MKFan-PR
Certified MK Freak! Work is what I do for Vacation
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2002
- Messages
- 495
THE CAST:
MKFan-PR: Me, 34. Disney nut since my parents took me when I was 5. This is my 10th trip overall, number 6 with my DW and number 2 with my DD.
Carmen: DW, 38. Her 7th trip (6 with me). Knows a little English but enjoys Disney a lot.
Larissa: DD, 3.5. This is actually her 2nd trip, but this is the first that she will actually have memories of. Has been excited about the trip ever since she saw the vacation video.
We live in Puerto Rico, so a trip to Disney involves quite some planning and investment; it is very difficult to go more than once a year. With Larissa starting school this will be the first time that our family will NOT be going off-season, and who knows when we'll be able to return, so this trip is extra-special for my DW and me.
8/3: Day 3-The Studios: 'Under the sun...Under the rain...'
First, to all who have read and posted on the trip report so far...thank you!
To figmentvi...Hey, vecino!
Now, back to our saga!
I wake up at about 9:40AM. Yesterday was a looong day. I feel very rested. Instead of starting early and taking a midday break, we prefer to start later in the day and stay in the parks as long as we can, without over-extending ourselves (remember, we're not 'park commandos', but we like to do as much as we can). It's just how we like to do it.
I get up, get dressed and watch some TV while Carmen and Larissa wake up. They wake up at the same time. We get Larissa dressed and she comes with me to OPR to get some breakfast while Carmen gets ready.
Now, during the daytime, I realize how great is our room location. We're in room 2534 (Bldg. 25). It's on the second floor, right by the stairs. We're close to everything: We go one way, and we're in the Bus Stop. We go another way, and we're in the car. We go this other way, and we're in the quiet pool. We go yet anotherway, and we're in OPR. Tthe only minor, minor inconvenience we would find later it's that this building has no elevators and when we arrive at the room with Larissa sleeping in the stroller, we either have to haul it up the stairs or take her out and fold it. But the room is so close to the stairs that it's not a major problem.
We got to OPR and we get our breakfast to go: a bountiful breakfast for me from the Pizza Shop, a croissant and some pastries for Carmen, and some Milk and cereal for Larissa (both from the Bakery). Also bought two mugs. They would prove to be a great value for us during the trip. The food court is okay for us, although I think the Food Courts and PO are better. I read that it will be refurbished. Let's see what they do with it.
We get to the room, eat our breakfast, then head to the Bus Stop for the bus to the Disney-MGM Studios. We get there at about 11:30 AM. After getting a couple pictures with the giant Stitch in the entrance, we go to security. No waiting at the security table (the guards, or at least the ones we dealed with, were very very thorough and very courteous at the same time).
This is the first time that we see the big socerer's hat. It looks good. I think the street loses something without the 'Chinese Theater' (GMR) in the back. But from the entrance it's impressive and looks pretty nice. I guess they figured they needed a huge icon in the center of this park, like they have in the others.
We take some pictures and then get on the GMR with about 10 min. wait. I've always liked this ride and we always do it first. Like the CBJ in the MK, the guide's 'act' depends on the crowd. Unlike the CBJ yesterday, this group is deader than the tombstones in the HM. But the cast members go on bravely. I saw that the movie montage at the end of the ride has been updated since I was last here ('99). I've always found it very exciting and fun.
We then headed to MV3D. We went right in with no wait. Just a couple minutes and the pre-show started. I love this pre-show. The muppets were some of my favorite characters whe I was a kid (I never missed The Muppet Show). I love the part with Rizzo impersonating Mickey ('What do they know? They're tourists!') and Sam the Eagle and Gonzo (Sam: 'Stop this foolishness!' Gonzo: 'What foolishness would you like to see?').
This show got an enthusiastic thumbs up from Larissa (who loved the bubbles coming at her). We then went through some shops, then caught the 'Hunchback' show. We loved it. I'm amazed at how they change the scenery as part of the choreography. We get a FP for Star Tours (for me), when Larissa is amazed with the Dinosaur of Dinosaur Gertie's (the ice cream shop). When she sees people coming from it with ice cream in their hands... well, that's just too much... a Dinosaur that gives you ice cream: I gotta have some of that!
. She of course wanted some 'Dinosaur Ice Cream'!
