The McKinleys' WDW 4th-and-a-Half Anniversary - Day 2

[Main Street Jim]

Disney's Hollywood Studios day today...

Started off with an *early* breakfast at Chef Mickey's. I called about bus transportation - and, yes, our first bus showed up at our resort bus stop at 7:05am. We were *at* the Contemporary by 7:20, met with with a buddy of mine that I've known since third grade (that'd be 1970-something, for those of you keeping track...LOL :P ) and his family (his wife is actually the girl I took to Homecoming in my junior year of high school...and two of their three kids). Buffet was *great* - as I'm a big sausage/ham/meat 'n eggs/sausage gravy kind of guy. Did a *little* bit of looking around at Fantasia (the store on the fourth floor) and found the "Figment" comic! *Score*!

Headed to Studios today, because the wife wanted to see all the "Frozen" stuff going on. Got inside the park at about 10:30 - and Hollywood Blvd was already PACKED full of people waiting to see the Welcoming of Anna and Elsa. Luckily, we're a small group :P so we fit in to a spot right outside Pluto's of Hollywood. Got some awesome video and pics!

Next up was ToT with FP+. *Nearly* walked right on. Standby was posted at only 20 minutes - but, the line was inside the lobby. FP+ line was out the door and around the corner. But, as soon as we caught the end of the FP+ line, it moved inside and we walked right into the library. Just as we were going in, we saw another friend of ours from our "old" Tomorrowland days.

After ToT, it was a small lunch at FairFax Fair...BBQ pork sammich wit' cole slaw decent-sized sammich, too!

After lunch, we headed toward the back of the park for the Frozen Sing-along and saw the 3:30 show. Pretty neat stuff but, before that, we had FP+ for TSM. After TSM, we saw "The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow"; neat show if you've never done it.

So, after we got done with the sing-along, we headed back to Coronado to recharge for the evening. Got back in to DHS for dinner at Brown Derby. I will tell you this: for our first time there, I will *highly* recommend it. Yes, the Cobb Salad is *that* good. I had the pork tenderloin, and wife had the steak. Side note: my wife is allergic to onions, which is in a LOT of dishes. The chefs have been amazing about coming out to our table and working with us on the menu. Service far outweighed what we went through at BoG. This guy *earned* our tip tonight. So far so good

We then got on the street and it was *packed* with people waiting for the Frozen Fireworks. Not too bad, really Studios doesn't get fireworks very often, so it was kind neat to see.

So, after fireworks, a LOT of resort guests lined up at the Animation Courtyard arches for EMH - and it was a *mad dash* for TSM. I had honestly *never* heard CM's having to actually YELL at guests before. But it was a *stampede* back there! Nobody wanted to park their strollers at TSM, so, when guests got to the door/entrance, they were being told to turn around to go park the stroller.

Then....mistake on our part, as we weren't really paying attention to the time. :/ The 10:00 Fantasmic! was letting out just as most guests were finishing up their EMH night, around 10:45pm. So when we got to the bus stop out front of the park, it was *packed*. Not only that, but, two ECVs were waiting to get on, *AAAAAAND*, our bus didn't show up until about 11:15. So, we didn't get back to the resort until about 11:45. :/ I am *not* a fan of using the buses, especially knowing my way around the property. :P

Tomorrow, it's off to Magic Kingdom for Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Tinker Bell, Ariel, and more characters for pics and autographs! Pics *will* be on Facebook!

[hauntedmansiongirl]

Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us! It's helping to get me through until our next visit in 9 days!!!

[faline]

What a nice day you had!! The Brown Derby is a favorite restaurant for us - glad you enjoyed it as well!

[Mickey'sGirl]

Terrific, Jim!

I sure agree with you about the Brown Derby. It is really fantastic.

Sorry about the crazy busses after the shows let out. The busses are nuts at the end of the night!

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

The Frozen fireworks were quite decent, weren't they? It was a nice addition to DHS, although the overall Frozen craze got on my nerves a bit I must admit.

[emerzmom]

Sounds like a really great day!!!
Thanks for sharing.

Julie

[Main Street Jim]

Sorry about the crazy busses after the shows let out. The busses are nuts at the end of the night!

Nothing for *you* to be sorry about :P

I guess I'm just severely spoiled from being a (former) Cast Member and being able to come and go as we wanted.

It *is* a good thing, though, that we know where we're going (destinations). The buses don't always take the most direct, shortest route.

[princessgirls]

Sounds like a perfect day to me!!!!

Julie

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

Thanks for the report