3 sisters + 2 worlds=5 days of Orlando fun! An Aug. '10 TR...final thoughts p. 45

[dismagiclover]

I love the TOT! So fun. I've never actually ridden RNRC. Never wanted to bother with the child swap, but one of these years I'm going to do it. It sounds like a fun ride!

 

[dawnbu40]

I am way too much of a wimp to ride ToT but I love the pics you girls got! Great angles!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Hey Sarah! Caught up via your handy dandy links

I love Emma's guitar and ToT shot! The different perspectives are very cool.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Ooooh, love that ToT and RnRC picture!!! I hope I remember to take that same one in March.

I've had mixed experiences with the Single Riders Line - I did it once on RnRC and flew right threw, same with TT, but on EE I've had to wait and wait and wait. It's a bit frustrating when you are trying to save time by doing it.

Glad you got out in time though to get to AI!

 

[Nermel9]

Love ToT, my favorite ride in Disney!!! 20 minutes isn't a bad wait for ToT, I really love the waiting area for that ride, it's so pretty yet spooky, especially at night!

Ugh waiting for RnRC sounds like it was a pain! I swear, even with short wait times for that ride, it sometimes feels like it takes forever to actually get on, there are just so many different waiting areas!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Just catching up now from being gone for a while.

Love your DHS pictures. I am way too chicken to ride ToT or RNRC!

 

[PrincessCaitlin]

Awesome pics of the outside of the rides!

We missed American Idol this time so I am looking forward to hearing about it!

 

[meeko_33785]

The day sounds like it's continung to be fantastic. It really does feel like there should be a name for these two togetger like "triple mountain whammy", but I guess Stacy's "biggest thrills this side of Neverland" does the job.

 

[RachelNinja]

I told Joanna that I'm really excited to eventually stay on property during my Disneymoon so that I can finally watch Stacey!!! I did watch a bit on YouTube, but I think it's not entirely the same.

Cool! I know people write about the ToT special effect, but I'm never going to get on it, so I was so curious to know what it was!

I would think that RNRC single riders isn't as efficient as Test Track just because fitting in a single rider would mean there'd HAVE to be an odd number in a group. If there are 5, only 1 single rider can sit. If there are 3, 1 single rider can sit. But with Test Track, there's the possibility of having 4 people in a car (typical size of many families) that then need 2 single riders for the car. Haha, that's just what I think.

When Howard and I accidentally walked over by ToT and RNRC (haha because we so weren't riding them), we learned that they're so close together! That was kind of interesting to see. I would think they'd separate the 2 major rides to disperse the crowds.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Love the shot of RnR and Tot. Very cool. We always end up going into the library on the right too, for some reason. I totally agree, no many how many times I ride ToT there's always that spooky feeling and I get butterflies in my stomach. Love that ride, it's my favorite

Emma always manages to get some really cool pictures when we go.

I love the TOT! So fun. I've never actually ridden RNRC. Never wanted to bother with the child swap, but one of these years I'm going to do it. It sounds like a fun ride!

Yes, you have to ride RNRC! If you love TOT you'll love RNRC too.

I am way too much of a wimp to ride ToT but I love the pics you girls got! Great angles!

LOL, I always say that if I can handle TOT anyone can. I am generally a pretty big wimp too.

Hey Sarah! Caught up via your handy dandy links

I love Emma's guitar and ToT shot! The different perspectives are very cool.

Yay, glad my links were helpful.

Thanks for the compliment on the pictures!

Ooooh, love that ToT and RnRC picture!!! I hope I remember to take that same one in March.

I've had mixed experiences with the Single Riders Line - I did it once on RnRC and flew right threw, same with TT, but on EE I've had to wait and wait and wait. It's a bit frustrating when you are trying to save time by doing it.

Glad you got out in time though to get to AI!

Really? We've always had shorts waits with the single riders at Expedition Everest. But yeah, it does stink when you end up waiting a long time anyway.

We love AIE so we wouldn't miss it!

Love ToT, my favorite ride in Disney!!! 20 minutes isn't a bad wait for ToT, I really love the waiting area for that ride, it's so pretty yet spooky, especially at night!

Ugh waiting for RnRC sounds like it was a pain! I swear, even with short wait times for that ride, it sometimes feels like it takes forever to actually get on, there are just so many different waiting areas!

The waiting area is pretty cool. Just adds to the whole theming.

It really was annoying that the CM would let EVERYONE through except us. Even when there was nobody in the FP line she wouldn't let us go!

Just catching up now from being gone for a while.

Love your DHS pictures. I am way too chicken to ride ToT or RNRC!

