Cam's Golden Birthday Adventure **Updated 8/23** COMPLETE - Page 16 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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What a great day at Epcot and a wonderful birthday dinner at Rose & Crown....
I can't get to see the pictures of the firworks (as at work I can't see all the pictures) but I will be going home to see them soon....
Sounds like a perfect dayat Epcot, minus the slanted downpour . What an awesome spot to celebrate the birthday dinner. Did Stefanie enjoy SE despite her objections to riding or did she sit it out? Can't wait to hear more.
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Margaret
I am not a Disney employee. The postings here are my own and do not represent the positions or opinions of the Disney Company
Another great update, Cam!! You had a full and wonderful dayat Epcot! Nice score on the seats at R&C What a beautiful view you had! We're looking forward to seeing the new SSE. The more I hear about it, the more it intrigues me. Can't wait to hear more!!
(And, honing in on my newly discovered psychic abilities, I'm going to guess you see Indiana Jones! )
Great day at Epcot Cam. What a wonderful way to have a birthday dinner, watching Illuminations. So glad Stephanie found a backpack. Did she enjoy SE. Can't wait to hear about DS.
Wondeful afternoon at Epcot....Sunshine Seasons is always on our CS list! Seems like a really comfortably paced visit with a perfect dinner ambiance and gorgeous view for your 50th.
danielle
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~Shoot for the moon, if you miss, you will land among the stars~
Sounds like a perfect dayat Epcot, minus the slanted downpour . What an awesome spot to celebrate the birthday dinner. Did Stefanie enjoy SE despite her objections to riding or did she sit it out? Can't wait to hear more.
She did chose to ride along with me and told me she had forgotten that she really liked it. She jumped into the car for our second ride through before I could catch up to her.
First of all, I owe you all an apology as I’ve been somewhat dragging my feet on this trip report. Actually, it seems that each time I start to write again, something tries to block me. The past few days I’ve been down with tummy troubles and though I’ve checked the boards, I’ve not felt like my brain could compose a report. But here goes again and thanks for bearing with me.
Will we get to see the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular after missing the opportunity the past 4 years?
Day 4 – Wednesday, June 11 at Hollywood Studios
We got up around 7:30, showered and breakfasted on Pop Tarts, and then headed to the bus stop to catch a ride to Hollywood Studios for the day. Now I must admit that Stefanie and I have a new addiction – Toy Story Midway Mania. We just couldn’t seem to get enough of this new ride. So our plan was to rush there as soon as we entered the park and see what length the Standby Line was while also getting FastPasses for later in the day.
We had an easy walk through bag check where the security guard asked where I had gotten the name “Cam.” He really was a sweetheart. Then it was through the gates and a quick pose with the Photopass photographer.
With a cool photo taken, we initiated our Toy Story Midway Mania plan, hoofing it to Pixar as quickly as possible. Luke headed straight for the FastPass machines while I took a few pictures of the outside of the ride.
I’m not sure if this is large enough for you to read, but the Standby Time is 60 minutes, a perfectly acceptable wait for our new favorite obsession.
With FastPasses for later in the afternoon, we began the trek through the queue to shoot some more stuff as Stefanie says. The wait ended up not being 60 minutes. In fact it was more like 35 or 40 minutes. I used the time to snap a few more photos as I definitely wanted a scrapbook layout for this attraction. Two monkeys – We have affectionately referred to Stefanie as our monkey since she was born.
Soon we were in our car and armed with our shooters we were off to burst some balloons, break some plates, and throw some hoops.
We all three improved on our previous scores, Luke more so than Stefanie or I. I did earn 20,000 points than before, but I really wanted to break 100,000. At least, I knew I’d get another attempt later in the day.
As we exited the ride, we decided to see about the wait time at Voyage of the Little Mermaid as this is another of Stefanie’s favorites. We could tell from the line length that we’d probably get into the next showing no problem, so we took our place in line.
There was the cutest little boy in line with his family behind us who had a definite impish streak. He’d wait until his parent and grandparents were focused on their talking and then attempt to sneak away. But he couldn’t help giggling so they were always alerted. He made the wait time quite entertaining. Stefanie could be a monitor for Disney as she has always paid attention to the “rules.” Once we moved inside to the first room, she kept poking me, telling me don’t these people know they are supposed to be inside the lines and move up close. She was quite smug when a cast member made an announcement to this effect. Folks were just taking up a lot of space so others couldn’t get in. Soon we were enjoying the show and Stefanie as always squealed when the waves sprayed over us.
Afterwards we thought we might be ready to eat, but then we noticed that The Great Movie ride had a fairly short line. In fact as we entered the building, a cast member was reminding folks that there were two lines open. No one was paying him any mind, so we chose the road less traveled and wound up almost instantly in the room with the big movie screen. I think we all three might have the movies here memorized as Stefanie gets excited when she knows the clip from Mary Poppins is about to come up. We had a really vivacious driver this year whose enthusiasm was contagious. We were seated in the front row and when he noticed that Luke and I were searching for hidden Mickeys, he would lean down periodically and tell us where to look. So cool! We had the mobster version again. I really did like our one time to get the cowboy last year. Oh well.
By the time the movies were wrapped up, we really were hungry. Noticing ABC Commissary, a place we had never eaten, we decided that would fit well with our plan to try new counter service places.
