really is Massive, and when we watched Sleeping Beauty you could really see how the multi-plane camera on the original Sleeping Beauty.
Speaker 1:How it was used.
Speaker 2:How it was used and you're like wow, like the depth it added to the animations. Really, there's so many mock-ups and models and original sketches just so much disney history here. This is a must do. You have to do this to appreciate, really appreciate, what you, what you're doing. That's why I say this is a requirement. It should be a requirement for families.
Speaker 1:Right, because it's definitely something that we haven't done every time. We've only done it all the way through once.
Speaker 2:We've done it like three or four times.
Speaker 1:Well, we've been in where the artifacts and stuff are several times, but the show I think we've maybe only watched twice.
Speaker 2:Two or three times. I know it's more than twice. Well, you've gone so many more times and done it too, so but um but I mean just the, the, the artifacts and models you know are great to see. It's awesome. After we do this series, I think I want to do the where to find walt and walt disney world episode and this is a big, like one of the big places, completely underrated gotta go do this right. And, like I said, I did underrated Got to go do this Right.
Speaker 1:And, like I said, I did underrate it as well.
Speaker 2:Okay, yes, Planning a Disney vacation can be overwhelming, but that's where our new sponsor comes in. You've heard us talk about her for a long time and now she's the official sponsor of this podcast Travel planner Erica with Wishes Co Travel Planning. As a travel planner specializing in Disney destinations, she takes care of every detail, from finding the best resort options for your family booking, dining reservations to park strategies and now offers a special, lightning-ling booking service to your park days. She truly offers top-tier service from start to finish and the best part is her planning services are free when you book your room and ticket package with her.
Speaker 1:We're thrilled to have Travel Planner Erica as the official sponsor of this podcast, and exclusively for Circle of Parks listeners. When you plan your next Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation or your next Run Disney Racecation with Erica, you'll receive a Disney gift card based on the value of your trip On your arrival day to put towards your Disney snacks.
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Speaker 1:Just the other day booked our dining reservations for the awesome. Yes, Thank you. Just the other day booked our dining reservations for the 60 days out. Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 2:And saved us a hundred bucks on our October trip due to the new promos that just came out.
Speaker 1:Yes. So anytime like new promotions come out and even if you've already booked your trip, like she's great about keeping an eye on that and like, hey, your trip, like she's great about keeping an eye on that and like, hey, you got more money, got more money, come back, yep and uh, she can also book your schmooderversal other park.
Speaker 2:We did that, uh, last night actually for you and ryan for me, and ryan, she can take care of that too. So, erica, we love you. You're great. Um, go check out her and her husband's podcast. Once upon, a park podcast uh, very different opinion than ours, very entertaining yes, we kind of do little jabs here very informative, very informative. If you're into any of the run disney stuff, great information over there. She's a big run disney addict over there. She's just awesome once upon a park podcast. Go check them out.
Speaker 1:Great information over there, all right what attraction are we going to next? So we are on. We are in toy story land it's crazy over here.
Speaker 1:It's loud, it's hot come on andy's mom get some trees in that place toy story mania, zipping through an exhilarating 4d shooting game starring the toy story characters and blast away. This is any height, all ages involves some spinning it's playtime. Step inside Andy's room and make your way through a toy chest full of classic games before picking up a pair of special 3D glasses. Then board a carnival-inspired tram and use your spring action shooter to take your best shot at the array of moving targets. And it's fun to compete with other players for the highest score. And yeah, there are five fast paced games to play. As each game is completed, your tram will spin and slide to the next game. So you're playing ham and eggs. Rex and Trixie's. Dino darts green army men shoot camp. Buzz Lightyear's flying tossers. Dino Darts Green Army Men Shoot Camp. Buzz Lightyear's Flying Tossers. Woody's Rootin' Tootin' Shootin' Gallery. And so, yeah, it's a lot of fun. This is the one that Nolan, when he was little, would call it Pew Pew. And we still call it Pew Pew.
Speaker 2:Still to this day.
Speaker 1:Yes, so Toy Story Mania is the Pew Pew ride, and so it's always fun and like it's saying like, as you're leading, like in the line queue and everything like there are so many games and stuff that you maybe played yourself as a child or your children currently play, even you know but but they're blown up size because you're meant to be a toy as well, and so I absolutely enjoy this ride every time I ride it, and I ride it a lot each trip you do multiple times.
Speaker 1:Yes, and so I put, though, that it is still underrated okay because there are times now, don't get me wrong there are times when there is a long wait and stuff, but then there are also times you walk by it and the wait time isn't what you would think it would be 15 20 minutes yes, and I'm like, oh my gosh, if they only knew how fun it was and the line cue, all the details and then the competitive competitiveness of it, like I think the the wait times would be longer okay, yeah, I put properly ready, okay.
Speaker 2:Um, this is a very fun attraction. I love doing it it's a lot of fun, um, but my old shoulder injury kind of acts up now when I'm doing this. It kind of you know you still get pretty high scores I still get a pretty high score, but again, sometimes it can get 90 plus minutes at times, at times, and then also, there is no weight for it as well.
Speaker 1:But I think, it has. You see the higher ride times, especially on rainy days, right.
Speaker 2:I think it is. There's still some hype around it, you know like you see people talking about it and YouTubers go into it. So that's what I'm saying Properly rated. I don't think it's too big for its britches, but I don't think it's not enough either either. I think it's just right in that sweet spot still all right makes sense. Yeah, no, you got it all right. Staying in toy story land.
