My boss at work sent me on a Disney Trip for a conference. The conference was not the important part of the trip. Family time was number 1. We decided it would be the boys birthday gifts. Where do I begin to tell the story of our trip. It was a 7 day vacation. Our first as a family of 4. The kids did great on the drive down. It took us 12 hours and we stopped three times - breakfast, lunch and a bathroom break).
The kids had so much to do in the car. We gave them new movies, new toys, and Aha even joined in by giving us happies to give them through out the drive.
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| We left at 5 am |
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| Stopped in Tallahassee for lunch |
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| Fun car decorations from Aha |
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| We made it! |
The first night we went to dinner in our hotel and Goofy and Pluto were there to greet us. It was fun to start out the birthday with characters. Andrew was all about them and Sam liked them from a far. But Sam did warm up to them for the rest of the trip.
We stayed at the Swan and Dolphin and they had Christmas events too. The one we were able to take part in is meeting Santa on vacation. He was a great Santa. We also played on hammock's and explored the hotel. It was a pretty place.
Our first morning we met up with my college friend Dara and her family for breakfast. That was such a treat!!
Then we headed to Animal Kingdom. Andrew rode his first and last roller coaster. He was scared and Owen ended up getting sick on the roller coaster, so we stayed away from them...but luckily there is SO MUCH more than roller coasters.
Both boys were such troopers. They didn't know what to expect on anything but went on everything and anything.
The next day we went to Magic Kingdom on Monday, Epcot on Tuesday and then Magic Kingdom that afternoon for the Very Merry Christmas Parade, Wednesday we went to Hollywood Studios, and then to an Orlando Magic Game. Thursday we did Magic Kingdom and Friday we went to Hollywood Studios. It was a good trip.
Our favorite restaurants were Hollywood and Vines and Chef Mickey's. That is where we saw most of the characters.
Some fun things we did that were special are the boys had a Jake the Pirate Make Over. That was too fun and then we went to the Very Merry Christmas Parade. It was the same floats that came on ABC's Disney parade on Christmas. In fact one of the singers was filming the day were at Magic Kingdom.
Sam loved riding the carousel. The night of the Very Merry Christmas Parade we ate at Pinocchio's Village and the boys had a birthday serenade.
One of the most fun things we did was not even at Disney. We went to an Orlando Magic game with Owen's friend Scott Polk. The boys had the best time. We were able to sit in a suite and there was plenty of food and fun for the boys. A definite highlight for all of us.
The week was too much fun. We loved spending quality time with our boys. We loved their "let's go" attitude.
Every ride drops you off into a gift store. We told the boys that on Friday (our last day) we would go to downtown Disney - this is where a huge toy store is. They looked every day for their toy. It was fun to see them change their mind. Andrew stayed true to his wish list which was a the "real "buzz light year and a pluto dog. Sam changed his mind a lot. But in the end wanted the Star Wars characters and got a Simba stuff animal.
The ride home was good too. We were just ready to get back. The boys were great in the car on the way home too.
Over all it was such a fun week and a great way to celebrate their birthdays. We now have a 5 and 3 year old.
Our last night at Disney - Playing with their new toys :)
