Disney World 2013 - Day 2

We spent the second day at Hollywood Studios, even though it was really our first day in an actual park.  Oh, the girls were so excited.  Caroline for the chance to meet all of her favorite characters, Anna for the chance to ride in a bus.  Bless her heart, she will love more exciting things as she gets older.  

We had a quick breakfast at the hotel - I brought a ton of food and we only ate about 1/3 of it our entire trip.  But, my girls love snack-y foods and that's precisely what we ate this morning.  

Like I said earlier, I was so nervous about the weather forecast for that week.  Wally and I got some ponchos for us and Caroline before we left Myrtle Beach and we needed them this day.  It was drizzling hard enough that we needed some cover, but not hard enough that it was worth all the commotion.  It was HOT under those ponchos!  Ick!

Thankfully, it didn't rain for long or very hard, but we did have the ponchos to use as a cover when we parked the stroller.  Made it easy to identify our stroller in a sea of parked ones!

Of course, the first thing Anna did in this stroller was put that nasty strap in her mouth.

Also, how *awesome* are these strollers!  They were perfect!!! Definitely worth the rental price.

Caroline says "This hat goes all the way up to Jesus!"

A wise person told us (ahem, THANK YOU ASHLEY!) to go get our Fast Pass tickets for Toy Story Mania as soon as we got into the park.  We walked into the park at 10 am and went straight to the back to hold our spot for this ride.  Our allotted time was from 4:45-5:45 pm - which meant from the time the park opened until 10 am, they had handed out a DAYS worth of Fast Passes.  What in the world?  

Good thing we had the rest of the day to play around, though!  Our first stop was the Voyage of the Little Mermaid.  Caroline is all into Ariel these days and this show didn't disappoint.  Anna, on the other hand, was terrified of all the messing around.  

Our next stop was lunch.  We had an early lunch reservation at Hollywood & Vine - an excellent buffet that I think was our favorite meal our entire trip.  Anna ate her weight in buffet food - she's our good eater.  Caroline was content eating shredded cheese & ranch and "white noodles" (noodles and butter).

 

 This is pretty much as excited as Anna got when she was around the characters.  She was terrified of each and every single one of them. 

 

After lunch, Caroline and I waited in line to see the Disney Junior - Live on Stage show.  Oh, man was it cute.  Wally and Anna actually waited in line with us, too - but she was getting so restless, Wally took her to a shaded area to take a nap while we watched the show.  Anna is quite obsessed with Doc McStuffins right now - and once I saw that she was in the show, I just knew we had to come back and watch it a second time.  

Now you see me, now you don't!  If she doesn't start to eat any better, she will disappear behind that tree!

AAAAHHHH...sisterly love.

Don't those eyes just say "I'm up to no good!"

This show was EXCELLENT! By far, one of my favorite things we did.  It was set up like a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode - all the way down to Toodles, the Mouseke-doer, everything.  There was Mickey and all of his friends, Sophia & her family, Doc McStuffins and Jake with his crew.  Gold "doubloons" fell from the sky, the kids made it snow, everything!  It was a very interactive show and Caroline loved it.  When we went back the second time for Anna to watch it, she was so tickled to see Doc McStuffins, she couldn't hardly contain herself!

This is how we spent most of the time waiting for stuff - the girls playing with my hair.  Hey - it keeps them occupied!

Hollywood Studios was probably the best park we could have chosen as our first day in a park.  It wasn't so overwhelming that we were going going going for 8-10 hours and this park as a lot of shows and 3D rides that are a little more low-key.  We rode things like The Great Movie Ride, Muppet Vision 3D and the Little Mermaid which broke the day up a little and made things a little easier on us.

Let me just tell you...  Do you know how many characters we were walking up to to stand in line for autographs JUST as the little attendant was roping it off after the last guest?  UGH!  Over the course of our trip, I bet that happened 8 times.  Seriously.  I was beginning to wonder if we had a sign over our head that said "CLOSE UP SHOP! THEY'RE COMING!"  I mean, my kids aren't that bad!  To make a long story short, this is as close to Sophia that we got.  And what a disappointment, because she's one of Caroline's favorite.

 Are they or aren't they?  :-)

Oh, Anna - she's the queen of meltdowns.  I can count on one hand how many meltdowns Caroline has had in her 4 1/2 years of life.  Anna, had as many just in Hollywood Studios.  