Speaker 1:Man, it's hot here yeah, and slinky dog dash all right. So take off on a family-friendly coaster that twists and turns past giant toys and springs across andy's oversized backyard with no trees you must be 38 inches or taller. It's a thrill ride small drops, and it's one of those rides that's going to get your picture taken and everything as well, and it's just, it's a super fun ride. I mean, you're riding on slinky dog you know, and jim varney yeah, and it's hang on.
Speaker 1:And then there's a section of the roller coaster that is like you're on a slinky. You know it's up, down, up, down, up down, and so it's a fun ride. I during the day, this is a tough one so during the day I've been rated one way and at night a different way.
Speaker 2:We're just making the rules up as we go, aren't we? Yes, okay.
Speaker 1:So again, very fun, you can get some good views from this coaster.
Speaker 2:You, can you can.
Speaker 1:So during the day, though, I put overrated Okay, because at night it just takes on almost like a different persona.
Speaker 2:Well, Toy Story Land in itself does.
Speaker 1:Yes, like just the lights, the views you can get. It's just, I feel like it's so much more fun at night riding on this coaster and so I feel like it's underrated at night, because I think this is one of those rides that everybody tries to get in right when they get there, whether it's from like rope dropping or the minute they get to the park, no matter what time it is.
Speaker 1:If you have kids, that like Toy story, I feel like this is where everybody is trying to go yeah you know, but it's just so much more fun and pretty at night, so over during the day, under at night I'm saying overrated.
Speaker 2:In general, okay, it's a fun coaster, not too thrilling again, it's for smaller kids.
Speaker 1:Yes, exactly, yeah, I know that. Yeah, because the high requirement is only 38 inches.
Speaker 2:Yes, I know that, so it's not super thrilling and it can get. I mean, it's consistently 60 plus minutes. Yes, even at like closing time.
Speaker 1:Yes, because we try to wait and get in line like right before closing time and still like 60 minutes.
Speaker 2:Yeah 45 to 60 minutes. It's still like 60 minutes. 45 to 60 minutes, yeah, so it's fun. I love some of the the queue I go back and forth on because there's some good like Easter eggs in there.
Speaker 1:But then not enough.
Speaker 2:But then it's just switchbacks too. Yeah, you know what I mean. Yeah, it's like if they could have, like how you could like somehow you could play with slinky dog in like a glass case, or somehow kind of interaction interactive somewhat instead of just things to look at, yeah, which I do, like the easter eggs in there. I've talked about them several times, but yeah, I'm going overrated now. I probably said under or properly rated last time, but I'm going overrated now. Okay, like if we didn't do it this next trip. Eh.
Speaker 1:Eh, all right. I'll remember you said that because there are times where, late at night, I'm like, can we just go?
Speaker 2:and you are like we gotta do Slinky Dog, we gotta do Slinky Dog.
Speaker 1:We gotta do Slinky Dog at night.
Speaker 2:We gotta get in line before the do it, though, but I think we'll be using the, the, the, what do they call it? The multi-pass oh yeah, because I want to use the multi-pass for magic kingdom and hollywood studios to see how it goes. Okay, because we always said that's what you need to do. Lightning lane are those two parks?
Speaker 2:that is true, yes, so we're gonna see how that goes. We'll probably end up getting one for this, because we may be doing something else that night, maybe maybe, maybe, all right, all right, so still staying in toy story land still hot over here, so alien swirling saucers.
Speaker 1:This is an intergalactic spin with the adorable aliens from toy story. Height requirement 32 inches or taller. There is some spinning kind of jerking around a little bit. It's an out of this world experience.
Speaker 2:Really, is that what they said? Yes, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:So you're on a ride. You know you're romping through space futuristic tunes.
Speaker 2:Did they say romping too?
Speaker 1:Yes, Set the mood Space cadets of all ages may enjoy this gentle whirl, but you know, if you're sitting there next to somebody, you're sliding around on the seat a little bit. It's cute, it's fun. So yeah, there's not a lot of hype over this ride. There's not so I put it, and there's usually not that long of a line.
Speaker 1:I put it as properly I put over okay because the wait for this can get long sometimes sometimes but that's usually more so like if sleepy dog went down for a little bit, or if it's just a crowded day yeah, but other than that, like sometimes it's walk on or like five, ten minutes I'm not waiting five minutes for this.
Speaker 2:If it's not walk on, I'm not doing it. Plus, is it lu, is it Luigi's? No, it's Tow-Mater's Tow-Mater in DCA.
Speaker 1:In DCA Ruined it. Yeah, because it's more intense, because Tow-Mater's is more intense. For sure You're all over the place in that vehicle.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And then it's just Tow-Mater being goofy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the them water. Yes, for sure for sure.
Speaker 2:So we're seeing a, a pattern here, the attractions out west not always are more intense than they are a lot of them are. So disneyland caters to locals primarily right, yes, while disney world's catering for out-of-towners more yeah tour. So it's, I get it. They're catering to two different types of people, so that's why disneyland attractions are probably a little more intense, because they're not worried about people coming from way far out of out of right, they want to keep locals coming right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, so that erica, correct me if I'm wrong on that you're you're a disneyland gal.
Speaker 1:So yeah, let me know if is that a good theory or not I mean, I could see that, you know and, but I don't know, I don't know like a lot of the rides. Yes, there are a few, maybe not so much, and we and that's a whole other episode, and we've talked about comparing some of the the cues and all that. But yeah, dca, as far as like detail and intensity and stuff on things it's a theory.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know maybe all right.
