Day Four - Disney's Hollywood Studios

The alarm went off at 6:30, and we were out the door by 8:15. Hit the bus and made it to the entrance of Hollywood by 9, when the gates opened. Hot dog! The weather was cool, humidity low, and not a lot of people!

Mom checked out a store and we walked down the main street towards Mickey’s wizard’s hat (about 4 stories tall). Then we spotted Stitch signing autographs. Next were pictures of us in front of the hat. A Disney Cast Member offered to take a family picture for us. Alex, like yesterday, was temperamental and only hugged Mom’s neck for the picture.

He got his fan. We decided we would all use it, it would feel good when it got hot, and bring some peace to our day. Big hit. In the meantime, Ben and Dad headed toward the Jedi Knight Training Adventure. The show started, and we thought it would be a couple of “Jedi’s” demonstrating moves and fighting. Oh, no. They started picking children out of the crowd, and Ben was chosen! Alex said he only wanted to watch. But, only about a third of the kids there were picked.

All the “younglings” were given Jedi robes and light sabers and walked through some basic moves. We thought it was all pretty cool, until it got COOLER! Two storm troopers appeared, “secured” the area, and in walked Darth Vader! All 6’4” of him. The voice was even true to the character. Each youngling had a chance to go up against Vader, and Ben did an excellent job! After running Vader off, the younglings were graduated as Padawans and provided with rolled up diplomas. Ben was very psyched, even though he knew it wasn’t the real Darth Vader.

We used our Fast Pass access to get tickets for the Star Wars ride. Very nice, cut to the front of the line. We loaded into a space shuttle with about 50 other people, and started our adventure…which ended in sound failure and some very silent, albeit it jostled, space flight and battles. No problem, the Cast apologized and re-started the ride. I think, after riding it twice, Ben and Dad were both just a little green. Mom and Alex didn’t ride. The ride dumps out into a Star Wars gift shop, which Ben and Dad looked around, but retrieved Mom and Alex before letting the boys build their own custom light sabers. This proved to be a winner toy and a whiner toy. Because the telescoping light blade didn’t lock into the handle, they were constantly being activated, often around crowds, and, subsequently, being taken away.

Next was lunch, and then to the stunt driving show. WOW. Lots of screeching tires, explosions, and spectacular stunts. The cars were imports, Opals. Dad wants one.

Following that was Muppet 3D, an unplanned stop. Very cool. The boys liked it, as did Mom and Dad.

Then to the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” play area. Imagine being shrunk to smaller than and ant. There you go. Lots of fun and a good break. We somehow missed the 3:00 parade. Too bad, I think the boys would have liked it.

We had 4:30 dinner reservations, and decided to eat and head back to the resort for a couple of hours break. We got slowed down by a cute skit/contest held impromptu in the street. Then we decided to look at sweatshirts for the evening. This led to spirited requests for purchases and one very unhappy Alex. Tantrum unhappy. We spent enough time just trying to deal with that, plus a couple of staggered but necessary potty stops, and it was too late to bother going to the room. We tried a couple of shops, but the “I wants” proved too frustrating. Luckily, time flies, and it was time for “Fantasmic.” We arrived to a ¾ full arena, but found all the seats are pretty decent. The show started at 9:00, and the boys LOVED it! The effects were spectacular. Images projected onto fanned walls of water. Who thinks of this stuff? Unfortunately, Dad unwittingly doomed the exit from the arena by suggesting leaving by the main entrance, which we hadn’t entered through. (We had “preferred seating,” which I think everyone there had, which brought us in a different way).

Just outside the arena were a score of kiosks, all selling the things Alex had been begging, whining, and raising a stink about. He is going to be a defense attorney, and a mighty good one. Finally, he and Dad agreed not to listen to each other, and the rest of the walk was fine. Quiet. No fussing (Alex kept talking about his track record today of bad vs. good behavior, but that was all.) The bus ride was uneventful.

After a snack, lights went out at about 10. Except Dad, who sat up typing two day’s worth of journal until 12:30. Ugh!!