Walkabout The World - A Disney Podcast - Hollywood and Sunset Blvds featuring Tower of Terror and More with Host Josh

Episode Date: August 23, 2026

Hello Travelers! This week join host Producer Josh on a walkabout down Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards at Disney's Hollywood Studios. You'll explore signage and overlooked details, hear area music, experience a full ridethrough of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (including the queue and preshow), then end with a portion of the nighttime projection show Disney Movie Magic as well as the entire performance of Wonderful World of Animation.    We are listener supported - contribute to the Dole Whip Fund via Google or Apple Pay. Thanks!   Walkabout the World is now on TikTok! Come follow our visual companion to the audio podcast at Walkabout.the.world.pod on TikTok   And of course, visit us on Instagram and at walkabouttheworld.com - find links to all the things - attraction episodes, Insta accounts of all the hosts, and even how to buy your own Walkabout shirt!   Walkabout The World is a weekly Disney podcast, always recorded on property at Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort with the simple goal of making you feel like you are in the middle of the magic.

Well, hello, travelers, and welcome back to Walk About the World. This song is appropriate right now. At last, I see the light, because I am entering Hollywood Studios. Just after the monsoon of a typical Florida, early evening thunderstorm. It was a hard one today. But now we are here at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the sun is going down. There are puddles everywhere. The people are coming out of the park and I'm going in.

I think we're going to go ahead and head over to Sunset Boulevard, take in some of the music and the vibes over at sunset. One of my favorite parts in the park. And honestly, just wherever the night takes us, check into the old Hollywood Tower Hotel and drop in, I should say. We'll see what happens is. we go. You know the drill. As this is indeed walk about the world where your weekly walk and talk around the parks and resorts, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland. Each week we record live in the

parks, provide you with a new auditory experience with every episode. You're going to hear everything from the crowds and background music, the attractions, and of course those magical melancholy. downs. Tired children who never want the fun to end. If you've been listening for a while, we thank you very much and we appreciate you guys. And if you're new to us, if you like what we bring you each week, we are a listener supported. So feel free to show your appreciation by clicking on the Dolewip Fund link that's in the show notes. It'll allow you to donate as much or as little as you'd like. Buy us a Dole Whip.

Good old mouse-shaped treat. Helps us keep doing what we love to do as we bring you around. the parks and resorts with us. Thanks for being with me today. It's been a while since I've done a little walkabout, so let's head in. Disney's Hollywood Studios. You can hear my squeaky shoes as we walk.

Through the tap styles, onto Hollywood Boulevard, Crossroads of the World, Mickey up on top. Hopefully did his job earlier as a lightning rod. Kept that lightning away from us. We've got a late close tonight. Closes at 10 tonight.

It's been nine for quite some time. When you walk in just to the left, right next to Mickey's of Hollywood, is a billboard that might make the DCA fans a little sad. But the billboard says ride the big red cars, world's largest interurban electric railway system, Pacific Electric Red Car. It's a great billboard. Of course we never had actual red cards here. We have the tracks, but we never had the cars like they had at DCA.

Mickey's of Hollywood. Great signage. Apparel with appeal. It says... The neon is on already. Usually you don't get to see the neon coming into the park, so that's nice. Across the street from Mickey's of Hollywood, you've got the dark room? Somewhere. Basically a pin shop now. It has nothing to do with cameras really.

These days. The slogan for the dark room, where fabulous is always in focus. There's a billboard on top of that building, across the street, on top of the dark room. darkroom. Hollywood Canteen, servicemen entertainment. Games of refreshments. Coenga south of sunset. That's right, this Florida boy knows how to pronounce coanga.

I didn't say cahoonga. Five and dime. To our right. Great Art Deco architecture. architecture down the Hollywood Boulevard from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Now I've talked about this before but my favorite neon has always been and always will be atop Pluto's toy palace gift shop. It's Pluto wagging his tail back and forth. Iconic. It's the perfect neon sign.

But a very cool one too, next door to it, also the gift shop, part of the gift shop, is the gifts and jewelry sign, which is just an old Mickey Mouse watch. It's an actual working clock. Don't worry, I'm taking picture. I'm being attacked by bubbles right now. It's not the true Disney Park's experience unless you're attacked by a bubble wand on your way. through Main Street or Hollywood Boulevard or wherever you happen to be. Let's look at some more signs. The advice we always give when you're at any of the Disney parks,

you always look up. You know, if you're just a typical guest, you just want to get to that attraction, you want to be the first in line, you want to experience all that. You don't really get to take in all the details. A lot of those details you miss because you're not looking up. So many wonderful overlooked details that you just slow down, start observing.

Really awesome. For instance, the Lendipa Pet Clinic and therapist Hugo Bark signs up in the window right next to Fudos. Coming up on Keystone Clovers. The trolleycar cafe, aka Starbucks, to the right. I think we're gonna go all the way up, probably a little barred, circle around the theater, the Chinese theater, and then make our way back down the sunset. Sound good? Hopefully you stay with me. James.