The infamous Toy Story Mania ride.  It was awesome!!!  Caroline and I rode in one car - and I SMOKED her!  Hee hee.  Not only that, I thought I did REALLY well - until I saw Wally's score which was about 4 times what my score was.  What?

Oh, Caroline - she's the queen of falling asleep at the most inopportune times.  After riding the Toy Story Mania ride, we were ready for dinner and was trying to get over to Pizza Planet to eat & play in the arcade.  Then this happened.

She missed out on pizza AND the games.  Just as well, we were actually very tired and ready to get back to the hotel.

Family shot before we left.  Caroline was STILL asleep.

(I'm getting my days confused already - this might have been the day that Caroline and I went to the resort pool, but it was frigid and I did NOT get in.)

Disney World 2013 - Day 1

Back at the end of September, we packed our bags and headed down to the Happiest Place on Earth.  And boy were we sure happy!  What started as a spur-of-the-moment decision to plan a trip to Disney World way back in March finally came to fruition the last week in September.

I must give the biggest of biggest shout out to my A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. sister-in-law that helped me planned this trip. She knew all the right questions to ask and I didn't have to lift a finger.  Literally.  It was all taken care of and she spoiled me.  By the way, Disney World 2014 planning has already begun.  (CRAZY, RIGHT?)

We packed up the car late that Monday night and hit the road.  Our goal was to be on the road at midnight. Departure time was actually 12:20 am and I call that a success.  Or insane.  Both, perhaps?  Both girls woke for just a few minutes but I think they were back asleep before we got onto 501.

This was how Caroline was sleeping when we were ready to go.  She sleeps in the funniest positions.

The drive itself wasn't horrible, although not enjoyable either.  Caroline woke up at about 3 am and was content to watch movies at that ungodly hour.  But, then at about 4 am, she started to tell us she needed to throw up.  Greeeeeeat.  We pulled over 3 times - not once did she throw up or even attempt to throw up.  I know she was bored and probably sensed this was going to be a long trip.  

We pulled into a Denny's in Brunswick to eat breakfast at 5 am.  We were the only customers in there and they were kind enough to turn the other cheek when we just let both girls run circles around the dining room.  Literally.  (And, by the way, when we sat down Caroline let out the biggest burp I have EVER heard and, miraculously, her tummy quit hurting.)

Wally and I switched places and I drove from Brunswick to Orlando in the POURING DOWN RAIN.  I should have mentioned that I was a Nervous Nelly about the weather because the forecast was calling for heavy rains the entire week.  Of course it would rain on our parade.  Literally.  

We pulled off the exit at about 9:45 am and made our way to our resort - the Caribbean Beach Resort and by the grace of God, our hotel room was ready to be checked into.  Praise the LORD!  We ran in and unpacked, fixed our hair, did our make up (ok, that was only me), changed out of our pajamas and headed to Downtown Disney.

What a dreary day.

We walked around a bit while we were waiting for our lunch date.  My best friend, Dianne, from high school lives in Orlando while she goes to grad school and she so graciously came to Downtown Disney to meet up with us for lunch.  We ate at Raglan Road - an Irish pub that did not disappoint.

Thank you, Meredith, for the awesome shirts!

I mean, we haven't changed a bit since 1995, right?

Our next stop was to Bibbiti Boppiti Boutique for Caroline to get transformed into a princess!  I had not told her about this special stop, nor did she know I packed her Aurora gown.  Boy, was she surprised! She loves all things glitter and girlie.  This picture below sums it all up.  She does not like for someone to mess with her hair.  She's so dramatic!   Wally and Anna walked around outside for a bit while Anna took her standard 30 minute nap.  

 Caroline, the supervisor, making sure everything is done to her standards.  :-)

Caroline and her Fairy Godmother

Caroline wrote her own name in the guest book

Caroline and her doppelganger, Aurora.

After Caroline's pampering session, we drove back to the resort so that Wally could rest - he had been up for the most hours out of all of us.  Caroline, Anna & I walked around the resort some, rocked in some hammocks, checked out the pool, tried to catch some lizards.

Once it was time to go, we hopped on the bus to the Magic Kingdom so we could hop on the boat to The Grand Floridian so we could eat at 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella, Prince Charming and crew!

