Walt Disney World Day 5: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Day five of our trip was our day at Hollywood Studios. (Day 1 Arrival, Day 2 Epcot, Day 3 Islands of Adventure, and Day 4 Resort and Downtown Disney if you want to read those first). We were out of the resort on time and at the turnstiles 15 minutes before opening but the cast members were already letting people in. We stopped to take some Photopass pictures as we entered.

Ready for our day!

Our first stop was Toy Story Mania for fastpasses. Even though it was before 9am the fastpass return time was 12:00-1:00pm. There was even a short line to get fastpasses. 

 Planning our next stop

 It's more fun than a barrel of monkeys

Fastpasses in hand we made a beeline for Rockin Roller Coaster. There was no wait so we grabbed baby swap passes and Nate and the big kids rode while Orion and I waited at the exit. The kids loved it. It was one of their favorite rides! Phoenix and Wynter rode with me with the baby swap pass. Having the baby with us allowed the big kids to ride most of the big rides more than once. Rockin Roller Coaster was fun but a bit bumpy for me. I think I'm getting old because I used to love thrill rides but this trip there were a few rides that were fun but a little more intense than I prefer.

Rockin Roller Coaster

The wait was about 15 minutes for Tower of Terror so we grabbed baby swap passes and Nate and the big kids rode while Orion and I grabbed a cup of coffee and relaxed in the shade. After they rode I took Phoenix and Brennan back for a 2nd ride. Wynter wasn't a fan of Tower of Terror at Disney's California Adventure but I told her to give it one more shot. She used to be a very cautious kid and scared of everything but we've found it we give her some gentle encouragement she finds she likes most things, even thrill rides (Rockin Roller Coaster was one of her favorites). After riding with Nate she didn't want to ride it again. Tower of Terror used to be one of my favorites but sad to say it was a bit intense this time but still fun.

All 4 kids in front of the Chinese theater as we walked by.

Up close

Next stop was the studio backlot tour. We ended up waiting a good 15-20 minutes for this ride. Not a horrible wait but longer than a lot of things this trip. At least in the first queue there are TV's and things to look at. Timing wise I think we got there right as one was starting, then we barely missed the cut for the next one but soon enough we were on our way. I was born in the LA area and still have family there so I've been to Universal Studios numerous times but it has been 14 or 15 years. From what I remember the studio backlot at Universal Studios Hollywood is a much better tour. I think part of the problem at Hollywood Studios is there isn't a lot (if any) real filming going on. The tour was fun though.

The intro involves audience members and fire and water. It was neat to see up close.

Mickey water tower

After we exited the studio backlot tour we happened upon a meet and greet with Mike and Sulley from Monsters Inc. There was no wait so we stopped to say hello.

Brennan giving Mike a hug

Phoenix was not sure about these monsters!

All six of us

Mike wanted to say "hi" to Orion too.

We don't have a lot of pictures from the rest of the day. The only reason I can think of was the torrential downpour and rainy weather the rest of the afternoon. Next it was time for our fastpasses to Toy Story Mania. I was really excited to ride this since during our last trip to Disney's California Adventure all the fastpasses had run out and there were 90 minute waits so we never rode. It was so much fun. The decorations were cute and the ride was a lot of fun. Orion rode with me but I'm glad I had him in the carrier because it would have been hard to play and hold on to him tight enough since it whips around the corner pretty quickly. Toy Story Mania was my favorite ride at Hollywood Studios. I would have rode it again if the line wasn't so long and fastpasses hadn't ran out right away.

We stopped by Little Mermaid but we had just missed it and the next show was 20 minutes so the cast member encouraged us to come back. We then went to catch the next Indiana Jones Stunt Show. I was worried it would be too loud for Orion but I figured I could just leave if it was and meet Nate and the kids at the stroller. It was way too loud so I left a minute in. After the first scene a huge thunder storm rolled in and the show was cut short for safety reasons. It was starting to rain but not too bad yet.