Speaker 1:Moving on, we are leaving toy story land finally and we are going to star wars galaxy's edge.
Speaker 1:So millennium falcon smugglers run. This is another one that you must be 38 inches or taller. It's a thrill ride. Ride small drops, dark, loud. And so you're taking control of the fastest ship in the galaxy, right in the famous cockpit of the Millennium Falcon on a daring flight. And whether you're a pilot, engineer or gunner, every role is crucial. The engines rumble as the Millennium Falcon blasts off, pushing you and your crew back into your seats. When you jump into hyperspace towards adventure, along the way, you'll face danger at every turn. Will your mission succeed or fail? It's up to you. Find out if you have what it takes to outmaneuver the odds aboard the millennium falcon. So never flown a starship before hondo. How do you say his last name?
Speaker 1:oh, not go hondo is looking for discreet flight crews to deliver a backlog of hard to find items to particular clientele. No experience necessary, so You're getting coaxium. Yeah, I put Now the queue. Pretty decent, pretty good queue, pretty good queue.
Speaker 2:Great pre-show.
Speaker 1:Yes, great, great pre-show.
Speaker 2:Pondos Animatronic Audio animatronic. It's pretty awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the ride itself, though I am saying it is over.
Speaker 2:Okay, I'm going to say overrated as well, with asterisks, depending on where you sit. Well, that's one of the multiple asterisks, Right One. If you are any kind of a Star Wars fan, this is a must ride. It is a must ride to be in the Falcon playing holochess.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And like there's nothing like it. If you are any kind of Star Wars fan, this is a must ride to be like to sit in the area.
Speaker 1:The theming of it is awesome.
Speaker 2:This is a must ride. So that's one asterisk Two. If you're a pilot, this is awesome. This is so much fun.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:If you're not a pilot and you're not with your family, this ride is horrendous.
Speaker 1:But if you're with your family and, like the kids are the pilots, it is enjoyable seeing them trying to fly it the first couple of times, after the third or fourth time of them just crashing into everything and you're pressing buttons in the back.
Speaker 2:It's not very fun anymore. Okay, it's just not.
Speaker 1:I put I feel like like again the theming leading up to it and even in it is very nice, but I I don't know. They're going to be making some changes. They are making changes.
Speaker 2:They're going to be adding mandalorian and grogu in this, so here is always been my complaint. They can change star tours, which we're going to talk about later anytime they want, they can make it any any story. Why can't they do that with this? Yeah, it's the same.
Speaker 2:It should be the same technology, I would think, as far as similar yeah, similar because it's full motion, just like star tours just maybe a little more advanced but I I think if you change the story up, that would and I think so it would make it yeah and or maybe like do like they do for star tours, you don't know.
Speaker 2:Like have a few different ones, you don't know which one you're gonna get, like I'm not saying have like 20 of them, like they have for star tours, but even like four, two or three or four, right yeah might make this better, because if you're the pilot, it's awesome, if you're not, it's meh if you've done it before yeah, and then the the scenes and stuff, yeah yeah.
Speaker 1:So I'm saying over with asterix, okay, and I said over, yeah, all right, we're still in star wars galaxy. Now we're moving on to rise of the resistance. Join the resistance in an unforgettable battle against the first order on this exciting ride. 40 inches or taller height requirement. Thrill ride. There are some small drops, dark can be loud and it's an attraction on a scale that is impressive. And it is definitely impressive. It is a massive attraction with multiple ride systems that is unlike anything you've ever experienced at Walt Disney World Resort or really anywhere else in the galaxy.
Speaker 1:And you're accepting a mission from the Resistance. The Resistance needs your help. Hidden in the forest, outside black spire outposts, the resistance is gathering recruits for a secret mission with the first order desperate to extinguish the spark of the resistance. The mission is bound to have unexpected twists and turns. When your transport is captured by an imposing first order star destroyer filled with legions of stormtroopers and even Kylo Ren, you're going to need all the help you can get. Fortunately, a covert team of resistance fighters, including Rey and BB-8, is at the ready to give you a fighting chance to escape. So anyway, yes, multiple ride systems, pre-show's great, that room where all the stormtroopers are yes, the hangar, yeah that that alone is so impressive the the way the cast members there are acting.
Speaker 2:First order yeah like they.
Speaker 1:Like, I mean they are, you know, assertive with you, like they should be mess with them a little bit, it's fun but, like the, I remember the first time with the kids being like a lot smaller and stuff, I'm like go, go, come on, come on, you know Um, but it is. It is something, the detail, just everything about this ride. I think it is properly rated.
Speaker 2:I agree I'm going to properly rated amazing, amazing attraction. Even if you're not a star wars fan, this from the beginning of it, with the pre-show, to the ending of it. The story is great. You are put into a star wars mission. You are in the movie. You do feel like you are part of the resistance. The hangar bay with the stormtroopers that was the idea behind our wow moments in walt disney world. Every, still to this day. We've done this. How many times and still, every time we do it, when we walk in that hangar bay, I'm still like wow yeah wow like I just stop.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean it is so impressive, and even if the ride just ended, then you'd be like man.
Speaker 1:That was great but there's a whole lot more, a whole lot more than that, yeah um the draw.