Riding the bus into Magic Kingdom.  Also known as: the beginning of Anna's bus obsession.  "RIDE BUS! RIDE BUS! ANNA RIDE BUS!"

The Grand Floridian was exquisite.  Actually, that might be an understatement.  After we got back to the hotel that night, I realized why - it's the most expensive Disney World Resort.  Eep!  Anyways, it was like the Clampetts made it to Beverly Hills.  We didn't feel quite so out of place once we got to the restaurant.  But, boy did we stick out like a sore thumb in the lobby.  Wally says that we can stay there next time.  Sure, but we won't be able to afford park tickets or a ride home!

Silly shenanigans waiting for the boat

This is the face of someone who knows she's about to meet Cinderella!

Our first Photo Pass family picture.  Not to bad, if I say so myself.

I expected that there would be some hesitation from Caroline (and LOTS of hesitation from Anna) about going up to the characters to take a picture.  But, I was wrong!  Caroline was a pro!  Of course, this is my daughter that BEGS me to take pictures of her.  Sooooo....

Anna and her silly faces

 Fairy Godmother and the two ugly stepsisters, Anastasia & Drizella

Bad mom alert: I forgot to get an autograph book at this point.  WHAAA!!!

After dinner (which was actually mediocre, at best) we waited and waited and waited to ride the monorail back to the Magic Kingdom so we could pick the bus back up to return to the resort.  It was pretty late at this point and I thought for sure one or both girls would fall asleep.  Nope.  Wide open.  

Thought this was funny of Caroline after we took her hair down.  It had so much gel and hair spray in it!  

Who needs Disney World when you have a tub with no water and shampoo???

CRASH AND BURN

The girls slept real well that night - they were up for a long time and had a super busy day.  But, they needed the rest for the next day at Hollywood Studios!

Happy 4th of July!

What a fun, busy day we had!  Our friends, The Martin's, invited us to go to the beach with them and their friends - the Collins - and I said SURE!  Why not?  Twice in one summer....can you believe it?  Caroline and I headed up to Garden City and met everybody up there.  5 adults & 6 kids...it was crazy!  Anna stayed at home with her Daddy.  Apparently she screamed for quite some time after I left, took a short little nap, then woke up and went back to the front door and started screaming again.  Baby girl wanted to go!  Daddy made up for it, though.  He took her to the pool while we were gone!

I learned a couple of things out at the beach...

1.  Must re-apply sunscreen more often

2.  Must do a better job of initial sunscreen application

3.  Caroline loves to use a boogie board!  

Everybody else brought boogie boards...I never have even thought about getting one for Caroline.  Well, while some weren't being used, Caroline asked if she could try it and she did....and she was a pro! I couldn't believe it!  

Caroline had such a great time playing in the water with all the other girls.  While most of the other boys were happy digging and looking for crabs.  Difference between boys & girls, I suppose!  Oh, and we did also come home with a nice collection of shells.  Now what do I do with them?

Me & my love...what a fun little girl she's becoming.  Well, she's always been fun - but now she's getting REALLY fun.  And funny!

That's model quality right there!  Maybe she'll make us rich one day? 

Checking out the scenery

And that, ladies & gentlemen, are how we do meltdowns.  She, of course, didn't want to leave - but we had to get ready for TWO cookouts!  And mid-meltdown, she fell asleep with her sunglasses on and tears stuck on her cheek.  Bless her heart.

We had a hard time taking pictures of the girls together this year.  Like every year.

Anyways, when we got home, we started our mini-cookout with Wally's family.  Burgers & dogs with Aunt T, Uncle Brodie, Granny & Papa. Then Caroline, Anna and I headed over to Katherine's house for  another cook-out.  Wally was on call and couldn't join us.  But, we still had a good time!

Anna actually kept this hairbow in for quite some time.  I couldn't believe it!  I thought she looked so cute.

Just a-swingin'.  David giving her a little push. 

Driving the little car at the top of the playhouse.  Anna loves going up and down the slide.  But, her favorite part was when she got turned around and went down the slide on her belly!  She LOVED it!

What doesn't scream HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY like some dress-up princesses riding on a horsey?   

 Ending the night by playing with sparklers!

My goodness, I can't believe how much my girls have grown.  Caroline's going to be going off to high school before I know it.