Hollywood Studios - Offstage WDW

New Disney Immersion- Interact in a Unique Way

offstagewdw — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 16:15:21 +0000

Last October, Disney began rolling out beautiful golden character statues throughout the four theme parks. They are finally all out! Besides adding some glam to the scenery, these statues allow guests to interactive with them in a unique way. Here is how it works-

First, you MUST have a MagicBand+, the newest version.

When you find a statue, walk up and wave your hand (the one with the MagicBand+) in front of it. You will feel a vibration & your band should light up.

The statue will “interact” by playing a flourish of music and/or a cute little message from the character! There are 35 statues, equaling 50 total characters. You can download the ‘Disney Fab 50 Quest’ on the Play Disney App to keep track of the statues that you find!

Some guests have reported issues with their MagicBands+ being unable to activate the statues. There is an easy way to fix this!

Log into the My Disney Experience Map.
Go to your account page- the three lines all the way to the right located on the bottom menu bar
Scroll down to ‘MagicBands and More’
Click on the name of whose MagicBand that you are adjusting.
Select ‘Settings’ to adjust the sensitivity settings. *You will need to do this for each individual band.

On the other side of the spectrum, others have noted that the statues go off as they walk by. In the end, it will all come down to individual settings and the location of the statue sensors… which by the way, are not always in front of or attached to the statue.

Want to know which statues are found in each park? Check out the list below!

The post New Disney Immersion- Interact in a Unique Way first appeared on Offstage WDW.

Okay, but what is a Disney Wienie and why are they EVERYWHERE?!

offstagewdw — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Alright, let’s talk about Wienies. What the heck is a Wienie? It is a termed coined by Walt Disney himself, to describe a large visual element within a park. Wienies can be seen from a distance and are meant to draw people in towards an area.

It is pretty obvious the main Wienie for each park.

These large structures can be seen from various areas within each park. Cinderella Castle and The Tree of Life are situated more or less in the “center” of their park. The “lands” or areas then radiate out from them like the spokes of a wheel.

Wienies also help guests to navigate throughout the park more easily. There are the main ones as listed above and secondary ones.

Magic Kingdom

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Epcot

Each Pavilion, with maybe the exception of Germany & United Kingdom, have their own secondary Wienie.

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Hollywood Studios

This park is filled with secondary Wienies! The most famous, their former Sorcerers Hat and Mickey Mouse Ear Water Tower, which has long since been removed.

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Animal Kingdom

At Animal Kingdom, the lush landscapes are visual magnets on their own.

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

What’s in a Name?

Soooo why name these visual magnets “Wienies?” The story goes something like this: the Disney family had a standard poodle named Duchess, whom adored Walt… she was his dog! Duchess was an old gal with several ailments, who spent her final days sleeping. The only time she showed excitement was when Walt came home. Here is a quote from Diane Miller (Walt’s oldest daughter) in an 1956 interview:

“In the evening it was cooler, so maybe that helped. Dad would park his car in the garage and come in to the house through the kitchen. He would go to the refrigerator and pull out two uncooked hot dogs, one for himself and one for the dog. He would play with her, wiggling the hot dog around and she would go wherever he moved around and was so happy when she finally got her treat. It was part of an evening ritual and both of them loved it and looked forward to it.”

Photo Source: D23

During the initial construction of Disneyland, Walt spoke with amusement park developer George Whitney. Whitney explained that the flow of the crowd could be controlled with lighting, sounds, and raised buildings. People would tend to move to the taller structures that they could see once they left a ride. Walt knew the perfect name for these visual magnets… Wienies! Just like the hot dog wienies he would use to entice Duchess to move around.

Wienie or Weenie?

If you google Disney Wienie, you will see it spelled both ways; however, I used the spelling of Wienie as it is used in this form in “The Imagineering Field Guide to (insert park name…I have them all!) at Walt Disney World.” It is an Imagineer’s tour of the parks written by Imagineers! With the Imagineers as the source, I think it is safe to say the correct spelling is in fact, Wienie.

