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Old 04-24-2012, 02:09 AM   #376
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Wow, what an amazing birthday experience this is turning out to be!
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Old 04-24-2012, 09:38 AM   #377
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Who honestly likes getting up early? Not me. But it looks like you ended up having a great morning after all. That birthday button is getting me all excited for our trip in May when Hope gets to wear hers.
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Old 04-24-2012, 02:22 PM   #378
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GREAT AK morning! Man, Evan is gettin all kinds of B-Day attention!! And gettin signed up for "real" school, he really is growin up!
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Old 04-25-2012, 10:40 AM   #379
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Great morning at AK! And I love how much special attention Evan's birthday button is getting him.
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Old 04-25-2012, 05:29 PM   #380
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Sorry the morning started off a little rough, but that safari seemed to turn it all around!! Love the masks you bought too!
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Old 04-26-2012, 04:44 PM   #381
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Friday 10/21 Part 2

“I never seen grid-lock in Disney before”

We arrived at HS and meet my sister and her family at Backlot Express for lunch and then headed in to see Lights Motors Action Stunt show.

This had been changed around a bit since the last time I saw it. You used to enter the theater in the front and walk across the front of the seating area now we actually walked under the entire stadium and we sat all the way on the left side of the stage. The show was basically the same other than the appearance of Lightning McQueen. As expected Evan loved it. So did my 6 year old nephew Eric. After the show we thought we would let the kids play in HISTK playground. Earlier in the week I had promised Evan we would return back there.

Well as you might have guessed when 5000 people all leave a show at the same time, everything gets mobbed. There was just this giant sea of humanity as far as you could see. The line for the playground was at least 50 people deep. Considering I’ve never ever seen a line here before, that was significant. Plus the playground doesn’t have a time limit so you have no idea how long it would take to have 50 people enter before you.

We thought maybe we could get FP to Toy Story so we fought our way over to Pixar Place. What a disaster that was, very poor planning on Disney’s part if you ask me. They place the most popular attraction in the entire park in the smallest area – what were they thinking??? The sidewalks are already narrow in that area.

Of course 5000 other people had the same idea (make that 5000 minus the 50 on line for HISTK). We end up hitting a wall of people. The line for TSMM extended out of the building and into the sidewalk area. There was a green army man doing greets and he had a line. Buzz and Woody were across the way and their queue extended out of the building and into the sidewalk as well and I looked and saw 5 tour guide flags all trying to enter TSMM. I had a stroller with me and I just couldn’t even move. I was literally just standing there for about 3 minutes. I couldn’t move forward or backward and no one in front of me was even moving. It honestly was like grid-lock. I’ve never seen anything like it before.

After a few minutes and there was no movement anywhere I just tried as best I could to back out – thinking everyone was following me. Evan and I and my mom make it out but my sister is nowhere to be found. I thought maybe she had bailed on me earlier and I hadn’t noticed. We get away from the crowd and I text her. She had pushed through and they were going to do the VOLM. I said “see you later” and Mom, Evan and I went over to the Muppets.

By the time we got to the Muppets the crowd from LMA show had dissipated and we got into the next show. Muppets was fun as always and do hope that that area grows since the return of the movie. I’d love for an updated movie or a Muppet ride.

After the Muppets we went back to HISTK playground and Evan ran around in there again for like a half hour or so. We said our good byes to HS for this trip and then went back to the hotel for some afternoon down time. I think I took a little nap today too.

On a side note: Yesterday, just as I was picking up Evan from school he had whacked his head on the playground equipment. He had a giant egg on his head and this morning his eye was swollen shut – poor thing. I had to wait almost 90 minutes from when we got up until the doctors office was open and then another 2 hours before I could him an appointment. But let me tell you – what a day to be home. The electric company is trimming trees in my neighborhood since they are growing too close to the wires. Well a crew shows up today, of all days, right in front of my house. I actually had to have them move a little before they started as they were blocking my driveway that is how close they were. Evan was just in heaven. He sat staring one-eyed out the front window for 2 hours. Every little boys dream.

BTW – he is a-okay. No vision problem, nothing broken, just swelling.

(boy this updates are so much easier when I have no photos - I can tell it is later in the trip as I was getting lazy with the picture taking by this point. I do have some for the next update though)

Coming Up Next
“A proper suitor”

Birthday pin surprise count: 11
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Old 04-26-2012, 04:49 PM   #382
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Glad Evan is OK, and that he got a little entertainment while waiting to go to the doctor!
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Old 04-26-2012, 04:50 PM   #383
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Just bought myself a mother's day gift. Err, I mean, Evan just bought me - yea, a mother's day gift.

Mommy likey!!!
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Old 04-26-2012, 05:54 PM   #384
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That sounds crazy Holly! I have to say though, that I always feel like that place is crowded. I have decided after 3 trips in a row, it's the way it is laid out and the narrowness of it.

I know what you mean about the pics. I seem to take so many pics, like I have to take a pic of everything the first few days...each consecutive day after the pics become less and less.

Great chair!
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Old 04-26-2012, 08:00 PM   #385
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Glad Evan's ok and that he had some entertainment right outside your window! That area in front of Toy Story is a mess all the time. I never made the connection between the big shows letting out and the crowds, though. I'll pay more attention to that in future. I must have hit one of those moments on my last trip when I was stuck in one spot on the scooter just like you were with the stroller. You made the right call, maneuvering to Muppets and then backtracking to HISTK.
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Old 04-26-2012, 08:30 PM   #386
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Sorry for the gridlock in HS! And pixies for Evan. Glad he's okay!
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Old 04-26-2012, 08:45 PM   #387
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I have finally gotten all caught up. I know everyone has already said this, but bless you for your patience with Christine. I would not have kept my mouth shut, and it would have been a battle of epic (and embarrassing) proportions at that point.

I had forgotten that they added Lightning McQueen to the show, I may have to see if David wants to go see it again - we weren't huge fans of the original.

I love all the surprises Evan is getting because of his birthday pin. Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip!
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Old 04-26-2012, 10:54 PM   #388
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Poor Evan! Glad he's ok.

I'm hoping we can make it to LMA this time - I'm sure the boys will love it.

Nice chair too - love the built in shade.
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Old 04-27-2012, 02:26 AM   #389
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Glad Evan's Ok.

My goodness, what a nightmare crowd at the Studios!
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Relaxing on board the Magic. The trip report for our back-to-back cruises on the Disney Magic has started!
My Countdown Counting down to: 2019
Happy New Year!
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My Previous Trips21 trips to WDW, 6 to Disneyland in California, 9 to Disneyland Paris, 1 to Hong Kong Disneyland, 1 to Tokyo Disney, 1 to Aulani, 1 to Hilton Head, 2 to Vero Beach and 13 Disney cruises on the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy
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Old 04-27-2012, 02:58 AM   #390
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Great time at AK and at the Studios--I haven't seen LMA--I might have to try and squeeze it in next time! Sorry about the knock on Evan's head, but I'm glad everything is okay!
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