I'll admit, I had to go back and read up on my previous updates to see where I left off. But I'm caught up now, so I'll bring you up to speed on everything I know. Don't bother finding a chair - this won't take long.
Friday morning had arrived and we woke up in our Animal Kingdom Lodge Studio and fixed up some breakfast. The arm and a leg I had spent in the resort convenience store was supplying another meal, so I guess it was like only spending an arm. One more meal out of this and I'll have all my limbs back!
Today was early Extra Magic Hours at Hollywood Studios, so we planned to catch the bus over there and enjoy it for a while until Bambi's parents (who were staying at home) could join us with the rest of the unwashed masses at 9am.
We missed rope drop by about 30 minutes, which allowed for the first wave to head off to Toy Story Midway Mania, which in turn emptied out the streets for this cool, yet slightly eerie family picture:
Really, how many times can you get a shot of Hollywood Blvd completely empty without having to wait until midnight?
As we were having that picture taken, I started to feel a rumbling under our feet. We jumped back just in time as Stitch popped out from under the pavement.
Then to completely rip off the Intellectual Property of another studio, he started chewing a carrot, pulled out a map and commented that he must have taken a wrong turn in "Al-ba-koy-kie".
The plan was to head back to Toy Story, but something tall, dark and handsome caught Bambi's eye. She got a flutter, and just like in the cartoons, little heart bubbles starting forming and popping around her head as little angel wings sprouted out of her back and gently carried her over to the man...er...donkey... of her dreams.
My initial blinding rage gave way to acceptance and I remembered that he was her first love, long before I came around. That and he eats thistles and lives in a lean-to make of sticks. I don't have much to be worried about.
So basically, we got there after the first wave of resort guests, but right before the first wave of off-site guests. Which lead to quite an aberration -the stand by line for Toy Story Mania was 20 minutes. 20 Minutes! We have never done this ride without a fast pass, so we were glad to finally be able to walk around and see Mr. Potato Head. Unfortunately, he wasn't very animated that morning, but pretty cool to see none the less.
(you'll have to excuse the blurriness. I just grabbed the little point-and-shoot and left the fancy Canon in the bag for the ride)
I included that last picture not only to show everyone that Evan looks cool with 3D classes and messy hair, but it also gave me a good opportunity to remind people that the Packers won the Super Bowl.
Scores!
By the time we got off the ride, Grandma & Grandpa had showed up (shown up?) Either way, they got there. We asked the kids if they wanted to go on Tower of Terror, but both refused. Which was odd, because both of them used to love that ride. So why did they refuse? Because of all of the people that have told them that they're too young for that ride and that it's soooo scary. They forgot their own experiences and let other people's opinions take root in their own heads. So next time you hear someone talking about young, impressionable minds - its true. And it ticks me off.
So, the kids went off with their Grandparents while Bambi and I walked to ToT. Based on what we saw with Toy Story, I was expecting a 20-30 minute wait. The sign read 45 minutes and the line was all way down to where the bathrooms are outside of the gate! Why was this, you ask?
Cheerleaders, Brazilians, and school groups. Yes, we were at Disney World smack dab in the middle of some kind of International Cheerleading competition - we saw teams walking around from all over the US, China, Canada, etc.
Also, since it was Easter Week, there were tons of school and community groups there. Church Youth Groups, High Schools, Middle Schools - you name it, they were there. And in matching shirts.
Also, since it was basically any day of the year - there were Brazilian tour groups. That kind of goes without saying.
But, ToT is one of our favorite attractions, and so we toughed it out. We'd never been around the queue area in the garden before, so we decided that since Disney was giving us the opportunity to see it, we might as well take some pictures.
Notice something missing in those pictures? Yeah, a 45 minute wait with NO back and forth zig zaging lines of posts and chains. Sure, you're still in line for 45 minutes, but it makes it so much more bearable. Nice Job, Disney!
Then as we made it into the hotel, Bambi noticed something we hadn't seen any of the other times we rode this. Or, again, noticed the lack of something. For as dusty, dirty and cob-webby as the lobby is, the ceiling looked like it was recently mopped and waxed. It was spotless! The picture doesn't do it justice, but we were both amazed by that. I know, I know, it's pretty hard for dust to collect on a ceiling, but no cracks? No cobwebs? It was just odd.
Not sure what odd trance the girls behind us are in, but we had a good time on the ride without the use of mind altering drugs.
Meanwhile, Madison, Evan and the Grandparents were making their way over to our rally point - Lights, Motors, Action. They were making their way down San Francisco Street, when who comes driving around the corner? Mater! Yup, driving! He drove down the block a bit, honked his horn, then parked for a meet & greet! I wish I could have been there for that!
The next post will be a bunch of pictures from Lights Motors Action, because I'm running pretty high on my picture count for this one. Soo...
Up Next: Read that last sentence again.