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The Best Things in Hollywood Studios

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It’s finally time for the last of my best of series at Walt Disney World – The Best Things in Hollywood Studios!

The Best Things in Hollywood Studios

The Best Things in Hollywood Studios

I previously covered my favorite things in Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot. Today, I’m discussing the last remaining theme park at Walt Disney World – Hollywood Studios! Hollywood Studios is supposed to be Disney’s attempt to take you into the movies. However, one could argue it’s kind of drifted away from the concept in recent years. Nonetheless, it’s become the go-to park for your Toy Story or Star Wars fix (among other things). It’s also a good theme park to grab some basic comfort food. So, here’s what I consider the best things in this park.

The Best Ride

I think the best ride here has to be Rise of the Resistance. It’s so immersive and technologically advanced that it’s hard not to be impressed. My mom is not a Star Wars fan. Yet, she really enjoyed this ride at Jollywood Nights in 2023. We also enjoy Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway here. I also like Slinkydog Dash here. So, I think there’s a ride that suits everyone in this park.

Best Table Service Restaurant

I have to admit, I’m a little lacking in restaurant experience in this park. Prior to Covid, I enjoyed Minnie’s Seasonal Dining at Hollywood & Vine several times. I love that the theme and character outfits change out seasonally. It’s a great way to celebrate the various seasons in this park that doesn’t decorate for anything besides Christmas. However, it’s a buffet and can be pretty pricey. On a future trip I want to try Roundup Rodeo BBQ or 50’s Prime Time Cafe.

I also enjoyed the Fantasmic Dining Package at Sci-Fi Dine-In. Sidenote: I highly recommend you make time in your schedule to see Fantasmic! It’s a great nighttime show!

Best Quick Service Restaurant

I think there’s a couple of good quick service restaurants in this park. My favorite is probably Woody’s Lunchbox or Ronto Roasters. I enjoy getting a kids meal at Woody’s since it’s a smaller portion size and comes with fruit. Ronto Roasters is good for breakfast or lunch with its unique offerings.

The Best Snack

This park has a couple of good snack options as well. Nothing groundbreaking, but pretty good. For instance, there’s the Num Num Cookie. It’s essentially a huge chocolate chunk cookie/bar. I haven’t had one in years, but it was good when I had it way back in 2020. You can currently find it at Neighborhood Bakery or Market in Pixar Plaza. I also enjoy trying the seasonal lunchbox treats at Woody’s Lunch Box. Some are better than others, but they are still fun to try.

What are the best things in Hollywood Studios?

These are some of my favorite things in Hollywood Studios. What are some of yours?

Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular Review and Tips

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Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to watch the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular while visiting New York City! Seeing as how tickets are already on sale for a new season, I thought I would post a review along with some tips for attending the show. Also, I thought it made for a great little Christmas in July post!

Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular

Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular

I’ve grown up seeing the Rockettes on tv since I was a little girl. However, I never thought that I would actually get to see them perform live. Back in early January, my husband and I took a quick 48 hour trip to New York City so that I could finally experience NYC at Christmas. While there, I had to see the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular! It was a wonderful evening that I won’t soon forget.

Buying Tickets

Tickets are nonrefundable. So, I waited until we were sure we were going to purchase tickets. I bought two tickets for the 8 PM show on January 2nd in November. I was able to use a discount code from QVC to save some money. Based off of my own research, I decided to go with seats in the first mezzanine in order to be able to appreciate the whole show. While we may not have seen every little detail, it was great for watching the drones and seeing various effects. I really enjoyed our view and have no regrets about my choice.

Arriving at the Show

We stayed at a hotel right beside Radio City, so we simply walked over for the show. I couldn’t imagine trying to find parking in that area. We arrived about 1 hour and 15 minutes ahead of time since they won’t allow late entry to interrupt the show. After going through some security, we had plenty of time to admire the building and find our seats.

The Experience

I had only seen the girls perform on television while advertising for the show, so I had no real idea what to expect. I was surprised by the length of the show and the scale of it. I really enjoyed the holiday tunes and wonderful choreography. The drones and other effects were really neat too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this show. There’s a reason it’s a classic must-do when in NYC at Christmastime. I think my husband may have even enjoyed the show.

Tips

  • Buy tickets in advance – The earlier you book, the better the selection of seats.
  • Look out for discounts – Last year, QVC put out a nice discount code that I was able to use on our tickets to save a good bit.
  • Give some thought to where you want to sit – If you want to see the little details on costumes, then maybe sit in the orchestra section in front of the stage. If you want more of an overall view, then a mezzanine seat is perfect!
  • Arrive early – They won’t allow you to interrupt the show if you are late. So, arrive early to appreciate the historic building you are in and to find your seats.
  • Eat before the show – They don’t allow outside food or beverages in the venue. So, eat a nice dinner before the show.
  • Put the phone away – They have a strict no photography/videography policy for the show. I took a few photos of the building and then put my phone away. Besides, I don’t know that a phone would do a good job of capturing the show anyways.