We get a cone that we all share (they are BIG). We realize then that we're hungry, so we decide on where to eat. It started to rain a little. The Prime Time Cafe was nearby, but since we didn't had PS we didn't want to risk having to wait, we hurried over to the ABC Commissary. We had the fish and chips (decent), the Cheeseburger (quite good), and Larissa had Nuggets and fries (another thumbs up). While we were eating it started to pour heavily, and didn't stop for a while. When it let up a little, we decided that since we were already 'under the rain', we might as well go 'under the sea' and went over to Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Again, perfect timing, as we entered just as everyone else was entering the theater. The show is a bit short but the effects are great. Larissa loved Sebastian. We were ecstatic because that's our favorite character from the film. During the rest of the trip she added 'Under the Sea' to her 'collection' of songs to sing (she's singing all the time). And, of course, once we get home we have to buy 'The Little Mermaid'. Yep, even after our vacation Disney will still be getting my money! LOL!
It was still raining a little when we got out. We entered the Walt Disney exhibit. What a wonderful exhibition! I enjoyed it a lot. Since the movie there was about to start, we decided to see it. It was great, although I expected it to last a little more. It showed a lot about his childhood and early years that many people I think don't know. Larissa fell asleep here (not because of boredom -she loves movies- but it was more or less her nap time). Since it stopped raining and my ST FP was about to expire, we headed out to ST without seeing the exhibit in more detail. I hoped to return but I couldn't. That was my only regret from the trip.
I rode ST, then met Carmen and the sleeping beauty at the Backlot Express. We shared a cake and some lemonade while we relaxed there. After that, Larissa woke up, the rain stopped, and we were on the move again. We headed to TofT to get a FP and then we saw the last showing of Beauty and the Beast. Larissa was mesmerized (after we went back to the room, she took her two little Belle and Beast dolls and paired them and made them dance). When we exited, I used my FP on TofT. I rode it the first year they had it, and every time we return I find it better. Since we were all tired by then, we decided to skip Fantasmic, since we could see later in the trip, and head back to the hotel to avoid the crowds. Little did we know that we would almost miss it entirely! But that is another story... Stay tuned!
We returned to CBR, freshened up and headed to OPR for dinner. The CBR buses (the previous day's events notwithstanding) were excellent. If the bus came in through the main entrance, our stop (Martinique) was the first. If it came through the back entrance (near Jamaica), then Jamaica was the first.
Anyway, we had a nice dinner of beef and chicken from Bridgetown Broiler, then we all took a leisurely walk in the sunset through the Resort (Larissa loved the ducks, and she was blown away by 'the big pool' -which was, of course, the lake! LOL!). A beautiful way to end a great day.
Next - Epcot
Stay tuned!
MKFan-PR: Me, 34. Disney nut since my parents took me when I was 5. This is my 10th trip overall, number 6 with my DW and number 2 with my DD.
Carmen: DW, 38. Her 7th trip (6 with me). Knows a little English but enjoys Disney a lot.
Larissa: DD, 3.5. This is actually her 2nd trip, but this is the first that she will actually have memories of. Has been excited about the trip ever since she saw the vacation video.
We live in Puerto Rico, so a trip to Disney involves quite some planning and investment; it is very difficult to go more than once a year. With Larissa starting school this will be the first time that our family will NOT be going off-season, and who knows when we'll be able to return, so this trip is extra-special for my DW and me.
8/3: Day 3-The Studios: 'Under the sun...Under the rain...'
First, to all who have read and posted on the trip report so far...thank you!
To figmentvi...Hey, vecino!
Now, back to our saga!
I wake up at about 9:40AM. Yesterday was a looong day. I feel very rested. Instead of starting early and taking a midday break, we prefer to start later in the day and stay in the parks as long as we can, without over-extending ourselves (remember, we're not 'park commandos', but we like to do as much as we can). It's just how we like to do it.
I get up, get dressed and watch some TV while Carmen and Larissa wake up. They wake up at the same time. We get Larissa dressed and she comes with me to OPR to get some breakfast while Carmen gets ready.
Now, during the daytime, I realize how great is our room location. We're in room 2534 (Bldg. 25). It's on the second floor, right by the stairs. We're close to everything: We go one way, and we're in the Bus Stop. We go another way, and we're in the car. We go this other way, and we're in the quiet pool. We go yet anotherway, and we're in OPR. Tthe only minor, minor inconvenience we would find later it's that this building has no elevators and when we arrive at the room with Larissa sleeping in the stroller, we either have to haul it up the stairs or take her out and fold it. But the room is so close to the stairs that it's not a major problem.
We got to OPR and we get our breakfast to go: a bountiful breakfast for me from the Pizza Shop, a croissant and some pastries for Carmen, and some Milk and cereal for Larissa (both from the Bakery). Also bought two mugs. They would prove to be a great value for us during the trip. The food court is okay for us, although I think the Food Courts and PO are better. I read that it will be refurbished. Let's see what they do with it.
