jrgutknecht
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2000
- Messages
- 199
Day 2 May 6th - Disney/MGM Studios and Star Wars Weekend
Cast of characters: Me 36 first trip in about 15 years
Tom also 36, first trip to WDW
In spite of being exhausted from our trip down, I was still too excited to sleep. After watching and listening to the Magic Kingdom fireworks the night before at 12:30, I think I finally fell asleep around 2 am. When the alarm went off at 6am, in spite of only getting 4 hours of sleep, I jumped out of bed and was ready to go and start our first full day . okay not really, I had to drag myself out of bed, but we did get underway by our 7am goal.
We grabbed some fresh fruit and Danish from the concierge lounge. I had a quick bowl of fruit loops as well as some fresh juice. I dont normally eat sugary cereal, but I figured since I felt like a kid, I should eat like one! The fresh fruit was great and the Danish although small were very good. I particularly liked cheese filled ones.
After grabbing a quick bite to eat we made it down to the bus stop by 7:15 just in time to watch the Disney MGM bus pulling away. So we made our selves comfortable and waited for the next bus. The sign said the busses run every 20 minutes, but the next bus showed up within about 10 minutes. We boarded the bus were at the gates to the studios by 7:45. I was expecting the gates to open at 8, but they were already open by the time we got there. This was our first time using our combination hotel key, resort card, admission ticket so I was not sure what to expect.
As we approached there was a small crowd since they only had a few ticket gates open. As we stood in line for our turn through the gates, I heard this familiar voice calling out You there, how long have you had those droids I thought to myself, they must be playing Star Wars on a screen somewhere, but as we got closer I noticed there were Imperial Storm Troopers from Star Wars patrolling the top of the entrance area. They were having a great time patrolling back and forth and telling people to Keep moving, theres nothing to see here When we approached the turnstiles, I saw several groups having difficulty getting their tickets to work, in addition to being distracted by the storm troopers overhead. When we walked up we just slipped our tickets into the slot and walked right in.
A quick check of the time told me it was 10 minutes to 8, so we headed in to find our way to the RocknRoller Coaster. We had decided to use the touring plans from the Unofficial Guide and adapt them to fit our needs. On this day we were using the plan right as it was out of the book, so our first stop was RocknRoller Coaster.
Last time I was at WDW, the studios were under construction, so having never been here, I studied the map thoroughly before we left. I had memorized the map before we left, but quickly realized there wasnt any reason to because the park was very easy to navigate. As we walked down Hollywood Blvd. I could see the Tower of Terror off to our right, and there was only one way to turn, so it took no time at all to find our way there.
We got to the queue for RNR at about 8am, there were lots of waiting outside both this attraction and Tower of Terror, but nobody was in the queue. We walked in and made our way right into the entrance. We walked into the preshow area just as they were starting the ride. We immediately went in to watch the Aerosmith mixing session, and I was really impressed with the clarity and depth of the projections, or was Aerosmith really there?? It was a very convincing illusion. We then went into the alley to board our limo. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the loading area, I wasnt expecting something this detailed. As we got into the car, I reminded myself and Tom to KEEP our heads back as it took off, we rounded the corner and OFF WE WENT!!!
I really enjoyed RNR, the takeoff was so smooth as was the entire ride. I was really impressed with the timing of the music and the fact that after I got off, I didnt feel sick to my stomach. I love roller coasters, but the last few BIG ONES that Ive ridden (Millennium Force at Cedar Point for example) have all been just a little too extreme for me. This was a great mix of speed and turns and with a Disney mix of details. Id like to see them do something like this with Space Mountain as I found that ride just a little dated in comparison.
After RnR it was on to Tower of Terror. I had seen some info on the Disney Channel about ToT so I thought I knew what it was about. I watched in amusement as we approached as the people outside stood and stared up at the people in the tower as they appeared and then disappeared in a torrent of screams. We walked right through the queue and had just enough of a short wait in the lobby area to take in some of the details. I particularly liked the concierge desk J As we passed the CM in the lobby, it was a quick and short walk right into our elevator. I kind of wish we could have walked more slowly as I didnt really get a chance to take in the details in the basement. We walked right in and we were seated right in front! I have to admit, I was really surprised by this ride, I thought it just went up and then came right back down. I was not at all prepared for the twilight zone section of the ride and just when I thought I had it figured out it surprised me with that first drop okay I screamed, but it was more out of amusement than terror. This is a great ride and I cant wait to ride it again.
