Mom, my hands smell-A first timer's TR-Completed 4/12

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Chocolate, Trolls…FIESTA!!!

Okay, honestly, we didn’t take any pictures for the rest of the night so I’m going to improvise with pictures I find on photobucket.

When I last left you, we were an hour away or so from our ADR at San Angel Inn and we decided to go get Sleepy some chocolate and see me some trolls in the mean time.

So off we headed to… Germany!

(I wish it had been that empty at the time.)

We went into the candy store and there, Sleepy was reunited with her chocolate.

Yum.

We took on last look at this part of the World Showcase and then headed off to Norway.

And off to one of my favorite rides, Maelstrom.

Somewhere along the way in the line, we got to talking about Missy. I just looked away and cried while we tried to enjoy ourselves. I still felt horrible, not being at home where she should have been. Finally, we boarded the “ship” and were on our way through Norvay.

My version of the polar bears on the ride.

By this time, it was just about our ADR time. We walked right over to Mexico…

And to the San Angel Inn.

Now, before we went to WDW, I’d read some comments on the DIS about how the service was horrid, yet not as bad as the food. We decided that we would still try it in hopes that we would get some good service.

We checked in right at our ADR time (somewhere around 5:30) and then went into the little waiting area for our buzzer to go off. While we waited, we found a vegetarian menu (even though I’d knew I’d get one at the table) so that I could mull it over before I was seated. It didn’t take long for me, there were only 2 items.

Our buzzer went off within a few minutes and we were seated. The first thing I noticed was that I was not given a vegetarian menu even though it was on our reservation notes and we knew the server knew. Good thing I’d grabbed one from the waiting area.

Other than the lack of getting a menu, our server wasn’t half bad. Although, he was a bit flighty. “Iseverythingok?Good.” And then he was off. But that’s really the only complaint.

Sleepy and Grumpy chose the Plato Mexicano for their meal.

Plato Mexicano-beef sirloin, chicken enchilada with sour cream and onions, and beef flauta, served with black refried beans and Mexican rice

They both agreed that it was excellent.

And I chose the Plato Combinacion for my meat-free meal.

Plato Combinacion - Flour tortilla burrito, filled with black refried beans, a medley of vegetables, covered with adobo sauce, corn tortilla enchillada filled with melted cheese, topped with sour cream and onions served with Pico de Gallo sauce

It was quite tasty, but I have to say the best part was the rice.

Overall, the meal and whole atmosphere was just great. Yes, it was a little crowded and a bit loud. No, the food wasn’t the best Mexican in the world (but we’re close to natives, so we can get a bit picky). Will we ever eat here at Disney World again? Possibly. Do I think it deserves all the flames it gets on the boards? Definitely not.

After our meal, we went and rode the Grand Fiesta Boat Tour for the last time.

And then headed outside. We took our final look at the World Showcase…

We ran over to use our FASTPASSES for Test Track (after I grabbed a pair of Minnie Mouse ears I’d been eyeing all week). And then, we left Epcot for the last time in who knows how long.

Next Up: Why’d they change the name?

 

[LaurenMic]

Great update! I'm glad to find another person on the boards who doesn't really dislike San Angel Inn. We thought it was pretty good!

I'm so sorry about your dog, that must have been so hard for you!

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Great update! I'm glad to find another person on the boards who doesn't really dislike San Angel Inn. We thought it was pretty good!

I'm so sorry about your dog, that must have been so hard for you!

Did you eat lunch or dinner there? I'm noticing that most of the people who don't like it, eat there at lunch.

It was really hard for all of us. We're just thanking God that my brother was at home when it happened...

 

[LaurenMic]

Did you eat lunch or dinner there? I'm noticing that most of the people who don't like it, eat there at lunch.

It was really hard for all of us. We're just thanking God that my brother was at home when it happened...

We had dinner there. I got the same thing your parents did and really liked it. Like you said, not as good as authentic Mexican (I have relatives in Southern CA, so we know REAL Mexican like you do ) but still pretty good.

