Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!

Monday, January 28, 2019

On our last day at Disney, we arrived at the Magic Kingdom in time for the rope drop…the grand opening of the park!  Similar to everything else put on at the park, the opening is quite a production...Mickey and Minnie welcomed everyone, many characters came out to say hi, and then the Fairy Godmother said "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo" and with a touch of her wand and fireworks, the park was declared open!

Arriving early allowed us to get to some of the "high demand" rides right away to avoid the lines.   We zapped through Buzz Lightyear’s adventure and then Kurtis and Jennifer were able to ride Space Mountain...only a 10 minute wait, when later in the day it was 120 minute wait...the fairy godmother was looking out for us!

 

At Enchanted Tales with Belle, Taylor participated in the story and gave the best "growl" of all!  She even got to dance with Belle! Tom was a part of the story too...a guard, who got to march around and escort Belle out the door.

We managed to meet Tinkerbell in her magical garden.  This seemed to be Cora's favorite character so far (just her size--a pixie!)  I noticed that Ben and Taylor are holding hands in the picture. Such a sweet display of cousin-love!

The fairy godmother was also taking good care of Heather on her birthday!  She got a pin that said "It's my birthday", and Tom got one that said "It's the Queen's Birthday" and Tay got one that said "It's Mommy's birthday"-- what a treat to celebrate together in such a happy place!

We had lunch at the “Be my Guest” restaurant in the Beast’s castle, and Tom sampled some of the grey stuff . (yummy).  We're going to have sugar withdrawals when this trip is over.


We wrapped up the evening at a campfire in the campground, complete with smores. (more sugar!) 

And Jennifer gave us an awesome memento of our stay at Ft. Wilderness...a Christmas ornament that will help preserve the memories of the trip.

We went down to the  campground "beach" (another Disney marvel...man-made waterways and a beach) to watch the fireworks.  The fairy godmother waved her wand and created a grand finale that put this magical trip of a lifetime into our memories!

A Very Special Sunday

Sunday, January 27, 2019

The rain poured down all day, but it was special because it couldn’t have been timed better--it was our “off” day--no visit to the parks, so we had a chance to sleep in and slow down a bit after a hectic few days.  We got together for lunch and Bloody Mary's, and the kids got a little silly making felt monster faces.  A few of the pieces got placed on different faces!

It was also special because Spot got to meet his grandpuppies Jack and Daisy for the first time.  They were very curious about him, but he wasn't very interested in them.  Even though he can't hear very well, he told me they made way too much noise and had too much energy for him to keep up with!  Jack and Daisy are Morkies, and the cutest things you've ever seen!

We visited Disney Springs and made a fun stop at Legoland...it was definitely Lego overload!  Of course everyone came home with a package of goodies.

Another special part of Sunday was celebrating Heather’s birthday (which is really tomorrow).  Taylor took her to a princess tea this morning.  And then Jim cooked dinner tonight, followed by an ice cream birthday cake.   She’s only 29 (again!)







But the really special part of today is Mom’s 96th birthday!   What a special lady who has provided so much guidance and inspiration over the years.   I missed the big party in Terre Haute, but at least we were able to face- time and send our good wishes to her.  Happy Birthday Mom!

Around the World

Saturday, January 26, 2019

We spent the entire day at Epcot and our feet felt it, after travelling around the world in this amazing park.  I was surprised to learn that Epcot is twice the size of Magic Kingdom…300 acres!  There are two sections of the park—Future World and World Showcase, and we covered everything!

“Living with the the Land” was a slow and relaxing boat ride through the park’s ginormous greenhouse and gardens.  It explained the experimental growing techniques being used, and it is very impressive that an amusement park would incorporate this kind of research and ecologically friendly process in their operation.  It was especially fun eating salad at dinner that was grown in the greenhouse!

Dishes arranged "Disney" style

It’s also fun to sit back see all of the different sizes and shapes of people, hear different languages, and see different Mickey things that people wear…mickey shirts and jackets, mickey ears and headbands, mickey shoes, purses, earrings, and I even saw a mickey camera!  Sometimes it’s quite funny to see the Goofy hats on goofy guys.  Even the plate presentation at dinner had a Mickey theme!

In the world showcase, we found Elsa and Anna at the Frozen ride in Norway.  Taylor was mesmerized by her favorite princess!

 

We stopped in Germany to sample german beers (several).

 And Tom & Jennifer sampled the wines in France.

We saw this artist creating an amazing chalk picture on the sidewalk!

And we toured the living seas--an impressive ride and aquarium experience. I can only imagine those creating these exhibits and bringing things to life to educate and entertain us.

We had dinner at a revolving restaurant on the grounds, with characters galore.  I finally learned (after 40 years) how to tell Chip and Dale apart (Chip has a chocolate chip nose and Dale has a round red nose!)

Cora loved Mickey, but screamed when Pluto tried to give her a kiss, and Pluto made a scene and fell on the ground crying!  It was pretty funny.


We wrapped up the trip around the world with a lot of tired eyes and full tummies, but smiling at a wonderful Epcot experience!

A Magical Day!

Friday, January 25, 2019
Everything is Magic at Disney World! 

Our magic morning began with a short boat ride across the water right to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom.  It's been over 25 years since Jim and I have been to Disneyworld, and it was fun to see that things are still as magical as ever!  (Things haven't aged a bit and neither have we..ha ha!)