So according to the plan at this point were supposed to rush across the park to Star Tours. The crowds were definitely thicker at this point, but not so bad that we had much trouble making it to Star Tours in no time at all. Here is where the plan kind of got put on hold. R2D2 and C3PO were available outside Star Tours for photos, so of course we had to stop and get our picture taken. After visiting our favorite droids we headed for Star Tours. I had been on Star Tours at DisneyLAND a few years earlier so I new what to expect here. One of my favorite parts of the ride was the queue area and all the detail. I really felt like I was in the Star Wars universe. This time however we didnt have enough time to really appreciate the preshow area. We walked in and walked right onto the ride. Not that I would want to stand in line for an hour but a 0 minute wait is almost TOO short! The ride was fun, it was starting to show its age and I certainly hope it gets an update next year in anticipation of the new movie. It was a little more bumpy than I remember but still a lot of fun.
When we came out we decided to stop and ask one of the CMs in Star Wars polo shirts about the special events. They had a several queues set up along the side of the main path with different numbers. It turns out that each of these areas were for the different characters that would be out to sign autographs and pose for photos. Queen Amidala was due out at 9 and Darth Vader was supposed to come out at 9:10. So we decided to wait for the arrival of his evilness and found an out of the way spot along the fence next to the Backlot Express where the characters were supposed to make their entrance. There was a stage set up at one side of the entrance to Star Tours where they were going to host some of the special events. People were milling about the area reading their maps and making their plans. It was kind of nice to take a short break so early in the day after hitting the big 3 attractions so early. I have to admit my stomach was in need of a short break after so much motion so early.
As we waited for Darth Vader, Queen Amidala and her escorts walked by. She was kind enough to look my direction as I snapped a picture. We watched as she made her way to her reserved area where a line was now starting to form. After she walked by a couple of entertainers in star wars costumes came out on stage to welcome everyone to the festivities. They told corny jokes and talked a little about the events for the day. We were still waiting for Darth Vader so we hung out and listened for a while. The woman who was onstage decided to come out into the audience and greet some of the guests up close. She was telling these really corny star wars jokes, which we both found very funny. We were still about 50 feet away from the stage at this point and most people were up against the stage area. I dont know how she saw us, but she turned and said These guys are the only ones laughing at my jokes so Im going to go over and talk to them I just stood there stunned as she walked over to me and stuck the microphone in face and asked me what my name was. I told her it was John and she declared she was going to give us Star Wars names So in Star Wars my name was Nohj (John backwards) she then asked me what the first car I drove was (an Impala) and what the last medicine I took was (Tylenol) so she told me and the entire crowd that I was now Nohj Impala from the planet Tylenol I got a great laugh out of this and she was really very funny about the whole thing. She then gave Tom his Star Wars name Mot Firebird from the planet Celebrex! We really enjoyed this it was so much fun to interact with her and I didnt even realize that there were at least 300 people by this point all staring at us.
After our brief encounter with the Star Wars universe we decided to get back on the plan. Darth Vader never did show up and it was approaching 9:20 by this time. The park was beginning to fill with regular guests and we wanted to stick with the plan. We were going to do The Great Movie Ride and then Littler Mermaid next. Since the park was already open, we decided to pick up a Fastpass for Little Mermaid. Our return time was 9:40 10:40 which was perfect. We headed back to the Great Movie Ride just as they were re-directing the queue line out to one side of the main entrance. This was the ONLY wait we had the entire day and I think it was because we hit the ride just as they were adding new cars. We walked right through the lobby and just as we were about to enter the theatre where they were showing the clips, the line stopped moving. We stood there for about 5 minutes before the line started moving again. It took about 10 more minutes to get through the screening room and then we were ushered into our moving theatre. This was another first for me and I really enjoyed it. Seeing things brought to life in 3 dimensions really adds so much detail. I was really impressed with the set from Wizard of Oz as well as the scene from Casablanca and Alien. This is another ride Id love to do again.
