Day 14 – Star Wars Weekend
Friday 27th May
It’s a cloudy, humid start to the day, but we’re off to the Studios for Star Wars Weekend so all is ok with the world
A short walk from the Boardwalk and we’re there by 8.40am to see the expected hordes of people – the Star Wars Weekends truly bring in massive crowds. The Star Wars stormtroopers are keeping watch over the waiting fans below.
Slowly pass through the turnstiles to find that rope drop has happened 10 mins early – likely for safety reasons due to the huge numbers of guests - so have to hot foot it down to Toy Story Mania for FPs. Get to front of the line only for the machine to break down…finally get them for 90 mins later, then join Helen and the kids in the line. Helen and I sit together as the kids want to do it as a pair for the first time…I narrowly win, 156k to 149k.
Helen and Emma go off to Disney Junior while Ryan and I go to check out Rock n’ Roller Coaster and Jabba’s Hut for Star Ware souvenirs. RnRC already up to 50 mins, so we look the massive range of merchandise in the hut…can’t bring myself to pay $38 for a t-shirt so we meet Helen back at the hat. Disney Junior has broken down – spot the continuing theme throughout the holiday?
We go on the Great Movie Ride while Helen and Emma try again for the Disney Junior next show…it’s still not working so they join us in the line, just before we get loaded into the vehicles. We have the ‘gangster’ version of the story today, always good fun, but maybe wouldn’t hurt to freshen things up a little with more recent ‘classics’.
Time for our TSM FP and I do much better this time: 176k, versus 104k for Helen. Ryan manages 124k and 50k for Emma. At this point I leave Helen and the kids to visit Best Buy. We’ve been debating buying a new camcorder and finally decided to take the plunge. The old one is fine, but just too heavy to carry around very much, and therefore we’ve not taken as many videos as we might this trip. I go to the one near Florida Mall and buy a tiny Panasonic that is just what we’re looking for. Back home via Publix to grab some sandwiches and donuts for the kids. Helen reports she finally did Disney Junior and got some FPs for RnRC later too.
Finally Emma got to see Disney Junior
Eat lunch, charge up camcorder, then its pool time for a swim to cool off and relax for a bit. Head back to room around 5pm and get ready to go back out to Studios. Really want to catch the Hyperspace Hoopla after seeing videos of it posted on Youtube previously.
We get to the Studios and grab some food at Studio Catering company, then head back to the stage in front of the hat to watch the Padawan challenge event that has already started and to grab a spot for later. Many others have the same idea and the place is getting pretty busy. Play some iPhone games with kids to pass the time, and at around 7.30 everyone starts to stand up and edge forward, so we have to do the same. If only everyone sat down it would be fine…oh well.
The Hoopla starts at 7.45pm and it’s my chance to try out the new camcorder. My arm was aching after 30 mins, but couldn’t have held the old device for that length of time without wobbling quite a bit. I’ll upload the results to Youtube soon, and will come back and post the link here then. The great thing about the camcorder is that it allows you to take stills during filming, so here are a few of the show.
Helen takes Ryan to ride on RnRC, while I accompany Emma onto Star Tours. We get the Ice planet and Gungaon today, and we’re off in 15 mins with Emma thoroughly enjoying her new favourite ride. Unfortunately the heavens have opened in a typical Florida manner, so we make a run to the writer’s shop nearby and grab a coffee and cookie to let the worst pass before venturing back out. Still get pretty wet and meet Helen and Ryan at the front of the park….they are far wetter than us though, and we all squelch back to the Boardwalk.
Dry off and put on fresh clothes, and take Emma over to the Beach Club as she wants to watch the movie. It’s inside tonight due to the rain, and we get there in time to see the second half of A Bugs Life. 10 kids to start with reduce to 2 by the end, but the Disney entertainment CMs do a great job keeping them entertained and Emma has a lovely time watching the movie and colouring pictures.
Quick visit to the shops for a new autograph book, and to Beaches and Cream for a milkshake, then wander home to bed. No real plans tomorrow, so maybe a lie-in is in order.
