This series was almost over before it even got off the ground. Last week I made a commitment to visit a different Disney World park each week and seek out some random place which I had never before set foot in. I started in Magic Kingdom, took a tour of the Speedway Grandstand, threw up a little in my mouth, and checked one park off the list.
This week I went hunting in Hollywood Studios, and the whole plan nearly fell apart.
You may not be aware of this, but Hollywood Studios is a tiny park. It also happens to have the least immersive environment. There are very few secluded areas or hidden nooks. There are however, boatloads of giant soundstages which take up half the acreage. And these really can’t be used in my quest, because they are offlimits to guests.
Which means I circled the park twice looking for something — anything — to use. One of our readers last week (shout out, Jonmar03!) had a brilliant idea regarding the lockers as a possible location, and I even snapped some pictures of the Hollywood Studios lockers. But I ultimately ruled them out, because a) the locker room at the Studios is abysmally ugly, and b) I’m 95% sure I’ve been in there before. I could have lied and you would never know the difference, but I am nothing if not honest. And devastatingly good looking.
Which means I seriously contemplated going into the Baby Care center, sans infant, to snap a few pictures. I’m 100% sure I’ve never been in there. I’m also 100% sure there is nothing creepier than some random dude strolling into the Baby Care center and snapping pictures. Fortunately, I finally found some place to bail me out.
It’s another attraction waiting area, I guess, though it’s kind of a weird one. It’s a vine-tangled portico outside of Tower of Terror, consisting of nothing more than benches and a series of trestles. Very haunting in its way. A soft, rose-covered hallway opposite the exit to the Tower gift shop.
I actually found it pretty odd, since all it does is wrap behind the espresso stand. There doesn’t seem to be much logical reason for it to be there, other than as a waiting zone for people not riding. The opening starts at one end of the espresso stand, goes behind it, and exits on the other side. It had never even occurred to me that someone would go back there. It doesn’t even lead to a backstage access point, so there’s no operational reason for it. But nevertheless, there were a few waiters lounging on the benches. I even used the drinking fountain that’s back there.
I don’t think it’s much good as a waiting area, since anyone sitting back there is literally hidden from the attraction exit. Hard to rejoin your party when you can’t see them. And I’m now curious to return at night, especially during off season, as I imagine it can be quite secluded and spooky.
So there you have it! Just like that, we’re halfway home. Only Epcot and Animal Kingdom left. Will we succeed?
This is part of a series of posts on unexplored theme park locations. You can read about our discoveries in the other parks by clicking the links below:
I can’t speak as to original intent, but I do know that back in 2010 it was a designated smoking area. Probably the best one in DHS and one of the better ones in WDW.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Well Thanks for the shout out Shane. With respect to Hollywood Studios, its unfortunately, but there are just way to many things I have not stepped foot in.
I have to say that it shouldn’t count if I chose not to as I am aware of the areas, so I will leave those out.
This place I definately have not seen. I plan on visiting it this June, I promise that. Although, it does sound a bit familiar.
The studios for some reason does seem like one of those odd places where you could definately miss stepping into an undiscovered place. I will try and think of something else, but for now, I got nothing.
How weird! I discovered this for the first time last month, and I walked through it twice, trying to figure out why it is there. It’s kind of cool. I am planning to take someone there to makeout sometime. Because my brain is a 13 year old boy.
My wife went into a baby care center at the front of Hollywood Studios when we visited last year. She was nursing and trying to get her to sleep when a group of tourists from out of the country burst in loudly in their native language.
Two of them were guys, and one of them decided to use the microwave that Disney helpfully provided to warm up bottles… instead of a bottle, he heated up some kind of food that left the place stinking.
So, point being… you could probably go in there if you borrow a baby and some parents and everyone walked in speaking a foreign language (bonus points if no one is speaking the same one).