Disney Day 4, Part 2

After lunch at Hollywood and Vine, we had a little unwind time while we waited on Z’s new Jedi Training time. We just hung out, tried to get my kids to nap (didn’t happen), had bathroom breaks, and just generally rested in the shade.

Then it was time for the main event. Nick took Z to get his robe and instructions and they paraded from their set up area to the stage, through the park.

Then it was time for training. Z was serious!

Then, the Darth Vader music began and Darth Vader himself and two Storm troopers came out on stage. Darth Maul (Eek, he was freaky) followed behind and some of the kids fought him on the ground.

Z followed instructions carefully, which were to hit right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, duck and jab (something like that) and when it came time to duck, the trainer made a joke about his hair, she said “Don’t mess up the hair!” Hilarious!

He did so well, and he was super serious the whole time. Such a cool day!

These two were sweet supporters too!

I’ve lost track now of timing, but I seem to remember that at some point in the day, we caught the Beauty and the Beast show and made it just in time for a showing of the Frozen sing a-long, so awesome, loved that!!

And, of course we rode the super fun, Buzz Lightyear 3D ride! The kids did really well in that, and the fast pass came super in handy!

Just as we had decided to head out (it was getting super crowded), we hit up one of the Christmas shops in Hollywood studios, and the kids played in the “snow.” It was still light outside when we left, but we’d had a super full day!

Sometime after that snowman picture, Lulu went ballistic, I’m talking, crazy! I think she was tired of sitting in the stroller, but when she wasn’t in it, she would wander around like a lost puppy, so we did what any parent who has no control of their kid would do, strapped her in the stroller and wheeled her through the park, mad screaming….

Good times….

We decided to change into our bathing suits and hit the pool, SO SO fun. Art of Animation has the most fun pool and splash pad. I’m so glad we got to take advantage of it, and the kids went nuts! Saturday was a long hot day, so it felt nice to us too!

After we swam, we got some food from our cafeteria and Lu went down quick, meltdown central! Needless to say, she doesn’t do well without a nap. She fell asleep at the table in the middle of asking for watermelon but no watermelon, turkey, no turkey, roll it, give me a fork, I don’t want a foooooork! You get the picture.

Suffice it to say, we all slept well Saturday night.

Next, our final morning in the Magic Kingdom and coming home, wah wah…

Disney Day 4, Part 1

Day 4 (Saturday) was Hollywood Studios day, otherwise known as Star Wars Day, otherwise known as the main reason we decided to go to Disney. Our friends got the scoop on the signup location and procedure to be one of the kids who actually gets to battle Darth Vader, and basically, we had to get to the park before it opened, run to the back of the park with Z, and get his name on the list as fast as humanly possible.

The park was to open at 9 that day, so we were there and in line by about 8:15. The line behind us grew substantially between 8:15 and 9, and we were seeing more and more little boys with Star Wars T-shirts, so Nick got his game face on, and by the time the park opened, he had his sleeves rolled up, and he was ready to take off! I have never seen him so determined! We decided to hang back and let him and Z make the trip to the sign up, and according to him it was chaos, think middle aged nerds dads running as fast as they can with their 5 to 8 year old sons through a park all with one goal in mind, get on that sheet!

He made it, and Z got one of the early spots, so we could all relax.

Meanwhile in the world of the little ones, we walked right up as Donald and Daisy were making their first appearances for the day and got our hugs and pictures, score one for the littles!

I think I mentioned that Clara Bell pointed out that she and Lu both had on big bows, Daisy also did, which was so cute and sweet. Lu loved it!

We only had about 30 minutes before Z had to report for Jedi training, so we tracked down some coffee and got in with the Toy Story characters while the rest of the people from the aforementioned line were waiting in line for the Buzz Lightyear ride (we had a fast pass for that later in the day).

Z had a chance to return the salute to the army man,

and Lu got to see her beloved Woody (huh?). H used to be a bit Toy Story fan, so he was pretty happy too.

Apparently the giant hat will be gone in Mid-January, so we had to have one family picture in front of it.

When the boys reported for Jedi Training, they were informed that that showing was cancelled for some reason, and they were rescheduled for later in the day. Kindof a bummer, but to make it up to them, they set up a special meeting with the kids with Darth and the storm troopers.

That was pretty cool and a little surreal, just as the princesses are in character, these guys are very much in character, Darth wouldn’t even wave at us, hard core!

So fun, oh and somewhere in there Nick and Z rode Star Tours. Z loved it!

While we were visiting with Darth and the Storm Troopers, the Smiths took the littles to the Little Muppets show. Aunt Julie was so sweet with Lu!

I don’t think Lu was missing her brother too much.

Lu saw these minnie ears and just had to have them. We thought since Z would be building his own lightsaber that we could make an exception and buy these things for them. She kept saying “I’m married!” What?! She was one happy girl!

Z built his light saber, got a ride on a speeder then we were off to Disney Junior Live.

 

Then we headed to Hollywood and Vine to meet the Disney Junior characters! These little guys are regulars at my house, so it was neat to see them in person. 

They periodically had little dance parties in the middle of the restaurant. The boys had no problem getting in on that! So cute!

Saturday was so jam packed that we decided to forgo the naps (Lu made us pay the price that night, but it was worth it, I think).

Next up Jedi Training and Buzz Lightyear ride!