Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Hollywood Studios

DHS used to be called Disney's MGM Studios or some such. I'm not sure why the name changed, but it did. Whatever - it still has the same rides and attractions as before.

We arrived later than I would have liked, but still before the park opened. I understand there will always be crowds, but our 15 minute late departure yesterday (8:15 am as opposed to 8 am), plus having to wait a while for a bus, it really put us at a disadvantage. We were deep in the park opening crowd and that is never a good thing.

By the time I got around to the Toy Story Mania fast pass area, there was already a long line snaking down the street! Just to get the fast passes. The best I could get were for returns from 10:55 to 11:55 (keep in mind: I was at the fast pass kiosk and inserting our tickets at around 9:20). But, that ride had no less than a 40 or 50 minute stand by time all day, so I was pleased to have my set of passes.

After I hooked back up with the Evil Twin and kids, we ran over to Aerosmith's Rock n Roller Coaster. The Evil Twin and Buddy rode that. It's a corkscrew coaster and I just can't handle that. We arrived early enough that the stand by lines were at 20 minutes.



We then booked it to the nearby Tower of Terror - stand by time also 20 minutes. Buddy and I screwed up our courage and got in line. Oh my word - it was terrifying! But, fun in a way, too. I don't think I'll do it again. :-)

So, with the big three out of the way, we had the rest of the day to do just whatever. We were lucky in that we hit the attractions at the right times and had almost no waits for any of them.

Dinner reservations were at the Sci Fi Dine In. It's extremely cool. Diners sit in 50's style cars to eat all while a large theatre screen ahead shows old movie trailers. The food was amazing, the service was perfect and it was just a good meal all the way around. I even met one of my online friends from Tour Guide Mike's site there. I knew we had ressies around the same time, but was so surprised (and happy) when she recognized me while we were waiting to be seated.

In my TGM profile, I use a picture of myself as my avatar (stuck up as that may seem, but that's just the way I roll - it's me, I don't mind showing my face). She came over and we had at least 10 to 15 minutes to chat before her family's table was ready. How cool is that? It's a small world after all... La la la la la la. (Magic Kingdom is today and we'll ride "it's a small world" hee hee - I couldn't resist!).

Anyway, I was really shocked she recognized me because in my pic, I have my hair down - the way I normally wear it. But, about midway through the days here, I've been pulling it up into a pony tail - with my dark hair, I just get too hot to leave it down.

Here in Disney, they have Mousekeeping (instead of Housekeeping - get it?). And your Mousekeeping maid sometimes will leave little towel animals or other intricately folded items for your amusement (plus, we leave tips everyday!). Last night, after a VERY long, sweaty, tiring day, we got back to our resort to find these:



And:



How cute are those? Little washcloth bunnies on each sink faucet. I haven't had the heart to take them off yet. She also did a glass cup with a decorative washcloth inside (folded around all pretty-like) and placed our toothbrushes in it. I also took a picture of that, but not until I uploaded the other pics, so it will have to be included next time.

By the time you read this, we'll be deep into the Magic Kingdom!

25 comments:

  1. That's so darned cute that I don't know if I would be able to use it!!
    Hey...ride Magi Mountian 6 times for me okay.
    Did I tell you we had to take London daughter to Disney for her 21st birthday.....yepper's it just never gets better as they get older. I wanted to give you that lil tidbit so you'd have something to live for, lol :)

    Steady On
    Reggie Girl

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  2. Sounds like an awesome trip, seems like someone planned things perfectly. Seems like somebody did a lot of research to make things happen right. I hope that someone is getting credit for all the work she did :)

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  3. I'm so happy to have your daily updates - I LOVE IT!!
    That Sci Fi Drive In is probably my favorite thing at that park! Too fun!
    So glad you're having a great time - keep the updates coming!

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  4. I don't think we went to that park, but I'd love that restaurant. Too cool that you met a blog friend there!

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  5. too cute!! I did not know they changed the name to DHS! huh!? Sounds like you are having such a great time - yay!

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  6. Reading your travel blogs is almost as good as being there myself...almost! :-)

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  7. Heehaw! Keep up the fun! Don't forget sunscreen!

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  8. YAY...magic kingdom!! I am sure you all had a blast. I hope you got the kids lanyards and a couple of pins to trade. My daughter has a blast with that game (If you don't know, you walk up to any staff member that is wearing one and trade them out for something you like better). Of course with Grandpa working there..she has tons of them.

    I wish I knew you were staying on site. I probably could have hooked you up with a few extras. If you have a few more days left, email me privately and let me know which property you are staying at. (It isn't what you know but...) :-)

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  9. The towel decorations are too cute to use, I agree.

    Your trip is making me sad...I'm glad you're having a great time, but I love rides and roller coasters and I'm banned forever from them because of neck surgery. I miss Cedar Point.

    I'll try to forget that and just vicariously enjoy it through you. ;-)

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  10. Oh, you are killing me. I have a deep and undying love of Disney World. It sounds like you are having a great time.

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  11. Be glad you missed Aerosmith's roller coaster! It's whiplash city and my neck is still reeling from it years later.

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  12. Looove roller coasters! But those rides that drop your ass from crazy heights? Not in this life time! The one time I tried that I puked out my nose! Really.
    Those bunnies are almost as awesome as meeting an on-line friend at a restaurant.
    Very cool.
    Like Ron said, great job on the planning, it sure sounds like your trip is going swimmingly.

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  13. I am so glad you guys are enjoying yourselves! I cannot wait to see all the pictures!

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  14. And I remember those halcyon days when saying you were visiting the Magic Kingdom meant you were dropping acid...oh wait...that was a movie and I'm not that old. Oh well! Glad you're having fun! And that diner sounds VERY cool!

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  15. "deep in the magic kingdom" sounds like a Double entendre! lol

    You are braver than I going on the
    tower of terror!

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  16. Sounds like your having a great time so far !!! Can't wait to hear more. And those washcloths are so cute !!!

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  17. The towel animals were one of my favorite parts of our honeymoon cruise!

    Sounds like a great time!

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  18. I loved mgm I went about 10 years ago, Tower of terror is a sneaky ride. It's a little more fun than it looks.


    Looks like you are having fun. Enjoy it! It goes by too fast.

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  19. Those towel animals are well endowed!

    I'm going to seriously consider the dining plan when we go again. The eating sounds like half the fun.

    More pictures!

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  20. your bring back memories. We did the sci-fi diner as well....man.....that place is the best

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  21. My first immediate thought after seeing the towel animals was a raunchy sex joke. Obviously I have issues.

    Continue on...nothing of note in this comment! ;)

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  22. Glad your having a good time with the exception of the long lines. Now get off the computer and go have some fun!

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  23. I was in Orlando week before last. I had forgotten, from my years of living in Miami, that turn signals are optional in Florida. Doubly worse in Orlando: crazy natives and touristas. :)

    It's really too bad that my dipshit travel partner put is in No Name Hotel for per diem rather than finding a damn Marriott or Hilton or Doubletree that would have been in per diem. Did I mention we were right at Universal Studios? The conference was at the Loews Portofino, which was waaaaay above per diem.

    Hightlights for me were having my sister treat me to dinner at PF Chang's, and my finding a cute Colombian restaurant on Semoran Blvd.

    Disney's there? LOL! I haven't done WDW since the 80's, when the goal was do drink my way around Epcot.

    Glad you're having fun!

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  24. MMM I love those towel animals....I had a bunch whe i went on a cruise...
    Love the blog....
    Joey

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