Should you attend the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular?

If you are someone who grew up watching these ladies perform on tv, then I think it’s a must-do. If you are someone who wants to do the classic NYC Christmas experiences, then it’s definitely a must-do. If you don’t appreciate shows, art, or Christmas, then maybe you can skip it. I’m not sure if I will make the effort to see the show again. However, it did make me want to take a tour of the venue just to see how that stage works.

Homewood Suites Myrtle Beach Grand Mall Review

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Back in April, my mom and I spent several nights in South Carolina. Due to the weather, we decided to head down a day early and booked a single night at Homewood Suites Myrtle Beach Grand Mall last minute. This hotel had some good things and not so great things about it, so I thought I would review it.

Homewood Suites Myrtle Beach Grand Mall

Homewood Suites Myrtle Beach Grand Mall

We booked this hotel the day before we arrived as it was a last minute decision to head down early. We opted to save a little money by not staying directly on the beach since it was just for one night. We paid $278.30 (including taxes using a Hilton Honors discount) for a Saturday night in early April. We liked that it was located away from the hustle and bustle of the beach given that it was a Saturday night. However, it was relatively close to other points of interest.

This place smells nice when you first enter. It has a nice, beachy vibe as you would expect from a hotel at the beach.

Double Queen One Bedroom Suite

The nice thing about this hotel is that every room is a suite! We enjoyed the extra space found here. There was a kitchenette area and living room! The bedroom could be closed off from the front living room by closing the door. It was nice to have the extra space to spread out, even if it was only for one night. The TV did have limited channels, much to my mother’s dismay.

Unfortunately, the beds weren’t that comfortable. My mom had some back pain the next day and suspected it came from these mattresses. I felt ok, so I’m not sure if it was the mattresses or not. There’s also poor lighting in the bathroom itself, so the shower was a little dark for my liking.

Overall, the room was more than sufficient for a one night stay.

Pros

  • Quiet – This hotel was located next to a mall. So, it was much calmer than a hotel on the beach.
  • Spacious suite – We enjoyed the extra space here. It would have been nice to use the kitchenette had we stayed longer.
  • Nice accommodations – The hotel is themed subtly with beach vibes and feels relaxing.
  • Relatively affordable by beach standards – It wasn’t a cheap night, but it wasn’t overly expensive given some of the rates we saw for this night.

Cons

  • Beds not the most comfortable – As I stated above, my mom’s back hurt the next day. I don’t know if it was caused by the beds here or not, but her back stopped hurting after we stayed at the Courtyard Myrtle Beach Oceanfront.
  • Poor lighting in the bathroom – If you have vision issues, then a dark bathroom might be important to note.
  • Limited tv channels – We enjoy watching tv on vacation and had a bit of a hard time finding something to watch here.

Should you stay at the Homewood Suites Myrtle Beach Grand Mall?

I think many families would enjoy staying here. The extra space would be appreciated by most travel groups. The kitchenette would be useful for those on a budget or those who just prefer to cook their own meals. It’s also ideal for people who want to visit the area without dealing with the people/noise/traffic of being on the beach. If you have back troubles, then you might not like the mattresses here. Other than that, it’s a pretty good hotel.

Charleston Tea Garden Review

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Back in April, my mom and I visited the Charleston Tea Garden. I couldn’t find many posts or videos about it online. So, I thought I would provide a brief review as well as some tips for anyone considering a visit.

Charleston Tea Garden

Charleston Tea Garden

After spending a few days in Myrtle Beach, my mom and I headed down the road to visit Charleston for 24 hours! One of the things my mom really wanted to do was visit the Charleston Tea Garden. In part because she works in a beverage bottling factory and also because we’ve enjoyed attending tea parties since I was a little girl.

It’s named after Charleston, but it’s actually located on Wadmalaw Island. So, it’s a good bit outside of Charleston proper. Thankfully, we had our own car and my mom drove us. However, there were signs about needing to making prior arrangements to get transportation back to wherever you came from since the garden is pretty far removed from the more populated areas.

Trolley Tour

It’s free to visit the gardens and try some tea. However, there’s also a trolley tour of the gardens that costs $16-18/adult. The website says you can save a few dollars by booking the tour online in advance, so that’s what we did. We ended up arriving a little early and they allowed us to move our tour time without charging anything extra.

The tour takes about 30-45 minutes as you are shown around the gardens. The tour does a good job of telling the history of the garden as well as giving general information on tea. Our guide was quick to point out that this is the only commercial tea garden in the United States! So, all of the tea you purchase from them is tariff free! You also get to visit the greenhouse during the the trolley tour. It was neat to see how they cultivate the plants to make other plants. My mom and I both really enjoyed and recommend doing the trolley tour.

