Disney World Day 4: Epcot

A 12 hour long and grueling day at Epcot. I know I say that everyday was hot, but this day seemed even hotter for some reason.  I didn't take hardly any pictures this day as I was too busy walking and sweating. In hindsight, I wish I would have bought the photo pass CD. All the pictures the photographers take. Next time, I will. In the end, it would have been worth it and they got a lot more that I didn't.

I'm glad we went to Epcot, but I would agree that it's more adult centered than child. I think we walked around the world three or four times--I had awful blisters when leaving today. No place along the world would sell me anything because they were afraid it contained gluten. I did find an Italian stand that did give me a glass of wine before the firework show. And we relaxed in the afternoon with some margaritas. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

First we got in the park early for reservations at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. This was our second princess breakfast. Next time I won't do two, but there were aspects I really liked about Cinderella's Royal Table, like the castle and the princesses there, but the food for me--gluten free, egg free and dairy free was better at Epcot. Everyone else had huge portions of food. We were wrapping up breakfast and I told Jeremy he needed to eat something. He laughed and said he did, but with me not eating and the girls being little girls, the plate hardly looked touched. The princesses make a conga line and parade around the restaurant here, and none of my girls were interested in that. So, for our second trip, not sure which one I'd pick to do again.


We road Soarin, because everyone said we should. We had to parent swap this ride and Audrey was tall enough so she went first with Jeremy. Afterward she wasn't sure she wanted to do it again, so I was having a hard time convincing her to go with me. So I brought out the "I'll buy you something if you'll go with me" card. It worked! Soarin was neat.  I don't like heights so as long as I didn't look down I was fine. She later picked out a stuffed Minnie Mouse and then told us that we should get Allie one too.

The girls weren't much into the characters at Epcot, so we next went to see Turtle Talk with Crush, Under the Seas with Nemo. Audrey and Allie both sat down front with the rest of the kids. Again, a neat show. We spent some time walking around that building, looking at fish and nearly losing Allie.

We rode Living with the Land. Not for us.

We rode Spaceship Earth. Jeremy's idea.

For lunch we went to Germany and ate at the Biergarten. This was Jeremy's pick of restaurant and fitting since we host an Oktoberfest party every year. The music show was entertaining, Audrey went out on the dance floor with the little girl sitting next to us. In Germany I guess they all sit together at long tables, so they sat us with another family. Jeremy said the beer was good. But the gluten free selection, although large, was just not my cup o tea. I just don't think I like German food. I can still smell the sauerkraut that hit you like a tidal wave when you went to the bathroom. The bathroom was very close to the kitchen.

We relaxed in the afternoon at LaCantina. We at this point were getting close to running out of sit down meals because we chose to eat at nicer places and we had a ton of quick service meals left. I was upset to have to call  and cancel some of the best places we had booked for Saturday and Sunday but Jeremy didn't want to pay out of pocket, when we could eat for free. So we sat for awhile while the girls had a snack and planned the rest of our trip.

As Jeremy and I were walking around the world the girls all fell asleep and there was no line to meet Sleeping Beauty, so we did.

For supper we ate at LeCellier during a torrential downpour. It had been a long day, Jeremy was still full from lunch so he ate light. The food was excellent. Perhaps we'll try going back when the kids can appreciate it more. This was my top choice of where I wanted to eat. I'd read excellent things about the gluten free menu and wanted to try it, and will again, if they ever let us back. We spilled milk, red wine,  and our kids were a tiny bit loud. A tip: It's $50 to cancel your reservation here.

We did not stay for the firework show at Epcot. We started it but couldn't see very well and it was all down low on a lake and we just decided to hop the monorail home. It was a bad day for me to wear flip flops. I wasn't sure how to was going to walk the next day--but that mole skin stuff really does work. I went through at least one whole box of that.

Belle was the princess that they photographed you with, we also met Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel and Cinderella

Outside the Nemo exhibit

after breakfast in Norway

inside the Beirgarten, Germany

rockin the hat

the german band

chillin while everyone gets a snack and drink

showing off her Minnie Mouse and how old she will be

Sarah

Disney World Day 3: Back to Magic Kingdom

This morning Allie awoke before Audrey. Jeremy said, "Allie, can you wake up Audrey?" and she told Jeremy, "Yes. I will wake her by yelling." She then proceeds to yell. "Ahhhhhhhh!" She looks at Jeremy and says, "Daddy, Audrey did not wake up when I yelled. You yell." 