There are far more Wienies than people would think, and there are some that I probable left out. Next time you are walking around a park, see how many Wienies you can find!

The post Okay, but what is a Disney Wienie and why are they EVERYWHERE?! first appeared on Offstage WDW.

Which Disney Park is the Largest?

offstagewdw — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 14:55:32 +0000

With 12 theme parks located around the world, Disney Parks are a sought out destination! How do they rank in size? Do you know which of the 12 is the largest? Let’s break it down from smallest to largest!

Walt Disney Studios Park

Source: Disney©

Location: Chessy, France Size: 44 acres Did you know- Walt Disney Studios Park is the much smaller sister park of Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Disney California Adventure Park

Location: Anaheim, California Size: 72 acres Did you know- There is a reason it is so small. The park was built on Disneyland’s former parking lot!

Disneyland

Source: Disney©

Location: Anaheim, California Size: 85 acres Did you know: The very first park to be open in 1955, it cost $17 million to build. That would be approximately $174,002,611 today!

Shanghai Disneyland Park

Source: Disney©

Location: Shanghai, China Size: 100 acres Did you know: It’s Enchanted Storybook Castle is the tallest and largest castle at any Disney park.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Source: Disney©

Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida Size: 103 acres Did you know: The Studios was initially going to be a land in Epcot, but Imagineers felt they had enough to create an independent park. The announcement of Universal Studios building a theme park didn’t hurt either.

Magic Kingdom Park

Source: D23

Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida Size: 107 acres Did you know: At 124 acres it’s parking lot is actually larger then the park itself!

Tokyo DisneySea

Source: Disney©

Location: Urayasu, Japan Size: 122 acres Did you know: The two Tokyo Disney parks are not actually owned by the Walt Disney World Company. They are owned and operated by The Oriental Land Company who licensed the Disney name, attractions, and characters from the Disney Company.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Source: Disney©

Location: Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China Size: 123 acres Did you know: It was originally a small 68 acres, but the addition of Toy Story Land, Grizzly Gulch, and Mystic Point on the other side of the park’s railroad would add much needed space, almost doubling the park in size.

Tokyo Disneyland

Source: ©Disney

Location: Urayasu, Japan Size: 126 acres Did you know: Opening on April 15, 1983, Tokyo Disneyland was the first international Disney park to be built.

Disneyland Paris

Source: ©Disney

Location: Coupvray, France Size: 127 acres Did you know: France happens to be a hot spot for castles, averaging more than 40,000 so when it came time to build a Disney castle, Imagineers had to think outside of the box. That is why their castle is more fairytale like in appearance than the others!

Epcot

Source: ©Disney

Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida Size: 200 acres Did you know: The iconic Spaceship Earth (pictured above) weighs 15 million pounds and is 165 feet in diameter.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

Source: ©Disney

Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida Size: 300 acres Did you know: When including the animal care/backstage area, the massive park actually encompasses 500 acres!

There you have it! I hope you learned some fascinating new facts today about the incredible Disney parks. I don’t know about you, but this makes me want to visit all the parks even more! Let’s plan a trip, who’s with me?!

The post Which Disney Park is the Largest? first appeared on Offstage WDW.

Disney Genie+ versus Individual Lightning Lane

offstagewdw — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 14:07:33 +0000

There is some confusion with the new Disney Genie+ service. We are going to break it down as quickly and easily as possible.

FASTPASS+ is no more. Lightning Lane is the new FASPASS+. The biggest difference is now you need to pay for it.

There are two choices when purchasing:

Pay $15.00 for Genie+ per person per day and have access to 40+ attractions OR
Buy the Individual Lightning Lane for a higher demand attraction. It can cost between $7 to $15 per person per attraction, depending on the busyness of the day.

How do I get it?

First you will need to purchase your park ticket (through Disney or Travel Agent), then you will need to download the My Disney Experience Mobile App.