 

[grandpaof3]

Not being a big fan of Mexican food I think we will skip San Angel Inn on our Nov./Sept. trip this year. Kona Cafe, 1900 Park Fare & Chef Mickey are on our list but all else should be something we haven't tried before.

I also liked Maelstrom. Wish there were more rides in the World Showcase. Hope you get back to EPCOT real soon

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Friday, July 18, 2009
Disney’s Hollywood Studios (a.k.a. MGM)
Why’d they change the name?

Well, whilst I was outside yesterday, I saw a white balloon that looked frightfully like the Mickey balloons from the new “What Will You Celebrate?” commercials. I took that as a sign (well, two actually…but Sleepy and Grumpy rolled their eyes at the first, umm…suggestion) and returned to the trips report. This past week was my spring break, and I know I should’ve worked on this TR, but, well, I didn’t. But, anywho…let’s go back in time to 8 months ago in Florida.

We got up early, early again this morning. We figured we should seeing as it was our last day at Disney (excuse me while I cry). Hollywood Studios opened at 9, so we got there at about 8:30.

Tower of Terror!

(And look at that empty lot)

We parked in my favorite area, STAGE!

Unfortunately, it was morning EMH today so we watched as the happy families poured into the park. BUT, we did beat three (count ‘em, three)
Brazilian tour groups. They stood right behind us and another family in line (we were first in line!). So we took this opportunity to be picture happy.

The night before, I’d taken advantage of the Worst Hotel in Florida’s free wireless internet to log on to the DIS and read up on some TR’s. Lucky me, Charleston Princess had updated hers about their day in Hollywood Studios (shout out CP!). She’d taken a picture of, um, Bo(?) and I had to take one to post on her TR (which I don’t think I ever did).

So, uh, here’s…Bo(?)

Grumpy had been bugging me all morning by repeatedly saying MGM. “Are we going to MGM today?” “Are you ready to go to MGM?” “So MGM is the last park of our trip.” (Looking at the Hollywood Studios entrance sign) “Here’s MGM.” YES, I know that it will always be MGM in our hearts, but as a Disney fanatic, I must insist on it being correct at the same time. To the point… While we were standing in line, he said, “I wonder when they’re going to open MGM to the rest of us.”

“Hollywood Studios,” I said. “Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They changed the name.”

“Oh…”

Two minutes later, they opened up the park to the rest of us Joe’s and we rushed in.

We had our plan set. Grumpy ran off to get on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster while Sleepy and I ran off to get FASTPASSES for Toy Story Mania.

The line was crazy for the ride. I dodged in with the tickets and grabbed 3 FASTPASSES with a return time of 1:30! It was only 9:02 at this point.
We quickly ran away from Pixar Place and down to Tower of Terror. It said the Stand-By time said 30 minutes but we hopped in anyway. We were in the parlor within 5 minutes. Sleepy and I love, love, love this ride (we thankfully have it in DL) so we were excited to ride it together. See, Sleepy… Isn’t it nice? Just you and me?

Let’s just say we were not disappointed with this one. I love the 5th dimension, which isn’t in California. Amazing.

When we got off, Grumpy was there waiting for us, after just finishing rocking with Aerosmith. We decided to just hop on ToT again. This time, we waited for about 20 minutes, simply because the ride experienced some technical difficulties while we were waiting outside of the library. It was up and running within 5 minutes though.

While we were waiting, Sleepy looked at me through questioning eyes.

“Why did they change the name of the park?”

“Umm… The Disney people are weird.”

Yup.

Up Next: Seeing Stars

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ahhh, Chelsea's favorite man, Bo! Love the shout out!

I have to agree with you about the name -- it will always be MGM in my heart, but I just have to call it Hollywood Studios now because that's its name.

One day, one day I might get up the nerve to ride the Tower of Terror again.

 

[DisDancerina]

Haha, funny stuff. I'm scared to death to ride ToT actually, but one day I guess I will.

What's this about a fifth sense??

 

[grandpaof3]

Love Rock 'n' Roller Coaster & Tower of Terror. My DGD, soon to be 14, rode the Tower for the first time last year and loved it.