Today's highlights:

Breakfast: Chef Mickey's. 

First thing: Town Square to meet Rapunzel, Belle and Cinderella. Sidenote: When we walked in I could not believe the ropes they had set up and how far back the line stretches in busy time periods. I thought, I'm not sure I'd wait over two hours to meet a princess, but yes, I will wait 20 minutes. Plus it was always nice and air conditioned in these buildings. Audrey was so pumped to finally meet Rapunzel.

We spent a good amount of time this morning in Adventureland meeting Jasmine and the Fairies (Tinkerbell, yea!) Got ice cream at Aloha Isle and went back to Fantasyland to ride a few favorites like Dumbo with Allie and the tea cups.

We walked to Frontierland today but didn't do anything there. We split up this day momentarily. Jeremy took the girls on the Jungle Cruise while I stayed with Ava.


Mickey's Philharmagic

We needed a break mid day and headed back to our hotel so I could grab some lunch and the girls could nap. It was around 3pm I think and it rained and rained and rained and the girls did not nap. They ran around the room, watched the rain, had a few snacks. We all got changed to go back to the park and by the time we got there, they were all asleep. I looked at Jeremy and said, "Now what?"

Dream Along with Mickey show.

When the girls woke up--half way through the Mickey show, we went to Tomorrowland to meet Buzz and so Jeremy could ride Space Mountain. He left me with all three kids and I wasn't thinking, what am I do do if Audrey has to go to the bathroom. We were in line to meet Buzz, and we'd been in line for awhile and we were almost there,  like second in line when Audrey says she has to go potty. Well, of course. I ask if she can hold it and she says no. I tell her she really needs to for just a few more minutes and then we'd go. Well, a few minutes later a look over and there's pee running down her leg. Ugh. So, we are literally next in line. Buzz takes a break--and we exit the line and head for a bathroom. By the time we got out of there and back in line Jeremy comes back and Audrey is upset that her panties and skirt are wet and that her shoes are wet from urine. She talks Jeremy into buying her a new outfit. After Allie meets Buzz, we go back to Fantasyland and pick out a cute princess outfit and matching flip flops.
We had just come back to the park less than two hours ago (on foot because the monorail was broken) and didn't want to leave again. There were quite a few things we wanted to do yet today, so he justified buying her a new outfit. And of course, we had to get Allie shoes to match!

They ate at Casey's Corner tonight and had ballpark food. I opted for only a drink. I haven't drank diet coke in years but something about Disney and walking all the time and sweating buckets made me crave it. So, I jumped back on the wagon this week and drank diet coke. The quick service places all have gluten free options, but often it takes a lot longer and I wasn't willing to make them wait when I could just eat a snack I'd brought along.

Meeting Tiana and Naveen was one of the last things we did tonight. The line seemed to take forever but they were very good with the girls. They spent a lot of time interacting with them. Tiana had to send Naveen off for a little bit because the girls were scared of him. Ava was asleep during this so they posed with her in the stroller. We saw the electrical parade from Tiana's Garden but opted not to stay for fireworks, as they weren't until 10 pm tonight.

We walked back to our hotel and back twice today because the monorail was shut down. Oh my feet!

I was sick this day. It was the one day that it interfered with what we were supposed to be doing--I almost missed Rapunzel, but made it.

We utilized the baby changing station/room near the  Crystal Palace, a lot. 

Ava loved playing with all the characters noses

again, here Audrey wasn't a fan of the characters, only Minnie Mouse.

Jeremy found a great Disney app for his iphone that we used constantly to check how long lines were and fast pass schedules.

when we made our way back to the park, we had 3 sleeping beauties

Dream Along with Mickey show. 

watching the Mickey show on the castle stage

finally Allie meets Buzz

dinner 

getting ready for the fireworks. This was taken back by Casey's Corner. We opted to not watch them tonight

Sarah

Disney World Day 2: Animal Kingdom and Swimming

 We were exhausted after our travel day and yesterday so we slept in this morning before going to Animal Kingdom. We took the monotrail to the TTS and then boarded a bus to Animal Kingdom, which meant we had to fold up the strollers and de-bag them before getting on board. Luckily we had awesome strollers (City Mini's) that folded in one step and the bus wasn't very crowded. The hardest part was getting the girls to stay seated.

Jeremy and the hat....

