PHOTO REPORT: Hollywood Studios & Disney Springs (Crowds, Price Increases, and More) 9/6/2024

Happy Friday! Today I walked around Hollywood Studios and all was fairly quiet regarding news, then I went to Disney Springs to find some new merchandise.

Rope Dropping Hollywood Studios

Crowd of people waiting in line outside an entrance gate to Disney's Hollywood Studios with flags and palm trees visible in the background.

I started my day forty-five minutes before Hollywood Studios opened today at 9 AM. Normally Cast Members have guests form a line at the farthest side of the touchpoints so guests with early entry can easily pass through. Slowly as time passes closer to 9 AM more space is made to accommodate regular entry.

Honestly for being still fifteen minutes from early entry starting things don’t look all that bad crowd-wise, but boy do the masses flood in soon.

Crowds at Hollywood Studios

A large crowd of people are gathered outdoors under a cloudy sky, with several palm trees and a building visible in the background. Some individuals are wearing themed apparel and headwear.

See what I mean? At this point, I am under the ticket booth, much closer than in the previous picture, but where did everyone come from? I’ll be completely transparent, Hollywood Studios is my least favorite park to rope drop because I find it the most chaotic. In other words, people get very pushy, so make friends with your fellow line friends early to keep the peace. Like Dory once said, “Just keep swimming.”

Create Your Own Headband

Two women and a child stand in front of a display offering customizable headbands. The sign above reads "Create Your Own" and the display includes various accessories for personalization.

Once inside I usually duck into the first few stores I see to avoid the stampede running to Rise of the Resistance here at Studios. I discovered that Create Your Own Headband is now available at Beverly Sunset Boutique near the Brown Derby.

They even had the “Nightmare Before Christmas” characters that we reported on last month from Ever After in Disney Springs. I can’t allow myself to buy into this newest trend only because I would need one of each character, and maybe a few extra Aliens from “Toy Story.”

Walt Disney Presents

Entrance to a Walt Disney attraction with marquee displaying show titles. A person is standing at the doorway, and several people are walking by. Trash cans and a stroller are visible nearby.

One of my absolute favorite stops in Hollywood Studios is the Walt Disney Presents theatre which currently features “Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.” If you consider yourself a Disney fan, this is an absolute must-see. After walking through the air-conditioned self-guided tour of the past 100 years of Disney, this fifteen-minute documentary will express through rare audio recordings and more historical footage of the visionary creator, Walt Disney.

Inside you will also find a little taste of that nostalgic walk into the movies MGM Studios once had through art, costumes, and props used from a recent movie released or coming soon. Right now there are Descendants Rise of Red costumes and artwork from Inside Out 2.

Toy Story Land – Woody’s Lunch Box Seating Area

People gather at an outdoor area with green umbrellas, colorful decorations, and a variety of signs and structures, creating a festive and lively atmosphere.

I noticed that most of the seating at Woody’s Lunch Box has now been blocked off for construction. This area has been behind walls for a long while now. Stay tuned to our website for more updates. It was a while back now that we peeped the wing of a toy airplane that was installed behind the fence line.

Seating Added in Galaxy Edge Entrance

A few people sit at outdoor tables in a park surrounded by trees and greenery. A person wearing an orange vest is visible in the background. A green trash bin stands nearby on the left.

It would appear that they added some tables and chairs to the entrance of Galaxy’s Edge to compensate for the lost seating at Woody’s Lunch Box. I know this is only temporary, or I suspect it is, I hate seeing Cast Members from a different land, especially in Galaxy’s Edge which is supposed to be very immersive.

That was the most exciting thing to report from Hollywood Studios this morning. After the morning crowd dispersed it really was quite a nice morning.

Disney Springs

A blue and white hot air balloon hovers above a building near a body of water and palm trees under a blue sky filled with partial clouds.

I made my way to Disney Springs to see the massive hot air balloon, Aerophile – The World Leader in Balloon Flight, already on its first ascent up for the day. I am not afraid of heights, but rather cautiously aware of heights. I have never been on the Aerophile. Have you ever gotten the sky view of Disney World from the Aerophile? Let me know in the comments.

Corkcicle

A display of Corkcicle drinkware items is shown. One hand is holding a green, mermaid-themed drink accessory. An adjacent sign lists product pricing for various drinkware items.

