How to Plan an International Trip: Travel Tales and Tips : Dream Vacay at Disney World, Orlando, Florida, USA,: Hollywood Studios

DAY 6, DEC 10, Saturday:

We spent just one day in this theme park; so it was not 2 days each in the 4 parks but 3 days in Magic kingdom.

Walt Disney World's third theme park opened in May 1989 as Disney-MGM Studios, joining the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.

This park features live shows and attractions based on movie and television favorites, from classic Golden Age films to modern-day blockbusters.

At the end of the Hollywood Boulevard is the giant conical Sorcerer's Hat, the one Mickey wore in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment of Fantasia. It's gaudy and obscures the view of the beautiful Chinese Theater, but it's the centerpiece of the park and the most important landmark.

Dedicated to Hollywood—not a place on a map, but a state of mind that exists wherever people dream and wonder and imagine, a place where illusion and reality are fused by technological magic.

With Oprah

Bill Cosby is funny in 'Kids say the darnest things' though the original host is funnier. Wonder they must have removed this after the scandal

Even the fountain has a movie camera filming it...

Upon entering the park, we are on Hollywood Boulevard, the park's equivalent of the Magic Kingdom's Main Street, U.S.A.

Shops line both sides of this street.

Real auditions are held for American Idol show here

The park is not just about Disney productions--there are rides and shows based on Lucas film properties, Pixar films, ABC television, and Jim Henson's Muppets.

This is the Echo Lake:

On one side of Echo Lake is a large steamboat, known as Min and Bill's Dockside Diner;

on the other is a large dinosaur, with Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream of Extinction. Around the perimeter of the area are attractions based on Lucasfilm properties, restaurants.

Hollywood Boulevard is mostly a location for shops, restaurants, and Streetmosphere, but at its far end is the park's centerpiece attraction, the Great Movie Ride.

Saw a good music show... Mulch, Sweat and Shears group...

Here's the very entertaining stunt show with southern Italy as facade

they performed the stunts 1st and then explained the tricks behind them--when a car is driving fast in reverse for instance, it is a different car, with engine at the back..

We then saw the Indiana Jones performance... had a great time as we were in the front row... though we went in late, just went up front, and requested some to move a bit and make space...

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. An exciting 35-minute live-action stunt show recreating some of the best scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark. A few audience members get to appear on stage as extras.

Toy Story Mania!. Hollywood Studios' newest ride is a 3-D virtual midway game, complete with moving targets and special effects, themed around the characters from Toy Story.

Great fun for all ages, but visitors with aiming skills honed by years of video game playing will get higher scores. Extremely popular, possibly the most popular attraction in all of Walt Disney World.

Potato head talks to visitors.. we did this ride 3 times--totally loved it.. all movies of toy story are our all time favorites

End of a long day, we got wrapped up in sweaters...Beauty and the Beast was sweet...

Aerosmith ride here

Fireworks and dance performance, stunts, fountains etc all in one... excellent... got drenched as we sat in the 3rd row...

Watched the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights which is the special item every holiday season.... as night descends

DAY 9, DEC 13, Tuesday:

On the last day our bags for checkin were collected at our hotel by South west airline rep. They also checked us in and gave the boarding pass.
We took the shuttle to Magic Kingdom and enjoyed rides till it was time to take our free Disney shuttle to the airport.