Finding Nemo Sharks

In the Living Seas Pavilion at Epcot you'll find a great fun play area with interactive displays and fun photo opts. You can pose for picture inside Bruce's smiley mouth. A cast member will be there to take a picture or you can you snap a picture yourself.

tip: There are no cast members to help control the line or help little ones into Bruce. It's best for an adult or teen to help the little one. Little kids are often cut in front of while waiting.
Trick: It's not just for kids! Adults can (& probably more easily) climb in Bruce's mouth for a pic.
Tidbit: The 3 sharks in Nemo are named: Bruce, Chum, and Anchor.

Astro Orbiter

The Astro Orbiter is overlooked by many guest. The attraction is found in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom. The line always appears short but once in the line it always seems to be at a stand still.
The line is actually divided into 2 sections. The first section is on the ground. You will stand in line to board an elevator that will take you up to the flight deck. The flight deck wait goes by really quick because there is so much to look at once there. You'll see some amazing views of the park.

The ride itself is rather quick as well. On the ride you will load in 2's or 3's into jets. The jets have the most pointless seat belts in the whole park. They really would not keep anyone from climbing out if they wanted to but really who is going to climb out of the moving jet. Each jet circles around with the ability to go up and down as you wish. The person in the front will have control of the up and down.

Tips: This ride is not for those with height issues. I will admit that I'm scared of heights and I was thrilled when the jets came to a stop.
Tricks: Tomorrowland turns into a neon playground at night. Ride the orbiters after dark for an out of this world ride.
Tidbit: The original name of the Astro Orbiter was Space Jets.

Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set

The Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie set has been at Disney's Hollywood Studios for many years but this is the first year my family has ventured inside the larger than life set. The original entrance on the Streets of American keep the giant blades of grass and play -doh jars hide but Disney has added an entrance across from the Back Lot Tours exit making it easy to see and hard for parents to avoid.

The movie set has lots of cool features like giant slides, water features, and fun photo opts. Adults are welcome to explore the area too so don't feel awkward climbing to the top to be sniffed by the giant puppy nose. I have found that it is easy to loose your kids inside this attraction. There are so many kids running around & down small crawl spaces (to small for this mom to follow) that it's a good idea to have an adult stand guard at the exit to make sure no one leaves with your child. (Yes I'm overprotective!)

The movie set is divided into 3 sections. There is an area to one side more subtle for toddlers. There is a spider web to crawl through. A small slide, and musical steps to play on. This area is smaller in scale so it is easy to keep track of multiple kiddos.

The second area is a netted maze. There is only one entrance and exit so it is again a great place for the kids to play while being easy to keep track of.

The last area has lots of cool features like water and sound effects but it is more for bigger kids to do alone. Smaller kids are more than welcome to join in the fun but they will probably need help. My 3 year old was pushed down in the crowd twice while climbing the steps to the top where the giant mushrooms and puppy nose is located. It was too many stairs for her to maneuver. The toddler area was a better option for her. My 5 year old easily moved around this area but the two times we visited this attraction I "lost" him in the crowd. Just something to keep in mind when visiting the attraction. If you have a set time to enjoy the attraction (dinner reservations, parade, etc.) it might be difficult to round everyone up to leave on time. Just something else to keep in mind.

Tip: If you have younger children then go to the toddler area (to the left of the entrance) for some fun larger than life SAFE fun!
Tricks: The net area and the water area is totally fun to play in and easier to keep track of the kids.
Tidbit: some of the larger than life props are straight from the original movie. The 16 ft block and the giant oreo cookie are original props.

Small World

Small World is my favorite ride in Fantasy Land in the Magic Kingdom. It is well known by even those yet to visit the Disney by it's theme song "It's a small world after all. It's a small world after...."you know it and now you will be singing it to yourself for the rest of the day.

The ride has changed since it's creation for the World's Fair in 1964. It went through a refurbishment since my first visit in 2001. The attraction is a boat ride with Audio-Animatronics dolls from around the world sing the song in five different languages. The dolls are dressed in traditional regional clothes. We always try to identify the different countries by the children's clothes but I'll admit that we aren't that good at it. Maybe your family will have better lucky than mine.

Tip: This is a great ride for the whole family to enjoy together. Even tiny little ones.
Trick: The boats have extra leg room in the front seat. Ask the castmember to sit in the front! ;)
Tidbit: Here's a great page with a link to a movie of the ride. http://www.intercot.com/themeparks/magickingdom/fantasyland/smallworld/default.asp

Mupphet Vission

Mupphet Vision is an attraction that I have been visiting with my family for almost 7 years now. The show is a must see for the Mupphet fans. My kids had no idea who Kermit and Miss Piggy were (GASP!) but for the older generations the characters are welcome site.

Mupphet Vision is located in Disney's Hollywood Studios. The show is a 3D movie with the an extra dose of Disney magic with in theater special effects (water) and in theater visits from real live Mupphets!