I have to admit that I to still call it MGM.

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Ahhh, Chelsea's favorite man, Bo! Love the shout out!

I have to agree with you about the name -- it will always be MGM in my heart, but I just have to call it Hollywood Studios now because that's its name.

One day, one day I might get up the nerve to ride the Tower of Terror again.

Good, I got the name right. It's always good to be Disney-atically correct when it comes to names of things. You really should try ToT again. I really hated it the first time I did it in California, but now I ADORE it (not to mention, it's one of two rides that's worth doing in Disney's California Adventure--Soarin' Over CA is the other...well, I guess they added TSM, that should go up there too).

Haha, funny stuff. I'm scared to death to ride ToT actually, but one day I guess I will.

What's this about a fifth sense??

You mean you have a Disneyland AP, and you were in Disney World and you didn't do Tower of Terror! Dani... Tsk, tsk. Try it next time you're in DL. Honestly. The fifth dimension is a part of the ride not in California's version, where the vehicle actually moves forward and you get to see all these different things. It's hard to describe but it makes it so amazing.

Love Rock 'n' Roller Coaster & Tower of Terror. My DGD, soon to be 14, rode the Tower for the first time last year and loved it.

I have to admit that I to still call it MGM.

I'm still wondering WHY they changed it to Hollywood Studios. Why, Disney executive people, WHY?! Why did you change the name of a park and confuse hundreds of thousands of Disney fans?! Why?!

I told Grumpy that next time we go to Disney World, I'll do Rock 'n' Roller Coaster with him. Sleepy went on it with him in 2002 and after they got off, she was ill for the rest of the day. So, she really doesn't do it anymore. But in this case, it was nice being able for the two of us to stroll (run!) through DHS and go our own pace without having to wait or stop.

 

[Tigger822]

Hi lurker here.
I Love your TR and hope you get to go back soon!
I believe they changed the name from Disney's MGM Studios to Disney's Hollywood Studios is because MGM is no longer a sponser for the park. Anybody please correct me if I am wrong.
Lisa

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Hi lurker here.
I Love your TR and hope you get to go back soon!
I believe they changed the name from Disney's MGM Studios to Disney's Hollywood Studios is because MGM is no longer a sponser for the park. Anybody please correct me if I am wrong.
Lisa

Welcome!

Thanks for your insight on that problem. Although, I did hear that MGM (in Disney's case) actually stood for Many Great Movies...but I could be wrong on that. Maybe Metro-Goldwyn Mayer was the sponsor and they stepped out. They did take their own theme park (in Vegas) away anyway. Hmmm...the world may never know.

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Seeing Stars

We finished our ride through the 5th dimension and the next step in our Unofficial Guide plan was to head over to the Great Movie Ride.

I took this picture because I’d just watched the movie it came from—Shakespeare in Love.

The line was pretty short. It took about five minutes to get through. We were in the front row, right next to the CM “steering” the ride. I felt bad for her. She was really enthusiastic, but her microphone kept fading out so we were basically the only ones who got to hear her. The cowboy who took over our train got really mad at the microphone. The first CM wound up calling to get it fixed once they started the movie at the end.

Pictures.

We headed out and over to the Animation Courtyard to grab some FASTPASSES for the Voyage of the Little Mermaid.

Grumpy was very excited to go see the Little Mermaid.

We went down to the Backlot Tour, snapping pictures along the way.

Sleepy was somewhat obsessed with these busts.

To the tour!

The amazing costume shop.

The Backlot Tour, in my opinion, was pretty cool. I probably wouldn’t do it again, but it was still cool to see all the “behind the scenes” things.

When we finished here, we headed over to the Voyage of the Little Mermaid and were let in for the show that started in 3 minutes. I hate that holding pen they have. We were squished against the door and no one could move, or even breathe. Thankfully, they let us in soon. The show wasn’t too terribly bad. If it weren’t for all the flash picture taker people, it would’ve been even better, but oh well.