We grabbed a baby swap pass to Star Tours and Nate and the big kids rode that. The rain was really starting to come down so I had to try to find better shelter. I had my poncho on and I had Orion's clipped to the stroller. It was raining so hard and he was pulling on it so on the way to the bathroom the poor kid got soaked. The temperature really dropped during the downpour and we were both freezing. We hid out in the bathroom for awhile. I got him a clean diaper, dry clothes, and warmed him up a bit. I couldn't reach Nate on my cell because the bathroom was basement level and I had no cell coverage. People were crowded into every area with a roof over it so the entrance to the bathrooms was a mad house. I decided to make a run for Muppet Vision 3-D. I got the stroller parked and Orion and our stuff to the entrance. I kept trying to call Nate but he wasn't answering. The cast member said the show was starting and I needed a dry place with a seat to nurse Orion so I went in without Nate. I told him to hurry and try to get in. While waiting for the show to start I figured he was too late but low and behold I see Nate in the kids in the back corner of the waiting area. We were able to all sit together. I was able to nurse Orion. The show was cute and all was well.

I didn't realize it right away but at some point in the poncho on, poncho off, running in the downpour I lost one of my diamond earrings. I thought it was most likely where I had parked my stroller. We back tracked and I didn't see it there. I asked the cast member and they hadn't found anything. They were 1/4 ct TW so pretty tiny and really could have fallen out anywhere. The cast member encouraged me to call the main lost and found tomorrow as sometimes a janitor will find an earring cleaning up. The earrings weren't that expensive and were many years old at that point so I wasn't too upset, just a little bummed. I think hubby was more upset than me because they were his graduation gift to me when I graduated college.

It was still raining but lightly so we moved on. At that point I was over riding Star Tours so we headed over to Staring Rolls for a highly recommended treat. It was late afternoon at this point and the selection was slim. If you want a cupcake there I'd recommend going earlier in the day. I did get a carrot cake cupcake that was amazing but the kids couldn't all find something they wanted so a couple of them saved their snack credit for later in the day.

We caught the afternoon show of Beauty and the Beast and really enjoyed it. The theater was outdoors and I was hoping for an indoor theater with air conditioning but we survived.

Beauty and the Beast

We then went on the great movie ride. We had the gangster on our ride. I just learned this week that there is a cowboy version too. It was a fun ride.

It was getting close to our 5:30pm dinner reservation at 50's Prime Time Cafe so we headed over and checked in early. 50's Prime Time Cafe has mostly good reviews but some people complained about the food. I thought the big kids would love the banter so I booked it. The restaurant is decorated really neat and there are TV shows from the 50's playing. It feels like you are in a kitchen/dining room from a home in the 1950's. Our waitress was fun and gave the kids homework to do while we waited for our food but I wish she teased the kids even more. My kids get a kick out of these kind of things. I ordered the fried chicken and collard greens and they were delicious. Nate got the fish special, Wynter pot roast, Phoenix pot pie, and Brennan fried chicken. We were all happy with our choices. On the dining plan you could get a shake for our drink and a dessert but I think most of us chose soda or tea for a drink because it is so much food.

Our waitress checking our homework

Fantasmic and American Idol were both on our to-do list for the evening and squeezing both in was going to be a challenge. We hit the finale show of American Idol (7:30pm) which was 25 minutes long. Fantasmic started at 8pm. American Idol was a lot of fun and we're glad we didn't miss it. All the singers were really good. I loved that the winner from the day got a front of the line pass to try out for the show when auditions came to their area. As soon as the winner was chosen we hurried out of the auditorium on our way to Fantasmic.

As were walking up to Fantasmic it was announced over the loud speaker that it was standing room only. We kept going, figuring standing room only couldn't be that bad. We quickly parked our stroller and were ushered not to standing room area but nearly front row on the far right (score!). Our seats were great and we had an awesome view of the entire performance. This was the only night time show we planned due to making rope drop every day and having a 4.5 month old baby in tow. 

