July 29th
 

Home Up


 

Friday, July 29th, 2022            

This morning Grandpa Gary & Grandma Terry drove up to pick up Drew, Jayden, and myself for a day trip to Disney Springs and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Samantha had to work until 1pm today, but she planned to drive up to meet us after she finished her day.

Our first stop was at Disney Springs, and we only had one destination in mind - 'Disney's Wonderful World of Memories' shop to pick up the newest passholder magnets. We did walk through the 'World of Disney' shop on our way, but there were no other detours today. Once we picked up our magnets we headed back to the car to make the short drive over to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Our first stop inside the park was at Oscar's Super Service to rent a wheelchair. We then found our way to a table near the Dockside Diner where we ate the lunches that we packed. We had a longer than usual drive over today thanks to traffic, so by this time it was already our normal lunch times anyway.

Since we were so close, we decided to head over to see the For The First Time In Forever-A "Frozen" Sing Along Celebration show, as it is scheduled to close for a refurbishment soon. This show always takes me back to when the kids were little - hearing how excited the kids in the audience get during the show reminds me when Tyler, Sam, Drew, and Jay used to get excited about these types of shows themselves. Of course they don't quite give that same reaction now, and it brings me to tears at times thinking about how those days have passed. It was certainly fun while it lasted!

We then headed over to see the Muppet*Vision 3D show, as we were able to time it just right to walk right in to the theater. Although I still enjoy the show, I would love to see the film updated in some way, as it is definitely showing it's age.

We next headed over to Star Tours - The Adventure Continues. Although this is definitely the oldest Star Wars attraction in the park, we still love it. This is one attraction that they have done a good job keeping up to date, and the fact that it varies each time you ride it makes it all the more enjoyable.

We decided to see the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular next, but we had some time to kill while waiting for the next showing, so we decided to watch the Vacation Fun short movie in the nearby theater. The show was a cute little cartoon short about Mickey and Minnie mouse packing for and going on a vacation. Pretty cute, but definitely not one I feel the need to see repeatedly. We made it to the Indiana Jones theater in time to see the show, which is still enjoyable, and pretty much as I remember it from the last time we saw it.

Sam arrived while we were watching the Indiana Jones show, so we met up with her outside the theater once it was over. We headed off to Sunset Boulevard to hit up The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride. We - minus Grandpa Gary & Grandma Terry - got to experience a first (for us) on this particular ride - as we made our way to the drop tower, the ride stopped. Shortly after stopping the lights came on, and we waited to see if we would be evacuated or if we would get to finish the ride. After a short wait, we were allowed to continue the ride - but with the lights on the entire time! Definitely an interesting experience, to say the least.

While we were nearby, the kids and I headed over to the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, which turned into another interesting experience. We waited through the line, making it nearly to the point where we were ready to be loaded into the car, only for them to announce that the ride was experiencing difficulties. We waited a brief moment before the emptied the loaded car that was waiting to take off. I think we assumed they would send that car on its way and then load the next one. Instead, the sent everyone to the exits, giving them a "Fastpass" on the way out to use at (almost) any ride in the park, including this one if it reopened.

We instead decided to use our pass on Toy Story Mania!, as it is a ride that we all enjoy. Unfortunately, because we used our passes, Grandpa Gary & Grandma Terry had to sit this one out as well. Like usual, Drew beat us all at this ride game. One of these days I will find a way to best him!

We headed from Toy Story Land to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Due to her own traffic issues coming over, Sam didn't get a lunch today, so we stopped off at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo for her to grab a bite to eat. We then decided to get on the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride. There is supposed to be a "cheat code" that you can use for this ride, but I apparently screwed up our opportunity to try it out all because I hit one of the buttons before I was supposed to. Regardless, we actually had a pretty good run on the Falcon today, as I think we set a personal record for ships captured!

Once the ride was over, we had to decide what to do next. Since Sam arrived to the park late, she wanted to continue at the parks. The rest of us were getting a bit tired, plus I had to work tomorrow morning, Drew had a tee time for golf, and Grandpa Gary & Grandma Terry got up early to make the drive to pick us up. It was decided that Sam and Jay would park hop over to Disney's Magic Kingdom, and the rest of us would make the drive home.

We ended up stopping at Red Robin for dinner tonight - a change from our usual dinner at Chili's. We had stopped coming to this location for a while as the service hadn't been great on our previous visits, but tonight was good all around. Prompt service and good food - what more could we ask for? We headed home once our meal was complete.

The girls enjoyed their time at Disney's Magic Kingdom from what I was told, riding both Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

I can't wait for the opportunity to do it with them all once again. What a great day!

 

Disney's Hollywood Studios


 

Mickey Mouse atop the Crossroads of the World.

 
 

A Chevrolet billboard above Hollywood Boulevard.

 
 

Jayden snapped this upside-down photo of Rodney!

 
 

A look down Hollywood Boulevard.

 
 

Jayden, Drew, Grandma Terry, and Grandpa Gary making their way down Hollywood Boulevard.

 
 

Mr. & Mrs. Incredible making their way down Hollywood Boulevard during the Pixar Motorcade.

 
 

Edna Mode riding in her Camaro on Hollywood Boulevard during the Pixar Motorcade.

 
 

The green Army men marching down Hollywood Boulevard during the Pixar Motorcade.

 
 

Sheriff Woody dancing on Hollywood Boulevard during the Pixar Motorcade.

 
 

Jessie dancing on Hollywood Boulevard during the Pixar Motorcade.

 
 

Sheriff Woody and Jessie doing a dance on Hollywood Boulevard during the Pixar Motorcade.

 
 

Buzz Lightyear riding in his Camaro on Hollywood Boulevard during the Pixar Motorcade.

 
 

Anna on stage during the For The First Time In Forever-A "Frozen" Sing Along Celebration show.

 
 

A look at the theater during the show.

 
 

Elsa making her grand entrance onto the stage.

 
 

Elsa making the snow fall inside the theater...

 
     
 

Jayden holding a bunch of balloons in the park...

 
     
 

The sign at the entrance to the Vacation Fun animated short that we viewed.

 
 

Some scenes from the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular...

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Some views of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride...

 
     
     
 

A look at the entrance queue to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride.

 
 

Rodney in the line for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror...

 
 

...along with Drew.

 
 

A look at the inside part of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror queue.

 
 

The Service Elevator sign for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

 
 

The ghosts of the guests who disappeared during that fateful night on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

 
 

We were oh-so-close to making it the drop tower when the ride stopped and the lights came on.

 
 

Samantha and Jay waiting for the ride to resume.

 
 

A shot of Sam, Jay, Drew, and Rodney in the elevator.

 
 

A look at the entrance to the drop tower with the lights on.

 
 

A view out across the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith as seen from inside The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

 
 

Some of the scenery that I never noticed with the lights off after the ride on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

 
 

A famous Twilight Zone saying.

 
 

A couple of billboards spotted along Sunset Boulevard.

 
 

Woody standing at the entrance to Toy Story Land.

 
 

Some of the scenery around the Slinky Dog Dash ride.

 
 

The main walkway through Toy Story Land.

 
 

An Eastern Lubber Grasshopper walking across the pathway in Toy Story Land.

 
 

Some of the views of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge...

 
     
 

The Millennium Falcon that is located outside of the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride.

 
 

More of the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge scenery...

 
     
     
     
 

An interesting (fire-breathing dragon?) cloud spotted over Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

 
 

Hondo Ohnaka in the queue for the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride.

 
 

A look at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror building as darks sets in.

 
 

'Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream of Extinction' shop.

 
 

Mickey Mouse atop the Crossroads of the World at night...

 
     


 

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