Speaker 2:Everything about this is great. Um star wars fan or not, is you have to do it yeah, it just the theming, the details, yeah the queue sucks, but other than that, they knocked it out of the you're not.
Speaker 1:You can have a perfect thing right, well, but the but, the pre-show, everything is great, the ride itself, everything is yeah properly rated.
Speaker 2:It is worth the wait. I would wait an hour. It's usually 60 to 70 minute wait.
Speaker 1:Right, and then sometimes you can just time it perfectly and be right on there.
Speaker 2:No it does go down a lot because it has multiple ride systems in it, and I also found out with the trackless ride system if anything gets on the floor it has to shut the whole thing down, so like if you drop a hat or you drop just anything, it shuts everything down. So I think that may be a lot of the cause of it, the cause of some people just dropping something.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that's where it makes sense we have almost walked on a time or two because we just happen to be walking by at the time Like, oh, it's back up and running.
Speaker 2:Yeah, let's hop in line, let's hop in line and the cast members are very nonchalant about it. They were like is it open? They're not. Yeah, yeah, all right. All right, moving on, I would do what. I'll talk about two other experiences in galaxy's edge.
Speaker 1:Well, you didn't put it on here I know okay, I just thought about them.
Speaker 2:Okay, savvy's workshop where you build the lightsaber yes we have not done that yet sound like. How can you?
Speaker 1:rate it.
Speaker 2:Well, I'm not rating it, but I want to talk about the experiences. Okay, it's where you build a lightsaber.
Speaker 2:They're not cheap, but I have heard that it is the experience that you're paying for okay because if you know anything about star wars, building a lightsaber is a very personal adventure for the jedi. They have to find their own kyber crystal and it's a story about that and it's it's a very personal one-on-one thing. So I've heard that the experience of building the lightsaber is really impressive and then you can build your own droid, which I don't think is that in like intensive of activity, but you just kind of pick your own parts up.
Speaker 1:No, I'm not saying it. Cute and fun.
Speaker 2:No, I'm not saying it's not. I'm just saying like it's not as personal as like building your own lightsaber.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So those are two experiences we have not done yet.
Speaker 1:Correct.
Speaker 2:So we're not rating them, but they are two other experiences that you might want to look into when you're there. When, like, make a reservation, yes, reservation, the the droid. I don't think you have to, but the lightsaber. You can usually get walk-up reservations too the day of for the lightsaber yeah, I've seen them.
Speaker 1:Maybe it's changed in the beginning, it wasn't no not in the beginning, but now.
Speaker 2:I think you can just go on the app and usually get day maybe.
Speaker 1:Or you know, if you use travel planner erica, she can clarify. She can definitely book that for you as well all right moving.
Speaker 2:Sorry, I didn't want to mention those two real quick, it's fine it's fine, all right, moving on.
Speaker 1:So now we are going to muppet vision 3d. Now keep in mind, this is march 31st 2025.
Speaker 2:The last day to experience this will be june 7th 2025 so it will be closing permanently, so we're going to go watch it last time we're there it will be closing permanently on june 8th to make way for the new Monsters Inc themed land and rides.
Speaker 1:So yes, we will have to catch it one more time, even though I don't think the boys will want to.
Speaker 2:Anyway, it is any height.
Speaker 1:It's 3D. It's a hilarious film, live action Extravaganza, all ages. Take your seat in a perfect replica of the muppet theater from the classic television series, the muppet show. As the curtain rises, kermit, miss piggy and the whole muppets menagerie uh appear in eye-popping 3d. They're taking you on a tour of their lab and showing off their new movie making invention, muppet vision 3d. Things Go Haywire when Dr Bunsen, honeydew and Beaker Set a Disastrous String of Events in Motion. So be prepared for surprises With on-screen musical numbers and live in theater special effects. It's a show kids of all ages will love and guaranteed to bring down the house Again, based on the original TV show Created by Jim Henson that aired from 1976 to 1981. So yeah, we've enjoyed it. But even though it aired before either one of us were born, we still saw it a lot growing up.
Speaker 2:I grew up on the Muppets.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, and I even grew up on the animated Muppet Babies and all that too, loved, loved, loved, mppet babies yes, so it is fun. Kind of sad that it is, you know, going away.
Speaker 2:But we mentioned muppets earlier, that rock and roller coaster is being rethemed, still using muppets the one thing that's sad about this is this was the last thing that jim henson worked on yeah, before he passed away, right so that's kind of like the. That's the hard part about it. Yeah, I get it. You have to.
Speaker 1:Just because of that, you can't right and you have to keep moving.
Speaker 2:You know what's going to keep people coming right you know, and it's a fun show, though it is really funny but it's never really been busy.
Speaker 1:No, until now yes yeah, because now everybody's like oh my god, see it again before it closes, you know um, but I even minus all the hype that's going on with it right now. I had put overrated whoa hot take of the episode right there wow because, again, I I grew up watching even some of the movies that the muppets did, right, you know, and again Muppet Babies and all that. But I think it needs to be updated to other things. Yes, okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I put underrated because there's just so many funny Easter eggs in the pre-show area and in the show. Yeah, I think it's underrated. It's really fun. We'll have to watch it one last time.
Speaker 1:Yes, and I'm fine with that. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I wouldn't underrate it. Okay, go check it out before it's gone. Okay, all right.
Speaker 1:All right.
Speaker 2:Moving on.
Speaker 1:Moving on, so it's not in Galaxy's Edge. Star Wars the Adventures.