Fantasmic did not disappoint. It was a great show and we all loved it. Unfortunately my point and shoot camera does not take good low light photos so no photos of Fantasmic. I had heard that if you rush for the buses after Fantasmic you'll be waiting for a bus forever. We decided instead to take our time and wander out of the park slowly. We took some pictures and looked in the shops. Eventually it seemed like we were the last people in the park and were kind of being shooed out so we made our way to the buses. We waited less than 10 minutes and were the 2nd family in line. We all got a seat and the bus wasn't very crowded. It was definitely worth it to take our time.

Rockin Roller Coaster at night

Being silly

Howdy partner!

Overall we had a great day at Hollywood Studios. We made it to the turnstiles before they opened, saw most everything we wanted to see, had a yummy dinner, and enjoyed a nighttime fireworks show. Once we were back at the hotel we went to sleep quickly because tomorrow we had another big day, Animal Kingdom!

So Grown Up

There are certain moments in time where it hits you, where has the time gone? Last week Wynter went to a Valentine's dance at her school. She borrowed a beautiful dress from a friend and asked me to curl her hair. She usually dresses cute and fashionable but dresses and curly hair are not her thing so I was excited to oblige. She looked beautiful and so grown up. This year I will have not one but two teenagers (yikes!). Before I know it they'll be in high school and off to college. Time needs to slow down a bit.

 All ready to go

 Beautiful

 The back of the dress

The hair

Walt Disney World Day 4: Downtown Disney, Chef Mickey's, and Resort Day

Day four of our eight day trip was our rest and relaxation day. We had a character breakfast at Chef Mickey's, time to explore, Downtown Disney, and resort time planned. On our two trips to Disneyland in California we learned that a non park day in the middle of the trip is essential. Disney is a fun place with so much to see but it is exhausting! For our family two parks days in a row is truly our limit to happy touring. With Epcot and Islands of Adventure under our belts today was our day to rest.

Our Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) for Chef Mickey's was at 10am. I chose that time so we could have a nice slow start to the morning and so we could do two big meals that day instead of three. Part of our package was free dining that included one sit down (table service) and one counter service meal, and one snack per day, per person. Wynter and Brennan were adults for dining and park ticket purposes so they got to eat off the adult menu all week. We shared quick service meals and used our extra quick service and snack credits to cover breakfast so we spent almost no money on food the entire week.

Chef Mickey's is at the Contemporary resort, near the Magic Kingdom. We were staying at the Port Orleans Riverside resort on property so we took a bus to the Magic Kingdom and walked to the Contemporary from there (less than 5 minutes).

Chef Mickey's

Once inside we had to ask where Chef Mickey's was and were directed to the upper floor. The high ceilings and glass windows were impressive. We didn't have much of a wait. The kids traded pins with other kids who were waiting and soon we were having our picture taken and sat at a nice table near a window.

Donald Duck

Soon enough the characters were making the rounds and the kids had a lot of fun. The food was a breakfast buffet. The food wasn't bad but honestly I wasn't impressed. The breakfast buffet at Crystal Palace later in the week was much yummier with puffed french toast and breakfast lasagna. The characters all came to our table. Some seemed more rushed than others but Goofy was definitely the best with my kids.

Minnie Mouse signing autographs

Orion spent a lot of the trip in his BabyHawk mei tai so it's hard to see his face in the pictures.

Mickey Mouse

Goofy, being well, goofy!

More silliness!

 

Phoenix thought it was important that Duffy got in the picture with Orion, Goofy, and I

Last but not least, a visit from Pluto

After we left Chef Mickey's we spent some time in the gift shop. Orion got his first souvenir, a baby mickey with a rattle inside. He loved it! The monorail runs right through the inside of the Contemporary so we decided to check it out. We had no schedule or time table for the day so we set off exploring. We did a loop on the monorail but decided not to get off at any of the other resorts. We had been told the PB & J milkshake at the Disney Swan and Dolphin was not to be missed. We got off the monorail at Magic Kingdom and headed to the Dolphin bus.

It started pouring rain so it was a quick run off the bus and into the Dolphin. The hotel was nice but seemed stuffy to me. We didn't see another family there, mainly business travelers. I believe they hold a lot of conferences at the Swan and Dolphin. It took a bit of wandering around before we found The Fountain.