We went into the castle for Cinderella's Royal Table Princess breakfast.

Taylor and Cora dressed up like Arial.  Our server called Benjamin  a “royal guard” and gave him a sword that he carried around the rest of the day and night.   It was quite a feast, and we got to see and talk to several princesses, while the magic twinkled in the eyes of the kids. 

The princesses are so patient, spending time with each of the kids, talking and posing for pictures.  We saw Cinderella, Snow White, Jasmine, Aurora and Arial.

and the breakfast was delicious! (especially the Mickey waffles with syrup—just ask Cora!)

We each have a Magic Band which is a watch-like band that contains an RF device that allows entry into the park, fast pass entry, connection to photos, it’s the door key for the cabins, and you can buy anything just with a tap of the magic band.  Very cool (and very dangerous--automatic purchases with a tap of the wrist…wonder if it will work at Talbots or Last Chance?)  It’s amazing how technology is incorporated into making the experience at Disney a magical one!

The kids loved the characters as much as the rides.  We were able to meet both Goofy and Donald Duck.

After a few rides, we returned to Fort Wilderness in the early afternoon for snacks and naps.

The campground is a very peaceful setting, and the cypress trees create a magical feel.  Our campsite is nestled among the trees, and you’d never know the place is as big as it is.  We saw deer again this evening just behind the motorhome, but my camera wasn’t ready—darn!

After naps we headed back to the Magic Kingdom for more rides, dinner at The Plaza, and the fantastic “Happily Ever After” fireworks show.

It was just not fireworks—it included music, lasers, lights, images projected onto the castle, and even featured Tinkerbell flying through the air from the castle over the crowd.

It was a spectacular display, and a perfect finale to our magical day!

The Magic Begins!

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Finally we made it to Disneyworld!   We planned an extra day to get here because of weather concerns, but it couldn’t have been more beautiful when we arrived—sunny and warm.  Yes, shorts weather once again—woo hoo!

We are staying at Fort Wilderness, a HUGE complex (750 acres) with 799 rv and camping spots, as well as cabins.  We have a motorhome spot in section 300, while the kids are in cabins next door to each other in loop 2200.

This place is so big, I’ve been lost a few times trying to find my way around.  There are playgrounds and pools, dog parks and campfires.  We've seen turkey and deer, lots of birds and horses too.  Ben keeps looking for the alligators and snakes.

Jennifer and Kurtis arrived with Cora late afternoon.  After dinner they were able to take in the Sing-a-Long at the Campfire with Chip and Dale.
 
Tom and Heather and Taylor arrived late in the evening, after a 12 hour drive from North Carolina, and they were happy just to get a cold beer! 

What a thrill it is to have all of the cousins together again.  In spite of the miles that separate them, it’s as if they were never apart.

We are ready for a big day tomorrow, but everyone is so excited it will be hard to get to sleep tonight!

Mountains and Oranges!

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Our trip today began with a bit of rain, along the mountain roads.  There were huge icicles dripping off the mountain rocks, which created a beautiful backdrop to the ups and downs and curvy roads.  There was plenty of traffic, but no major backups, so the trip was relatively smooth.  The rain stopped and the clouds lifted as we entered Georgia and waved at Benjamin’s cousin Max!
We reached our campground at Tifton Georgia late in the afternoon.  The temperature was 72 degrees so everyone put on shorts and enjoyed some time outside!  Benjamin found an orange tree by the playground and picked an orange right off the tree!
He drew a great picture of Gramps driving the motorhome, with himself in his carseat on the couch. (not bad for a 4yr old!)

The Lundcruiser

The big day is tomorrow when we finally reach Disney and meet up with the rest of the gang…can’t wait!

Disney Here we Come!

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

The day has finally come for our departure to Disneyworld!  We’ve talked the past few years about getting the whole family to Disney.  Last spring we decided that if we are going to do it, that this is the year!  So, here we are, on the road to Disneyworld!

Leaving in the middle of winter brings a lot of challenges, like a winter storm, frigid temperatures, etc. etc.  With some luck, Jim was able to get the motorhome into the driveway and plugged in before the snow came.   He shoveled the drive, and most of it was cleared to be able to load without tracking a bunch of stuff inside.  

We are going to be gone for a month, so lots and lots of stuff got loaded. 

The night before we left, Jim’s brother John (the produce man) brought us a box of goodies…10 different kinds of apples, nuts and potatoes..yummy!  We're stocked with lots of good stuff.

The other exciting part of the trip is that Benjamin is traveling down to Florida with us, where we will meet up with the rest of the family on Thursday.  It’s a great opportunity for him to learn about travel, the states, a map, road signs, truck stops, campgrounds, and all kinds of stuff, including patience!  Jim put together “clues” and “lessons” in envelopes to keep him interested.  It’s been fun so far.  

We made it to Manchester, Tennessee today, (the snow is gone!) and we were all glad to stop for the night at the KOA campground. The roads and skies were clear along the route; we just experienced a little wind, so the first leg of this trip was good.   We cooked a meat loaf in the crock pot on the road, and had a great dinner.  It will be an early night to bed, and we’ll hit the road again tomorrow!  Ben was especially glad to have extra room to roam around with his friends!