Disney World, Day 3

On our third day, Monday, we had a very ride-heavy day lined up at Hollywood Studios. As I'm reminded, "Fast Pass" enabled us to skip long lines at 3 rides per day (saved the day at Space Mountain, let me tell you!). So we used ours at Star Tours, the Star Wars ride, the Toy Story ride, and the Little Mermaid show. Star Tours was pretty awesome; we sat in a shuttle which appeared to whisk us all over the galaxy, into light speed and through battles with Darth Vader, pod races with Ewoks, and other things (the ride was different each time we did it, which ended up being 3 times over the course of the week). Again it was one that Kate didn't want to do but ended up thinking was pretty cool. Third time we did it the "Rebel fighter stowed away on board" turned out to be Emily. I KNEW there was something suspicious about her!

The Toy Story ride was also awesome. You were sitting in a car which spun around as it traveled along a roller coaster track, and every so often it would stop and you would shoot at targets. We'd end up doing this ride twice more (Kate REALLY wanted to do it again), once waiting in an absurdly long line, but it was a lot of fun. The Little Mermaid show was fun, though I actually don't remember it all that well. A cool effect at the end where Ariel's tail transformed into legs, and a scary evil Octopus woman. Liked Sebastian too. I think Kate enjoyed it (it was mostly for her benefit) though she didn't like the Octopus lady any more than when she saw the movie (although she wasn't quite as scared this go around, I remember her hollering woefully as a 3-year-old).

We did a Muppets 3D show that was OK, with some good jokes but I think it went on too long. A big highlight was meeting characters, including Chip and Dale for the kids, and Woody and Buzz and Sully and Mike (from Monsters Inc.) for all of us. Got some great pictures and Woody and Buzz were particularly friendly. Emily seemed to enjoy her hug with Woody a little too much. I also got to hug him; it was kind of awkward. Not used to hugging people two feet taller than me.

After the Star Tours ride we hit the gift shop, where the highlight was assembling little R2D2 action figures. You picked your own colors and features (including, amusingly, Mickey Mouse ears or a Goofy Hat) and they bound it up into a plastic package just like in a store. Kind of neat.

Can't forget to mention the Great Movie Ride, basically a big riding tour through movie history, which Emily and I thought would be fun and the kids wanted no part of. Indeed, it was the kind of thing that was fun for adults who have seen a lot of movies, and most of it went right by the kids. Lots of gangster interaction and gunplay that didn't fly with Jack and Kate at all. Then there was an Indiana Jones bit where a gangster who tried to steal a golden idol was seemingly turned into a skeleton. I'd like to believe Kate isn't having nightmares about it, but...

At some points during the day the kids were talking about Harry Potter land, which we'd be going to on Wednesday at Universal. Maybe Emily mentioned being concerned about possible rain in the forecast. Jack said, "It's Harry Potter land. It's fine if it rains." Kate responded matter-of-factly, "Okay, if that's how it is."

That evening we had dinner at the Sci-Fi Diner. I guess the big deal about this was that you sat in a car while you ate your meal, in low lights while 50s movies trailers and cartoons played on the big drive-in screen at the front. All of the car-tables faced the screen; Emily and I sat in the back seat and the kids sat in front and colored and half-watched the trailers and cartoons. But the main thing in my notes is that they had our favorite beer from Colorado, Fat Tire, which we can't get in the Northeast. So, yay! Dinner was fine but lights were kind of low and the kids were beat. Kate slept on my lap on the bus ride home.