MOJoe
06-09-2011, 01:12 PM
Friday, May 27th
After a late night at MK, i get up at 7:30 and start getting ready. I try to get Indy up. "It's Star Wars Weekends." i whisper in his ear. I try again, but he falls right back in bed. I'm ready to go, so i say for the third time, "I'm ready. If you don't get up, i'm going without you." With that he pops out of bed. We get going and make it to the bus stop. There is a big group going to the Studios today.
Indy is nonplussed about celebrities this time. Normally there is someone he is dying to meet. But not this year. Still, as we get to the Studios, we make it over to the celebrity fastpass area. It's nearly time for the park to open, and there are still standby fastpasses for Ashley Eckstein, so we get a couple and enter.
I get in the line for TSM fastpasses, then we go to Star Tours. The line is huge. "Lets get some snacks." i tell Indy. We go to the Writers Stop. I get coffee and pastries. We sit in the window. There are two chairs there, looking out at Chewbacca's meet and greet, and kids dressed up in Star Wars garb, having lightsaber duels, just playing around. I love Star Wars Weekends, i say to myself. As we are fininshing, a couple walks up, looking for a seat. "We're just leaving." "Perfect timing!" they say. "Feels good, doesn't it?"
We want to get some pics with the characters. Jango Fett is first on the list. Then Indy tells me he wants to meet Luke and Leia. We walk over to the merchandise tent were they are supposed to be. I get in a long line. As i get closer i see CP3O and R2D2. The line moves and there is only one couple in front of us when the 2 droids exit. Who comes out? Luke and Leia! A CM comes to me and says, "We have a 'guest recovery', do you mind if someone goes in front of you?" "Well no." So after the first couple has their time, an uber-fan takes the stage. This guy is decked out in vintage Skywalker garb, complete with lightsaber. He opens his weapon up and strikes a pose, arms extended, looking to the sky. Luke and Leia crack up, as do most who are watching. After several very dramatic poses, it's our turn. "We have to follow THAT!?" i say. "That was crazy." Luke says.
After our session, i get in the Merchandise line. I love pins, and saw the Star Tours Destination set. I had no plans to get it, but all of a sudden i felt like i had to have it. Indy tells me he wants a "Judge Me by my Size?" T-shirt, so he goes to get one while i'm in line. Moments later he comes back. "Dad, i can't reach it." I look at him. "You're kidding me. The judge me by my size T-shirt is on the top rack?" "Funniest thing i've heard all week." someone says.
With a little help from a CM, we get my pins and Indy's shirt. As we exit i get Rockin Roller Coaster fastpasses, then we go to Star Tours. 50 minute wait time. We get in line anyway. We see Yoda for the first time. Love everything about the new ST2! From there we go to Toy Story. We enter the fastpass line, and get all the way in. "Party of 2?" a CM asks. "Yes." Go ahead. We shoot through the queue and are immediately put on the ride. "Perfect Timing again!"
After getting beat by Indy, we try to find a place to watch the parade. This is normally one of the highlights of Star Wars Weekends. But the parade route was short. Just up to the Hat. And there were far fewer characters to see. Also, in odd fashion, the parents followed the padawans. Not with them, but behind them. Looked wierd. All in all this was more like a celebrity introduction, and less of a parade. So quite a bit of a disappointment for me.
My phone rings. "We're at Sci-Fi." says Minnie. So we all go have lunch. Sci-Fi was not busy, and we get right in. After a nice lunch, Solo and i go to Rockin Roller Coaster. We get in the front seat. As we launch, i almost loose my hat, which i forgot to stow. Solo laughs at my mistake. Afterwards he asks, "Do you want to ride Tower of Terror?" "We haven't done it in a while so yeah." We get in line and Solo asks 3 more times if we want to ride. "The decision is made. We're gonna do it." i insist.
Minnie and Solo swore off on this ride, so i am happy to try it again. I forget how creepy everything is here. And the drops are very unnerving. But i'm glad to experience this again. We go back to RRC for one more ride, then go find Minnie and Indy. They are in the Indy Stunt show, but since it's time for Ashley i go ahead and get in the standby line. There aren't that many here. As i stand there a CM asks "Would you like to meet Bruce?" Bruce Spence has a small part in the final film. But, he's been in lots of other movies so i say "Sure."
