Well hey everyone!! Welcome to Day 7!!!
Day 7 of our epic May/June 2025 12-day trip down to Walt Disney World. And today we head to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the first and only time this trip.
Nope.
No.
Bad. No.
Whatever. Let’s get on with it.
Our 2025 “Celebrating Everything” Walt Disney World Trip: Day 7
So Day 7 was a rope drop day, meaning we had to be up relatively early and on our way to the park to try and “rope drop” an attraction. And like I realized on this trip there are some people that actually don’t even know what that means. Rope dropping an attraction means getting to a park at park open (or honestly before park open if you’re a resort guest) and making straight for a top-tier attraction to try and beat those later-day lines.
And while today, we did have some attractions booked through our Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, we didn’t want to also spend the money on the Lightning Lane Single-Pass attraction at this park, instead opting to make use of our ability to do early entry and get on it first thing.
Alright now that all that explainin’ is out of the way.
We were up, ready, and at breakfast by 7AM today. Since things had to be quick, we had to once again hit Captain Cook’s.
I wasn’t super hungry today so I actually opted for the Kids’ Meal (Mickey Waffles served with choice of two sides and choice of beverage). For my sides, I went with Breakfast Potatoes and Apple Slices.
And yeah, the kids meal is a pretty valid option, especially for like under 8 bucks.
Winning.
We all made pretty quick work of breakfast and were on the monorail by like 8AM. Scarlett perfectly captured our excitement for the day ahead.
Our park today was MGM Studios Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
And yeah, obviously rope dropping paid off because we had the park to oursel…
Well crap.
So yeah, we needed to get over to our ride of choice like ASAP. So we walked like the wind.
Over to Star Wars Land.
Wait, no Batuu.
No, sorry. Black Spire Outpost.
Oh. Right. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Seriously Disney. What should I call this place?
We got right in line for the best ride in all of Walt Disney World – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The best, Jerry. The best. Plus, a bunch of people in our crew were riding this one for the first time ever, which was super exciting.
Owen and Scarlett were ready.
Mikey was DEFINITELY ready.
While in line, I logged into my Disney Play App to activate my datapad. And check out who slid into my DMs.
So helpful, I am.
But yeah, Rise of the Resistance. This queue is so much the best queue in all of Walt Disney World that it’s not even a queue. It’s legit part of the experience.
We were briefed by BB-8 and Rey on our mission to rendezvous with Leia on the planet Bacara.
A clear story. Just one of the reasons Rise of the Resistance beats Cosmic Rewind.
We then made our way outside to board our transport.
Our transport, however, was intercepted by the First Order and we were pulled into a Star Destroyer. I really thought we were gonna make it this time. But at least it brought us to one of the most breathtaking reveals in any Disney attraction.
We were then brought in to be interrogated by General Hux and Kylo Ren but I have no pictures of that scene. On account of the kids were once again freaking out because I was playing with the buttons on the wall at the end of the room. They were insisting that last time I did that, it broke the ride.
It didn’t btw.
It didn’t.
We were eventually freed by Resistance fighters and loaded into our escape vehicles.
These things were where it’s AT-AT.
We loaded into an escape pod and eventually made our way back to Batuu.
Just an incredible attraction. It’s still impressive, regardless of how many times we have ridden it. Perfection.
At this point, it was like 9:20AM which was like super cool given the non-resort-guest park visitors had gotten into the park just 20 minutes ago and we were already getting off the best ride in the entire park.
And it also meant our first actual Lightning Lane was kicking in. And this one had us walking next door to Toy Story Land.
On account of our first Lightning Lane today was for Toy Story Mania. Which was one of our OG rope drop rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Back in the paper FastPass days.
The good days.
I got to ride with my buddy, Tony. Look at us. Being buddies.
But on Toy Story Mania? Friendships are tested. Like look here. While I did emerge victorious…
…Tony claimed his shooter thingie wasn’t working during the balloon scene. Which yeah totally buddy. I believe you. Nobody won this round, ok?
Wink wink.
Regardless, you know what Tony was winning? He was winning at being prepared. In fact, all the Falzones were excelling at this.
Poncho game was strong.
