Get Ready for Disney’s Frozen 2

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March 12, 2015

Walt Disney Studios’ John Lasseter and Bob Iger made the announcement we have all been waiting for at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders this morning . A Frozen movie sequel is coming our way! I know a few who will be dreading this but for the billions of Frozen fans, this is huge.

“We enjoyed making Frozen Fever so much and being back in that world with those characters,” said John Lasseter. “Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck have come up with a great idea for a sequel and you will be hearing a lot more about it and we’re taking you back to Arendelle. We are so excited about that.”

The sequel is still in the very early stages, however, Directors, Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck are working on the project along with Producer, Peter Del Vecho and we all know what that means – another Frozen hit!

Frozen Fever, Frozen on Broadway and now a Frozen sequel.

This is one Entertainment Writer that will be trembling with excitement and following the Disney sites for all the updates, news and information. Watch out world, Elsa, Anna, Olaf and the rest of the gang are on the way!

A very happy writer this morning, reminding you to check out our website and Facebook page for all your Disney news and coverage on Frozen 2.

Dole Whip Locations are Changing at the Magic Kingdom

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 12, 2015

Don’t freak out the Dole Whip will still be there, just in different spots. Starting March 12 the menus and names of Aloha Isle and and Sunshine Tree Terrace are switching. Confusing? Yes!

Here is the breakdown:

Aloha Isle will keep the same menu but it will shift to Sunshine Tree Terrace.

Sunshine Tree Terrace will switch to Aloha Isle.

Aloha Isle will still have your Dole Whip favorites like the Dole Whip Float, Dole Whip Cup and Dole Whip Twist Cup. Sunshine Tree Terrace will also still have your favorites like the Citrus Swirl, soft-serve vanilla ice cream,and the piña colada slush.

Orange Bird will also be settling into his new spot in a few weeks.

Just a side note, If you a Turkey leg fan then you know that they will no longer be in Frontierland and Liberty Square. They will be in Tomorrowland at the Cool Ship starting on March 25.

What do you think?

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

Did you hear the 24 hour event was announced? Now is the perfect time to book your vacation. There is nothing better than 24 hours at the most magical place on earth. You can also have a Dole Whip while you are there! Who doesn’t love a Dole Whip, or 2. Contact me at [email protected] for your FREE no obligation quote.

24-Hour Event To Kick Off ‘Coolest Summer Ever’ at Walt Disney World & Disneyland

By

Chip

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March 12, 2015

Walt Disney World Resort will kick off the “Coolest Summer Ever” with 24 hours of nonstop fun during a special event May 22-23 at the Magic Kingdom, hosted by Olaf, the summer-loving snowman from Disney’s blockbuster animated hit “Frozen.”

To announce the 24-hour event and the cool summer season, Disney today brought to life a warm summer scene inspired by Olaf’s dream, creating a 20-foot-wide beach complete with a Cinderella Castle made of sand in the middle of winter-weary Boston.

Surprised pedestrians near historic Faneuil Hall were greeted by Olaf and joined by playful beach-goers in summer attire with beach chairs and beach balls – all reminders of an exciting season of fun ahead at Walt Disney World Resort and a welcome relief from the city’s near-record snowfall approaching nine feet.

24-Hour Kickoff to Summer Travel

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of family vacation time, and Walt Disney World Resort will launch into the season full force. The Magic Kingdom will be open 24 hours to guests from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m., Friday May 22 to Saturday, May 23*. Guests will be invited to come in costume** to show their Disney Side while a selection of favorite attractions, entertainment, special event merchandise, plus food and beverage are on tap all night long to celebrate the start of the “Coolest Summer Ever” at Walt Disney World Resort.

The around-the-clock celebration features Disney character greetings, dance parties and surprises into the wee hours of the night.

‘Coolest Summer Ever’ Brings Excitement Throughout Walt Disney World Resort

During the “Coolest Summer Ever,” with Olaf as the official host, Walt Disney World guests can get their cool on all summer long at four theme parks and two water parks.

Among the highlights:

Frozen Fun – “Frozen” Summer Fun LIVE will bring together Princess Anna, Queen Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf with citizens of Arendelle, all appearing daily in shows and experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, June 17-Sept. 7. Guests will find cool thrills this summer including a royal processional, a sing-along show, Frozen-themed treats and merchandise, plus a Frozen fireworks display above Hollywood Blvd.

