Photo Flashback ~ Star Wars Weekend

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Welcome to Disney Photo Flashback where each week we enter the Wayback Machine of our Disney trip photos( that's E drive on my computer;) and share a few of our favorites.

This week is International Hollywood Studios Awareness Week, an annual event hosted by StudiosCentral.com. I enjoyed it so much last year that I thought I'd join in again.
We're posting on Hollywood Studios all week. Check out the Wordless Wednesday Blog hop with 26 bloggers joining in on the celebration this week.
Disney Hollywood Studios is a great park and I think sometimes it gets overshadowed. Thanks to Matt for bringing attention to it. Be sure to stop by the StudiosCentral.com and check out all that's happening.

Today we're taking a look back at Star Wars Weekends. We have a blast in the Studios running from character meet & greet to the parade and special events, not to mention the shopping! Autograph seekers queue up early (pre-dawn) but not my group. We usually stay out late the night before enjoying EMH and roll in to Hollywood Studios around 10am. There's still plenty to see and do if you arrive later in the day. Course you won't get TSM FPs but there's plenty of Star Wars activities and all the other attractions going on. If you have a Star Wars fan in your group, they are going to love it.

Celebrity meet & greets are held throughout the park.
Many fans dress up for the occasion as well, not me. When you're almost as old as Yoda it's time to leave it to the young ones. I'll wear Star Wars shirts and pick up a few limited edition shirts as souvenir. Lightsabers don't pack well;)
 

My favorite part of the weekends is the Hyperspace Hoopla, where all your favorite characters put on a show at the end of the day. It gets pretty crowded so you might want to head over there early to get a good spot. 

I hope you enjoyed our photographic journey.

Would you like to link up your Disney Photo Flashback?

Weekly Look Back and Forward ~ 6/9

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Another hectic week has flown by which means we are ready for a quick look back at the pixie dusted blog postulations posted this past week. We even have a video retrospective before we take a look at what's coming up next week here on Focused on the Magic.

A look back at last week's posts...
►14 Fabulous Disney World Experiences


►What's New for the 17th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival


►The Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop~ Star Wars Weekend


►Chocolate “Lava” Cake~California Grill, Disney’s Contemporary Resort Recipe


►Photo Flashback ~ Herbie, The Love Bug

As promised a video retrospective of The Magic Kingdom Construction. This is best viewed in full screen. 

Now that we've looked back it's time to--
 look ahead to next week ...

►The theme for the Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop 6/13/12 is ... 

