[WishUponAStar]

We had SUCH a GREAT GREAT time today!!!!

Our day started out fairly early as we wanted to catch the 10:30am train to the city, so we could take our time, stroll around a bit, and get lunch before the 2pm matinee show.

As the train pulled into Penn Station and we exited into the brisk fall air, the smell and sounds of the city put an instant smile on my face. Second to Main Street, walking the streets of NYC has that "special" effect on me. The taxis and cars honking, the smells of roasting nuts in the air, and all the people racing around. I it.

We decided to start walking towards the theater district and Daniel was getting VERY hungry ( I TOLD him to eat breakfast! ). He saw some HUGE neon "BBQ" sign and got all excited. (I am NOT a fan of BBQ by the way). After looking at the menu, taking a peek inside, and smelling something absolutely AMAZING he wanted to eat there. So, we did. and it was GREAT!!! Although, when I ordered the "short rib" I thought I was going to get some some little "short" ribs, yeah, I was wrong! a HUGE dinosaur bone came to the table Daniel shared it with me after huffing down his WHOLE brisket sandwich and the cornbread there was HEAVENLY!!

With full bellies and red wind-burned cheeks we were ready to head towards the Minskoff theater, where the Lion King is.


We spotted this marquee before the BBQ restuarant and had to take a picture. I would to see Mary Poppins.

[WishUponAStar]

Here is Daniel enjoying his brisket sandwich. I REALLY REALLY should have taken a picture of my "dino bone." Seriously, you wouldn't believe this thing.

[Dana]

I have been waiting for this. Can't wait to hear more.

[ingamba]

Jessica I'm so glad you guys had fun. What a great fall day it must've been in the city. Hurry up and get to the show and WOD!

[WishUponAStar]

We knew walking to the theater after this painfully HUGE meal would be a challenge but we did, b/c the area around Times Square is sometimes interesting for people watching and sometimes it's just SO packed it's scary.
Consensus for today....

It was PACKED!

It was ok though, we were in NO rush. We still had 45 minutes before show time!

We even stopped to take a few Times Square pictures.

(sorry about the quality, these are with my cell.. but don't worry, when I get to the WOD store and the character pics they are with my good camera)

Here I am in the crazy place called Times Square.

[WishUponAStar]

OK, I know, but one can never get enough picture taking in the city.

[WishUponAStar]

We walked a couple blocks and WAIT A MINUTE, WHERE IS DANIEL?!?!!? I must have been spacing off or paying too much attention to my surroundings when I realized, "OMG, WHERE THE HECK IS DANIEL?" (and you people wonder why we don't have children ) After a brief moment of panic, I called his cell which was going STRAIGHT to voicemail, which tells me he either accidentially put it on "silent," turned it off, or was trying to call me.

I decided to walk to the theater and stand under the Lion King marquee so we could have an obvious meeting point.

WAIT, THERE HE IS!!! PHEW!! I spotted mister stripped jacket himself and started yelling across the street; "D! DANIEL!! DANIEL!!" He finally saw me and crossed the street. With a relieved, and well slighty annoyed, look on his face our small party was back together.

OK, on with the party!

The Lion King marquee.

[WishUponAStar]

We were greeted by... Mufasa? Simba? Not sure, so I asked...

What would your quess be? (and no, I am not telling until at least some people guess )

[Dana]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

We were greeted by... Mufasa? Simba? not sure, so I asked...

What would your quess be? (and no I am not telling until at least some people guess )

Mufasa

[WishUponAStar]

The usher stopped us to scan our printed tickets and we were ushered to our seats. OK, our seats...

Let's just say we could have been new members of the orchestra. I could have played the cymbals and Daniel could have made backup ROOOOARS for Simba or something b/c we were LITERALLY FRONT ROW!!!

It was AWESOME!!!! I being right in the middle of the action.

[WishUponAStar]

So let's talk about the show itself!

OK, first of all, I saw this show on it's first national tour in Miami and this time it was WAY WAY better than I remember seeing it back then. I don't know if it was because the action was literally right in front of our eyes and we were able to make eye contact with the performers or just that everything is better on Broadway? I don't know but the show was FABULOUS!!! Even DANIEL, who really dislikes musicals, LOVED it!!!

The sets were simple yet extremely effective in telling the story and making the scenes work. The REAL detail and amazement is in the ELABORATE costuming. WOW! I mean WOWZA! I mean DOUBLE WOWZA WOWZA!!!

The way the performers bodies conform to these costumes are completely unbelieveable. After awhile you start to visually forget there is a person there and you are REALLY seeing the animal. It's amazing. The way the performers move their bodies makes me believe they've spent YEARS in character study on the animals they are portraying.

The music was familiar and the orchestra was smooth and expressive but I just can't tell you how visually amazing the animals and costumes are. The way the gazelles leap, the lions pounce, and hyenas slink is 100% authentic.

I didn't find any moments where the show felt "slow" to me, Daniel either. It seemed to flow nicely and swiftly.

The actor that played Pumba deserves a standing ovation, whoever was in charge of casting for this show REALLY outdid themselves finding such a GREAT warthog representative He was HILARIOUS!!!

I'll be honest, I wasn't as impressed with adult Nala but adult Simba was an AMAZING vocalist and physical being. He was pouncing, jumping, and running while maintaining amazing voice control.

The little boy who played young simba was ADORABLE, especially when he was "working on his rrrooooaaar!"

OoOOOooooOOOoO, and Scar was just meaner and nastier than I had ever rembered him

The show was great, great, great!!!!

NEXT: Off to the WOD store, some AMAZING character M&G's, and a REALLY fun Mousebuzz reunion

[WishUponAStar]

Right as we exited the theater I got a text message from Val (Val32) saying she was at the WOD store and there was a villian character M&G @ 5pm! I WAS REALLY EXCITED!!!! Ack, well it was about 4:40 and we had like 10 city blocks to walk, so we better get a move on!!! We would have grabbed a cab but considering how CROWDED times square was and how SLOW the traffic looked like it was moving we DEFINATELY knew it would be faster to walk.

We arrived to the WOD store and saw this AWESOME window front!!! Oooo, SPOOKY!!!

[WishUponAStar]

The store was FILLED with Disney Halloween magic!! Really, if you've never been to the NY WOD store it is SO worth the travel. Characters, atmosphere, TONS of merch from the parks and resorts, an art gallery, and it's just SOOO much fun!! I felt like I was REALLY in WDW for a moment there!!

Look at this cool spooky chandelier!!

[Val32]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

We were greeted by... Mufasa? Simba? Not sure, so I asked...

What would your quess be? (and no, I am not telling until at least some people guess )

It's MUFASA!!!!!

Hey Jess!

I had my hot chocolate and Iam ready!!

[WishUponAStar]

We REALLY wanted to make sure we got to those characters before they stopped the M&G so we ran up to the 3rd floor!! It was....

CRUELLA & CAPTAIN HOOK!!!!

Just the TWO characters I had HOPED for!!! i WAS SOOO EXCITED!!!

Look it's Cruella & Wish!!!