Welcome back! I just posted over on your TR too.

LOL, TOT and RNRC are fun! (OK that was a lot of abbreviations for one sentence...).

Awesome pics of the outside of the rides!

We missed American Idol this time so I am looking forward to hearing about it!

Thanks Caitlin!

Aww, you missed it? We love that show. Hopefully I'll be able to post that update later today.

The day sounds like it's continung to be fantastic. It really does feel like there should be a name for these two togetger like "triple mountain whammy", but I guess Stacy's "biggest thrills this side of Neverland" does the job.

haha, I agree. But I do like Stacey's line.

I told Joanna that I'm really excited to eventually stay on property during my Disneymoon so that I can finally watch Stacey!!! I did watch a bit on YouTube, but I think it's not entirely the same.

Cool! I know people write about the ToT special effect, but I'm never going to get on it, so I was so curious to know what it was!

I would think that RNRC single riders isn't as efficient as Test Track just because fitting in a single rider would mean there'd HAVE to be an odd number in a group. If there are 5, only 1 single rider can sit. If there are 3, 1 single rider can sit. But with Test Track, there's the possibility of having 4 people in a car (typical size of many families) that then need 2 single riders for the car. Haha, that's just what I think.

When Howard and I accidentally walked over by ToT and RNRC (haha because we so weren't riding them), we learned that they're so close together! That was kind of interesting to see. I would think they'd separate the 2 major rides to disperse the crowds.

I can't believe you've never seen Stacey! It will be like a Disney rite of passage for you. It was funny, the one time we stayed offsite near Universal the hotel still had a Disney channel that showed Stacey. It was awesome.

That could be about RNRC. We did have a better experience with single riders later in the trip though.

LOL, I like how you "accidentally" walked over toward TOT/RNRC. But yes, they are extremely close together. Before the TSM days my dad always joked that after rope drop the park would tilt because everyone goes over there!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Not to scoop my own TR, but last time We had such a horrible single rider experience on RNRC too. WE waited over an hour! Same thing, the CM was just ignoring the single riders and cars would go by with empty seats and everything. They definitely need a better process!

 

[Angies1274]

Aww...love TOT!! So much fun! I still haven't been brave enough for RNRC yet! Hopefully next time...if I can convince one of the boys to ride with me.

Great picture of both rides!!!

 

[OhMari]

I think some CM's have issue's with Single Rider Lines.

I don't know why Soarin don't have Single Rider Lines. Everytime I am there, they are always looking for one or two people. Me and my dh or when I am by myself, I usually get to by-pass a few people.

 

[tinkgurl]

I love that pic you got of RnRC and ToT together!

Ugh, I hate when they let a bunch of people go in the line that you're NOT in.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Not to scoop my own TR, but last time We had such a horrible single rider experience on RNRC too. WE waited over an hour! Same thing, the CM was just ignoring the single riders and cars would go by with empty seats and everything. They definitely need a better process!

WOW, over an hour?! That sucks! I would've been furious. If you had known it would've been that long you might as well have just done standby. What's the point of single riders if you still have to wait that long?!

Aww...love TOT!! So much fun! I still haven't been brave enough for RNRC yet! Hopefully next time...if I can convince one of the boys to ride with me.

Great picture of both rides!!!

Ohh, I bet your boys would love it. I'm sure they'll go for it.

I think some CM's have issue's with Single Rider Lines.

I don't know why Soarin don't have Single Rider Lines. Everytime I am there, they are always looking for one or two people. Me and my dh or when I am by myself, I usually get to by-pass a few people.

It was just strange that as soon as they switched CMs they let us through.

I love that pic you got of RnRC and ToT together!

Ugh, I hate when they let a bunch of people go in the line that you're NOT in.

It is a pretty cool picture, isn't it?

haha, I know. It's only OK if you're in the line that's moving.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 cont'd (part 3)

After finishing the two big thrill rides, we hightailed it over to the American Idol Experience. We still had a few minutes before the show started and when we got over there the "preshow" was still going on. There actually weren't too many people there so we were able to get up pretty close, even though we were further from the doors.

As you probably know by now, my sisters and I are big Idol junkies. I remember when I first saw American Idol. It was the finale of the first season and I really only watched a little bit of it just so I knew what everyone was talking about! The second season I think I watched some of the auditions but we started watching religiously during season 3 (I still don't think Fantasia should've won...). Anyways, since the latest season had wrapped up a couple months before, I was wondering if they had updated any of the videos to include some of the season 9 contestants. Sure enough, they had!

