December to Remember Part 3
More Cheer for the Holidays TMSM Readers! Today we’ll explore the holidays at Hollywood Studios. I know what you must be thinking; when the Osborne Lights left, so went with it Christmas. That’s not entirely true you see; just because the Osborne Lights are no longer strung across what we knew as the Streets of America, doesn’t mean that you can’t have amazing Christmas card worthy pictures at this park. There are plenty of festive photo ops! Let’s start at the front of the park.
As you approach the main entrance of Hollywood Studios you will find this park’s signature Christmas tree adorned with garlands of silver, colorful ornaments and candy canes. Near the base of the tree is an unrolled movie reel; after all this tree represents a park with an attraction called “The Great Movie Ride”. This is a really lovely opportunity to stop and take a photo that isn’t typically crowded with people in the background. If you have the Photopass option, you’ll find a familiar face from Frozen, Sven, appearing in your pictures.
Once you enter Hollywood Studios, in a shop window that lines Hollywood Boulevard you’ll see some Christmas ornaments high kicking it. By far an extremely creative and adorable backdrop for a Holiday Card. If you are sending a digital version of your Yuletide Greetings, try using an app called Boomerang to record a short burst video of the ornaments kicking Rockette style and your smiling cheerful reactions! Now that’s an innovative approach to sharing a merry moment.
Hollywood Boulevard itself is festooned with garlands of pine and ornaments. If you’re into the low key Christmas spirit, standing on this Boulevard with Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (aka the Great Movie Ride) as the backdrop and hanging garlands above your head will surely convey the spirit of the season without the outward holiday overkill.
If your reason for the Season is Jolly Old Saint Nick and every magical thing he stands for, then you are in luck, as Hollywood Studios has dedicated a space on Sunset Boulevard to housing Santa. Just look for the movie marquee with “Once Upon a Time Meet Santa Inside” and you’ve found yourself a Club North Pole plush style lounge where you can make sure the big guy knows you were nice this year.
Near the Muppet Courtyard, you’ll find a frosty friend. Right outside of It’s a Wonderful Shop is a grinning Snowman and an icy scene complete with mounds of snow and Christmas merchandise in the window display. The good news is that you can find this winter wonderland year round, so if you aren’t able to capture the magic while the holidays are full force, you can still stage a Christmas card in July.
A new addition to the park this year in honor of the Holiday season is Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM. If you watch the show, which incorporates projections on the surrounding buildings and a fireworks finale, you’ll find yourself graced with a snowy send off as Hollywood Studios becomes coated in artificial snow swirling down on you. This is a great opportunity to take a moment and snap some rare “Snowing in Florida” pics that are sure to shock and amaze anyone who receives a card.
Some other experiences worth melting for at Hollywood Studios include meeting Olaf from Frozen at the Celebrity Spotlight by Echo Lake. You can also take the unconventional route and visit Kylo Ren. Challenge your loved ones to tell him that his lack of Cheer is Disturbing, and insist that he implement a Stormtrooper on the People Mover instead of an Elf on the Shelf this year. Promise him its Droid tested, and Jedi approved holiday fun.
Outside of Hollywood Studios and the other Disney Parks lies a wealth of opportunity for fantastic photo ops without the hustle and bustle of navigating already crowded picturesque places. In my post titled “Have yourself a Merry little Disney Party” I briefly touched upon spending time at the resorts during the Holidays, and why taking full advantage of the decorations at each location was a worthwhile experience; but here is a quick recap to refresh your memory.
For starters, there are 27 resorts on property, and each is quite unique. Disney rolls out the red carpet of decking the halls and incorporates ceiling high and lobby wide Christmas trees with special ornaments glistening from branches into their resort decor. Aside from impressive trees, certain resorts create life size Gingerbread houses, some which incorporate moving parts. It truly is an Imagineering spectacle to see, and a treat for the olfactory senses. You can take advantage of all the yuletide festooning and take a Christmas card picture with your loved ones in different holiday settings or partake in a fantastic challenge to visit all 27 resorts and create a Christmas collage with pictures from each location for your card.
Next week, I will be wrapping up this series just in time for Christmas weekend with some festive spots to pose with spotted masks at Animal Kingdom. You won’t want to miss it!
Erika is excited to be on the TMSM team and where Disney Parks are concerned, you won’t catch her dead on It’s a Small World. If she asks to ride that, this is a clear indication that she is in danger and you must send help. You will, however, catch her performing Random Acts of Disney (R.A.D’s), park hopping with her amazing group of impressively talented and kind friends (usually in some themed attire), hanging out by The Haunted Mansion, and ugly crying during fireworks… then begging for a Mickey Premium Bar to eat her feelings…this is a judgment-free bio.
Otherwise, Erika works for the State of Florida and is actively involved in her community. Erika believes in empowering others and spreading kindness to people from all walks of life. Erika also makes custom designed Disney inspired ears, etched glass, gifts, and accessories. You can check out, like or follow her work on FB, which also links to my shop’s Instagram: www.facebook.com/imagineering.emporium. She looks forward to getting to know everyone and sharing the magic of Disney!
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