We quickly found a line that was short and moving fairly quickly and the cast member Jason was truly adorable. The folks right before us had a grand gathering and I was overwhelmed as I watched their tally going higher and higher to $189 and change for lunch. Whoa! Jason then turned to Luke, but noticed my birthday pin in the process and added a free cookie just for me to our order. Stefanie had her own kids meal with cheeseburger, fries, and cookie while Luke and I split a cheeseburger with fries. I even got an orange Fanta soda, yummy.
Stefanie setting the table. This is one of her favorite chores at home.
Me and my birthday cookie.
With our tummies full again, we had a enough time before our FastPasses on Midway Mania to check out FastPasses for Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectular. Unfortunately, today would be a no go for this attraction as the FastPass time available was during our dinner ADR for Hollywood and Vine. No fear, we still had 8 days of vacation time to catch this one. So we ahead back to Midway Mania and I was hopeful that I would finally break 100,000. The FastPasses worked perfectly here as we breezed through the line stopping only to pick up our 3-D glasses and then we climbed the stairs. Soon we were aiming our shooters at every target possible, but my poor arm seems to be working in slow motion and my score was actually back to 64,000. Pure disappointment!
Back out in the sunshine we wandering the Streets of America, getting several neat family photos in the process.
Stefanie doing her best High School Musical pose.
Somehow we wound up at Backlot Tours, and though the crowd was very large, we decided we wouldn’t mind waiting. I had loads of fun snapping shots behind the scenes.
I made Luke seat on the wet side this year. Somehow I’ve always wound up there and still remember the first time the water came crashing down. I was sure I was going to be soaked.
Stefanie and I love Walt’s special plane.
Glimpses behind the scenes at Lights, Motors, Action.
By now it was almost time for our dinner ADR at Hollywood and Vine with the Fantasmic package. After getting our pager from the check-in desk, we found a shady spot to wait.
While waiting, we could hear the High School Musical Pep Rally and Stefanie got her moves on.
Then she got very intellectual on us.
Stefanie has a friend who visited WDW last fall and came home with some cool glowing ice cubes. She had been asking us to check for some for her the entire trip. At Hollywood and Vine we noticed the lighted Tink that came with a special drink cup. Stefanie was so excited with her new toy.
She still carries it with her every day in her neat Disney backpack.
After refueling, we thought we just might have time to ride Tower of Terror before heading into the amphitheater for Fantasmic.
With the wait time at only 30 minutes, we took Stefanie to the gift shop to await our return and then entered the queue. The family in front of us was very friendly and one of their kids was full of excitement as he anticipated his very first ride on Tower of Terror. In about 25 minutes we entered the hotel lobby and the anticipation grew.
We got a group of teenage girls to shot a photo of Luke and me right before we boarded our elevator.
This is still my absolute favorite WDW thrill ride. I alternately scream as we fall and giggle uncontrollably as we rise. Upon our return, Stefanie was very proud of the masterpiece she had colored during her wait. She also received a certificate from a cast member for her coloring.
Next stop – Fantasmic and reserved seating. We arrived early enough that we were able to get seats at the far left edge of the reserved section.
We were all thirsty again so I made the trek up the concession area. I checked with the cast members standing guard that I’d have no trouble getting back in and one of them laughingly gave me a password. (I don’t remember it right now.) The line at the concession stand moved rather slowly as most people didn’t seem to know what they really wanted to get, but soon enough I had a light lemonade for me and cokes for Luke and Stefanie. As I approached the cast members, I announced the secret password and he couldn’t quit laughing that I’d actually remembered and used it.
Stefanie became fascinated with the light up necklaces that the vendors were hawking, and when I told Luke that I was actually thinking I’d like one too, he headed off to buy a pair. Doesn’t she just look adorable in her spectacular necklace? And then she had to do her cool tongue trick. She sticks her tongue out very quickly and then rolls it under, pretty much all in one move.
After many rounds of the wave led by two very enthusiastic teenage boys who were having the time of their lives, dark finally arrived and the show began.
Most of my photos of this show didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped. But I did get several that aren’t too bad.
As the fireworks went off, we decided that we needed to head home and get some rest before our full day at Animal Kingdom. Then it was off to the bus stop and then a short ride to our resort. The decision was made to sleep a wee bit later tomorrow as we had been going hard for 4 days now. Luke had been told by a friend that later was better at AK, so we decided to give it a try. With no wake up call, we climbed into bed and were sound asleep in no time.
If we get up later where will we eat lunch? And will Yak and Yeti be as good as I’ve imagined for months now? Will we get the most out AK even if we arrive late? And the answers to other silly questions in the next installment.
Great update Cam!!! What a great day at DHS Sorry you couldn't fit in Indiana Jones, but I'd pass that up for TSMM anyday Love all your pics!! And I admire your stamina More please
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Pixie Dust
. What an awesome spot to celebrate the birthday dinner. Did Stefanie enjoy SE despite her objections to riding or did she sit it out? Can't wait to hear more.
Margaret
What a beautiful view you had! We're looking forward to seeing the new SSE. The more I hear about it, the more it intrigues me. Can't wait to hear more!!
)
I am glad you had such a wonderful time 
Kris
Sorry you couldn't fit in Indiana Jones, but I'd pass that up for TSMM anyday 
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