Read about what we did that was new at Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs. This will be our first time back to Disney since their 50th Celebration started and we’re ready to go back. We also booked some new restaurants and the Genie service is now running. Looking forward to lots of new experiences for us at Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs.
Background
We have been Disney World annual passholders for a few years now, but we always find new experiences each time. This time was no exception. Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration kicked off October 1st so we knew we wanted to go soon after. So, we looked for any days in October when our daughter was out of school. She was off Friday the 29th, so we decided to book our stay this last weekend in October. In addition to the new 50th festivities, we were able to book 2 new restaurants. We are looking forward to see what’s new at Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs!
Planning
Planning is key before you go to Disney World. We cannot say this enough. Once we determined we wanted to go the last weekend in October, we booked our favorite timeshare resort near Disney. There are a lot of timeshare resorts available in Orlando and in the Disney area. Many times you can find deals even if you are not a timeshare owner. Also, with Halloween being that Sunday, we know we have to come back early on Sunday. Our daughter is super-psyched about trick-or-treating this year. Plus she has a soccer game we need to get back for in the afternoon. So, we decide we will hit the parks on Friday and Saturday.
We went to EPCOT on our last trip and it was amazing. To see more about that trip, see our post: Our Amazing Day at EPCOT including Ratatouille. So, this time we decide to go to Hollywood Studios on Friday. However, we know we will need to leave to check into our resort in the afternoon. And, the following day we decide we will go to Magic Kingdom all day. To see about this day, see our post: 50th Anniversary Celebration at Magic Kingdom!
Where to Eat
We always try to plan where to eat at the parks for multiple reasons. Hollywood Studios has many quick service options including some good lunch spots. But we decide to try something new this time. We normally like to book at least 1-sit down restaurant while in the parks. And if you don’t book in advance, you risk not going to the restaurants you want. It really depends on what’s available. However, we’re able to book Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano for lunch at 11:30, a restaurant we’ve never been to before.
Since we will need to check-in to our resort near Disney Springs, we decide to look for restaurants available there. Disney Springs has tons of restaurant options and most we have not tried yet. But, we did our research and were able to book a highly rated restaurant, the Boathouse, for dinner at 6:30. We are excited to try these 2 restaurants that are new to us.
And Here We Go
Hollywood Studios opens at 9AM, and we are lucky to live within a few hours of the park. We know we won’t make it before opening, but our goal is to get there before lunch. We actually get to the gates by 10AM, but the lines to get in were a little longer than we’ve seen recently. The parking lots at Hollywood Studios are not as far away as other parks. And one major perk of being an annual passholder is getting free standard parking, normally $25/day. Plus we only plan to be at the park for half a day. So, we decide to use standard parking since it didn’t seem worth paying the extra $25 for preferred parking.
After parking we get our stuff together and apply some sunscreen. Even though it was partly cloudy and starting to get cooler in Florida, it will be 80 today. We apply some sunscreen then take the walk into the park. Even though we arrive after park opening and aren’t the closest to the park, the walk really isn’t that bad. We are glad we did standard parking.
Inside the Park
By this time it is after 10:30, so we look on the Disney World app for attraction wait times. This app is essential for pre-planning and gives good information while in the parks, including wait times. They also just released their Genie Service which plans an itinerary for you based on wait times and other factors. This service is free, but they also have Genie+ for $15/day per person. Genie+ allows you to pick times to return to rides in their Lightning Lanes. Think of the old FastPass lines which are shorter than waiting in the standard standby lines. We decide against paying for this option for a half day. For more information, read about it at Disney Genie Service at Walt Disney World Resort.
We see Star Tours near the restaurant has a 20 minute wait time and we should have plenty of time. And though the line at Star Tours starts outside, it moves fast. While in line we wonder if Disney has added some minor touches to the droids you see going through the line. We had heard Disney was making updates throughout the parks for their 50th. It could have been things we missed or things now working, but we are able to get onto the ride in about 15 minutes. After enjoying our first ride of the day, we head to lunch.