Disney's Hollywood Studios
~~~~~~~~~ºoº~~~~~~~~~~
This week is International Hollywood Studios Awareness Week, an annual event hosted by StudiosCentral.com. I thought it would be fun to show our support and join in on the fun celebration of all things Disney's Hollywood Studios! 
Be sure to add the hashtag #DHSawareness when you Tweet your blog posts.

Next week's theme (6/20) will be Mickey Mouse.
Wondering how you can join in on the blog hop fun? 
Check it out. The Disney Wordless Wednesday 411 

►Get your flashbacks ready for next Friday, it will be the last Photo Flashback Friday till fall. 


► We'll be kicking off the summer with a new series of blog posts, 101 Things To Do At Disney World. 

In this series I'll be counting down to our fabulous fall trip by sharing 101 of my favorite things to do at WDW, from rides to restaurants.

Well, that's all folks. I hope you all have a pixie dusted week.
Till Then!

Photo Flashback ~ Herbie, The Love Bug

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Welcome to Disney Photo Flashback where each Friday we share and link up with Disney friends to share our Disney photos from past trips. This blog hop will start on Friday each week and stay open throughout the weekend giving all of us plenty of time to leisurely look back at our favorite Disney memories.

I hope you will join us on our photographic journey.

Today we're taking a look back at Herbie, the most famous Love Bug of the 60's. We always 

looked forward to seeing Herbie perform his stunts in the Lights, Motors Action! Stunt Show. 

Herbie had been featured in the show since it's debut in 2005. It's too bad he was replaced last June by Lightening McQueen as "the star car". As much as I love Lightening McQueen, it's just not the same.

If you haven't seen the Lights, Action, Motors! stunt show yet, you really should. There's usually a bit of a wait (during SWW they were testing out the new FP) but once you are in the ampitheater, there is always plenty of seating. Keep in mind there are poles in various places that might get in the way of your picture taking pleasure. This show is a must do for us, especially during the summer.

Now we have a video of Herbie's segment of the show that was replaced with a "Cars 2" segment, featuring Lightning McQueen.

Thanks orlandoparksnews for sharing this video with us. Check out their other awesome videos.

Would you like to link up your Disney Photo Flashback?

Photo Flashback ~ Star Wars Weekends

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Welcome to a Disney Photo Flashback where each Friday we begin a look back at our Disney photos from past trips. This blog hop will start on Friday each week and stay open throughout the weekend giving all of us plenty of time to leisurely look back at our favorite Disney memories.

I hope you will join us on our photographic journey.
Before I go any further I must wish a very special character a very
Happy Birthday!
Goofy is 80 years old today! Golly, he looks great for 80!

 Thanks to @DisneyBlueFairy for reminding me in her flashback post today. If you haven't seen her birthday wish to Goofy, check it out in the links below.

Tigger-ific Disney Tip Tuesday ~ Touring with Teens

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As a mom who's toured Walt Disney World with teens in tow and vice versa I have learned that teens prefer all things Disney World a lot better at night.

It's cooler, they've enjoyed a meal or two and they're nocturnal brains are fully awake.

If you're staying on property at a Disney Resort all the better, because without exception they will really enjoy night time Extra Magic Hours (EMH).

I'm not suggesting we plan our trips around our teens but let's face it, if the teens in your group are full of Disney magic .. it will spread to the rest of your group!

With a little pre-trip planning you'll have a memorable and magical trip.

The combination of EMH and their top attractions makes for some very magical moments. Here are the top EMH attractions by park and a brief rundown on how EMH work in case you've missed it.

Each day, one of the 4 Walt Disney World Theme Parks opens one hour early or remains open up to 3 hours after regular Park closing time for guests of any Walt Disney World Resort hotel. These extended hours are known as Extra Magic Hours (EMH).

How It Works:

Morning Hours-Arrive up to an hour before the designated Theme Park is scheduled to open and show your valid, Magic Band or Theme Park ticket and Resort I.D. at the Theme Park turnstiles.

Evening Hours - Valid theme park ticket (magic band) and Resort I.D. are required. Each member of your party will need to present their Resort I.D. for accessing evening Extra Magic Hours attractions.



Here's a list of all the attractions and must do's that are my teen faves (and may become your teens too) open during night time EMH.

Magic Kingdom
Wishes
Tomorrowland
Buzz Lightyear
Space Mountain
Tomorrowland Speedway
Liberty Square
Haunted Mansion

Snack at Columbia House or Pinocchio's Village Haus

Frontierland
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Splash Mountain
Frontierland Shootin' Arcade

Adventureland
Dole Whip
Pirates of the Caribbean

Epcot
Illuminations
Soarin'
Spaceship Earth
Test Track
Living Seas
Mission: SPACE
Off Kilter
Gran Fiesta Tour
Fountainview ice cream and watch the fountains

Disney Hollywood Studios
Mulch, Sweat and Shears
Toy Story Mania
MuppetVision 3-D
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Star Tours
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Animal Kingdom
Dinosaur
Expedition Everest
Kali River Rapids (seasonally)
Kilimanjaro Safaris (seasonally)



I hope these teen touring tips help make your next trip a memorable and magical one!

Have a Disney Day!  

More Mouscellaneous articles

• A World of Disney Dining: Food Fun Facts from Walt Disney World Resort (focusedonthemagic.com)
• 5 Delectable Disney Desserts & Snacks (focusedonthemagic.com)