On the way in to Animal Kingdom and after a day of the sun beating down on his nearly bald head the day before, Jeremy decides he should get a hat. He was ok getting a safari hat and he figured since we were in Disney World, it was ok that it had Mickey Mouse plastered on the front. :) And if he was getting one, well, then I thought I should probably get one too.

We watched The Lion King Live Show first. I loved it. The girls liked it, but were hungry and tired and just wanted lunch. Impressive regardless.

We ate a late breakfast/early lunch at the Tuskerhouse. Very very good, and very very allergen friendly. And I will say it was awesome having that reservation. Other people were forming a rather long line and having to wait, but we walked right up, checked in and were seated.  Loved this place. Audrey though was deathly afraid of the Mickey Mouse safari characters and hid under the table throughout lunch. She cried and screamed. It was a huge ordeal. The characters here don't just visit your table, but do a dance and parade around the restaurant. Poor baby had gone to the bathroom with her father and was on her way back into the room in which we were seated and out of nowhere she ran into this conga line of safari Mickey Mouse and friends. I think that might have scarred her for life. 

We rode the safari and Ava fell asleep. We walked around a little bit exploring the sights-- I could not believe how much it looked and felt like we were walking down the streets of Africa-- no detail is left undone at Disney. Audrey and I rode the Triceratops, which is exactly like the Dumbo ride and  the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. We all got a snack and drink, had our picture taken by one of the street photographers and then said goodbye to AK.  When we got back to our hotel we went swimming the rest of the afternoon and then got ready for dinner at California Grill. Before heading to dinner we ran over to MK and bought Audrey the Merida's Mom doll (Merida was sold out everywhere) and checked out the princess places we wanted to visit tomorrow.

I was really impressed by this signature restaurant. Out of all the places we ate, the California Grill was the most accommodating with children and strollers. The food was excellent, the wine was good, and the firework show you can see from your table. Or, you can go outside to the terrace and and watch them there as they have the music and narration piped in. Fabulous! Everyone should watch the fireworks from this spot. No fighting people afterward, and you go right back in and finish eating when they are done. 

We came back to the hotel after checking out the Contemporary's Pool and the campfire we missed at Bay Lake. Jeremy and I got the girls to bed and sat out on the balcony to relax a bit before another big day tomorrow. We were headed back to Magic Kingdom.

Here she is hiding underneath the table so Mickey wouldn't get her. 

 Audrey might have not liked the characters but they didn't bother Allie and Ava.

Sarah

Magic Kingdom Disney Day 1

Our first full day in Disney! Woo hoo! (I took a bazillion pictures. I'm going to try and be picky about which ones I use here. The key word is try.)

Tuesday September 3. Magic Kingdom.

What a full day! After a few bumps this morning that led us to quickly go back to our hotel, reassess the stroller and bag situation, we were back in the park within an hour. And after that, our day was smooth sailing. Hot, but oh so fun!

Highlights of Day one:

Bibbity Bobbity Boutique
Cinderella's Royal Table
Move It Shake It Parade
Tea Cups
Carrousel
Dumbo
met Merida from Brave
Lemonade Slushies
at lunch at Cosmic Rays
Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade
Allie met Winnie The Pooh
Winnie The Pooh Ride
Tony's Town Square for supper
Wishes!

I think the alarm went off around 6:00am. We had reservations at 8:00am at the  Bibbity Bobbity Boutique where Audrey got her hair styled like firecrackers or a rock star, not sure which. It was neat getting in to the park before anyone else because we had reservations. At the BBB, the Fairy Godmothers treated her like royalty and it was super fun but I'm not sure she'd choose to do it again. The hair style she chose took for.ev.er! I hope Allie chooses to do it next time though and if Allie does it, Audrey will want to too. It was a little girls dream. The Fairy Godmothers did her hair, make-up and nails. She chose to wear her Snow White outfit for that, and for Cinderella's Royal Table at Cinderella's Castle right afterward. A note: moments after we paid and exited the boutique Audrey tells me she doesn't like her hair because it itches. Well, they put these multicolored fake extensions in and they hung down to her shoulders. When we went back to the hotel a few hours later I cut them out, and took out the MM hair clips but we kept her hair styled.

on the monorail headed to Cinderella's Castle. On our way we stopped at the gift shop and bought autograph books and pens.

We didn't have time to stop and get a good picture of the castle, or the girls in front of it this morning,  I took this picture while walking. 

getting her nails painted

not so sure about her choice of hair.....

