Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios
Information on Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios includes; Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure, The Great Movie Ride, Playhouse Disney�Live on Stage, Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, Voyage of The Little Mermaid, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Muppet Vision 3D, Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show, Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, The American Film Institute Showcase, The American Idol Experience, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza, Star Wars: Jedi Training Academy and Toy Story Mania.

Upon entering the park, you are on Hollywood Boulevard, lined with wonderful venues; selling merchandise, ice cream, coffee, and other snacks. Live entertainment is found here all through the day and is very similar to Main Street, USA in Disney World; but with studios and entertainment entwined.  The Great Movie Ride is found at the end of the boulevard inside of the replica Grauman's Chinese Theater, but without the Grauman's name; and the giant sorcerer's hat used by Mickey sits in the front. Here you will be able to view many of the hand and foot prints of many great stars in the cement walkways.  Seated inside the dark theater, you review scenes from many of the great movies;  although you will notice that there is no reference to Universal. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza is located along the boulevard; with busts and icons of movie greatest in the television era, including Oprah Winfrey and Walt Disney.

Off towards the left is Echo Lake, a small oval shaped lagoon; which was the left ear of Mickey if you could fly overhead and notice it; with many attractions, services and architecturally designed buildings of the movie era of the 30s and 40s in the original Hollywood. The attractions here are; Star Tours, motion simulator in the Star Wars world; Star Wars: Jedi Training Academy, where the kids will actually get the chance to become padawan learners of the light saber training; Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, showing visitors how the scenes are created and showing some of the best; The American Idol Experience, where you can really try out for the television show;  and Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey, a 3D presentation with the famous comedian.

On the streets of America, you will find; Muppet*Vision 3D, starring your favorite muppets; Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show, will reveal how some of the great action scenes with vehicles are done; Honey I Shrunk the Kids" Movie Set Adventure, which is a big playground using the scenes' sets for the various area toys; and the Studio Backlot Tour, explaining how the many special effects are accomplished in the movies and showing water and fire effects.

At Animation Courtyard, where the studio arch is, is home to Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, this is a kind of museum about the man that started it all with models, artifacts and pictures depicting the life of Walt, Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian, here you walk through an area with examples from the movie and scenes from the second; Playhouse Disney�Live on Stage, a live puppet show with characters from the Disney Channel; the American Film Institute Showcase, shows props and other mementos from the movies; and the Magic of Disney Animation, explains the way animation is done and gives you a chance to meet many of the wonderful Disney and Pixar characters, with interactive games and exhibits.

Pixar Place is the most recent addition to the studio area, with a number of film studios that were originally used in the production of many shows; and is a replica of the studios in California. Toy Story Midway Mania involves 3D action related to various carnival games using the favorite characters of the Toy Story film.

In 1994, the first major increase to the studio area was the great Sunset Boulevard with some really great rides; including: Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, Rock n Roller Coaster with Aerosmith, with a high speed ride reaching up to 60 mph and a jump start that will thrill you; The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, this awesome ride takes you to the top of the building where you will board an elevator that drops you fast; according to different aspects, which happens 4 times to give you a stomach, heart dropping experience that will definitely excite you and Fantasmic!, a beautiful blending of lasers, lights and water effects held in the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater.

In any of the Disney parks, live entertainment has always been a part of the fun and magic of the particular land you are visiting. It is no different at Hollywood Studios, with various character guests showing up on the street in costume performing some small feat, or just hanging around giving out autographs to the visitors and taking pictures with their favorite small frys. Some of the current characters include JoJo's Circus, Kim Possible, Bolt, Little Einsteins or Ratatouille. Occasionally cover groups or a cappella quartets will perform in the shows held throughout the area, or along the streets. Often all these folks will take part in the parades that are held throughout the day to the enjoyment of all the crowds attending.