Speaker 1:Star Tours, the adventures star tours I mean, sorry, star tours, the adventures continue is located in the echo, in the echo lake area. It's been there for a long time before galaxy's edge was ever a thing. 40 inches or taller height requirement. Make the jump to hyperspace on a thrilling 3d space flight to legendary destinations from the star wars saga. And so you're exploring a galaxy far, far away. Board your Starspeeder 1000 and prepare to take off. When a series of missteps unwittingly cause your starship to launch too soon, protocol droid C-3PO takes the controls. Suddenly, the ship is intercepted by Imperial or First Order Imagine that because they're searching for a rebel spy, so someone on your ship is a rebel spy. To avoid capture, you'll embark on a thrilling, unpredictable flight that rockets you to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. So this does feature, like a flight simulator, digital 3D video, audio, animatronics and yeah, it's a fun, fun ride and experience.
Speaker 1:I forget how many different scenes and stories you can get, but there are quite a few. I think more recently they've updated it to like Ahsoka and the Mandalorian and Grogu maybe soon, and so yeah, oh, here we are 250 storyline variations.
Speaker 2:I want to go back and watch some of the older ones. Yeah, like the early, early ones. Like the movies or the skits or the episodes they use for this, like some of the few early ones. Okay, I want to see those.
Speaker 1:Right, but yeah, so it is fun, I think the queue like in the building and everything is done pretty well, amazing queue.
Speaker 2:Yes, love it.
Speaker 1:Yes, and even outside the AT.
Speaker 2:The ATAT, or however you say it. The ATAT yeah, it's an ATAT. Yeah, like you have those out there. The Ewok Village yes, you have a AT AT-AT. It's massive, yeah. And then the.
Speaker 1:Ewok Village and everything and then inside. Like that part of it is done really well. The ride is fun. Our son, Ryan, has been the spy before. Yeah.
Speaker 2:If you know him, that's pretty funny.
Speaker 1:Yes, and it is fun, but I don't know I might upset some people over this, but I feel like it's overrated.
Speaker 2:Wow Hot, take number two of the day.
Speaker 1:yeah, wow, uh-huh okay yeah, again, I enjoy it, don't get me wrong. But so a 10 minute wait? You're not even in for 10 minute wait. I will ride it. I just the ride itself, even with all those different sequences. I just I don't know. I feel like they could do a little more with the seats or something. I don't know.
Speaker 2:I feel like they could do a little more with the seats or something I don't know.
Speaker 1:Okay, I don't know.
Speaker 2:All right, all right, what's your take? I really so. One of the coolest things about this attraction, the outside, the AT-AT most people do not know about. So Hollywood Studios used to be MGM Studios, right, yes, and it was about making movies. Right, correct the AT-? Right, yes, and it was about making movies. Right, correct, the atat is actually just a prop, okay, and so if you, if you're behind it in the queue, like the, the extended queue outside, you can see it's just like on the back of it, yeah it's just wood, so it's built to.
Speaker 2:It looks like just a prop, a movie prop, right. So I think that's a really cool nod to how Hollywood Studios used to be when it was MGM Studios.
Speaker 1:Right, because they did a lot of stuff like that, just movie stuff.
Speaker 2:So I think that's a really cool little detail that maybe a lot of people don't know. I went underrated, okay. So if you take the external queue with Ewok Village and the AT-AT and then-. Yeah, with the cue and you take the cue in the whole overall package. I think, it's underrated Because it's usually not a long wait anymore.
Speaker 1:So if you take the overall package, maybe properly.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I convinced you otherwise, huh.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, it's a great yeah.
Speaker 2:I like it. It's fun Really good, yeah, yeah, it's a great.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I like it. It's fun really good. Now, some people I, I don't, and I can get a little motion sickness with things.
Speaker 2:Some people do get motion sickness this has messed with me in the past, but last time we did it it didn't mess with me, right? So I guess just the scene, I don't know yeah yeah, all right, moving on.
Speaker 1:Still in the echo lake area, indiana jones epic stunt spectacular. Cheer is. Indy and Marion perform incredible stunts with explosive special effects and learn the secrets behind the magic. This is all ages. It's what close to an hour show. That's what it says yeah an action-packed show.
Speaker 1:Watch live as the daring duo dodges deadly traps, battles bad guys, leaps from tall buildings and makes thrilling escapes straight out of the raiders of the lost ark the edge of your seat. Suspense ends with a dynamite finale along the way. Get an inside look at how stunts are done, with demonstrations that reveal how to safely throw and take punches, fall from tall buildings and even wield whips in the midst of complex action sequences. So I wouldn't say it's an hour per se, maybe they're counting as you're getting seated and stuff too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because they kind of get the crowd going a little bit too. I would say 30, maybe 40 minutes.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:An hour maybe pushing.
Speaker 1:Now I feel like it has changed slightly. I feel like there was a little bit more pre-COVID and even from my childhood I feel like there was a little bit more pre-covid and even, like from my childhood, I feel like there was a little bit more. They have changed a few little things in there, yeah, but it's still fun getting to to see all the stunts and special effects and stuff, and you know it can.
Speaker 2:It's exciting for people of all ages, um, so I put properly rated I agree, properly rated indiana jones is the og attraction wasn't an opening day attraction, but it was. It's lasted the longest of anything else that's still in hollywood studios. It's a great show. I don't think we've ever gone to a show where there was an empty seat yeah, like it's still always packed right so that, and it's still going on for this long for a reason, if it was, if people weren't going to it, they wouldn't do it, right, right.