After we finished this it was time for our fast pass for Little Mermaid. This was our first fast pass experience and I guess because of the nature of the attraction it really didnt make much sense to have gotten it. There was a separate fast pass entrance where we stood in line until they opened the pre-show waiting area. When they did, they let the Fastpass holders in first, then the standby guests. All of the guests who were in the standby line got in as well so we really didnt save anytime by having a fastpass. I suppose if it was later in the day and the standby line was longer, it might have been different. However the longest wait I saw for this ride the entire day was 30 minutes. As I discovered later the standby time is NEVER as long as its posted to be. Since we were the first ones in the pre-show area we were also the first ones in the theatre. I recalled the unofficial guide had said that there is No such thing as a bad seat in a Disney theatre however if you wanted the best seats you should be in the middle of the crowd going in. Well, we were first in since we had fastpasses and ended up all the way at the end of the row. While I could see ALMOST everything, I did miss some of the action that took place upstage left and Im sure the show would have been better if we had been in the middle. The show was very good and we both really enjoyed it. I really liked the mix of effects and the onstage water effects.
After this, the next thing on the plan was the Magic of Animation Tour but since it was Star Wars weekend they were also showing a movie called Behind the Force, the Saga Continues. A sneak peek of the making of Episode II We knew that we wanted to see this so we juggled the schedule around and decided to see this instead of Magic of Animation. After we found out where the show was going to be we decided to head back to the Star Wars area and check out the special activities. We killed about an hour here watching the characters and debating standing in line to get our picture with Darth Vader. In the end we decided to skip standing in line and just had fun interacting with the storm troopers and tuscan raiders who were mingling in the crowd.
We had an 11:30 PS for lunch at the Sci-Fi Drive-In so we decided to head over about 15 minutes early. You can read my review on the restaurant board for more details. We really enjoyed our lunch but next time well just go in for dessert. It was too hard to watch the movies AND eat at the same time. The atmosphere was almost more fun than the food, so going there for dessert would be the perfect solution.
After lunch we headed back to the animation courtyard to see the behind the scenes movie on Star Wars Episode 2. They were showing the movie in the building between Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and Little Mermaid. Im not sure what normally shows here, but they obviously dont have a queue area of their own because we were queued up on one side of the Magic of Animation queue and then entered the theatre through the exit doors. The film was very interesting and went into details about the making of the next movie. I noticed as I was watching that the film seemed a little fuzzy and then I realized that it was actually a video projection and not an actual film. We werent sure how long the movie but it had to be less than 45 minutes since they were showing it every 45 minutes. At about the 30 minute mark the image suddenly froze just as George Lucas was putting his stamp of approval on a new space ship design. We all sat there in the dark for about 2 minutes while we waited for someone to fix the problem. After this short and awkward period of silence a CM came up to the microphone and said I guess we have a technical problem, Im sorry youll all have to leave It was a very Un-Disney moment, but I guess when things break they can catch even Disney off-guard. Im surprised they didnt offer us passes to come back and see it later, but I guess they werent sure if it would even be fixed. As it turns out they didnt get it fixed until about 5 hours later! We asked one of the CMs on the way out how much longer the film was and we were told it was almost over
So we were bummed but decided we would try to come back later to see it again. We decided to head over to see MuppetVision 3D. Again ,this was a walk-on with no wait at all. We enjoyed the show and I really liked the effects and the theatre, but I was expecting a more 4 dimensional effects. We had been to see a 3D pirate movie at Sea World the year before and were surprised when we actually got WET when water came flying off the screen there. I guess I thought this was what the muppet movie was like. In spite of this, it was a very entertaining movie and I really enjoyed the mix of film with animitronic muppets in the audience area.
We kind of stumbled into the next show. On the way out of Muppets we just kind of followed the crowd and ended up at the Hunchback of Notre Dame show where there were still good seats left for a show that was due to start any minute. We got a seat just as the juggler was finishing his pre-show act. I have to admit I havent seen this Disney film and I would buy it and watch it but I cant find it anywhere. So not having seen the movie might have been the reason I didnt really find it very interesting or it could just be that the story is not one I would consider very Disney The performers were good and I liked the way the presented the story, but I wouldnt go out of my way to see it again. If youre a fan of this movie you should definitely see it, but otherwise I would say you could skip it. I suspect I would have enjoyed Beauty and the Beast more, but unfortunately we never got around to seeing that.