As soon as we finished here, we went over to Pixar Place to ride Toy Story Mania. That ride is AMAZING. Sleepy, of course, beat our butts and she claims she doesn’t know how. I didn’t snap a picture of our scores, but mine and Grumpy’s were pretty pitiful.

We went over to Star Tours next where there was only a 5 minute wait. I found that I didn’t enjoy the ride as much as I do in California. It seemed much too tame. When we got to the gift shop at the end of the ride, we found that it was absolutely packed in there. Why? Everyone had to find refuge here because of the rain. It seriously took us 20 minutes to elbow our way out of the store. We put our cheap ponchos on afterwards and started out of Hollywood Studios. We planned to go rest at our…motel…and come back in time for Fantasmic! Would we make it?

You’ll have to wait to find out…

Up Next: Do We Make It to Fantasmic?

 

[grandpaof3]

We went on the Great movie Ride a few years ago and I really don't remember much of it.
The Little Mermaid was so crowded last year that we passed on it but it will be a must this year. I used to do some SCUBA diving and, yep, I have a thing for Mermaids.
The Back Lot Tour is a fun ride. We did it during a thunder storm in 2006 and were soaked long before it was over. I remember the Disney airplane, that was on the tour, flying over the MK back in the 70's.
We have to try the Toy Story ride this year also.
Fantasmic was rained out the same day we were soaked on the Back Lot Tour. We seem to offend the Rain Gods most of the time.

B.C.N.U

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Sorry I've been AWOL. Pirates of Penzance was at my school this week and we spent many hours at our school trying to perfect everything. Oh, and not to mention doing 6 1/2 shows. So here's the next installment for your enjoyment. I'll try and get another one hammered out either today or tomorrow.

Do We Make It to Fantasmic?

After picking up a few souvenirs on our way out, we headed off to the crummy Knight’s Inn. Yuck. I spent some time on the DIS and uploaded my mom’s pictures onto my computer while Grumpy dialed the number for the pizza place that we’d ordered from on Sunday.

An hour later, he called them again to see where our pizza was (it’d been delivered within 30 minutes earlier that week). Apparently, they hadn’t even started making it yet. It would be there in 30 minutes, they said.

45 minutes later, we decided just to leave and go to the IHOP down the street. As far as we know, they never did deliver the pizza. After a nice meal at the empty restaurant, we headed over to Hollywood Studios again.

The 2nd Fantasmic show started at 10 (I think). We got there at about 8 and headed right in.

We decided to get one last Photopass picture done.

We headed over to Pixar Place and got in the Single-Rider line for Toy Story Mania (standby was 70).

We waited for about 40 minutes or so in the very, very slow moving line.

Finally, we had to split up as we loaded. Remember those three people I tried taking a picture of (for them) on our first day at EPCOT? Probably not. But I somehow wound up on the same vehicle as they did. It took me all the way until November to realize this, but I’m being truthful on this. It was funny.

Loved this ride again! At almost the very end, the ride shut down for about 10 minutes. The girl sitting next to me was very quiet. I think she was mad at her friends for making her sit by some weird teenager. But her friends seemed to be having the time of their lives, taking a hundred pictures, probably. At one point, they stuck the camera over to my side of the vehicle (thinking it was the other girl) and flashed a picture of me instead.

When we finally got off the ride and back together, Sleepy, Grumpy, and I started to head over to Fantasmic.

We regretted not doing this.

We got over to the holding pen with some time to spare. We got some drinks from the cart and sipped on them while we waited. At last, we were ushered into the stadium and we staked out our spot. We actually got a good spot, although we were surrounded by chanting tour groups.

The moon was really big that night.

The stage was really cool.

Sleepy and I were being silly.

And at long last, the show started. Now, Fanstasmic has been at Disneyland for about 10 years, and in all the times we’d been, we’d never watched more than 5 minutes of it. So we made it a must-do for this trip. I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

All too soon, the show was over and we had to head out. We walked as slowly as possible, even though we had left Fantasmic a minute early to avoid the crowd. We tried to take as much of it in as humanly possible in our last minutes at Disney World.