When can I pick my attractions?

Unlike FASTPASS+ which guests could choose their attractions months in advanced, Genie+ & Individual Lightning Lane is day of.

I purchased the Genie+, how many Lighting Lane passes can I choose at a time?

ONE at a time folks! The day of your visit, starting at 7:00 AM for guests staying at the resort or 9:00 AM for all other guests, open up the app and choose the first attraction you want to ride. The earlier the better. Once you ride the attraction or the time window passes, you can get back on the app and choose another experience!

Sooo how many total can I choose?

That is up to you and your schedule. Make your first time as early as possible. You have until the park closes to choose times.

Can I choose any ride I want?

No, not every attraction is available for Lighting Lane. But not to worry, here is a list for you!

Magic Kingdom

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Haunted Mansion
“it’s a small world”
Jungle Cruise
Mad Tea Party
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain
The Barnstormer
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tomorrowland Speedway
Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

Epcot

Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Living with the Land
Mission: SPACE – Green
Mission: SPACE – Orange
Soarin’ Around the World
Spaceship Earth
Test Track
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush

Hollywood Studios

Alien Swirling Saucers
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
Disney Junior Play & Dance!
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – returning Dec 19, 2021
Millennium Flacon: Smugglers Run
Muppet*Vision 3D
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Slinky Dog Dash
Star Tours- The Adventures Continue
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania!

Animal Kingdom

Celebration of the Festive of the Lion King
DINOSAUR
Feathered Friends in Flight!
It’s Tough to be a Bug!
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Na’vi River Journey
The Animation Experience at Conservation Station

Got it. So how does the Individual Lightning Lane work?

The Individual Lightning Lane is basically an á la carte for the higher demand attractions. You only pay for the ones you want.

Is there a limit for how many I buy?

Yes! Like the Genie+, you can only choose one at a time for a max of two attractions a day.

Do I have to purchase Genie+ to use it?

Nope!

Can I choose any attraction I want for an individual purchase?

No, there are only a few attractions at each park that are available for Individual Lightning Lane purchase. Here they are!

Magic Kingdom

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Space Mountain

Epcot

Frozen Ever After
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Hollywood Studios

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Stars Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Animal Kingdom

Avatar Flight of Passage
Expedition Everest- Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

How much does the Individual Lightning Lane cost?

That all depends on the day. If it is high peak season (holidays, Spring Break, Summer, etc.) the cost per attraction will be higher. Prices range from $7 to $15.

Can I book my Individual Lightning Lane early?

Just like Genie+, you are able to purchase an attraction pass the day of your visit.

Can I purchase Genie+ AND Individual Lightning Lane?

You sure can! Since they are separate, you can be flexible with the times you choose.

Can I use Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lane to ride the same attraction over and over?

No- if you want to ride an attraction again, you will have to use the regular Stand-By line.

I already bought my park tickets for a future trip. Can I still add Genie+ or purchase Individual Lightning Lane?

You sure can! You can purchase the services now or day of. Just remember, you cannot select the attraction times until the day of your visit at 7:00 AM if you are staying at a Disney Resort, or 9:00 AM if you are just visiting the park.

Wow, a park ticket already costs so much and this is just an added expense.

True, that true. You are easily looking at $150 per person per day with park ticket purchases, the Genie+ and both Individual Lightning Lane passes. The services are just an added bonus. If you are traveling during a busy time, you may want to just spend the money on the Individual Lightning Lane. It is something you can always decide when you arrive at the park. IF you are a Disney novice, there is an added benefit of purchasing Genie+- the service helps guests to build itineraries based on their interests. This will help maximize park time.

I hope this question and answer session with myself helped! This entire system is brand new and a learning process for everyone, even Disney. Be sure to keep up with the latest news prior to your trip to account for any changes.

The post Disney Genie+ versus Individual Lightning Lane first appeared on Offstage WDW.

