On the 9th day of the trip, we decided to go to Hollywood Studios. Lee Dewyze (The American Idol) was going to be in a parade in front of the American Idol experience and we thought it would be fun.
We got to Hollywood Studios just after it had opened (it was an early magic hour day) and Jason rushed to get us Fastpasses. The kids and I took our time walking back to the Muppets 3D show and Jason met us there just as we were arriving. We watched the show with about 5 other people (I really don’t know why this is an early magic hour attraction, but it was alright) and the kids enjoyed it. We then went to wait on Chip and Dale to come out at 9 am. By the time 9:15 am rolled around, we decided they weren’t coming. This was a frustrating part of the trip because we asked 2 cast members if the characters were still greeting in front of the hat (even though the parade was going on at 10 am) and they said yes. Oh well.
The kids and I went to meet Buzz and Woody while Jason went to see the American Idol parade. The times guide said that they begin meeting at 9:30 am, but the sign said 10 am. We decided to wait it out and sure enough, it was 9:30. It only took us about 5 minutes wait to meet these cool characters!
After that, we walked over to meet Lightning McQueen and Mater. They were so cute! And then we went to the Animation Building to meet Sorcerer Mickey. That’s where we hit the jack pot! That is where all the sorcerer hat characters ended up.
Here’s who we met in 45 minutes:
Sorcerer Mickey
Minnie
Goofy
Pluto
Chip
Dale
Stitch
Pooh
Piglet
Lotso
Can you tell the kids LOVE meeting the characters?
After this, we left Hollywood Studios and headed back to the hotel to refresh.
We got to Epcot around 3 pm so we could do the Visa Meet and Greet. We had the best discussion with people while we waited our turn. We only had to wait about 10 minutes in line and it went by fast. We met Mickey, Minnie and Goofy at the meet and greet. The kids had a lot of fun but I was a little irritated at Disney. They advertise it as a private meet and greet, but they had the waiting family stand behind a rope in the same room as us. I don’t classify that as too private.
Next we went to Mexico for the BEST tasting Nachos in all the world. Make sure you don’t miss these. They are so good! We also rode Gran Fiesta Tour (which Jacob LOVED) and tried on the sombreros. Then we rushed to China to meet Mulan (waited 2 minutes) where Jacob received the THIRD kiss of the trip.
Then we ran to meet Snow White (she’s so cute!) before her meet and greet time was over. We had to wait 10 minutes to see her. Apparently she couldn’t find her lipstick.
Then we backtracked back to Norway and rode Maelstrom and stopped in China to eat dinner. While we were eating, it started to rain. So we spent some time browsing in the shops and playing with the Chinese toys. I also bought my grandmother a fan and they wrote her name on it in Chinese. (They do this for free!)
Finally the rain started to let up, so we went on to tour Germany and the United States. Finally we ended up in Japan where I let Emily pick a pearl (it’s $17). She had no idea why she was picking a slimey oyster, but was so thrilled to find it had a pearl inside.
We had just enough time to grab a spot for Illuminations. If you have never seen it, it is absolutely amazing and beautiful!
We left the park and on the way back to the hotel it started to pour. I mean POUR! Jason stopped at the curb and we rushed to get the sleeping kids out of the truck and poor Emily fell flat on her butt in a huge puddle. But at least it didn’t rain on us in the parks! For that we were grateful.
Catch Up
Day 1 evening and Day 2 morning recap
did lotso smell like strawberrys?
I love hearing about your trip, it is getting me even more excited for mine!
I love that we can go back over your trip!!
I wanna see Mulan!
Thanks for the tip about the Nachos. I’ll have to try them on our next trip.
Glenda
Awesome day! Do you feel like you are always running around on your trips??? Thats what I’m afraid of, like we won’t be able to take everything in.
No. If you slow down and take things in in the morning, you’ll spend the rest of the day ‘taking it in’ while you stand in line. We go with a plan in the morning and take our time and see everything we want to in the evening. :)
That is what we did also, we rode rides first thing in the morning and skipped lines then go flash passes for rides we wanted to ride again. Parades and showes in evening.
K, I too didn’t like the “private” meet and greet for disney visa cardholders either, it wasn’t private at all. As for the Nachos in Mexico.. if you are talking about the 1s from that quick service stand just as you enter mexico, then yes you are right they were sooooo good. Even our kiddos at them!