A Salute to All Orlando Area Theme Parks But Mostly Walt Disney World ***THE END***

[katt789]

Hi! I figured I should pop over here to help ease the post Disney blues haha, and am honored to see that I made a mention in your first post!! That’s so awesome, I’m glad you enjoy reading along my adventures!!

Looks like a great start to a trip, jealous that you can get there by noon, having to fly from Calgary just isn’t as fun! Lol. Sounds like an amazing condo, with a great price, how awesome!! Excited to read more!!

 

[SimplyGoofy]

I'm in! Your trip report title caught my attention... I adore the entire Muppet Vision 3-D pre-show, but that moment with Sam the Eagle is excellent.

I'm looking forward to reading more!

 

[Queenofallthings]

So not only did you sign up you started a TR...I am definitely along for this one!! Great start

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

I'm joining in as well - I was intrigued by your TR title!~

Sounds good to me so far - I can't wait to see what else will come of your trip~

And from one Canadian to another, hello, nice to meet you~

Well hello Princess Dayna, so wonderful to meet another fellow Canuck. We're taking over I think. I'm so glad you're here. I actually caught your report on here yesterday but wasn't logged in (being at work) but I will be joining along for sure. I'm still getting used to all the buttons and stuff, lol.

Hi! I figured I should pop over here to help ease the post Disney blues haha, and am honored to see that I made a mention in your first post!! That’s so awesome, I’m glad you enjoy reading along my adventures!!

Looks like a great start to a trip, jealous that you can get there by noon, having to fly from Calgary just isn’t as fun! Lol. Sounds like an amazing condo, with a great price, how awesome!! Excited to read more!!

Ahhh Katt, I'm so happy (and honoured) to have you here. You really did inspire a lot of people on this board.
Yes, we can definitely get there by noon; even earlier in the direct flight season. BTW, I really look forward to seeing you on the Castle Forefront stage one day!

I'm in! Your trip report title caught my attention... I adore the entire Muppet Vision 3-D pre-show, but that moment with Sam the Eagle is excellent.

I'm looking forward to reading more!

Hello Jenny, I am so glad to have you on board. I must confess I've been following along on your current trip report before I joined the DIS. Now I can finally subscribe which I will most definitely be doing. I've really enjoyed it so far. Thank you so much for taking a moment to say hi. I really do appreciate it.

So not only did you sign up you started a TR...I am definitely along for this one!! Great start

Hi Jacquie AKA Queen. It is such an absolute pleasure to have your royal presence here. You are definitely one I've been following for years (as a non-member of course), and actually one I forgot to mention in my intro (I knew I would do that). Knowing now that you're an original Maritimer makes me like you even more.
Haha, yes, I started a report right away which I hadn't planned at the time of the trip. It should make for an interesting ride.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

A FANTASMIC DAY AT MGM!
Day 2 – October 9, 2012 Part 1

Welcome dear readers to day 2; which in my mind is really day 1, for it is the first day we actually touch the soil (or asphalt) of the place we all love so much. First though, I want to say a great big heartfelt to everyone for taking time to post or even just read this TR. I cannot express to you how grateful I am and I consider it both an honour and a privilege to have you here.

We were up early and ready to roll. We had some breakfast in the room (a real money and time saver) and pretty soon we were on our way to the first park of the trip… Disney MGM Studios (or Hollywood Studios if you’re being all new school about it).

We arrived at the gates at 8:45am ready for action. Get it?… Action?… Hollywood?… Bueller?... Bueller? I’ll show myself out.

As has become customary and soon to be written into Florida State law, we made our way briskly, yet safely, towards Pixar Place to obtain fast passes for, of course, Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian. Finding it closed we had to settle for Toy Story. Seriously though, I’ve never actually seen the Journey into Narnia attraction, and I guess I never will as it was gone at this time in preparation for The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Fast passes obtained (Sorry no photo. Just picture any fast pass except this one said Toy Story Midway Mania, and had October 9th on it), we made our way down Sunset. We had an appointment with an enchanted elevator.

