Hollywood Studios – Live Eat Colour

If you like live shows, old world Hollywood nostalgia and Disney franchises like Star Wars, the Muppets and Indiana Jones, this is the park for you. It is perhaps the least disneyesque park, but there are still a few live shows featuring Disney princesses. I really enjoyed it and was perhaps one of the more relaxing compared to the rushing, running and crowd sizes.

My favourite show was definitely Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage. It had dancing, singing, a large cast and was right on point with the movie. It didn’t feel rushed or leave out any of the important moments from the film. I also loved that it was in an open-air theatre, as the other dark theatres scared my toddler. Octavia thoroughly enjoyed it and was dancing and beaming the whole time. We also really enjoyed The Great Movie Ride for the film nostalgia and the Tower of Terror. The improv of the Citizens of Hollywood was also really entertaining to watch as your walking through.

We went to two restaurants in the park, which were less competitive to book than the other parks. For lunch, we went to 50’s Prime Time Cafe. The 50’s kitsch decor, family-like atmosphere service and comfort food really make you feel at home. The food was surprisingly really great, comfort food done really well. For dinner, we went to Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. The dark atmosphere was really nice and I had the most amazing pasta dish. For dessert, I receive a ‘spaghetti and meatball’ cupcake as a gift for my birthday, which was a really nice surprise.

The evening show was Fantasmic!, which we had previously seen in Japan at Toyko Disney Sea. It wasn’t as speculatively but it was still really enjoyable to watch as it was done at a smaller scale. Due to limited seating and timing clash, we weren’t able to go to the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular as well which was a shame.

So here is our day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios in pictures. You can click on the photos for a closer look. If you’re planning a trip to the park check out my Disney’s Hollywood Studios Guide and my Tips for Florida Disney Parks.

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My love to Disney was invigorated with my recently trip to the Disney Parks in Florida. It truly is the happiest place on earth, well at least my happiest place. The characters, the rides, shopping, food, it was all amazing and went above and beyond my expectations.

I did a lot of planning before we visited the Disney parks. I’m so happy that I did take this time since I didn’t do this when I visited Disney Sea in Tokyo. Besides the language barrier, we were very confused seeing people go ahead of the line, didn’t get good positions for performances and waited so long for a table in a restaurant. We also lined up for 2.5 hours for a ride that we weren’t really sure was a ride.

So if you’re planning a trip here are some of my tips. Do as much research as you can to maximize your time and less stress on the day. If your budget allows I really recommend the Disney restaurants. Each is really unique and I enjoyed the food at most of the restaurants. Some of which were the best food memories from our entire trip. We also had some bonus Character time we wouldn’t have had otherwise.

For Guides to each Theme Park view links at bottom of this post

Before you get there:

Do you ride and restaurant research
- Demand will be high for the best and you don’t want to be waiting all day
- Age and Height requirements
- Make a list for recommended and time permitting
Consider staying at a Disney Resort
- Extra ‘magic time’ means arriving and leaving before crowds
- Easier commute to hotel
- May save you money in car hire and tipping hotel bus driver
- Hotel’s that offer free trip to Park may do many stops before arriving
- You receive a ‘MagicBand‘
Book-in everything as soon as you buy your tickets ei. FastPasses, Restaurants
Fastpass for busiest rides
- Eg.The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had no FastPass available closer to visit and was 70 min+ wait times
- Book in three FastPasses as early and close together as possible
- You can’t book another until you have used all three passes first
Research most recommended rides and Average wait times
Restaurants are not a must, but nice to get away from crowds (aircon), experience themes, cuisines and try the best food Disney has to offer
- Some Restaurants have 6-month wait ei. Cinderella’s Table
- Booking times should be adequately spaced between meals times
- Consider a meal plan, might save you money
- Look at menus and consider your budget
- Look up Restaurant ratings
- Beware of cancellation policies for each restaurant
Keep checking your Disney account to alter FastPass and bookings as new times become available.
Bring a pram with shade cloth
- Disney hire prams are made of plastic = hot
Allow two days for the Magic Kingdom and one day for each of other Parks
Get to know the map, long walk between areas
Factor in Live Shows, Parades and Night performance in your schedule
Download My Disney Experience app on your Smartphone
- Easily view and alter Fast Passes and Restaurant bookings
- View wait times

When you arrive:

Get up early to get in quicker and get on as many rides
Be aware once you arrive to drop off you will still need to take a Disney boat, tram or tourist road train to the Disney parks = Get up early
Bring a pen and get your map
Go directly to FastPass or best rides if wait times are minimal this early
Don’t get too caught up in taking photos when you arrive, you will have plenty of time
As you are using your FastPasses, see if you can alter for early times
As soon as all FastPasses are used book next pass
Visit Characters when wait times are low or you have space before next FastPass
- May need to prioritise on a busy day
Restaurants may still require waiting even with your booking
Each shop will have items that aren’t anywhere else
- Most character items available at World of Disney (Disney Springs)
- Convenience stores near parks will have old Disney merchandise for much lower price eg. T-shirts, keyrings
You can’t see it all, but then you just might if you plan well!