WDW Day 1: Hollywood Studios & Epcot

We woke up bright and early this morning ready to start our day at Disney! We gave Julia her "prizes" for the day before we checked out of our hotel. Today her bag consisted of a Disney Junior coloring book, Jake stickers, a Winnie the Pooh pez, glow in the dark bracelets and Mickey Mouse fruit snacks.

 

Julia was so excited even though I don't think she truly understood where we were!

When we got to Disney we checked into our hotel, Port Orleans - French Quarter. They didn't have our room ready so we left our bags at the front desk and took the bus to Hollywood Studios. 

waiting for the bus at our hotel

Once the bus got there we loaded up and were on our way. Julia was fascinated with all the pictures of the Disney characters on the bus.

Julia's first glimpse of Hollywood Studios

She was ready to get out of the stroller already! 

Once we got inside and got our bearings we headed off to our first ride, The Great Movie Ride. 

waiting in line

Next we headed over to Voyage of The Little Mermaid. The Little Mermaid was my favorite movie growing up and Julia likes it too. When we went to Auburn last January for the National Championship celebration she watch the entire movie in the car. 

waiting for The Little Mermaid 

Julia was definitely glued to it but I was a little disappointed we didn't get to meet Ariel! 

Next we headed to Muppet Vision 3D before our lunch reservations. Julia was a little hesitant of all the loud noises and flying objects. She made it through the whole thing though. 

Julia was rocking her matching paci and glasses. The glasses didn't last long though!  

After that it was time for our lunch reservations at Hollywood and Vine. We took turns wandering around trying to keep Julia occupied while we waited for our table. 

Julia LOVED lunch. She got to meet her favorite characters from Disney Junior and even got to dance with Jake after we ate.

Jake was the first character to come over to our table. She was a little shy to start with but she warmed up!

Then she spotted Special Agent Oso!

June came over to see Julia and wanted to get her out of her high chair to play. I promise she was more excited than she looked but I do think she was a little overwhelmed!

They had music playing in the restaurant and every so often all the characters and waiters/waitresses would go to the front and sing and dance. They invited the kids down front to dance with them. Julia wanted to go but she didn't want to get too close.

Daddy! I don't have time for pictures. Here comes Handy Manny!

Julia and Daddy watching Handy Manny sign her autograph book

We got ready to leave and I wanted to take Julia's picture in front of the sign at the entrance to the restaurant. We had one of the last lunch reservations so the restaurant was pretty empty when we left. 

While we were taking her picture the staff and characters started singing and dancing again. Julia poked her head around and was watching them dance. Jake saw her and came over and got her to dance with him. She was in heaven!

She had to get one last picture with Jake before we left.

When we left Hollywood and Vine we put Julia in her stroller and were trying to figure out what to do next. The next thing we knew we looked down and Julia was out!

I pushed her around for a little bit while Michael rode the Rock N Roller Coaster. Julia woke up about the time he got off. Since we were right at the Beauty and the Beast show and it was almost time for it to start we decided to go in and watch it. Julia was still a little groggy from her nap!

Mommy and Julia waiting on Beauty and the Beast to start

Julia and Daddy leaving Beauty and the Beast

I have been looking forward to this trip for a while and have gone crazy with the Mickey stuff. Michael said there were Mickey heads stuck on everything we brought! I made these little tags for the stroller and all our bags with our phone number on the other side.

We knew the one thing that we didn't want to miss at Hollywood Studios (besides our lunch) was the Disney Junior show. The whole trip and point of the trip has been based upon Julia's love for Disney Junior. The only complaint I had about the show was that the characters were puppets and not life size characters. Julia didn't seem to mind but I expected to see life size characters.

Family photo in front of the sorcerers hat!

We made our way over to the Honey! I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure. Julia wanted to climb up it so I went with her. Holy mackerel! That place should come with a warning! I thought I was going to die before we got out! 

Our last ride at Hollywood Studios was the Studio Backlot Tour. Julia and I were kinda take it or leave it but Michael wanted to go so we agreed. I figured as much princesses and girlie things he was going to have to endure over the next few days that we could give him one ride!

Julia wasn't fond of the explosion at the beginning. 

After the backlot tour we took the ferry over to Epcot. We didn't get to ride anything but we did walk around the World Showcase for a little bit and get dinner. We ate dinner at Katsura Grill in the Japan section of the World Showcase. It wasn't the worst meal I've ever had but I'm positive we could have found something better.

After dinner we wandered for a little bit and then headed back to the hotel with our fingers crossed that our luggage would be in our room! Thankfully it was so we set out to give Julia a bath and get her in bed.

The first thing she spotted when we walked in our room was the Mickey Mouse made out of towels on our bed. She was also pretty fascinated with the Mickey's on the shampoo bottles. Every time she turned around she found another Mickey!

"Mickey!"

We had a great first day in the park! Tomorrow we're heading to Animal Kingdom and Epcot. I can't wait!