Now this is one of the, another billboard, but this one that's one that's one that's one that's one that kind of makes me sad because it is a star-worthy supporting cast and it has used to be the street-spheres that you would find walking down Hollywood Boulevard there's characters director and actress and photographer great artwork just above the fashion spot I'm assuming is a It's based upon Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, that kind of architecture. And that's next to Taylor's to the Stars. And again, I'm noticing details that I never really notice.

It's at the top of that particular structure is the old... It's not old, because it still says Hollywood Studios. Which makes you wonder if it actually used to say Disney's NGM studio. It has the logo that you see. It's the same logo that you see on the trash canes on Hollywood's little bar. A little in the mood for you. Sewing shop up on the second floor. Hollywood Justin's stitches.

At the other side of, that's just on the other side of Keystone, Closiers, Cloveyors, that's a hard word to say. Keystone. Ah, coming up to the dedication plaque. May 1st, 1989. Hollywood that never was and always will be. The cameraman statue. I am here on a school night. If you don't know, I'm a teacher and started back to school last week and I'm here on a school night. So maybe if I'm lucky, if I'm feeling it, I might even stay

I can record one or two of the projection shows tonight. And I'll be tired in the morning, but it would be Disney tired, so totally worth it, right? Do, do, do, do, do. All right, we are in the courtyard in front of Runaway Railway, Chinese Theater. Stand by line is pretty long. Got the outside queue going. Forever the Great Movie Ride. You know what, since we didn't go and visit Cliff,

The Rocketeer, like I always do, over at Peabees. Since we're in the courtyard, I'll go visit the Rocketeer's Footprints, which happens to be right next to a water feature. So, you get a two-for-one. We've got the Rocketeer's footprints, which also happen to have last marks from his... jet pack and I'm actually wearing a Rocketeer shirt today so here's a little of that fountain over here in the courtyard who's your favorite celebrity handprints or footprints in the

MGM version of the Chinese theater courtyard I gotta go with you I mean the rocketeer's pretty unique but my man Harrison Ford but my absolute favorite Kermit the Frog and Jim Henson Kermit's little hands, little handprints. All right, let's head over toward the Brown Derby, and then onto Sunset Boulevard. Our left is the fairly new Walt Disney Studios, the animation courtyard. Pete explored on an episode when they first opened it up a little while back.

Pretty crowded right now. The new attractions inside, open very soon and perhaps it will be open by the time you listen to this depending on when that might be it's a great little area modeled after the Burbank Studios now we're walking right by the Hollywood Brown Derby under their neon and the awning all of the gold statues are still here just like they are at the other parks as well from the 50th this one is sold A group of trainees walking by, burning their ears.

They are on Sunset O-Bler. A couple of changes to notice here next to the Brown Derby is that they've walled up. They're not in the walls or the movable hedges, but where the bar usually is. And they move the bar over to where the Starring Rolls Cafe area used to be in that little court guard. guard. That's that's new. Not sure if that's a temporary thing or what they're doing behind the bushes. Ooh here's another there's another billboard. The Hollywood Tower Hotel billboard back when it was brand spanking new. It's nice and shiny, beautiful architecture. It's a little different now. Our city's newest landmark, the

Hollywood Tower Hotel. Fashionable dining. modern accommodations where the stars stay in play. Beverly Sunset, another one of the great neons, the marquee, legends of Hollywood marquee. Billboard across the street is advertising cuties, Mandarin, oranges, the finest California grown little balls of sunshine. The Hollywood Tower has scaffolding over it as we record this. So it looks like they're probably getting her new paint

job? A new old paint job? Sunset Club Couture. Another billboard. What's this billboard? Ah, Chevrolet. On our way, Cévelet. It's got a yellow, old yellow, yellow, sheddy suburban. And then on the opposite side, two-sided, got a corner billboard. The other one has a Coca-Cola ad. It's beautiful vintage artwork. Anaheim produce to the left, some rosies, where you can get yourself a hot bag, or a glizzy, as the kids call them. Over in the little pin shop, it's very much to the where you get all the oranges and the refreshments. It's decorated with vintage citrus crate labels and citrus crate. and citrus crates and one of them says orange bird sunshine tree citrus

groves orange County Florida orange bird brand to great great little nod to our boy of orange bird our face circle just a baby compared to the one of DCA and you can't get a delicious cocktail because it is, you guessed it, another gift shop. Since the sign just changed and it's telling me to stop, that is our sign, we're gonna find a seat and just take in some of the ambience and some of the music here on Sunset Boulevard.

So, sit back and enjoy on the corner of Sunset and Highland right next to the Carthay Circle. I'm gonna grab a bench over here in this area and enjoy the music. Got the Mouse About Town shop. Mixie, Mickey's Mixie. Mickey dressed in his tuxedo and top hat. He's got his little cane or baton or whatever you call it and sign moves.