By this time it was after 2:30 so we checked the show schedule to see what else we could see before our 5:30 dinner at the Brown Derby. We decided we would see the 4 pm Indiana Jones show so we took the Backlot tour next. The only reason to do this attraction as far as Im concerned is to experience catastrophe canyon. The rest of the tour might as well be scrapped because there was absolutely nothing going on. Maybe its because it was a weekend, but unlike Universal Studios Hollywood where you are touring a working backlot, I got the impression that everything I was seeing was set up just for our benefit. The best parts of the tour were the scale models and exhibits at the end. If youve got other things you want to see, I would suggest skipping this one, but as a nice diversion on a hot afternoon to get away from the crowds, this is the place to go.
Next we walked around the New York street area and headed back to Hollywood and Sunset to do some shopping. We spent a little time exploring the shops and then headed over to Indiana Jones. I guess I should have expected it to be crowded, but I would have thought arriving 20 minutes early we would be able to get a good seat. As it was the place was already packed and we ended up about 2 rows from the back in the far left section. We could still see everything clearly but I was amazed at how quickly the theatre had filled up. I guess the lesson to learn for today is that you should arrive EARLY for the shows you really want to see and be prepared to sit there until the show starts. The stunt show was good, but I was really too far away to really appreciate it. I would like to see it again, but Ill have to arrive early next time.
The show ended just in time for us to head over to the Brown Derby for dinner. Again, you can read my review on the restaurant board for this one but suffice it to say this was MY favorite meal our entire trip.
We ended up with an earlier dinner reservation than I would have liked because we booked the Fantasmic Dinner package just the day before. I really wish they would let you book these over the phone through WDW-DINE, but our concierge was only able to get us a 5:30 PS so it had to do.
After dinner we really didnt have anything else that we could do. All of the shows were done for the day so we went back to see the Star Wars movie again. This time we were able to see the last 2 minutes we missed.
We decided to head over to the entrance area for the Fantasmic Dinner Package holders. The information I was give said to show up NO LATER than 8:00, but it didnt say how EARLY you could arrive. We got there at 7:45 and I expected to have to wait to be admitted, but instead we were ushered right in. The crowds were pretty thick at this point but it wasnt until we rounded the corner around the top of the Fantasmic theatre that I really got a good look at the crowd. The area that was reserved for dinner package holders was about 90% full and it was still another 30 minutes until show time. The REST of the seating area was already 100% full. I couldnt believe how crowded it was! I cant imagine sitting there for 2 hours before the show. I guess if you really loved the show it might be worth it, but I cant think of any show I would sit on an aluminum bench for 2 hours for.
Regardless of the crowds, we managed to find seats fairly close which ended up being right in front of one of the water screens. The show was GREAT and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I would recommend the dinner package as I cant imagine having to fight for seats when the seats we had were great. I guess we missed a section of the show however. From what Ive read there is supposed to be an Ursula barge, but when Ursula came up on the water screen it just transitioned right to the next section. I wouldnt have missed it if I didnt know it was supposed to be there.
The thing that I thought was so funny however were the dozens of people RUSHING for the exits before the show was actually over. Here were people who had waited up to two hours to get a seat and they were rushing out before the show as over!!
We left through the same exit we entered through, however when we walked all the way back to the backstage entrance we came in through (which was RIGHT NEXT to the front gate) we were diverted through a side gat which put us back onto Sunset Blvd. !!!!! I was so angry about this. We were just 8 feet from the gate that lead to the front gate, but instead we had to fight our way through the crowds all the way out of the park. If not for this diversion we would have been out of the park in 5 minutes. As it was it took another 15 minutes to get to the bus. But I guess they do this for the same reason they route all the ride exits through the gift shops more shopping!
Big tip here DO the second show of Fantasmic. We would have done the 10pm show but we had an early entry the next morning at the MK, so we wanted to get to bed early. Next time I will split MGM into two days and schedule the LATE Fantasmic followed by a late morning the next day.
We got to the bus about 9:30 pm and didnt have to wait long for a bus to the lodge. We got back to the room by 10 and decided to take a quick dip in the pool.
It was then at the end of our first full day that we had what was possibly the most MAGIC moment of the entire day. As we were relaxing in the deep end of the pool, a mother duck and her 5 ducklings decided to go for a swim. We swam right up to them and watched and she was teaching the ducklings to swim against the current in the pool. We watched as the smallest of the chicks struggled to jump the ledge out of the pool. The mother eventually made her way with here chicks to the deep end of the pool where the water comes in from sliver creek falls. We watched as she and the ducklings swam upstream and disappeared under the bridge. As we were heading up to the room for the night I noticed the mother with her ducklings snuggled underneath of her, sleeping next to the pool at the base of the falls. Only at Disney is the detail this complete!!!