Now, this was the one ride K8 recalled explicitly, calling it “the best ride ever”. The last time she was here, Tower of Terror was brand new. Would she still feel that way now?

Well, she got her arms up at least, but I don’t think she’s ever opened her eyes. I love love love the new digital option for ride photos. It’s so much easier not having to carry around a printed photo all day. Just pop it on a photopass card.

I had decided before the trip to get one legit ride photo at each park as a souvenir, except for Epcot since Test Track was in refurb and is the only on-ride available there. It’s too bad Mission Space doesn’t have on-ride photos. Those would be classic! Of course, I would probably spend all day there just looking at the all photos as they appeared, so maybe it’s better they don’t.
I mean seriously; who wouldn't want a keepsake such as this...

We then made the long, albeit short, journey to RNRC to rock out for a bit but mostly to go really really fast.

I don’t remember waiting long at all. Pretty soon we were in our custom stretch limo and listening to a little Sweet Emotion... at 57 mph. I love this ride, but at only 1:22, it’s just way too short. Still heaps of fun though. They really should figure out a way to send you through twice. Problem solved. Experience enhanced!

CONTINUED NEXT POST​

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

A FANTASMIC DAY AT MGM!
Day 2 – October 9, 2012 Part 2

After getting sufficiently jiggy with Aerosmith, we made our way back to Pixar Place to use those heavily sought after Toy Story fast passes. I swear these things could be their own currency. “I’ll give you this Toy Story fast pass for your, oh I don’t know… kid”. And 9 times out of 10 you’d walk away with somebody’s kid.

It really is a fun ride. It’s a shame the capacity is so low. You get a pretty good upper body workout too. Frankly, I just really enjoy the energy of it. It’s a great “just be a kid” ride. Neither of us appears to have any photo evidence of the ride itself, so I’ll just say I won handily and move on.

We hadn’t made it to the other side of the park yet so it was time to take a little Star Tour. I am so excited for some more Star Wars representation in the parks in the future. Plus… New Movies!! Sorry I geeked out there for a second. K8 stopped to take a few photos with some famous people who were more than happy to pose with her.

Making use of the newly installed Wi-Fi. Thank you Disney IT.

I had already ridden the new Star Tours on my Disneyland trip 7 months earlier and I really do like it. I honestly think it’s a huge improvement. However, much like the Great Movie Ride and my apparent aversion to the Cowboy/Cowgirl scene (I ALWAYS get the gangster), on Star Tours I somehow always get the Pod Race. And I hated it in the movie. Oh well, maybe next time.

After a quick photo on the racer, we headed over to catch a showing of the inspiration of this trip report’s title, MuppetVision 3D. That line from Sam Eagle cracks me up, Every…Single…Time.
“It's called A Salute to All Nations,*But Mostly America". I’m laughing now.

I was really happy as well to have FINALLY remembered to look under the mat for the key. For the sake of those who have no idea what I’m talking about, at the box office window inside, there hangs a sign that states, “"Back in 5 minutes key is under mat". Well, lift up the mat and there is indeed a key. Disney… Difference!

I really miss Jim Henson. What a genius. I truly believe that he and Walt were kindred spirits. I’ve heard that this is the last project that he worked on, so I hope it never goes away. They can tweak it; just don't close it.

I believe we broke for lunch at the ABC Commissary (which is certainly nothing special, but ya gotta eat) at this point after attempting to see Indiana Jones and finding it standing room only. I’ll try again later thanks. Nothing exciting here, just a refuel, bathroom break, then off to continue our journey (but not to Narnia).

We headed back to catch the next showing of Indiana Jones, which thankfully wasn’t yet standing room only. I think I’ve seen it enough at this point, but I still always enjoy the antics of our often “foreign” extra volunteer. In addition, the boulder didn’t work, which is, you know, kinda the highlight. They reset it and tried it 3 times… Nope, not happenin’. Me thinks it’s time for something new. After all, Disney OWNS Indiana Jones now. Can I get an amen?!

TO BE CONTINUED…​

 

[lebeauc]

Subscribed!

Read both days so far and enjoying it.

