Day 1 Memories - Magic Kingdom

On our first day we put on our homemade Mickey shirts and headed for the happiest place on earth.

We experienced fun and fear every day.  While in line for Pirates of the Caribbean Caden kept telling himself the pirates weren't real.  As soon as that ride started he huddled into Clark so close he could barely breathe.  As soon as the ride was over he announced, "that wasn't scary at all," hmmmm, we weren't so convinced.  Ethan was excited to ride Space Mountain.  No one remembered to tell him the ride was in the dark.  He came out looking pretty scared but agreed to do it with me again.  They take a picture at some point during the roller coaster, and I will never forget Ethan's face.  I don't have the picture, but his eyes were huge and he looked terrified, it was a classic.  

That afternoon Ethan and Caden were taken by a cast member to join the Country Bears hoedown in the street of Adventureland.  It was pretty cute watching Caden try really hard not to smile as they paraded around.

Both boys favorite ride was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  Caden is exactly 40 inches tall so we were worried he might not measure tall enough for the 40" rides, so we took along his cowboy boots just in case.  Riding roller coasters with Caden is about the funnest thing in the world.  He has no fear and he giggles the whole time.  He likes to hold his arms up for the duration of the ride.  Since he is so little his bum hardly ever touched the seat, but he loved flailing around.

That first night we watched the Wishes firework show.  Before leaving on our trip the boys watched the Disney planning video several times that shows how Tinkerbell flies off of the castle to get the show going.  Caden made the comment that he couldn't wait to go to Disney World and see flowers coming out of Tinkerbell's bum.  Well, that wish came true.  Without knowing it we stood right under the zipline where Tinkerbell comes flying.  Caden sat on Clark's shoulders for the show, he kept sinking in lower and lower until we realized he was pretty much asleep up there with his eyes barely opened.  I loved holding Quinn during the show, when the fireworks were loud he'd nuzzle his little head into my neck and it was my magic moment.

Somehow we lost Quinn's shoe pretty early the first day.  I patted myself on the back for remembering to throw a spare pair of Crocs in my bag.  Later that evening he had a major blowout, and I didn't get a pat on the back for forgetting spare pants.  He ran around pants-less the rest of the night.

Ethan had a big dream to meet the Incredibles.  We did just that at a dance party that first night, but both boys were pretty leery of Mr. Incredible.  In fact, the first couple of days they were a little nervous around most of the characters.

Ethan felt like he was pretty big stuff getting to room with Grandma Karen for the week.  He was feeling pretty mature and special, but then when it came right down to it he was nervous enough to ask Grandma to share a bed with him.

Day 1 was successful enough the boys forgot how ticked they were when we left our hotel that morning that they didn't get a dip in the pool.  It was a good day, but little did we know the fun ahead!  

Day 2 Memories - Magic Kingdom

On Day 2 more dreams came true when the boys finally got to ride Dumbo!

The highlight of the day for sure was doing Enchanted Tales with Belle.  So the boys had been studying Disney park maps for weeks and knew a lot about most of the attractions.  A few weeks before we left I told them about this interactive attraction where they could be part of a play.  Caden decided right then and there that he was going to be the beast and dance with Belle.  Every time the theme song came on while we were at home he wanted to dance with me to practice.
The experience starts out in Belle's childhood kitchen, then moves to her father's invention room where a magic mirror somehow turns into big doors (really cool) and you enter the Beast's castle and are greeted by the wardrobe.  In the wardrobe room a cast members assigns parts for the little play with Belle.  I didn't think he'd really have much of a chance, being so little, to be the beast...but when the lady asked who could roar like a beast he gave a giant roar and was selected for the part.  I was 90% ecstatic that he was chosen since he'd been talking about it so long, and 10% nervous for him.  Caden doesn't like attention and tends to shut down when he realizes there are many eyes on him.  But oh my, he was a perfect little beast.  So shy and cute.  Trying hard to do everything right, trying not to smile too big...and his Beast dancing skills were superb!
For the rest of the day he was on cloud 9 and referred to himself as "Beast."  He still does actually.  It was just so fun seeing a little wish come true.  Ethan had decided beforehand that he wanted to be Chip, but was actually selected to be Felipe (the horse).  He tried to act alright about missing out on being a broken tea cup.

Here is the video from the little play:

A Beast smile!

Both boys loved driving these cars!  Clark and I both ended up with a little whiplash.

 We took a break in the afternoon back at the hotel pool and then came back that night for more.  The park was pretty empty and I really enjoyed the night time ambiance of the place.

All I wanted from the trip was one good family picture...

 Clearly I am the queen of this castle!  Disney should consider using our family on their brochures or something.

