Disney Day 5

    On Wednesday, we finally made our way over to Hollywood Studios.  This has been one of my favorite parks since I was a kid. The theme of Hollywood studios is old Hollywood.  There is just so much to look at and see.  We had to get to Hollywood Studios super early.  There were two things there that we weren't going to miss and they are both very popular.  The first one is the Toy Story Mania ride.  This ride always has wait times of 90 minutes and the fast passes run out really early.  Its a really neat interactive 3d arcade style game.  It's impossible to really describe.  

   The other thing we knew we had to head to right away was the Jedi Training Academy.  Joey has gotten Ashlyn really into Star Wars in the last year.  They love watching the movies together.  She asks him all sorts of questions and knows all the characters.  When I told her they had a Star Wars Jedi thing she was over the top excited.  I read up on it, and discovered that you have to sign up and if the shows for the day aren't booked, you have a spot.  The spots fill up super quick.  We made the game plan that I would go get fast passes for Toy Story, Joey would take Ashlyn to sign up for the Jedi Training Academy and the rest of the group would head towards the Aerosmith Rock and Rollercoaster to meet us.

     I was able to quickly get fast passes and Joey was so happy that Ashlyn got a spot in the first show.  There was no line at all for the Aerosmith roller coaster so we each rode that a couple times.  I love that roller coaster.  You go from 0 to 60 in like 2.4 seconds.  It is a major thrill!!! 

   

   After we rode the roller coaster, we had to make our way over to the Jedi Training Academy.  Ashlyn had to be there 30 minutes early.  Joey said by 9:40 it was already full for the day.  I'm glad we got there early!  The show is outside and we lined up to watch our little Jedi.  They put robes on the kids and then give them each a light saber.  They have them do some practice moves with the light saber and they show them how to use it. Then, Darth Vader and some storm troopers come out.  We didn't know that was going to happen or we would have warned Ashlyn.  Several little girls started crying and had to leave the stage.  Each kid gets a chance to battle Darth Vader.  The boys were awesome with fighting Darth Vader.  They were using that light saber like a pro.  Ashlyn got a little intimidated by being in front of an audience when it was her turn.  I also think she truly thought that was Darth Vader.  She kind of froze.  The man hosting it did a great job with her and helped her.  She still loved it!  When it was over, they were told they were now official Jedis.  They even gave them a certificate to say that they had went through Jedi training.  This was definitely the highlight of the trip for Ashlyn.  She kept saying how much fun it was.  Disney does a great job with it and it is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity for a child that loves Star Wars. 

The ticket Ashlyn got for the training

Ashlyn in the back of the line heading to the stage.

The sign

Pretty realistic backdrop

Ashlyn in her robe

Learning the Jedi rules

Getting her light saber

Getting ready to practice

She loved every minute!

Practicing Jedi moves

She took it very seriously. 

They told the kids to run when Darth Vader was coming out. 

Here he comes

The Jedis waiting for their turn

 

Ashlyn just kind of stood there with her light saber in the air. 

The host talking to her. 

He offered her his light saber.

He was really good with her

He helped her battle Darth Vader

I think she was more nervous then anything

Getting into it more

 

How cute are they?

 

Getting rid of evil

Love this smile

Darth Vader went back to where he came from.

Congratulating the Jedis

Getting her diploma

So happy!!!

Fun picture

  Now that Ashlyn was officially a Jedi, she had to ride Star Tours.  Its a really neat motion simulator Star Wars ride.  They recently made it 3d so it's even cooler!  I had been telling her about it for weeks and I knew she would just love it.  The neatest part is that there are 50 different movies that you can see during your ride, so each ride is different. 

Some props you walk by in line

Getting ready to start their journey.

    After Star Tours, it was time for our fast passes at Toy Story.  I love this ride and knew that all the kids would too.  The little kids were excited to finally get to ride a ride at Hollywood Studios.  This one is also 3d so its really neat. 

