One Man's Dream

A couple of days after our visit to Animal Kingdom, we headed for Hollywood Studios which did not yet have the FastPass+ system in place.  One of the big attractions there is Toy Story Mania, and we figured if we got there right when the gates opened, we could ride it at least twice by getting a FastPass to use later, getting right on the ride (minimal lines that early), and then use our FastPass when we
got off the ride.  Depending on the return times, we might even be able to get another FastPass and ride a 3rd time before the lines and return times got too crazy.  However, when we arrived, we learned that the ride was down for technical difficulties but that we could get a FastPass and use it for any time during the day instead of just the 1 hour window.  They estimated a couple of hours before it would be functional.

 

With time to kill we ventured over to Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.  We hadn’t been through this self-guided gallery in many years, and it seems to have gotten an upgrade.  We remember it as being kind of boring and not much to it, but now there seemed to be lots to see.  It’s full of memorabilia from the Disney archives with some

never-before-seen items, all of which help tell the story of Walt’s life and the creation of his vision.  At the end of the gallery, you can watch a 15-minute film narrated by Julie Andrews and even Walt himself in rare audio recordings.  Really a fascinating exhibit, one that we’re sure many overlook, and we had in the past but just might visit again because there’s so much to see and.  It was quite a dream this man had!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      By 10:30 the ride was back up and running, and while Russ stood in line, I quickly grabbed another FastPass since the return time was still early enough.  This 4D ride is loads of fun and is themed like a shooting gallery of carnival games.  Wearing 3D glasses, you take aim at 5 different games throughout the ride.  Russ beat me both times, but it looks like we need lots more practice to reach the highest scores already achieved that day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   In between those two games we wandered around some more and even found Sorcerer Mickey!  There were plenty of kids in line for a photo op so we decided to continue on our merry way.

 

One of the most entertaining things at Hollywood Studios are the street performers, collectively known as the “Citizens of Hollywood”.  They appear on the “streets” performing mini-skits, interacting not only with each other but with the guests as well.  In fact Russ was a participant several years ago when a “policeman” issued him a "citation"!  As is the Disney

way, the “citizens” are in full character as they make their way to their designated spots.  Sometimes you don’t run across any, and then others times like today you find several.  Just being in the right place at the right time and not being in a hurry.  They sure are fun to watch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few days later we headed to Epcot, another park which had not yet instituted the FastPass+ program.  We arrived at opening with the intention of riding on Soarin’ at least a couple of times.  It’s such an incredibly popular ride that FastPasses can be all given out before noon so the first thing we did was get a FastPass to use when we got off the ride the first time.  This trip we actually set a new personal record for riding Soarin’…4 times before 10:30AM!!  (Our previous record had been 3 before 11:30AM.)  When FastPass+ hits Epcot, this won’t be possible so we enjoyed it while we had the opportunity.