Sooo, as I was saying......
We were soooo excited for our day at Hollywood Studios! We got there late (around 11am), but that was par for the course for us! We headed in to get the stroller. We still had the front/back stroller, which was really only good for one kid. Our kids are on the big side (go figure!) so each of the parks were nice enough to give us a double park stroller. It had been working fine, since even the big kids would get tired and we could rotate them around.
Well, at Hollywood studios, all the kids are milling around me and looking at the Mickey ears while I get the stroller. The lady at the desk sees the kids and asks me if it would be easier if she gave us TWO double strollers! I had already mentioned that we had a stroller of our own, but she insisted it was no trouble at all so, POOF! We had a girls stroller and a boys stroller and then STILL had the front/back one for naps, and to carry the cooler, etc. that we were always toting around!
Yes, our caravan is getting even bigger but this worked out so well and really contributed to making this park easier than the day before!!
A token pic of us in front of the HAT!
Our next step (based on yesterdays adventures) was to check on the place we had a ressie for lunch. It was the 50s diner. There were manager types milling about outside who were absolutely wonderful. I had already spoken to Chef Cheryl (head chef of Hollywood studios) who was awesome and had really gone up and beyond to get me nutritional info in the first place. We confirmed that the menu looked good to all and yes, it had a HOT DOG! I just knew thing were going to go well today!! We said thank you and said wed be back for lunch.
First stop --- what the boys had been most excited about the STAR WARS area!!
In case youre just joining us, all our kids (the boys in particular) are star wars CRAZY!!! Jedi Training was taking kids for the next show, but after asking a CM, we were told that wish kids dont get any priority and that the line was so long that we probably wouldnt make it into the next show. Rather than dwelling on it, we hit the ride just next to it
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We all rode and it was a pretty fun simulator ride. Even the girls like Star Wars so they had fun too! In order to leave the ride, you have to go through the Star Wars Store. This was the first time we really bought any souvenirs and boy did we buy some! Both boys bought custom lightsabers for $20. They are pretty cool light up, make sounds, and they get to custom make it. A good buy, esp since we saw some cheapo ones being sold at night for $12.
Abby and Ella bought Polly Pocket sets with Padme and Leia in them --- very cool, and something weve never seen before. Like I said, my kids are star wars crazy so we all had fun!
Noah also bought a jedi mickey which would be the first of several mini mickeys that he would collect! So much for the kid that wasnt really into Mickey before this trip!
With Noahs ears and Ellas glasses, doesn't Auntie just look like the best Auntie ever???
So we come out and the Jedi Training show is just ending. We catch it and of course what comes out of the boys can we PLEASE do this?!?! A different CM was now working it and as soon as she saw Noahs button, she said, stay right here. I saw her on the phone, then came back and asked me what our boys names were. HOORAY!!!!
The next show was still 30 min away, but they took the kids in about 20 min before the show. Brian and I stayed to wait with the boys, while Court and my mom took the girls to see the Muppets.
To those of you who do the jedi training, it was hot and there is not a lot of shade. I kept going over to the boys and offering them water to drink. But the time went quickly and before long the show had started!
They asked the boys who they wanted to fight Darth Vader or Darth Maul. John chose Darth Maul and so they put Noah with his brother, since Noah was one of the youngest padawans out there. Afterwards Noah said he wished he had gotten to fight Darth Vader because Darth Maul was FREAKY! I always thought the character was freaky, but this guy totally stayed in character he scared the dickens out of me!!
As soon as I saw him, I wondered if Noah would really do what they asked him too I might have head for the hills! So far so good they were being trained to become padawans. Thank you again, Melinda, for the ORANGE shirts I could always pick them out!
Then it was time for their one on one with Darth Maul.
Noah went before John --- the moment of truth!
It was awesome!
Take that, Darth Maul!
John was up next
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and youd think hed been training for this forever!
Darth Maul had some cool moves
But so did John!
They each were given the title Padawan and got a certificate. The boys were thrilled and keep talking about it. They love looking at the pictures of them fighting him. Definitely worth the wait and very cool for any star wars fan!!
By the time the show finished, it was time for lunch (already?!) We made our way back to the 50s diner and had to wait a few minutes for our table. The boys were still reveling in their moments of glory!
(The guy in the Star Wars shop wisely suggested taping the ends of the lightsabers until leaving the park imagine my appreciation for this tip!!)
Once we were seated, our server (Mama) was awesome! If you dont know about this place, it is set up to be a home in the 50s. They talk to you like you are one of the fam with the same rules for all clean your plates, eat your veggies, elbows off the table, etc.
Mama was awesome and made fun of Brian many times for something he would say.. she called him a tattle tale and such. The kids thought it was sooo funny! She actually fed the dad at the next table when he didnt finish his green beans!
The food was plentiful and delicious esp the GIANT onion rings! They were super accommodating with Noah cant say enough about them, really they gave each of the kids a lightup tinkerbell or buzz lightyear to go home with. Needless to say, this place gets TWO THUMBS UP from us!
Courtney gets a clean plate sticker!
Ella gets a few herself!
After leaving we realize that theres some action going on around the corner!!
Next up: Block Party funtastics!
No use wondering about what we would've done because it's over! But it's funny that I've already recreated it in my mind!!! 
Definitely remember that Epcot is REALLY spread out compared to the other parks.....we had forgotten that!!!
I think you look "cool" with your hat on! Yay for Auntie riding on the Carosel. I love the horse riding pics. Ty has told me he is NOT going to ride the horses
I hope he changes his mind. He is afraid of falling off.
Problem solved, though. We made lots of mistakes, too, and it is what it is, I guess. I have no true regrets because our mistakes just led to more time at GKTW, which isn't bad at all! I just wish I knew for sure that we'd get back down there as a family to do some things differently.
What great pictures of the boys! Sounds like a great day at DHS. We are really looking forward to DHS...and it will be a Star Wars weekend then, too! I'm glad the second CM worked some magic for Noah.