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Lunch
It is almost 11:00 when we pass the Muppet*Vision 3D show, which exits in front of the restaurant. There’s a 10 minute wait, but not sure if we have time before lunch. A cast member tells us the show lasts 17 minutes, so we determine it would be too close. So we walk past the ride entrance to the “Muppet” store also by the ride’s exit. However, it is closed, so we go ahead and put our name in early for the restaurant. At almost 11:30 they call our name.
The restaurant is much larger inside then it appears from the outside. Once you pass the hostess stand and restrooms up front, you see the chefs in the kitchen. We then turn from the kitchen and get seated on the back side. They give our daughter a kids menu with crayons which is awesome. It keeps her busy while we wait to order. The server brings us bread with olive oil and herbs. We’d rather have some garlic bread, but we are hungry and each have a roll. Our daughter orders her favorite, buttered pasta, with a side of green beans and carrots. It also comes with meatballs which we get on the side and a dessert. We each order an entrée, their chicken parmigiana and shrimp campanelle.
Our daughter’s lunch was a huge portion. She does a great job eating but there was still plenty to share. We get our entrees that are also good portions and very filling. We decide to skip dessert but our daughter gets her cupcake with a chocolate meatball on it. With our bellies full, we are ready to further explore the park.
After Lunch at Hollywood Studios
By the time we make it back to the main area, it is just past 12:30. The “Frozen” show just started so we missed it. Our daughter loves Frozen but Mickey’s and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is her favorite ride. She really wants to ride it and at this point, it is almost an hour wait. Another new option Disney implemented is the new individual Lightning Lanes which can be purchased individually. This option is only available for 2 premier rides at each park, and her favorite ride was one of them. So basically you can pay for each individual to get in the Lightning Lane. With us having limited time here and this being her favorite ride, we decide to purchase for $10 each. We make the purchase on the app and are given a window from 1:55-2:55.
The next “Frozen” show is at 1:30 and our lightning lane pass starts at 1:55. So, we have over an hour to kill. We see a Disney photographer taking pictures in front of the old theatre, now the “Mickey” ride. Looks like the perfect opportunity to grab a free photo, included with our annual passes. We try to get at least one photo every day at a park. We wait in the short line and are able to get some good photos. Across the way is the popcorn stand, so we head over to get in line. We brought our refillable bucket so refills are only $2. After the initial purchase, this is the best price for a snack anywhere. We have used our same bucket for many trips over the last year and our daughter loves it.
Fab 50 Characters and Anniversary Drink
The line for the popcorn stand was a little long. As one of use waited, the other walked around and found the Animation Bar with no waiting. Becky decides she wants to try one of the new 50th celebration drinks available. So, we get the Shimmer Over the Moon for $14. Drink prices are normally over $10, so we just get one. The drink is light and refreshing and comes with a souvenir glow cube. Basically it’s a fake ice cube that lights up. But it was a nice drink.
Also we notice a couple Fab 50 character statues. For the 50th Anniversary, Disney World has added 50 golden character sculptures across all 4 parks. And the first we see is Joe Gardner from last year’s movie Soul. The other one we see are 2 characters from The Little Mermaid: Flounder and Sebastian. We heard this sculpture may count as 2 characters, so there may be 50 total characters, not sculptures. However, they are a fun addition to look for in the parks. And they are not easily visible, you have to look for them. After our popcorn refill, we finish the drink and head back over to the “Frozen” show.
The “Frozen” Show
The “Frozen” show is actually called For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sign-Along Celebration. So, that’s why we abbreviate it. In any case, our daughter of course loves the Frozen movies and this is a great option before the “Mickey” ride. We get in line about 1:15, and go straight in to the waiting area. Soon thereafter, the theatre doors open and we wait for some other families to go in first so we can get middle seats. Our plan works and we are ready for the show.
