Day two: Monday, 5/7
Having thoroughly tuckered ourselves out the night before, I think both of us slept quite well. Mark always, always, always wakes up early and even though he tried to be quiet, I heard him moving around getting ready. So I figured I may as well get up, too. After all- we were in Disney! It was only a little after 7, and we were quickly headed out the door. Because my heels were so torn up, the only shoes I could picture wearing were my flip flops (which are from LL Bean and are quite comfortable, BTW)
There was a bus at the Turtle Pond Road stop, and we hopped on. I don’t remember where the bus was going, but it didn’t matter because we were just looking for a ride to the Hospitality House so we could complete an errand.
After Bob at Boma told us we couldn’t pay for our meal with a card that had a different name than what was on the TIW card (WRONG! By the way), we figured the easiest solution was to put my CC on file so the charges would be going to me. That way, we could split checks between his CC and his key (charged to my CC), both having his name on it but still allowing us to pay our own halves. Did that make sense? It doesn’t matter if it didn’t- this was all totally unnecessary because as I said, Bob was WRONG! (incidentally: We really weren’t all that upset at Bob, we just had fun talking about him being wrong every time every single other server told us it wasn’t a problem to split the check between multiple CC, no matter who’s name was on them.)
Adding my CC took about 1/1000th of the time it took us to check in the day before, and we were out at the bus stop just after 8:00. Our destination was Hollywood Studios, and the appropriate bus came along shortly. I had insisted to Mark that the
only way I would consider riding Toy Story Mania would be if we waited zero minutes for it. Since he is a little obsessive when it comes to video games/games in general, this was a priority for him. So rope drop was a must. I had heard that DHS opens a little earlier than the posted 9am, so we figured getting there for 8:30 would be ideal. We got there at 8:20. Nice!
We got in line behind just a handful of others at the turnstile and just enjoyed people watching/being at Disney. The mornings were the only time that the Florida sunshine didn’t scorch us within an inch of our lives on this trip, so waiting was actually kind of pleasant. Sure enough, we were let through at about 8:40. Like everyone else, we headed right to Toy Story. Mark was completely impressed that I don’t need park maps. As I told him, that is because I rock. We were so quick (not running, just efficient!) that we walked right up to a FP machine and got 9:40-10:40 return times. Without missing a beat, we walked into the stand-by queue and just kept on going until our butts were in a ride vehicle. We literally waited zero minutes- just what I asked for! Mark way outscored me, but I still had a lot of fun. My opinion of the ride went up quite a few notches for not having to wait!
Since we had skipped breakfast in our rush to get to the park, I suggested we hit up Starring Rolls next. I didn’t want to deal with toasting a bagel, so I just got a super healthy cheese Danish (on a trip with my family at 12 years old, this became my first official ‘food that means Disney World’). Mark did opt for to go the bagel route and I went outside while I waited for him to toast it.
While we ate, a lady at a table nearby screamed and started stomping her foot. I couldn’t see why- but Mark filled me in that she was trying to step on a squirrel who was brazenly begging at her feet. I don’t think she thought this plan through very well though, and I wondered out loud to Mark what she planned to do once she had squirrel guts all over her foot.
I find the begging wildlife just as annoying as the next guest (even though I am a total animal lover), but stepping on it just doesn’t seem like a viable solution.
Luckily, we were done and left without anyone getting stepped on, so we headed to ride ToT, and then hopped in the RnRC single rider line. Am I the only one who always ends up paired with someone who has never heard of the single rider line and can’t figure out where I came from and why I want to ride with them? Happens to me all. The. Time.
We had just enough time to get to TSM for our FP, grabbing a couple more for the afternoon (1:40… this is when I was still taking notes!) This time we had to wait a little bit, but it was ok because we overheard a guy talking about tips/easter eggs in the game and Mark and I ended up doing really well! We still had a bit of time before our lunch ADR, so we saw Muppets before making our way over to 50’s Prime Time just as it opened at 11am. We were early, but hungry!
We waited just a minute before we were sat. Our server ended up being a dud (and we were really hoping for some good interaction), but a nearby waiter was hysterical. When a lady at his table asked him again what I had ordered (she thought it looked good), he hollered over to ask me if I was done. I was, so he took my plate and offered her a bite. Haha. That helped make up for our lame server. Incidentally, I got the pot roast and Mark had the sampling of Mom’s favorites. It was all nice and tasty.
Although I have no food porn from this trip, I have plenty of pictures of Mark and I entertaining ourselves while waiting for food:
There's an awesome photo-bomber in that one!
After lunch, I was eager to check out Star Tours since I had not been on the new version yet. I thought it was great, and definitely wanted to ride it again to get another sequence. I took a picture of the Jedi training as we walked by, since by boss’ daughter (who is 4) is obsessed with Star Wars and they are starting to think about a possible WDW trip.
She’d love this! I also bought her a stuffed Ewok as we left Star Tours. Apparently, she insists that he sits on her bedside table and watches her sleep.
I made Mark pop into the Writer’s Stop- a place he didn’t know existed- so that I could get a carrot cake cookie. I was horrified to see:
My favorite counter to sit at and enjoy a snack was gone! Why would they do this?
I shook off my sadness at changes I didn’t agree to, and we headed back to ToT where we walked on yet again. This is probably about when Mark and I started up with telling each other that ‘The time is now’ whenever one or the other asked the time. If you are wondering why… the clue is in the ToT pre-show: “The time is now, on an evening very much like the one we have just witnessed…”
Anywho… we were quickly at the front of the line and a CM asked the group ahead of us how many were in their party. It was a group of 7, so she placed four of them on one row of numbers, and 3 on another- the end result would be that the entire group would have the front row. As we waited to board, instead of standing on these numbers, they kept moving to be near each other. The CM corrected them, explaining that once we were on the elevator the party would be all together. All seemed well, they stayed put in the right spots. But once it was time to load, the whole group piled in and sat wherever they wanted. Mark and I lost our assigned seats, but good naturedly laughed when the CM subtly shook her head in frustration. She caught our sympathetic looks and mouthed ‘everyday’ while shaking her head. We were laughing as the doors closed and we began our adventure.
Another turn through the single rider line of RnRC, and it was time to use our last FPs for TSM. Mark still beat me, but my score was much more respectable!
We agreed that we were done with the park for now, and headed out to catch a Friendship boat. Which was conveniently waiting for us at the dock- even though I am such a pessimist that I insisted a) there was no way we would catch it and b) I could not possible run for it because of both the heat from the friggin’ Florida sunshine and my woefully aching feet (the problem was now the balls of my feet being sore from the flip flops. Awesome.) You may be able to tell that I was pretty much being a toddler right then and needed a serious time-out. Also: we made the boat.
Day 2, Part 2: "Saving animals, one park at a time."
Sounds like an awesome day though!
Wow that was a full day!!! Just from the pics, it looks as though Mark has a lot of energy!!!
Looks like tons of fun! The resort looks really nice. Good call on the Dole Whip! 
. So. Much. Fun!
Boma! Um, can we all give that lifeguard a big fat eeeeewwwwww! But at least you both got cat naps in, and in such a beautiful locale too!
Lesson learned, buy a Dole Whip every time you have a craving for one, no matter where you are at MK. 
<---- that's me, to you on Saturday. I tried your deodorant trick and OMG it worked! 
Actually, i think they started letting people in at like, 8:55. Lame. 