Cool Thrill Rides – Guests will find thrills from mild to wild to out of this world in all four Walt Disney World theme parks. Don’t-miss attractions include Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom; Test Track presented by Chevrolet and Soarin’ at Epcot; Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom; Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Star Wars Weekends – Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will find stars from another galaxy during Star Wars Weekends May 15-June 14.

New Restaurants and Shopping – Throughout the summer, new waterfront dining and boutique shops flow into the Downtown Disney shopping/dining/entertainment district as its transformation into Disney Springs continues.

Epcot Entertainment – New entertainment acts will appear throughout Epcot World Showcase, which also brings a fresh summery twist on a fan favorite, Voices of Liberty.

A Splash at Water Parks – A cool new deal doubles the fun at Disney’s two iconic water parks – Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Purchase a one-day water park ticket and park-hop between the two water parks in the same day that both are open.

For more information, visit Disneyworld.com/CoolestSummerEver.

24 Hours of Fun as Disneyland Resort in California Kicks Off Diamond Celebration of the 60^th Anniversary

On the West Coast, Disneyland Resort will kick off the summer with a dynamic 24-hour event of its own, May 22-23, to launch the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration. Marking the 60^thanniversary of the resort, the Diamond Celebration includes the premieres of three new nighttime spectaculars: “Disneyland Forever” fireworks, “Paint the Night” parade and “World of Color – Celebrate!”

The all-day/all-night revelry of the 24-hour party will include dancing and special character encounters at locations in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, along with enchanting Diamond décor throughout the resort and the exciting shows and attractions that bring guests back year after year. The Disneyland Resort invites guests of all ages to kick off the summer travel season in Southern California, celebrating 60 years of magic at a resort that remains forever young.

Here’s a look at what’s in store when the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration begins on May 22:

“Paint the Night” Parade – After dark, along the Disneyland Park parade route, 24-hour event Guests will be among the first to see the new “Paint the Night” parade, showcasing beloved Disney characters in dazzling parade scenes illuminated with more than 1.5 million individually controlled lights – the first all-LED parade in DisneylandResort history.
“Disneyland Forever” Fireworks – Disneyland Park will play a starring role in the “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular, also premiering during the 24-hour event. This breathtaking show will immerse your Clients from the tips of their toes to the brilliant pyrotechnic bursts above, thanks to special effects that turn the storefronts of Main Street, U.S.A., the Matterhorn and the facade of “it’s a small world” into gigantic projection screens filled with color, characters and surprises.
“World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney” – Award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris and Mickey Mouse will be the hosts of an all-new “World of Color” show, premiering May 22 during the 24-hour event. “World of Color-Celebrate!” illuminates the night in a fun-filled and inspirational journey exploring Walt Disney’s decades-long legacy of memorable animated moments and his dream of DisneylandPark

*Hours of operation: 6 a.m. on 5/22/15 to 6 a.m. on 5/23/15, subject to capacity restrictions. Only select attractions, entertainment and services will be available. Valid theme park admission required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

**Disney characters will be in the parks throughout the day and all night, inviting guests to dress up for the occasion, too. Guests may join the party dressed in costume. Costumes should be child-friendly and adhere to any guidelines determined by Disney.

Top 10 Disney Dining Tips for Walt Disney World

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 12, 2015

One of the best parts of a Walt Disney World vacation is the numerous dining options you have! But…dining at all of these restaurants comes with a price tag. In order to maximize your dollar, I highly recommend checking out the Disney Dining Plans and adding one of them to your package. Here are my Top 10 Tips for Using the Disney Dining Plan.