Cast of characters: Me 36 first trip in about 15 years
Tom also 36, first trip to WDW
In spite of being exhausted from our trip down, I was still too excited to sleep. After watching and listening to the Magic Kingdom fireworks the night before at 12:30, I think I finally fell asleep around 2 am. When the alarm went off at 6am, in spite of only getting 4 hours of sleep, I jumped out of bed and was ready to go and start our first full day . okay not really, I had to drag myself out of bed, but we did get underway by our 7am goal.
We grabbed some fresh fruit and Danish from the concierge lounge. I had a quick bowl of fruit loops as well as some fresh juice. I dont normally eat sugary cereal, but I figured since I felt like a kid, I should eat like one! The fresh fruit was great and the Danish although small were very good. I particularly liked cheese filled ones.
After grabbing a quick bite to eat we made it down to the bus stop by 7:15 just in time to watch the Disney MGM bus pulling away. So we made our selves comfortable and waited for the next bus. The sign said the busses run every 20 minutes, but the next bus showed up within about 10 minutes. We boarded the bus were at the gates to the studios by 7:45. I was expecting the gates to open at 8, but they were already open by the time we got there. This was our first time using our combination hotel key, resort card, admission ticket so I was not sure what to expect.
As we approached there was a small crowd since they only had a few ticket gates open. As we stood in line for our turn through the gates, I heard this familiar voice calling out You there, how long have you had those droids I thought to myself, they must be playing Star Wars on a screen somewhere, but as we got closer I noticed there were Imperial Storm Troopers from Star Wars patrolling the top of the entrance area. They were having a great time patrolling back and forth and telling people to Keep moving, theres nothing to see here When we approached the turnstiles, I saw several groups having difficulty getting their tickets to work, in addition to being distracted by the storm troopers overhead. When we walked up we just slipped our tickets into the slot and walked right in.
A quick check of the time told me it was 10 minutes to 8, so we headed in to find our way to the RocknRoller Coaster. We had decided to use the touring plans from the Unofficial Guide and adapt them to fit our needs. On this day we were using the plan right as it was out of the book, so our first stop was RocknRoller Coaster.
Last time I was at WDW, the studios were under construction, so having never been here, I studied the map thoroughly before we left. I had memorized the map before we left, but quickly realized there wasnt any reason to because the park was very easy to navigate. As we walked down Hollywood Blvd. I could see the Tower of Terror off to our right, and there was only one way to turn, so it took no time at all to find our way there.
We got to the queue for RNR at about 8am, there were lots of waiting outside both this attraction and Tower of Terror, but nobody was in the queue. We walked in and made our way right into the entrance. We walked into the preshow area just as they were starting the ride. We immediately went in to watch the Aerosmith mixing session, and I was really impressed with the clarity and depth of the projections, or was Aerosmith really there?? It was a very convincing illusion. We then went into the alley to board our limo. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the loading area, I wasnt expecting something this detailed. As we got into the car, I reminded myself and Tom to KEEP our heads back as it took off, we rounded the corner and OFF WE WENT!!!
I really enjoyed RNR, the takeoff was so smooth as was the entire ride. I was really impressed with the timing of the music and the fact that after I got off, I didnt feel sick to my stomach. I love roller coasters, but the last few BIG ONES that Ive ridden (Millennium Force at Cedar Point for example) have all been just a little too extreme for me. This was a great mix of speed and turns and with a Disney mix of details. Id like to see them do something like this with Space Mountain as I found that ride just a little dated in comparison.
After RnR it was on to Tower of Terror. I had seen some info on the Disney Channel about ToT so I thought I knew what it was about. I watched in amusement as we approached as the people outside stood and stared up at the people in the tower as they appeared and then disappeared in a torrent of screams. We walked right through the queue and had just enough of a short wait in the lobby area to take in some of the details. I particularly liked the concierge desk J As we passed the CM in the lobby, it was a quick and short walk right into our elevator. I kind of wish we could have walked more slowly as I didnt really get a chance to take in the details in the basement. We walked right in and we were seated right in front! I have to admit, I was really surprised by this ride, I thought it just went up and then came right back down. I was not at all prepared for the twilight zone section of the ride and just when I thought I had it figured out it surprised me with that first drop okay I screamed, but it was more out of amusement than terror. This is a great ride and I cant wait to ride it again.