After my pic with Bruce, i see Brick. He's the CM who gave Indy and me a special "go to the front of the line" gift to meet David Prowse aka Darth Vader a couple of years back. We shake hands and he asks me where my son is. "Be here in a minute." My phone rings. Indy is right outside, so i get him in.
We talk to Brick as we wait to meet Ashley. When it's our turn Ashley asks, "Where are you guys from?" "Missouri." "Really? I lived in Misouri." "Where?" i ask. "In St. Louis, when my husband played for the Cardinals." "Your husband is David Eckstein?!" i blurt. "Yes, he's standing right there." Not 5 feet away is David Eckstein. "Holy Cow, i want to meet you too!"
Ashely's husband was the MVP of the 2006 World Series, when the Cardinals won it all. "I saw you win the MVP award! You got that Corvette!" "We had to give that car to his brother. It was a stick shift. We couldn't drive it." Ashley chirps. We laugh a bit and talk baseball. We get some pics, then give the next group a chance. David looked just as surprised that someone knew him as we were to meet him. Brick escorts us out. "That's funny you knew who he is." "Thanks and hope to see you again." i say.
Minnie and Solo are in American Idol. The doors haven't shut and Indy and i get in just in time. One girl sounded like a professional, and was the easy winner. After Idol, we take a break at Backlot Express and discuss our plans. "I want to see the Hoopla, and right after that we can leave for Epcot." Tonight we have ressies at Via Napoli. Minnie and the boys want to see the AI finale show, so we split up. I find a good spot, right in front of the stage, and wait. Along with hundreds of others.
The Hoopla this year really rocks to Classic Rock and Heavy Metal. The are different levels to the stage, pyrotechnics and a huge sound system. Fun and very exciting. This is one of the few things at SWW that's aimed squarely at adults. And i for one loved it.
Just as the show is ending, i look behind me. A huge thundercloud is approaching. My phone rings. "There is a storm comming!" Minnie yells. "I see it. We have to exit the park now!" But it's too late. We meet in the gift shop as it begins to storm. "These things tend to blow over pretty quickly." i say. "We'll be out of here in a little bit" Boy was i wrong.
There is lighning, thunder and torrents of rain. Just as it looked like the coast is clear, another wave would come through. We waited and waited. Our ADR time was approaching and i asked everyone what we should do. "You're the leader." Minnie says.
Now i knew we had a slim chance to make Via Napoli. I knew we should change plans, go with the flow and eat here. But i so wanted to keep this ressie, my emotions got the better of me. "Let's go." i tell my family. The rain has slowed, so we aren't getting soaked. But we're not dry either. The boats are not running, and i know Minnie can't make the walk to Epcot. So i hail a cab.
For $15, someone volunteers, to take us to the Boarkwalk. Steep, but i'm in no mood to argue. We get there and start walking. Minnie is not moving very fast. She urges me to go on, but i can't. So slowly we make our way. I start to get anxious. And Minnie is struggling to keep up even a modest pace. At Morrocco i start to run ahead.
I get to Via Napoli. Everything looks fine. I run up to the desk, announce my ADR time and appologize that i am late. "I'm sorry, but we are closing." "But...." I give my reasons and plead, but no excuses can alter the fact. "There is nothing i can do." the hostess repeats.
Failure. We are exhausted from the long day and the long walk, only to be turned away. I blame myself. I should have known. But now we are at the back of Epcot. Tired. Hungry. And upset. We start walking back, find Minnie at America, and look for something to eat.
We end up at England and have Fish n Chips. Always nice, but since we were so tired, they tasted better than ever. We haven't been to Soarin yet, so after our meal we walk over to The Land. "I'm gonna ride this and that's it." Minnie tells me. It's EMH at Epcot, but even with the park clearing storm, there is a long line for Soarin. After about an hour we get on. Haven't seen Soarin in 2 years, and i am surprised how much more deterioration has gone on. The film looks dirty. I used to notice a few spots here and there, but now the whole screen is filled with dusty looking spots. Until this is cleaned up, i'm not sure i will have to go back to Soarin. It is that bad.
After that, we drag ourselves out of the park. Along the way i appoligize. "Part of what makes a great Disney trip," i tell my family, "is having some good plans, and making good decisions. I made a bad decision tonight, and i'm sorry." "You guys hear that?" Minnie adds.
Back at the room, i realize how great a day this was. It kinda ended bad, but i had some really fun moments with both boys. A rare day. And meeting Bruce, Ashley and David Eckstein with just a standby fastpass has gotta be one for the record books.
