[rant or insight goes here]

(Note: Disney can call it what EVA they want to, it will always be MGM to me).

So today is our day at MGM Studios, number two on my favorite park list.  I just love the theming, the total feel of 30's Hollywood, and it has Star Wars.  So I'm a geek, what about it?!  ;)  Anyway, by the time we arrive, the bag check line is HUGE... and we have to Fastpass Toy Story Mania before 11 or it will be out for the day.  So while the girls wait in line, I go in, dash to TSM, fastpass (I know, your wondering how I got the girls fast passes since they had not logged into *ran tickets through turnstiles* the park yet.  I'm a salesman with a friendly face, people... give me a cast member that likes a self-depreciating smile and a quick joke saying I must be doing something wrong, and I will show you three fast passes) and meet the girls at the gate as they arrive.  Our day begins.

(Let me say that this entire insanity about fast-passing TSM first thing is ridiculous and a self propelled problem.  You FP the ride first thing because I said you have to just to get one.  You then tell 3 people.  They tell 3 people each for their next trip.  So on and so on.  We created this monster, and the ride is not that great.  Fun?  Yep.  Worth a wait?  Yep.  Worth running full blast through the park at 9 a.m. so you can get a 5:10 Fast Pass return?  Hell No.)

So as we start our day, it has become a tradition to eat at "Starring Rolls", the Bakery at MGM.  Problem is, over the years more people have decided this to, so it's crazy packed, and tables are a premium... unless you realize that The Brown Derby outside seating area is right around the corner and open to the public in the a.m.  Sitting in a red leather chair under an umbrella watching people fight over metal backed wobbly chairs is a lot of fun; 'specially when they see you chilling and have this "Wait, wut?  We can do that?" Look on their face.

After breakfast, we hit The Great Movie Ride, which is a family favorite.  After that, Star Tours (which we kid swap so we both can ride), Muppet's 3-D (Honestly, if they cleaned up the 3D effects and film, this would be better than Philharmagic), lunch at ABC Commisary, Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney (Both for Lil), Tower of Terror (B's ride), and then the girls went to do Beauty and the Beast Musical, while I go to do Rockin' Roller Coaster.  RNR has a 100 minute standby, no single rider... WTF.  *shrug*  Oh well, headed over to Tune-In Lounge to grab an adult beverage and sat on the curb for an hour to hold primo parade seats for the girls.  Too Primo, come to find out, as the noise level is to much for Lil, so we jet for The American Idol Experience, which I will give all the credit in the world to for being awesome!  It's like being at the show... with scripted judges and people they obviously didn't just pull out of the crowd that day.  Too diverse, right clothes, right look, too good... you get the idea.  Still great, though.

So tomorrow, we wrap up this mad suprise tour and take it back northward, stopping whenever we see something worth taking in.  This is the only way to travel.  Toodles!