Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [81]
Time-Saving Tip
Toy Story Mania is a great crowd favorite so go early and use Fastpass. “We arrived at 10:30 AM to find that all the Fastpasses for the day had already been distributed,” says one mother from Philadelphia. “We ended up standing in line for 90 minutes.”
Toy Story Mania is similar in concept to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in the Magic Kingdom, but the technology is considerably more advanced. As you play, you see the “virtual objects” you’ve launched from your shooters either hit or miss targets. And at times it even seems as if objects are whirling past you as they pop out of the 3-D scenes. Like any attraction with scoring, Toy Story Mania is addictive, with riders coming back time after time to try and beat their own scores. “The best ride in Hollywood,” enthused one mother of three, “and maybe in all of Disney World. The kids loved it and it took me and my husband back to our childhoods.”
On Streets of America
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Map Location 12
This playground is based on the film of the same name. “Miniaturized” guests scramble through a world of 9-foot Cheerios and spiderwebs three stories high. It’s the perfect place for kids to blow off steam and very popular with the under-10 set. The only complaint is that it needs to be about four times larger!
Muppet*Vision 3-D
Map Location 13
The Muppets combine slapstick and high wit, so everyone from preschoolers to adults will find something to make them laugh. Kids love the 3-D glasses and the eye-popping special effects. And the preshow is nearly as clever as the 20-minute main show. This is a good choice for early afternoon when you’ve ridden several rides and would like to just sit and laugh for a while. The 3-D effects are more convincing if you sit near the center toward the back of the theater.
The Scare Factor
Although Muppet*Vision 3-D tested highly among kids ages 2 to 5, some parents reported that children under 2 were unnerved by the sheer volume of the finale.
Lights, Motors, Action!—Extreme Stunt Show
Map Location 11
Based on the popular Moteurs … Action! Stunt Show Spectacular at Disneyland Paris, this show features special cars, motorcycles, and Jet Skis built to blow up, split in half, and perform other high-octane stunts. When the show starts you’ve been transported to a movie set where the director is filming chase scenes and other daring feats with a cast and crew of 50. The show is fast, furious … and a great addition to the Backlot area.
The Scare Factor
The engines in Lights, Motors, Action! may startle babies and toddlers.
“The Lights, Motors, Action! stunt show was incredible,” wrote one mother of two from Massachusetts. “We saw it twice. It’s an especially good show for boys since some of the other shows at Hollywood are a little girly.”
Helpful Hint
Lights, Motors, Action! shows in a large arena, but you should still try to be there 20 minutes in advance. Showtimes will be listed on your entertainment schedule and the tip board on Hollywood Boulevard.
Meeting the Characters at Hollywood
Hollywood is a great place to meet the characters. Consult your map or the tip board, which is midway down Hollywood Boulevard, for the times and places they’ll appear.
A variety of characters greets you at park opening and returns to the entrances around 3 PM.
Pixar characters appear across from Toy Story Mania.
The stars of Cars can be found in their own little garage to the right of the entrance into Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show.
The newest Disney stars are inside the Animation Studio.
Disney Junior stars are in the Animation Courtyard.
Food Choices at Hollywood
The Hollywood Brown Derby is one of the best restaurants inside a Disney theme park—or any theme park, for that matter. Although it has gourmet cuisine and a beautifully