Lightsabers, Mouse Kisses and a Man in a Lucky Shirt! A January 2010 TR

[Dancegrl624]

What a wonderful first evening at WDW! The TTA (or people mover as we call it...that was it's old name) is one of our favorites! It's so relaxing and there is never a line. You can even spot a Hidden Mickey while taking a ride on the TTA (no, I'm not giving it away). POTC is another fav as well. I too could ride it over and over again and not get bored. I don't think we've ever waited more than 10 minutes to ride that one.

According to this write up: What's New, What's Next, this summer will bring changes to nighttime entertainment at MK. I'm a little bummed.

 

[diznenut12]

Just joining in. Love the report. Can not wait for more

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

What a wonderful first evening at WDW! The TTA (or people mover as we call it...that was it's old name) is one of our favorites! It's so relaxing and there is never a line. You can even spot a Hidden Mickey while taking a ride on the TTA (no, I'm not giving it away). POTC is another fav as well. I too could ride it over and over again and not get bored. I don't think we've ever waited more than 10 minutes to ride that one.

According to this write up: What's New, What's Next, this summer will bring changes to nighttime entertainment at MK. I'm a little bummed.

Don't worry Meghan! The changes are only temporary! I read about this elsewhere and it sounds ominous but is just a temporary thing while Spectro gets fixed and Wishes undergoes an redesign! Also I read that Illumination is long overdue for a rehaul and is expected to finish its current run sometime this summer as well!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Don't worry Meghan! The changes are only temporary! I read about this elsewhere and it sounds ominous but is just a temporary thing while Spectro gets fixed and Wishes undergoes an redesign! Also I read that Illumination is long overdue for a rehaul and is expected to finish its current run sometime this summer as well!

Phew! I think I've seen the Main Street Electrical Parade before, but Wishes is my favorite!!!! I cry every time I see it. IllumiNations doesn't need to be changed in my mind. It's so great too!

 

[lexmas]

subbing! I'm enjoying your trip report so much and you're not at disney yet! Can't wait to catch up, but I don't want to lose the thread! Back to reading!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Great update Kim (and Ken)! Looks like your park touring was off to a great start!

I also timed our bus ride from POR to MK and came up with 9-10 minutes. Not sure why everything gets so exaggerated on these boards.

I'm sad to hear that Space Mtn. is even more jerky now. I was really hoping the rehab had made it smoother. When we started going to Disney 5 years ago I loved Space Mtn! But each year my love for it was less and less. Each time it seemed rougher and rougher. I insisted it had to be the track getting rougher, because it sure couldn't be me getting older!


Great Spectro & Wishes pics!

Can't wait for your DHS day!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

subbing! I'm enjoying your trip report so much and you're not at disney yet! Can't wait to catch up, but I don't want to lose the thread! Back to reading!

Hey! Thanks for joining us! Glad you are enjoying the report!

Great update Kim (and Ken)! Looks like your park touring was off to a great start!

I also timed our bus ride from POR to MK and came up with 9-10 minutes. Not sure why everything gets so exaggerated on these boards.

I'm sad to hear that Space Mtn. is even more jerky now. I was really hoping the rehab had made it smoother. When we started going to Disney 5 years ago I loved Space Mtn! But each year my love for it was less and less. Each time it seemed rougher and rougher. I insisted it had to be the track getting rougher, because it sure couldn't be me getting older!


Great Spectro & Wishes pics!

Can't wait for your DHS day!

Hey Shelly! Our DHS day will be coming up soon! Maybe tomorrow! I need to find some time to right it up first! We have had a busy weekend!

 

[praisehisname]

Joining in and loving it! Especially the side comments your hubby is adding!

Denise

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Joining in and loving it! Especially the side comments your hubby is adding!

Denise

Welcome Denise! Thanks for coming out!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

THE NEXT CHAPTER IS BEING WRITTEN RIGHT NOW!!!! I WILL POST IT TOMORROW!!!! I AM TAKING THE REST OF THE EVENING TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH MY VALENTINE!!!!!!

