Houston, We Have A Secret: A TX Vacation With A WDW Surprise ...aaand Done! Page 43

[KY*Figment]

Good report, waiting for the rest of the story.....

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

How funny that Sci-Fi gave you all of the shrimp in the restaurant! I agree, the atmosphere inside of that restaurant is one of my favorites! I especially love the twilight sky.

 

[KatMark]

Bambi blew up the sign in the lower right and hung it on her cubicle wall when went on our last vacation.

Great idea, Bambi.

...so fast, that Evan has to hang on for dear life

Poor Madison, being choked till she turns blue, and Evan hanging on for dear life.


The food was good. Bambi's mom and I both ordered a shrimp pasta, but she didn't want the shrimp. I told the waitress to add her shrimp to mine. Based on what came out from the kitchen, they did put her shrimp on my plate (it was piled with so much shrimp that you could barely see the pasta) but also had a small bowl with nothing but shrimp. Could it be...YES! Triple Shrimp!

We loved Sci Fi in 2009; we cancelled this year only becuase we'v enot done 50's Prime in over 12 years and wanted to go back.

As we passed the hat, the Disney Channel Rocks show was playing, and Bambi's dad pointed out this guy in the crowd.

I am speechless!

As we were walking, the kids were messing around in the stroller like they usually are. All of a sudden, Evan says that he hurt his finger. I asked which one and he showed me. I then grabbed the camera and asked him to show me again, because I didn't see it the first time.

Barry, you will be punished for that, you know.

Whose score was whose?

The show was pretty good, including this guy getting beat up by a girl, which is always fun to watch. But after watching Lights Motors Action! this morning, I realized just how similar these shows are. The story line of each show is that they are shooting a movie - including the "director" setting up camera shots, making tweaks to the script, etc. In between action sequences they explain how stunts are done and how the shots are done. Doing both attractions in a day made that part of it pretty redundant and stale. The explosions were still cool, though.

We did the show in 2008 when our best friends here in Chicago went with us for our 25th anniversary because they had never been/seen. Personally, after seein git almost every year with the kids, we definitely don't miss it (and we've never see LMA).

AAAA!!! GIANT RAT!!!

Why is it that we happily fork over all of our money to a mouse, but rats still get a bad rap? They need better PR people.



It's good to see Russel, Doug and Carl still around.

Carl doesn't get around very well anymore, so he gets to ride.

Hey, maybe I can get my husband on a float.

Did you see that last picture of Lotso? Well, guess what....


UP NEXT: More Lotso!

Comments in red as always. Can't wait for the next update. I wonder if it will be before or after I see you at lunch on Monday?

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I don't know, but let's test your knowledge... How many CC's is it?

Eleventy Billion.

Well, I'll take a stab at it... He was getting ready to head back to his DVC Villa for a cookout and the gloves are the new Mickey Ove Glove.

Let's only hope...

Poor Evan. I can see this one getting about as much mileage as his Jasmine picture.

Kids - a constant source of entertainment.

I think Paris is just expensive in general!

You are a bad daddy making your child do that for a pic and yet it's so so so funny Also I loled at your Mr. Potato head pic... I'm actually looking forward to see new parade in DHS mainly because I want to see Dug never seen him in the parks

We saw Doug a few years ago when UP first came out. He, Carl and Russel were in the art of animation building where they have the special meet & greet for whatever movie is coming up next.

great update and pics barry!!! was that guy part of the act???? maybe he was planted in the crowd for some reason. as for the stroller picture, you asked!!!! i thought maybe you may have said, no mm ice cream sandwiches, and that was the answer you got from the stroller.

Thanks Dave. No more ice cream sandwiches? I'd never say that on vacations! Bring them on!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Madison: “Your choking me here!”
Evan: “well you fly this thing like an Ewok! Pull over and let me drive!”

Sci-Fi is really cool, but we’ve only done it once.
I may need to give that one a try the next time we head down there.

It was really fun. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but they did a really nice job with it.

That was a guest?
Not one of the CMs, pulling some kind of stunt, but an actual guest?
Ummmm… Wow.

As far as I could tell. We didn't hang around to see what he did. Actually, I think I'd be a bit scared to see what he would do.

As my DW has said to me on many, many occasions: “Bad Daddy…”

Here… lets have another one just for good measure!

OK… some of my action shots are at least decent

Nice shot

All of a sudden, everything seems to smell like strawberries.

Mmmm...strawberry shortcake. (That really doesn't have anything to do with anything, I was just thinking about eating strawberry shortcake.)

Good report, waiting for the rest of the story.....

