Another Day at Disney – Hollywood Studios

This was a long day! And I am feeling it, let me tell you. We left home about 8:30 this morning, stopping at the post office to mail our absentee ballots and then we went for breakfast. For those of you who are keeping track, we ate at our 60th Cracker Barrel this morning!

After breakfast we headed over to Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly called MGM Studios). We wanted to get a whole day in today. Lins & family were coming to meet us sometime around 1pm. They had a princess luncheon to go to at Epcot first. You know, when you're a parent of a princess, you have to be sure to have lunch with other princesses at least once in a while! :)


We figured we'd do a few activities that the kids wouldn't want to do before they got there. Our first stop was the Indiana Jones Stunt Show. That stuff just never gets old. It's was as fascinating this time as it was the first time we saw it.




Next we went for the Back Lot Tour. There really are movies made here at Disney and this tour gives you a glimpse of how special effects are done in those movies. We saw a PT boat fired upon like in "Pearl Harbor" and then were part of a canyon action scene where a fire erupted in the canyon and then it was flooded - some of that water came in on us!




Once done with the Back Lot Tour, it was time for a coffee break. We found a little cafe where Randy could get a cup of coffee and I could get some water. It was a shady spot and we figured the kids would be calling soon to let us know they were on their way. We were right! It wasn't long before Lins called, so we meandered up toward the front to wait for them.

Once Reagan and her parents arrived, it was all about what would be fun for Reagan to do and see. And that was just fine with us. I love watching the joy with which Reagan runs at life and I will do whatever it takes to be part of that!



We saw shows at Disney Playhouse, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. Reagan was able to get autographs of JoJo & Goliath, characters from JoJo's Magic Circus. We also went to the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids area where kids can climb and jump on leaves, grasses, ants, just as in the movie. Of course, Reagan was not familiar with the movie and I think she figured it was just another playground.

Reagan with JoJo & Goliath

Beauty & the Beast


Playing at Honey, I Shrunk the Kids!

We ended our day with dinner at the Prime Time Cafe which was set up like a kitchen from the 1950s. From each table you could see a black and white TV which ran vignettes from shows such as The Donna Reed Show, I Married Joan, Dennis the Menace, and more. The tables were formica-topped just like we all grew up with. And the menu was filled with staples such as fried chicken, pot roast, and meat loaf.

It was a wonderful day with the kids. It was hard to say good-bye we wouldn't see each other again until Christmastime. I've said before, this is the hardest part of full-timing, in my opinion. But, we got lots of hugs and kisses from everyone and there'll be phone calls and webcam dates. I'm just very grateful to have such a close relationship with my kids. We really enjoy being with one another.

Tomorrow we leave for the Monaco service facility in Wildwood, FL. It's gonna be such a tough trip - a whole 70 miles! :) Don't know how long we'll be there so we don't have any other travel plans. We're thinking once we get out of there, we'll just go on to Alabama and get settled.

Until the next time . . .