Orlando Florida Day 2 - Disney Hollywood studios

Day 2 and we were back in Disney but this time to the Hollywood Studios theme park. The severity of the rides was definitely increasing today with the Rock'N'Coaster, Tower of Terror, the Millennium Falcon, Rise of the Resistance to name but a few. I was pretty excited about going to Hollywood Studios as the Star Wars section looked amazing in pictures that I had seen and in general the park has changed massively since we were last there almost 30 years ago.

It was another extremely hot day and most of the day was spent trying to find shade, or seeking out water fountains to guzzle water and soak the head towels. Not many water rides here so we was stealing ice cubes from the drink stands and stuffing them down our shirts and under our hats. Anything to keep cool.

Anyway the park did not disappoint. Tower of Terror is surprisingly very different from the one in Paris and much better. The Rock'N'Coaster is just incredible with such speed and how can you go wrong with Aerosmith blasting out in your ears. Even some of the smaller rides like Slinky Dog Coaster and Micky's Railword Coaster were very good fun. 

But for me the highlight was the Star Wars section. The whole setting is so immersive and you really feel like you are on the set of Star Wars. To see a full size Millenum Falcon, an At-At, the Droids, an X-wing fighter etc and it just goes on and on. The level of detail down to the street lights and the costumes of the park workers must have cost a fortune. We got to try some special Star Wars drinks (one alcoholic and one not) and we got to see Chewbacca just walking around (god only knows how he works on that costume in that heat!).

The car parade was a little disappointing from what I remember before. But we finished the day on a high with a nice dinner and character meet in Mickey's Diner and Vine where Holly got to meet Donald, Pluto, Goofy, Mickey and Minnie - all in their Halloween costumes. Unfortunately I couldn't entice the boys in to photo's with the characters, Anyway on to the pictures from the day.

When you walk in to the park you feel like you are really in Hollywood.

We started things off easy (not) with Terror of Tower.

Our ride photo wasn't great as we were in the back row.

Next was the super fast Rock'N'Coaster with some cool tunes.

The oversize guitar strings form the road to the upside down car in the previous picture.

Family selfie.

4 per car, so Josh rode this one on his own.

Check out mine and Holly's face.

Second time around and Josh went with B and Tina rode on her own (the joys of being 5).

Whilst in this area of the park with watched the Lightning McQueen show just to get some air conditioning.

Holly and Tina with one of the cars.

I remember the boys having the Matchbox version of this one.

Back in to Hollywood.

Walt Disney.

If only we could go and jump in that water.

Nutcases standing out in 35 degree heat in that costume.

Snack time with a large Mickey Mouse pretzel.

Finally we make it in to the Star Wars zone.

I was in my element seeing all the life size space ships and just kept shooting off to take pictures.

Droids.

Just how big is that At-At.

More droids.

If only you could jump in and race them.

The infamous hover car.

The whole Star Wars zone is just so immersive.

Selfie of myself in my element.

The bar area.

A life size Millennium Falcon!!!!

Not sure the boys were as excited about all the props and just wanted to find the rides.

The Millennium Falcon ride was a little disappointing really, I think I expected too much.

Time to find Rise of the Resistance.

And you bump in to a life size Chewwy.

Our briefing before riding Rise of the Resistance.

First part of the ride on your transporter ship.

We are captured and marched off by the Storm Troopers.

One of them told me to "hurry up documenting our capture with my camera".

The Rise of the Resistance did not disappoint. Everyone smiling after the most incredible ride.

Well almost everyone smiling!

We were happy playing to the camera and using the Force.

A life size Tie Fighter.

When in Rome......

Couldn't decide between green and blue so we got both.

More of the Star Wars setting.

More droids.

The shops were incredible and you could have spent so much on Star Wars merch.

After Star Wars it was off to Toyland.

Family pic in Toyland.

First was the Slinky Dog Coaster which was really cool.

Holly met Goofy in Toyland.

All strapped in and ready for Slinky Dog coaster.

Pretty fast and good undulations.

Sharp angled turns.

Plenty of drop offs.

Time to accelerate off again.

Even the boys were having fun.

Going up.

I might have got carried away with the camera on this one.

All good things come to an end.

The Big Finale.

Tina on Slinky Dog.

Me, H and the boys. Such a blast.

A bit of a chill ride on the Alien Invasion.

Holly and the Alien.

The Toy Story shooting ride was really good fun. I think I won AGAIN.

Holly with Buzz Lightyear.

That's a big beach ball.

The Toy Soldiers.

No pictures from this ride, but it was pretty decent actually.

Buzz Light Years car in the parade.

Holly and Jessie.

The Toy Soldiers on parade.

Some nice wheels on show.

Buzz Light Year with his American Muscle.

The Indiana Jones Stunt show may be over 30 years old, but it is still incredible. The boys enjoyed it even though they haven't watched all the films.

The starting scene is the infamous booby traps with the spikes and the giant boulder.

The scenery then changes and it is on top some roof top fight scenes.

On come the vehicles.

Swinging on scaffold poles and crashing to the ground.

Things start to heat up as a vehicle flips and explodes on fire.

Then all hell starts to break loose.

They even re-in-act the plane fight scene.

Explosions everywhere.

Finally everything blows up right before your very eyes.

After a busy day it was time for some dinner in Mickey's diner.

We met Pluto.

Then goofy.

Mickey Mouse himself.

Minnie in her Halloween dress, Holly is almost as tall now.

And Nicky's favourite - Donald Duck.