Like the Macy's Parade, Except FANTASTIC

So, if you can believe this, we're only on Day 2 of Le Tour de Disney. We actually spent it at Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM, as I came to find out) and I adored every magical moment.

{By this point, I was telling Disney employees--it's still hard for me to call them "cast members"-to 'have a magical day.')

We did as any light-saber toting, sci-fi loving American family would've done and sprinted to the back of the park to begin our Star Wars experience.

The "Star Tours" ride was honestly a little lame. And it was a simulator, which in my mind, simulates nausea.

Jackson, however, loved it. And of course, I pretended to.

Next, we moved outside to the Jedi Training.

Despite Brad's and my ridiculous and downright shameful attempts to get crazy and freak out so the Jedi Master would choose Jackson as one of his next Padawans, we (I mean, Jackson) were not chosen.

J was seriously bummed, but handled it amazingly well (considering it was a lifelong dream and I don't envision us returning to Disney anytime soon). Even without being selected, the whole training sequence was super entertaining and I found myself quickly sucked in by the force.

To combat the great sorrow, Papa led everyone into the gift shop and the Jedi Rejects picked out a souvenir to remind them of their great struggle with the dark side.

Jackson picked out Boba Fett (the bounty hunter) and was instantly happy. Plus, the ginormous AT-AT walker in the background was just plain cool.

At this point, I should admit that I know all the names of obscure characters and Star Wars vehicles without looking them up.

Because I am a dork.

Finished with simulators, we split up into two groups.

Brad, Lilly, & Grammy headed to the Tower of Terror.

Jackson, Papa and I jammed to the Rock n' Roller Coaster.

Thanks to Steven Tyler and his cool limo, it was tied for my favorite Disney ride. I did feel bad because Jackson audibly cried during the "fun," but he wasn't prepared well since I didn't realize it went upside down a few times in the pitch dark.

Oops.

But he recovered and actually wanted to ride it again at the end of the day.

From all accounts, Lilly braved the Tower of Terror and will brag about it to anyone she can.

However, we couldn't convince her to ride it a second time...which didn't surprise me at all.

{Before I continue, I should mention I don't have ANY pictures of the best part of Hollywood Studios--the Lights, Motors, Action show. I was too stunned and amazed to do anything but repeat, "How in the heck do they do that?" about 50 times. You should see the show. Amazing}

After scaring the children silly (on the roller coasters, not the Motors, it was time to enter the land of Pixar and happiness and Toy Story Mania.

This ride was amazingly creative and just as fun for the adults. Plus, we got harassed by Mr. Potato Head himself. AND we got to wear 3D glasses. AND shoot stuff. Perfect.

I'm going to be very vulnerable and reveal yet another super lame thing I love: The Muppets.

I mean, love. I always have and I always will. Miss Piggy first charmed me in "Muppets Take Manhattan" and I remember many a Saturday morning filled with the Muppet Babies cartoons.

{You can all go ahead and walk away from our friendship now if you wish.}

So here are the kids with the Statue of Miss Piggy. Because I had to.

If you aren't exhausted yet (which I was, because Grammy, Lilly, and I RAN--not jogged, RAN--from the Beauty and the Beast show all the way across the theme park and crowds of people to the Lights, Motors, Action show. This was accomplished in my flip flops which are made for standing on soft beach sand, NOT athletic conquests.)

(My shins are still aching.)

But finally, the magical hour of 3 o'clock arrived and you know what that means: PARADE TIME!

This was considered a "Block Party Bash," which meant my beloved characters and shockingly-old Disney dancers parked their floats on Hollywood Blvd. and danced with us for awhile.

Magical.

It was mostly Pixar characters and I don't believe I need to convince anyone that they are great.
The Green Army Guys were the lead vocalists/MC's and they were hysterical...even ad-libbed most of it.

Led by the Spirit, I let out a "whoo hoo" during "Celebrate Good Times." (If you can keep your whoo hoo to yourself during that song, something is sorely wrong.)

Anyway The Green Army Guy yelled right back at me, "Did you just whoo hoo me? Don't whoo hoo me!"

A Macy's balloon has never done that.

Lilly even got picked to come out and dance, but there was so much stinkin' ENERGY!!!!!!!!!!! that even she was a little overwhelmed.

I am just thinking about how much money someone would have to pay me to wear that costume and entice little kids to do the Macarena.

The amount is lower than you might think.

Now for my favorite part of each day:

You knew it had to do with food. The ice cream break. YUM. It was like a delicious encore to the parade.

Our favorite Ice Creamery (because there are many and it seems like I should lead you directly to the best one in case you visit) was Mrs. Potts at the Magic Kingdom.

They had full-on sundaes. Usually, we restrained ourselves and shared a couple of cones.

But in the interest of full-disclosure, let me reveal our order before the Spectromagic Parade (sometimes there are parades at night so you can watch TWO in a single day. Brilliant.)

Eh-hem...

*strawberry shortcake sundae

*brownie sundae

*chocolate milkshake

*rootbeer float

*chocolate ice cream with hot fudge sundae

*thighmaster

After conforming to the shape of Mrs. Potts herself, we decided to start sharing sundaes.

Oh, speaking of Mrs. Potts, here are Grammy & Lilly at "Beauty and the Beast." (It was FAB.)

And our favorite talking, racing, cow-tipping, animated vehicles:

p.s.

Dear Jackson & Lilly,

Those awful things on your feet are Crocs. I know Crocs are ugly. I know they are ridiculous, obnoxious, and plastic.

I completely understand that you will look back at this trip and a) complain about how they compromised your sense of fashion, b) wonder how I could've possibly let Lilly wear red Crocs with a pink bow on her shirt, or c) Photoshop them right out and tell you friends I was a much better mother than I actually was.

You did thank me for them after you were soaked on Splash Mountain and even told me they were comfy several times.

I know, that is no excuse.

In the same way that I've never forgiven Grammy for the Dorothy Hamill haircut, I understand that you may withhold your forgiveness as well.

Love,

Mom