Thanks and Welcome!

How funny that Sci-Fi gave you all of the shrimp in the restaurant! I agree, the atmosphere inside of that restaurant is one of my favorites! I especially love the twilight sky.

It must be weird for the staff that works their during the day. To spend 6 or 8 hours walking around serving food at night, then walk outside and it's 6pm and the sun is shining. It's to got mess with your internal clock, right?

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Great idea, Bambi.

That's why she's considered the "Better half"

We loved Sci Fi in 2009; we cancelled this year only becuase we'v enot done 50's Prime in over 12 years and wanted to go back

Can't go wrong with either.
Let me guess...I would have known that if I was following your PTR, right?

Barry, you will be punished for that, you know

Yeah, I know I'm ringing up a pretty huge karma bill. I'll have to spend three straight weeks volunteering at a soup kitchen to even it all out.

Whose score was whose?

Let's see, If I say I had the higher score, it will look like I'm rubbing it in.
If I say Bambi had the higher score, I'll open myself up to ridicule.

So, just like all of Evan's T-ball games this year: IT WAS A TIE! EVERYBODY WINS!

Comments in red as always. Can't wait for the next update. I wonder if it will be before or after I see you at lunch on Monday?

Ummm...looks like it will be after. But thanks for meeting us for lunch and for the wonderful gifts you gave the kids. It was great meeting you!

 

[KatMark]

That's why she's considered the "Better half"

I already knew that.

Can't go wrong with either.
Let me guess...I would have known that if I was following your PTR, right?

I wasn't going to say a word.

Yeah, I know I'm ringing up a pretty huge karma bill. I'll have to
spend three straight weeks volunteering at a soup kitchen to even it all out.

It happens to the best of us!

Let's see, If I say I had the higher score, it will look like I'm rubbing it in.
If I say Bambi had the higher score, I'll open myself up to ridicule.

So, just like all of Evan's T-ball games this year: IT WAS A TIE! EVERYBODY WINS!

Good job, Barry!

Ummm...looks like it will be after. But thanks for meeting us for lunch and for the wonderful gifts you gave the kids. It was great meeting you!

Gee, I think you are right. I was thrilled to meet you, Mark and the boys for lunch. And the kids are most welcome!

 

[afwdwfan]

Eleventy Billion.

Impressive! Did Evan give you that answer?

Kids - a constant source of entertainment.

You've got that right!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Gee, I think you are right. I was thrilled to meet you, Mark and the boys for lunch. And the kids are most welcome!

Make sure you let us know when you guys head up this way. August already seems to be filling fast with other stuff, but we'd love to squeeze in a visit!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Impressive! Did Evan give you that answer?

No, his standard "big number" is usually along the lines of "seventy hundred thousand hundred eighty seventy thousand hundred million" I'm not sure how many zeros that is, but I think it's a lot.

 

[KatMark]

Make sure you let us know when you guys head up this way. August already seems to be filling fast with other stuff, but we'd love to squeeze in a visit!

We will be going to the Milwaukee Zoo on Friday, August 26, as long as there is no rain. Maybe we could meet somewhere for a late lunch/early dinner after that? We are planning on spending the night and maybe going to the casino before driving home Saturday morning.

 

[PrincessBetsy]

Whew, I just got all caught up and I promise to not fall behind again! Wonderful updates and great pics, as usual!

Oh man! Gotta love that apron.

Why is it that we happily fork over all of our money to a mouse, but rats still get a bad rap? They need better PR people.

That is an excellent point.

Looking forward to the next update!

 

[Trinity524]

Loving your trip report!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

We will be going to the Milwaukee Zoo on Friday, August 26, as long as there is no rain. Maybe we could meet somewhere for a late lunch/early dinner after that? We are planning on spending the night and maybe going to the casino before driving home Saturday morning.

I think we have somethiing going on that weekend, but I don't know if it extends to Friday or not. I'll check when I get home and let you know.

Whew, I just got all caught up and I promise to not fall behind again! Wonderful updates and great pics, as usual!

Thanks. Looks like I'm the one falling behind though. I'd better get writing...

Loving your trip report!

Thank you! Wow, even when I'm not updating I'm getting new readers. Must be a hint to get back at it.

 

[afwdwfan]

Thank you! Wow, even when I'm not updating I'm getting new readers. Must be a hint to get back at it.

