Wishes, Fairies and Magic Kingdom

After a fun time in Epcot and the cold closing in, we had no choice other than back to the hotel for more clothes.  Even in March the weather can be quite chilly at the Mouse's House.  Coats in hand, we met up with our crew and back to the Magic Kingdom we were bound.

Ali and Eli kisses

Uncle Travis and Eli watching WISHES!!

Experiencing Wishes was number one on our itinerary of things to do.  Since Duffy now had clothes, we could not leave him at the hotel.  Dressed in his Mickey Mouse club outfit he too was ready for some Wishes in the night time sky.  We were a little late in getting back to the park so all the great spots were taken, but we made the best of a not so good spot.  My pictures were okay but not great but Aunt Cassi to the rescue and we have this really fabulous shot to remember our time enjoying the fireworks.

Aunt Cassi took this!  Thank you!!! :)

Not having eaten since earlier in the day at 50's Prime Time Cafe we were all starving and everyone wanted something different. Realizing we were close to Pecos Bill's Cafe in FrontierLand we dipped in there and rustled us up some grub.  (ha that is funny) Fat and happy we waddled out and decided it was the perfect time to take a Magic Carpet ride all the way to Agrabah.  Here are a few smiles from that trip.

Uncle Travis, Eli & Aunt Cassi!

The Diva!

The Princess and her Prince!

We also enjoyed the night time jungle cruise.  If you have not had the opportunity to try this ride at night its a lot of fun and a good skipper makes it even better.  A short jaunt over we found ourselves shivering our timbers with good ol' Cap't Jack cruising around the Caribbean.

We are all characters!

With our love for Tinkerbelle we decided it was the perfect time to visit with her and her friends.  Kevin was not real sure about Terrance and Ali thought it was hilariously funny that Terrance wears an acorn on his head for a hat.  Eli, however was not real impressed he did not want them to touch him at all.

We *heart* you Tink!

We close with a photo in front of the castle.  As you can tell we were quite cold.

My Prince, My Diva, My Castle!

Next up breakfast at O'hana with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto...

Vacation...Part 2

Little Cloudy and a little cool but beautiful sight to behold

Day two dawned bright and early at Walt Disney World.  The Eastern Time zone always whacks out our internal clock the first day or so and day two was not an exception.  The Diva was completely excited about her first glimpse in a year of the Magic Kingdom.  We arrived early to see Mickey Mouse ride in on the train.  Eli loves Mickey Mouse and Choo Choo's so it was the perfect combination. I know I was beyond excited and I think the rest of the crew was as well.  Making our way through the crowd, we headed straight to FantasyLand.  I will tell you it was odd not seeing Dumbo the Flying Elephant as we walked through the castle.  We have never been the family who felt Dumbo was the very first thing you have to do; but knowing it was closed due to the move to Storybook Circus was a little saddening.  Peter Pan’s Flight is more our style. 

Ali and Eli EXCITED!

FantasyLand was a lot of fun. We saved Mickey’s Philharmagic and The Mad Tea Party for another day and made our way to Liberty Square.  Funnel cake was at the top of the list for this Royal family, with a small detour made to The Haunted Mansion.  I have to say I really like the improvements and we truly had a good time checking out the new graveyard.  (That is not something I thought I would ever say or write…)  After our dose of grim grinning ghost and picking up our very own hitchhiking ghost we were more than ready for that promised funnel cake.  Sleepy Hollow bound and it totally lived up to its delicious promise, bellies full and we were off again.  

Crossing over to FrontierLand we realize we are in the middle of an impromptu show and the elusive … well elusive to us because we have never seen him other than maybe in a parade… Brer Rabbit.  Now let me tell you this excited my Diva immensely.  Song of the South is one of her favorites (it’s no longer available in the US but you can see parts of it on you tube ) and she loves Brer Rabbit.  Unfortunately the show was ending and we were unable to meet him, she was disappointed but was happy none the less since she was able to see him.  Onward to the Choo Choo was our next destination, passing the Brer Rabbits Laughing Place we boarded the LilyBelle.  An old steam engine from the 1920’s named after Walt Disney’s wife Lily.  We made our way from FrontierLand with a stop in the boarded up FantasyLand for more water and departed at the Train Station at the entrance to Magic Kingdom. 