If you don't watch AI, that's Aaron Kelly. You might've heard how he was one of the top 5 contestants and actually got his start at the American Idol Experience! They had a little feature of him talking about how he auditioned in WDW, won the finale and got a chance to audition for the real show. I still think that is such a cool story and am slightly jealous of anybody who saw him at the AIE. How neat would that be to say you saw one of the contestants before they made the show?! What a great example of the whole "Where Dreams Come True" slogan. (If you're interested, here's a video of Aaron on the real show...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DxSkuIXqbg).

Before long we made our way into the theater. We had pretty good seats in one of the first few rows, but honestly there are no bad seats in the house. It still amazes me how much the set looks like the real thing!

A couple minutes before the show starts they have a guy come out to pump up the crowd. I actually just learned something new about this. I recently bought the Imagineering Field Guide to Disney's Hollywood Studios (along with the Glee DVDS, hehe) and read the stuff about AIE. The book said that they have the "pump up guy" just like they do at the real show. I had no idea they did that...I just thought it was part of the theme park version. But I guess that makes it even more realistic. Cool!

We've seen this guy before and he is just hilarious. He comes out and does goofy dances and such. Clearly he enjoys his job. Here's a video of him in action...the family in front of us sure was having a good time! LOL.



One of the other things he does is tells you how to vote at the end of the show. He'll always go find someone in the first row to sit by and have demonstrate. At this particular show there was a little baby in the row behind him, so when he went to sit down next to the girl, he noticed this baby and then proceeds to "tickle" him up on the screen. Hilarious!

So once all the preshow stuff was taken care of, the lights dimmed and it was time to go live. Again, it's so realistic with a video of Ryan Seacrest providing the drama and the music.

All of the contestants for this show were teenagers which was interesting.

First up was one of the girls. Before her performance she got some advice from Season 9 winner Lee Dewyze. I kind of freaked out a little since Lee was my favorite. Maybe that's why the picture is blurry?

She sang "Part of Your World." She was decent but nothing spectacular which the judges pretty much said too. Then the guy went. I think he said he was 16 and from Texas. He did Chris Daughtry's "Home." I actually really liked him. He did a good job too. The only thing he could've done better was, and the judges pointed this out, his lower register (how's that for Idol talk? haha). The last to sing was the second girl and she performed "All American Girl" by Carrie Underwood. Anybody notice a trend here? I know they only have a certain number of songs to choose from but it's funny how a majority of the contestants do Disney songs or former Idol contestant songs. Being a Carrie Underwood fan, I know that most of her songs seem really hard to sing because she has such range. It's always interesting hearing these people try to pull them off. But in all honesty this girl was really good! For being so young she had a pretty powerful voice. It really is amazing how they can get people who are pretty talented. We've seen atleast 5 shows now and I don't think there has ever been one bad singer. Sure, some are better than others but for the most part they can all sing. I really didn't know who I was going to vote for. I couldn't decide between the guy or the second girl. In the end I decided on the guy.

After the voting Jordin Sparks led everyone in her "I've Got the Music In Me" video. Again sorry for the blurry picture. That's what happens when you can't use a flash.

The contestants were having a blast. That must be such a cool experience for them.

Then it was time to deliver the results. Who would walk away with the chance to compete in the finale show and the dream ticket? The first to hear her fate was girl #1. Unfortunately, her journey ended there. She did not make it. So it was down to the guy and girl #2. In the end, the winner was...














Girl #2! (she's the one in the green tank top).

Overall it was another fun time at AIE. I really cannot recommend this show enough. Even if you don't follow the TV show it's really entertaining. They do a nice job in putting it together and the performances are fun to watch. If you haven't seen it yet, GO SEE IT! I promise you won't be disappointed.

up next: lunch with some little green men and trying our hand at animation!

 

[meeko_33785]

Sounds like a nice visit to American Idol. That's cool that they're updating it with new contestants as new seasons come and go, especially the one that got his start at the attraction.

So, how many more times did you see American Idol this trip? Based on your other reports, I find it hard to imagine that this will be your only visit. \

I'm trying to figure out your "Little Green Men" clue for lunch. Can't decide if it's going to be Pizza Planet or the Sci-Fi.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Love that picture of the guitar and tower together!

Sounds like you had a fun on TOT! Maybe one day I'll stop being a chicken and do it!

Yikes with the long wait at RNRC! This is another thing I'll do when I stop being a chicken!

We've never seen the show at AIE! We may have to try it! It sounds good and DD love AI!!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I still have not made it to AIE. It looks like so much fun!!!!

 

[dismagiclover]

Great update. I've only seen AIE once, but I was also impressed with it. I think we'll try to hit it again next time we go to DHS.