There is a plan to match your eating habits- Do you like quick meals so you can spend more time on your favorite rides? Or do you like to take a break and enjoy a quiet meal? Maybe you are a big eater and want to enjoy three full meals a day. Whichever category you fall into, there is a plan that will meet your needs!
Use the plan for your more expensive meals- Dinners make great use of table service credits and there are many locations that offer “pricier” lunch selections that count as a quick service meal (ie. Be our Guest, Sunshine Seasons)
Eat at off times- Consider eating a late breakfast. This will allow you to potentially just be hungry for a mid-afternoon snack before eating dinner. You’ll reduce the amount of out-of-pocket spending while staying energized to tackle the parks!
Take advantage of large portion sizes- Some quick service meals are HUGE! Like at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot. So consider sharing amongst adults to maximize your meal credits. All of your credits are pooled per room, so you can share as you’d like!
Take dessert to-go, as a snack for later- The entree portions are big and you will likely find yourself full after eating your meal. So wrap up a dessert and take it along with you! This works especially well if you have a stroller and can put the dessert in the storage basket…opens up your options!
Use leftover snacks and quick service meals for a packable meal home- It always seems like we have at least one quick service meal left at the end of our trip. So we always hit our resort food court and make a packable meal to take to the airport and eat before we head home. Gives us one last Disney meal before it’s time to get back to reality.
Leftover snack credits make great gifts!- One year, I had three snack credits leftover…I have no clue how that happened! So, I stocked up on those huge Mickey rice krispies and took them home as gifts. My son gave one to a friend, we gave one to our housesitter, and one to our friend who took care of our trash. Great way to spread a little Disney magic amongst friends!
The Dining Plan will help you budget- Let’s face it, Disney can be expensive. But isn’t it nice going into a trip knowing that you already paid for the majority of your meals and you really won’t have much out-of-pocket. That’s one thing my family loves about the Dining Plan.
Flexibility- The Dining Plan allows you to choose whatever combination of meals you would like. Since all of your credits are pooled into your account, you can use them however you’d like. Maybe one day you just want a few quick meals you can use just Quick Service meals. Maybe another day you want to go out for a fancy dinner- you can use two Table Service credits at a Signature Dining location. The possibilities and combination are endless and I love having control over how and when we eat!
Sometimes the Dining Plans are FREE- Yes, I said FREE! There have been times when Disney has offered free dining to its guests and this is an amazing cost savings, especially to those staying in the Value and Moderate Resort categories (I find the Deluxe categories benefit more from taking advantage of a room discount, if offered). If you can score free dining, you are golden!

Many people can benefit from the Disney Dining Plans and I would love to help you choose the right one to fit your needs. Email me to chat some more about this and plan your next Walt Disney World vacation. And, follow me on Facebook to keep up with all the Disney updates- including when Free Dining is released!

Mickey’s Typing Adventure Launches Web Experience

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 11, 2015

Children are taught to type online with Mickey Mouse and friends. They get to be the hero and rescue some of their favorite Disney characters from a mysterious enchantment. As kids learn to type, the “magic”in their keyboards frees Mickey’s friends from the spell. This educational game is full of entertainment, exciting games, motivating rewards—and lots of fun!

Motivating

Magical adventure theme
Rewards and points

Educational

11 typing courses
Supports Common Core

Entertaining

7 exciting games
10 Disney stories

Start Your free Trial!

Open your web browser and go to
www.disneymickeystyping.com/freeyear

Price:

$3.99 for 1 week
$6.99 for 1 month
$14.99 for 3 months
$29.99 for 1 year

How cute would it be if Mickey taught you how to type?

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

Everyone deserves a little, or a lot, of Disney magic in their life. I love Disney World and I love it when I can make magic happen for others. Contact me at [email protected] for your FREE no obligation quote.

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Merchandise Roundup

By

Chip

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March 11, 2015

With the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival in full bloom at Walt Disney World the limited edition merchandise is out as well and many of the items have been flying off the shelves. Our friends at Mouse to your house has access to bunch of the items that you can have delivered to your door without having to attend the event. Here is just a few items that I liked the best that I think you will like too.

Disney Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Daisy Duffy Plush is cute and cuddly at a must have for the Duffy Fan in your life.

Disney Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Garden Sun Floppy Hat is perfect for little ones to hide from the sun.

Disney Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Magic Band features Elsa & Anna. Perfect for the Frozen fan in your life.

Disney Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Plastic Tumbler would be perfect for lazy summer days sipping Iced Tea.

Disney Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Sorcerer Mickey Mouse Ears would be fun to wear to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

Finally you can own any of the Limited Edition Flower & Garden Festival Pins. 6 to choose from.

So are you going to make it to the Flower & Garden Festival this year?