Nearly crying, we said good-bye to Hollywood Studios and all of Disney World. While we waited for the tram, a little bunny hopped in the middle of the street. At first, there were 100 flashes and then someone chased it off before a tram ran over it.

And then we rode the tram to our car, drove away from the parking lot, out of Disney World and to our hotel (if you could call it that).
And our Disney World escapades were over forever. Well, at least for a while.

Next Up: Wait, wait! Where are you going? There's still another travel day! And more pictures! And more! Wait!

 

[grandpaof3]

Hi again.

I've been meaning to ask you how the Pirate play went. Did you get to play a part and if so what part did you get? What happened to the other half of the 6th.show?

Maybe I will try to see the entire Fantasmic show someday. We almost tried it last year but the Rain Gods were looking mean again so we took the boat to EPCOT instead.

The last day is always one you don't want to think about and I always have to ask my DD to drag me out of park so I can say that I didn't leave of my own free will.

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Hi again.

I've been meaning to ask you how the Pirate play went. Did you get to play a part and if so what part did you get? What happened to the other half of the 6th.show?

Maybe I will try to see the entire Fantasmic show someday. We almost tried it last year but the Rain Gods were looking mean again so we took the boat to EPCOT instead.

The last day is always one you don't want to think about and I always have to ask my DD to drag me out of park so I can say that I didn't leave of my own free will.

I was a police officer. It went really great. We did a teaser show so that was our 1/2 show. We did 6 full ones.

I'd never thought I'd like Fantasmic, but it's actually quite cool. Definately check it out if they're still running it when you go down. I hate last days. I'm going to put up our last, last day tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Sniff, sniff, leaving WDW is always so heartbreaking -- even when I am reading about someone else leaving...

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Do We REALLY Have to Leave?
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Travel Day 2

We slept way in today. I woke up and didn’t want to get up. This was a recurring thing this day. I simply didn’t want to move at all. I was so tired after the long trip. But eventually, I got up and we finished packing up our stuff. We basically trashed the room, making sure that we took everything.

Grumpy went to check us out while Sleepy and I packed up the car. A few minutes after Grumpy came back, this elderly couple drives up. Apparently, they were debating staying here and the people at the desk had sent them to our room to check it out.

Were they kidding?

Our room was absolutely trashed, and they had to have known that. They only used our room cuz it was open. The elderly couple asked us what we thought of the hotel.

Sleepy got her revenge by telling them that it was an absolutely horrible place. Telling them that children were cleaning the rooms and that they were unsanitary. She also talked about how horrible the service was, how you couldn’t get more than one towel per room, per week and how the pillows flattened.

Let’s just say that the couple had driven off before Sleepy even finished, speeding down the road.

We got into our own car and started our adventure to the beach. I think I slept most of the ride, because I don’t remember half of what Sleepy took pictures of.

(She did take a lot more than 2, but these are the only good ones).

I don’t remember what beach we went to, but I do remember passing Cocoa Beach along the way.

Before we stepped foot on the beach, though, Sleepy wanted a picture of me and Grumpy.

And now, the beach.

My first look at the ocean--ever.

Grumpy took the camera and took pictures of Sleepy and I going near the waves. I kept running away though.

We got something to snack on at the Wendy’s right by the beach, cleaned off our feet, and headed out at last. In some respect, I wanted to go home, but at the same time, I didn’t want to leave. Guess which one we wound up doing.

We actually did debate going to the cruise terminal and seeing if they had any last minute spaces.

And then came one of the saddest parts of the whole trip. Pulling into the MCO car return.

We got to our gate with plenty of time to spare. We toyed around on the computer for a while then boarded the plane. The flights were uneventful. We had a connection in North Carolina then a very long flight back to Phoenix. My brother picked us up at the airport and took us home.
We were home at last.

Next Up: Final Thoughts

 

[grandpaof3]

Good to hear that you had a chance to get some revenge on Knights Inn.

I never saw the ocean until I was 21 then made up for it by living in the Bermuda Islands for two years. You never get tired of seeing all that water.

Will be watching for your final thoughts.