I am a huge fan of the Corkcickle brand in general, and I do use their 20oz Sport Canteen in the parks literally every day, so I’m certainly biased. Corkcicle is a local Orlando, FL company and we have covered some of the themed Disney collections released by Corkcicle. The latest is this “The Little Mermaid” themed sling bag available for $69.95. What is great about the Corkcicle location in Disney Springs is that they offer all the Disney discounts from Cast Member to DVC which is pretty awesome!

Ever After

A store display features a large sofa covered with various colorful plush toys. Shelves in the background hold more toys, and a counter is visible to the left. The floor is gray and the walls are brightly decorated.

After seeing the Create Your Own Headband in Hollywood Studios earlier this morning I felt like I should check in at Ever After to see if they had secretly released any more character additions, Sadly, no updates since Jack, Sally, and Zero rolled in. Luckily they still have the Plushy Mirror Chair which always makes me smile, who’s your favorite character on the chair? Mine is the upside-down Alien waving on the right shoulder of the chair.

Open Edition Mystery Pins Price – $22.99???

A display of Disney-themed pins in various colors and designs, alongside a close-up of a price tag showing $22.99.

Over at the Disney Pin Traders store I noticed that there was a price increase on open-edition mystery pin boxes. The last mystery pin box I found wasn’t all that long ago. It was the Candy Apple Mystery Pin box and it sold for $19.99, as of today I guess they increased all of them to $22.99.

Personalizable Christmas Magnets – $14.99

Various personalized Disney name tags and Christmas ornaments are displayed for sale. The designs include winter themes, Mickey Mouse, and Minnie Mouse elements.

In the Christmas Shop, I found some new Christmas-themed die-cast magnets. Each magnet is available for $14.99 each, and personalization costs extra. I love how they are shaped like a Cast Member name tag. This could be a great present for the holidays for those of us looking to save but still get that special Disney World keepsake.

Personalization Costs

  • Name, Year, or Number add $5.00
  • Month, Day & Year add $15.00
  • Additional Word add $5.00
  • Additional Artwork Selection add $5.00

Magnets Available

  • Santa Mickey Mouse
  • Holiday Minnie Mouse
  • Holiday Donald Duck
  • Holiday Pluto
  • Holiday Goofy
  • Figment with his Christmas Sweater
  • Gingerbread Mickey Mouse
  • Gingerbread Minnie Mouse
  • Gingerbread Four Park Icon
  • Gingerbread

Hades Dog Costume – $34.99

A hand holds a black Hades-themed glove with blue trim and a light blue tuft, featuring a white flame and the word "Hades" in a store.

I couldn’t help but smile at the idea of a little white fluffy dog wearing this Hades costume, the hood with fluffy blue flames would send me over the edge. I found this in Co-op.

Rainforest Cafe

Outdoor shot of a store entrance at a theme park with a large volcano-like structure labeled "Rainforest Cafe." People walk nearby, and merchandise is displayed under a large mushroom-shaped awning.

My inner 90’s child awakens upon seeing Cha Cha, the frog, and all the other Rainforest Cafe characters. I’m like a moth to a flame.

World of Disney

Entrance to the "World of Disney" store with a large Stitch figure on the sign. People are walking by, with a person in a yellow shirt and child in a stroller in the foreground.

Oh dang, I really should’ve just stopped at Rainforest Cafe and ended my day there. World of Disney, although helpful and full of all the Disney merchandise you’d hope you’d ever need, has to be at least the second or third level of Hell. I am a pretty positive person, but days where I am in here longer than 30 minutes at a time are long days. It’s overwhelming to say the least.

Mickey Mouse Pumpkin Wreath – $74.99

Displays of Halloween-themed merchandise in a store, featuring Mickey Mouse pumpkin decorations and Mickey Mouse-themed apparel.

World of Disney still has the coveted Mickey Mouse Pumpkin Wreaths.

Haunted Mansion Gargoyle Diffuser – $69.99

Boxed Haunted Mansion themed diffuser with a horned figure holding candles. The device is USB-powered as indicated on the packaging.

Also in World of Disney, a new addition to spook your tchotchke collection is Disney’s Haunted Mansion Gargoyle Diffuser. This diffuser is USB-powered. I’m really digging the realistic but still useful props in this new Haunted Mansion collection this year.

I hope you enjoyed my morning out in Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs and stay tuned for more photo reports next week. Is there a park you most enjoy reading about in these photo reports? Let me know in the comments below!

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The post PHOTO REPORT: Hollywood Studios & Disney Springs (Crowds, Price Increases, and More) 9/6/2024 appeared first on WDW News Today.