Disney and Saks Fifth Avenue Unveil “Cinderella” Store Windows

By

Chip

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March 11, 2015

Just ahead of the March 13 release of Disney’s live action film “Cinderella,” Disney Consumer Products (DCP) and Saks Fifth Avenue launched a fairy tale collection of luxury designer shoes that reimagine Cinderella’s iconic glass slipper for grown up fans of the classic story.

Nine designer shoe brands – including Paul Andrew, Alexandre Birman, René Caovilla, Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia, Jerome C. Rousseau, and Stuart Weitzman – have created their own interpretation of the famed glass slipper Cinderella accidentally leaves behind when the clock strikes midnight.

Unveiled with the stars of the film – Lily James and Richard Madden – are six, beautiful, center store windows at the Saks flagship store in Manhattan that bring this enchanting fairytale to life, featuring costumes and props from the film as well as the collections of nine luxury designer shoes. Additionally, the shoes are featured on display and for sale on 10022-SHOE, Saks’ dedicated shoe floor Zip Code.

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Disneyland Resort Kicks Off Diamond Celebration with 24 Hour Event!

By

Chip

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March 11, 2015

24 Hours of Fun as Disneyland Resort in California Kicks Off Diamond Celebration of the 60^th Anniversary

On the West Coast, Disneyland Resort will kick off the summer with a dynamic 24-hour event of its own, May 22-23, to launch the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration. Marking the 60^thanniversary of the resort, the Diamond Celebration includes the premieres of three new nighttime spectaculars: “Disneyland Forever” fireworks, “Paint the Night” parade and “World of Color – Celebrate!”

The all-day/all-night revelry of the 24-hour party will include dancing and special character encounters at locations in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, along with enchanting Diamond décor throughout the resort and the exciting shows and attractions that bring guests back year after year. The Disneyland Resort invites guests of all ages to kick off the summer travel season in Southern California, celebrating 60 years of magic at a resort that remains forever young.

Click here to see Walt Disney World 24 Hour Celebration – Coolest Summer Ever.

*Hours of operation: 6 a.m. on 5/22/15 to 6 a.m. on 5/23/15, subject to capacity restrictions. Only select attractions, entertainment and services will be available. Valid theme park admission required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

**Disney characters will be in the parks throughout the day and all night, inviting guests to dress up for the occasion, too. Guests may join the party dressed in costume. Costumes should be child-friendly and adhere to any guidelines determined by Disney.

Walt Disney World Coolest Summer Ever 24 Hour Party

By

Chip

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March 11, 2015

Now what you all have been waiting for, the 2015 Walt Disney World 24 Hour Party Details!!!

Disney is kicking off the 2015 Summer Season with an all-night party at the Walt Disney World Resort. Magic Kingdom Park will be open to guests for 24 hours of nonstop fun from 6 a.m.-6 a.m. May 22-23. Guests are invited to dress to show their Disney Side while a selection of favorite attractions, entertainment, merchandise, food and beverages will be on tap all night long to celebrate the start of the “Coolest Summer Ever” at Walt Disney World Resort.

For the “Coolest Summer Ever,” we’re already planning experiences you won’t want to miss. Here’s an early look at some of the highlights:

Frozen Fun – “Frozen” Summer Fun LIVE will bring Princess Anna, Queen Elsa, Kristof and Olaf with citizens of Arendelle appearing daily at Disney’s Hollywood Studios June 17-Sept. 7.
Cool Thrills Rides – Guests will find thrills from mild to wild to out of this world in all four Walt Disney World parks. Choose from Seven Dwarfs Mine Train plus Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom Park; Test Track and Soarin’ at Epcot; Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom; Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Star Wars Celebrations – Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios find stars from another galaxy during Star Wars Weekends May 15 – June 14.
New Restaurants and Shopping – Throughout the summer, new waterfront dining and boutique shops flow into the Downtown Disney shopping/dining/entertainment district as its transformation into Disney Springs continues.
World Showcase Entertainment – New entertainment acts will appear throughout Epcot World Showcase, which also brings a fresh summery twist on fan favorite, Voices of Liberty.
Polynesian Village Resort – The newly reimagined Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort opens with new, first-ever overwater Disney Vacation Club bungalows, perched above the water near Magic Kingdom.
A Splash at Water Parks – A cool new deal doubles the fun at Disney’s two iconic water parks – Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach.