Day 3 Memories - Hollywood Studios

The longest line we stood in all week was for Toy Story Mania...but it was so good, we braved the line twice.

As we waited to go into the Animation Academy Quinn fell fast asleep in my arms and Ethan found a place to rest on the floor.  We all watched as his eyes grew heavier and heavier until he fell asleep too.

 Karen volunteered to take the boys to the animation class so Clark and I could use our Fastpass on Rock n' Roller coaster...it was so fun...a little Disney date.

 During the major downpour we tried Tower of Terror.

Karen, Clark, Ethan and Caden went first.  When I met them at the end only Clark and Ethan wanted to try it again.  I loved it, and I will admit to pinching Ethan's leg a little tight on that first drop.

While I took the boys on the Toy Story ride one more time, Clark, Karen and Quinn found us the PERFECT spots to watch the big Fantasmic show.  Right before show time it started to rain.  We bundled up in our ponchos that were about equivalent to a cheap sandwich baggie and waited out the show.  They first announced it was postponed, and then announced it was canceled, but left us with a taste of the fountains and fireworks just so we would know how good the show was that we were missing.  That really was the biggest bummer of the trip.  But we did have some soggy hot dogs while we were waiting.

Day 4 Memories - Animal Kingdom

I didn't know what to expect from Animal Kingdom, I was kind of picturing a zoo with rides, but it is fabulous.  The themes of the park are so well done, it really was pretty.  The day started rainy so the crowds were really low.  Clark was able to spend the morning with us before going to his conference.

The boys loved the Kali River rapids, because it was rainy and chilly there were no lines, so they got to go 3 times in a row without getting off their boat.  Wet hair, don't care!

Ethan had been looking forward to the Expedition Everest ride for weeks!  We finally got to try it, he went twice and then that was enough.  Later that night I tried to convince him to go with me again and he said, "no way."  I tried to remind him that he was smiling so big when we finished last time we rode it...he informed me, "I was smiling at the end because it was over."  He wasn't so sure if that yeti was real or not.

Animal Kingdom is an animal reserve, so we were able to take a "safari" to view African animals.  The animals were really active and close to our Jeep.  It was a pretty awesome way to do a zoo.

As we drove Clark to his conference Quinn fell asleep so we decided to go to McDonalds for lunch.  Karen volunteered to eat her lunch in the car so Quinn could keep sleeping while I took the boys inside to eat.  So I went through the drive-through for Karen's lunch.  I ordered, I paid and then I quickly went and found a parking spot so I could take the boys inside.  As I was getting out of the car it donned on me that I had never picked up Karen's food.  OH.MY.GOSH.  I had to go back through the drive-through, everyone seemed to think it was pretty funny.  I decided I was a little sleep deprived.

The Finding Nemo musical puppet show was definitely a highlight when we went back that evening!  Amazing!  Even Quinn danced along to the music on my lap.

Day 5 Memories - Magic Kingdom

Our final day found us back at the Magic Kingdom.  While Clark went to his conference in the morning we ventured to the park.  It was so crowded and so warm.  We were glad to have a break to pick up Clark. After eating a good dinner we headed back to shut the place down.  It was open until 1 AM.  I really didn't think we would last that long, but we did!
The boys just couldn't get enough!  It was my favorite night of the whole trip!  The crowds were gone and we were able to go on any ride without waiting.  The boys somehow had boundless energy from somewhere and were literally running circles around us.  We did Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 5 times in a row.

The lines to meet characters were short too, so we got in on that action.  Quinn was less than impressed.

Donald made Karen come join him for a picture!

Poor Caden didn't even know he mooned Minnie!  He is a "crack" up!

I noticed the line for the princesses was really short, so I begged the boys for just one little visit to a princess. Caden loudly protested, but came with me anyway.  Right before we met Cinderella he said, "my whole wish came true because I made your wish come true to meet a princess."  It was really sweet.

As we started walking down Main Street USA to leave the park for the last time both Ethan and Caden didn't want to leave.  Right before the exit I told them I had one more surprise.  Right then the "kiss goodnight" music started to play...we took them into the town theater...there were no lines, and they had no idea what to expect.  The cast members were excited to usher us in, down a hall and around a corner, as we entered the room Caden yelled, "Mickey!"  They finally got to meet the big mouse himself their last few minutes at Disney World.  This magic Mickey even talked, so that was a pretty fun way to end the trip.  Even magical if I do say so myself.

Clark got to the car ahead of us and placed two stuffed yetis he had bought for the boys on their seats.  They were so excited and surprised when they got in the car.  They are totally convinced Mickey left them there for them.

Our feet were tired (according to Karen's fitbit we walked at least 7 miles/day) and we knew it was time to go!  Here's hoping we'll get to see Mickey again real soon!