Happy 25th, DHS!

Disney's Hollywood Studios has been open 25-years today!     

The Hollywood Tower of Tower is my most favorite ride of all WDW rides.

And Toy Story Mania is loads of fun.










I love the little things that you might not notice as you rush around:

Know what this is??

A net full of jello.



Hint: It's an homage to a very special person.

Say it out loud. Say it fast.

Here's 'a ton of bricks' ... don't let it hit you.

Ever noticed this? 

Stop and pull the rope!!

I also enjoy the American Idol Experience. There are some talented people out there!

DHS remains my favorite WDW park ... even with some changes.

What changes you ask?


Remember  Residential Street?

It was the original location of the Osborne Lights... and I really liked them much better back there.

It was bulldozed to make way for the stunt show arena.

Remember "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"?

Now it's the location of Toy Story Mania, which I like a lot, but  wish it could have been built elsewhere so that  WWTBAM could have stayed.




And I do so hope that Carsland (like at Disney California Adventure) will come to the Studios!!!

Confession # 23: I Miss ToonTown Fair... Still!

Today is the 3rd-year anniversary of the demise of WDW's Toon Town Fair.

ToonTown was closed in 2011 to make way for The Storybook Circus part of the new Fantasyland.

Dueling Dumbos, Pete's Silly Sideshow, Casey Jr, Splash 'n Soak Stations, The Storybook Circus Giggle Gang (clowns)....

just cannot compare with Mickey's and Minnie's houses. Ever.

Goodnight, Sweet Princess

Annette Funicello, original Mouseketeer and unofficial Disney princess died yesterday.

Annette Funicello beloved Mouseketeer dies at 70

I watched Annette every weekday afternoon on our little black and white tv set all those many years ago and wanted to be just like her. As role models go, I could not have chosen a better one.

 

And for anyone who does not know who Annette Funicello was:

Annette Funicello

Bye, Bye British Invasion

After 15 years at Epcot, the British Invasion has sung their last at the U.K. pavilion in the World Showcase.

Photo: Orlando Attractions Magazine

On the band’s Facebook page:

To Our Fans.
First thanks to all the fans of the British Invasion for all their support over the years!!
It has been an honor to perform for you and Disney all these years!
We have given our notice to Disney Talent and Casting that we wouldn’t be playing after April 30th some time ago. We will be back to play at Disney from time to time and you will find those future dates posted on the British Invasion Facebook page!! Stay tuned for a British Invasion fan appreciation party in May and details of our first concert appearance in downtown Orlando on May 14th.
Sincerely,
The British Invasion 2011

On May 3rd, a new band will begin playing tunes Dave Clark Five, Led Zeppelin, The Who and Beatles (and more) tunes.

UPDATE:

The new band's name is .... British Revolution

Confession # 16: I Think Disney Makes Dumb Decisions, Sometimes.

WDW is in the process of dismantling Pleasure Island.  The clubs Motion and Rock 'n Roll Beach Club have been demolished, their rubble already carted off. Mannequins, BET Soundstage (the BET has been removed from the sign), The Adventurers' Club and the Comedy Warehouse will be next.

In their place will be, what else, shopping and dining venues.
Family-friendly, of course.
Big whoop.

I liked Pleasure Island when it was what it was originally built for - a place where adult Disney-goers could have adult fun, because not ALL Disney guests are princess- or pirate-loving children.

They could at least have spared one or two clubs for us older folks, maybe The Adventurers' Club which has a huge fan following .

Powering Down

After August 7, 2010, the Power Rangers, seen on Streets of America in Disney's Hollywood Studios, will join Four for a Dollar, Imaginum, Kristos, and Andy Mation as former WDW performers.

Confession # 11: I Miss the Great Fright Way

The Ghostbusters vs Beetlejuice was my favorite street show over at Universal Studios until February 19, 2005, when it was closed after a 15-year run.

In every on-line survey I've taken for Universal Orlando, I've mentioned how much I miss these guys.

I'm not the only one. There is an on-line petition   to bring this show back.

Confession # 10: I Miss Food Rocks

Food Rocks (previously known as the Kitchen Kabaret) closed in January, 2004, to make room for Soarin'.

We never missed this 12-minute, er, concert when we were at Epcot. And if the Boy was with us, we might see it twice.

And I should mention two things: 1) the Boy was much older than you might think, and 2) this was the only animatronic attraction that Hubby never slept through.

Although Soarin' is absolutely worth the wait in line, I DO miss those hokey little characters singing those familiar, yet different, tunes:

Füd Wrapper (the host),

The Utensils - a collection of kitchen gadgets based on the band Queen ("Give Us Junk"),

The Refrigerator Police ("Every Egg You Break"),

the Peach Boys ("Good Nutrition"),

Pita Gabriel ("High Fiber"),

Chubby Cheddar ("Let's Exercise"),

Neil Moussaka ("Vegetables Are Good For You"),

The Sole of Rock 'n' Roll, a fish that strongly resembles the singer Cher,

a piano-playing "Little Richard" pineapple ("Tutti Frutti"),

and The Get-To-The-Point Sisters (a new version of "Respect")

Maybe these guys could be relocated, like over in the Wonders of Life building?