 

[Firestarter]

THE NEXT CHAPTER IS BEING WRITTEN RIGHT NOW!!!! I WILL POST IT TOMORROW!!!! I AM TAKING THE REST OF THE EVENING TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH MY VALENTINE!!!!!!

Actually, she's spending some time watching Arrested Development season 3 with me. Now which copy do we watch, the one I bought her, or the one she bought me? :

Yup, our idea of Valentines day included celebrating Chinese New Year with a special dinner, and watching a canceled Fox series whilst she enjoys some "relax" Riesling and I sip a fine Polish Vodka.

Who says romance is dead?

 

[lovegrumpy]

Great start so far. can't wait to read more.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Chapter 4: Hollywood or Bust!!!

Our alarms rang at 7am! We all roused ourselves and got to the business of preparing for a day in Hollywood! Disney's Hollywood Studios that is!! Showered washed and dressed we wolfed down some yogurt and poptarts. Prepared and ready for our day ahead we made our way to the bus stop. We were there by 7:45am!

We did not have to wait long at all! By my notes we were on a bus by 7:56am! We headed for the back of the bus to the warm, toasty seats and settled in for the ride. We did head over to Riverside this morning but it did not take long. Only a small handful of people got on the bus and we were on our way by 8:03am!

Another quick ride and we were delivered to DHS by 8:15! As we approached the turstiles we were welcomed by a very friendly CM and asked if we were there afor breakfast. We told that in fact w were not and she directed us to the far right. I glanced over and saw a beautiful sight! TURNSTILES WITH NO LINES!!!!!

I quickly walked over to one of these and claimed my spot!!! FIRST IN LINE BABY!!! OH YEAH!!!!!At that moment, I thought of my good friend Jenjolt who back on her trip in October had had such an experience and immediately launched into my “first in line victory dance!” Ken just had to capture it on film!

Once I was assured that our space in line was in no immeadiate threat, I conceded to take the girls to the washrroom! Poor things had been dancing too, only NOT so much in victory but in discomfort! Once we returned it was not a long wait before the gates opened and we were let in to Hollywood Boulevard! It was 8:45am!

I managed to keep our precious spot and were literally belly up to the rope when we were stopped for the morning's opening show! We chatted with some of the “Toys” from TSM who came out to give us some special instructions. There was a bit of construction going on along Hollywood Blvd. They wanted to make sure that we walked around the wet concrete and not through it!

Before too long, the director arrived! Now it must be said that of all the opening shows, this one has to be our fave! We (Ken especially) are great fans of Mr. Alberto Dante and his assistant Bucky Greenwood! They are so much fun! We very much enjoy being cast as “extras” in Mr. Dante's movie!

We said our line “Hollywood Here We come!” and took off behind the CM's for the Toy Story Morning March! Man, do those guys ever walk FAST!!! I managed to keep up with them but JUST barely! I had to really push myself to avoid being pushed aside by taller people with longer legs!

I had the tickets so I hit the Fast pass machines while Ken and the girls waited just off to the side! I had decided not to line jump that morning as there were CMs everywhere cautioning families to “STAY TOGETHER”! With fastpasses in hand we headed toward the standby line.

It was exactly 9:05am! We were definitely some of the first 100 people to ride TSM that morning! First ride down – EXCELLENT!!! Just as much fun as we remembered it to be!

After our ride with Andy's Toys, we strolled down Sunset Boulevard so Ken could experience the Tower of Terror! On our way we stopped to do some pics with a Photopass photographer. (which I will add once my CD arrives) None of us girls was willing to accompany Ken into the Hollywood Hotel so we waited for him in the gift shop! While there, Emily found and purchased herself a pair of POTC sunglasses! Pirate shades, as she likes to call them!

