Learning To Like Disney

Why? Well, apart from Epcot being my favorite, the Magic Kingdom is, well, just magic really! After all, it's based on Disneyland, which is where it all started. As for Animal Kingdom, Animal Kingdom is beautiful! To me, it's like escaping into a tropical wonderland, filled with hundreds of animals that I could just sit and watch for hours. If only they'd just stop those safari vehicles on the Kilimanjaro Safaris and allow you to do that!

But for many years now, I've felt that there was no such great theming at the Disney's Hollywood Studios. You walk in and yes, the idea is that you're transported back to a golden era of Hollywood, but compared to the other parks, it just looks remarkably normal. And as for the attractions, they've never done much for me. Not being big thrill riders, the Sunset Boulevard area was unfamiliar to us, even though it's the first stop on most people's lists as they head for the Tower of Terror and the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.

Of course there's not only thrill rides at Disney's Hollywood Studios, but we've also found some of the other attractions less than appealing. Although Who Wants to be a Millionaire? -- Play It! had many fans, we weren't amongst them. It's very much geared to an American audience, which while perfectly understandable. Being from England, it frustrated us immensely. And then there's the Backlot Tour. The last time we'd taken this, it had been severely reduced, as work was underway to create the new stunt show.

So what's happened to change my view? Well, on our last visit to Walt Disney World, we really gave the Disney's Hollywood Studios another chance and I started to learn to love this park.

The first thing that changed was some of the attractions that had never appealed to us were either gone or much improved. Who Wants to be a Millionaire -- Play It! disappeared in the summer to make way for Toy Story Mania!, which is now open. And then there's the Backlot Tour which is very much back to its former self, with its route restored now. You really feel as if you're being given a good tour these days, unlike a couple of years ago, when you came off wondering "was that it?"

And the Lights, Motors, Action! Stunt Show Spectacular, the reason for all those changes to the Backlot tour, is proving to be an excellent addition to the Studios. Some have said that two stunt shows may be too much for one park, but for our money, they both showcase very different stunts and there's room for both. If you haven't checked out this new show yet, it's well worth a visit, as it's packed with talented drivers who show off their skills.

We also finally found our way to the Sunset Boulevard area, as I plucked up courage to try the Tower of Terror -- and wow, what a great ride this is! I'm no thrill ride fan, but this was a lot of fun. If you've never tried this, it's definitely worth giving it a go. I found the drops amazingly smooth and far better than some of the ones I've experienced on planes when we've run into turbulence!

Then there are the old favorites that we've always known and loved at the Disney's Hollywood Studios. Who could fail to enjoy the Great Movie Ride, as it takes you on a tour through the magic of Hollywood? Yes, your enjoyment of this ride is likely to depend on whether you get a good guide or not, but in our experience, they usually put 110% into their roles, as you'd expect from any aspiring movie star!

One attraction that many people seem to skip, unless they've got young Ariel fans in their party, is Voyage of the Little Mermaid. It's something that always exceeds my expectations and somehow, I never seem to remember just how good this production is. This live show is packed with surprises, including some really imaginative use of falling water and puppets. There's something magical about watching the story of the Little Mermaid come to life in front of you.