Speaker 1:So I'm thinking properly, right, it's still going on for this long for a reason If people weren't going to it, they wouldn't do it.
Speaker 2:Right, right, so I'm thinking properly, right. It's a great show If you have little boys. There's lots of explosions and gunfire and cool stunts and stuff like that that they'll love. That's how I got Ryan to go to it. Right, right I was like you want to go to Indiana Jones. He's like no, I'm like there's explosions. He's like okay, yes, you know, and so I remember it from my childhood. It's a great show, properly rated, I agree. We agree on one, yay, yay.
Speaker 1:All right, moving on. For the first time in forever, a Frozen sing-along celebration located not too far from here, kind of across from it, yeah, and so you know it's Frozen. You'll melt for this heartwarming celebration of.
Speaker 1:Frozen, with a flurry of stories, songs and special guests all ages. It's saying close to an hour as well. It shows throughout the day. The snow must go on. Drift over to your seat in the theater and listen spellbound as the royal historians of Arendelle recount the frosty story of their enchanted kingdom. Now let me tell you, these royal historians are awesome. They are so fun. Make you laugh, don't you agree?
Speaker 2:Completely yes, the show is awesome yes.
Speaker 1:Completely. Yes, this show is awesome. Yes, watch as thrilling moments from the movie play on screen, then cheer as Anna, elsa and Kristoff appear to sing along with the audience. Projected lyrics make it easy to belt out irresistible showstoppers like Let it Go. Plus, there's some other special surprises and magical touches and you might see some snope. Yep so, but no the royal historians. It's just yeah, they make the show, they, but no the royal historians it's just, they make the show.
Speaker 1:They make the show. I didn't know what to expect, honestly, the first time we went to this.
Speaker 2:And forever. I honestly didn't know what to expect. Where's my applause button here? I don't have it anymore. It's gone.
Speaker 1:I honestly did not know what to expect and I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it, and we have gone a couple more times.
Speaker 2:It's not an every time thing we do but every other time. I think we'll do it again this summer.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it is so much fun, and even if you're not huge on the movie, just the take that the historians do, and so I put underrated because, yes, it's frozen, but I still don't think that this gets talked about as much.
Speaker 2:I agree Underrated.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think if people knew it wasn't just a regular sing-along, that they might be constrained.
Speaker 2:You're going to see a Frozen show and they're like I'm out, yeah, unless you have little girls.
Speaker 1:Right, or you know more Frozen really kind of thing, but this is just a completely different take. It's hilarious.
Speaker 2:When we were first, the first time we went, they were like let's go do the frozen show.
Speaker 2:I was like, really the frozen show I mean, there's some like little jokes that were like, okay, let's go friendly and I was completely like, wow, yeah, uh, I think every time we've been there's always been a lot of open seats, so it doesn't. I don't think it's the crowd that it might should, because it is a very funny show, completely underrated guys. Dads, you will laugh at this show. I know I don't like frozen. I think I'm I'm over all the frozen stuff, but this is a very funny show yeah, because there's those like adult jokes yeah they're very good, funny.
Speaker 2:Uh, the historians are awesome, underrated. Go check it out. If you haven't done it yet Because you're like I'm not going to go to a Frozen show, go check it out. Yeah, it's funny. We agreed on another one. We did agree. Yes, all right.
Speaker 1:All right, mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. This is in Hollywood Boulevard area. It's inside height, and so you're bursting into Mickey and Minnie's world. The darling duo are taking a leisurely drive to a picnic in their sporty roadster, with engineer Goofy's train following merrily along. But then there's a plot twist you get to go, you get goofed.
Speaker 1:Climb aboard a runaway railway and embark on a whirlwind ride through a world where the rules of physics don't apply. Prepare for unexpected twists, slapstick gags and mind-boggling transformations at every turn. As mickey and minnie try to save the day, there's no telling where the train is heading. This is an adventure for mickey and minnie fans of all ages, so it's based on the more recent award-winning mickey mouse cartoon shorts they're award-winning I.
Speaker 1:I guess so Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is the first ride at any Disney park that stars Mickey, mouse and friends, so the first time that I rode this In forever. The first time that I or we rode this, I don't think we were really big on it, but it's become one of those rides, at least for me.
Speaker 2:that has grown on me I would agree with that statement yeah, like now.
Speaker 1:Uh, like, actually, like, if the line's not not bad, I'm gonna be like hey, you want to go ride it where? After the first time I was like, yeah, let's just pass it, you know yeah uh, I do enjoy the one in Disneyland a little more because of the queue.
Speaker 2:This is one of the few queues that Disneyland has done much better than Walt Disney World. Yes, one of the few ones.
Speaker 1:So many details, so so much fun. The theming Just, yeah, I love it, it's great. Like the movie theater concession stand area. Yeah, it's just anyway that part of it there in Disneyland is great, like the movie theater concession stand area Al Capitune. Yeah, it's just anyway that part of it there in Disneyland is great.
Speaker 2:They did a good job, but I think that this ride is overrated because Whoa, wow Okay.
Speaker 1:You would have said that a year or two ago too, okay continue. Because this line is always ridiculously long.
Speaker 2:It's like 30 to 45 minutes no it's all.