We ate breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table and loved it.  Audrey was scared of Cinderella and didn't want to meet her, but loved meeting Ariel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Belle. We got a family picture with Cinderella before we were seated at our table. Their food looked awesome---baked goods, etc and they ordered off a menu. The gluten free options were good too. I hardly had time to notice, actually. The princess breakfast is fast paced, and between feeding Ava and keeping up with the girls' autograph books when a princess would come to our table and grabbing my camera, I think I ate some fresh fruit and a few meats of the sausage sort. We liked this princess breakfast and would do it again. It was neat to eat in Cinderella's castle.

priceless

 Welcoming us back into the park was the Move It Shake It Parade. Woo Hoo. We loved this parade. So fun!

Audrey and I  rode the Tea Cups (Jeremy doesn't do rides that spin and Ava and Allie were asleep). How fun are those!? Giant tea cups that spin as fast as you want? Yes, please! And then we rode the Carrousel. (and Daddy sat that one out too).The littles were still asleep, so we went and rode Dumbo. The Dumbo section was impressive. When Allie woke up later, we rode all three again with her.

Since Jeremy sat out a lot of the rides in Fantasyland, he took Audrey to Tomorrowland to ride the race cars while I watched Allie and Ava.

We are lunch at Cosmic Rays. They got so much food, we ended up throwing away their desserts and half of their meals. If the dining plan wasn't free, I don't think I'd buy it for the girls. Although on the other hand, it let us eat at some pretty nice restaurants.

We met Merida!  Allie tried shooting a bow and arrow. Super fun to watch her do this. Audrey wanted no part of it. Waiting in line to see Merida took awhile. Her line was quite long, but there were a lot of activities to do in her little courtyard. I guess the girls were all smiled out by the time the photographer took the picture with my camera. :)

We needed lemonade slushies! It was so hot waiting in line for Merida. The air wasn't moving at all and the girls were wet with sweat. So we got a drink, put on more sunscreen and then found a spot for the Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade.

The detail and elaborate floats and bright colors were so impressive. Everywhere you look at Disney it's an interesting view and the parades are no exception. 

Allie's favorite character is Winnie the Pooh, and since we did the princess breakfast this morning for Audrey, we had to meet Pooh and Tigger today for Allie. Allie was sooooo cute during this whole meet Winnie the Pooh and Tigger segment of our day. And I say segment because I think it took close to an hour or more by the time we stood in line, and then Pooh and Tigger had to take a break, so we waited for them to come back. But she, at the age of 2 was so patient waiting or them. She didn't cry or whine or run out of line. She just stood there patiently waiting. It was outdoors  and she could see them from  a distance, which helped. It was terribly hot. Disney in September is going to be hot, and this was brutal. But it was oh so worth it to see her stand there and look up at them with her autograph book propped open on her little arms and seeing her interact with Tigger was priceless. After this encounter, Tigger became more important to her than Pooh Bear. Audrey went back and forth on whether or not she wanted to meet them and ultimately exited the line and went to sit with Jeremy and Ava, who were sitting nearby in the shade.

waiting in line for Winnie the Pooh

she was so cute, standing there, holding her autograph book and pen. She would drop the pen occasionally and have to stop and pick it up and find a new page in her book again. She never got flustered or got sad, just picked it up again and again. 

After Allie met Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, we then went and rode the Winnie the Pooh ride. We had fast passed this ride earlier. After the ride we exited into the gift shop and Allie just had to have a Tigger pillow pet.

playing the vegetable drums outside the Winnie the Pooh ride

Whew! Not sure I've sweat so much. Actually, I have, but never on vacation. Lugging three kiddos around Disney World is not really a vacation. It's just fun work. We went back to the hotel to get cleaned up for dinner.

We ate at Tony's Town Square, where Ava, the whole time fussed and whined and really needed to go to sleep! It wasn't my favorite but in their defense I was gluten free, dairy free and egg free.   I had some sort of allergy free meatball and rice noodles here. It could have been the unhappy baby who refused to sit in the high chair that spoiled my dinner, as Jeremy raved about a garlic bread appetizer he got that him and the girls really liked.

After we ate, we found a spot for the fireworks and watched them on Main Street. I loved how Main Street looked all lit up at night.

Today was a huge day with a huge learning curve. We still have lots of adrenaline because it's our first day. We took the monorail home--after sprinting there after the fireworks, we didn't have to wait too long. Tomorrow we will head to Animal Kingdom for a half a day and come back and swim.









Sarah