Doodle & Peg Do Disney: Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom Beacon of Magic (Finally!!)

Today we were up early ready to hit Hollywood Studios at Rope Drop. The extra morning hour had now swapped back to being only half an hour (boo!!) which meant we knew that we would only likely get on 2 rides before the crowds descended. The plan was to do Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway first, then head to Slinky Dog (it’s tough to know which of these to do first but the first day we were there Slinky opening was delayed, so we decided to try it this way round). Anyway, we managed to just get onto Slinky as the crowds started to come in, which was great.

We had no real plans this morning other than to be in the park for our lunch reservation at Sci-Fi Dine In. The girls have only ever been when they were really little and couldn’t really remember it. I’ve always been reluctant to book when we’ve had the dining plan as it isn’t the best use of credits and I like to get maximum value, but as we paid everything out of pocket this trip, we were happy to give it a go.

The girls had asked to go and watch the Mickey shorts movie as they love watching the individual cartoons, so we headed there first. It was actually really cute and was a short movie made up clips of the different shorts with an ongoing storyline. At the end of the show there are some nice little photo opportunities of scenes from the different stories, which the girl spent ages looking at.

Next up was One Man’s Dream. Polly absolutely loves this as she really enjoys the whole history of Disney (we did a lovely project on it when we were home-learning). Both girls spent ages looking at the little exhibitions and reading all the information (we even had to go back in after the film as Winnie had missed one thing!) and they really enjoyed the movie, although not as much as Steve who got his Nana nap in!

We then went to Muppets 3-d Vision. I have never seen it so busy in there. It’s usually our go to quiet place where we can spread out and relax but literally every seat was taken! 

It was now about half an hour before our lunch, so we just perched on the wall outside and the girls did some of the quizzes on the My Disney Experience app. You can’t check in until 20 minutes before your reservation, but as soon as we were able to check in, we were called to our table.

We had a really nice meal. Our server was lovely, the food was good, and the girls enjoyed the milk shakes (although they are always way too big for them!)

As we left the restaurant, we were in two minds as to whether to stay and see some more shows, but as it was so busy, we decided to head back to the hotel to pack for our move to the Yacht Club tomorrow. We did make sure we’d checked off the remaining golden statues as well as stopping by to take a selfie with Gertie and her 50^th bauble on the way out though. 

Back at the room I decided it was easier to pack by myself, so the girls and Steve went to the pool for an hour while I got things sorted. When they got back, we decided to head to Animal Kingdom for one last attempt to see the Beacon of Magic there. We arrived just as it was turning to dusk. There was a Photopass photographer near the Christmas tree at the entrance with no queue, so the girls decided to get a few photos and were so happy when they saw the Chip & Dale framed shot.

I then managed to get us a walk up at Nomad Lounge which I was really excited about until the girls informed me that they were really hoping to go for a play in the Boneyard! They did say they didn’t mind, but I know Polly is getting increasingly aware that she will be over the age limit for some of the children’s activities soon, so we went with their choice. One cancelled reservation later, Steve and I found ourselves perched on the same rocks we have found ourselves on many times in years gone by, waiting for the girls to have their fun. At least we weren’t melting this time!

After a while the girls headed over to us, and we got a bit excite thinking that maybe they’d had enough, and we could get some food/ a drink after all. But then they uttered the words we dreaded; ‘Can we go and play at the dig site?’ Now, if you’ve not had the pleasure of visiting the dig site, let me explain a little about it. It’s an area where children can use spades and brushes to try and uncover prehistoric bones that are buried in sand. I bet you’re thinking that sounds lovely. And it does. Until you realise the sand is actually made up of the most hateful, tiny, sharp, stones in the world. That sand is the devil’s work. It hides in parts of you shoe that you didn’t know existed creating pain akin to stepping on a piece of Lego, creates craters bigger than those on the moon on your skin if you so much as lean on it for a split second, and gets into every single crevice on your person, hiding there for days, no matter how many baths or showers you take only to appear at your most uncomfortable moment! It’s a good job we love those girls!!

After half an hour or so in the sand we brushed ourselves down (not that it had any effect) before heading to watch the Tree of Life Awakenings and see the Beacon of Magic. I’m so glad we actually made it as it really is beautiful to see, and really in keeping with the park. 

We then headed back to the hotel for another quick tea in the rom as we were all pretty full from our lunch. We are back at Animal Kingdom in the morning to try and complete the Wilderness Explorer books and hopefully catch one of the character floats which I still somehow haven’t managed to see!