Dawson with his 3d glasses

Ready to ride

Almost our turn

Family pic

You ride in these cars and you have a gun that shoots at different games.  The car moves you to different arcade style games.  You may be shooting plates, etc. Its fun because it keeps track of your points and you can see who had the high score in your car. 

Joey dominated me.

    Hollywood Studios has a really neat San Fransisco looking area.  It's straight out of a movie set.  It is all so authentic and you really feel like you are on the streets of San Fransisco.  We had to take a walk through and found many good spots to snap some pictures. 

In front of a store

In front of a Chinese restaurant

These brownstones were too cute!

Katy and Ella

Notice Ella is wearing a matching Minnie outfit with Ashlyn

Ashlyn and I with Kermit.

We found snow in Florida!

Having a great time!

We found a spot where they sold little temporary tattoos.  The girls both chose an Ariel on their hands.  

 

    By this point, we were all hungry for some lunch.  I had made reservations for us at the Disney Junior Play 'n Dine.  The usually do a really neat live Disney Junior show, but it was closed while we were there.  The kids love Disney Junior and this restaurant has the characters from the shows that come out while you eat.  Dawson loves the Little Einsteins and I had read where they were part of this.  I also read that the food was very mediocre, but I figured we were there for the kids.  We decided to give it a shot.  The food turned out to be pretty mediocre.  Much like a Country Buffet with less options.  The kids enjoyed the characters, but the only Little Einstein that ever came out was June.  She was wearing a different outfit so she was hard to identify.  Jake also never came by our table.  I don't think we would pick this restaurant again.

Dawson waiting to eat

Matching boys

Ashlyn and Special Agent Oso

Dawson got very shy

This place was a hit with Dawson because they had endless mac and cheese

Dawson and Daddy

We did get to Jake dance

Ella and her Uncle Joey

Ashlyn and Handy Manny

Meeting June.  Katy has a weird look on her face because she was trying to figure out if she was indeed June or not. 

Ashlyn and June

Dawson didn't know what to think

When we were done eating, the kids were given some sidewalk chalk and got to draw in front of the restaurant

Sweet girl

Having fun being creative

Great picture of Katy and Jameson

They really enjoyed the chalk

Always having a great time

Ella really getting into it

So sweet!

  We decided to next have the men take the kids to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids movie playground.  I absolutely loved this playground when I was a kid.  The movie was very popular then, it was just like being in the movie.  I seriously thought it was the coolest thing in the world.  The kids also enjoyed it a lot.  Although, the men complained it was quite crowded and hard to keep track of children.  While they played, my mom, sister, and I went on the backlot tour ride. 
 

Pretty girl!

It even has the huge blades of grass like in the movie

Having fun on the slide

Adventure girl

What a good time

Resting in front of a Brownstone when they were down

    It was getting kind of late by this point, and Ashlyn really wanted to make it back to watch Brave outside at the hotel.  We decided to head towards the Aerosmith roller coaster one last time and also ride Tower of Terror that we had fast passes for. 

The outside to the Aerosmith ride

Boy do I love this roller coaster!

They take a picture right when they launch you and it is unlike anything. 

The four of us on Tower of Terror.  This ride is themed so well.  You honestly feel like you are getting on an old service elevator in old Hollywood.  I am just regret that we only got to ride this one time.

     We decided to leave after.  Joey had decided to take Ashlyn to watch Brave.  The rest of us decided to head to Downtown Disney to eat at the best sandwich place on earth, Earl of Sandwich.  When we got to the buses, I noticed that Dawson only had one shoe in the basket underneath the stroller.  I was not happy.  Joey had to go back into the park and search for it.  The rest of us headed back to the hotel.  Joey said he retraced our path about 3 times before he finally found the shoe sitting on a trashcan.  Thank goodness he found it!

Joey and the missing shoe

    Ashlyn was so excited to watch a movie outside.  Every night they showed a different Disney movie out on the grass.  Most nights we weren't back in time to catch it.  She was determined to see Brave as it is her current favorite.  The weather was perfect and Joey said they had a great time. 

The movie screen

Watching the movie underneath the stars