Our First Ever Trip Report, 2011 (note to self; need to work on that title) - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween! I finally finished the next update in my trip report so here it is.
Wednesday 9-14
Today turned out not to be a free day. But hey, it’s vacation so we can change our minds, right? We went to Hollywood Studios instead.
We got up around 8:00 again, which is early for them. If I had my way we would go to the parks early every morning because I think we get more done. We had a small line for the buses again and got to the park straight away.
This park always seems hot to me, I guess because of all the concrete. Well, today was no different. It was HOT, HOT, HOT! As soon as we got in the park…well of course after stopping for a photo with the big hat in the background, (doesn’t Nathan look happy to get his picture taken),
I
I searched every one of the stores along Hollywood Blvd. for a hair clip to get my hair up off my neck. I finally found one for $5.00 . I hated to pay that when I had one back at the room that I had paid $1.00 for but I knew I’d be miserable with out it.
While I was in the store the guys found this poor little girl of about 6yrs old walking down the sidewalk crying. Apparently she had lost her family. She also didn’t speak a lick of English. They tired to calm her while they looked around for her parents; who they were sure were close by.
After a short time they hadn’t found any parents looking for a lost child so they took her into a shop and found a Spanish speaking CM to help her. Soon we saw her walking down the street in the arms of her family and we saw why she had gotten lost. She was with over twenty people and most of them were children.
This park was the most crowded park so far but none of the rides and shows except for Toy Story Mania, Rockin Roll Roller Coaster and Tower Of Terror had an extra long line. I wonder if it’s just the way the park is laid out that makes it seem more crowded?
We made our way down Sunset Blvd.
At the end Mark and Brett went to ride the Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster.
Nathan and I decided to skip these rides and sit and people watch while we waited. We got a turkey leg and a cup of ice water and I got the CM to fill up the gallon size zip lock bag I brought with crushed ice for me.
I have found the best way to stay cool all day is to put a bag of ice in my back pack and tighten it’s straps so that it lays against my back. I only had to refilled the ice once that day and never felt overheated.
When they were done, Mark, Brett and Nathan went to ride Star Tours.
This was the first time they had ridden it since it was updated and they loved it. The CM told mark that there are over 500 different scenarios for the ride so visitors will never ride the same ride twice.
In the mean time I waited in line so I could save all of us a seat for the Beauty and the Beast show. I got a seat in the second row, middle section. I was thrilled, I have never been that close in any of the shows in Hollywood Studios.
Here at home we go to the theater a lot to see plays and concerts. I know most people like to be back far enough to see the whole stage without moving their heads but I always like to get a seat up close (I say I want to cough on the dust kicked up by the actors feet. LOL). It’s probably because I have a slight hearing loss.
A very nice family sat next to me. They had triplets, one boy and two girls who were healthy 6 or 7 year olds now but they had been born pre-mature. I enjoyed the time spent before the show chatting with their grandmother. But the whole time I kept looking back to see if my boys had arrived yet because the auditorium was filling up fast and people were coming down to the front and asking me if the space beside me was taken. I said yes, I was saving it for my family, but it started making me feel uncomfortable . I was glad when they finally got there. I know people have different opinions about saving seats and I kept thinking if they don’t make it in time all the people who asked me if they were open were going to be mad.
This is such a great show!!! I always cry at the end. And even though they won’t admit it (because it’s a show for girls) I can tell the boys enjoy it .
By now we were getting hungry so we stopped to look at the list of lunch options. We decided that we would go by Starring Rolls so Nathan could pick up Sushi. They were out of the one with only California Roll so he got the sampler instead.
You could tell he was frustrated looking at the chocolate desert selections and Mark even mentioned that it would be his choice if he abandoned his quest of no chocolate for a year and got one! I wish he wouldn’t even put that idea out there but Nathan stayed strong. He choose a huge Cinnamon roll, which is not his favorite so I wasn‘t surprised when he didn‘t eat it.
We took Nathan’s sushi to go and walked down to the Studio Catering Company. Since he already had his food he went and found us a table. It was an outside only seating area but it was all in the shade with fans so it wasn’t too hot.