 

[Marsheliz]

I am totally in!

How cute are your oldschool Disney pics?? I LOVE IT!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[glennbo123]

Nice update Rob. Just curious, did you buy the ToT picture as a one-off or did you get the Photopass package where you could include ride photos? I've never done that particular Photopass package, so I'm not sure if it includes any and all ride photos.

So, did K8 still think that ToT was the "best ride ever", even though she never opened her eyes?

I agree with you about RnRR...great ride, but too short. They should absolutely let you cruise through the loading area and go around again. That'd be awesome.

 

[BamaGirl]

Great report! I can't wait for more!!

 

[SimplyGoofy]

This is hysterical:

I swear these things could be their own currency. “I’ll give you this Toy Story fast pass for your, oh I don’t know… kid”. And 9 times out of 10 you’d walk away with somebody’s kid.
​

What a great start to your day at Hollywood Studios! The Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster are two of my favorite rides on property! Nice work!

Please tell me that K8 opened her eyes on a later ride on the tower?

 

[Queenofallthings]

Great first day! Looks like you're having a ball! I love Indiana Jones, cracks me up everytime! Shanleigh and I go on ToT and RnRC over and over...2 of our fav's too!

 

[khertz]

Found this TR today, I have to say, I was hooked from the first throwback WDW photo!

I had to laugh at your comment about always getting the pod races on Star Tours...the same thing happens to my DH! We mostly are riding separately these days since we have a toddler escorting us through the parks, so when we compare Tours, he is usually jealous of all the places I visited while he was stuck on those pod races AGAIN!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Subscribed!

Read both days so far and enjoying it.

and thank you so much for being here!!

I am totally in!

How cute are your oldschool Disney pics?? I LOVE IT!

Can't wait to read more!

Awww thank you. I'm so glad you're here. They are most definitely "old school".

Great report! I can't wait for more!!

Thanks you so very much for joining in! I really appreciate it.

Nice update Rob. Just curious, did you buy the ToT picture as a one-off or did you get the Photopass package where you could include ride photos? I've never done that particular Photopass package, so I'm not sure if it includes any and all ride photos.

So, did K8 still think that ToT was the "best ride ever", even though she never opened her eyes?

I agree with you about RnRR...great ride, but too short. They should absolutely let you cruise through the loading area and go around again. That'd be awesome.

Thanks Glenn. Yes, I bought the pics individually. They went on the same card, but it was a different card than the regular photopass. I think it was really new. They now have a "ride photo" photopass package for "I think" around $45 where you can add as many ride photos as you like. With photopass plus, you can add pretty much anything.

Ha, yes she still loves the ride and I think eventually opened her eyes on later rides.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

This is hysterical:






What a great start to your day at Hollywood Studios! The Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster are two of my favorite rides on property! Nice work!

Please tell me that K8 opened her eyes on a later ride on the tower?

Thanks so much Jenny! For the Toy story pass, I haven't tried it myself, but I really do think it would work.

And, yes, she did open her eyes on later rides, just not that day.

Great first day! Looks like you're having a ball! I love Indiana Jones, cracks me up everytime! Shanleigh and I go on ToT and RnRC over and over...2 of our fav's too!

Thanks Jacquie. TOT is for sure one of the most unique and thrilling rides anywhere. Haha, it took me a bit to remember Shanleigh. She's been Jasmine for so long.

Found this TR today, I have to say, I was hooked from the first throwback WDW photo!

I had to laugh at your comment about always getting the pod races on Star Tours...the same thing happens to my DH! We mostly are riding separately these days since we have a toddler escorting us through the parks, so when we compare Tours, he is usually jealous of all the places I visited while he was stuck on those pod races AGAIN!

Aww thank you! I'm so happy you're here. Yeah, I just don't get why I keep getting the darn Pod Racer. On another day though, I'm happy to say I got some new stuff!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

A FANTASMIC DAY AT MGM!
Day 2 – October 9, 2012 Part 3

Welcome back as we continue on with Day 2 of this 13 day extravaganza. We’re at MGM Studios (old school, yo), and we left off after just having experienced our boulder-less Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.

