The big day was finally here! We were headed to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It seemed like we were waiting for this trip forever! A trip which would not have been possible without the generosity and thoughtfulness of Nana Carole and Opa Walter. Their 50th wedding anniversary was in June and they wanted to take the family on a vacation to celebrate.
Our day began bright and early with a limo ride to the airport. I don’t think the limo could go fast enough for us. We arrived at the airport and the two of you looked like mini adults, pulling your luggage thru the terminal. As we waited to board, we spent a lot of time looking out the window at all the planes taking off and landing on the runway.
It was your first plane ride and you both were very excited. When we initially departed, Ryan sat with Mommy & Daddy and Kaitlyn sat with Nana & Opa. Once the plane got in the air we all rotated seats. It went smoother than we thought and you were both occupied the entire plane ride.
We arrived at The Port Orleans Hotel and were greeted with all things “New Orleans” style- gold coins, balloons, beads. The only glitch our entire stay there was upon check-in. Ryan was not in the reservation system and although it was not the way we had wanted to start our vacation, it all worked itself out.
The first park we went to was Epcot. As we arrived the sky became very dark and it began to pour! Fortunately, it was the only time we had substantial rain our entire vacation. We ate dinner at the Coral Reef Restaurant. The entire dining area was surrounded by wall to wall aquariums.
After dinner, the sky had cleared up and we went on our first “Disney Vacation” ride-The Seas with Nemo & Friends. We went to the Talking with Crush exhibit/show, rode Soarin’ and headed to see the Illuminations fireworks show. Nana said, “It was the best she had ever seen.” The final ride of the night was Test Track. Daddy was very excited, “I waited 13 years since my last trip to Disney to go on this ride.” Ryan, you loved it. Kaitlyn, your response was “My hair got ruined because it was too windy!”
It was a long day which ended when you both fell asleep at 11:30pm. Considering neither one of you had napped, you did pretty well.
FAVORITE RIDE
MOMMY: Soarin’
DADDY: Test Track
KAITLYN: Nemo
RYAN: Test Track
One thing that was consistent the entire vacation was Disney World really is the friendliest place on earth. Not one cast member passes by without a greeting or offering assistance. Nana & Opa were wearing celebration “Anniversary” pins and the “Congratulations! Happy Anniversary!” was constant.
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| Ready to Roll! |
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| Manny's first flight.... |
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| ...and of course we couldn't leave without Dolly! |
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| Our first Walt Disney World Epcot Ride! |
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| 13 years in the making! |
We started our first full day at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It also was they day of our first character breakfast at The Tusker House. We enjoyed our delicious breakfast complete with Mickey Mouse waffles amongst Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto and Mickey Mouse. Katie, we were blown away how quickly you took the characters. It was like you had done it a thousand times before with your autograph book open and your pen ready to go!
After breakfast we were off to the best part of Animal Kingdom- Africa & The Kilimanjaro Safari! By far, one of my favorite parts of the vacation. Watching your faces as we observed exotic animals in their habitats was priceless. Some of the animals we saw included elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, warthogs and flamingos. We then took a self guided tour through the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail where we saw some more African animals such as the gorilla, meerkats and rare birds.
We boarded the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. It was here we met Pocahontas and Jiminy Cricket. We had to buy new autograph books because we left ours back in the stroller. We also had our first Mickey Mouse ice cream pops (There are some things that are just a must when you go to Disney World!).
Our next stop was Discovery Island and the world famous Tree of Life. Inside the tree is a movie theater where you can watch a 3D movie called "It's Tough to Be a Bug". It was very life-like and even included "movement" under the seat. Katie you were scared and Daddy had to take you out of the theater.
We then headed to Asia where Mommy & Daddy rode the Exhibition Everest roller coaster. Daddy thinks the ride went upside down and can't be convinced otherwise. Nana finally got her Turkey leg she was waiting for.
The final destination at Animal Kingdom was DinoLand. Daddy, Nana and Opa went on the Dinosaur adventure while Mommy took the two of you to play in The Boneyard Playground. It was about this time it started to drizzle so we headed off to see Finding Nemo-The Musical. Our last ride of the day was Tricera Top Spin and we had a meet and greet with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore. We then secured our view for the Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade. It was a perfect way to end our day at Animal Kingdom.
Prior to dinner at the hotel, we spent some time in the pool. You both loved the water slide! After dinner we took part in roasting some marshmallows (Mommy's favorite!) before we boarded a shuttle boat to Downtown Disney. You probably need 3 days just to visit all the stores there. It was there, we found a store where you filled a boxed with as many Mr./Mrs. Potato Head pieces as you could. After walking around for a while, Ryan fell asleep in the stroller and we headed back to the hotel.
