Hollywood and 1900 Park Fare

Today is Monday, it must be Hollywood!

We got a late start because we saw the SHUTTLE LAUNCH, wooooo-hooooooo!!!! This was the last night launch and we just didn’t want to miss it (although Wayne wouldn’t drive to Cape Canaveral or wherever) so we got up at 4:00 am bundled up Maya in the stroller, trying to explain to her that Mr. Disney didn’t make this one, and headed out where we had a view of the Eastern sky (at the bus stop). Right on time, I think it was 4:14 am, we saw a bright star-like object but it was going up instead of falling! So cool! I was so glad we did it. It was a small drop of brightness in the sky, and we would have had a much better view on tv, but there was something about having the opportunity to see it in person. Very cool! Then we turned around and went right back to bed!

It was also laundry day. It would have been impossible to pack for 12 days, so we packed for six and did laundry. I had actually worn all my clothes, yay me, usually the queen of over packing and having tons of un-worn clothes. Maya did have quite a few un-worn, but that’s because I brought her so many summer clothes and it’s been too chilly. As it turned out, it was also like a girlfriend coffee, there were two especially nice women from one of the Carolina's that I ended up talking to for about an hour and a half while we did laundry.




So, we ended up eating lunch here at All Star and then took the bus to Hollywood Studios. After Maya had a fit because it “wasn’t her turn, it was Daddy’s turn” and she “never, ever, never wanted to see American Idol again”, we went to Idol and she had a blast. She learned from Athena to say, “I’m not having ANY fun.” Kinda cute…..but….not. We ran into Amanda and her family and little Alison was just too cute dancing to the Idol performances. She and Maya had lots of fun while three people competed for the chance to be in the finals and win a “jump-to-the-end of the line ticket to Idol auditions.” Maya voted for Diamante, who didn't win, but we ran into after the show and got a picture with this future star.



We stopped to see the parade - block party. Maya sat on my shoulders for awhile and then we put her up in a tree and she loved it! When the parade was over, she still didn’t want to get down.




While I got an autograph from the "stars" of UP! Maya and Wayne played with a computerized "painting" program.











Then we headed to Playhouse Disney but got sidetracked by the Animation Studios where we learned how to draw Donald Duck - it was fun - they won’t ever hire us - but it was fun. Maya entertained everyone by saying, “Daddy, yours isn’t too…….good.” “Daddy, mine is better than yours.” “Daddy, yours isn’t too……right.” Then in the middle a big, “I’m done!”.





Maya's "treat" for the day was a light-up bubble gun. Too fun!






We ran into Robyn and her family. Jacqueline had been to bippity, bop pity and looked so beautiful! She and Maya played with the bubble gun and had a blast while the adults talked about how much fun this trip was and how glad we were to have met each other. Then Robyn and family went to Playhouse Disney and we headed over to Grand Floridian.








Maya was just too tired, hungry, wound-up, etc. to be in a good mood. She was so angry that we were leaving Hollywood. Even the lure of princesses, didn’t help. Finally, she cried herself to sleep on the bus. Poor little peanut. She’s having fun but still gets worn out. We need to remember how little she is. She normally doesn’t wake-up, ummmm, how to say it, happy. She is usually downright grumpy and tonight was no exception. She wanted nothing to do with anything or anyone except me. And I was not on the good-mommy list at the moment. She kept saying, “I’m not having fun!” “ I don’t want to see princesses!” We went to the restaurant and she was in tears. Wanted nothing to do with Cinderella’s stepsisters. Then gradually she started to perk up, she ate a little bit and I think that helped, then she saw Cinderella…….okay, she was getting better. Eventually she was hugging Prince Charming, laughing at Cinderella’s step mother. Going up to get her own food. Like night and day. The food at the GF was amazing. Lots of fresh vegetables, then the carving station with Roast Beef that was even better than Prime Rib.

Then the desserts. Ooooo, la, la! Beautiful and delicious. An all-around excellent, excellent meal. And Cinderella and Prince Charming doing a waltz, the fun step sisters and it was a great night!