Disney 2010

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Day # 8

Woke up at 4:00 am for flight back. Flight back smooth, working on my to do list, thinking about all the things I have to do in the upcoming weeks. 4 loads of laundry done, neighbor kids at door, house already a mess, camera broke, back to reality. Now we all will just dream about our great vacation with perfect weather, lots of laughs, fun memories and of course, I will start planning our next one.

Day # 7 Happy 8th Birthday to Zach

We had one day left on our park passes and we all decided we would go to Epcot in the morning. Zach was wanting more pool time and since it was his birthday ( and we all thought it was a good idea) we were back to the hotel by 2:00. I can't believe Zach is 8 years old. What a great way to celebrate- on vacation. Cale wants to know when we will get to go to Florida for his birthday. Next year, probably not, but hoping when Cale turns 8.

I did get to make a trip around the World Showcase at Epcot. Not much for kids to do, very educational for a little bit older kids. 10-15 countries represented each with their own building, food and film.

Outside the American station- singing and playing God Bless the USA- loved it!

A few of my favorites with random people in them :)

Day # 6 Hollywood Studios

We have talked about this ride for weeks, the Tower of Terror. I wasn't sure if the boys would actually go on it, but they did. It is creepy and it drops you 15 stories and Cale's face was priceless.

I am not sure if it was that I was wearing down, it was the hottest day we were in Florida, or that the park was so crowded, but it ranked 4Th out of the parks for us. They have lots of neat things to watch, but everywhere it was packed. The schools in Brazil were on fall break and I think half the country was at Hollywood Studios the day we were there.

With the above being said, it was my favorite afternoon parade. It was a called a Block Party Bash. It was full of energy, the kids were entertained and during parts of it, were up dancing and singing along.

We watched a couple of stunt shows- Zach and Eric really liked them. There was the Indiana Jones one and also the Extreme Stunt Show which was pretty cool.

The boys were nice enough to sit through the American Idol experience (my guilty pleasure- I love that show), anyway I thought it was pretty neat. People audition in the morning and throughout the days shows three people compete, the audience votes and the one that wins returns to the night finale show. The person that wins the night show gets to audition for the real American Idol without waiting in line.

Day # 5, Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom was the most anticipated park and it has the most actual rides, we all loved it. Another beautiful weather day. We stayed busy with lots to get in. We got to everything we wanted to see and do.

Even rode Space Mountain twice. This picture cracks me up. We talked Cale into riding it a second time, he said he would only if he could close his eyes the whole time- which it looks like he did. You wouldn't know if by Zach's face, but he said he loved it! They did speed the ride up since Eric and I rode it in 1998.

Can't go to Magic Kingdom without seeing some beautiful princesses.

Creative and impressive.

Day # 4, Day at the Beach

Beach Day! We took a break today from the parks and had a picnic at a beach on the Atlantic Ocean. What a relaxing day! Zach and Cale's first look at an ocean.

Ready for the waves

Surf's up dude

After being knocked down several times by the waves, Cale learned that he needed to out run them.

I love the sound of the ocean and staring out into, if I ever became a billionaire, I would buy a beach house.

Day # 3 Epcot

Thanks to my Disney Mastercard, which I have used only once, but got $200 dollars off our tickets and had a special autograph session at Epcot with these three characters. I thought it was pretty cool. When we got back home, Cale asked me: "Mom why did Minnie kiss me?" I said, "Maybe she thought you were pretty sweet." Cale: "Sweeter than Mickey" Me: "I don't know" Cale: "Maybe she wants to date me."

Each day we arrived shortly before the park opened. We had a game plan for each day- on what rides were a must for the 4 of us. Today, we figured out the great invention of fast passes. Eric would go with his long, fast legs to one side of the park and get 4 fast passes, the boys and I with our slow, short legs would go to the other side of the park and meet up with Eric there. It worked great at Epcot, very minimal waiting all day- I loved that, probably the reason it was my favorite park. Our family favorites: Soarin, Mission Space, Test Track and Spaceship Earth.

Know who this guy is? Me either, but I loved his music- it's the lead singer of AirSupply. They happen to be in concert there the night we were there. Eric and I enjoyed it, the kids maybe not so much.

At night we stayed for the firework show thing. We choose not to do that again. With the combo of a bazzillion people leaving at the same time, waiting for the show to start, tired and cranky kids- about pushed this mom over the edge. The boys are more early risers than night owls, in fact Cale fell asleep in an umbrella stroller- challenging. So no more night shows for this family.

Day # 2 Animal Kingdom

Our first Disney Park was Animal Kingdom. A very beautiful park in my opinion, making me feel like I was somewhere else other than a theme park.

Our first ride of the day was a safari ride. It was my personal favorite. I thought they did a good job really making you feel like you were in Africa.

Eric, Zach and Cale's favorite attraction was the Dinosaur ride. That suprised me since it was pretty dark and scary. Big dinoaurs constanting roaring and jumping out at you.

My favorite quotes of the day. Cale's: (after riding Dinosaur and watching the 3D film Bug's Life, we are sitting at the peaceful, calm musical Nemo) "Is there anything going to jump out at me, here." Zach's: (we've been walking around Animal Kingdom a few hours): "Does anyone speak English here?"

Digging for "dinosaur bones". Zach was looking forward to this- he really likes this kind of stuff and has mentioned he would like to be a palentalogist (until Eric told him that he probably couldn't do that in Iowa and then he would be along way away from me).

Day # 1 and Happy Birthday to Eric

First flight for Cale, seemed like a pro.

Zach's first remembered flight. (we took him to Las Vegas when he was one, because I didn't want to be apart from him :) ) Zach enjoyed the flight too, except the landing in Orlando- it was really hurting his ears, I was thankful it wasn't that way on the way home.

The boys were such troopers. Our flight back we had to wake them up at 4:10 am, they were more wide awake then Eric and I.

Our first night in Orlando, a friend of Eric's from high school joined up with us at the hotel. They live just a hour away from our hotel, it was nice to see James, his wife and 4 kids. The kids enjoyed playing together in the pool. One of their children was 3 year old, Peter, who had been taking swimming lessons, since he was an infant. (they have a pool in their backyard, so wanted the kids to be safe, etc) Anyway, he was swimming and Eric and I could hardly believe it and made mention how awesome that was. Well, that was all the motivation Cale needed and he learned how to swim during the trip.

The boys loved going to the pool. We went every day, but 2. Each day they would meet new friends from different parts of the world and play with them. Eric and I enjoyed relaxing, especially the complimentary cocktails during happy hour :)

Walt Disney World Vacation

After months of research, planning, reading, saving, praying for me to stay healthy and Eric to be employed, the time finally came for the four of us to go to Orlando, Florida for our vacation. We got back this morning and before I get back to the routines, schedules and busyness of life, I wanted to record our vacation, besides that I am sad about being back and just want to keep thinking about our wonderful vacation and I am afraid I will forget things. Sorry, it will be a lengthy post- 8 Days in Review.