This trip was a trip of a lifetime. I planned for years and it was so wonderful to finally be there. It was a dream come true.
We went thinking that this may be the only time we ever went to Disney World. But now we want to go again and again and again!! We will definitely be going back.
What were our favorite moments as a family?
Let's start with the youngest.
Maddy- Maddy didn't get it all. She is very young still. I had a lot of people say that they would never take such a young child but I am so glad we did. She had a great time. She was interested in everything that was going on around us. She loved playing whenever there was a playground or play area. She was afraid of the characters but still liked watching them. The fact that there was music playing pretty much everywhere was a miracle to her. She loved it.
I can't ask her what her favorite things were, but I can say what she enjoyed and my favorite Maddy moments.
Beauty and the Beast Live Stage Show at Hollywood Studios- It was such a highlight of the trip to watch her watch the show and dance. She loved it!
The Little Mermaid show at Hollywood Studios- Again, it was so fun to watch her reaction to this.
Playhouse Disney at Hollywood Studios- I loved watching her dance and trying to escape to the stage.
It's a Small World- the second time we went on when she was actually awake.
Mickey Mouse Rice Krispie treat- She didn't have one until we were leaving but she loved that thing!
Abi- Every time you ask Abi what her favorite ride was, it is something different. So, I will name all the ones that have come up...
The Peter Pan ride- I think she noticed something new every time we rode this.
The Carousel- especially the time when she rode Cinderella's horse!
Winnie the Pooh- she really liked the line and play area too.
The tea cups- she loved being in control of the tea cup!
Dumbo! This one is the answer most often. She really loved this ride.
The Barnstormer roller coaster in Toon Town- We rode this so many times in a row it was crazy!
Playhouse Disney- it's funny how she knew those were puppets!
Toy Story Mania- she was always so upset with her score though.
Riding the monorail- I wish she could have ridden up front with the driver but they said they didn't allow that anymore after an accident last summer. Hopefully, they will again someday.
Soarin'- She was beaming after this ride.
Spaceship Earth- Her favorite ride by far at Epcot.
Meeting the characters.. especially the princesses and fairies. She was the most excited about having met Aurora!
Her birthday- everything about it!
Swimming in the pool at the resort.
Playing on the beach at the Polynesian.
Her favorite treats- Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bars and the Butter Beer we had at Harry Potter World.
Doug-
His favorite parks were The Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
He loved that the trip was very relaxing and fun. That surprised me because I wasn't sure he would find it relaxing since it was the first time he has ever been on a real vacation with me and had to live the 'park commando' lifestyle.
He loved eating out and going to so many great restaurants. His favorite was the character breakfast at Akurshus Castle in Epcot.
He loved riding all the rides. He thinks his favorites were Soarin' and Spaceship Earth at Epcot.
He just loved the atmosphere and feeling everywhere we went.
His favorite treat was the Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Bars.
Me-
I loved everything about this trip.
It was so great to be able to not only live a dream I have had for so long but to be able to also see it for the first time through the eyes of my children and the eyes of my parents.
The highlights of the trip for me were:
Watching Abi come out of her shell to trade pins and meet characters. This had a life altering effect on her. Really, it did. She came back from this trip a changed little girl. I have received so many comments from people about how much more outgoing and confident she is in public. I love that.
The dinner we had at Narcooses at the Grand Floridian. It was so classy and it felt so special.
Surprising the girls with the trip and then also surprising them with Grandma and Grandpa being there!
Our meals at Akurshus, The Crystal Palace, The Liberty Tree Tavern, Coral Reef, 1900 Park Fare, and the Castle.
Soarin'- that ride is so much fun.
Walking down Main street in the Magic Kingdom for the first time. That first glimpse of the castle.
Our day spent in Fantasyland.
The Haunted Mansion- always will be the best Haunted House.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Our anniversary date back to the park by ourselves.
Seeing Harry Potter with my mom at the theater in Downtown Disney.
The shows at Hollywood Studios.
Seeing the cute little baby elephant on the safari at Animal Kingdom
Watching the electrical pageant at the Polynesian resort.
Going to Harry Potter World- especially eating at the 3 Broomsticks, buying a wand, and the best ride ever.
Watching Abi get asked to dance by Prince Charming and say no (boo hoo... that would have been so cool!) but then dancing with Anastasia.
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience.
Just being there!
My favorite treat was probably Abi's birthday cake.
I would recommend a trip to Disney World to everyone! And if you need help planning one, let me know. I've got lots of info!
5 comments:
It does sound like the perfect family trip. We had been trying to decide whether or not to go for years (since we have done Disneyland and CA Adventure a million times) and hearing about your trip helped us decide to do it. I love the CA parks, but we want to stay in the Disney resorts and have the whole immersed Disney experience as a family, rather than just a day trip to Disneyland. We are aiming for December 2012 and I would love to get some pointers. Seth has talked to Doug at work about it too, but you guys need to come for dinner and chat Disney. It is a good excuse to hang out anyway. Thanks for sharing the magic. These memories are the kind that are never forgotten and can bring joy forever.
I'm glad I could convince you to go! :)
That would be a great time to go although I would stress that you go in the first few weeks while school is still in or you will have major crowds. The first couple of weeks of December are some of the best as far as crowds go but the last couple of weeks, especially around Christmas and New years, are some of the worst.
Plus you get the Christmas spirit when you are there in the first of December.
Also, I'm not sure if you know but they are expanding Fantasyland adding some really cool looking new things and they should be done with the expansion by then.
I would love to hang out and talk Disney!
I am so glad that you were able to go and have such a great time! I love what you shared about Maddy's experience. I know many people who have said that they only want to go to Disney when their kids when they'll remember it. I guess I am selfish, because I have loved watching my little ones there and having those memories!
You guys really made this most of this trip. I wish I had been as thorough as you guys when we went in 2008. I'll have to come back to this site and hit you up for more pointers if we go when Violet is older.
Julie-
To avoid the crowds, just break your foot and get a wheelchair for the week. That way you get on most of the rides right away. Just kidding, but I was amazed at how our Disney experience was that much better because of my disability...haha!
It was an awesome trip and we are so glad we got to share it with you all! I loved reading the final comments. I would recommend a trip like that to anyone who wants to have a fun time and "dream" alot and loves magical things and Disney things! And thanks for all the planning and arrangements you made for all of us! You really did your homework and the result was a magical and wonderful time for all of us!
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