Thursday December 15th 2016

The day started cloudy and warm and ended sunny and cooler. The temperature is predicted to continue to fall overnight with highs tomorrow below seasonal norms. As has become my pattern, I spent the morning in the campground enjoying a slow start to the day.

Christmas Tree at the entrance to Disney Hollywood Studios

In the afternoon, I went to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With all the construction going on this is more like half a theme park. All of the back lot, streets of New York and the stunt car show have been leveled for the construction of a new Star Wars area and a Toy Story land. If you aren’t into thrill rides or motion simulators there isn’t a whole lot left to see.

I road the Great Movie Ride and the Toy Story Mania shooting gallery ride. The Movie Ride was only a 20 minute wait. This is short wait for this ride. Perhaps the fact that the ride was somewhat hidden behind a stage for a Star Wars show was the reason for the short wait. This park already has an excess of Star Wars attractions and they are building a whole new area of the park just for more Star Wars. If they weren’t building the new Toy Story land as well, I’d think they were going to re-brand the park as Star Wars Land.

Mary Poppins scene in the Great Movie Ride

John Wayne on the Great Movie Ride

Giant View Master disc from the queue area for Toy Story Mania ride

After a relatively short visit to the Studios, I took the launch over to the International Gateway to EPCOT. I had Fish and Chips at the British Pavilion while listening to Father Christmas explain UK Christmas traditions. There is something really strange about a Green Coated Santa Clause.

Fountain lite with Christmas Red at EPCOT Imagination Pavilion

Mickey and Minnie Topiary at the entrance to EPCOT.

I took my time walking through EPCOT to catch the bus back to the campground. The crowds seemed to be in a supper time lull. When I got to the entrance there were plenty of people arriving.

My last Disney act for this trip was a walk to the campground waterfront to watch the Holiday Wishes Fireworks from the Magic Kingdom. Of all the night time shows at Walt Disney World the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom is my favorite.