What Makes a Dark Ride, a Dark Ride?

offstagewdw — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 19:59:40 +0000

True or False? A ride must take place in the dark to be considered a Dark Ride… FALSE!! What the what?! Then why in the world are they called “Dark” Rides?! There are a few important elements that make an attraction a Dark Ride:

The attraction is more or less contained inside a building.
Guests are moved from room to room.
Lighting and show elements control the narrative.
The attraction tells a story!

Some of the most beloved attractions are considered Dark Rides.

Example: The Haunted Mansion

1.The attraction is contained inside a building

Imagine: ©Disney

Fun Fact- This is only the façade of the attraction. The building that houses the ride is located behind it!

2. Guests are moved from room to room.

Guests are taken through each scene on a “Doom Buggy”. The track is in continuous motion (unless they have to stop it to aid passengers getting on/off). The Buggies are programmed to turn and face specific scenes, another example of how Imagineers drive the story.

“Doom Buggy”

3. Lighting and show elements control the narrative.

Ominous music fills the air, the sound of an organ. What’s this? Who is playing the dreadful tune? The Doom Buggy turns to face the organ. With the help of effects and lighting, guests can see it is one of the ghosts who live at the mansion.

4. The attraction tells a story!

Welcome to Master Gracey’s home. Here you will be greeted by a Ghost Host (he is not Master Gracey) who will take you on a tour of the spooky estate. You will meet the 999 ghosts who call the mansion home. As you leave you will be reminded that there is always room for one more!

Now that you know how to identify a Dark Ride, let’s test your skills! Check out each picture and determine if it is considered a Dark Ride-

QUIZ START

Which Dark Ride is your favorite? Were there any rides on the quiz you were surprised about? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

The post What Makes a Dark Ride, a Dark Ride? first appeared on Offstage WDW.

Disney Background Ambience Music!!

offstagewdw — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 13:01:37 +0000

When you walk into a park, the entire atmosphere lifts you up! A big part of that is the BGM- that’s Imagineer speak for “Background Music.” It is another way guests are immersed into the park’s story. One of my favorite things to listen to while working on this fun blog, is Disney ambience music. I can’t help but dance and feel like I am at the park. I wanted to share with you some of my favorites!

*I do not own any of the videos nor am I affiliated with them- I am just a fan!

Magic Kingdom

This one is my all time favorite! It features music from all the lands at the park. It’s my go-to work mix.

Another wonderful mix with stunning park pictures. This is for when I am reallllly needing a dose of Disney magic.

Epcot

This EPCOT Mix has everything from attractions to the BGM played in each pavilion.

Jonesing for the World Showcase? Here is BGM for the just the pavilions.

Living with the Land! This one gets put on repeat

Animal Kingdom

There is something so peaceful about a soft rain fall. Mix that in with the Tree of Life BGM and you can quickly unwind from any stressful day!

Here’s the master mix for the park and each land/attractions.

Hollywood Studios

Enjoy the Golden Age themed music of Hollywood Boulevard!

For when I am feeling nostalgic.

STAR WARS!!!!

Disney Springs

Don’t forget about Disney Springs! BGM can be found everywhere = )

I hope you ejoy! Share some of your favorites with us!

The post Disney Background Ambience Music!! first appeared on Offstage WDW.

The ULTIMATE Star Wars Souvenir-A Custom Lightsaber

offstagewdw — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 14:00:52 +0000

Calling all Star Wars fans–this souvenir is for you! What if you could construct your very own lightsaber and even use kyber crystals to bring it to life?!

This is not your average souvenir lightsaber. This one-of-a-kind, custom lightsaber can only be built in Savi’s Workshop–a super secret Star Wars workshop tucked away in the Black Spire Outpost in Star Wars: Galaxy Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In true Disney style, you will walk away with much more than a souvenir, the whole experience will be one to remember!!