After his ride, Ken rejoined us and we went to redeem our Fps for TSM and get more! It was about 9:40 at this point. As we walked down Sunset, a CM we had just passes called Emily by name and said that there was a phone call for her!!! He handed her a phone and we all stood there wondering who it could be! She suddenly got a big grin on her face and said “Mama, it's Goofy! He is singing Happy Birthday to me!”

On that note I guess I should explain to you that, YES, we were in fact celebrating Em's 9th birthday a teensy bit early this year! Her birthday is actually this Wednesday, the 17th! So, she was in fact wearing a birthday button! What a wonderful little piece of magic for my sweet little girl! It made her day!

We continued on our way. Procured another set of Fps and then rode TSM with our first set! Second ride down – STILL AMAZING!!! By this time, it was about 10ish, we were feeling a bit hungry. We decided to go and have a mid morning snack. Starring Rolls, here we come! Look out Giant cupcakes, Ken is on his way!!!

We used 3 snack credits for the Butterfinger cupcake, a fresh fruit tart and a cinnamon Bun. All of them were so very yummy! Let me tell you, that cupcake is QUITE large. It actually casts a shadow. The tart was very tasty. I could eat one of those every day! The cinnamon bun was about equal to one we would get at Tim Horton's but still VERY yummy!

Snack completed we decided to head over and check out the line for Star Tours. The stand by line was at about 25 mins and there were no Fps being offered so we decided to go see Muppets with the hopes that the line would shorten.

Others may say that Muppets is old and run down and due for a rehab. I say that it is one of my favourite show in all of WDW!!! I will ALWAYS be impressed with how the theatre gets damaged when the cannon goes off! TOO COOL!!!

After Muppets we went to check on the Star Tours line. It was a 5 min standby wait!!!! We went in and got on right away!!! Nat was so excited about riding this for her first time! She LOVED it!!! Wanted to do it again immediately! We told her that we would ride it again later.

Took a break to hit the powder rooms and then headed to Pizza Planet for some lunch!


To be continued.........

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Great update! Looks like you were having a great morning at DHS, my favorite park! Those snacks sure look yummy!

Can't wait for more!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Sheesh Shelly! You are too fast for me! I am still waiting on Photobucket to upload the next bunch of pictures! I hope that I can get the next part up before I have to go get the girls from school!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Wow! What a jam-packed morning. It pays to go early doesn't it?

I feel so bad - I knew Emily's b-day was around now, just couldn't remember the date. Sarah's card to her will be late. Cute that the CMs do nice stuff like that for kids!

 

[Dancegrl624]

How awesome to be first in line!!! I've never been able to experience that (yet!) but I hope to some day. I can't wait to hear more about your DHS day!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

CHAPTER 4 continued......

By this point it was just about 11:30am but we needed to eat a bit earlier so we could see the Indiana jones show at 12:45pm. We had recently watched the first Indy show with the girls and they both really excited to see the stunt show!

Lunch was about as good as we had last year. Our other option for lunch that day had been the new place over on Sunset (Fairfax Fare??) but we didn't want to trek all the way across the park so we decided on Pizza Planet. The girls and I had pizza and Ken had a salad. He was quite impressed to see the name of the salad dressing! I guess he didn't remember that little detail from last year!

We finished lunch at shortly after noon and since we had some time to kill and our window for more fastpasses had just opened Ken decided that He and Em would trek over to RnRc to grab some FP's for later. Nat and I decided to explore the Streets of America with the hopes of finding the much talked about “Umbrella”. We would meet up at the entrance to Indy at 1230pm.

Nat and I wandered through the Streets searching for the Umbrella while enjoying the “Mulch, Sweat & Shears” concert that was going on! They really ROCK!!! Awesome! I would love to enjoy their whole set sometime! If you have never heard them here is a link to a bit of their music.

