Via-DisneyParksBlog
Mariel Molino and Sherry Cola are accustomed to thrilling audiences in their roles on screen. In Freeform’s all-new television series, “The Watchful Eye,” Mariel plays Elena Santos, a young woman with a complicated past who maneuvers her way into working as a live-in nanny for an affluent family in Manhattan. In Freeform’s “Good Trouble,” Sherry plays Alice, the manager of The Coterie apartment complex, who’s finding her voice both personally and as a stand-up comic.
While Mariel and Sherry are accustomed to creating thrills with their captivating performances, they wanted to take a break and experience a few thrills of their own, so they came down to Walt Disney World Resort for three days of magic and memories. Mariel and Sherry are both life-long Disney fans with fond memories of spending time in the parks with their families. In addition to coming to the parks as a guest, Sherry has also made special Disney memories as the host of the 2022 “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade.” Though Mariel and Sherry play characters on different shows on screen, they share a special friendship off screen, and the thrill of getting to experience Walt Disney World Resort together was one that they were both excited about.
The journey started at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge which was home base for the duo during their trip. Staying at a resort with a safari right outside their rooms was a thrill of its own. Before heading out to the parks they fueled up with classic Mickey-shaped waffles from The Mara restaurant.
After breakfast, the first stop was Magic Kingdom Park. The two stars got a little star struck as they got to meet the one and only, Mickey Mouse. After lots of hugs, and even more selfies, it was off to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
For their first attraction, Mariel and Sherry took on Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. On Expedition Everest they successfully dodged the Abominable Snowman, and it was now time to embrace another thrilling creature so they headed to Pandora to experience the thrill of flying on the back of a Banshee.
After a journey on Avatar: Flight of Passage, they hopped from the Floating Mountains of Pandora to the streets of Batuu in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Earlier this year we caught up with Mariel to chat about “The Watchful Eye” before the season premiere and her love for Disney Parks. When asked about her favorite attraction, Mariel responded that The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror held a special place in her heart. The combination of suspense with the celebration of old time Hollywood puts two of Mariel’s favorite things into one experience. So, it was only right that dropping into Tower of Terror was the final stop for Mariel before leaving the park.
The two made sure that they weren’t going so fast chasing thrills that they didn’t pause to smell the roses. The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival surely had roses and so much more!
After riding the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction, Mariel and Sherry journeyed around EPCOT admiring and getting pictures with many of the beautiful topiaries. They kept a watchful eye out for the topiaries that are new to this year’s festival including Mirabel and Princess Tiana.
Between the topiaries they were caught left and right by the sights and smells of the different outdoor kitchens along World Showcase. Of all the options, they just couldn’t resist the Chicken and Waffles at The Honey Bee-stro. The fun continued and they went from outdoor kitchens to an indoor one as they hopped aboard Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
We saved the biggest, fastest, and newest thrill for last. As the capstone to their trip Mariel and Sherry got to get on the grid and experience TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise at Magic Kingdom Park. The new attraction left the pair nearly speechless with excitement!
Before their time at Walt Disney World was over, Mariel and Sherry made sure to shop, dine, and play at Disney Springs. While they had enjoyed many attractions inside the parks, there was one more attraction they could not miss: Amphicar at the Boathouse. As Disney Parks fans, the two wanted to add to their Spirit Tee collections and the Disneystyle boutique was the perfect place to do it. To celebrate the thrills they had experienced, and the memories made, the friends closed the night with an entertaining dinner at The Edison. They enjoyed an array of appetizers, entrees, and drinks all underscored by live jazz covers of contemporary pop songs. With Amorette’s Patisserie not too far away, they knew they had to leave room for dessert. Mickey Mousse, Amorette’s Petit Cake, and macarons were the perfect nightcap.
Mariel and Sherry bring as much life to their real-life experiences as they do to their characters. Mariel lives for finding hidden Mickeys in the parks and giving kind words and expressions to all she comes across. Sherry knows how to bring humor to every moment, and make even strangers feel like fast friends. Over the course of their magical vacation Mariel and Sherry experienced many thrills: the thrill of classic and new attractions, trying new food, and meeting characters. The greatest thrill of all, though, was creating memories with friends.
Don’t miss new episodes of “Good Trouble” on Thursdays and “The Watchful Eye” Mondays at 10/9c on Freeform. You can also stream both shows the next day on Hulu.
