Tips for Taking Toddlers to Hollywood StudiosBest Attractions for Preschoolers and Small Children at Disney World© Christy Swift
Jan 30, 2009
Here is an insider look at the best things for children under five years old to do at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida.
So, mom and dad have already taken the little ones to Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios is next on the list. In a January 2009 interview, certified Gifted and Special Education teacher and 7-year Disney season passholder, Amy Moreland, shares her must-see rides and shows for toddlers and preschoolers as well as practical advice and things parents might want to avoid at this exciting theme park.
Shows for Toddlers at Hollywood StudiosThere are more shows than rides for this age group at Hollywood Studios.
The Jedi Training Academy is one of Moreland’s personal favorite attractions at Hollywood Studios. The show takes place on a little stage outside of the Star Tours ride. A Jedi chooses 12 kids, dresses them in Jedi robes and gives them light sabers. Thus commences the Jedi training session where he teaches the kids a sequence of moves which they each get to use later against Darth Vader himself!
“If anyone’s too scared they don’t have to do it and they get a certificate,” says Moreland. “It’s fun to watch even if your kid doesn’t get picked. Yoda comes on, too.”
During the Playhouse Disney stage show, kids go in and sit on the floor. Players enact snippets from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and other shows complete with oversized puppets, bubbles, music and confetti. Says Moreland, “The Little Mermaid show is right there, too. If you go to Little Mermaid first, you can sneak over and get right into the Playhouse Disney show. They seem to be timed that way. You won’t get front row seats, though.”
She recommends the Beauty and the Beast show, too. “We like to get a little ice cream and go in and see that show.” For little boys who like cars, the Lights, Motors, Action extreme stunt show is a hit, but Moreland recommends getting there early since latecomers often have to sit high up in the steep bleachers.
Rides for Toddlers at Hollywood StudiosThe Great Movie Ride. This is one of the bigger attractions at the park, but it’s slow moving and can be lots of fun for little ones. There are potential scary moments like when the vehicle is hijacked and when the Alien from the Sigourney Weaver movie comes down from the ceiling to attack. “We had to do some serious distracting,” laughs Moreland as she recalls taking her young daughter on the ride for the first time.Toy Story Mania. This brand-new ride is so popular that the Fastpasses for the entire day are gone within a few hours of the park opening. Riders sit in twos in little cars and wear 3-D glasses. Similar to the Buzz Lightyear ride at Magic Kingdom, there are guns attached to the cars and riders shoot at targets in a midway scene.Studio Backlot Tour. Not a ride in itself, the 25-minute guided backstage tour may seem daunting for little kids, but Moreland says not to worry. Her kids do great.Bigger rides like Star Tours and the Tower of Terror have a 40-inch height limit. Even with the creepy scenery and stomach-wrenching free falls, the Tower of Terror is four-year-old Wendy Moreland’s favorite ride.
The park’s big roller coaster, the Aerosmith Rockin’ Roller Coaster has a 48-inch height requirement, so it’s unlikely a preschooler could ride. Parents, however, can take turns riding using the babysitter Fastpass option. They just need to let the Fastpass attendant know they’ll be taking turns riding so that one person can stay with the kids, and the attendant will hand them a Fastpass without the need to swipe their tickets.
Hollywood Studios Character Meet and GreetsFor an opportunity to meet Mickey Mouse, Moreland recommends heading to Animation courtyard. There is an animation tour that finishes with a visit to the mouse, but Moreland has insider information. “You don’t have to do the whole tour; you can go in through the art gallery and see Mickey Mouse. When the tour goes through, they dump them out there, but if you time it right you can walk right up to Mickey.”
It’s in the Animation courtyard where kids can see the Incredibles characters, too. Under the sorcerer’s hat is another place where characters tend to appear. “There’s also a big Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground,” adds Moreland. “They can see ‘Mater and Lightning McQueen there.”
Tips for Bringing Babies to Hollywood StudiosA baby center complete with private nursing rooms, rocking chairs, a diaper changing area and kitchen is located at the front of the park near Guest Services. Moreland also lets parents know that the parking lot at Hollywood Studios is pretty small, “and when you have all that gear sometimes it’s easier to just walk rather than folding everything up to take the tram, especially if the kids are asleep.”
Families can stay late and see the Fantasmic Show on the water, but it happens around the time the park closes. “You sit in this big theatre outside and the show happens on the water. It’s worth seeing, but the kids may fall asleep through it. You might need to stop for a nap earlier.”
For more tips on taking small children to Disney and must-see attractions at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom, check out Amy Moreland’s other interviews with Suite.
