The first thing we did when we got out of our cars at Hollywood Studios was have Nathan take The Most Important Photo of the Day.
OK, everybody remember where we parked!
We waited for the tram. We didnt wait long. When the tram arrived, we got on it. I probably bonked my head. I dont remember what order we sat in, but no doubt Jensey was in the middle of us, cuz shes a hot commodity. The tram started moving. It went, oh, about 500 yards (Im not good with distance it might have been hectares
) and then made a U-turn toward the front gates. The tram proceeded toward the front gates. Above us, the tram speaker buzzed as a bored teen recited the park hours in a monotone drowned out by the roar of the smelly diesel engine. (Is this installment stretchy-out-y enough for ya?)
This is the part where the tram made a U-turn can you feel the excitement?
You can pretty much guess what happened next: We went into the park!
This picture makes Sid Cahuengas *almost* look like an authentic Hollywood bungalow, except there are way too many people around and not enough of them are homeless.
Since we had time to kill, we decided to try for what I think is the favorite DHS ride of all three of us, Rockin Rollercoaster. But I could be way off base Nathan & Jensey may be more partial to the thrills of the scarily un-lifelike busts of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza.
This is what walking at DHS looked like 50 years ago
And this is what it looks like today.
Aw
its my Carthay Circle Theater!
You know, Disneys been pretty lucky with the Aerosmith association so far, but what if they had chosen, like, White Lion instead?
I didnt think we had nearly enough Tower of Terror photos yet, so I asked if the Roots could get even more photos as we waited in line
"Peek-a-boo..."
"...I see you!"
Yeah, thats right we *totally* went in the Artist Entrance!
The only thing I like about watching the pre-show is the recording engineer, who is played by one of the members of my all-time fave comedy troupe,
The State. Youre prolly too young to remember them, but you may have enjoyed the more recent fruits of their labor, such as
Reno 911 and the scripts to such instaclassics as
Herbie: Fully Loaded,
The Pacifier, and
Balls of Fury. Oh, and
Night at the Museum I & II. And, in researching this paragraph, I have discovered that on July 14th, fourteen long years after their MTV show was cancelled, they will finally be releasing the
entire thing on one DVD. Whohoo!
As Heidi and Crysty can attest, on a real LA freeway this sign would be malfunctioning our out altogether.
Nathan & Jensey ended up several rows behind me in the car (because apparently I looked like I wanted to babysit a solo tween). When we got to the takeoff point in front of the tunnel, the anticipation of that first blast-off lasted a little longer than it should have. And then a few more seconds passed and we still hadnt moved. Then a few more
certain people who may or may not have been me started to worry that there mightve been a malfunction of some kind and that once again they were nearly going to miss their flight.
Little did I know that the reason for the delay was actually NATHAN standing up in his seat to take pictures or shoot video or impress Jensey or something!
Even worse, none of it was captured on film for me to show you boooo!
Finally Nathan was forced into his seat by a giant robot arm, the countdown started, and off we went.
OK, I know weve only been on one ride in this whole installment, but Im going to save the Great Movie Ride for the next installment because I have so many amazing pictures for you!
I will leave you with a few more gratuitous shots of Tower of Terror
.
Up Next: The Not-so-Great Movie Ride and Late Lunch at Sci-Fi Dine-In
Thanks for sharing your great trip with us. One more thing, any suggestions for a cake at the GF. My DH and myself will be celebrating our 25th anniversary this Nov/Dec with a PD meal and I want to order a cake. You seem to be the cake expert! Which fillings don't need to be refrigerated. Thanks!!!!
Great choice for the cake, too!
Booooo. (Upgrade to Deluxe pass it is, then!)
Booo indeed. It does seem very un-Disney like that there's this catch for people with certain passes. I think a Deluxe upgrade sounds nice though! (We just fork out for the Premium APs cuz lots of times Saturdays are the only days we can go. And if you go early enough, they're often way less crowded than Sundays!)
I don't think I can go on your actual birthday cuz it's a work day, but if you stay over, maybe I could catch up with you Friday after work! 
of making us all feel like we are right there along side with you. when we are truley in our bathrobes and sipping coffee way early in the morning. 
Can't wait to read more. 
).
