My memory is a bit foggy regarding this day. I typically have a few hundred pictures to go through that help jog my memory regarding what we did when, etc. However, I have less than 100 for today. I'll do my best, but some of this day may be lost to the jelly-filled abyss that is my long-term memory.
We had two goals for today - Evan's first time on Tower of Terror and trying to track down Otto Von Bann Bohn. Otto is one of the Streetmospheer characters that roams Hollywood Studios. We have run into him a few times in the past, and he has become Madison's favorite. She repeats his tag line ("Director...und genius!") constantly. We even had a shirt made up for her using a picture from last October's trip.
She was so excited to be able to wear it and show Otto. Hopefully we can run into him sometime today.
The forecast for the day wasn't looking too good. I believe it was for scattered rain. We planned ahead and packed our ponchos and some umbrellas and headed off to the park.
We arrived just after rope drop. Grandpa took our tickets to get Fast Passes for Toy Story Mania while we dodged raindrops on our way to Tower of Terror. Or as Evan refers to it: Tower of Terrier. Perhaps this is what he thought the ride was all about.
The sign said it was a 20 minute wait, but we walked right into the library. Again, Madison was being the good big sister and assuring Evan that it would be OK. And again, he really didn't need the reassurance. We made our way through the boiler room, where Bambi snapped this picture.
We boarded the ride, Evan and Bambi in the back row, Madison between Grandma and I in front of them. We approached the drop area and the doors opened so we could see the park. It was absolutely pouring rain! We didn't have much time to watch, as the ride dropped almost immediately. Which is odd, because usually they let you sit for a few seconds, anticipating the drop. Madison was alternating between digging her fingernails into my forearm, trying to squeeze my upper arm, and trying to hold my hand. We shot back up a few times, then the ride stopped up at the top for a few seconds. Ooohh...good one Disney - add the suspense in the middle of the ride! We dropped a few more times, then settled down and got off. Despite her trying to rip my arm off, Madison said she wasn't scared and wanted to go again. Bambi reported that Evan just sat there the entire time. He held her hand, but never squeezed at all.
Grandpa met us down in the gift shop, where we could see that the rain had not let up. I sprinted out to gather the stroller (which we had covered with a poncho before riding ToT!). We loaded up the kids and covered ourselves with ponchos under the overhang outside of the ride exit. It was still pouring as we started walking out, but it let up as we made our way down Sunset blvd.
It was still well before our TSM return time, so I believe we wandered round to Voyage of the Little Mermaid. The wait time was over half an hour and we didn't feel like hanging around. The kids had never been on the Great Movie Ride, so we walked over there. We've done it before and were solidly in the "one ride is enough" camp on this attraction. But we thought the kids might like it, so we went on. Why did we think they would like it? I have no idea - they've never seen any of the movies that are depicted.
After getting out of there, Grandpa, Madison and I went over to VoTLM. Evan didn't want to see it, so Bambi, Grandma and him went over the ABC Commissary to get a snack. It wasn't open yet, so they went over to the Backlot Express, which didn't open until a half hour after the Commissary. So, back over to ABC Commissary they went, which was open then.
We met up again after wards at the ABC Commissary. It was just before noon, but our lunch ADR at 50's Prime Time wasn't until 2ish. We had some snacks and headed over to TSM. I rode with Evan, who was able to hold his own this time around, rather than just going along for the ride.
We went right into line to see Buzz and Woody. Here you can see Madison wearing her Otto shirt.
Right outside of Buzz and Woody, the Green Army Men were hanging around.
Salute!
From there, we wandered back around looking for Otto, but the rain was keeping all of the Streetmosphere people away. We went were it was dry - Animation Courtyard to see who was around in there. Grandpa is a very big UP! fan. He bought two of the same UP mugs - one as a backup. Madison loves to tease him by drinking out of it and saying "Grandpa - I've got your Carl cup!" He was wearing the customized UP shirt that that Madison gave him for Christmas, along with the 3D glasses that he forgot to return after seeing the movie. Carl saw this, and gave Grandpa his cane to lean on for the picture! (Evan was hungry and grumpy and didn't want to be in the picture)
Finally, it was almost time to eat, so we wandered over to 50's Prime Time. We killed a little more time in front of Indiana Jones
We took a seat in the 50's living room, and pretty soon "Mom" was calling us back to our seats. We've made the meatloaf that they serve here at home, so I really wanted to try it to see how close we came. But I've also hear such good things about the fried chicken. Luckily, Bambi ordered the meatloaf so I could return to my deep-fried roots and get the chicken. Grandpa got the pot roast, and they made Grandma a vegetarian sandwich that looked (and I'm told tasted) fantastic.