Mulch Sweat and Shears

We finally found the Umbrella and waited our turn for a photo op. I was only able to get a pic of Nat under the umbrella and there was nobody around to take a pic of both of us. Unfortunately we never did get back to that part of the park that day. Oh well, another time!

We met up with Ken and Em and were about to head in to grab some seats when Nat declared that she had to use the washroom. I took her while the other 2 went in to get seats. We rushed back just in time! I was just able to explain to Ken about how when I was a teen, my friend had been chosen to be an extra. He was all over that and when the call came, he started calling out and waving his arms furiously!

Now, about part of the title! This day, Ken just happened to be wearing one of his funky Hawaiian shirts! He wears one these shirts to work every Friday and declares it to be his “Lucky Shirt” Well, today defintiely was his Lucky Day! He was chosen to be an extra for the show!!! Now for those of who don't already know, Ken is an actor. He does drama for the weekend services at our church. He is very good! He is also the director of said Dramas. When he is not on stage he is the man behind the action!

Needless to say, He was thrilled! He pretty much skipped down the stairs to the stage and never stopped smiling the whole time! If you have ever seen the show, he got to be the guy who “dies” from the bullet shots! He did a great job! I was so proud of him! I am sure that he will have more to say on the issue when he does his own commentary!

After a brilliant show we did yet another potty break and then decided to do the Great Movie Ride. I asked about the Cowboy side but unfortunately, they were only doing the Gangster side that day! Oh well, again, maybe something for another time! Ken and Natalie hadn't done this one last year because we thought Nat might be a bit afraid of the “Alien” part. We all went as a family this year and we all enjoyed it very much! Em so loved the Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins bits! 2 of her Fave movies!

After our ride “through the movies” it was time to do some Rockin'!!! YUP, I was about to have my very first ride on Rockin' Roller Coaster! Em Too!!! Emily is just 50” tall and thrilled that could ride it this year!!! She was just a shade under 48 last year! It was AMAZING!!!!! So much so that we went and got MORE Fast Passes for another ride later!!!!!!!! I LOVE RnRc!!!!! The take off bit really takes your breath away!

While we were Rockin' out to Aerosmilth, Nat and Ken had gone on another Star Tour to try and reach the Moon of Endor! This is now Natalie's #1 favourite ride!!! We haven't yet told her about the rehab! We hope that it will be ready to see on our next visit! (Not sure when that will be yet!)

When we were all done with our rides, we met back near “The Hat” to find a spot to watch the parade! While were waiting we had some Photopass pics done. Some are Really cute! I will add them when my CD arrives.

If you have never taken the time to check out this parade, I highly recommend it! It is a blast and a half! Great music, energetic dancers and great characters!! I so loved the army sergeant that we had! He was Hilarious!!! The girls got asked if they wanted to go and dance with some of the dancers. Em didn't want to bit Nat did and she had a blast! Ken was rockin' out so hard I thought he might slip a disc or something! I was hoping that his sciatic nerve would be all right!

We thoroughly enjoyed the parade and will most definitely see it again some day.

To be continued.......

 

[Dancegrl624]

How awesome that Ken got chosen as an extra!!!! I always thought that would be so much fun. I must admit, I haven't seen a daytime parade at WDW in years and years. They all look so wonderful! Maybe someday we will have to stop and watch one of them. RNRC is my DH's all time favorite ride in all of WDW. I felt so bad when he didn't get to ride it on our June trip (due to single rider line issues). I will make sure he gets to ride it whenever our next trip may be (keep your fingers crossed that he lets us go this fall!).

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Sheesh Shelly! You are too fast for me! I am still waiting on Photobucket to upload the next bunch of pictures! I hope that I can get the next part up before I have to go get the girls from school!

Yep that's me, super speedy!!

Another great update! How fun that Ken was chosen as an extra! My DH was chosen as an extra in the Backlot Tour show a few years ago, is was hilarious!

As you know I just LOVE RNRC! My all time favorite ride! So glad you and Em got to enjoy it!