Day 6–Disney World!

On Tuesday we let the girls sleep in, ate breakfast, checked out of our hotel and went across the street to Target.  I’d packed 12 outfits for the girls, reasoning that I rarely have to change them in the day at home so three extra outfits would be plenty. 

Later I realized that if Boo gets really dirty at home I usually just leave her in the outfit until bedtime anyway.  But on vacation I didn’t really like the idea of photographing her doing new things with a smear of food down the front of her shirt (even with bibs this kid manages to get messy).  I had looked through the suitcase and realized that she didn’t have enough outfits to make it to the end of the trip so we let her pick out four outfits…and yes she ended up wearing them all by the end of our trip! 

After Target we got in the car once more and made the two hour drive to Disney!

We got there around lunchtime and right away experienced some of the “Disney magic”.  We had two rooms, one for us and one for Noni and Aunt Karen who were soon to join us.  First I should explain that this “hotel” was more like ten hotels in one.  We were in the All Star Resorts.  There are three resorts within that.  All Star Sports, All Star Music, and All Star Movies (where we were), and each one has ten areas (as big as a normal hotel) in it. 

When we got there the had us in a room right next to the Lobby (which was so nice!) and Noni and Aunt Karen in one of the very back ones, which was several minutes away by car!  The sweet lady at the front desk worked some Disney magic and got us adjoining rooms right near the Lobby, which was also home to the gift shop (as big as a store) and food court (with four restaurants) and right in between two of the pools.

They also gave the girls balloons, autograph books and pens (which we later realized you could buy in the gift shop for almost $20) and a flower for me.  Everyone was SO nice.  They really do treat you like you are an honored guest.

We went and checked into our room, and everything was so cute.  Bug was so excited she did her air guitar.  Haha:)

We put our stuff down and headed back to the food court.  If you ever go to Disney World I would highly recommend the food plan.  It was AMAZING!  Food is definitely a huge part of the whole experience there.  For the “quick service” (meaning the food court type areas-no reservations) you got to have a meal with a drink and dessert.  I got chicken penne alfreado and it was a huge plate of noodles and chicken along with a breadstick and small salad.  The girls and I shared it and I was still full!  They chose Mickey Mouse shaped rice crispy treats for dessert!

On top of your drink, which could be a bottled soda, water, juice, milk, etc. you get refillable mugs with your stay.  Here’s K with her pink mug.  Then at all resorts’ food courts you can refill your mug for free.  It was an impressive deal!

Bug thought so too. :)

Noni and Aunt Karen were arriving at the Orlando airport within 45 min. of each other and since we didn’t have enough room in our rental car they took the shuttle over to the resort. 

We let the girls have a good long nap while we were waiting for them to arrive.

We were joking that our reinforcements were arriving.  We love our kiddos to death, but vacationing with kids is anything but relaxing!  It was soooo nice to have Noni and Aunt Karen arrive mid-trip to help out.

After a nice refreshing nap (for me too) and letting them settle in a bit, we headed out.

We were in the 101 Dalmatians section (again, think 10 hotels in one).

And right next to the Mighty Ducks section (each section has it’s own parking lot).

Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom were the two closest parks to our resort so we made reservations at a restaurant in Hollywood Studios for dinner.

Mom started taking pictures of our adventures right away. The tram – which the girls thought was a fun ride. :)

Our first park! Everything is so fun and larger-than-life!  That hat at the end of the street is huge in person.

Noni carrying Boo down the street. :)

One thing we were surprised at was how early everything closed. We were definitely not on Florida time when we got to Disney but we were by the time we left.  We had anticipated just letting the girls stay up “late” by FL time but stuff closed so early we had to move their little clocks.  I think it was only 7 when we got here but almost all of the shows were over for the day.

We walked around enjoying the sights.  When you come around one corner you are met with a full on replica of the New York streets!  It was really impressive with sound effects and everything!

And down another street was San Francisco.

We meandered over to find the restaurant where we had dinner reservations and there was a lake in front of it with a big dinosaur.  The girls wanted a picture with it and Aunt Karen but I don’t think you can see it very well.

We chose to eat at the 50’s Prime Time Café and when you walk in it was like walking into the 50’s.  The decorations, workers’ clothes and attitudes – everything.  It was really fun! 

They had old shows on the TV’s like “I Love Lucy” and “The Andy Griffith Show”. 

They acted like you’d just come down to the local diner and our hostess said, “Cousin Amanda will be over to take your order in just a minute, kids.”

Of course the menu was all in keeping with the theme as well.  T ordered Mom’s meatloaf.  There was fried chicken, pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, etc.  The two “rules” were keep your elbows off the table (I actually heard the waitress reprimand someone at the next table) and eat your vegetables. 

Cousin Amanda was heckling T about eating his, “You saving those veggies for last since they’re your favorite?” and after she said something two different times he finally gave his fresh green beans to Karen and mom.  When she came back the next time she said, “Oh good, you finally got your veggies down.”  So funny.

Bug just wanted a hotdog and it came on Mickey shaped plate which she loved.

Once again we were impressed with our dining plan. I had apple cobbler for dessert.  So good.  Boo thought so too.  What a fun place!

We didn’t get done eating till about 9 and that’s when the park closed so we headed back for bed.  It was so nice to have Aunt Karen and mom there to help get the girls ready for bed so we could have a little break. 

And it was so so nice to have adjoining rooms!  We put the girls down in our room and then hung out in mom and Karen’s room until we were all ready for bed.

After Hollywood Studios we realized that each park is huge and if you don’t have an idea of where you are going and what you are doing you will spend half your day wandering around looking for stuff, so we spent each evening planning a route and circling what we wanted to do on the park maps for the next day. 

I think you could literally spend a month at Disney and not see every show and display they had.  We were there four days and probably saw a mere fraction of what they have to offer! 

Next up: Epcot!