We get to the room, eat our breakfast, then head to the Bus Stop for the bus to the Disney-MGM Studios. We get there at about 11:30 AM. After getting a couple pictures with the giant Stitch in the entrance, we go to security. No waiting at the security table (the guards, or at least the ones we dealed with, were very very thorough and very courteous at the same time).
This is the first time that we see the big socerer's hat. It looks good. I think the street loses something without the 'Chinese Theater' (GMR) in the back. But from the entrance it's impressive and looks pretty nice. I guess they figured they needed a huge icon in the center of this park, like they have in the others.
We take some pictures and then get on the GMR with about 10 min. wait. I've always liked this ride and we always do it first. Like the CBJ in the MK, the guide's 'act' depends on the crowd. Unlike the CBJ yesterday, this group is deader than the tombstones in the HM. But the cast members go on bravely. I saw that the movie montage at the end of the ride has been updated since I was last here ('99). I've always found it very exciting and fun.
We then headed to MV3D. We went right in with no wait. Just a couple minutes and the pre-show started. I love this pre-show. The muppets were some of my favorite characters whe I was a kid (I never missed The Muppet Show). I love the part with Rizzo impersonating Mickey ('What do they know? They're tourists!') and Sam the Eagle and Gonzo (Sam: 'Stop this foolishness!' Gonzo: 'What foolishness would you like to see?').
This show got an enthusiastic thumbs up from Larissa (who loved the bubbles coming at her). We then went through some shops, then caught the 'Hunchback' show. We loved it. I'm amazed at how they change the scenery as part of the choreography. We get a FP for Star Tours (for me), when Larissa is amazed with the Dinosaur of Dinosaur Gertie's (the ice cream shop). When she sees people coming from it with ice cream in their hands... well, that's just too much... a Dinosaur that gives you ice cream: I gotta have some of that!
. She of course wanted some 'Dinosaur Ice Cream'!We get a cone that we all share (they are BIG). We realize then that we're hungry, so we decide on where to eat. It started to rain a little. The Prime Time Cafe was nearby, but since we didn't had PS we didn't want to risk having to wait, we hurried over to the ABC Commissary. We had the fish and chips (decent), the Cheeseburger (quite good), and Larissa had Nuggets and fries (another thumbs up). While we were eating it started to pour heavily, and didn't stop for a while. When it let up a little, we decided that since we were already 'under the rain', we might as well go 'under the sea' and went over to Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Again, perfect timing, as we entered just as everyone else was entering the theater. The show is a bit short but the effects are great. Larissa loved Sebastian. We were ecstatic because that's our favorite character from the film. During the rest of the trip she added 'Under the Sea' to her 'collection' of songs to sing (she's singing all the time). And, of course, once we get home we have to buy 'The Little Mermaid'. Yep, even after our vacation Disney will still be getting my money! LOL!
It was still raining a little when we got out. We entered the Walt Disney exhibit. What a wonderful exhibition! I enjoyed it a lot. Since the movie there was about to start, we decided to see it. It was great, although I expected it to last a little more. It showed a lot about his childhood and early years that many people I think don't know. Larissa fell asleep here (not because of boredom -she loves movies- but it was more or less her nap time). Since it stopped raining and my ST FP was about to expire, we headed out to ST without seeing the exhibit in more detail. I hoped to return but I couldn't. That was my only regret from the trip.
I rode ST, then met Carmen and the sleeping beauty at the Backlot Express. We shared a cake and some lemonade while we relaxed there. After that, Larissa woke up, the rain stopped, and we were on the move again. We headed to TofT to get a FP and then we saw the last showing of Beauty and the Beast. Larissa was mesmerized (after we went back to the room, she took her two little Belle and Beast dolls and paired them and made them dance). When we exited, I used my FP on TofT. I rode it the first year they had it, and every time we return I find it better. Since we were all tired by then, we decided to skip Fantasmic, since we could see later in the trip, and head back to the hotel to avoid the crowds. Little did we know that we would almost miss it entirely! But that is another story... Stay tuned!
We returned to CBR, freshened up and headed to OPR for dinner. The CBR buses (the previous day's events notwithstanding) were excellent. If the bus came in through the main entrance, our stop (Martinique) was the first. If it came through the back entrance (near Jamaica), then Jamaica was the first.
Anyway, we had a nice dinner of beef and chicken from Bridgetown Broiler, then we all took a leisurely walk in the sunset through the Resort (Larissa loved the ducks, and she was blown away by 'the big pool' -which was, of course, the lake! LOL!). A beautiful way to end a great day.
Next - Epcot
Stay tuned!
Krissy
