Disney Hollywood Studios- Thursday, February 19, 2026 [Still need to finish]

     When we first started talking about this trip, we were trying to decide what one park we wanted to go to.  We settled on Disney Hollywood Studios, mostly because it had a more shows that we thought Abby would like.  While there are some high intensity thrill rides that we'd rule out immediately for her, there were others that we thought she'd like.  Besides, there were a number of things that we wanted to experience here that we hadn't before, namely the Rise of the Resistance and a dinner at the Sci-Fi Diner.  Even though we did add another park day earlier in the week, our planning started with this one.

      We slept in until 6:00 this morning, which was later than we had been and later than we had planned to.  The food court doesn't open for breakfast until 7:00, so we were ready for that.    Even though it was a little cooler and overcast, we ate outside again.  (The clouds would burn off pretty early and the temperature ended up in the low 80s.)  After breakfast, we circled back, got Emma, and headed to the Skyliner for the park.   The Skyliner runs continuously starting at 7:00, but there's usually a big line for it first thing in the morning. 

     We made it into the park for early admissions, which happens at the entryway to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, the Star Wars themed land in the corner of the park.  We "rope dropped" the Rise of the Resistance.  It is a ride that has so much going on in it that it often breaks down, but it is raved about by people who have ridden it.  We had tried to ride it once before when we were here with the Wrights, and had even bought special single Lightning Lane passes specifically for that ride, but it broke down in the day.  When it reopened, even the Lightning Lane lines were long waits, so we didn't go then.  We knew this year that it would probably still be too much for Abby, so we child-swapped the ride, which means Emma and Julie went on the ride, while Scott waited with Abby.  Julie said it was an "unusually cool ride" and "everyone should go on it."   Scott took Abby through the Star Wars area while they waited, but Abby didn't like it.  It was too atmospheric with many strange sounds and ominous looking areas.  Once Julie and Emma rejoined them, it was almost time for our first Lightning Lane, so instead of going for his turn, Scott went with the Julie and Abby to the next attraction. 

     Our first Lightning Lane was for a show that we had picked especially Abby.  It's "For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration."  It features clips from the movie and, as the name suggests, encourages the audience to sing along.  Anna, Kristoff, and Elsa make live appearances.  Two narrators link the scenes together with funny jokes.  Abby laughed when one said "Six-Seven!" and moved her hands like the meme.  The climax of the show is when Elsa sings, "Let It Go" and snow falls in the theater.   Abby was entranced but found it a bit loud.

     Emma had gone off to shop while we were in Frozen, but she joined us again for the next Lightning Lane at 10:00- Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.  This ride is located in the replica of the Chinese Theater in the middle of the park.  It used to be the Great Movie Ride, which we liked better.  This ride features the new versions of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and the rest.  It is a "trackless" ride, and Goofy's train cars get away from him and send us off in different directions.   It was a little loud and chaotic, but Abby later said she liked it.

      It was getting close to lunchtime.  Scott took a moment to look at the stars' hand and footprints in the courtyard in front of the Chinese Theater.  It was surprising how many of these stars have passed away since they made these imprints.  Jim Henson and Kermit first caught Scott's eye.  He wondered how Jim Henson used both hands that day.  While Scott strolled around, Julie went to order lunch at the nearby "ABC Commissary." *****

Here's an abbreviated entry for the rest of today.  Scott will fill in more details as we go tomorrow.:

• Got pictures with Mickey and Minnie
• Decided to take a break from the park.   Took Skyliner back to hotel.  Emma stayed in the park.
• Went swimming.  Laid down, but no napping happened.
• Rode Skyliner back to the park.
• Went shopping in area of Hollywood and Vine.  Picked out things to buy later. 
• Stood in line for pictures with Donald and Daisy but didn't get them.  Met up with Emma.
• Went to dinner at Sci-Fi Dine In, which simulates a 1950s drive-in movie
• Saw Mickey and Minnie shorts in theater 
• Had Lightning Lane for Toy Story Mania
• Julie and Emma went to the Tower of Terror
• Got photo taken in front of Chinese Theater 
• Finished shopping
•  Came back to hotel, Emma stayed and went to Fantasmic
• Scott and Abby went swimming again 

More details will be added soon.