We got there around 10 am, seems to be our regular start time, by the time we get up and at 'em. Our transfers from the hotel to the park are quick and painless... and we just can't imagine having to worry about a vehicle here.
Hollywood Studios has a much older look and feel to it than Epcot did. Still new and upkept - just the style of it was that of the 50's. We walked in with the crowd and it didn't seem all that busy at the time but that was about to change. Our first stop was to the Toy Story 4D game that we had heard about - and we got a fast pass for that for much later on in the afternoon. We walked around a bit more and ended up at the Star Wars game - go figure. Jason and Abbey went on it as Oakley was much too little for it. We spent a bit of time in the gift shop - and got a birthday gift for Greydon's birthday later in the week - ahhh perfect. A Star Wars gift right from DisneyWorld - pretty cool I think! One of the greatest things about shopping on the parks is that they will ship it right back to your room for you at no cost. How nice not to have to haul around your packages all day!
Next stop - the Indiana Jones Stunt Show. Wow. They had about three different sets, and as they used one it got rolled away to reveal a new one behind it. Fire, fake punches, drops from three stories high - all very cool. Makes Jason want to watch Indiana Jones movies with Abbey when we get home. The only strange thing about this - the guy sitting beside me was COVERED in severe scarring obviously from a fire... wonder how he felt about the insane amount of fire that was in the show.
I think after this we had lunch - lol I'm not too sure. It was yesterday after all - didn't get a chance to blog last night as Oakley had a terrible time falling asleep. (She's doing it again but I guess it's time for tough love - sorry neighbours, sorry Abbey... hope she falls asleep soon!) Lunch was at Pizza Palace - right out of Toy Story again. Good food although Oakley has been eating just terribly in this heat...
From here we went to the Great Movie Ride. It was a long wait in an old movie theate then you got into a train-like car and went through different scenes from all sorts of movies - from Alien to Wizard of Oz and on an on.
After this we walked clear across the park to get a fast pass for the Rock & Roller Coaster but couldn't get there till 7pm - 8 pm... and then Oakley fell asleep in the stroller. So we walked around so she could sleep in the stroller and looked for a cool place for her to nap. It was just.so.hot. So we found a cool cafeteria and laid low in there for an hour or so while she napped.
Once she woke up we tried to hit every indoor show we could to get out of the heat. We went to the Toy Story ride that we had a Fast Pass for (it was more like a shooting game with big 3 D pictures and targets!) Then we went to the Little Mermaid show - very cool. Complete with bubbles and rain in the audience and big hand puppets. It was surprisingly good! After that we went to a character meet & greet (indoor again) where Oakley got to see Mickey again ("Mickey's the BEST!" she said when we were standing in line.) Funny story #1 from Hollywood Studios - there was an Asian Man standing behind us in line for Mickey and then he was in front of us for Minnie and Pluto. Yikes. He was all by himself (red flag anyone??) and then had Chip & Dale everything. Two bags. Hand puppets (yes I said Hand Puppets!) and then used those puppets to talk to the characters. Then gave them gifts. Then hugged them. Multiple times. It was really strange. You have to hear Jason tell the story though - if he can tell it without laughing! Oakley also saw Goofy again, Minnie & Pluto (Minnie liked her dress, it was red with white polka dots just like hers!) and then off to see Snow White. Didn't impress Oakley at all. She just asked her 'Where's Goofy?' Ha. Our kid isn't much into princesses yet.
Then we went to Narnia - Prince Caspian. Ug. BORING. Just basically showed clips of the movie on big screens around a room that we sat in the middle of. However they did have some of the original costumes from the movie as well. We also walked around the Walt Disney exhibit. This would have been neat if Oakley would have been sleeping (we tried to get in then but they wouldn't let us in with her stroller)... but there was lots of history and it would have been great to learn all about Walt Disney. But Oakley was a nut and running around the place as always - no strollers allowed. What are they thinking? What's a bit of dirt to vacuum up every day instead of crazy kids running around?