Tomorrow is our last full day.
After a late night at MK, i get up at 7:30 and start getting ready. I try to get Indy up. "It's Star Wars Weekends." i whisper in his ear. I try again, but he falls right back in bed. I'm ready to go, so i say for the third time, "I'm ready. If you don't get up, i'm going without you." With that he pops out of bed. We get going and make it to the bus stop. There is a big group going to the Studios today.
Indy is nonplussed about celebrities this time. Normally there is someone he is dying to meet. But not this year. Still, as we get to the Studios, we make it over to the celebrity fastpass area. It's nearly time for the park to open, and there are still standby fastpasses for Ashley Eckstein, so we get a couple and enter.
I get in the line for TSM fastpasses, then we go to Star Tours. The line is huge. "Lets get some snacks." i tell Indy. We go to the Writers Stop. I get coffee and pastries. We sit in the window. There are two chairs there, looking out at Chewbacca's meet and greet, and kids dressed up in Star Wars garb, having lightsaber duels, just playing around. I love Star Wars Weekends, i say to myself. As we are fininshing, a couple walks up, looking for a seat. "We're just leaving." "Perfect timing!" they say. "Feels good, doesn't it?"
We want to get some pics with the characters. Jango Fett is first on the list. Then Indy tells me he wants to meet Luke and Leia. We walk over to the merchandise tent were they are supposed to be. I get in a long line. As i get closer i see CP3O and R2D2. The line moves and there is only one couple in front of us when the 2 droids exit. Who comes out? Luke and Leia! A CM comes to me and says, "We have a 'guest recovery', do you mind if someone goes in front of you?" "Well no." So after the first couple has their time, an uber-fan takes the stage. This guy is decked out in vintage Skywalker garb, complete with lightsaber. He opens his weapon up and strikes a pose, arms extended, looking to the sky. Luke and Leia crack up, as do most who are watching. After several very dramatic poses, it's our turn. "We have to follow THAT!?" i say. "That was crazy." Luke says.
After our session, i get in the Merchandise line. I love pins, and saw the Star Tours Destination set. I had no plans to get it, but all of a sudden i felt like i had to have it. Indy tells me he wants a "Judge Me by my Size?" T-shirt, so he goes to get one while i'm in line. Moments later he comes back. "Dad, i can't reach it." I look at him. "You're kidding me. The judge me by my size T-shirt is on the top rack?" "Funniest thing i've heard all week." someone says.
With a little help from a CM, we get my pins and Indy's shirt. As we exit i get Rockin Roller Coaster fastpasses, then we go to Star Tours. 50 minute wait time. We get in line anyway. We see Yoda for the first time. Love everything about the new ST2! From there we go to Toy Story. We enter the fastpass line, and get all the way in. "Party of 2?" a CM asks. "Yes." Go ahead. We shoot through the queue and are immediately put on the ride. "Perfect Timing again!"
After getting beat by Indy, we try to find a place to watch the parade. This is normally one of the highlights of Star Wars Weekends. But the parade route was short. Just up to the Hat. And there were far fewer characters to see. Also, in odd fashion, the parents followed the padawans. Not with them, but behind them. Looked wierd. All in all this was more like a celebrity introduction, and less of a parade. So quite a bit of a disappointment for me.
My phone rings. "We're at Sci-Fi." says Minnie. So we all go have lunch. Sci-Fi was not busy, and we get right in. After a nice lunch, Solo and i go to Rockin Roller Coaster. We get in the front seat. As we launch, i almost loose my hat, which i forgot to stow. Solo laughs at my mistake. Afterwards he asks, "Do you want to ride Tower of Terror?" "We haven't done it in a while so yeah." We get in line and Solo asks 3 more times if we want to ride. "The decision is made. We're gonna do it." i insist.
Minnie and Solo swore off on this ride, so i am happy to try it again. I forget how creepy everything is here. And the drops are very unnerving. But i'm glad to experience this again. We go back to RRC for one more ride, then go find Minnie and Indy. They are in the Indy Stunt show, but since it's time for Ashley i go ahead and get in the standby line. There aren't that many here. As i stand there a CM asks "Would you like to meet Bruce?" Bruce Spence has a small part in the final film. But, he's been in lots of other movies so i say "Sure."
After my pic with Bruce, i see Brick. He's the CM who gave Indy and me a special "go to the front of the line" gift to meet David Prowse aka Darth Vader a couple of years back. We shake hands and he asks me where my son is. "Be here in a minute." My phone rings. Indy is right outside, so i get him in.
