Yep, I took a picture of that (9100 total) COMPLETED 9/1

[NateNLogansDad]

Well, it’s now day 5 of our 10 day trip, so who’s getting bored? Not me! I’m really enjoying writing this report because it’s not always easy to remember everything after you get home. Not only do I get to share this with you guys, I also get to look at all these pictures and pretend that we are all back there again. Man do I miss the Beach House! So anyways, here we go.

We all wake up around 9:30 and grab a bite to eat in our room, thank you again Garden Grocer! It’s up to the kids for where we are heading and they go for the Magic Hat! So, off to the ferry we head but first, we need to admire the topography.

Thank you goes to the gentleman taking the group shot!
We head over to the dock and have a few minutes to take in the views (and take some pictures!)

MomMom Ginny smiles for the camera and wonders just how many pictures I will end up with by Tuesday…..little does she know!

We had heard rumors that Spoodles was to be replaced and noticed These gentlemen putting up a canvas sign.

Granted the sign was of Spoodles but it also looked removable, so I guess it could go either way at this point.

The watercraft looked tempting but that’s not why we came to Disney!

My dream job……

I swore I’d get to do this before we left but it just wasn’t in the cards. Looks like a good time doesn’t it? I see a photo op for at least another hundred pictures or so!

Oh well, I guess there’s always next year! And here comes our ride for this morning.

Is this guy not the definition of cool or what?

 

[PrincessKsMom]

More, more, more! I'm loving this trip report.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Our Captain gets us to the Studios safe and sound. We stroll down the Blvd and I just can’t take it all in fast enough. Everything is so perfect…..have I mentioned that before? I know I’m going to make an attempt at a trip report when I get home, so I start snapping some random pictures.

We check the board for Toy Story Mania and it says there’s a 60 min wait. We took an oath that we would absolutely, no ifs, ands, or buts get to ride TSM. Last year the wait times were always too long so we missed out every time we tried. We head over to see if maybe the board was wrong.

Well, it was but not in our favor. 70 minutes is just too long to wait for right now. Apparently, the ride has tight security restrictions. There were guards out front protecting the perimeter. We went over and said hi and made a promise that we’d be back. Oh yes, we will be back

Another attraction that we (I) wanted to see, because we missed it last year, was the Studio Backlot Tour. There were things everywhere to see and I tried to get a picture of everything but when you are with a group and in the middle of the line, you do what you can. I’d say I got a good amount……..

Notice the fire truck ½ way in and ½ out of the building?

Posters hanging outside

PIRATES!!!!

The queue

 

[NateNLogansDad]

The water scene. This is where they had 4 volunteers come out and reenact a scene from Pearl Harbor. It was pretty cool to see a taste on how a movie is put together. When it’s done they show the movie they just made and it really isn’t all that bad.

These guys have the easy job, (I thought it was a cool pic also.)

I’m not too sure this guy knew what he was getting into when he signed up.

Now his job is to stay talking on the phone and pretend he’s in an engine room on a ship. Oh yea, and there’s a huge wave of water coming at his head since his ship was just hit.

The other guys are hanging out on the deck of their boat

When suddenly, they come under attack

For not being real actors they did a pretty good job.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

After you see the movie all put together, you walk over to the Prop Warehouse. If you need it for a movie, it’s probably in there.

Like I said before, I had to keep up with the lines while taking pictures. There’s so much stuff in there it would take 2 hrs to see every little thing by yourself. After the walkthrough of the warehouse you step outside for the tramcar.

While waiting for our car, I thought this was different so I snapped one of it.

I was on the right of our car but I’d say the left would have been better for pictures.
Here’s Herby aka Ocho.

Some planes from the Pearl Harbor movie

 

[NateNLogansDad]

The iconic water tower

Inside where they make some costumes and props

Here’s the bone yard

Herby when he splits in half in the movie

Mohave Oil. I don’t know what it’s from but I saw it a lot on the tour.

This was my FAVORITE part of the tour. Seriously, I almost jumped off the tram so I could just go over and touch it.

If you are looking at it and scratching your head, it’s from FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR! I loved that movie growing up. I was about the same age as David and thought it would be so cool to ride in the UFO. I had no idea it was on the tour so when I saw it I jumped up pointing and going ooohhh!!! OOOOHHHH!!!! LOOK!!!! People were looking at me like I had two heads but it was like I just met my favorite movie star! I know. I’m 30 but in a spit second I was 8 again!

Moving on….

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Here’s the highlight of the tram tour. I’ll post some pics but you need to see it for yourself to understand what’s going on.

Look at the face!

Back through the bone yard

Here’s the back of the set from the highlight pictures I showed you.