So according to the plan at this point were supposed to rush across the park to Star Tours. The crowds were definitely thicker at this point, but not so bad that we had much trouble making it to Star Tours in no time at all. Here is where the plan kind of got put on hold. R2D2 and C3PO were available outside Star Tours for photos, so of course we had to stop and get our picture taken. After visiting our favorite droids we headed for Star Tours. I had been on Star Tours at DisneyLAND a few years earlier so I new what to expect here. One of my favorite parts of the ride was the queue area and all the detail. I really felt like I was in the Star Wars universe. This time however we didnt have enough time to really appreciate the preshow area. We walked in and walked right onto the ride. Not that I would want to stand in line for an hour but a 0 minute wait is almost TOO short! The ride was fun, it was starting to show its age and I certainly hope it gets an update next year in anticipation of the new movie. It was a little more bumpy than I remember but still a lot of fun.
When we came out we decided to stop and ask one of the CMs in Star Wars polo shirts about the special events. They had a several queues set up along the side of the main path with different numbers. It turns out that each of these areas were for the different characters that would be out to sign autographs and pose for photos. Queen Amidala was due out at 9 and Darth Vader was supposed to come out at 9:10. So we decided to wait for the arrival of his evilness and found an out of the way spot along the fence next to the Backlot Express where the characters were supposed to make their entrance. There was a stage set up at one side of the entrance to Star Tours where they were going to host some of the special events. People were milling about the area reading their maps and making their plans. It was kind of nice to take a short break so early in the day after hitting the big 3 attractions so early. I have to admit my stomach was in need of a short break after so much motion so early.
As we waited for Darth Vader, Queen Amidala and her escorts walked by. She was kind enough to look my direction as I snapped a picture. We watched as she made her way to her reserved area where a line was now starting to form. After she walked by a couple of entertainers in star wars costumes came out on stage to welcome everyone to the festivities. They told corny jokes and talked a little about the events for the day. We were still waiting for Darth Vader so we hung out and listened for a while. The woman who was onstage decided to come out into the audience and greet some of the guests up close. She was telling these really corny star wars jokes, which we both found very funny. We were still about 50 feet away from the stage at this point and most people were up against the stage area. I dont know how she saw us, but she turned and said These guys are the only ones laughing at my jokes so Im going to go over and talk to them I just stood there stunned as she walked over to me and stuck the microphone in face and asked me what my name was. I told her it was John and she declared she was going to give us Star Wars names So in Star Wars my name was Nohj (John backwards) she then asked me what the first car I drove was (an Impala) and what the last medicine I took was (Tylenol) so she told me and the entire crowd that I was now Nohj Impala from the planet Tylenol I got a great laugh out of this and she was really very funny about the whole thing. She then gave Tom his Star Wars name Mot Firebird from the planet Celebrex! We really enjoyed this it was so much fun to interact with her and I didnt even realize that there were at least 300 people by this point all staring at us.
After our brief encounter with the Star Wars universe we decided to get back on the plan. Darth Vader never did show up and it was approaching 9:20 by this time. The park was beginning to fill with regular guests and we wanted to stick with the plan. We were going to do The Great Movie Ride and then Littler Mermaid next. Since the park was already open, we decided to pick up a Fastpass for Little Mermaid. Our return time was 9:40 10:40 which was perfect. We headed back to the Great Movie Ride just as they were re-directing the queue line out to one side of the main entrance. This was the ONLY wait we had the entire day and I think it was because we hit the ride just as they were adding new cars. We walked right through the lobby and just as we were about to enter the theatre where they were showing the clips, the line stopped moving. We stood there for about 5 minutes before the line started moving again. It took about 10 more minutes to get through the screening room and then we were ushered into our moving theatre. This was another first for me and I really enjoyed it. Seeing things brought to life in 3 dimensions really adds so much detail. I was really impressed with the set from Wizard of Oz as well as the scene from Casablanca and Alien. This is another ride Id love to do again.