Meet the Gatherers and Choose Your Path

You will become a part of a small group that will be led by Savi’s Gatherers. They will lead you in the making of your very own lightsaber. You must first choose one of four themes and one special kyber crystal, which is available in red, blue, green or violet.

Peace and Justice
Salvaged scraps from fallen Jedi temples and crashed starships in these Republic-era designs honor the galaxy’s former guardians.

Power and Control
Originally forged by dark side warriors, this style features rumored remnants from the Sith homeworld and abandoned temples.

Elemental Nature
This theme embodies the Force—an energy created by all living things, like Brylark trees, Cartusion whale bones and Rancor teeth.

Protection and Defense
Hilt materials bear mysterious motifs and inscriptions that reconnect users with the ancient wellspring of the Force.

Source: Disney

After you choose your theme you will be given the kit with your pieces and begin assembling your hilt. With the help of the Gatherers, you will receive a 31” lightsaber blade to make your lightsaber complete.

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Get yours TODAY!

This ultimate Star Wars Lightsaber experience does come with a high price (about $219.99 +tax to be exact)–BUT most would agree that it is well worth the price! This lightsaber is the real deal and the experience is out of this world! The video below is the FULL SHOW experience, if you want to check it out OR let it be a surprise if you are ever able to participate in making your very own lightsaber in the future.

Spots are limited and reservations are needed to get your handbuilt, custom Lightsaber.

The post The ULTIMATE Star Wars Souvenir-A Custom Lightsaber first appeared on Offstage WDW.

How Well Do You Know the WDW Thrill Rides?

offstagewdw — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 21:02:16 +0000

Thrill rides go beyond fast roller coasters. They offer drops, dips, spins, acceleration, inversions, pyrotechnics, and 3 & 4D elements! They are more than a ride but rather an experience. Today we are going to explore the thrill rides found in Walt Disney World.

Magic Kingdom Park

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Located in Frontierland of Magic Kingdom, Big Thunder is a runaway mine train you want to be on!

Max Speed- 30 mph
Track Length- 2,780 feet
Ride Time- 3 min 30 sec
Ride Vehicles- There are a total of 6 trains, with 5 in rotation at one given time, that hold a total of 30 passengers each. The train names are: U.B. Bold, U.R. Daring, U.R. Courageous, I.M. Brave, I.B. Hearty, and I.M. Fearless
Height Requirement- 40 inches or taller
Locations- Disneyland (1979), Magic Kingdom (1980), Tokyo Disneyland (1987), and Disneyland Paris (1992)

Fun Fact- Thunder Mountain can help guests pass kidney stones! Yes, really! A study was conducted through the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, due to patients reportedly passing kidney stones after riding the coaster. To conduct the study, a 3D model of a kidney was created. Researchers placed real urine and three different sized kidney stones into the model. They placed the model in a backpack and rode the attraction 20 times! When researchers sat in the back of the train, regardless of size, the stones passed 64% of the time, oppose to when they were seated in the front, stones passed only 17% of the time. Their study, “support the anecdotal evidence that a ride on a moderate-intensity roller coaster could benefit some patients with small kidney stones.” (Source Live Science) I know a trip to Disney is good for your mental health, but would have never guessed the benefit it has to your kidneys!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Located in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park, this smooth coaster takes guests on a fun ride through the Dwarf’s diamond mine.

Max Speed- 34 mph
Biggest Drop- 39 feet
Track Length- 2,000 feet
Ride Time- 2 min 30 sec
Vehicles- There are 5 trains with 5 cars each, giving a total of 20 passengers per train.
Height Requirement- 38 inches or taller
Location- Magic Kingdom (2014) and Shanghai Disneyland (2016)

Fun Fact- Swaying back and forth while in forward motion, this train vehicle gives an authentic feeling one would experience in a moving mine car.

Space Mountain

Located in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park, Space Mountain is a dark coaster filled with drops and turns.