We have done this show a few times already and it’s a fun break from walking. Not only is it funny, but everyone can sing along to the most popular songs from the original Frozen movie. Though masks are still required indoors, which make the singing a little difficult. But if that wasn’t fun enough, Elsa comes out at the end and “snow” blows over the audience. We are in the theater for a good 30 minutes leaving after 2:00.
The “Mickey” Ride
Now that our Lightning Lane window has opened, we head around the corner to the “Mickey” ride. Mickey’s and Minnie’s Runaway Railway as it is official named, is one of the newest rides at Hollywood Studios. We love the ride and wanted to ensure our daughter gets to ride it today. After purchasing the Lightning Lane pass for this ride, we go to the Lightning Lane entrance. This Lightning Lane line actually starts outside, but moves fairly quickly inside. A little surprised that this line is not faster, we get on the ride after 18 minutes. Felt like the old FastPass system, but now you have to pay for it. Much better than 50 minutes, but is it worth $30 to save about 30 minutes? It’s all about maximizing your time at Disney, so it depends on you.
We are able to get in the front of the car and at times right behind the train. The ride is great and after we get out, it’s already after 2:30. We decide to do another show, Disney Junior Play and Dance!, starting in about 15 minutes. We get the stroller, then walk over to the area next door and park our stroller in front of the line for the show.
Disney Junior Dance and Play!
We haven’t done this show since before Covid when our daughter was much younger. So, we hope she still enjoys it. We quickly walk into the theatre and find a space on the floor to sit. Yes, there are no chairs in this theatre for a reason. The host gets everyone situated and plays a game of finding hidden Mickeys before the show starts. Then she gets all the kids to stand to warm up with a few dance moves.
Then the first character comes out and the kids go nuts. Each character comes out and does a few dance moves for the kids to emulate. Vampirina and Doc McStuffins, from Disney Junior shows dance first. Followed by Timon from Lion King, who used to have a show with his sidekick Pumbaa many years ago. Not sure why he is here, but the last is Mickey in his Roadster Racer costume from his Disney Junior show. Of course all the kids love Mickey and go crazy. With character greetings not back yet, this is one of the best places to see some characters up close. And of course during the show bubbles come down, because all kids love bubbles. Our daughter still loves it!
More 50th Surprises
We spot another Fab 50 sculpture while leaving, Woody and Bo Peep from Toy Story. This makes sense as they have a Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios. However, the statue isn’t in Toy Story Land. Again, these sculptures are not in places you would think. By this time it is already 3:00 and we have to check in to our resort around 4:00. So we want to do 1 last thing before we leave.
Another thing new on the Disney app is a 50th Anniversary guide. Inside the guide you can see the 50th Anniversary Sips and Bites guide for each park. We find 2 new desserts at The Trolley Car Café on the way to the exit. This café is actually the “Starbucks” location near the main entrance to the park. And like any Starbucks location, there is always a line to get in. So we get in line. On the way to the register, we see the 2 desserts in the display case and grab them. One is a Pumpkin Mousse and the other is the Glimmer and Shimmer Pineapple Mouse. We then order 2 cold brews and pay. We then split up and one of us looks for table outside and the other waits for the cold brews.
We get our drinks and meet back outside at a table we find to eat these amazing looking desserts. One is shaped like a pumpkin and the other like a pineapple, both adorned with a gold 50th emblem. We share the desserts between the 3 of us. They were both delicious, but give the edge to the pineapple mousse. We may have just had way too much pumpkin spice, and the pineapple mousse was something different.
Off to Our Resort and Then Disney Springs
As we are eating our desserts, it is starting to sprinkle. But luckily we are able to walk to our car before any major rainfall. Our resort is less than 15 minutes away from Hollywood Studios, and we pull in a few minutes after 4:00. After we check in, we take our bags up to our room and settle in for a little bit. About an hour or so later, we get back into our car to try some more new things at Disney Springs.