Well, it isn't quite as long as one of Don's breaks between updates, but I forgot I was even following a current FreezinRafiki TR until I checked my subscribed threads and saw a new post this morning.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

We watched the Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade from near the hat, but on the west side of the street. Meaning that as soon as the parade was done, we turned around and headed right into the Art of Animation building to the Lotso Meet & Greet. The wait was still 20 minutes or so (it takes him quite a while to walk from the Parade Float to the M&G area. Short legs, you know.) Luckily, the kids were entertained with the art and sound computer stations set up around the room.

Soon thought, it was Strawberry Smelling time:

You know what the best thing about my kids is? They've seen Toy Story 3...let's just say a few times. They know what Lotso does. They know how he behaves. Yet, they look past that and hug him just a much as Winnie the Pooh or Mickey Mouse. That tells me that either my kids have hearts of gold and are willing to forgive him and give him a second chance...or they're inherently evil and are intrinsically drawn to him, hoping to combine their powers and take over the world! Hey, at least they dream big.

After leaving Lotso, we noticed that the drawing class was just about to begin and they had a few spots left up front where we could sit in. Madison loves arts and crafts and doodling so she was excited to try it out.

The other thing about Madison - she's a perfectionist. To the Nth degree. And those pencils don't have erasers. The theory is that you keep drawing light lines until you find the one that you like, then you darken it in later. We were drawing Minnie Mouse and she was having a very hard time with it. Being only a 25 minute class, the instructor had to move along pretty quickly and Madison kept falling behind and getting more and more frustrated. Bambi and I would help her along until she ended up with a pretty respectable looking Minnie. But it wasn't as good as the instructor's (you know, who's been doing this for years), and that upset her. Since we were in the front, I took Madison up to show her drawing to him, and in true Disney fashion, he completely blew her off and didn't say a word.


Just kidding. He talked to her about drawing and practicing and working at something over and over and over until you get it right. He pulled out stacks of paper and showed her how he was trying to draw Mickey Mouse as Thor, but couldn't get it right. He showed her pages and pages of messed up drawings - but explained that he learned something from each failure, kept trying, and eventually got one that he really liked. (I wish I had taken a picture of it - it was totally bad a**.) So despite not getting a perfect drawing of Minnie on her first ever try, she did get a nice chat with an animator and learned that no one ever does it right the first time.

After leaving the Art of Animation building, we headed back toward Toy Story Mania, just to check the line. It was well over an hour, and we didn't feel like waiting, so we continued on down the path toward when we encountered this guy. He stood up pretty well to Evan's Rock'em Sock'em high five. Must be all those push ups in basic training.

I guess we need to work on those salutes a little bit.

Evan appears to be blocking the sun (which is actallly beside and behind him) and Madison giving a little less "Sir, Yes, Sir!" and a little more "Hey, Howdy Hey!"

We ended up in the Honey I Shrunk the Kids archaeology dig. Really, what kid born in the past 10 years even knows what a film canister is or has played with a Lite Brite?

It was pretty warm out that day. And Evan needed a little cooling off. In a way that only Evan would.

That was my last picture from Hollywood Studios, so I can only imagine that we got kicked out after that. I have a few fuzzy pictures of Downtown Disney later that evening, so I guess we went there. But for the life of me, I can't remember anything about it. Clearly, this is as sign that I've let this Trip Report linger a bit too long. But I do know that we had one full day left, and it would just be chalk full of awesome. Trust me on that.

Up Next: The last day of magic.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Well, it isn't quite as long as one of Don's breaks between updates, but I forgot I was even following a current FreezinRafiki TR until I checked my subscribed threads and saw a new post this morning.

Surprised you, didn't I?

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

You know what the best thing about my kids is? They've seen Toy Story 3...let's just say a few times. They know what Lotso does. They know how he behaves. Yet, they look past that and hug him just a much as Winnie the Pooh or Mickey Mouse. That tells me that either my kids have hearts of gold and are willing to forgive him and give him a second chance...or they're inherently evil and are intrinsically drawn to him, hoping to combine their powers and take over the world! Hey, at least they dream big.

Or maybe they just trust anyone who smells like strawberries?

Having now met your kids, I will believe it's the former explanation, of course. Then again, look who their father is... But Luke turned out good even though Darth was his daddy. I dunno.

The other thing about Madison - she's a perfectionist. To the Nth degree. And those pencils don't have erasers. The theory is that you keep drawing light lines until you find the one that you like, then you darken it in later. We were drawing Minnie Mouse and she was having a very hard time with it. Being only a 25 minute class, the instructor had to move along pretty quickly and Madison kept falling behind and getting more and more frustrated. Bambi and I would help her along until she ended up with a pretty respectable looking Minnie. But it wasn't as good as the instructor's (you know, who's been doing this for years), and that upset her.