Max Speed- 28 mph
Biggest Drop- 26 feet
Track Length- 3,196: Alpha (track on the left) and 3,186: Omega (track on the right). Fast Pass+ Distribution is for the Omega track…this means while you will be waiting a shorter amount of time, the track is also 10 feet shorter. I’ll take a lesser wait time over 10 feet any day!
Ride Time- 2 min 30 sec
Vehicles- there are thirty, 2-car trains (6 riders per train); 15 for each track, with 13 in operation at any given time
Height Requirements- 44 inches or taller
Locations- Magic Kingdom (1975), Disneyland (1977), Tokyo Disneyland (1983), Disneyland Paris (1995) and Hong Kong Disneyland (2005)

Fun Fact- A roller coasters of firsts: it was the first coaster to be placed inside a darken building and the first coaster to use computers to control the ride experience. Click here to read more and to see the ride with the lights on, check out the video below! You will be surprised to see how compact it is.

Splash Mountain

Located in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park, this gentle boat ride with Br’er Rabbit has cute audio-animatronics®, catchy songs, and a 5-story drop.

Max Speed- 40 mph on it’s final drop
Biggest Drop- 52.5 feet
Track Length- 2,600 feet
Ride Time- 11 min 45 sec
Vehicles- each log holds 8 passengers, with a log launched approximately every 30 seconds
Audio-Animatronics®- 68
Locations- Disneyland (1989), Tokyo Disneyland (1992), and Magic Kingdom (1992)

Fun Fact- Splash Mountain contains 950,000 gallons of water. The ferry in the final scene is 22 ft high by 36 ft wide!

Animal Kingdom

Avatar Flight of Passage

Located in Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Flight of Passage is a 3D flight simulator.

Ride Time- 4 min 30 sec
Ride Vehicle- guest sit atop and straddle a motorcycle styled seat
Height Requirement- 44 inches or taller (children under 7 must be accompanied by someone 14 or older)
Locations- exclusive to WDW
Opening Date- May 27, 2017

Fun Fact- Costing an estimated 50,000 a piece, each seat has a tilt motion base that combined with the 3D screen and effects, allows the guest to feel the sensation of flying!

Check out this video to see an in depth description of how the ride works.

DINOSAUR

Located in DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, guests travel back in time to help paleontologist rescue an Iguanadon before a meteor strikes.

Max Speed- 12 mph
Track Length- 1,856 feet
Ride Time- 3 min 5 sec
Vehicles- each “time rover” sits 12 guests
Audio-Animatronics®- 12, some of the dinosaur AAs require 3,000 PSI of hydraulic pressure to move
Height Requirements- 40 inches or taller
Locations- exclusive to WDW
Opening Date- April 22, 1998

Fun Fact- DINOSAUR has been unofficially called Disney’s scariest ride! With it’s flashing lights, small drops, jerky movements, sudden accelerations, pyrotechnics, oh and the dinosaurs, it is enough to scare even an adult! Despite popular belief, a T-Rex is not featured in the ride. The main dino baddie is a Carnotaurus. Found on different continents, the Carnotaurus was much smaller than the T-Rex…but scary enough it terrifies riders!

Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

Located in Asia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, guests conquer the famous Himalayan peaks.

Max Speed- 50 mph
Biggest Drop- 80 feet
Track Length- 4,424 feet This makes it the longest coaster track in WDW
Ride Time- 2 min 50 sec
Vehicles- There are a total of 6 trains, with 5 in rotation at one given time, that hold a total of 34 passengers each.
Audio-Animatronics®- 1, The Yeti is the largest and most highly advanced AA ever build by Disney. Due to his size and complexity, he has been turned off since 2008!
Height Requirement- 44 inches or taller
Locations- exclusive to WDW
Opening Date- April 7, 2006

Fun Fact- At $1 billion dollars, Expedition Everest is a Guinness World Record holder as the most expensive roller coaster ever built.

Kali River Rapids

Located in Asia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, this river ride is a perfect cool down for a hot, summer day!