FAVORITE RIDE
MOMMY: The Kilimanjaro Safari
DADDY: Dinosaur
KAITLYN: Tricera Top Spin
RYAN: The Kilimanjaro Safari
OPA: The Kilimanjaro Safari
NANA: "It's a Bugs Life" Movie
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| Celebrating 50 years of marriage! |
Sunday September 11, 2011
Happy Birthday, Daddy!! What better place is there to spend it than at the most magical place on earth!It was definitely an eventful day to say the least. Daddy wake up with kidney pain (he has a history of kidney stones). We had a late start to the day and after eating breakfast at the hotel we boarded the shuttle bus and we were on our way to Magic Kingdom. I can't even put into words how excited I was! As we approached the park, Kaitlyn shouted, "I can see the castlle!". When I was pregnant with the two of you, Daddy and I were watching a show about Disney World. I remember looking at him with tears in my eyes and saying, "We are going to take our babies there one day!" We walked through the gates and began taking pictures. One of the photographers was from our home town, Manorville. Daddy was posing for a picture with him and then boom...I dropped the camcorder. WORST. MOMENT. EVER. I will be the first to admit I had a total breakdown. I sobbed, I yelled, I wanted to leave that moment. The camcorder wasn't working. I lost everything we had recorded and had no way to record more. We thought maybe I could record on a memory card. We went to all the "camera" stops and no one had one. Then I was slightly calmed by the fact I could record video on one of my cameras. Oops, no batteries. Forgot to take them out of the charger. Once again, we looked for a battery. None found. Add more tears here. I called my mom hysterical. Everyone tried to tell me, "You still have memories.", "Your're never going to watch it anyway.", "Don't let it ruin your day.". I was able to record some video on my I-phone and the rest of the trip on my other camera. I was still beyond upset. (I won't tell you the hours I spent after vacation researching if there was a way to retrieve the video.)
And so the day went on. We headed to Adventureland and boarded our first ride at Magic Kingdom- Pirates of the Caribbean. Next was the riverboat ride Jungle Cruise. It amazed me how I remembered riding this ride when I visited Disney as a young child.
After lunch at the Starlight Cafe, we made our way around Tomorrowland. We raced cars on the Tomorrowland Speedway, took a tour on the PeopleMover and enjoyed an nice rest in a revolving theater during the Carousel of Progress. Of course, one of the many highlights of the vacation was meeting Buzz Lightyear and riding Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. We made sure to get good sidewalk seats for the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade. One of our absolute favorite memories is watching Kaitlyn wave to all the characters. Prince Charming even blew you a kiss! It was definitely a "dream come true". Prior to leaving for dinner we went to Fantasyland (which has double in size since our visit!) and saddled up on the Prince Charming Regal Carousel.
We continued to celebrate Daddy's birthday with a character dinner at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary Resort. There was a lot of singing and dancing and we surprised Daddy with a cake. The whole restaurant sang to him (Goofy included!). After dinner, Nana and Opa went back to the hotel and we went back to Magic Kingdom. We ventured to the fantastical boat ride It's A Small World and to Never Land on Peter Pan's Flight (which was our longest wait for a ride the whole vacation at 50 minutes). We closed the evening with the Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks show. By far, Mommy's favorite!
FAVORITES
MOMMY: Fireworks show (especially when the song "When you Wish Upon a Star" played)
Katie waving to the princesses during the parade
"Mommy!! Look!! I see the castle!" Priceless.
DADDY: Kids reaction on It's a Small World
When they sang "Happy Birthday" on the monorail loudspeaker
Speedway w/Ryan-"He was turning every which way, slamming left and right."
KAITLYN: Peter Pan's Flight
Meeting Minnie Mouse
Seeing the castle with all the colors on it
RYAN: Pirates of the Caribbean
Meeting Buzz Lightyear
"Fireworks even though I had my ears covered."
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| Happy Birthday Matt! |
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| Surprise for Daddy-Mickey Mouse Chocolate Bars! |
Monday September 12, 2011
Lights! Camera! Action! Next stop-Hollywood Studios!
We took in the sights on the Streets of America and we able to get up close and personal for some photo ops with Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater. Daddy and I then went on the flight-motion simulator Star Tours. Mommy does not like rides!
The best lunch we had while on vacation was at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. It was a 1950's style restaurant where you sat in convertible cars like you were in a drive in movie. The food was outstanding! Note to self: Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava Cake. Out. Of. This. World.
We spent the rest of the afternoon watching the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show, walking around and meeting some more characters (Handy Manny and the Little Einsteins). Before leaving Mommy rode the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and we enjoyed the Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade featuring all our favorite characters from our favorite movies.
We relaxed for a little while by the pool and after eating dinner at the hotel we had a relatively early close to the evening. You were both asleep by 8:45 pm
FAVORITES
MOMMY: Toy Story Mania!
Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade
DADDY: Star Tours
Lightning McQueen and Mater with Ryan and Katie
KAITLYN: Toy Story Mania!
Handy Manny
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
RYAN: Toy Story Mania!
Lightning McQueen and Mater
Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade
Tuesday September 13, 2011
As a mom of a little girl, when we pictured going to Disney World, one of the things I couldn't wait to do was a character meal with the Disney Princesses. All dressed up in the proper Princess attire, we boarded the
We hit up Test Track, The Seas with Nemo & Friends and Soarin' again. We took a boat ride on Maelstrom and Living with the Land and were transported through Spaceship Earth. Most of the afternoon was spent walking through the different Pavilions stopping in Italy for some delicious crepes and of course Germany for some photographs.
Our dinner was spent at the hotel so we could rest up before heading back to Magic Kingdom for a special event-Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! It was just the four of us who were going to attend this party. We dressed up in our favorite costumes and accessories and loved how the park was transformed into a Halloween magical destination. We trick-or-treated throughout the park, rode Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, the classic ride Dumbo the Magic Elephant and, Mommy's favorite, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
We couldn't have picked a better location to watch Mickeys Boo-to-You Halloween Parade because right behind us was Woody, Jessie and Bullseye's Country Hoedown! We were fortunate to be one of the first to take note of this and the twins got one-on-one dancing lessons with the Toy Story gang! We ended a perfect evening watching the Happy Hallowishes fireworks show (although Ry slept through this one).
FAVORITES
MOMMY: Watching Kaitlyn walk with the Princesses in the parade
Ryan's reaction on Test Track
DADDY: Getting emotional when Katie was holding the Cinderella's hand in the parade
Test Track with Ry
KAITLYN: Walking with the Princesses
RYAN: Going really fast on the car ride (Test Track)
Wednesday September 14, 2011
This day came too fast! It was our last full day in Florida. We were venturing back to Magic Kingdom so we could get to some rides we weren't able to previously do and hit the rides we loved for second time. Nana and Opa experienced It's A Small World for the first time and the twins took a spin in the sky one more time on Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
Kailtyn and I waited on line to meet Tinkerbell and her fairy friends while the rest of the family took in the music revue of the Enchanted Tiki Room. The wait for Tinkerbell was the longest wait for any character we encountered our entire vacation. It was worth it of course. Afterwards, we found Woody and Jessie's post and were first on line for the meet and greet.
After watching our last parade, we walked out of the gates of Magic Kingdom already thinking about when we would come back. Our last dinner was at the Polynesian Hotel in the Ohana Restaraunt. If you have ever eaten a meal where the food is so good you wish you could eat more but you are so full you feel like you are going to explode, this is it. The meal was outstanding! The twins even got to participate in a little Hawaiian dancing.
We spent some time in the pool and after getting in our pajamas, went to watch an outdoor movie on big lawn. It was our first outdoor movie and the first time watching the "Aristocats". Ry fell asleep under the stars while Katie, Daddy and I watched the movie and shared some snacks. It was perfect way to end our last evening.
FAVORITES
MOMMY: Dinner at Ohana
Kaitlyn waving at all the Princesses in the parade
DADDY: Seeing Kaitlyn react and wave at the parade
KAITLYN: Meeting Tinkerbell
RYAN: Going in the pool
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| Ry got kissed by a Fairy |
Things we will never forget about this unforgettable vacation:
- As we approached the castle Kaitlyn shouting "Mommy! I see the castle!"
- Ryan dancing with Woody, Jessie and Bullseye
- Kaitlyn waving at the characters during the parade
- Watching fireworks while holding Kaitlyn in my lap
- Kaitlyn and Ryan dressed up as Belle and Woody during Mickeys Not-So-Scary Halloween
- Ryan's reactions on Test Track
- All smiles (mostly) upon meeting all the characters
- Matt's birthday celebration at Chef Mickey's
- Very little wait time for the majority of the attractions
- My camera breaking and the fear of losing it all. Will never lose the emotions of watching their faces
- Ryan meeting Lightening McQueen and Tow Mater
- Princess Breakfast and Kaitlyn leading the parade two times
- Matt after Mt. Everest ride "It went upside down!"
- Kaitlyn overcoming her fear and going down the slide in the pool
- The emotions of watching the twins react and experiencing this vacation through their eyes
This was obviously an amazing vacation. We can't thank Nana and Opa enough for taking us because without them it would not have been possible at the time. We are already planning to go back in the Summer of 2013 and can't wait to live it all over again!
"When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true!"
2 comments:
What a great job. The details you put in their blog are far more important than seeing things on video, awesome memories
That was truly amazing! loved it
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