Speaker 1:When I check it's a lot more usually and I just wouldn't wait that long for it. I do enjoy it, it is fun. You know, like I said, it's grown on me more through the years but I just I'm not going to wait probably more than 30, 40 minutes for it and there's still 45 minutes right now.
Speaker 2:Okay well when I check, it's usually like 60. Maybe it's when another ride's down or something, I don't know.
Speaker 1:But when I check it it's usually like 60. But I put overrated just because people are constantly talking about it, Wow okay. But I'm glad, mickey, I'm glad you're getting some love. Don't get me wrong, but yeah I put properly rated.
Speaker 2:Okay, it has grown on me. Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, and I do enjoy this attraction. Mickey needed mickey and minnie needed their own attraction. Right now. The queue here sucks. Yeah, I'm just gonna say it.
Speaker 1:But in walt disney world.
Speaker 2:Yes, I think it's a properly rated attraction. I think it should consistently have about a 45 minute wait, and it does 45 minutes to an hour. I'm not waiting an hour, but 45, I think, is a fair wait. It still gets some hype on social media and amongst YouTubers.
Speaker 1:My favorite part is like when Daisy's directing the dancing and stuff. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I like the city scene Okay, but yeah, I think it's. The technology they used in this attraction is incredible, yeah. And there's a lot of good Easter eggs and nods to a former attraction and other just Easter eggs and nods to Mickey and stuff in here Tons of hidden Mickeys.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I think it's, I just think it's properly rated, okay, okay, all right, one more thing, and then. Well then, I have some stuff to talk about. Yeah, stuff to talk about All right.
Speaker 1:So Fantasmic, located in Sunset Boulevard area, be there as the forces of good and evil battle it out in Mickey's dream during this extravagant open air nighttime musical all ages right around. It says 29 minutes, I would have just said 30. It's a legendary tale featuring stunning effects, thrilling stunts, dazzling pyrotechnics and music. This larger-than-life show is painted on a grand canvas of dancing water and light, overflowing with silly and suspenseful surprises. It will leave your entire family smiling from ear to ear so fast. Asleep, mickey Mouse dreams that he is a mighty sorcerer's apprentice with the power to control water, color and magic. The Disney villains, including Maleficent in the form of a towering 40-foot-tall dragon, turn Mickey's dreams into a nightmare. But don't underestimate the power of Mickey's imagination, and the fantastic fantasy includes Disney characters such as Moana and characters from Frozen 2, mulan, aladdin, pocahontas, beating the beast, little Mermaid, lion King and more.
Speaker 1:So it's. I need to see it again. I've only seen it once and it was our very first trip. I remember loving it, loved how many characters you got to see, especially when they brought like that big, like boat out and everything where they were all on it. I was like, oh look, there's so and so and so and so and so, and so I was like a little girl, um, but I haven't had a chance to see it, uh, since then and so, but from my memory I think it is properly rated. Okay, I'm going underrated.
Speaker 2:Okay, because like you we need to see it again, and I think this is how we Okay, I'm going underrated. Okay, because, like you, we need to see it again, and I think this is how we end our Hollywood Studios night when we go in June.
Speaker 1:All right, what do you think? I hope it happens, yes.
Speaker 2:So I think we end with this and I don't think it gets that much hype.
Speaker 1:Well, yes and no, because don't they still do some dining packages to get closer up seats and stuff they do, but I'm not doing the dining package. No, no, but for me I feel like that is still giving it hype, because you can do that.
Speaker 2:But people are paying for it. Well, okay, yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, that's how I looked at it for it getting hype because it's a dining package thing that you can get at like by what is it?
Speaker 2:hollywood and vine? Yeah, I don't know. So okay, so it does still have. People are still buying those, because that's what we did. Yeah, because people want the like, the, the vip seating for it. Yes, so I get. Okay. Yeah, I was back and forth on this between properly and underrated. I'm going with under Okay, but you gave me Something to think about. Something to think about.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, just because that's how you're hearing about it.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:A little bit, you know, because oh, they have these dining packages. Well, what is Fantasmic? And I don't know.
Speaker 2:That's how I looked at it okay.
Speaker 1:So all right. Okay, you got some news. Yes, well it it's upcoming attractions that will be there when we go the end of may, beginning of june. So two new shows are coming may 27th, one the little mermaid musical adventure and the other one disney villainsains Unfairly Ever After.
Speaker 2:Is Ursula in Little Mermaid, I'm sure In some shape or form, I'm out.
Speaker 1:But the Little Mermaid, a musical adventure. So there was a production of this in this building that has had Little Mermaid written all over it since COVID and everything. It never reopened, um, but they have reimagined it and so it is opening, like I said, may 27th, and it is inspired by the animated classic the little mermaid and it's a theatrical production, and so watches ariel follows her dreams to be part of the human world. The little mermaid's adventure is brimming with familiar moments, like encounters with King Triton and Ursula, and stirring scenes.
Speaker 1:I'm out Now throughout her journey gets swept away by moving musical numbers, including part of your world under the sea, poor, unfortunate souls, and kiss the girl. So I am hoping they did this right. I really hope that they did this, like, if it's going to be theatrical and stuff, I hope it's as good as like Beauty and the Beast and stuff, because Little Mermaid was the movie that I absolutely loved and back in the VHS tape days constantly had to put it in, watch it rewind, watch it again, watch it rewind, watch it again, rewind, watch it again. I was five years old, so, um, so yeah, I'm, I'm excited because that's little girl britney coming out again. So I hope that they did it well, okay, okay now.