Since The Fountain was not part of the dining plan we ordered our shakes to go and got 2 shakes for the 5 of us to share. We had to try the PB & J shake since it was so highly recommended and we also tried a peppermint shake. I'm going to be honest, neither shake was worth going out of way for. They were good but the PB & J shake wasn't my favorite. Oh well, we had some exploring under our belts. We tried to get on a boat to leave the Swan and Dolphin but it was lightning so the boats were not running.

Orion's first Mickey ears

We waited for a bus to Downtown Disney since we wanted to explore that area today too. At this point it was pouring rain and it was 2 or 3pm. How did the day get away from us? The first thing we did at Downtown Disney was get Orion some Mickey ears. We looked in some shops but since it was alternating between drizzling and raining hard we didn't want to spend too much time outside.

Don't I look adorable with my Mickey ears on?

Brennan looked scared of the dragon

It's amazing to me how detailed and large of things can be built with Legos!

Seven Dwarfs

After looking around the stores and getting rained on some more we decided it was close enough to dinner time (maybe 4pm?) so we'd use a few quick service credits to get dinner at Wolfgang Puck's Express. Wolfgang Puck's did not disappoint and the food was very good. 

Phoenix looking cute!

Downtown Disney

We then set off on our first boat ride of the trip and Orion's first boat ride ever. There was a bit of a wait but the boat ride back to Port Orleans Riverside is so much more relaxing. The scenery is more enjoyable and you're not crowded on a bus for 20 minutes or so. We had a good captain, who was friendly and nice and told us tidbits of information along the ride.

My kids had to sit right in front

Orion found the boat ride very interesting!

Self portrait on the boat

Cutie Pie on the boat

Nate and Wynter started the self portraits

The view from the boat as we entered Port Orleans

It was still raining when we got back to the resort and the pools were closed due to lightning. We checked out the store and played a bit in the arcade. We decided to check out the campfire and roast marshmallows. It was fun but a bit anti-climatic since we camp often and live near the mountains. Eventually the main pool re-opened. It was later in the evening (maybe 8pm?) and the features (slide, fountains, etc.) had been shut off. Since it had been raining off and on all day and was later in the evening it was cooler than I prefer to swim. I spent a little time in the hot tub and watched the kids from the side. I had hoped Orion could swim some during our trip because he loves the water but the only time we made it to the pools was late in the evening when it wasn't quite warm enough for a tiny guy like him.

After about 45 minutes at the pool we headed back to our room to try to get some sleep. The plan for the next day was rope drop and Fantasmic, so a long day. Orion never did sleep in the Pack N' Play so after the first two nights we just gave up and put him in our bed to start. He still woke up 4-5 times each night but at least he nursed and quickly fell back asleep. He does not sleep well in new surroundings.

Next up...Hollywood Studios

Previous Days:

Day 3: Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Day 2: Epcot

Day 1: Arrival Day

9 Months Old

9 months on the inside, 9 months on the outside, where has the time gone? You're sweet as can be and are just starting to explore. You started crawling right at 8 months and are getting faster by the day. Just You recently started pulling to standing and your favorite thing is to stand up on everything. Just this week you learned to clap and wave "hi" and love all the attention it is getting you. You've been saying "mom" and "dada" and signing "milk" for awhile now.

Here's a little sneak peek into what our days look like, 15 minutes with Orion:

Just sitting in a laundry basket eating my snack. No big deal.

  Reading, I mean ripping up mom's Parents magazine.

 Standing up on everything.

 Hi Mommy! I'm coming to get you!

 Mom, I think you forgot to cover these outlets.

 You have to put me in baby jail to get a picture with my 9 month sticker on.

 Look at all those big teeth!

 Biting everything!

Chewing on an electrical cord. What's the big deal?

Looks like he keeps me on my toes, doesn't he? Happy 9 months Orion Alexander! Mommy can't believe you'll be 1 year old in 3 short months. Mommy loves you so much!