Mark, Brett and I got in line, it didn’t take us long to get to the front to order our meals. Mark got the “Pressed Tuscan Deli” - a sandwich with shaved smoked ham, smoked breast of turkey, provolone, Caesar dressing and pesto marinated vine ripe tomatoes on a Tuscan roll with French fries. I got the “Greek Salad” - Romaine lettuce, tomato, cucumber, Kalamata olives, red onions with a vinaigrette dressing. Brett got the “Buffalo Chicken Sandwich” - breaded chicken breast, romaine lettuce, tomato, spicy ranch dressing on a Tuscan roll with French fries. We all choose the cheese cake for desert and found it mediocre. All of our sandwiches/salads and Nathan’s sushi were very good. We would defiantly go back!
After we left there we walked up the street to Pixar Place and ran into these guys.
I don’t know why but they just crack me up.
By now Toy Story Mania had a line so we grabbed fast passes and kept going to Mickey Avenue and the One Man’s Dream exhibit.
Mark loves to take his time and read all the information in here and there were a lot of people milling around so we would have to wait until someone in front of us moved on before we got our turn at the displays so it took us a while to get to the end.
We still had some time before our fast passes were ready so we went to the Sorcerer’s hat to do some Pin Trading. Nathan traded a CM for one pin and bought himself a stitch fireman one.
Then we just walked around a little bit.
It was finally time so we went back and rode Toy Story Mania.
By now it was 6:00 and we were all very tired. Our reservation at 50’s Prime Time Café wasn’t until 7:30 but we decided to walk over and see if they would take us early. It was packed like crazy in the waiting area but they said they could seat us early. We only waited about 10 minutes before they took us to a table in the second room back.
We got a good spot because we had the complete kitchen set up with a table and T.V. I looked around and noticed that not all of the tables did.
For dinner Nathan ordered “ Grilled Boneless Pork Loin” served with peppered mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans. He loved his meal and ate every bite. Mark had “Dad’s Traditional Meatloaf” a blend of beef and pork topped with tomato glaze served with mashed potatoes and green beans and for desert he had apple cobbler. He liked the cobbler but didn’t care for the meatloaf. I had “Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken” it came with 4 pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes with chicken gravy and southern greens with bacon and for desert I got the cheese cake. The chicken and desert were very good but too much food so I gave both Brett and Mark a piece of my chicken and I don’t like greens so I gave them to mark also. Brett also choose the Fried chicken which means he ate 5 pieces plus his sides and a Peanut Butter & Jelly milkshake.
We enjoyed our dinner here because we liked the atmosphere and the food but our waiter was very busy and didn’t stay in character like we saw another waiter doing and we felt rushed. So while we wouldn’t make a point to never return we might not “Hurry Back” like they say.
We stayed at the park all day today and with that and the heat we were wore slap out. After we got back to the room we decided that we wished we had gone back to the resort to rest and swim half way through the day and then gone back to the park.
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Awesome time at the Studios! I can't believe I'm so late to this TR, but I did make it before the end, so I'm still in good shape! You guys knocked out a lot of great stuff!
Thanks for the review of Via Napoli...we just added it so I'm really looking forward to it.
You won't be disappointed. Everyone's dinner was excellent!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
That is a pretty nasty scratchy! I can't blame you for being concerned, but so glad it was just poison ivy. I hiked out in the woods in late September of my freshman year in high school and came back with a small patch of poison ivy on my upper lip, probably from where I had touched it and then used my hand to wipe sweat off. Neither my Mom nor I realized it was that; we assumed acne. Before we knew it, it was all over my face. Bad memory! Great day at MK and dinner sounds wonderful at Via Napoli (it's a new favorite for my family).
I was glad it was too, as you know from experience that stuff can spread quick. I was kicking myself though because I had the poision ivy meds in my hand when I was packing and decided not to bring them because I thought "where in WDW will any of us get into poision ivy".
Quote:
Originally Posted by FitMom
Love the mug magic! I'm tuned in, love your TR so far... worried to know what the scratch is about..