Biggest Drop- 30 feet
Ride Time- about 10 mins
Vehicles- each raft sits 12 riders…there is no safe spot from getting wet! Raft names include: Himalayan Hummer, Manaslu Slammer, Bhaktapur Bubbler, Sherpa Surfer, and Kathmandoozy
Height Requirements- 38 inches and higher
Locations- exclusive to WDW
Opening Date- March 18, 1999

Fun Fact- 150,000 gallons of water circulate throughout the “river”. Click the picture to read more fun facts about Kali River Rapids.

Photo Credit- WDW Magazine

Hollywood Studios

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Located in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Smugglers Run puts guest in control of the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.

Ride Time- 4 min 30 sec
Vehicle- the Millennium Falcon is an interactive motion simulator that can sit up to 6 riders (2 pilots, 2 gunners, 2 engineers)
Height Requirements- 38 inches or taller
Locations- Disneyland (2019) and Hollywood Studios (2019)

Fun Fact- This attraction requires teamwork! The success of the mission depends on how well each rider performs their task. Did you know there is an Easter Egg within the ride? There is a mode called “Chewie Mode” that will have Chewie accompany you on your mission. Click here for the code!

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Located on Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this coaster pulls 5 G’s in 2.8 seconds!

Max Speed- 57 mph
Biggest Drop- 80 feet
Track Length- 3,403 feet
Ride Time- 1 min 22 sec This makes it the shortest ride at WDW
Vehicles- there are 5 limos with 6 “cars” holding 4 people in each = 24 riders in each limo Limo names include: 1QKLIMO, BUHBYE, H8TRFFC, UGOBABE, and 2FAST4U
Height Requirements- 48 inches or taller
Locations- Hollywood Studios (1999) and Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris (2002-2019)

Fun Fact- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is the only coaster to go upside with a total of three inversions. Did you know each limo plays different Aerosmith songs? 1QKLIMO; Nine Lives, UGOBABE; Love in an Elevator & Walk This Way; BUHBYE: Young Lust, F.I.N.E. & Love in an Elevator; H8TRFFC: Back in the Saddle & Dude Looks Like a Lady; and 2FAST4U: Sweet Emotion

Slinky Dog Dash

Located in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests twist and turn (with a surprise) on Andy’s slinky dog.

Max Speed- 40 mph
Ride Time- 2 min
Vehicles- there are 4 Slinky trains with 5 cars on each holding a total of 18 guests per Slinky train
Height Requirements- 38 inches or taller
Locations- exclusive to WDW
Opening Date- June 30, 2018

Fun Fact- It is the first Disney coaster to have a 2nd launch mid-ride and I don’t know how this was figured out but the Slinky Dog track and it’s support columns weigh almost enough as a 125,000 gallon of milk.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Located at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Resistance is acquiring new recruits to take on the fight against the First Order.

Biggest Drop- 30 feet
Ride Time- 17 min This makes it the longest thrill ride at WDW
Vehicles- this ride has 2 different vehicles: 1. the Intersystem Transport Ship is a motion simulator which is standing room only and 2. The Star Destroyer Fleet Transport is a trackless system holding 8 riders in each vehicle
Audio-Animatronics®- 68
Height Requirements- 40 inches or taller
Locations- Hollywood Studios (2019) and Disneyland (2020)

Fun Fact- Rise Against the Resistance is a highly complex ride that includes a motion simulator, trackless system, and drop system similar to Tower of Terror. On top of that, more than 5 million lines of code were written to choreograph the movements of the props, robots, simulators, and sound effects.

This attraction in such high demand that “boarding passes” are often distributed within minutes. Guests arrive to the park as early as 5:30 am to get into the park and obtain a pass! By the way, passes are available at 7am using the Walt Disney World Experience App. This means guests arrive as early as 5:30 and must wait until 7 for the passes to become available. Anybody designated in groups 1-129 are guaranteed to ride it. If for some reason they do not, they are given a fast pass to return the next day. So I guess in addition to a complex ride system, the boarding pass system is complex as well!