But yeah, it was raining when we got out of Toy Story Mania. Hence, you know, the ponchos.
OK so. Lightning Lanes.
Story time y’all.
So for later today, we had some split Lightning Lanes booked. A bunch of us were booked for Tower of Terror but some, who were weirdly afraid of pretending to fall to their death, had some Lightning Lanes booked for the Beauty & the Beast – Live on Stage. Tony was in the Tower of Terror group but asked if he could be switched to Beauty & the Beast.
Which seems simple enough, yeah?
So when we were moving through the line for Rise of the Resistance, I went into the app and figured the process was to check the person I wanted to remove from the reservation. So I checked Tony to remove him. Turns out that’s actually NOT how it works. You’re actually supposed to uncheck the person you want to remove. Which yeah, also makes sense but I mean it’s not completely clear. Especially when you’re distracted and moving through a line like Rise of the Resistance.
So yeah, rather than taking Tony off Tower of Terror, I took everyone else off it and left him on.
Yeah, its good stuff.
THEN.
Nickie was trying to see if she could move the Pittmans reservation for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway to try and line it up with hers (the Pittmans, having a different check-in day than us, were on all kinds of different Lightning Lanes) and she mistakenly deleted their entire reservation.
We were doing really well.
So my hope was that someone at Guest Services would be able to help me. There was a Guest Services tent just outside Toy Story Land. I stopped over and explained the situation. And guys. This lady was SO MEAN to me. She told me they aren’t supposed to help with things like this, but she would this one time. However, she said she was going to put a note on my account to tell other cast members not to help us.
I mean.
Look, these Lightning Lanes. They’re not only confusing. They’re also expensive. Nickie and I paid like over $100 dollars extra today just for these Lightning Lane Multi-Passes. That’s on top of what it cost to get into the park in the first place. And like, you can obviously see what happened on the app. She said she could see exactly what happened. So it wasn’t like I was trying to scam anything off Disney.
If this were a free service, I get it. Fine, figure it out for ourselves. It’s free. But being that I paid for these, I would have hoped for a little help without attitude. Oh and btw – I continually just kept saying I was sorry because of how bad she made me feel.
I wasn’t gonna let it ruin my day or anything, but I mean, imagine this was my first time ever visiting Walt Disney World. I saved all my money up to buy my park tickets, book my hotel, AND buy Lightning Lanes even though, being a Disney n00b, I find it super confusing. And then I make a mistake like this and am shamed for it.
Whatever though. Like I said, ain’t nothing gonna break my stride.
Nobody gonna slow me down.
Oh no.
I got to keep on moving.
And keep on moving we did. All the way down Sunset to get in line for the newest show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After!
The show was starting at 11:00 but, being that it was a new show, we got in line at around 10:30 because we knew a line would form AND the guy working the front desk at our hotel recommended we try to get a front row seat to have the best experience.
More on that later.
But yeah, we had some time to kill so the boys did the only thing they could do – they played a game where they tried to inflict as much pain on each other as possible.
Yah, Tennis. Not so much a game as it is a way to torture your brother. Which is totally fine with these two.
We were let in at around 10:50 and we grabbed a seat right up front.
Which, surprisingly, wasn’t that hard to do. Like, no one seemed like they were fighting for first row. They just let us have it.
Hah. Suckers.
It’s a good thing we had our inside information.
Alright so let’s see what’s going on with this new show.
So the plot of the show is all the Disney villains are like trapped in like the realm of the Magic Mirror and they are constantly badgering the mirror to tell them which villain is treated the most unfairly of all.
And to help him pick he gives three villains – Cruella De Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent – the chance to present their cases to us on stage. And I mean, of course they sing. It’s Disney.
Cruella was up first. And like not surprisingly, she ATE. I mean, her fashion was slaytown.
She made a strong case. Especially like, for a puppy killer. I mean, you gotta really say a lot for me to be like, “I know she kills puppies, but that outfit.”
Hook was next. His performance was probably the most humor-driven of all. Obvs. Dude has timing.
And lastly, Maleficent.
Hers was like….still real villainy. Like, I didn’t feel like she prepared for this at all.
After those three performed, we then saw some other villains show up in the mirrors. Hades and Jafar got all up in each other’s shizz.
And then like, it gets kind of chaotic and all the villains start appearing in the mirrors and talking over one another. Which is like real villain behavior.
So the Magic Mirror starts yelling at the audience to pick the villain they think has been treated the most unfairly (you know, out of the three we saw sing…Hades and Jafar didn’t even have a chance). All three come out and we have to clap for whoever we think should win.
Which is cool because it means you really never know how this thing is gonna end. But Maleficent won this show.
So she came back and out like…I don’t know….gloated?
Which like. I dunno. I voted for Hook, man. I mean Maleficent was all brooding and scary and what not but I really felt like that proved she was treated pretty fairly. I mean, am I wrong? I have been working on a letter to the Disney Parks team to try and persuade them to consider not even letting Maleficent plead her ca..
..
Huh?
Oh, I’m doing it again? I’m taking Disney too seriously? Ha, sorry. My B.
Anyway tho – it was actually a really good show. I loved all the songs and I mean, who doesn’t love the villains?
Oh, and the front row? We were deffo punk’d with that whole situation. You got us, rando front desk dude.
Next up, some of us (basically us and the Falzones) had Lightning Lanes for Slinky Dog Dash. And that “some of us” included Nickie, who DOES NOT LIKE roller-coasters. So we made the decision to let Sophia use Nickie’s since she wanted to ride Slinky for the first time.
Nickie, meanwhile, found herself at the Brown Derby Lounge for some midday snacks and cocktails.
Off to Toy Story Land!
But when we got up to scan our MagicBands for Slinky, the cast member informed us we actually needed Nickie’s MagicBand if we wanted to use her Lightning Lane for Soph.
Which kind of makes a lot of sense in hindsight.
We were in a pickle.
…
…
Ha, just kidding. Upon hearing Sophia needed a MagicBand, Larissa was like “OhDontWorryAboutItSheCanHaveMineI’llJustGoMeetNickieatTheBrownDerbyLounge.”
She was all…
So selfless, that Larissa.
Here’s the Escargot and Prosciutto Croquettes they ordered.
Meanwhile, we were making our way through the Slinky Dog Dash queue.
Look how excited.
As an attraction, Slinky Dog is so…
…
What’s the word?
It’s on the tip of my tongue.
Hm. No. That’s not it. It’ll come to me.
Anyway though, after we exited Slinky, it was time to Scooby-Doo.
Yeah, we were splitting up. Sophia, Scarlett, Mia, Tony, Owen, and Steph were heading over to the Droid Depot to build new friends.
Myles and Hannah, meanwhile, were going to MuppetVision 3D since Hannah was going to be leaving soon and she wanted to get in there one more time before it closed.
Mikey and me? We decided to see what it was like to live that Nickie and Larissa lifestyle. So we found our way over to meet up with them at the Brown Derby Lounge. I started things off with a Dirty Grey Goose Martini.
And the girls were raving about those Prosciutto Croquettes, so we ordered up some of those along with a Charcuterie.
SO good.
Once the droids were built and the Muppets were Muppet-ed, everyone ended up coming to meet us at Brown Derby Lounge before. Well. Before we split up again.
Me, Myles, Hannah, Owen, and Mia wanted to use our Tower of Terror Lightning Lanes while everyone else wanted to get back to the resort to get a jump on some pool time.
Oh, that place looks nice. Mia, however, was not excited to stay there.
I will say, though – the lack of housekeeping in the lobby was a little terrifying.
Being this was Mia’s first time riding, we spent most of our time in line trying to convince her the elevator hadn’t malfunctioned much. Small number of fatalities.
Which maybe wasn’t the best idea. On account of before we boarded our elevator we made a plan to mew, as the kids say, for the picture.
And well….
…Mia didn’t stick the landing.
To be fair, Hannah kind of didn’t exactly nail it either.
Me and the boys though? Killed it.
So right. Coming off Tower of Terror, it was me, Myles, Hannah, Owen, and Mia. And while I was ready to make our way back to the Polynesian, the kids wanted to get root beer floats. I grumbled about it like the grumbler I am but I really want the kids to like me. So I gave in.
The root beer floats were over at Epic Eats over past Echo Lake.
Walk past Gertie, the dinosaur that serves ice cream out of her stomach.
And you’ll run right into it.
So epic.
The kids were obviously beside themselves with excitement.
Lookit. Lookit the root beer float.
NOW it was time to head out.
No no…not to Boston just yet.
Also though – those mileages on that sign. I just spent like a half hour researching these mileages on account of it says “2158” on the Orlando sign. Which is weird.
Ya know, because we were in Orlando.
Turns out none of those numbers line up with actual miles. Boston, for example, says “2532” but it’s actually closer to like 1100 miles from Hollywood Studios. I even ran it through ChatGPT to see if it could come up with anything and it came up empty.
I am now on a quest to figure this one out. If any readers have any idea beyond “they just put random numbers on there” definitely let me know.
We were back at the resort at around 2:30PM and everyone else was already in the Oasis pool so we quick-changed and went straight down to the pool.
As we were enjoying some down time in the pool, we discussed what to do with the rest of the day. Do we go back to the park? Have a chill night at the resort? Disney Springs? We technically had dinner reservations at Hollywood Studios but some were tired and feeling the heat.
It ended up being that the girls were going to stay back but me, Myles, Owen, Tony, and Mikey would go back to the park.
So you know what that means….
Aww yah.
The girls, meanwhile, were going to grab dinner at the resort and relax for the night.
However.
Two things put kind of a damper on things. For one? While we were back at the room getting ready for the night? Hannah had to leave. So I mean. Sad face.
But yeah, she had a flight back home to catch later that afternoon. So we wompily said our goodbyes and Myles walked her out to the front to catch her ride. Which was sadtown, population all of us. It was so fun having you, Hannah and we’ll miss you!
The other unfortunate thing that happened is, while we were on our way to Hollywood Studios, Larissa got sick. Like, sick sick. Like, that escargot was escargoing right through her sick. If you know what I mean. So like, that was kind of putting her out for the night.
So obvs squad poor Larissa. Being on vacation is teh suck. And this was also gonna change the girls’ plans a bit as well.
And I mean, what about us? I mean, we had to go to Hollywood Studios knowing Larissa was back in her room literally losing her lunch. How were we supposed to have any fun? Won’t anyone think of the boys for once?
We did it though. We soldiered on.
Which I am sure at this point, Larissa is happy to read given it means I’ll stop talking about her unfortunate incident.
Let’s get over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, aye?
We were back at the entrance at like 5:15.
Our first stop was Rock n Roller Coaster. On account of what’s a boys night without a little ROCK N ROLLLLLLLL!!!!
ALF knows whats up. You’re the one that’s out of this world. Sweet baby.
We had a fool-proof plan for the on-ride photo. The boys and I would do the sign of the beast while Mikey should do a sort of “am I tired or am I going to throw up” thing.
And in the other car, Tony – you “pretend” to be absolutely terrified. Random guy next to Tony? Obvs sign of the beast.
Everyone really understood the assignment there.
Tonight, not only did we have a dinner reservation. We also had a drinks reservation. I legit LOVE having a specific block of time set aside for a drink. And this drink was at a very special location over in Batuu Black Spire Outpost Galaxy’s Edge.
More specifically, our reservation to haz drinks was at Oga’s Cantina!!
If you haven’t been, Oga’s is set up to make it feel like you are in an actual Star Wars cantina situation. I mean, look at this place.
We were sat at a table set into the wall over to the left.
And we were given basically a half-table, with the knowledge that another family would be taking the other half. They showed up shortly after us and asked us what was good to eat for dinner here. Which, like, the answer is nothing.
So yeah. They left.
Which meant we had the whole table to ourselves.
For like 15 minutes.
They found another family to seat with us. Which obviously meant we couldn’t swear at the table.
Right though. The drinks.
I, and Tony I think, went with the Corellian Spike Cold Brew (Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Joffrey’s Coffee Cold Brew, Vanilla, Brown Sugar Syrup, Orange Bitters topped with Purple Vanilla-Ube Foam).
This was real good. I was in the mood for a coffee drink and this def hit the spot. On account of there was coffee in it.
Keep up.
To be honest though, I ordered this to explore a bit. The Outer Rim (Patrón Silver Tequila, Stirrings Pomegranate Liqueur, Lime Juice, Pure Cane Sugar, with Black Salt and Exotic Fruit Purée) is usually my go-to drink at Oga’s. And that one still reigns supreme for me.
Out of the two drinks I’ve had.
Narf.
I also got pics of some other drinks. Because I blog, you guys. Like Mikey’s Jet Juice (Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur, Stirrings Pomegranate Liqueur, White Grape Juice, and Lemon Juice).
And Owen’s non-alcoholic Carbon Freeze (POWERADE Lemon Lime, Wild Strawberry, Blueberry, and Green Apple Popping Pearls), which is always a fun one.
We also got an Oga’s Obsession (Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, Cotton Candy Flavor, Blueberry Popping Pearls with a Bursting Dried Fruit Mixture) for the table to share.
We have gotten this situation before and it sounds kind of weird right? I know. But this stuff works, man. I mean, anything with a cotton candy flavor? I am kind of in. Because I am mentally four years old.
Oh also? As we were sitting there, a First Order Trooper came in and started interrogating guests.
And that was kind of cool stuff. I’ve never seen that happen before and I loved how it kind of made us feel even more immersed in the whole cantina vibe.
I should also mention Oga’s comes with a time limit. From the moment we sat down, we had 45 minutes. Which I totally get. I mean, I could see Star Wars fans (translation: me) spending a lot of time in there and, like, I suppose other people need to have fun too.
I suppose.
We ended up spending about 30 minutes in there before heading back out into Galaxy’s Edge.
Well first, we had to stop off and pay our respects.
RIP Pee-Wee. The world is def emptier and less interesting without you, man.
NOW let’s head back out into Galaxy’s Edge.
And that 30 minutes was more than enough time btw. Cuz we were going reservation-to-reservation tonight, boys.
Boujee AF.
Dinner reservations tonight were at 50s Prime Time Café.
Specifically, our reservations were at 7PM but when we walked up to the host out front, he told us they were operating a little bit behind schedule and we probably wouldn’t be seated for at least 25 minutes past our reservation time. So I gave him my number and he said he would text us when our table was ready.
What to do? What to do?
Oh more Star Wars? H’okay!
Yah, Star Tours had a 5-minute wait and it was a very short walk over from 50’s Prime Time. So it felt like the perfect way to pass the time while we waited for our table to be ready. I mean, Star Tours can be a little rough at times. But eh. I’m sure Tony will be fine.
Ha, that dude on the left looks like he maybe didn’t enjoy it.
Ah, well. I’m sure Tony will be fine.
I mean. Yes, the 3D can mess with you. For sure.
I don’t know if you’ve guessed it yet. But. Tony wasn’t fine. I totally cannot remember the missions we got tonight (I think we got the Andor one, but I can’t remember the other). But anyway. Yeah. They took a toll on Tony. He was all kinds of nauseous and I think maybe he had a headache. Dude was not feeling good is what I am telling you.
Not everyone is ready for space travel.
At this point, back at the Polynesian, Nickie, Steph, Mia, Sophia, and Scarlett were having dinner at Kona Café.
Two things – one, I LOVE that Scarlett is drinking a Polar Seltzer. Girl legit loves seltzers. Which, I dunno. Feels like such a funny thing for a then 3 year-old to like. But she loves ‘em. Like if you ask me what Scarlett’s favorite drink is, I would answer, “Seltzers are seltz-hers.”
Oh right. Two things. The other thing is I just asked Nickie while I was writing that last paragraph if she went to Kona this night and she said, and a I quote, “yes, and that was my favorite night ever” or something like that.
…
…
Ever?
We did have some drinks tonight.
So back at Hollywood Studios, I forgot to mention. When we were boarding Star Tours, I got the text our table was ready. Less than ten minutes of a wait. This also, obviously, had me stressed the entire time we were on our StarSpeeder 1000. Like, I couldn’t stop…
Hm? Oh what’s that? You’re wondering why it’s called a StarSpeeder 1000 when the original vehicle used on Star Tours before the update was called a StarSpeeder 3000. Well, inquisitive reader. That’s because this new attraction is set before the original attraction.
How about that?
Fun fact right?
Wait. Sorry. Where was I? Oh right, our table was ready!
We took the short walk over and were soon transported back to when this was screen time.
That joke was my attempt at being “current.”
Annnnway tho. Let’s eat!
We ordered up some Onion Rings with Horseradish Sauce.
Which ALWAYS hit. These onion rings are kind of perfection.
Especially when paired with a cold Bud Light.
I wanna pause here and just mention how amazing our waiter was tonight. At 50s Prime Time, the waitstaff are known to be a little wacky. And our waiter tonight, Max, KILLED. Right away, he was giving Tony Coke and Lemon to help ease his stomach. And because her name was on the reservation, he kept calling me Nickie and threatened to make me FaceTime her to prove she existed.
He was great stuff.
I came in tonight saying there was no way I was getting the sampler plate. I was going to pick one sole entrée and try to maybe keep it light if possible. I said it. I said it walking in.
Behold my order tonight. A Sampling of Mom’s Favorite Recipes.
Golden-fried Chicken, Fork Tender Pot Roast, and Traditional Meatloaf with all the fixin’s.
The sampler.
I am a weak weak man.
But it was SO worth it. I loved everything on this plate. Like EVERYTHING. Like…
Don’t even ask me to rank them. Don’t ask me. It’d be like asking me my favorite child.
And speaking of keeping things light? We also got dessert. Dad’s Favorite Chocolate-Peanut Butter Layered Cake À la Mode.
Yum. Town.
But that’s not all my friends. The Key Lime Bar (Tart Key Lime Filling over a Buttery Sugar Crust served with Raspberries and Raspberry Sauce) was also ordered.
AND ANNNND Myles ordered a Traditional Warm Apple Crisp À la Mode.
Oh and I got a cappuccino.
Foam-tastic.
Dinner ended at like 8:30. And that meant it was time to go say goodbye to an old friend.
Yup, it was time to start the music.
It was time to light the lights.
It was time to experience MuppetVision 3D for the last time ever.
Super sad face.
Yup. MuppetVision 3D, and in fact the entire Muppet Courtyard, area was closing to make way for the new Monstropolis area. And yeah, I mean. I was kind of real sad about it. I mean, I remember MuppetVision 3D from when I first visited MGM Studios back in the early 90s. It’s been a part of this park since at least my first time visiting it and I mean, it’s the Muppets. The Muppets deserve all the love.
It’s absence was definitely gonna be felt.
Get it? Felt? Because puppets?
Too soon?
OK well let’s go experience it for the last time together.
This was just such a special attraction. It did such a good job of capturing that punny, corny-yet-cool vibe that make the Muppets such an endearing, positive force in this world.
I know they are gonna be retheming Rock n’ Roller Coaster to the Electric Mayhem. Which I love. But eh. The world needs all the Muppets it can get so taking this whole situation away is def a sad sad scene.
I know. It’s just the Muppets. It’s just a silly, kind of outdated 3D movie. And that night was the most packed I have ever seen that theater.
But I will miss this one.
But I get it, Disney. And I do think the concept art for Monstropolis is def promising. Just let me mourn a little longer and then I will totally be excited for what’s to come.
We did still have one last Lightning Lane to use tonight – Toy Story Mania! So we cut quickly through Galaxy’s Edge.
And we were back in Toy Story Land at a little past 9:00.
Last ride of the night, you guys!
I made the mistake of riding with Myles, who proceeded to beat the living crap out of me.
Terrible, terrible showing by me.
Oh well. I still make more money than him.
And that kind of signaled the end of our boys’ night at Hollywood Studios. But.
BUT.
BUTTTTTTT.
I do still have some pictures of the end of the night for the girls back at the resort. They ended the night down on the beach, watching Happily Ever After over at the Magic Kingdom.
Which, yeah. Eh, maybe it could have been Nickie’s “favorite night ever”. It does look fun.
I mean, our wedding was nice and all. But it’s the beach at the Poly.
Annnnnnywhat.
That was Day 7 you guys. Pretty great stuff, right? Well just wait.
For Day 8.
Because it’s great.
See ya then! Last post – Day 6
Next Post – Day 8
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