Speaker 1:Disney villains unfairly ever after. Debuting on the same day, may 27th 2025, behold a fiendishly funny and fantastical stage show starring iconic disney villains who are feeling unfairly treated, so mischievous or just misunderstood. Enter the realm of the magic mirror, where dozens of villains are trapped. They want the mirror to reveal the truth. Which villain has been treated the most unfairly of them all? Watch as Cruella DeVille, captain Hook and Maleficent present their cases on stage, persuading with wicked wisdom and wisecracks. Will you be swayed by their hijinks and humor. It's a spellbinding show with moving music and a most memorable finale where you even get to help decide who was being treated most unfairly and even get to help decide who was being treated most unfairly.
Speaker 2:So and this is taking the place of where the lightning lightning mcqueen show is. Yeah, so I'm not big on villains. I need I need to watch melissa finn, because there is a passionate following for melissa finn melissa whatever melissa, excuse me to our listeners who love Maleficent, there you go, passionate following. Why do people love her so much? They do, I know. They really really do, I know.
Speaker 1:But the thing is, some people just really love all the villain characters. They do you know? Hades is pretty funny yeah.
Speaker 2:I think Cruella de Vil is very misunderstood, because we watched. What was that movie? The live one. The live one, cruella. Cruella yeah, we watched that a couple years ago. I feel bad for her almost.
Speaker 1:Yeah, once you know the backstory of her life, the backstory yeah.
Speaker 2:So is Maleficent kind of like that too. Don't spoil spoiler alert if you haven't seen it.
Speaker 1:You just have to watch it. It may explain certain things, may change my opinion now hook, captain, hook.
Speaker 2:I'd have no sympathy for because his character in the live action hook with robin williams as peter pan yeah, he tried to take his kids, not cool, yeah, no not cool. No, not cool so.
Speaker 1:So this one, I hope they did it well. I know it's supposed to be fun and engaging, memorable. You know you're helping kind of decide, so I don't know exactly how this one is going to be, but I don't want people to think, oh no, you know, is this going to be kind of like how Villains Land is going to be later on in Magic Kingdom.
Speaker 2:Are they trying to use it as a preview?
Speaker 1:I don't know if it's going to be as a preview or this is more of a funny side maybe to it. You know where it's going to be more in depth and stuff in Magic Kingdom, I don't know. But again, those are coming right around the corner.
Speaker 2:We'll wait and see. Yep, all right. So we asked y'all on Instagram your opinions on a few of the attractions, and for Star Wars, rise of Resistance, we asked if it's over, under or properly rated. 57% of y'all said properly rated, 10% said underrated and 33% said overrated.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right.
Speaker 2:So we agree, most of us agree that it is properly rated.
Speaker 1:Yes, I think you have a little bit outdated numbers.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right, go Well, sorry.
Speaker 1:It's still pretty close to the same.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, I'm trying to refresh Instagram now.
Speaker 1:So the updated numbers I'm showing, I'm still showing 57. Yeah, but one of the other ones was different. Okay, okay, sorry, you just go right on ahead. I didn't mean to rain on your parade. No, no, no, you're fine. No, go ahead.
Speaker 2:So I'm showing 57% says properly rated for Star Wars Rise of Resistance.
Speaker 1:Am I right on? I think it was the next one you said.
Speaker 2:Okay, so Twilight Zone, tower of Terror is showing 58% properly rated, 32% underrated and 11% overrated. So most people love this attraction. Right, I get it. The story is really. It's a story, right? Yes, it's a beloved attraction.
Speaker 1:Yes, if they try to get rid of it in Walt Disney World, yeah, you'd be having a lot of upset people.
Speaker 2:Yeah yeah, all right. Moving on to slinky dog dash, we got a tie yep, you want to say it or me you, you say it.
Speaker 1:so the tie is overrated, 42 properly rated%, and then you have under with 18%.
Speaker 2:Yeah, she went 16%. Oh, okay, close enough, yeah. So yeah, this is one, like if you've got small kids.
Speaker 1:It is 16%.
Speaker 2:I don't have glasses on, I get it you know, if you have older kids, they're not going to want to go on this. Like, if you ask your oldest Ryan, he they're not going to want to go on this. Like if you ask your oldest Ryan, he's probably not going to want to do this he's just not when you ask him.
Speaker 1:Hey, ryan no, he's not going to.
Speaker 2:I know he's not. Yeah, he's playing playing Fortnite, so yeah. So thank you for those that did respond to those Instagram questions. We do really appreciate it. If you want to support the podcast, the best way to do that is to book your next vacation with Travel Planner Erica. Tell her we sent you, take advantage of that gift card that you'll get for your trip. You can go check her out wwwtravelplannerericacom. She's on Facebook and Instagram at Travel Planner Erica. Don't forget check out their podcast. At Travel Partner Erica. Don't forget check out their podcast. Once Upon a Park Podcast. Her and Johnny do a great job. They're very informative. Lots of great information there. You can email us circleofparks at gmailcom. Our website's wwwcircleofparkscom and we're on Facebook, instagram and X at Circle of Parks. And don't forget to go to Apple Podcasts. Leave us a five-star review. Really helps us to grow the show really do appreciate it. Thank you so much, and where are we doing it next week? Animal?
Speaker 1:kingdom or animal kingdom.
Speaker 2:All right, we'll talk to you next week, where we rate animal kingdom attractions properly over or underrated yes, talk to you soon, thank you.