Tower of Terror

Located on Sunset Boulevard at Hollywood Studios, riders beware or you may endure the same fate as the missing Hollywood Tower guests in 1939.

Max Speed- 39 mph
Biggest Drop- 130 feet This makes it the biggest drop at WDW
Ride Time- 3 min 30 sec
Vehicles- there are 8 “elevator” vehicles that can fit 21 riders in each
Height Requirements- 40 inches or taller
Locations- Hollywood Studios (1994), Disney’s California Adventure (2004-2017). Tokyo DisneySea (2006) and Walt Disney Studios Park Paris (2007)

Fun Fact- the “elevator” vehicles are able to move horizontally and vertically. A unique ride system randomly patterns the drops, making each ride experience different. How is it possible you can drop 130 feet and only “fall” at 39 mph? The system does not use a free-fall gravity drop, instead the elevator is pulled downwards at a controlled speed.

Epcot

Mission: Space

Located in Future World of Epcot, guests will blast off into space- destination Mars, or orbit Earth on a ride through space.

Max Speed- 2.5 g-forces
Ride Time- 3 min 55 sec
Vehicles- there are 10 “capsule” which holds 4 riders each. A capsule is connected to a multiple arm centrifuge giving the illusion of accelerating with spinning and tilting.
Height Requirements- 40 inches or taller
Locations- exclusive to WDW
Opening Date- Aug 15, 2003

Fun Fact- The ride’s simulation was so intense (known as Orange Team), guests experienced dizziness, headaches, disorientation, and vomiting. Imagineers first implemented motion sickness bags and after several complications, opened up a less intense version with no spinning (known as Green Team).

Test Track

Located in Future World at Epcot, guest are able to custom build a car and then test it out on a performance track.

Max Speed- 64.9 mph This makes it the fastest ride at WDW
Track Length- the ride moves throughout a 150,000 sq ft attraction housing building
Ride Time- 4 min
Vehicles- each car holds 6 riders
Height Requirement- 40 inches or taller
Locations- exclusive to WDW
Opening Date- Mar 17, 1999

Fun Fact- Each car was designed to withstand 1 million miles and their on-board computer system has more power than a U.S. Space Shuttle!

There you have it! Were there any rides that surprised you? I am in awe of the technology that Disney Imagineers have invented to bring these amazing creations to life! As the years go on, we can only expect bigger and greater things from The Happiest Place on Earth!

The post How Well Do You Know the WDW Thrill Rides? first appeared on Offstage WDW.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios- The Park that Almost Wasn’t!

offstagewdw — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 19:17:36 +0000

When former CEO Michael Eisner joined Walt Disney Productions in 1984, he brought with him a background in film and television. Just two years after the opening of EPCOT Center, he realized that a representation of entertainment business was lacking in Future World. With the help of Frank Wells and Jeffrey Katzenberg, Eisner suggested that Imagineers explore the entertainment industry as an element for the park.

The Imagineer’s proposal included a three-part experience:

Film
Television
Radio

It would also include a ride through moments in movies (The Great Movie Ride), a radio show highlighting the importance of storytelling (Superstar Television), and a TV studio stage show (Monster Sound Show).

Realizing it would not fit into one building, the concept of a half-day experience park was developed.

Ultimately, the broad appeal of the inner workings of movie magic, as well as the theming of old time Hollywood, proved that the park could stand on it’s own alongside Magic Kingdom and Epcot. So on May 1, 1989, the 3rd Florida Theme Park opened!

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Click here to learn more about Concept Art and Show Design

The post Disney’s Hollywood Studios- The Park that Almost Wasn’t! first appeared on Offstage WDW.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

offstagewdw — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 16:39:04 +0000

How much do you know about this thrilling high-speed roller coaster?! Test your knowledge here!

The post Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster first appeared on Offstage WDW.