Disney Springs is just about 5 minutes from our resort, but you have to plan time for parking. We figured out we needed to park in the Lime Garage since it was closest to the Boathouse restaurant. There are at least 3 garages, so it’s good to know where you need to park before you go. The garage is very large, and first availability is on the 4th floor. But, we find a nice spot near the stairs. The bridge to Disney Springs is on the 2nd floor, so we take the stairs down. However, they have barricaded off the entrance so you have to walk through security detectors. We walk through with no problem, then over the bridge and down to Disney Springs.
On the way to the Boathouse, we pass Gideon’s Bakehouse. We have never been as the lines are always so long they have a virtual queue. Though we hear they have good cookies, so we ask how long the queue is. Basically if we put our name in now, we should get a text within 2.5 hours. Since we are headed to dinner, we go ahead and put our name in hoping they call us afterwards. We then walk around the corner to the Boathouse.
The Boathouse Restaurant
The official name of this restaurant is: The BOATHOUSE®: Great Food, Waterfront Dining, Dream Boats™. We get to the “Boathouse” about 10 minutes before our reservation at 6:30. In front of the restaurant are their amphicars that launch from the land into the water. You can book a 20-minute trip around the lake, but it’s neat just to see one launch. Once we get to the host stand, they seat us right away at an inside table looking out at the lake.
Our server greets us at the table, and brings us water and then some bread. When we first walked in the restaurant, we walked past their raw bar and it looked amazing. So, we decide to get a platter. You can pick any number of items they have fresh that day. So, we decide to get some Sea of Cortez shrimp and a variety of oysters. The shrimp are exceptional. And the variety of oysters are very good, though Becky would probably skip next time.
Our daughter gets the cheeseburger kids meal with carrot sticks in an amphicar shaped box. After the platter, we decide to share their calamari with peppers and filet mignon sliders with truffle fries. The sliders were small but tender, and the truffle fries were great. The calamari was good but some peppers were extremely hot. Satisfied, we left with room for dessert just in case.
The location, the raw bar and their excellent service make this a restaurant we would love to frequent again. We also get the 10% off Annual Passholder discount here. After we pay, we head to their store to shop for a little bit. When we leave the store, we get a text. It’s our time for Gideon’s!
Gideon’s Bakehouse
If you have never heard of Gideon’s Bakehouse, it’s an experience. If you want to read more details about our experience, check out: A Unique Experience at Gideon’ Bakehouse. We get the call back in less than 2 hours and the timing is perfect. We head to the line to check in just before 8:30.
While we wait in line, we get a small card with their October menu. It lists all of their cookie selections included their exclusives and limited editions. After waiting in line for over 20 minutes, we finally get to their large doors. We wait at the steps, and put on our masks until they allow us to go in.
Once inside, lines curve past the displays to the registers. The room is fairly small and is not what we expected, though it’s really neat. Halfway through the line, we get up to the display cases with the cookies and cake slices. And just past it we get up to the registers. We decide to get 2 of their cookies and a bag of Gideon’s Bites at the register. They bag it all up and we take them back to our resort.
When we get back we try the cookies. They are very good and can understand why people like them. We only picked a few options and would like to try some others in the future. If you are not a chocolate lover, try to get here early for their Coffee Cake Cookie which sells out daily. Check out their website for more information: Gideon’s Bakehouse at Disney Springs. After we have a couple bites of cookies, we head to bed near 11:00.
Summary
It has been a great day experiencing new things at both Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs. We got to try 2 restaurants we had never been to before. Mama Melrose’s was a good choice for lunch at Hollywood Studios. And the Boathouse was an exceptional dining experience at Disney Springs. We tried out the new Genie service on the Disney app and purchased individual Lightning Lane passes. Also at the park, we saw some Fab 50 characters and had some anniversary treats. And after dinner at Disney Springs, we got to experience the unique Gideon’s Bakehouse. We really enjoyed our day experiencing new things at Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs!