Lightsabers, Slinky Dog, and a Perfect Margarita: A Hollywood Studios Day Full of Surprises

A Travel n Taste Journal Series

After a massive two-park day, we gave ourselves permission to start a little slower—and it ended up being the perfect call. Between a resort move, droid building, thrill rides, and a standout meal at Mama Melrose, this Hollywood Studios day had everything: adventure, spontaneity, and seriously good food.

Later Start, New Resort Vibes

We got a bit of a late start this morning (on purpose). With sore feet and big plans ahead, we needed the extra 15 minutes. We also packed up and transitioned to our second resort of the trip: Art of Animation.

We arrived at Hollywood Studios around 8:30 AM, parked, and headed straight for a fun, light start with For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration.

Split Paths: Characters and Custom Droids

From there, the group divided to take on different morning experiences:

• Half the group: Character breakfast at Hollywood & Vine—featuring Disney Junior favorites like Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, and Goofy
• The other half: Droid building at Droid Depot in Galaxy’s Edge

We regrouped and jumped into the Star Wars universe with Star Tours and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, letting the kids (and a few grown-ups) try their hand at piloting the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.

Lightsabers, Toy Story Land & A Midday Break

We split again to hit even more highlights:

• Savi’s Workshop: For those ready to forge a custom lightsaber
• Alien Swirling Saucers + Toy Story Land: For a more laid-back, colorful experience

By then, most of our Lightning Lanes were timed for later in the day, so we took the opportunity to head back to Art of Animation, check in, have lunch, and relax.

Slinky Dog Dash Surprise

Just as socks were coming off, Standby Skipper sent a notification: our Slinky Dog Dash Lightning Lane was ready—in 15 minutes.

We rallied, piled into the van, and made it back just in time for our 4:30 PM return window. And yes, it was absolutely worth it.

Beating the Heat with the Muppets

After Slinky, we took a well-earned cooldown at MuppetVision 3D. It’s funny, nostalgic, and a great way to enjoy some air conditioning without missing out on Disney charm.

Restaurant Redemption: Mama Melrose Magic

Earlier in the day, we’d canceled our Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano reservation, thinking we’d be too wiped. But after the Slinky dash, we realized we needed real food—and fast.

We stopped by the hostess stand, explained the situation, and Disney magic came through. They were able to reinstate our canceled reservation with only a 30-minute wait.

The food did not disappoint:

• Chicken Parmesan: Crispy, hearty, and flavorful
• Garlic Bread: Cheesy, melty, and sharable
• Margarita: Refreshing, well-balanced, and maybe the best drink of the trip

Evening Thrills: Resistance, Mania, and Runaway Railway

Fueled and refreshed, we ended the night with some of Hollywood Studios’ biggest rides:

• Rise of the Resistance: Still jaw-dropping and cinematic
• Toy Story Mania!: A blast for the whole group
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: Whimsical and joyful—an underrated hit

Skyline Sunset Back to the Resort

Our final ride of the night wasn’t a ride at all—it was the Disney Skyliner. A peaceful, breezy way to travel back to Art of Animation with nighttime views and that satisfying, post-Disney glow.