so cool

Disney Day 4 - Hollywood Studios

Here we are:


While we really enjoyed Hollywood Studios, it was insanely busy - like, wall-to-wall packed with people. We couldn't quite figure out why it was worse than the other parks, so we just attributed it to it being in general, smaller, I guess.

We got there just as they were roping off an area for a performance:



Then we had lunch at a drive-in like theatre (old school!)



After lunch, Leah and I auditioned for American Idol (no golden ticket for me:)


The troops thinking about going on a back-stage type tour:


The coolest stunt show:



Monsters Inc.:



Some street set:




Another street party/parade:


The animated PIXAR lamp:


The kids sat in on an interactive Disney Playhouse production (that I have video from) - it was really neat, and had parts of Handy Manny, Mickey and The little Einsteins in it.

It was a good day, but wrapped up early and we were back at the room tucked in bed at a reasonable time that night. Paul cabbed it to Walmart to pick up additional DVDs for the camcorder, then enjoyed the animals from the balcony late over night:
(it was probably the warmest night - and apparently there was even a tornado warning at one point.)



Up next - MAGIC KINGDOM!!

6 years ago....

...we became parents.

Happy Birthday Peyton, beautiful girl.

Disney Day 3 - EPCOT

We were up at the crack of dawn on Wednesday, as we had breakfast reservations at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. (Supercalafragalisticexpialadocious.)

We departed by bus by about 7:15, then boarded the monorail at Magic Kingdom and made it to the Grand Floridian by around 8:00AM.

On the monorail:




The hotel was spectacular:






Waiting to go into the restaurant:


Meeting some characters:










After breakfast, waiting for the monorail again:






Here we are!









I will start by saying that EPCOT was likely my favorite of all the parks...I just loved the ambiance, the different areas of the world, the aquariums, etc.

We started our day in futureworld, we went into Spaceship Earth (the big golf ball) and experienced technology past, present and future.

Paul did a couple Virtual Reality attractions, while the kids made paper:


We tested our strength:


Paige and I did one of the fastest Disney rides - Test Track:


Every now and then they do something cute:


Then we got in "clams" and did the attraction "Nemo and Friends" - I loved it. And afterwords, we spent upwards of an hour just staring at a billion different fish in aquariums - so cool!







Mine! Mine!




Then we managed to get the girls settled into a theatre where Crush (the turtle from Nemo)hosted an interactive show - kind of like a question/answer period - it was incredible (and funny.)

We then did Soarin' (an IMAX film) which I am so happy about, as it was on my list of "must do's" and I was afraid the kids wouldn't cooperate. They did (cooperate) and everyone loved it.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/attractions/soarin/

After Soarin' we headed over to the World Showcase Area - we stumbled into Mexico first, so of course had to partake in margaritas!


The twins were goofing around as we killed time in Norway waiting for our dinner reservation:


Dinner with the princesses!!

Belle:


Snow White:


Princess Aurora:

(Leah loves Sleeping Beauty)


Cinderella:


and Ariel:


After dinner (which was cold after all that action, as you can imagine) we were unfortunately on limited time, seeing as we left our villa at 7 that morning. We continued exploring the different areas of the world, kiiling time, in an attempt to "make it" to 9PM when the laser/light show started.

The kids got masks and decorated them - they were stamped by the destinations we visited:




While in search of a restroom, we stumbled upon a band playing in the Germany area:



CANADA!! (Notice the girls aren't smiling...they're all tuckered out.)



As mentioned, we had a goal of staying until the 9PM laser/light show - we knew we were pushing it, but we tried. Paul grabbed some snacks, coffee, hot chocolate and a beer for himself and we settled in to watch from the edge of a flower bed, but alas, it was not meant to be as all three kids curled into fetal position and started to doze. Knowing we still had a good walk ahead of us (we were still near Canada, for those who are familiar) we figured we'd better get going.

But all in all, it was a totally perfect day.

Up next...Hollywood Studios.