Anna goes to...: Walt Disney World, Orlando Florida, Day Two: Hollywood Studios

It was a beautiful morning. The kids woke up happy, then ate cereal as the grownups foraged for coffee (hint, brew your own in the room, and buy milk in the giftshop/cafeteria). There is no good coffee at Disney!

The joggers were making their way around the lake and the sun was rising in the morning sky as we strolled to the "extra magic" morning hours at Epcot. When we got to the side gate, our entourage screeched to a halt. "Epcot does not have extra hours this morning - Hollywood Studios does." So said the security guard. We harrumphed, reassessed and then hopped into the fortuitously waiting boat to take us across the lake (after a few stops) to Hollywood Studios.

The boat ride was nice. It really was the golden hour for a family portrait, I barked at the KDLP's and made them pose. For the short (20 min) boat ride, I got to check things out on the iPad, enjoy the view and MM had a chance to have her hair properly combed out. The view was picture perfect.

When we go to Hollywood Studios, we realized that we were misinformed. There were no early hours. And I was about to be introduced to the Disney weekend crowds. You really need to leave all phobias behind, and plan your attack on the park. As we stood waiting for the gates to open, a sea of people churning in front of us, and a sea of people swelling behind, we stood, and waited for the deluge to start. And it did masses and masses of people spilled into the park.

We strategically separated. C, V & MM went straight for the Tower of Terror. I took all of our tickets and went to the fast pass for the Toy Story Ride, and VDLP took P to the animation exhibit. 45 mins later, as we kept in touch via cell phone, I had our six tickets to the 12-1pm Toy Story ride, and VDLP and I decided to take P to the Little Mermaid Show. After standing in line for half an hour, we were told that the show was canceled. VDLP turned to me and said "The Curse" yes, I even have an ivy league Ph.D statistician recognizing "The Curse of Anna Traveling" - all seemed to make sense.

It also worked out, because C & the big kids had a chance to ride the Tower of Terror a couple of times, and then see the very loud pop music show at the Hat. VDLP and I too P to see the Disney Jr. Stage Show, and all had a good time.

We decided to rendezvous at the Hat, and we feasted on churros and pretzels from a cart. Then we were off to stand in line at the Little Mermaid Show again - oops. We all stood patiently in line for half and hour, and when we got to the front of the line. (seriously, we were at the chain) we were told that we would not be seated, and we had to wait another 45 mins. It got a little ugly - but, we were right next to Walt Disney a Man and His Dream exhibit, and I really wanted to see that, so I grabbed V & MM and we headed off, while VDLP, C & P waited at the front of the line for the Little Mermaid.

V waiting to get into
the Little Mermaid Show

Oops.. the Curse struck again. Just as we were sitting down for the movie, C texted and said - come now, they are seating us. I grabbed the kids and we ran off to get to the Little Mermaid. It was worth the wait. And the annoyance. It is a live action multi media/multi atmosphere event. The kids loved it, and the grownups were happy to be cooling down in comfortable seats.

Next Stop: Toy Story Ride with our fast passes - gotta love the fast pass! It rocked. We were sitting in our boats/carts within 10 mins. I scored 103,000. I am a bragger. After the kids got an autograph from a Toy Story Soldier (they didn't want mine even though I was high score with 103,000 - sigh), and a penny from the machine, we checked out the Brown Derby for lunch - NO. Stopped to look at the amazing Fantasia Topiary, then headed back for the boat.

Half a day on a Saturday @ Hollywood studios was enough for us. We got on the boat, got off at the Boardwalk for a leisurely deli lunch outside, and then hit the candy store, fudge shoppe. A sugar high commenced for all of us. When we got back to the hotel, it was time for the KDLP's to do some laundry at the pool side laundromat. (they were there for a week) The kids put on their swimsuits and hit the pool, when I saw how much fun they were having, I changed and jumped in with them. We stayed in that over-chlorinated pool until the sun was setting and our eyes were burning. We were in the "quiet" pool, and we pretty much had it to ourselves.

Then it came time for the Sunset marshmallow roast. Now this was a treat! The hotel puts on a bunch of free events for the kids, and I took MM & P down to the beach to roast marshmallows. It was a great way to end the evening. And the sunset, combined with the HUGE full moon rising over the shipwreck made it yet another magical Disney Moment.