After we finished this it was time for our fast pass for Little Mermaid. This was our first fast pass experience and I guess because of the nature of the attraction it really didnt make much sense to have gotten it. There was a separate fast pass entrance where we stood in line until they opened the pre-show waiting area. When they did, they let the Fastpass holders in first, then the standby guests. All of the guests who were in the standby line got in as well so we really didnt save anytime by having a fastpass. I suppose if it was later in the day and the standby line was longer, it might have been different. However the longest wait I saw for this ride the entire day was 30 minutes. As I discovered later the standby time is NEVER as long as its posted to be. Since we were the first ones in the pre-show area we were also the first ones in the theatre. I recalled the unofficial guide had said that there is No such thing as a bad seat in a Disney theatre however if you wanted the best seats you should be in the middle of the crowd going in. Well, we were first in since we had fastpasses and ended up all the way at the end of the row. While I could see ALMOST everything, I did miss some of the action that took place upstage left and Im sure the show would have been better if we had been in the middle. The show was very good and we both really enjoyed it. I really liked the mix of effects and the onstage water effects.
After this, the next thing on the plan was the Magic of Animation Tour but since it was Star Wars weekend they were also showing a movie called Behind the Force, the Saga Continues. A sneak peek of the making of Episode II We knew that we wanted to see this so we juggled the schedule around and decided to see this instead of Magic of Animation. After we found out where the show was going to be we decided to head back to the Star Wars area and check out the special activities. We killed about an hour here watching the characters and debating standing in line to get our picture with Darth Vader. In the end we decided to skip standing in line and just had fun interacting with the storm troopers and tuscan raiders who were mingling in the crowd.
We had an 11:30 PS for lunch at the Sci-Fi Drive-In so we decided to head over about 15 minutes early. You can read my review on the restaurant board for more details. We really enjoyed our lunch but next time well just go in for dessert. It was too hard to watch the movies AND eat at the same time. The atmosphere was almost more fun than the food, so going there for dessert would be the perfect solution.
After lunch we headed back to the animation courtyard to see the behind the scenes movie on Star Wars Episode 2. They were showing the movie in the building between Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and Little Mermaid. Im not sure what normally shows here, but they obviously dont have a queue area of their own because we were queued up on one side of the Magic of Animation queue and then entered the theatre through the exit doors. The film was very interesting and went into details about the making of the next movie. I noticed as I was watching that the film seemed a little fuzzy and then I realized that it was actually a video projection and not an actual film. We werent sure how long the movie but it had to be less than 45 minutes since they were showing it every 45 minutes. At about the 30 minute mark the image suddenly froze just as George Lucas was putting his stamp of approval on a new space ship design. We all sat there in the dark for about 2 minutes while we waited for someone to fix the problem. After this short and awkward period of silence a CM came up to the microphone and said I guess we have a technical problem, Im sorry youll all have to leave It was a very Un-Disney moment, but I guess when things break they can catch even Disney off-guard. Im surprised they didnt offer us passes to come back and see it later, but I guess they werent sure if it would even be fixed. As it turns out they didnt get it fixed until about 5 hours later! We asked one of the CMs on the way out how much longer the film was and we were told it was almost over
So we were bummed but decided we would try to come back later to see it again. We decided to head over to see MuppetVision 3D. Again ,this was a walk-on with no wait at all. We enjoyed the show and I really liked the effects and the theatre, but I was expecting a more 4 dimensional effects. We had been to see a 3D pirate movie at Sea World the year before and were surprised when we actually got WET when water came flying off the screen there. I guess I thought this was what the muppet movie was like. In spite of this, it was a very entertaining movie and I really enjoyed the mix of film with animitronic muppets in the audience area.
We kind of stumbled into the next show. On the way out of Muppets we just kind of followed the crowd and ended up at the Hunchback of Notre Dame show where there were still good seats left for a show that was due to start any minute. We got a seat just as the juggler was finishing his pre-show act. I have to admit I havent seen this Disney film and I would buy it and watch it but I cant find it anywhere. So not having seen the movie might have been the reason I didnt really find it very interesting or it could just be that the story is not one I would consider very Disney The performers were good and I liked the way the presented the story, but I wouldnt go out of my way to see it again. If youre a fan of this movie you should definitely see it, but otherwise I would say you could skip it. I suspect I would have enjoyed Beauty and the Beast more, but unfortunately we never got around to seeing that.
By this time it was after 2:30 so we checked the show schedule to see what else we could see before our 5:30 dinner at the Brown Derby. We decided we would see the 4 pm Indiana Jones show so we took the Backlot tour next. The only reason to do this attraction as far as Im concerned is to experience catastrophe canyon. The rest of the tour might as well be scrapped because there was absolutely nothing going on. Maybe its because it was a weekend, but unlike Universal Studios Hollywood where you are touring a working backlot, I got the impression that everything I was seeing was set up just for our benefit. The best parts of the tour were the scale models and exhibits at the end. If youve got other things you want to see, I would suggest skipping this one, but as a nice diversion on a hot afternoon to get away from the crowds, this is the place to go.