Thank You!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Sounds like a wonderful day! My goodness, going without chocolate for a year? If I can manage a week, I'm doing well!
I know what you mean. When he decided that it would be choc. my first thought was "oh no" we are going to WDW at the end of the year! I suggested that he not have soda instead but he choose choc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by truenancy
Great TR! Love your dinner at Via Napoli, and I'm glad the scratch is "just" poison ivy. I wonder if you'll get to decide about tomorrow - I don't see the guys going shopping...
Thank you! Oh, I have them figured out. Not far from WDW there is a big outlet mall that has a Bass Pro Shops for them and a Victoria Secret for me .
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
What a great day you guys had! Love the pictures!
Thank You!
Quote:
Originally Posted by disneydreamer33
Sounded like a great day. I am hoping your photopass pics turned out okay. The scratch doesn't look too bad in some of your personal pics.
The food sounded delish too!
When it was bad you can see it in some of them but most were taken from far enough away that you don't see it. I was just thankful that he hadn't gotten it worse.
Good day at DHS! Thank goodness the little girl was reconnected with her family. Your meals sounded wonderful, but sorry your waiter was less than spectacular.
Awesome time at the Studios! I can't believe I'm so late to this TR, but I did make it before the end, so I'm still in good shape! You guys knocked out a lot of great stuff!
In the past we have been "park commandos" going from morning until late at night but this trip we made an effort to take it easy and it made a world of difference. I'm loving your TR by the way!
Good day at DHS! Thank goodness the little girl was reconnected with her family. Your meals sounded wonderful, but sorry your waiter was less than spectacular.
We were glad too. I felt so sorry for her, I know she was scared. Maybe we will give 50's Prime Time another try next time because I hear others say how fun it is when your waiter isn't slammed.
We were glad too. I felt so sorry for her, I know she was scared. Maybe we will give 50's Prime Time another try next time because I hear others say how fun it is when your waiter isn't slammed.
That is too bad about your service.. I really cannot wait to go back, although we were only there once , 6 yrs ago.. my family still makes the face that our waiter "Uncle Bill" was making at my son to get him to laugh. I will have to dig out a pic to share.
Thanks for sharing your TR!
That is too bad about your service.. I really cannot wait to go back, although we were only there once , 6 yrs ago.. my family still makes the face that our waiter "Uncle Bill" was making at my son to get him to laugh. I will have to dig out a pic to share.
Thanks for sharing your TR!
Thank You. We will try it again because the food was good and the resturant theme was unique. Maybe if we go before or after the dinner rush next time we will have a better chance of getting a good waiter.
Just started from the beginning, sounds like you guys had a great time! I just realized we were there at the same time. Can't wait for more!
Are you serious? I wish I had known. I would have loved to meet you guys!! We usually go in Sept. Don't know if we will make it in 2011 yet or if it we will have to wait until 2013. If we are there at the same time again we should make a point to meet up.
Long day at the studios but sounds like a great time. We really enjoy 50's, but I do find going at off times gives the servers more time for fun. I love the fried chicken, can never eat it all (it is so much food) but definitely my favorite.
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I 
. I hated to pay that when I had one back at the room that I had paid $1.00 for but I knew I’d be miserable with out it. 
crying. Apparently she had lost her family. She also didn’t speak a lick of English. They tired to calm her while they looked around for her parents; who they were sure were close by. 
. She was with over twenty people and most of them were children
.
and a cup of ice water and I got the CM to fill up the gallon size zip lock bag I brought with crushed ice for me. 
because the auditorium was filling up fast and people were coming down to the front and asking me if the space beside me was taken. I said yes, I was saving it for my family, but it started making me feel uncomfortable 
. I was glad when they finally got there. I know people have different opinions about saving seats and I kept thinking if they don’t make it in time all the people who asked me if they were open were going to be mad. 
. 
even put that idea out there but Nathan stayed strong. He choose a huge Cinnamon roll, which is not his favorite so I wasn‘t surprised when he didn‘t eat it. 
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Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
You guys knocked out a lot of great stuff!
Love the mug magic! I'm tuned in, love your TR so far... worried to know what the scratch is about.. 
Love the pictures! 
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