Our "mom" never really gave us much grief, but she really laid into the family two tables away from us. It was a mom, dad and two girls, probably 12 and 14. Both mom and dad were doing something on their iPhones. The waitress sat in the booth next to the girls and started in on the parents about how they are on vacation and ignoring their precious children. She asked them what was so important that they were shunning their children. The mom got all embarrassed and put her phone away, saying she was checking the weather. The waitress yelled "it's raining! And its going to rain tomorrow too!" The entire time, the dad had this look on his face like he wanted to be anywhere else than Disney World. I don't remember if he gave some excuse or not.
After our meal, we walked back out into the pouring rain and went over to Star Tours. The posted wait was only 30 minutes, and we had some time before our next TSM fast passes were valid again. Bambi is not a fan of Star Wars, so she was indifferent to the ride. The kids enjoyed it, though. Hmmm...perhaps I can bring them over the dark side yet.
So, back through the rain we went to TSM. I rode with Madison this time and finally pulled my average back up where it belongs.
The rain was now a deluge, and showed no signs of letting up. Fantasmic was already canceled, and we had to break it to Madison that we would not be able to see Otto this trip (or would we?) She was disappointed, but understood that because of the rain, he couldn't be out.
We covered ourselves as much as we could and headed for the exit. The rain was too fast for the storm drains to keep up with, and there were rivers and lakes in all of the streets. We bypassed the parking tram because I didn't want to get the kids out, fold up the stroller, etc. Besides, we were already soaked, what's a few hundred more yards of swimming?
I got to the van and opened the back hatch to provide some shelter from the rain while I got the kids out and situated in their seats. It was coming down
hard by this time. We got everything put away, and Grandpa went to close the hatch. With it all the way up, the area where the license plate attaches becomes nothing more than a reservoir. He closed it, it all came dumping down on him.
It's funny because it should have been me. I was about to shut it, but he grabbed it first!
We left the parking lot in our van/ark to do a little shopping, pointing our rudder toward Downtown Disney.
Now here's where a little bit of Disney Magic kicks in. Grandma didn't feel like coming in, Bambi and Evan were off looking at something, and Madison and Grandpa were a few product displays ahead of me. I hear something that piques my interest. "Do you mind if I take a picture of your shirt?" Now, as a father, it doesn't sit well with me when someone else is taking a picture of my children, so I go to investigate. Who do I find with his iPhone, taking a picture of Madison's shirt? Otto Von Bann Bohn! Well, the actor that plays him, anyway. I don't think Madison knew who it was (he wasn't speaking in his heavy German accent), but he was über exited that not only did he have a fan, but she was wearing a "Fan Club Member #1" shirt. And he wasn't alone. The actress in Madison's shirt (the character is Dorma Nesmond) was with him! She was telling Madison that she knows Otto, and he would be very excited to see that picture. I asked Madison, "What is Otto? Director..." She immediately finished (and it a slightly Germanic accent) with "und genius!" He got the biggest smile and actually had to turn away so he wouldn't blow his cover. They chatted for a little bit, then he told Madison the he next time he sees Otto, he's going to show him her picture and it's going to make his day. She was exited that he will actually get to see her shirt!
There you go, folks. Disney magic at it's finest.
I'm sure we ate dinner that night, but I don't recall where. I do know that due to the rain, it was an early night back to Grandma & Grandpa's house. It was also a pretty sad night, since tomorrow we would be packing up and driving home. More on that in my next update.
It is nice when you get good service -especially after a mess up. Sure good service first would be nice, but I think it's just overrated.
sigh. Perhaps it goes with being a child of the '80's vs. the '70's... but wait, no, that would mean you too then. Hmmm. keep trying though Barry, and you might win them over yet. 
) 
that the ridiculously horrible acting job of the driver being "attacked" and the car was "stolen" by the gangster terrified her. For the rest of the ride she needed to know if Daniel was okay. 