From there, we finally made our way to the Streets of America for the first time that day. While there’s nothing really to do here, it does look cool.

Disney was, however, getting it prepared for something really exciting that was only about a month away… the “Osbourne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights”, or as I like to call it,
“Holy Crap That’s A Lot Of Lights”™
or
“The Streets Are So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades”.

I saw these back in 2009, and they are an absolutely mind-blowing must see.

I really had no desire to see Lights Motors Action again, and K8 didn’t really care, so we continued on. We passed by the closed for refurb Backlot Tour to get a quick pic with a monster named Mike. Sully had just left, but I did thankfully already have a pic with him from my Disneyland trip.

I was on a minor mission this trip to gets pics with characters I had yet to meet. I only really started doing character meets in the last couple of years. Now my apartment walls are full of the photos. I did pretty well overall, with one glaring exception due to my own stupidity. But that story will have to wait.

After meeting with Mike, we decided to stop into “One Man’s Dream”. I hadn’t gone in here in years (bad Disney fan), even though I had been wanting to. I think every guest should take a bit of time to walk through this exhibit to understand where all of this came from. It makes me a little sad (ok a lot sad) when I hear people walk in, “Wait, this isn’t a ride?”, and walk out. If all you want is rides, go to six flags.

New Fantasyland, opening December 6. It’s too bad it wasn’t open on this trip, or was it? (lamest… foreshadowing… ever).

After thoroughly taking in the greatness that is One Man’s Dream, we shuffled along to take a ride into the movies. Now, this is a cute ride, but it’s incredibly dated. Honestly, I just think it could use a bit of updating. And oh yeah… WHY DO I ALWAYS GET THE GANGSTER SCENE!!!!!!?????? I know I could ask to wait, but you’d think law of averages and the like. I started to wonder if I’d just imagined there was a Cowboy sequence. Maybe it didn’t really exist. Was it just an urban (cowboy) legend? I thought for sure I’d experienced it once before. Had I confused The Great Movie Ride with Frontierland? Anyway…

After following the Yellow Brick Road, we decided to hit up the Tower again. I am very excited to report that I finally saw the often reported “ghosts” during one of the drop sequences. I noticed them during one of the pauses. It’s brief, but I was very excited!! This ride also produced one of my favorite ride photos EVER. K8 loves the ride, but it just affects her. I love it too, but it just doesn’t affect me for some reason. I wish I had waited to buy this ride photo because this is the one I would have bought, hands down. Oh well, the redneck pic will have to do.

TO BE CONTINUED…​

 

[Bellabully]

Too funny!! You had me at " your kid" LAUGH OUT LOUD and I never!! Also, my mom is Canadian, PEI and now New Brunswick, so I feel the love for my Canadians K8 so cute! Great trip buddy!!! Love the early pics of you at Disney.

 

[katt789]

Haha! Nice intro Bueller!

One of these days I’ll brave RnR! I swear! Gotta love TSM, I really do! It’s such an awesome attraction, and I gotta agree with the FP thing, I’m surprised no one’s tried to sell them before, then again, it’s probably happened!

Lawl, love muppets 3d! Especially the salute! It’s great! AH! I SAW THE KEY THIS TIME! I made paige stop on the way out, since we bailed to use our ToT fast passes, and pulled the mat up!

One Man’s Dream is somewhere I can spend so much time, I absolutely love learning about the creation of WDW and DLR, and just Walt in general. I tend to attempt to try and figure out how one BRILLIANT man created all of it while standing on the MK train station…I have yet to figure it out

Pretty sure I’m going to ask for the cowboy scene next time, I’ve only heard of it happening once, and that was when Jess asked about it haha!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Too funny!! You had me at " your kid" LAUGH OUT LOUD and I never!! Also, my mom is Canadian, PEI and now New Brunswick, so I feel the love for my Canadians K8 so cute! Great trip buddy!!! Love the early pics of you at Disney.

Thanks so much and . I'm really glad you're here. That's awesome about your mom. She's slowly covering the entire Atlantic region. We Canadians love you all right back.