Walk it up toward the tower and all of its scaffolded of glory. Fairfax, you know. fair, where you can order a buffalo chicken bowl, the barbecue beef biscuit bowl, a Korean barbecue pork belly bowl, a soba noodle salad bowl, the enchanted rose dessert, a bell cup of enchantment, or an Orange Grove cold brew. But if it's a cold sweet treat you'd like, you're luck, because next door is Hollywood Scoops ice cream. Get a good old fashioned hand scooped ice cream cone. Or a Mickey Brownie Sunday.

My wife is a soft serve gal, but I like a good hand scoop myself. Tower's only 35 minutes. What do you say? You want to check out towel while we're down here? Why not? Let's do it. Those gates just said keep out, but they were open, so I just walked in. As if it wasn't human enough, don't worry. Mistors are going. So you've got humidity and mist humidity.

I know the name of the fire. Nigeys and child. All right, Fred, let's go ahead and fill up all these little stakes. Michigan is below, please. Thank you. The key of imagination. key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension. A dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance of things and ideas

you just crossed over into the twilight zone. 1939, amid the glitz and the glitter of bustling in Moodytown at the height of its golden age, and Hollywood Town hotels are the spell on its own right. I'd beat you for the show business. is this only. Something is about to happen that will change all that, much like the one we have just witnessed. Tonight's story of the Twilight John is somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction. This as you may recognize as a maintenance service elevator, still in operation, waiting for you. We invite you if you dare to step aboard because in tonight's episode, you are the star, and this elevator travels directly to the Twilight Challenge

The effect is still working which is great Looks great We'll take you safely up to your rooms Once you board seatbelts will go left to right Left to right only please Please please all launch luggage on the floor And please hang on to all your belongings Willard roguide by rows

So please wait until like on your row Before you step into the elevator please Now if you're here please. words from our hotel. Please, stay in my handsentados and maintain his longs, arms, feet, and your feet and the elevator in all the moment. And, for the favor,

give to his own. Thanks. An elevator about to ascend into your very known episode of The Twilight John. On stormy night long ago, five people stepped through the door of an elevator. The door is opening once again, and this time it's opening for you. About to discover lies beyond the fifth dimension, beyond the deepest and darkest corner of the imagination, in the Tower of Terror.

Something you won't find in any guidebook. The next time you check into a deserted hotel in the dark side of Hollywood, make sure you know just what kind of vacancy you're filling, or you may find yourself a permanent resident of the Twilight Zone. Ladies and gentlemen, please gather your belongings and watch your step as you exit through the elevated doors. We trust your stay at the Hollywood Tower Hotel has been a pleasant life. Okay, and of course exit through the gift shop. This particular gift shop, I have to be nerdy and put on one of the little bellhop caps and do a completely different non-Disney reference.

It's raging Mr. Herman. All right, when you come outside, don't forget to look in the windows because there's lots of great story details in the windows outside the shop. Halloween details. Because as we know, this story happened on Halloween night.

By the way, that was not 35 minutes. It was probably about 20. So they're already trying to scare people away. Inflation of wait times. A very dizzy thing. Yep, it still says 35, so definitely not 35. Alright, so we've got a little bit of time. I think we will head back down toward the hub, the hub, the old four.

old former Mickey Mouse, giant Mickey Mouse that's no longer there. We're going to head back toward the theater and then hang out for a little bit until the show start. We'll record one of those shows for you and then I shall bid you adieu from there. So let's head down towards the theater, back toward the Chinese theater and grab a good spot. Another billboard coming back. toward the Chinese theater and another extinct attraction in California. Wish you were here. Paradise Pier. Wish you were here, Paradise Pier.

Which of course now is Pixar Pier. I don't know if it's because I just never come this way, or I never noticed, but I never really paid attention to the on the windows side of the Once Upon a Time shop, which is the Car thing. theater and the Beauty and the Beast be our guest scenes in the windows. I know why this is the person I'm seeing this. But it's cute. A little dancing forks with their little faces are fun. Cogsworth and Lumiere and spoons and plates and chip and some teapots. since we fought mini-mouse. Don't tell Pluto. Look inside the theater.

Parking. The coolest friend in the world. Thank you for being with us today. If you haven't already, give us a follow over on Instagram, TikTok, to see photos and videos from our walkabout. Say hi, interact with the host. Give us your feedback or simply share the love of the parks with us. Value our listeners, and we love hearing from you.

You can even throw out a request or suggestions for future episodes. Hope you enjoyed your time with me today at Hollywood Studios. And we always like to end our time together with the hope and promise that there's a great big beautiful tomorrow out there. And we will see you in one of those tomorrows on a future episode of Walk About the World. See you real soon.