There’s more to come, so stay tuned later this morning for Disneyland’s version of the Coolest Summer Ever Party!

How To Stay Sane While Traveling To WDW During Spring Break

By

Catie

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March 11, 2015

Spring break is an extremely popular time for families to visit Walt Disney World – which means the lines can be long, the crowds can be a bit insane, and overall you might feel a bit frazzled by the sheer volume of people at the Parks at any given time during March and April. Luckily, there are some things you can do to try to curb the spring break madness:

When it comes to traveling to WDW…

Fly Smart: If you will be boarding a plane to WDW, then you will want to pack smart – only bring what you really need and check your airline’s website for the most updated baggage fees/carry on size restrictions. Arrive early so that you have enough time to check in, check bags, and go through security (which can take QUITE some time during the busy Spring break timeframe!), and bring plenty of food/snacks along with you to avoid having to buy (super expensive and not always tasty) airport food

Drive Smart: My family used to drive to Florida every year, we would tow our camper and stay at Fort Wilderness (a great place to stay – I highly recommend it!), so I have a little experience spending TONS of time in the car (two days each way from New York…). I recommend you have a GPS and that you know how to use it, as you will want to plan for possible detours, and be prepared to hit some traffic at some point along the way too. Make sure you have plenty of snacks, drinks, games, books, and other activities for the kids (and adults!) – and above all, no matter how long the drive is, be prepared to hear “Are we there yet?” about 1,000 times

Pre-Plan: You’ll definitely want to make those Advance Dining Reservations 180 days in advance to ensure you have those special meals booked, and I find that having some kind of itinerary built around your ADR’s really helps make sure you’re making the most of your Park days (and not spending all your time traveling from Park to Park just for a meal!). In addition to booking ADR’s, make sure you are making your Fastpass+ selections for each day, to ensure that you get to check out some of the more popular attractions/rides – even if you have to wait in long lines for other things, at least you know you have that fastpass waiting for you for your favorite ride! Other pre-planning tips you’ll want to utilize include online resort check in, airline check in/mobile boarding passes, and making sure you have all your paperwork in order: online check in paperwork (and credit card you added online too!), Magical Express reservations, Magic bands, plane boarding passes/ticket information, etc – keep all this stuff together and in an easy to get to place in your carry-on bag to save time upon arrival

Take Advantage Of Extra Magic Hours: If you happen to be staying on site at a WDW Resort (which I HIGHLY recommend, for many reasons), then you have the added perk of getting to enter certain Parks an hour before, or stay an hour after, the general public on certain days. Even if you aren’t a morning person (as I am clearly trying but failing to be in the picture above as I wait for the bus!), you will want to take advantage of this – as you can squeeze in some popular rides early in the morning before the crowds get too intense, or you’ll also sometimes find that keeping the kids up late past their bedtimes for the evening Magic Hours has it’s perks too – its cooler in the evenings, and with shorter ride lines you may get a lot done in just one short hour (note – if you plan on doing this, you may want to make sure everyone – not just the kids – gets an afternoon nap so they can make it to the end of the night!)

Know What To Expect: There will be crowds, and heat, and meltdowns, and crowds, and long lines, and crowds…did I mention crowds? Seriously though – it can still be an amazing trip for you and your family, no matter how many other people are there at the Parks. You’re all there for the same reason – to enjoy all the rides, food, entertainment, shows, and Magic that WDW has to offer – so make the most of it and utilize these travel and planning tips to ensure that your Disney Spring Break is the best vacation ever!

New Tomorrowland Trailer from Disney

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 11, 2015

I don’t know if I am ready for the future, but I am excited about the upcoming release of Disney’s Tomorrowland movie. Produced by Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird and Jeffrey Chernov and directed by Brad Bird, with John Walker, Brigham Taylor, Jeff Jensen and Bernard Bellew serving as executive producers “Tomorrowland” will take us on a journey to a place where nothing is impossible.

Starring George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy, Tim McGraw, Judy Greer, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Robinson. The story is about a jaded scientist (played by George Clooney) who teams up with a young optimistic teenageer (Britt Robertson) to undertake a mission to find the secrets of Tommorrowland – an engmatic place located somewhere in time and space.

Don’t miss Tomorrowland, the movie coming out May 22, 2015.