Haha! Nice intro Bueller!

One of these days I’ll brave RnR! I swear! Gotta love TSM, I really do! It’s such an awesome attraction, and I gotta agree with the FP thing, I’m surprised no one’s tried to sell them before, then again, it’s probably happened!

Thanks Katt. Honestly I think you'll love RNRC. I think it makes a great first inverted coaster for someone because it's so short. I'll be honest, I wasn't a coaster junkie until just a few years ago. Now I can't stay away!

For TSM fastpases, I always assumed that all the crying kids were just having a meltdown. Maybe they were crying beacuse they were traded... hmmm...

Lawl, love muppets 3d! Especially the salute! It’s great! AH! I SAW THE KEY THIS TIME! I made paige stop on the way out, since we bailed to use our ToT fast passes, and pulled the mat up!

Isn't that amazing about the key? I just love these "little things". I was so excited I forgot to take a picture. I'm glad you guys got to see it.

One Man’s Dream is somewhere I can spend so much time, I absolutely love learning about the creation of WDW and DLR, and just Walt in general. I tend to attempt to try and figure out how one BRILLIANT man created all of it while standing on the MK train station…I have yet to figure it out

If I do decide to try a solo venture, I'm going to spend a ton of time in there.

Pretty sure I’m going to ask for the cowboy scene next time, I’ve only heard of it happening once, and that was when Jess asked about it haha!

Next time I'm definitely waiting for the cowboy scene. I remember reading Jess had asked for it. I think there's 2 trains that go back to back so I know it's the second one I want.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

A FANTASMIC DAY AT MGM!
Day 2 – October 9, 2012 Part 4

It was after taking the Tower of Terror plunge (not to be confused with the Nestea plunge) that I remembered something I wanted to do… Characterpalooza!! For those who aren’t familiar with this, Characterpalooza is an unannounced character meet and greet which usually consist of some otherwise rare characters.

Because Fantasmic was at 8pm, I knew it started (unofficially of course) at 4:50 running 3 sets until around 5:40. Problem was it was close to 5:30 now. So, we booked it to the Animation Building. I did a quick survey of the surroundings to put my focus on the characters I wanted. There’s Sorcerer Mickey; he’s there all day. The Incredibles; the same. Chip and Dale; relatively easy to find elsewhere. It looked like 2 high priority meets remained. First we jumped in line to meet the rare Queen Grimhilde. She was good; Nice and snarky and completely humorless.

Then I raced over to see if I could get in line for these guys.

Disney Magical Pixie Dust Moment Alert.
I asked the handler, Christopher (yes I remember his name), very politely if the line was closed. He looked around and asked me how many there were. I told him just 2. Then he told me that the line was closed, but… go ahead and get in it. Score! I thanked him profusely and we chatted while we waited. Others arrived right after me, but he was quick to announce that he was very sorry but the line was closed, but was very polite about it. Then under his breath he’d whisper to me that he actually enjoyed shooing people away. It’s funny because it wasn't me.

I was telling Christopher where we were from and a gentleman 2 or so groups ahead proclaimed, “Did you say you were from Halifax?” I assured him I did, usually having to explain in great detail where Halifax actually is. But it turned out that he was on a cruise that summer that stopped over in Halifax! And the world just keeps on shrinking. We do get a lot of cruise ships in the summer, with the Disney Magic being one of them this past summer. And yes, I took the day off work to go see it on it's first stop-over.

Pretty soon we had our photo and were on our way, but not before thanking Christopher yet again for being so kind.

I really wish I had filled out the form at guest services for recognition. I plan to do that more often. These guys and gals can really make a good day great and a great day extraordinary. Thank you Christopher wherever you are.

We made our way to the “hub” and watched a little bit of “Disney Channel Rocks”

And, I’m only guessing here, we grabbed some food before heading over for Fantasmic.

After filling our tummies with photo-less eats, we made our way down Sunset towards the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater to get in the already growing line waiting outside. We paused briefly to get a couple photos of the janitorial artwork on display. I just positively love this stuff.

CONTINUED NEXT POST​