Frozen Summer Fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

On July 5, Disney’s Hollywood Studios introduced “Frozen Summer Fun”, a summer celebration that will run daily in the park through September 1, 2014. The celebration includes several Frozen-themed events, Frozen merchandise, special treats and a themed fireworks show that wraps up each day’s festivities. Here are all the things you need to know about Frozen Summer Fun to make your time at Hollywood Studios the best it can be.

The best advice we have for hitting all the high points of Frozen Summer Fun on a busy Hollywood Studios day is to get to the park early. The crowds have calmed down a great deal since opening day, but check your predicted levels and use our plan if it’s looking busy. This is going to allow you to do several things. First, you’re going to see the short but cute opening show with Olaf.

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Next, you’re going to be able to get to Oaken’s Trading Post early and avoid the very long merchandise lines. Tip: the store is open during Morning Extra Magic Hours at Hollywood Studios, so take advantage if you can. Oaken’s is located at Sound Stage 1 between the Backlot Tour and Pixar Place. You’ll reach the merchandise line first if you’re coming through Pixar Place, but if that line is already creeping back toward Toy Story Midway Mania, try the line to get into Oaken’s Funland just a bit farther down the path. Oaken’s Funland has an ice rink, snowman building with real snow, and special treats and photo ops and once you’ve been in, you can exit into the gift shop often without waiting nearly as long as you would in the merchandise line. Tip: The Oaken’s Ice Rink is resurfaced after each skating session with a mini zamboni. Just after the zamboni (with its own special soundtrack!) resurfaces, catch the professional skaters that reopen the rink!

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Skating sessions are $10 for 30 minutes and include skates, socks, and a helmet. Oaken’s is open from park open to 8 p.m. daily and skating is on a first-come, first-skate basis. You may have to wait for your skate size.

Is it worth waiting in line for merchandise? There are only a few things that you can get at Oaken’s that cannot be found at Sir Mickey’s in the Magic Kingdom, but those few things –  including the Anna and Elsa dresses and the Sven and Olaf plush figures – may be worth the wait if you’ve been looking for them.

The next thing on your early-morning to-do list should be getting your ticket to the “For the First Time in Forever” Sing-Along Celebration. The tickets give you a return time and are handed out on the Streets of America (where the Osborne Lights are during Christmas) starting just after the opening show and park open. The show runs at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5;00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. and you can pick from the times available when you get your tickets. More on the Sing-Along later.

Once you’ve gotten your tickets for the Sing-Along, head back to Hollywood Boulevard for Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome parade. The parade runs up the street from the park entrance to the stage, with Anna and Elsa exiting their sleigh just before the stage and Kristoff continuing around the stage on his float. Anna and Elsa do a short show at the end of the parade with a little “Let it Go” singing with the audience. People begin lining up for good parade spots as early as 10 a.m. for the 11 a.m. parade, so plan accordingly. Also good to note: once the parade has passed, people crowd in behind it to get to the stage show. This can make your great spot a not-so-great spot, even in the VIP section, so either jump into the flow to get up front or be content watching from further back.

After the parade, there’s not much more entertainment until the fireworks show. If you’re looking to spend the entire day in the park, get a Sing-Along ticket for the afternoon so that you’ve got events evenly spaced during your visit. It also gives you 30 minutes or so of air-conditioned sit-down time.

You can line up for the Sing-Along prior to your showtime just across from the Premier Theater. The line is actually on the back side of MuppetVision 3D. Those first in line will get better seats, but as long as you have a ticket you will be able to sit down for your show.

The Sing-Along show is really well done and something you’ll definitely want to keep on your list of things to do, even if it’s just to laugh at the audience’s reaction to Kristoff’s stage appearance. I attended with a five-year-old Frozen addict who sang every word and would have sat through the show again if we’d given her the option.

Between the shows and parades, don’t forget to have some Frozen-themed treats including a couple of special edition cupcakes and drinks.

And once you’re all hopped up on sugar, get a few selfies with your “Take-Along Olaf”. He’s got a hashtag on the back that, when you share your photos on social media, will let Disney know you’re posting and may get your photo in the nightly show.

 

 

Stop by the stage in front of the hat for the Coolest Summer Ever Dance party from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and practice your dance moves while you wait for the “Frozen” Fireworks Spectacular.

I chose to watch the fireworks from just outside the parks because the hat has a tendency to get in the way and make it look like there’s a traffic cone in your photos. There’s a short stage show that goes with the Frozen fireworks that you may want to stay in-park for, but if you do choose to exit, this is what the show looks like. There are some very unique bursts in this show, so don’t miss it.

Disney is offering a Frozen Summer Fun Premium Package that includes premium viewing spots for the stage show and fireworks, VIP seating for the Sing-Along, and a special dessert party. tickets are $34 for children 3-9 and $59 for ages 10 and up. You can make your premium package reservations by calling Disney Dining at 407-WDW-DINE.