Disney's Hollywood Studios Sunset Boulevard

Enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios and walk right into the Golden Age of Hollywood. The glamour of the silver screen shines brightly at Disney’s very own version of Tinseltown. In traditional Disney style, the experience is plussed—kicked up a notch—with behind the scenes peeks at not only movie making, but also television production, music/radio recording and live stage performances.

From Hollywood Boulevard, hang a right onto Sunset. Laugh and carry on with 1940s-era street performances that stir the crowd with silly shenanigans and kooky quirks. Grab a pastry at Starring Rolls and stroll on down the street. You’ll soon find it’s not merely the movies that lure people west.

Rock-n-Roller Coaster

At the end of Sunset Boulevard are two popular attractions and two spectacular shows. Since you’re on a sugar rush from that cupcake you snacked on, go ahead and pump up the adrenaline with a loop or two (or three or four) on the Rock-n-Roller Coaster. This high-speed thrill ride for big kids, teens and adults drives with the force of a supersonic F-14, accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds. You’ll careen through neon-lit Los Angeles freeways and into 3 inversions for an upside-down view of the City of Angels, all while Aerosmith blasts from the 125 speaker, 24 sub-woofer, 32,000 watt, onboard audio system built into each “car.”

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Need a breather? No time! Dare the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror next. According to legend, the once glamorous Hollywood Hotel was struck by a violent storm on Halloween night, 1939, whisking away 5 unfortunate souls to “beyond the fifth dimension.” Meander through the cobwebbed lobby and into the eerie basement boiler room to board the “fright elevator,” which goes up, then down, then maybe up again…or down. Random drops depart the 13^th floor and are determined by the Tower itself. Now if that doesn’t spook you, I don’t know what will!

Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage

Alright, you can relax now. Beauty and the Beast—Live on Stage performs several times a day. The Broadway caliber show, complete with lively song and dance numbers and dramatic special effects, debuted at then Disney-MGM Studios’ (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) Theater of the Stars November 22, 1991, marking the first time a feature film and its stage version opened on the same day. While the music comes straight from the movie and its Academy Award-winning composers, the story line was tweaked to fit into 25 minutes. So take your seat, let your heart beat return to a nice, steady rhythm, and hum along with Belle as she discovers “more than this provincial life.”

Fantasmic!

Finally, if you’re making it a late night at the Studios, be sure to end the evening with Fanstasmic! This musical extravaganza combines pyrotechnic, laser light and dancing water effects with Disney songs and animation, utilizing over one million gallons of water and featuring 50 costumed performers. Mickey Mouse stars as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice in this nighttime extravaganza, who invokes the characters of such favorite Disney classics as Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and others to battle the evil queen Maleficent and her fellow villains. Who will save the day? You’ll just have to watch and see! Fantasmic! is performed nightly from July 3-September 30 and on select nights the remainder of the year, so check the Times Guide for schedule and show times.