The “Hurt So Good” TR or How You Can Feel Bad and Still Feel Good - UPDATED 10/17 COMPLETE!! About This Page:

[Nimros]

~ I’ve Been Bitten! ~

9/15 I was really nervous and really excited for today. We were going to Hollywood Studios for the morning and then to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party that evening. The excitement was for experiencing both of these things – especially MNSSHP, but I had to mentally put away my anticipation of MNSSHP in order to have fun at the Studios first. The nervousness came from all the horror stories I had heard about the mad stampede to get to Toy Story Midway Mania at opening…but I had a plan.

In fact, Cory and I sat down the night before with our map, like two generals planning their attack strategy for an upcoming battle! (Normally, Alexa would have been my Second Lieutenant, but Cory was doing a nice job filling in.) We would be on the first transport to HS in the morning. After reaching the turnstiles, I would proceed through and quickly make my way down Hollywood Blvd., commandeering a position at the ropes, waiting for the rest of my troops to reach the area, at which point I would collect everyone’s KTTW cards. At the appointed time of 0900, I would lead the charge to the Fastpass machines at TSMM where I would secure FPs for all of us. Second Lt. Cory would bring up the rear, making sure the rest of the troops safely reached the standby line where she would take position and wait for me to rejoin. Then we were through the line and enjoying our first challenge with Woody and the gang!

“Hollywood Blvd., go right around the Sorcerer’s Hat, Pixar Avenue, left at Voyage of the Little Mermaid, straight towards TSMM…” we chanted the directions again and again so we wouldn’t forget! Kevin wanted to know the plan. Even though I explained that since we didn’t have an entire day to be at HS and I knew this was one attraction we’d want to do more than once, we needed to get the earliest FP return time possible, I think he wasn’t convinced.

We woke up that morning ready to go. I did a quick check – Cold symptoms? No. Stomach ache? Nope. I felt great and on top of the world. What could possibly happen today?

We were on the bus to HS at 8:00am, with just a few other families on board. Bag check took just a bit longer this morning; today’s CM decided to open a few more of my zippers but finally had enough and wished me a good day.

We were one of the first families at the turnstiles – yikes! That meant we had about 40 minutes to wait until the park officially opened, and already the sun was beginning to feel blisteringly hot again. And HUMID!! We were beginning to feel like we’d just stepped out of a swimming pool.


Kevin had a ‘bug’ to find a clip or carbine to use for attaching his hat to his belt. He was tired of trying to stuff it in one of his cargo pockets when he didn’t need it. So he and Cory headed over to the gift shop at the entrance to see what he could find. He found a clever Mickey ears clip that did the job perfectly. And Cory saw another pin she desperately wanted – but she decided to wait and look inside the park first; we could always stop on the way out.

A huge crowd was already forming behind us. And many of the people who were first in the line were obviously getting ready to make the dash to TSMM the same as we were! (Fortunately, they were also conducting AI auditions over to the side of the entrance – and many people were here early for that.) I told Kevin I’d go first through the turnstiles and make my way to the rope at the end of Hollywood Blvd. – as soon as he and the girls were through they’d join me.

The CMs turned on the machines and we were off! Even though I was one of the first through the gates, people were already speeding up behind me. I heard a CM yell, “Walk, please! No running!” to a guest behind me - only to find it was Cory trying to catch up with me. (How embarrassing!)

I was one of the first to make it to the rope – and still people were pressing in around me, elbowing their way to the front. This was obviously going to be exactly the madhouse I heard it was. Kevin and Kelley finally made their way up to us. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a very scary-looking mob beginning to line up behind me. And no matter how close to the rope I got, someone was still trying to wedge their way in closer. CMs were manning the rope all along, joking with us and saying “TSMM is thaaat way…” pointing in totally the opposite direction.

Luckily, we were distracted by the opening show. A cute young “Just Married” couple (Shannon and Josh) were chosen to be the ‘stars’ – and we all had fun shouting our lines “Lights! Camera! Action!” Finally it was time for the Young Couple to drive off into the sunset…and rope drop!

But the rope didn’t drop. Instead, the CMs held the rope and briskly began to walk the growing throng of guests towards Pixar Avenue! I was greatly relieved – but still concerned, as people really began to try and inch their way forward to be closest to the rope – not hesitating to push others out of their path!! Several people stepped right in front of me while we walked, and Cory, who was desperately trying to keep up (even though I had instructed her to stay with her dad) got separated from me.

But I didn’t know it at the time; I continued on until we turned the corner into Pixar Avenue. Then the CMs vanished and it was every man, woman and child for themselves! Unbelievably, I was the first to reach one of the FP machines. I grabbed our set of FPs and then turned around to try and find my family. Luckily, they were just walking by (Cory having relocated her dad) and we entered the quickly growing stand-by line.

The line was moving swiftly and we didn’t have time to really enjoy a lot of the theme-ing. Kevin did snap a couple quick photos.


The sisters were ride partners again, which left me to compete with Kevin. I can totally say we all loved, loved, loved this attraction! (It was Kevin’s favorite of the whole trip.) And once again, the ride stopped for a minute or two. The target points get blanked out and you don’t rack up any score – but it was perfect for practicing your shooting technique! Kevin royally ‘whooped’ us all with a score of 140,000.

We exited the ride all laughing (or fuming about our scores ) and looking forward to doing it again. And you should have seen the standby line AND the FP distribution line by now! Wow!

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