If I remember correctly, this is the plane Walt and some of the imagineers would use when scouting out land to buy in FL. Please feel free to chime in if I’m wrong, I know I was amazed when I saw it.

On the way back, we passed by the stunt show.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Tram ride over, we head to the next leg of the tour, the AFI. The American Film Institute Showcase. Inside they have props, costumes, and awards from different movies that can be recognized by just about anyone who owns a television. I wish I had more pics from inside, but then again, I guess it’s good to leave some of it a surprise for those who have not yet seen it. Here’s a taste.

Outside the power rangers were about to take a break but we waved and moved on

Mommom Ginny humored me with a Singing In The Rain shot.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I walked around taking shots like Joe Tourist trying to capture mostly everything I saw, with the sole purpose of posting them on my report when I got home. I know there are a lot of people who hold the Studios up there as being the best park out of all four, so for you I give you these. If there is one person who closes their eyes and pretends they are there so their day gets better, than it was worth it to me.

These two, on the other hand, were taken for me…..but I don’t mind sharing. I don’t know what it is about this fountain but I really do like it. I’m not saying it wasn’t done up enough, because it really is nice, maybe it’s because I was raised watching the Muppets and maybe I sometimes miss being that young again. Whatever it is, I just need to take another picture every time I see it.

By now it’s right around 1:00 and we are looking for some grub. Logan is always up for pizza and what luck

For those of you who have never been there, it’s a Quick Service credit on the dinning plan and there’s a pay as you go arcade that’s pretty cool. The boys loved it because, well, they are boys, Tina….not so much. Girls just aren’t always into video games. I know, I don’t get it either. Here’s some pics of the restraint part. Sorry, I didn’t take any of the games……it’s hard to do while you’re playing them!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

After lunch we ran into two more movie stars, Mader and Lightning!

The lines were a little long and not moving that fast, so we stole a shot and kept it moving. Tina got a tip on where we could run into some famous faces without too long of a line, so we headed over to Disney Animation! Along the way I had the camera rolling.

I wanted to stop by One Man’s Dream but I was told that if I was good, I’d be able to go in by myself later for as long as I liked. That kept me in line for a while! Finally we find it.

We had a few minutes to waste before the next show started and I thought it odd that the posters outside were in another language, so what did I do? Pssssttt…..remember the title of the Trip Report? That’s right, I took pictures of them!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew there was a tour that showed you how to draw certain characters, but that costs extra. This was more of a history of mostly more recent characters and narrated by a woman named Rose. The dragon’s name is slipping my mind but Mulan sort of rings a bell. There are also messages from the cartoon creators themselves. The dragon helps throughout the show and makes it more fun for the little guys. The creative aspect is more geared toward the adults. Later on I found out that you don’t need to sit through the whole thing to see the characters, but I probably will again next year. It is air conditioned after all!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Walking out to go see the characters, I noticed some hidden Mickey’s in the carpet.

We hopped in line to see the very attractive and so heroic Mrs. Incredible.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

There’s also a kiosk where you can answer a few questions and it will tell you what kind of character you are more like. Lumier from Beauty and The Beast walks you through it and is pretty accurate I’d say!

Nate is more like Lumier,

Tina is more like Hades from Hercules

And I am dead on with

MomMom is more like Sleepy

The lines had already formed for the UP! character meet when we walked into the room. Since the kids hadn’t seen the movie yet we opted to watch from the sidelines and just steal some photos.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

The drawings on the walls were a nice touch and when you exit there are some awards and then the gift shop where just about everything is for sale.

We step out side and I can hear Tina’s heart fluttering. What would cause this you might ask? Only the other love of her life…….

 

[NateNLogansDad]

When American Idol first opened up, we watched it live via the net. Even though he’s Tina’s “other guy” I would have flown her down in a heartbeat if money wasn’t the issue. Yes, we’ve been to his concerts, and yes she’d have to think about it if he asked her to leave with him! Eh, whatever. Side note, Mommom Ginny thought it would be funny to tell Tina that he was at the Studios that day…..Tina was not amused!

We walked over to American Idol and watched people lining up on the streets. 3:00 Block Party BASH! We quickly grabbed some seats and waited patiently. We could see the parade had stopped to do their show but we were told they would be around in 10 minutes. These people are very serious about their parties! The energy put out by everybody is just non stop. How could you possibly have a bad day at work?

 

[NateNLogansDad]

 

[NateNLogansDad]

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Parade over we need to get to Epcot because when you are on the Dinning Plan, it’s always time to EAT AGAIN!




To Be Continued!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Whew.....I'm exhausted! Anybody still out there reading this?

 

[NateNLogansDad]

More, more, more! I'm loving this trip report.

There you go! Have a magical day!