So, As I Was Saying...

We woke up early on our first full day at Disney World. Our plan was to get to Hollywood Studios before it opened. Then we would be the "only ones there" and be able to jump on any ride. (HA!)

We got to the bus stop about 8:45a, not as early as I had hoped but we were sooo excited. We watched the first bus come- Animal Kingdom, the second- Epcot, third- Magic Kingdom, fourth- Animal Kingdom.... We were starting to think we were at the wrong place. Then we realized that maybe we weren't the only people that had the idea of getting there "early". Eventually the bus came and we were officially on our way!

We had a plan (thanks to careful preparation and direction from Beth) and we ran to get fastpasses to the newest attraction Toy Story Mania. As far as rides go, this was Saroya's FAVORITE. It was pretty awesome. It involves 3D glasses, Midway games, and trying to beat Dad's score! So much fun.

Jaleigh and I hung out and watched the Jedi Training Academy while Nathan & the older kids rode the Star Tours ride- another big hit. We decided to run over and see if we could do something Jaleigh would like to do, and got to the Beauty and the Beast show just 5 minutes before it began. It was a packed house, but they led us straight down to the front of the auditorium, and we sat 2 rows from the front of the stage. One look at Jaleigh and I knew exactly what people mean about Disney World's "magic". She was beside herself with excitement. We had lunch at the Pizza Planet (from the Toy Story Movie), and it was SOO GOOD!! Nathan and I had salads that were fantastic, and the kids had pizza with grapes and rice crispy treats shaped like a Mickey Head. Not bad for "park food".

We watched the High School Musical 3 street show (which of course had the kids dancing like crazy!!) and Jaleigh was lucky enough to be called up to be in the show with the dancers. Yeah- magic again... :)

The kids had a snack credit that they could use every day- so they opted for the Chocolate Covered Mickey Head ice cream bars.

While we were waiting for the afternoon "Block Party Bash" Ethan & Saroya took the opportunity to trade pins.

By this time, Miss J thinks she is a "cast member" herself, and marches right out to the entertainers to dance in the show. She wasn't paying a bit of attention to what anyone else was doing, she was working the crowd. :)

We went to see the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, and it was great! I think I spent just as much time watching the show as I did watching my own family with smiles plastered all over their faces.

After the show, it was time for our dinner reservations at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. I was soo excited about this. The premise is you are at your "Mom's" house and you sit at a 50's style table with an 50's black and white TV playing old re-runs at the table. The waiters are supposed to treat you like kids reminding you to "eat your veggies" and "keep your elbows off the table". I thought it would be so fun. Nathan didn't think it was. (Which kinda was funny to me too!) He totally thought the guy was annoying and rude. Saroya was scared of the server and had a few tears because she didn't like the Mac & Cheese (GROSS!!!). We told her it was ok, she didn't have to eat it. Overall, I don't think I would go back there because I wasn't impressed with the food, and Nathan wasn't impressed with the service... (he! he!!) BUT!!! I do think I found a hidden Mickey there. Nathan says no, but I think it is. Can you see it?!

We took some time after dinner to get some character autographs and before we knew it we were into the "extra magic hours". That was so great because the whole place cleared out. We weren't really sure what to do. I asked a lady in the area for an "insider tip" and she said that all the big characters are in the Magic of Disney Animation show so you can get autographs. There was no waiting so we went. IT was interesting, but apparently all of the characters were at the Playhouse Disney Dance Party going on next door, so we went over.

Imagine a dance party with bubbles flying through the air, Disney Characters doing the "Locomotion" and a kid friendly CRAZY DJ running the show! It was a blast. Perfect thing to do at 11:00 at night. They announced that there were some guys making balloon things for kids. THEY WERE AMAZING!!! This one guy had crazy skills and all the kids walked away happy.

Happy that is until Nathan was trying to find a "safe place" to put Saroya's prized possession back in our room. It went a little like this.

"Dad, maybe you shouldn't put it there."

"No, it's Ok sweetie. Look."

"But Dad, the wall might pop it.... "

POP!!!!

Then lots of very, very, sad tears and a balloon Teddy Bear's leg shrinking quickly. It took a LONG time for her to get over that one. Nathan felt TERRIBLE!!! She forgave him quickly, but she was still very very sad. Luckily we got a picture forever! :)

The other bummer about that day was realizing that we missed Fantasmic on the only day we could have seen it. BLAH!!

Oh well. Next time..... :) It was an amazing start to an amazing week!