Next we walked around the New York street area and headed back to Hollywood and Sunset to do some shopping. We spent a little time exploring the shops and then headed over to Indiana Jones. I guess I should have expected it to be crowded, but I would have thought arriving 20 minutes early we would be able to get a good seat. As it was the place was already packed and we ended up about 2 rows from the back in the far left section. We could still see everything clearly but I was amazed at how quickly the theatre had filled up. I guess the lesson to learn for today is that you should arrive EARLY for the shows you really want to see and be prepared to sit there until the show starts. The stunt show was good, but I was really too far away to really appreciate it. I would like to see it again, but Ill have to arrive early next time.
The show ended just in time for us to head over to the Brown Derby for dinner. Again, you can read my review on the restaurant board for this one but suffice it to say this was MY favorite meal our entire trip.
We ended up with an earlier dinner reservation than I would have liked because we booked the Fantasmic Dinner package just the day before. I really wish they would let you book these over the phone through WDW-DINE, but our concierge was only able to get us a 5:30 PS so it had to do.
After dinner we really didnt have anything else that we could do. All of the shows were done for the day so we went back to see the Star Wars movie again. This time we were able to see the last 2 minutes we missed.
We decided to head over to the entrance area for the Fantasmic Dinner Package holders. The information I was give said to show up NO LATER than 8:00, but it didnt say how EARLY you could arrive. We got there at 7:45 and I expected to have to wait to be admitted, but instead we were ushered right in. The crowds were pretty thick at this point but it wasnt until we rounded the corner around the top of the Fantasmic theatre that I really got a good look at the crowd. The area that was reserved for dinner package holders was about 90% full and it was still another 30 minutes until show time. The REST of the seating area was already 100% full. I couldnt believe how crowded it was! I cant imagine sitting there for 2 hours before the show. I guess if you really loved the show it might be worth it, but I cant think of any show I would sit on an aluminum bench for 2 hours for.
Regardless of the crowds, we managed to find seats fairly close which ended up being right in front of one of the water screens. The show was GREAT and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I would recommend the dinner package as I cant imagine having to fight for seats when the seats we had were great. I guess we missed a section of the show however. From what Ive read there is supposed to be an Ursula barge, but when Ursula came up on the water screen it just transitioned right to the next section. I wouldnt have missed it if I didnt know it was supposed to be there.
The thing that I thought was so funny however were the dozens of people RUSHING for the exits before the show was actually over. Here were people who had waited up to two hours to get a seat and they were rushing out before the show as over!!
We left through the same exit we entered through, however when we walked all the way back to the backstage entrance we came in through (which was RIGHT NEXT to the front gate) we were diverted through a side gat which put us back onto Sunset Blvd. !!!!! I was so angry about this. We were just 8 feet from the gate that lead to the front gate, but instead we had to fight our way through the crowds all the way out of the park. If not for this diversion we would have been out of the park in 5 minutes. As it was it took another 15 minutes to get to the bus. But I guess they do this for the same reason they route all the ride exits through the gift shops more shopping!
Big tip here DO the second show of Fantasmic. We would have done the 10pm show but we had an early entry the next morning at the MK, so we wanted to get to bed early. Next time I will split MGM into two days and schedule the LATE Fantasmic followed by a late morning the next day.
We got to the bus about 9:30 pm and didnt have to wait long for a bus to the lodge. We got back to the room by 10 and decided to take a quick dip in the pool.
It was then at the end of our first full day that we had what was possibly the most MAGIC moment of the entire day. As we were relaxing in the deep end of the pool, a mother duck and her 5 ducklings decided to go for a swim. We swam right up to them and watched and she was teaching the ducklings to swim against the current in the pool. We watched as the smallest of the chicks struggled to jump the ledge out of the pool. The mother eventually made her way with here chicks to the deep end of the pool where the water comes in from sliver creek falls. We watched as she and the ducklings swam upstream and disappeared under the bridge. As we were heading up to the room for the night I noticed the mother with her ducklings snuggled underneath of her, sleeping next to the pool at the base of the falls. Only at Disney is the detail this complete!!!