Tips: Before the doors open to the Kodak Muppet Theatre you & the kids can be entertained by a fun little Muppet show inside and in the A/C!

Tricks: Just inside look for a door with the "Back in 5. Key under the mat." Check under the mat!!!! ;)

Tidbits There is a Muppet fountain in the courtyard outside the theater featuring Miss Piggy.

Beauty and the Beast

"Be Our Guest! Be our guest!. Put our service to the test...." You'll be singing the song for hours after watching this show. The Beauty and the Beast stage show is located in Disney's Hollywood Studios.

The show has all the lovable characters from the show excluding Bell's father. I honestly never noticed the exclusion of the character but my son did. Leave it to a five year old to be the true critic! The characters that do make appearance in the show are Belle, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Beast, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Gustan, and a large cast of villagers and enchanted castle residents. The entire stage is filled with action during each song.

Tips: Arrive early to enjoy the songs and jokes of a wonderful a cappella group
Trick: Arrive early and chat it up with the cast members. The A cappella group honors a couple before each show and gives them a little gift! Good luck! ;)
Tidbit: Belle's father is excluded from the shows character line-up.

Backlot Tour

The Back lot Tour at Hollywood Studios is a great attraction for the entire family. The tour is separated into three sections. The first section is a wonderful show highlighting different special effects. During this part of the show the audience will be standing for the show. The front row could (WILL) get wet.

After this first part of the attraction the audience will walk through

to the second part of the attraction- the props warehouse. Depending on when you visit, the time you have to enjoy the prop warehouse will vary. If you are lucky enough to be able to really browse through the props you will find props used in many of your favorite movies. Each time we visit the attraction the props on display are different.

For the third and final section of the tour you will board a tram for a guided tour look of the behind the scene Disney magic. The tram will give you a look at the behind the scenes of Disney's costume department and a bone yard. The bone yard is my favorite part of the tour. The large props resting in the bone yard are constantly changing. Three of the prop planes from Pearl Harbor are display here and have been at each of my eight visit over the past few years.

The tram will also take you into Catastrophe Canyon. Inside the canyon will experience more movie magic. Those audience members sitting on the outside could a little damp from the spray during the thunderstorm or the flash flood! You will also experience an explosion and an earthquake before exiting the canyon for a behind scene look of the canyon.

Cinderella's Golden Carousel

Cinderella's Golden Carousel can be found in the Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. The ride has 90 different white stallions to choose from. One of the white stallions is Cinderella's own steed! Cinderella's horse has as a red bridle and a gold ribbon in his tail.

The carousel has several different sizes of horses. The largest are on the outside with the smallest on the interior. There are also a few carriage type seats for those unable to mount up. This attraction really is a Disney classic that is for the entire family. My entire family rode the ride comfortably.

Cinderella's story is depicted on the carousel's canopy. There are eighteen different murals. The ride also a fun mix of different Disney favorite songs during the ride.

Tip: Cinderella's horse is second in from the outside.

Trick: Parents are welcome to stand beside their children as they go for a ride.

Tidbit: This Carousel was originally built in 1917.

Mickey's Prints

In front of the Great Movie Ride you can find the hand and foot prints of many of characters and famous people. A few of the characters that my kids like to see were Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Roger Rabbit.

Tip: Look for the squares at the entrance of the Great Movie Ride. Most people walk right by or over them without even noticing them.
Trick: Mickey and Minnie's squares are next to each other in the center. Easy to locate.
Tidbit: The famous prints replicate the prints in the Grauman Chinese Theatre forecourt in Hollywood California.

The Great Movie Ride

The Great Movie Ride, located in Hollywood Studios, is a wonderful tribute to the silver screen. The attraction is housed in a building that is a full scale replica of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California.
The ride begins with a grand entrance under a neon marquis. There are many movies highlight in the attraction from all genres with a little Disney magic sprinkled in with clever use of Audio-Animatronics® figures and live performers. My personal favorite movie clips are Tarzan and The Wizard of Oz while my son loves the Fantasia clip. Other movies that you will experience during the ride are Alien, Casablanca, Indiana Jones, and many more.
The ride vehicles are very large and roomy compared to some other rides. My husband is tall and he has plenty of leg room on this one. Each row seats between 6-8 people so there is a possibility that your party will be able to sit together if you have under that number.
The ride runs non-stop throughout the day so it can easily be scheduled between the show times. It's also a great break from the hot Florida sun. The line is inside as well with old movie clips for entertainment.


Tip: there is a hidden Mickey at the beginning of this ride. Look in the windows of the houses ;)
Trick: if you want to take pictures sit towards at the end of row or ask to sit behind the driver.
Tidbit: This is the only attraction featuring the Wizard of Oz at Disney since Oz is not a Disney movie.

