Yoohoo, big summer blowout!

If you’re a fan of Disney’s “Frozen”, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is hosting “Frozen Summer Fun” from now until September 28th.

The event is based on Disney’s popular film “Frozen” and features all of your favorite characters from the film hosting various events, activities, and merchandise locations, a Royal Processional featuring Anna and Elsa, a DJ Dance Party, a Sing-A-Long, Frozen-themed merchandise (including Limited Edition Olaf, Anna and Elsa Magic Bands), and Frozen-themed fireworks. The event was originally slated to end August 31st, but was extended to September 28th due to popular demand.

The Details and the Theming

Disney has always excelled in telling stories, and putting great detail into those stories. With the use of various props, banners, and borders, the park has been transformed to emulate the locales from the film. However, the effort here to produce the Disney-quality event one would expect seems to have fallen somewhat short in both “Imagination and Execution” in this case.

While the printed banners along the light posts inside and outside the park, as well as the facade of the Trading Post and the Merchandise shop in Wandering Oken’s Trading Post look very professional and well thought out, the “Snow” on the stage, the “Ice” around the vending carts, and the “Forest” surrounding Oken’s, look as if they were last-minute “Fixer Uppers” that were hastily completed overnight.

Many will say “It’s a temporary event that was meant to last only a few weeks.” Well, the same could be said about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Star Wars Weekends and the various Anniversaries held for the parks. While I do like the event for what it is, it certainly could have used a bit more creative effort. . . especially for a franchise which has proven to be tremendously popular.

Anna and Elsa’s Royal Processional

Each morning at 11:00am, Anna and Elsa welcome their subjects to the park from a horse-drawn sleigh. The processional lasts just 10 minutes, and can only be viewed from along Hollywood Blvd.

Take Home Olaf

At the entrance, as well as other locations throughout the park, you can find your very own Olaf-on-a-stick.
No, Olaf hasn’t been impaled, he’s just similar to the Duffy Bear and Perry-the-Platypus given out at Kidcot locations in Epcot.

It features Olaf, under an umbrella (and wearing sunglasses) on the front, and the facsimile signatures of the four Main Characters on the back.

• Tip: If you love your Olaf, yet try to use him as a fan or as a Shield from the relentless Florida Summer Sun, he will quickly become detached from his stick.

“For the First Time in Forever” – A “Frozen”
Sing Along Celebration

Scheduled: Each Sunday and Monday at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:25, 10:25, and 11:30am, 12:35, 1:40, 2:45, 3:50, 4:55, 6:00, and 7:05pm, and, Fridays and Saturdays at 10:25, 11:30am, and 12:35, 1:40, 2:45, 3:50, 4:55, 6:00, 7:05 and 8:10pm.

Be sure to visit the Premier Theater, located between Muppet Vision 3D, and the San Francisco facade,
to enjoy a 20-minute Sing-A_Long with some of your favorite Frozen Songs!

Tip: The show is not an “open door.” Be sure to get to the Premier Theater early to secure a showtime.

FastpassPlus will also be available for the September showings.

“Coolest Summer Ever” Dance Party

From 5:00pm – 9:15pm Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday, and 4:30pm – 8:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, Frozen Summer Fun hosts a DJ dance party at the stage in front of the Sorcerer Hat for people to Rock Out and show their “Disney Side”. This is a very upbeat, high-energy, dance party with flashing-light effects. If you are in the park and looking for a party, this is the place to be.

If your looking for a peaceful Dinner and some down-time, you will have to visit the back of the park, Sunset Blvd., or the dining room inside the Brown Derby.

As I had mentioned in previous posts, the peacefulness of the Patio Bar at the Derby is interrupted by the Dance Party.

TIP: They DO take breaks at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30pm on Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturdays, and at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30pm. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays for “Icemen of the North – Live in Concert!”.

Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post………and Frozen Funland

This location, operating from Park Open until 7:30pm, was “Imagined” better than most of the others. Upon entering the left-hand door, you are greeted by the facade of “Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post”.

As you round the corner, you are in a hallway surrounded by trees and “melted snow”. Finally you arrive in a Wintery Wonderland featuring Olaf’s Snow Playground, an Ice Skating Rink ($10 skate rental fee applies for 30 minutes), a small cart selling Frozen- themed treats, and backdrops that, upon first looking at them, seem plain, but if you stand in a designated spot and use the Aurasma app (available for Free in the App Store and Marketplace), it brings the Frozen characters to life and allows you to get a unique picture of yourself with animated versions of the Trolls, Anna and Elsa, or Sven. They also host “Oaken’s Cousins on Ice”, which is an ice skating show with a soundtrack that includes a medley of Frozen songs at 12:15, 1:15, 2:15, 4:15 and 5:15pm.

Each time I’ve been in there, it has been extremely crowded with little room to move. Sadly, the “Designated Exit” leads you to an undecorated backstage area. For me, this blows the theming.

The right side of Wander Oaken’s utilizes a separate entrance. It is here you’ll find yourself in the Trading Post Merchandise Store featuring shirts, key rings, plush Svens, Olaf’s, Anna’s and Elsa’s, Frozen DVD’s, CD’s, Costumes, Limited Edition Magic Bands, Cups, Hats, Christmas ornaments and sweet treats. Just about anything one could dream of finding themed to “Frozen” can be found right here.

• TIP: The Trading Post Merchandise Store stays open until 8:00 PM.
• TIP: This is the ONLY loction in the park that sells the Olaf Magic Bands.

The Speciality Food, and Drinks

The event offers various Speciality Food and Drink items. They are:

• Let it Glow (Non Alcoholic) – Pineapple Juice, Grenadine, Ginger Ale and a Souvenir Glow Cube
• Summer Berry Margarita – 1800 Silver Tequila, Triple Sec, Monin Wild Berry, Sweet-And-Sour and a Souvenir Glow Cube
• Blue Daydream – Skyy Infusions Citrus Vodka, Blue Curaçao, Peach Schnapps, Sweet-And-Sour, Pineapple Juice topped with Lemon-Lime Foam and a Souvenir Glow Cube.
• These can be had at the tent near the a Sorcerer Hat, The Hollywood Brown Derby Patio Lounge, and the Tune In Lounge next to the 50’s Prime Time Cafe.
• The speciality food consists of an “Anna Cupcake” which is Chocolate with Buttercream Icing, an “Olaf Cupcake” which is Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing, and an “Elsa Cupcake” featuring Vanilla Cake with Buttercream Icing. These are only available near the ice rink in Wandering Oaken’s.
• The other offerings are your typical Disney case treats decorated like Olaf and other frozen characters. These can be found in The Trading Post Merchandise Shop.

Frozen Fireworks Spectacular

Taking place nightly until September 5th, then Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays until it ends September 28th, the park will host a special Frozen-Themed fireworks show featuring narrations by Olaf, Anna, Elsa and Kristof, as well as a soundtrack featuring songs from the movie. Since we so rarely get to view “free” fireworks at Hollywood Studios, this is a nice addition to the experience.

Finale

To end, I continue to enjoy Frozen as a movie, and I will continue to enjoy this event for what it is, the only real-life way to experience Arendelle and it’s subjects.

I do, however, feel that Disney could have done a good deal more “Imagineering” on the Decor, Entertainment offerings, Fireworks and Crowd Control, to make this a truly “Magical” experience. If folks can’t get enough Frozen . . . give them more!

I guess we will just have to “Let it Go” for now and see what happens in the future.

Have you visited the Frozen Summer event? What were your impressions?

 

 

 

 

 

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