Me and the Diva on the Monorail.

Having a lunch at 50’s Prime Time Café at Disney’s Hollywood Studios we needed to make our way from the Magic Kingdom over there.  With Eli’s love of trains and Ali’s love of the monorail and the Polynesian we decided to take the Resort Monorail to the Polynesian and hop a bus from there to Hollywood Studios.

Now 50’s Prime Time Café is one of our favorite places to eat.  We usually eat there at least one time a trip. We truly love the décor and the atmosphere not to mention the food was fabulous as usual.  One of the things that I love that Disney does so well is deal with allergies.  Unfortunately for anyone dining with me that is always something that causes a wait.  But that is because Disney wants to make sure it is safe for me to eat what I want.  You would not believe the things that are unsafe for me to consume because of fish or shellfish and there is always the risk of cross contamination. So hats off to Disney for making things easy.  The food was great as always.  You can not beat that fried chicken.  Just typing about it makes me want more of it. 
Tummies full again we decided one more ride before we left the park for a nap.  

Ali loves this ride. 

At this point we decide we are on our way to room for a nap.  Or at least the was the plan.  Uncle Travis, Aunt Cassi and Eli go back to Pop and at the last minute we decide to go to Epcot by way of the Friendship Boats.  Disembarking at the Swan and Dolphin we cross over to the Boardwalk and do a little shopping.  Duffy needed clothes and we were able to find the cutest Mickey Mouse Club outfit for him at The Boardwalk. He had the sailor outfit and since they were three for $30 he needed the Woody and Pirate Costume as well.

Duffy Bear Wear! 

From there we went into Epcot and made a stop in our favorite country the UK!  We love all things British.  

UK... lane.

Coming soon the evening and WISHES!!!!

Vacation...

Vacation was absolutely lovely!  We had so much fun.  There is nothing better than seeing this sign after 5 hours driving!

Dreams really do come true or at least mine always have when I visit.

We stayed Pop Century and it's always a lot of fun. We love pop culture at our house so this perfect for us.  Sure we like other places too, but this year we let the Diva choose and Pop Century was her choice.    

What you see entering the resort.  

We stayed in the 80's decade on the 4th floor.  The Diva loved it because of Roger Rabbit and I loved it because there was not anyone above us.

Our room was next to Roger and his turpentine. :)

After a few delays with the keys not working and then our tickets not working properly we finally make it into Epcot, of course.  I swear my Diva always wants to go to Epcot 1st.

SpaceShip Earth:
Journey with us now to the dawn of recorded time as we
explore the amazing story of human communication.

Seeing as how we hit a few snags before we made it to the park; we were sprinkled with Pixie Dust and with the help of some fabulous fast passes we were able to go straight to Test Track.  Or at least that was the plan.  Just walking in the first thing you see is SpaceShip Earth, so here we go, back in time to visit the past.  Next the Diva notices there is not a wait to ride Mission Space Orange, we make a beeline for Mars.  After our astronaut training and making it to Mars safely we headed straight to Test Track.  The Diva is not very brave when it comes to trying new things and but since I was able to browbeat talk her into riding it last time, she loves it now.  

We left the house at 3am and by 5:30pm we were dragging.  Stopping off in Mexico for a Strawberry Margarita for me and a Lime Margarita for Kevin we were able to make it to the American Adventure.  All the Diva had talked about was a turkey leg which happens to be available right there in the American Adventure.  Bellies full and happy we decide if we are going to make it up and manage rope drop at Magic Kingdom we better make our exit to the hotel.  Besides by this point the Diva is dying to see her cousin Eli along with Aunt Cassi & Uncle Travis.  Here are a few pictures from our 1st day at the Most Magical Place on Earth. 

the Diva, Daisy Duck & Me

the Diva, Stitch & Me

The Diva unhappy about genies in
lamps for some & not for others.

the Diva with Duffy Bear ears!!!

So there is our first day, more to come!!!  xoxoxo