Check the video above a sneak peek. Loretta Garcia, Entertainment Writer for chip and co.com Are you ready?

Top Hollywood Studios Attractions For First Timers

By

Catie

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March 10, 2015

Last week I wrote about which Magic Kingdom attractions you’ll want to make sure you check out as a first-time visitor to Walt Disney World, and today I want to take a trip to my second favorite WDW theme Park – Hollywood Studios – where the movies come to life and the spirit of old Hollywood lives on! If you’ve never been to Hollywood Studios, you will want to make sure you check out these Must-Do attractions:

The Great Movie Ride: This “ride through the movies” is a great little ride through the history of Hollywood – you get to travel through several famous scenes – like the Old West, Oz (including singing Munchkins!), and the attack from Alien (a bit frightening, but don’t worry it’s over quickly!). I love getting to travel into these classic movies –and I especially love the movie clip montage at the end of the ride. There’s not usually too long of a wait for this one, but even if you end up waiting for a bit, there’s cool movie memorabilia to see in line, and you get to watch clips of old-time movies and cartoons too! And make sure you check out the famous feet and hand imprints outside too!

Rock’N Roller Coaster: Ok – picture the scene – you’re waiting in line to get to Aerosmith’s sold out show – and before you know it, you’re zipping to the concert VIP style in a super fast stretch limo! That is the premise behind the Aerosmith Rock’n’Roller Coaster – you blast off into LA traffic to try to make it to the show in time – and you travel sideways, up, down, and even upside down as Aerosmith’s hits are blasted through the speakers mounted in your seat – it’s an AMAZING ride, and a must do for roller coaster lovers. If you’re the only coaster lover in your family – then I suggest you try the single rider line – where you are placed with random parties that have odd numbers to ensure every limo is full as it leaves the parking lot. I remember when this ride opened – I waited over 2 hours for it, and it was worth every second in line (of course, the cool music recording studio décor and Aerosmith tunes help keep you amused while waiting!)

MuppetVision 3D: This is a perfect show for the whole family, kids and adults love it! You enter into a ‘waiting area’ where you collect your 3-d glasses and watch the Muppets “prepare” for their big show on TV screens mounted everywhere. Tons of fun decorations, props, and other special touches are in this room too so keep an eye out! Then once the theater is ready, you’re ushered in and you can put your glasses on for the show! The Muppets are up to their typical silly antics at the “Muppet Laboratories” as they put 3-D technology to the test! What’s great about this is that the theater is HUGE – so even if you have to wait to see the show, you will likely only have to wait a little while, as there are plenty of seats – plus the waiting area is so fun that it’s like a mini attraction on it’s own!

The Magic of Disney Animation: This attraction begins with a 10 minute segment by a live artist who teaches you how a character “comes to life” through animation – and he/she is assisted by Mushu (the adorable tiny sassy dragon from Disney’s Mulan), which keeps the show interesting and fun. Afterwards, you exit into an area with several interactive activities that help you explore further how animation is done, or you can sit down at the “Animation Academy” to create your very own Disney character! It’s easy to forget that all of this started with a little Mouse – and that Walt actually drew him too – so this is a great way to get a little history and get back to the roots of the Disney company and what it’s all about

Star Tours: The Adventure Continues: This flight simulator has been open since 1989, and it got a major overhaul in 2010 which created over 50 new experiences for guests – plus now it’s in 3D too! The queue takes you through the Star Wars spaceport, where you see familiar faces like C-3PO and R2-D2. Once you reach your “StarSpeeder 1000” spacecraft, you are safely strapped in and then it’s time to embark on a wild journey through space! The spaceship speeds around through different scenes in the various Star Wars movies, and then eventually safely returns to the spaceport. It’s a fun ride, and a must do for Star Wars lovers (like my husband who insists we ride it as many times as possible to try to see as many different scenes as we can!)

You might want to consider using some fastpasses for these rides – especially Rock’N’Roller Coaster and Star Tours – they tend to be VERY popular and have long wait lines – and you won’t want to miss them and the others on my list!

But I would love to know what YOU think – what rides would you recommend to a first time visitor to Hollywood Studios?

Stay tuned right here on Chip and Co next week – where I will talk about more “Can’t miss!” attractions for first time WDW travelers