The copyright of the article Tips for Taking Toddlers to Hollywood Studios in Infants & Toddlers is owned by Christy Swift. Permission to republish Tips for Taking Toddlers to Hollywood Studios in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Jan 30, 2009
Here is an insider look at the best things for children under five years old to do at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida.
So, mom and dad have already taken the little ones to Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios is next on the list. In a January 2009 interview, certified Gifted and Special Education teacher and 7-year Disney season passholder, Amy Moreland, shares her must-see rides and shows for toddlers and preschoolers as well as practical advice and things parents might want to avoid at this exciting theme park.
Shows for Toddlers at Hollywood StudiosThere are more shows than rides for this age group at Hollywood Studios.
The Jedi Training Academy is one of Moreland’s personal favorite attractions at Hollywood Studios. The show takes place on a little stage outside of the Star Tours ride. A Jedi chooses 12 kids, dresses them in Jedi robes and gives them light sabers. Thus commences the Jedi training session where he teaches the kids a sequence of moves which they each get to use later against Darth Vader himself!
“If anyone’s too scared they don’t have to do it and they get a certificate,” says Moreland. “It’s fun to watch even if your kid doesn’t get picked. Yoda comes on, too.”
During the Playhouse Disney stage show, kids go in and sit on the floor. Players enact snippets from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and other shows complete with oversized puppets, bubbles, music and confetti. Says Moreland, “The Little Mermaid show is right there, too. If you go to Little Mermaid first, you can sneak over and get right into the Playhouse Disney show. They seem to be timed that way. You won’t get front row seats, though.”
She recommends the Beauty and the Beast show, too. “We like to get a little ice cream and go in and see that show.” For little boys who like cars, the Lights, Motors, Action extreme stunt show is a hit, but Moreland recommends getting there early since latecomers often have to sit high up in the steep bleachers.
Rides for Toddlers at Hollywood StudiosThe Great Movie Ride. This is one of the bigger attractions at the park, but it’s slow moving and can be lots of fun for little ones. There are potential scary moments like when the vehicle is hijacked and when the Alien from the Sigourney Weaver movie comes down from the ceiling to attack. “We had to do some serious distracting,” laughs Moreland as she recalls taking her young daughter on the ride for the first time.Toy Story Mania. This brand-new ride is so popular that the Fastpasses for the entire day are gone within a few hours of the park opening. Riders sit in twos in little cars and wear 3-D glasses. Similar to the Buzz Lightyear ride at Magic Kingdom, there are guns attached to the cars and riders shoot at targets in a midway scene.Studio Backlot Tour. Not a ride in itself, the 25-minute guided backstage tour may seem daunting for little kids, but Moreland says not to worry. Her kids do great.Bigger rides like Star Tours and the Tower of Terror have a 40-inch height limit. Even with the creepy scenery and stomach-wrenching free falls, the Tower of Terror is four-year-old Wendy Moreland’s favorite ride.
The park’s big roller coaster, the Aerosmith Rockin’ Roller Coaster has a 48-inch height requirement, so it’s unlikely a preschooler could ride. Parents, however, can take turns riding using the babysitter Fastpass option. They just need to let the Fastpass attendant know they’ll be taking turns riding so that one person can stay with the kids, and the attendant will hand them a Fastpass without the need to swipe their tickets.
Hollywood Studios Character Meet and GreetsFor an opportunity to meet Mickey Mouse, Moreland recommends heading to Animation courtyard. There is an animation tour that finishes with a visit to the mouse, but Moreland has insider information. “You don’t have to do the whole tour; you can go in through the art gallery and see Mickey Mouse. When the tour goes through, they dump them out there, but if you time it right you can walk right up to Mickey.”
It’s in the Animation courtyard where kids can see the Incredibles characters, too. Under the sorcerer’s hat is another place where characters tend to appear. “There’s also a big Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground,” adds Moreland. “They can see ‘Mater and Lightning McQueen there.”
Tips for Bringing Babies to Hollywood StudiosA baby center complete with private nursing rooms, rocking chairs, a diaper changing area and kitchen is located at the front of the park near Guest Services. Moreland also lets parents know that the parking lot at Hollywood Studios is pretty small, “and when you have all that gear sometimes it’s easier to just walk rather than folding everything up to take the tram, especially if the kids are asleep.”
Families can stay late and see the Fantasmic Show on the water, but it happens around the time the park closes. “You sit in this big theatre outside and the show happens on the water. It’s worth seeing, but the kids may fall asleep through it. You might need to stop for a nap earlier.”
For more tips on taking small children to Disney and must-see attractions at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom, check out Amy Moreland’s other interviews with Suite.
The copyright of the article Tips for Taking Toddlers to Hollywood Studios in Infants & Toddlers is owned by Christy Swift. Permission to republish Tips for Taking Toddlers to Hollywood Studios in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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