Day 15 – Day 15 – Star Wars Weekend part 2, BW and Epcot
Setting the Scene and Index
Friday 27th May
It’s a cloudy, humid start to the day, but we’re off to the Studios for Star Wars Weekend so all is ok with the world
A short walk from the Boardwalk and we’re there by 8.40am to see the expected hordes of people – the Star Wars Weekends truly bring in massive crowds. The Star Wars stormtroopers are keeping watch over the waiting fans below.
Slowly pass through the turnstiles to find that rope drop has happened 10 mins early – likely for safety reasons due to the huge numbers of guests - so have to hot foot it down to Toy Story Mania for FPs. Get to front of the line only for the machine to break down…finally get them for 90 mins later, then join Helen and the kids in the line. Helen and I sit together as the kids want to do it as a pair for the first time…I narrowly win, 156k to 149k.
Helen and Emma go off to Disney Junior while Ryan and I go to check out Rock n’ Roller Coaster and Jabba’s Hut for Star Ware souvenirs. RnRC already up to 50 mins, so we look the massive range of merchandise in the hut…can’t bring myself to pay $38 for a t-shirt so we meet Helen back at the hat. Disney Junior has broken down – spot the continuing theme throughout the holiday?
We go on the Great Movie Ride while Helen and Emma try again for the Disney Junior next show…it’s still not working so they join us in the line, just before we get loaded into the vehicles. We have the ‘gangster’ version of the story today, always good fun, but maybe wouldn’t hurt to freshen things up a little with more recent ‘classics’.
Time for our TSM FP and I do much better this time: 176k, versus 104k for Helen. Ryan manages 124k and 50k for Emma. At this point I leave Helen and the kids to visit Best Buy. We’ve been debating buying a new camcorder and finally decided to take the plunge. The old one is fine, but just too heavy to carry around very much, and therefore we’ve not taken as many videos as we might this trip. I go to the one near Florida Mall and buy a tiny Panasonic that is just what we’re looking for. Back home via Publix to grab some sandwiches and donuts for the kids. Helen reports she finally did Disney Junior and got some FPs for RnRC later too.
Finally Emma got to see Disney Junior
Eat lunch, charge up camcorder, then its pool time for a swim to cool off and relax for a bit. Head back to room around 5pm and get ready to go back out to Studios. Really want to catch the Hyperspace Hoopla after seeing videos of it posted on Youtube previously.
We get to the Studios and grab some food at Studio Catering company, then head back to the stage in front of the hat to watch the Padawan challenge event that has already started and to grab a spot for later. Many others have the same idea and the place is getting pretty busy. Play some iPhone games with kids to pass the time, and at around 7.30 everyone starts to stand up and edge forward, so we have to do the same. If only everyone sat down it would be fine…oh well.
The Hoopla starts at 7.45pm and it’s my chance to try out the new camcorder. My arm was aching after 30 mins, but couldn’t have held the old device for that length of time without wobbling quite a bit. I’ll upload the results to Youtube soon, and will come back and post the link here then. The great thing about the camcorder is that it allows you to take stills during filming, so here are a few of the show.
Helen takes Ryan to ride on RnRC, while I accompany Emma onto Star Tours. We get the Ice planet and Gungaon today, and we’re off in 15 mins with Emma thoroughly enjoying her new favourite ride. Unfortunately the heavens have opened in a typical Florida manner, so we make a run to the writer’s shop nearby and grab a coffee and cookie to let the worst pass before venturing back out. Still get pretty wet and meet Helen and Ryan at the front of the park….they are far wetter than us though, and we all squelch back to the Boardwalk.
Dry off and put on fresh clothes, and take Emma over to the Beach Club as she wants to watch the movie. It’s inside tonight due to the rain, and we get there in time to see the second half of A Bugs Life. 10 kids to start with reduce to 2 by the end, but the Disney entertainment CMs do a great job keeping them entertained and Emma has a lovely time watching the movie and colouring pictures.
Quick visit to the shops for a new autograph book, and to Beaches and Cream for a milkshake, then wander home to bed. No real plans tomorrow, so maybe a lie-in is in order.
Day 15 – Day 15 – Star Wars Weekend part 2, BW and Epcot
Setting the Scene and Index
