Last minute Studios

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Thursday, July 11, 2007
Matt Hochberg

I know that everyone tries their best to plan their trips to the parks as best as they possibly can.  We lay out itineraries, make advanced dining reservations and check the schedule to see what shows are playing when and what attractions are closed.  But as is often the case, we get to Walt Disney World and our plans fall the way side because someone doesn’t feel well or something comes up that requires a change in your schedule.  It could be as drastic as having to change days that you’re going to the Studios altogether or it could be as simple as needing to skip a few hours because you need to take care of something.  Regardless, changes happen and you may find yourself in the situation of what to do if everything goes awry.  Moreover, what to do when everything goes awry and it’s the middle of the day and the park is packed.

It would be simple enough if things go wrong when the park is dead because you can take your pick of attractions and go with it.  But doesn’t it always seem like it all goes wrong when the park is the most crowded?  If that’s the case, all hope isn’t lost.  There are some attractions that are always good for when the park is full.  If you’re looking for attractions that you can squeeze in to nearly any time of the day, your best bets are Muppetvision 3D, One Man’s Dream, Sounds Dangerous, and Star Tours.  They usually offer quick waits (or at least the quickest waits relatively speaking) and all three are indoors in both queue and attraction so not only can you avoid the long lines, but the glaring Florida sun.  If you’re going during a less busy time of the year, an attraction like the Backlot Tour should also be a good choice.  In addition, much of it can depend on time of day.  If you have a touring plan hiccup in the morning, the Great Movie Ride and Voyage of the Little Mermaid shouldn’t be too inundated yet and grabbing some FASTPASS’s would be smart as well.  If your plans go south in the evening, the Magic of Disney Animation and Beauty and the Beast should be easier to get into.

If you need a temporary holdover, the Studios offer a lot of great self-guided attractions. First and foremost, the streetmosphere characters found along Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards are fantastic and worth taking some time to sit down and watch the acts.  I personally recommend Francis Floot and Hollywood Public Works are terrific acts.  In addition some fun things to do is to tour the Streets of America and meet some characters there, as well as catch the afternoon parade or the High School Musical Pep Rally (regardless of what you think of the film, the Pep Rally is fun and quick).

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat on the fly, if being served is you thing, then the best sit down restaurant at the last minute is the Hollywood Brown Derby.  The Brown Derby is a good choice because it’s expensive and the menu is a little more eclectic than some other locations but it is good food and your best option if you want a sit down meal. If you’re looking for a good counter service option at the last minute, ABC Commissary is indoors and has a large capacity to handle most crowds.  Plus it’s a little more hidden than some of the other counter service options.

Doing things last minute like this at the Studios is always easiest when going off season.  If you go during a dead time of the year, feel free to toss this out and do whatever pleases you because there are times of the year when the park is really slow and you don’t have to worry about waits and such (like a Tuesday or Wednesday in Late January or September).  If you’re at the Studios during a busier time of the year, use this as a guide but keep an eye out for an attraction with quick wait times.  The tip board at the corner of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards is a start, although not the most accurate means of figuring out what’s empty.

I also wanted to take some time to tell you about a very fun event that studioscentral.com will be co-sponsoring at Mousefest 2007.  This year, we will have a special private viewing of Fantasmic! on Saturday, December 8 for everyone on this site.  We will be escorted by Disney to a special viewing area for the show where you can enjoy a catered dessert party while we watch Fantasmic!.  While there, you will be able to mingle with other members of the site, as well as myself and other studioscentral.com site contributors as well as members of other Disney Internet communities. 

It’s going to be a very fun event and I encourage all of you to sign up now before we run out of spots.  Right now we’re only offering spots to studioscentral.com readers (and that includes all of you lurkers) before we open it up to the general public.  The cost is a mere $21 for two hours of fireworks, friends and food.  To sign up and for more information, click here.  I hope to see you at the dessert party!