Disney Hollywood Studios

The year of a thousand surprises continued yesterday with a trip to Disney Hollywood Studios...in the rain...and 30 degree temps...This IS Florida still, right?

Cold snap jokes aside, it was good to see what used to be Disney MGM Studios from my high school years. So much happened, there's just not enough time (or worn down, typed out fingers) to put it all here, so, I give you the sum up:

• Cold and rainy day.
• Fail cam died, came back to life, and then battery died...after a full night charge! "You have failed me for the last time..." Buh-bye Failcam and thank you to Blackberry for a wonderful backup.
• Rode Star Tours, loved the Tatooine Traders gift shop, and got a pic on an Imperial speeder bike. Bought a Jedi Academy badge that said Jesus on it along with a Stormtrooper helmet with mouse ears pin.
• Saw Muppets 3D twice during the day and enjoyed it much. Now that's my kind of humor!
• Our friend Ron (TY on the catch Cassie) made it into American Idol, but did not make the evening show cut. All the singers were good, but he had the better stage presence. Ron giving Fake Aussie Simon the evil eye was priceless. The little girl who said Ron was her idol was adorable. (She really started to cry when Ron lost. Awwww...)
• Rode Toy Story Midway Mania, aka Wii: The Ride. Though the initial concept did not appeal to me at all, it was well themed and enjoyable. Simply put, Disney did a very good job with this ride and I was wrong. (Insert chorus of "I told you so's" from our friends at Theme Park Review here.) ;) Scored 109,500 with a 43% accuracy. Respectible for a noob.
• Enjoyed the Block Party Bash parade more than exptected. One of the Nerf balls landed right in my hand while I was checking Blackberry for messages. Thump! And there it was.
• Yes friends, pure awesome is a hot fudge sundae on a freezing day while your friends ride Tower of Terror. No line, hungry, and resourcefulness for the win. And I'd do it again too!
• Picked up an Aerosmith Photographer badge at the Rockin Roller Coaster gift shop. This, and Jedi Jesus badge will now be standard park wear from here on.
• Saw One Man's Dream Walt Disney retrospect. Loved the scale models for things like Typhoon Lagoon and had no idea how much Walt had struggled between successes. While the failures aren't talked about as much as the successes, this made me appreciate his work and legacy so much more.
• Enjoyed the Lights Motor Action stunt show and would love to take the backwards hero car for days drive on the freeway, just for the reactions.
• Did The Great Movie Ride. While I missed the slime dripping from the ceiling Alien, Jessica, our cast member was both entertaining and had some great trivia to offer during the ride. Kudos to her. And the Wicked Witch of the West animatronic is still awesome after all these years.
• Saw the Pixar Lamp (Luxo?) dance and jump to different music outside Toy Story Midway Mania. Another excellent and fluidly-moving animatronic. We laughed when it sulked instead of dancing to polka music. Quote of the day: "Was that Gumby?" - Random lady after watching the Pixar Lamp.
• Caught Beauty and the Beast. Hats off to some VERY cold performers. Know that was a tough performance day for them, but they did well. And the sundae costume that folded down into a lady in a ball gown was a very cool trick.
• I grabbed a drink to go in a souvenir cup from Pizza Planet. Yes, there's really a themed counter service restaurant! Had to do it.
• Cassie, Cody, and Ron all got in on a street performance group composed of an Italian Mel Brooks Director, Chicago Beat Cop, and Self Absorbed Starlet. All did well, but the Starlet especially was hysterical, particularly the way she would rapidly flap her tongue when saying "love". We all ended up getting Mardis Gras bead gold trophies from the director. Yay for bonus swag!
• In addition to the Star Wars pin, Disney Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom pins were added. Saw a very cool Mickey Indiana Jones pin with a rotating boulder. Also saw more of the YoYo pins (Stitch, Chip n Dale, Mickey). Tower of Terror had a colorful Fantasmic pin with the dragon on it, that might wind up being a future addition. So....many.....cool.....pins.......must....resist....urge....to sell.....body......on....street corner....
• Took photos with Mr. Fredrickson, Russel, and the dog from Up. Even got to use Mr. Fredrickson's walker! Didn't know who they were, nor seen the movie, but it was fun. Saw the movie later that night. "I do not like the cone of shame."

Like any adventure, the sights and sounds are always exciting, but the people you're with are what really make the difference. Needless to say, I've met some good ones once again, and an otherwise cold, nasty day was made grand. :)