This elevator leads directly to THE GIFT SHOP! A Dec. 2011 TR from BWI - FINAL 8-27

[kwitcherkicken99]

We headed out of Pixar Place to one of my favorite character hiding spots!

Last May we only got to see Mike, which was great, but double the monster, double the fun! I never knew this area was back there until last May – and now it will be permanently etched into my touring plans!

Next up, E and MB took a spin on the newly renovated Star Tours and came back with glowing reviews. E said it was really mild and a great ride overall. Then she told me I should give it a try. I was dumb enough to entertain the idea…

I get motion sickness pretty bad. Dumbo almost puts me under, but I take prescription motion sickness meds so I can still have fun on the thrill rides. Last time I went on Star Tours (in Disneyland) I couldn’t get up for over an hour. Remember this…

From Star Tours, we meandered back to the center of the park for none other than GMR. I brought my fish-eye lens this time around so I could play around with it in the park. Because my camera has a 1.5x magnification on the CCD, my 17mm is actually a heavily distorted 18.5mm lens.

For the first time ever, I was able to get the whole building in! We got the cowboy side for my first time – I usually go gangsta.

Then we decided to check out Art of Animation where we saw a couple of old friends. I promised DD that I’d tell Pooh Bear hello when I saw him. He was thrilled to receive the message!

From there we looked through all the sketches and Academy Awards between the meet and greet area and the gift shop. We stepped out of the gift shop and over the courtyard with all busts. I had to get a photo with one of my heroes!

What a great bust!

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

no I don't remember you getting sick at Disneyland because I still only remember us going to DCA. I think you are making it up that we went there

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

no I don't remember you getting sick at Disneyland because I still only remember us going to DCA. I think you are making it up that we went there

We didn't ride it when we went. I had learned my lesson the trip before (with the ex and all his friends).

The "Remember this..." part is really a tease for later.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Star Tours sounds like it was a .....um.......bust-up for you.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

It was awful. Cool from what I could stomach... literally! I should've known better than to give it a go.

Back to Future in LA, the original Star Tours... Any simulators - it's just not good!

 

[usnuzuloose]

I am sorry you get sick. I just love those rides. Who knows maybe one day you will get to ride and not get sick.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I am sorry you get sick. I just love those rides. Who knows maybe one day you will get to ride and not get sick.

Me too, and that's the problem... I always think, "Gee, maybe THIS time will be different."

There are certain parts of movies I can't handle watching on the big or small screen (360* camera spins like was on Glee last week), most all of the flying sequences from Harry Potter, the shaky hand-held camera movements (Hunger Games), etc.

There are even portions of Soarin' that get to me (the kayaking, flying over the ocean in Malibu, going over the freeway in LA), but luckily I know where they are and I can divert my eyes to the top of the screen and I'm okay.

It all started when I was 14 and almost got sick during a backward portion of a ride at the county fair. That's the first time I ever recalled feeling ill on a ride and I was a seasoned ride-rider by the age of 6.

I can do most rides that invert, EXCEPT the ones with the real tight flips (like Batman at Magic Mountain in CA). It's murder and I may as well not even bother. EE gets me during the backward section, but it's tolerable. Riding in the very back of RnRC and Space are just, well.... Even though I took one for the team on our trip on Space.

If I could, I'd will it away!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

We were trying to figure out what to do next when we found ourselves near the AI Experience. E and I weren’t terribly keen on giving it a go, but MB was a fan of the show so we thought, what the heck?

I really enjoyed the show. I was a skeptic, but became a believer in the fun half way through the show! I think everyone should try it once.

Now we opted for something I have never done… the Backlot Tour. I was pretty excited about it since I grew up watching the 1990's Mickey Mouse Club (MMC) that was filmed on this very property. Granted a lot has changed since Disney shut down the studio section of the park (to which I will proceed to go on my tangent about DHS and wasted space in a minute…) Anyway…

I was excited to see what the tour involved, and I’ll have to say I was a bit underwhelmed by the opening “scene”, but once we got in to looking at all the props and driving through the costume shop, well, I was hooked!

I grew up the classic Disney films such as Monkey’s Uncle, the Parent Trap, Absentminded Professor, and the Love Bug series so it was neat to see the #53 car in person
(even if LiLo – no not THIS Lilo:

, this one:

ruined the franchise)

E was excited about Catastrophe Canyon and the prospect of me getting wet…

Remember when I mentioned I grew up on the Mickey Mouse Club (that immediately followed Fergie on Kid's Inc.

when she looked like this:

)??

Well, Michael Eisner was bent on showcasing the Disney Parks, especially MGM Studios. Because of that, I knew about Catastrophe Canyon and the gallons of water that spills out for the “show”. Sorry E, I knew what was coming – but you were too giggly with anticipation I didn’t want to spoil the moment. They used to run a snippet on the water features of certain parks and CC was lumped in with the wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon.

Sorry, E.

One more side note… anyone recognize the drummer in this picture?

As we moved on, this was my most favorite-est part of the tour. Anyone recognize it?

It’s the space ship from Flight of the Navigator featuring a very young Sarah Jessica Parker. After we got off the tram we went into the big room that leads into the gift shop.

I practically walked into this:

Davy Jones’s organ from the POTC franchise!

In the gift shop I bought DH’s lone souvenir of the trip. A Sam the Eagle hat that was super cute. And on sale.

Now for my quick rant on DHS. I wish they’d put some effort into this part. By acreage, it has the MOST wasted space per foot than any other park. I know Hollywood East didn’t work out but there’s no reason they can’t fill in the wasted spaces that aren’t being used for offices.