We talk to Brick as we wait to meet Ashley. When it's our turn Ashley asks, "Where are you guys from?" "Missouri." "Really? I lived in Misouri." "Where?" i ask. "In St. Louis, when my husband played for the Cardinals." "Your husband is David Eckstein?!" i blurt. "Yes, he's standing right there." Not 5 feet away is David Eckstein. "Holy Cow, i want to meet you too!"
Ashely's husband was the MVP of the 2006 World Series, when the Cardinals won it all. "I saw you win the MVP award! You got that Corvette!" "We had to give that car to his brother. It was a stick shift. We couldn't drive it." Ashley chirps. We laugh a bit and talk baseball. We get some pics, then give the next group a chance. David looked just as surprised that someone knew him as we were to meet him. Brick escorts us out. "That's funny you knew who he is." "Thanks and hope to see you again." i say.
Minnie and Solo are in American Idol. The doors haven't shut and Indy and i get in just in time. One girl sounded like a professional, and was the easy winner. After Idol, we take a break at Backlot Express and discuss our plans. "I want to see the Hoopla, and right after that we can leave for Epcot." Tonight we have ressies at Via Napoli. Minnie and the boys want to see the AI finale show, so we split up. I find a good spot, right in front of the stage, and wait. Along with hundreds of others.
The Hoopla this year really rocks to Classic Rock and Heavy Metal. The are different levels to the stage, pyrotechnics and a huge sound system. Fun and very exciting. This is one of the few things at SWW that's aimed squarely at adults. And i for one loved it.
Just as the show is ending, i look behind me. A huge thundercloud is approaching. My phone rings. "There is a storm comming!" Minnie yells. "I see it. We have to exit the park now!" But it's too late. We meet in the gift shop as it begins to storm. "These things tend to blow over pretty quickly." i say. "We'll be out of here in a little bit" Boy was i wrong.
There is lighning, thunder and torrents of rain. Just as it looked like the coast is clear, another wave would come through. We waited and waited. Our ADR time was approaching and i asked everyone what we should do. "You're the leader." Minnie says.
Now i knew we had a slim chance to make Via Napoli. I knew we should change plans, go with the flow and eat here. But i so wanted to keep this ressie, my emotions got the better of me. "Let's go." i tell my family. The rain has slowed, so we aren't getting soaked. But we're not dry either. The boats are not running, and i know Minnie can't make the walk to Epcot. So i hail a cab.
For $15, someone volunteers, to take us to the Boarkwalk. Steep, but i'm in no mood to argue. We get there and start walking. Minnie is not moving very fast. She urges me to go on, but i can't. So slowly we make our way. I start to get anxious. And Minnie is struggling to keep up even a modest pace. At Morrocco i start to run ahead.
I get to Via Napoli. Everything looks fine. I run up to the desk, announce my ADR time and appologize that i am late. "I'm sorry, but we are closing." "But...." I give my reasons and plead, but no excuses can alter the fact. "There is nothing i can do." the hostess repeats.
Failure. We are exhausted from the long day and the long walk, only to be turned away. I blame myself. I should have known. But now we are at the back of Epcot. Tired. Hungry. And upset. We start walking back, find Minnie at America, and look for something to eat.
We end up at England and have Fish n Chips. Always nice, but since we were so tired, they tasted better than ever. We haven't been to Soarin yet, so after our meal we walk over to The Land. "I'm gonna ride this and that's it." Minnie tells me. It's EMH at Epcot, but even with the park clearing storm, there is a long line for Soarin. After about an hour we get on. Haven't seen Soarin in 2 years, and i am surprised how much more deterioration has gone on. The film looks dirty. I used to notice a few spots here and there, but now the whole screen is filled with dusty looking spots. Until this is cleaned up, i'm not sure i will have to go back to Soarin. It is that bad.
After that, we drag ourselves out of the park. Along the way i appoligize. "Part of what makes a great Disney trip," i tell my family, "is having some good plans, and making good decisions. I made a bad decision tonight, and i'm sorry." "You guys hear that?" Minnie adds.
Back at the room, i realize how great a day this was. It kinda ended bad, but i had some really fun moments with both boys. A rare day. And meeting Bruce, Ashley and David Eckstein with just a standby fastpass has gotta be one for the record books.
Tomorrow is our last full day.