Happy Friday Eve! Today, I visited a crowded Disney’s Hollywood Studios, then went to Disney Springs to see the October cookies being served at Gideon’s Bakehouse.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This morning, I wanted to see how long it would take to get in the park if you were to not stand in the direct sunlight in the crowd of people. I watched as Cast Members opened each queue from right to left. I stood back toward security in the shade. When it was 9 a.m. on the dot, crowds started scanning in. It took 10 minutes for the entrance to clear out.

So in theory, you could stand in the sun surrounded by strangers for about 40 minutes or stand in the shade and be 10 minutes behind the first guests. This decision could make or break you depending on what you want to accomplish in the morning. By the time I got inside at 9:10 a.m., Slinky Dog Dash was already at a 55-minute wait.

When I did make it inside, I could see why wait times were already skyrocketing. It was packed. It was unusually busy for a Thursday at the beginning of October, and I was shocked at how many people were up and ready to take on the humidity.

Keystone Facade

No updates on the facade at Keystone Clothiers… Still boards and contact paper. Why? It’s been over a year.

Pins from Celebrity 5 & 10

In 5 & 10, I found some new mystery pin sets. I also discovered that Disney has restocked the EPCOT Pin we have been tracking.

• Disney Princess Pastries Mystery Pins
  • Cost: $22.99
  • 2 randomly selected pins per pack
• Disney Character Mugs Mystery Pins
  • Cost: $44.99
  • 5 randomly selected pins per pack

Sitting Princess Ornaments

Also in 5 & 10, there are new Disney Princess ornaments for $26.99 each.

• Rapunzel painting with Pascal (and her feet out, girl…)
• Snow White at the wishing well
• Ariel in her iconic clamshell with Flounder
• Cinderella on the stairs with Jaq and Gus Gus
• Jasmine with her little white doves and lamp
• Tiana with her lily
• Belle with Mrs. Potts and Chip
• Aurora with a red bird and bouquet of wildflowers

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

Days are numbered before the closure of Lightning McQueen Racing Academy. Recently, Disney announced that a new Villains show would be moving into this space, and even more recently Disney filed “general contracting” permits to start the project.

Create Your Own Headband

On Sunset Boulevard, “Inside Out 2” characters have found a new home as part of the build-your-own headband experience. The entire top row is the familiar faces we saw from Disney Ever After in Disney Springs when they first debuted here at Walt Disney World.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

It does appear that someone used zip ties to fix the scrim on the back of this sign, but for what? It’s still sun-bleached and falling apart. The billboard on the side of the building is also still washed out. I appreciate the effort to make it look somewhat better, but I was hoping it would fall apart forcing Disney to replace it. For Pete’s sake, the entire right side of the scrim is white.

Alien Sipper at The Market

I spotted this little Alien Sipper at The Market kiosk outside One Man’s Dream. I still think it is bonkers that he was almost thirty dollars in California but only $13.69 here in Florida.

Original MGM Studios

Here is one of the few remaining bits of MGM Studios, the Roy O. Disney Production Center sign. Seems a branch got caught in it during one of our recent storms.

Potatoland

Anyone who knows me knows that I love potatoes in all forms: fried, mashed, sweet, etc. If Goofy ever gets a Potatoland outside of this photo op, I will stand in whatever conditions to experience it. This photo op is located near Vacation Fun!

Disney Springs

I genuinely love that Disney Springs took the time to create an actual spring in the center of the shopping district. It’s a nice break from the advertisements and constant temptation.

Gideon’s October Menu

Unfortunately, Gideon’s is offering the same treats as last year! What the heck?! No cookie for this monster today, but there is always November. Do you have a favorite Gideon’s cookie? My favorite from the October offerings is the Frankenstein cookie because I’m a sucker for Oreos.

That’s it for today! Thanks for following along. Let me know your favorite Gideon’s Bakehouse cookie in the comments below!

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post PHOTO REPORT: Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs 10/3/2024 (New Merchandise, Studios Aesthetics, and Gideons) appeared first on WDW News Today.