After all these shows that we packed in we were off for our dinner reservation at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. What a hoot. It was a huge building but felt like a little house right out of the 50's. Complete with chrome chairs, a black & white tv by your table and a waitress that told you to keep your elbows off the table and clean your plate. The food was great but the service was amazing. The highlight from here was that our travel agent has obviously told every place that we are booked at this week that it's Jason & Abbey's birthday. So it was the day before - big deal. Apparently we are celebrating it all week. So Adrienne, our large black waitress, gathered up everyone in the adjoining rooms of this 'house' to sing Happy Birthday, and she had the WORST voice I've ever heard. But she was hilarious about it - because she told everyone she had a great voice. So she sang loud & proud... and badly!! But - she messed up and called him "John" instead of "Jason" so the whole place sang happy birthday to John and Abbey. I got it on video - hopefully I can figure out how to post it here. I told her it was going to go on YouTube! Then Jason started calling her Flo - and when she asked why he told her it was because she called him John - then she figured out her mistake and yelled it out to the entire place that it was JASON's birthday not John's. Oh what a hoot.
After lunch we had a little bit of time to kill before the Roller Coaster fast pass so we went to the Sound Stage to hear a show by Drew Carey. It was AWFUL. We've been 'rating' things all week and if I could have given it a negative I would have. You had to wear headphones and half of it had no picture just sound. It was all about a spy cam and murder mystery and I'm sure there was a point but Oakley was freaking out and hit her head on the chair and well.. you get my point. Not much fun.
So then we had to FLY to the Rock & Roller Coaster to get there before our pass expired. We made it just in time! Jason and Oakley waited outside with our stuff as Jason doesn't do too well on roller coasters.... and then Abbey and I went on in! It was a very short wait... and it was all Aerosmith themed.We got on the cars giggling thinking 'what did we get ourselves into?'. That's when my lovely step daughter decided to spring on me that this was her first time on a roller coaster. WHAT??? I thought she was an old pro! She loves rides and I'm sure she'd been on them with her mom before. Guess not! It's been YEARS since I've been on one - West Ed Mall maybe... and so we were both a little nervous. But there were LOTS of little kids around and we thought if they could do it so could we! So - off we went. It was a lot of fun! We did a few loops that made our heads spin but we didn't get sick and it was over before we knew it! I had to laugh at the Aerosmith tune playing "Love in a Roller Coaster"!!!
Then Abbey was on a roll and decided to do the Tower of Terror - this was a job for her Dad! So the sign said a 30 min wait - so off they went and I tried to find something to do with Oakley while we waited. Ahhh the Beauty & The Beast show. It was just starting - and it was shaded and cool(er) and a good place to wait. Only problem was I left my radio in the stroller that I had to leave wayyyy up at the entrance, and Jason and Abbey were done in 10 min not 30. (Oh I forgot to mention the radios yesterday - what a godsend. We bought them at Costco the day before we left. They are perfect for the odd time we have to go in different directions - not so helpful if they aren't on your person though!) So the B&TB show was great, Oakley watched patiently and waved goodbye to all the princesses at the end - "Bye Princesses!!". Might have her hooked on princesses at the end of this after all.
We met up with Jason and Abbey who quite enjoyed the 13 storey drop of the Tower of Terror! And at this point - we were all DONE. It was so hot and we were all tired and happy to head back to the hotel. We did stop at the splash pad at the hotel to let Oakley cool off a bit - so I took off her top and let her run through the water at the Goofy Spray pad close to our hotel. A quick tub and a snack and off to bed. But a hard time falling asleep so I just laid with her and rubbed her back - hence no blog last night.
Jason is posting pics in a separate post. I get too frustrated trying to arrange them all in order! If you read this post you should be able to identify all of the pics he is posting in the picture post!
You guys are having such an awesome adventure, you will have so many memories and the stories you will have to tell for many years to come. Thanks for sharing it is like we are there with you experiencing it all. Capture every moment, but don't forget to relax a wee bit too. Can hardly wait for day 5. Have a great day...Belarus
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