Sounds a lot like my daughter. It's either perfect the first time, or it's not worth trying.

Since we were in the front, I took Madison up to show her drawing to him, and in true Disney fashion, he completely blew her off and didn't say a word.

Did he crumple up her drawing and throw it in the trash too?

Just kidding. He talked to her about drawing and practicing and working at something over and over and over until you get it right. He pulled out stacks of paper and showed her how he was trying to draw Mickey Mouse as Thor, but couldn't get it right. He showed her pages and pages of messed up drawings - but explained that he learned something from each failure, kept trying, and eventually got one that he really liked. (I wish I had taken a picture of it - it was totally bad a**.) So despite not getting a perfect drawing of Minnie on her first ever try, she did get a nice chat with an animator and learned that no one ever does it right the first time.

Very nice! The Thor drawing sounds really cool. Sounds like it was a good experience for Madison...although sometimes as a parent, my pride kicks in and I want to say, "NOW you listen? I've been telling you this for years!!"

He stood up pretty well to Evan's Rock'em Sock'em high five. Must be all those push ups in basic training.

Impressive. Evan's got some power.

We ended up in the Honey I Shrunk the Kids archaeology dig. Really, what kid born in the past 10 years even knows what a film canister is or has played with a Lite Brite?

I'm a little fuzzy on these, myself.

It was pretty warm out that day. And Evan needed a little cooling off. In a way that only Evan would.

Shocking! My kids would never do that!

That was my last picture from Hollywood Studios, so I can only imagine that we got kicked out after that. I have a few fuzzy pictures of Downtown Disney later that evening, so I guess we went there. But for the life of me, I can't remember anything about it.

Male Shopping Coma. Happens all the time.

But I do know that we had one full day left, and it would just be chalk full of awesome. Trust me on that.

 

[afwdwfan]

(it takes him quite a while to walk from the Parade Float to the M&G area. Short legs, you know.)

Then why don't they give him a ride over on the front of a garbage truck?

You know what the best thing about my kids is? They've seen Toy Story 3...let's just say a few times. They know what Lotso does. They know how he behaves. Yet, they look past that and hug him just a much as Winnie the Pooh or Mickey Mouse. That tells me that either my kids have hearts of gold and are willing to forgive him and give him a second chance...or they're inherently evil and are intrinsically drawn to him, hoping to combine their powers and take over the world! Hey, at least they dream big.

Do they tend to take after you or Bambi more? That might give us some insight as to which option it is.

Just kidding. He talked to her about drawing and practicing and working at something over and over and over until you get it right. He pulled out stacks of paper and showed her how he was trying to draw Mickey Mouse as Thor, but couldn't get it right. He showed her pages and pages of messed up drawings - but explained that he learned something from each failure, kept trying, and eventually got one that he really liked. (I wish I had taken a picture of it - it was totally bad a**.) So despite not getting a perfect drawing of Minnie on her first ever try, she did get a nice chat with an animator and learned that no one ever does it right the first time.

Awesome! I always love to see CM's that are willing to go that extra mile. I'm sure that really meant a lot to Madison to see that even a professional doesn't always get it right the first time!

Oh, and I wish you would have taken a picture of Mickey Thor too. You think to take pictures of off pattern tiles on a bathroom floor, but not a totally bad a** Mickey Thor???

We ended up in the Honey I Shrunk the Kids archaeology dig. Really, what kid born in the past 10 years even knows what a film canister is or has played with a Lite Brite?

You make an excellent point. Time for a little bit of updating???

It was pretty warm out that day. And Evan needed a little cooling off. In a way that only Evan would.

Somebody needs to give that kid a camera and teach him to take embarassing pictures of you.

That was my last picture from Hollywood Studios, so I can only imagine that we got kicked out after that. I have a few fuzzy pictures of Downtown Disney later that evening, so I guess we went there. But for the life of me, I can't remember anything about it. Clearly, this is as sign that I've let this Trip Report linger a bit too long. But I do know that we had one full day left, and it would just be chalk full of awesome. Trust me on that.

I guess Bambi will have to save the day and tell us if anything exciting happened that you forgot about.

Surprised you, didn't I?

You are clearly a crafty Ninja.

 

[chloe770]

I think it's sweet that kids can get over Lotso's evil way because I know I can't

I've always wanted to try the drawing class . Looks like fun. It was so nice of the instuctor to talk to Madison and show her his trial drawings. Definitely a good life lesson learned there that probably wouldn't have sunk in coming from Mom or Dad.

Cool pics with the Army man.

And I agree about kids not knowing what a film canister is but they do still play with light brites.