There, I’m done.

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

First off... you did not get the full effect of the beginning water scene. There was supposed to be people out there doing the stunts not sure why they did that.

Second, you suck. You could have just told me you knew about that

And third it used to be really cool. To this day I still remember driving by the golden girls house


P.S. Change your title

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

First off... you did not get the full effect of the beginning water scene. There was supposed to be people out there doing the stunts not sure why they did that.

It was too cold to soak anyone

Second, you suck. You could have just told me you knew about that

You were too happy trying to be devious... I didn't want to spoil your fun. C'mon... you were so excited at the possibility of the unsuspecting victim... ADMIT IT!

And third it used to be really cool. To this day I still remember driving by the golden girls house

I know... see my rant about wasted space. No reason to take that stuff out... it's not like they have any PLANS for the area.... oh yeah... that stuff was knocked down to see much more important things like Lights, Motor, Action...

P.S. Change your title

I can't make it fit and list updates. It has to stay - only have so many characters.

 

[annmarieda]

great updates! I really enjoy BLT... but it was closed for refurb on a couple of our trips.

I love all the trivia. I have no idea who the drummer is or that fergie was on a kids show

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

silly when I said change your title... I meant you had the wrong date listed.

I am done ragging you about inaccuracies , for now that is

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I prefaced that this was my recollection - I guess I should've said my FUZZY recollection.

Consider it your second warning! I should've started this thing right after we got back, OR better yet, journaled throughout the trip so I wouldn't have to rely on a severely sleep-deprived brain and photos with incorrect timestamps...

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

great updates! I really enjoy BLT... but it was closed for refurb on a couple of our trips.

I love all the trivia. I have no idea who the drummer is or that fergie was on a kids show

I'm going to let the drummer sizzle a little longer - see if anyone can come up with it.

Fergie was on Kids Incorporated about a group of singing preteens and teens that performed at a soda shop called "the Place". It was actually "the Palace" but the first A was burnt out on the sign so it was just "the Place".

Disney was fostering the careers of several child actors at this time. Jennifer Love Hewitt got her start on that show as well. You have to remember, this was coming around the time that Britney, Justin, and Christina were on the tail end of the MMC. Keri Russell (Felicity), Ryan Gosling, etc were all on the show.

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

I prefaced that this was my recollection - I guess I should've said my FUZZY recollection.

Consider it your second warning! I should've started this thing right after we got back, OR better yet, journaled throughout the trip so I wouldn't have to rely on a severely sleep-deprived brain and photos with incorrect timestamps...

somehow I don't think we are communicating. All I meant was when I read your new update it still said 4/16.... now it says 4/20

 

[pharmjenn]

I'm going to let the drummer sizzle a little longer - see if anyone can come up with it.

Google is wonderful. But I won't spoil it for anyone else. I have never heard of this show. I guess not having cable as a kid I missed more than just mTV. The pilot is on youtube. Horrible acting, but so funny to see the clothes.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Google is wonderful. But I won't spoil it for anyone else. I have never heard of this show. I guess not having cable as a kid I missed more than just mTV. The pilot is on youtube. Horrible acting, but so funny to see the clothes.

Way to use your resources Jenn! LOL!

Now if I could only teach my 5th graders that skill...

The acting is pretty bad but I still loved the show. The girl who played Fergie's older sister on the show, Renee, joined Fergie in the all-girl band Wild Orchid after the show was over. Wild Orchid never took off, Fergie did a bunch of drugs, then ended up a Pea.

As for the drummer, I'll give a hint...

He played a heartthrob on a teen show in the early 90's. His character was often called by his last name. More recently, he made waves as a dancer on a hit ABC show.

 

[momabaarjo]

There you are...glad you posted in my TR so I could find you!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

One more side note… anyone recognize the drummer in this picture?

He took those curls to the back while playing AC Slater on Saved By the Bell

Then learned the value of a straightening iron:

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Oh, I forgot to mention earlier that I’m instituting a drinking game for the remainder of this TR. Every time I post a picture and I’m holding my camera in my hand, grab the nearest soda, bottle of water, tequila shot, etc. Drink it. You’re already drink behind.

Now you’re TWO! [Made ya look!]

I like walking the area of Pixar Place. I wish they had a sign like this one coming from the other direction as well. I think it’s neat.

As we walked back through Pixar Place we decided to try to see Buzz and Woody so we got in what we thought was a non-existent line. We got through the doors right away:

And proceeded to stand still. Evidently there was an issue back in Andy’s room so Buzz and Woody were on an extended break.

We were getting close to our ADR at Sci-Fi so we left the Woody and Buzz line to head towards dinner.

We got to Sci-Fi and found out that we were early. Quite early as a matter of fact. Evidently we were around 45 minutes early. We needed something to kill time and noticed that Star Tours had a short wait so we ALL went for it.

The queue is cool and really goes with the Star Wars story.

Then came the ride. I should’ve taken the obvious sign to walk straight through to the other side when the lady 3 people in front of me tried to change rows at the last second and ended up falling down the shallow steps. She was okay thank goodness, but I’m sure she had a bruised ego.

The ride started and it was nothing to what I remember from Disneyland. It was much worse. We were getting thrown around like rag dolls and I only had one handle to hold on to since the kid in the chair next to me was holding mine as well.

My motion sickness kicked into high gear but I knew I needed to keep my eyes open – it gets worse when I close them so I held on for the ride, occasionally looking up to try to keep my mind’s eye from getting really sick.

I definitely wobbled out of the simulator to find out this afternoon’s ride wasn’t anywhere near that violent.