STAR WARS JEDI TRAINING

"The Force is strong in you young one! " The new Jedi Training is a huge hit for Star Wars fans of all ages. The training session happens periodically throughout the day at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

During the show children approximately ages 6-9 (I've never seen any written rules relating to age. These ages are just my opinion based on watching the show) are selected from the audience to train. Each child is will get to dress the part including a light saber.

Even adult Star War Fans will get a kick out of this show thanks to the surprise guest appearance of Darth Vader. Each child will be able to test their newly learned skills one on one with Vader.

A special treat for the true Star Wars fan is that Darth Vader's voice is provided by James Earl Jones for this attraction.

Tip: No seating for this show and no strollers allowed near the stage.
Trick: It's more comfortable at the outside of
the crowd and will not effect your kids chances of
being picked. The center becomes very crowded!
Tidbit: Before this attraction opened Star Wars
characters only appeared during the special
Star Wars Weekend.

RainForest Cafe- Downtown Disney

The Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney is more than a restaurant. The atmosphere is worth the few extra bucks and the long wait if you arrive without a reservation. A reservation is highly recommended! The stand by wait was an hour and a half our last visit.

Inside the Rainforest you will find yourself sitting among life size elephants or gorillas in the middle of the rain forest. Every corner of the restaurant is decorated with trees, vines, and animals. Periodically during your visit the restaurant will come alive with thunderstorms and animal chatter. My 3 year old was a little frighten by the indoor thunderstorm but the animals were a great surprise.

The menu has a little of everything. I ordered a wonderful pot roast with mashed potatoes, my husband ordered a taste pasta dish, and my kids dined on mini hot dogs and chips. The sparkling volcano is a big hit for dessert but we've never had enough room to give it a try.

Tip: make a reservation. The wait can be very long without one.
Trick: Ask for a seat in front of an animal when making your reservation for the best show.
Tidbit: There is a Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom too.

Fantasmic - Hollywood Studios

Fantasmic is my FAVORITE show at Disney World. I love everything about it. The Disney website describes the show as:

" Mickey faces off against Disney villains in a lavish spectacular of dancing water, dramatic music, breathtaking animation, lasers, fireworks and surprises. "

I describe it as pure Disney Magic! The show is very popular and is always full. For the best seats, which are in the center bottom section, you must arrive an hour early to get into line. After you get your seat, then you can pass the time with a late night snack or one of the many light toys that cast members will be selling at the front of the stadium.

I've seen the show 4 or 5 times (I've lost count). Only once have I sat in the "best" seats and I've never been disappointed in the show. The show can be a little scary for little ones. Both my kids tend to snuggle down with hidden eyes a few times during the show but we've never been driven to tears. A good distraction is counting the Mickeys. Mickey appears in several different costumes throughout the show. How many did you see?

The show is not only entertaining but it's also a great chance to see characters. There are various characters making appearances throughout the show but the show finale will give you a chance to see a great mix of classic and obscure characters including Stem Boat Willy as Captain.

Tip: If you're sitting near the bottom of the stadium, a poncho could come in handy. The water effects don't send large waves onto the crowd but a steady mist does float over the bottom section. During the hot summer nights it could be the highlight of the show!
Trick: An easy way to save a few bucks is to buy a few light toys or necklaces at your local dollar store before your visit. The show is preformed in the dark and light toys will be available for sale at the show but they are on the expensive side.
Tidbit: If you have a Pochontas fan then Fantasmic is a Must See! An entire act of the show is dedicated to the Native American Princess. All the Princess appear in some fashion in the show except for Cinderella. She doesn't leave the Magic Kingdom.

In 2009 Disney will be canceling a majority of the Fantasmic shows. It currently runs twice nightly. In January it will be preformed only twice a week-Monday & Thursday. Extra shows may be added during peak season. This is a great show! The limited showing will make this show more crowded and in demand. So showing up early is now a necessity.

Sci Fi Dine In

If you're looking for a fun lunch or dinner option while visiting Hollywood Studios then the Sci Fi Dine In is a perfect solution. The Dine In serves both lunch and diner. Outside you'll find a car booth to snap a few pictures and play on. The seating inside is the same cars. Each car has 3 rows large enough to hold 2 adults. The Sci Fi also has a few regular tables. The regular tables are still inside the car shell so you won't miss out on any fun. I prefer the regular table since I have small children. It's easier to help with milk shakes and messy foods when we are all sitting beside one another

While you enjoy your meal you will be entertained by old black and white movies. Most of the movies are monster movies. Think old time monster movies like giant grasshoppers and spiders. My kids are 5 & 3 and they were not scared at all at the silly images.

Tip: If you are unable to secure a reservation, you may still be able to get a seat. People do cancel all the time. Check a few times during the day with the cast members outside. You may have to eat at a slightly odd time like 3:00 but the experience is worth it!
Trick: Have you kids sit in the front row or in the first seat of the regular table & your waiter will give them a Sci Fi Dine In driver licenses.
Tidbit: Check out the lunch menu http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/dining/menus/mgm/scifi_lunch.asp