Free Factory Tour

Following the trolley tour of the gardens, we headed inside for the free factory tour. Unfortunately, we were a little too early in the year to see any tea being processed. However, we were able to look at the equipment and watch videos depicting the process. It was really interesting to be able to see the tea being grown and then go inside to see how it’s processed. It’s a real start to finish experience.

Following the factory tour we visited the gift shop and tried various tea samples! I ended up purchasing two boxes of tea to bring home as well as some hand cream. I enjoy thinking about our visit when I drink the tea or use the hand cream.

Tips for Visiting

  • Book the Trolley Tour in Advance – Booking in advance saves you a little bit of money. Plus, then you are guaranteed a seat and don’t have to worry about it selling out.
  • Drive yourself – This is definitely a place to visit when you have a car or if you are traveling on a bus with a tour group. It’s apparently very difficult to get a ride share to leave the gardens.
  • Try the free teas after the tour – You will have a new appreciation for tea after the tours and it will feel much more leisurely after the tour. Plus, there’s no restroom on the trolley or in the gardens.
  • Arrive ready to learn – This is such a unique learning experience. Every employee is friendly and eager to answer your questions.

Should you visit the Charleston Tea Garden?

We saw at least one retiree tour group here. So, I think this experience is ideal for adults on vacation who want to learn something. Also, keep in mind the issue with transportation before deciding to visit. However, it was a wonderful highlight of our trip for my mom and I. We enjoyed learning about tea and its history. It ended up being a gorgeous day that made the visit all the more pleasant. Overall, I recommend a visit (and the trolley tour) to anyone with an interest in tea/agriculture/history.

Dollywood Summer Festival Tour Review

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I’ve just returned from a quick visit to the Smoky Mountains with my mom, where we got to experience some of the Dollywood Summer Festival Tour!

Full Disclosure: Due to the weather messing up the tour, we will be receiving a refund for this tour. However, I think I have a good idea of what you can expect when you take this tour.

Dollywood Summer Festival Tour

Dollywood Summer Festival Tour

During my last visit to the park, I was able to do two tours: the Dolly Parton Experience and the I Will Always Love You Music Festival Tour. My mom thought those tours sounded like fun, so we booked one for this trip. We booked this tour online ahead of time and I was able to use my gold pass for a small discount. We paid $74/each plus taxes and fees.

The website listed a 8 PM start time, but also stated that I should check in before 6 PM. That’s so that they know you are actually there and so you know where to meet up with the group at 7:55 PM. You also receive your lanyard when you check in. I know the site also mentions receiving a TimeSaver at check-in, however we didn’t receive that.

The Tour

As I stated above, unfortunately the weather ruined a good chunk of this tour. Typically, you are supposed to have a bit of a tour of Wilderness Pass before heading over to Wildwood Grove. We spent much of this time hiding out from the weather. However, we did walk over to FireChaser Express where the guides told us about its creation. The ride wasn’t running due to the weather, however you usually get to skip the line to ride it after they tell you about it.

From there, we received a complimentary snack. We were all given a deep fried s’more. There doesn’t appear to be any substitutions for this snack, regardless of dietary restrictions or preferences. The deep fried s’more was good. It reminded me of a marshmallow filled funnel cake with chocolate sauce.

After that snack, we walked over to Wildwood Grove. While we didn’t get to hear much about the newest ride, Big Bear Mountain, we did get a chance to ride it as soon as it opened back up from the weather. Our tour guide led us over to skip the line and everyone who wanted to was able to ride it. We were also given the chance to ride it a second time with skipping the line. Once was enough for my mom and I though. So, we all just stood around waiting for those other folks to ride again.

I believe somewhere around here you are supposed to receive a festival beverage – a icee/slushee beverage of some sort. We didn’t get a chance to get those though. We also missed the dance party, which I think was cancelled due to the weather. Unfortunately, the biggest disappointment of all came when they cancelled the drones and simply showed the fireworks. We did have a reserved area to stand in and watch the show from. However, we missed the beginning of the show and it was really short. I imagine this would be much more worth it with the drone portion of the show.

Is the Dollywood Summer Festival Tour worth it?

While I know that we are receiving a refund for this experience, I don’t know that the whole tour is worth $74/79. It’s nice to learn about the park and to skip the lines. The added snack and beverage is great too. However, it’s a pricey addition to your park day. I think maybe they should just give TimeSaver passes to those rides to be used during the park day. Then, have you meet up at the reserved viewing area where they have the snack and beverage. That would make more sense to me.

If you are concerned about crowds for the drone/fireworks show or really want to ride the two included rides, it might be worth the price. If you are on a tight budget, you can probably skip this one.

Also, I just want to stress that our tour guides were awesome! They made the best of a less than ideal situation with the weather not cooperating. They also advocated for us to get refunds due to the weather issues. So, if you book a tour, just know that you are in good hands!