Bryans Do Disney, Day 9: Magic Kingdom and Epcot

We ate breakfast at Animal Kingdom Lodge this morning, and then hopped on the bus to go back to Magic Kingdom.  Our first Fast Pass activity wasn't until after 5:00 P.M. at Epcot, and we hadn't used the park hopper option yet that we already paid for, so we started with Magic Kingdom.  Everything I read about Epcot said that it is geared more toward teenagers and adults, so I didn't think we could fill the day there anyway.

When we got to Magic Kingdom, Emory and Stephen rode the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster.  Stephen said it was fun enough, but Emory really liked it!  She said it went really fast and that she laughed while riding it.

Harper and I had a frozen orangeade snack while we waited for them.

Then we ate lunch at the Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe.  It was the busiest restaurant we have been to.  I got such a kick out of listening to everyone try to pronounce "Pecos."  Harper had a liiiiiittle chocolate cake for dessert.

Apparently five days is one too many days at Disney because both girls had meltdowns this morning.  Stephen and I can't even remember what started it.  After a crazy lunch, I took Harper back to our hotel room for a nap, and Stephen went to Epcot with Emory.  They rode the ferry and then the monorail to get there.

They walked around and looked at everything for a while, and then went on Soarin', a hang-gliding simulation ride.  Emory told me all about everything she saw during the ride.  Next, they got on the Seas with Nemo and Friends ride.  They saw sting rays, lots of fish, and sharks.

Emory enjoyed a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar.

Harper and I met Stephen and Emory at Epcot and rode the Spaceship Earth ride.  The ride takes you through the evolution of human communication, which sounds weird, but it's pretty cool.  I left the stroller we rented in the stroller parking area before the ride, and when we went back afterward, the stroller was gone.  I had put a small bag with the girls' autograph books and pens in the stroller pocket so I could tell which one was ours.  We tried looking for them at lost and found twice, but no luck.  I'm so disappointed we lost the autograph books.

We let the girls shop for souvenirs.  Emory picked out a Woody doll and an Ariel hair styling set.  Harper picked out a Cinderella jewelry set and Sofia doll.

The girls got to meet Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Minnie Mouse.

We even got a picture with the four of us with Mickey.  I think taking pictures is one of the hardest reminders for me right now because each picture is incomplete without Sam.

Poor Stephen doesn't know how to read and tried to leave using the emergency exit.  Luckily, Minnie Mouse pointed him in the right direction.  Too funny.

We ate dinner in World Showcase's Mexico at La Cantina de San Angel, and then headed to find seats for the IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks show.  It was really good.  The girls love love fireworks!

It was a great way to end our Disney trip.  Tomorrow we start heading back home.  We're stopping in Mobile, AL to break up the trip a little.

Bryans Do Disney, Day 8: Hollywood Studios

We started the day in Hollywood Studios by meeting Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates (or as the girls say...Jake and the nenenen piwates).

Then we ate lunch at the 50's Prime Time Cafe, a 1950's classic American, family gathering themed restaurant.  It has been my favorite restaurant so far as far as the theme goes.  The hosts and waiters called us "kids" and our waiter reminded us to use our manners and keep our elbows off the table.

Next we went to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.  As the name suggests, it's a stunt show based on Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark.  The emcee used guests from the audience as extras, and there was a lot of action and fire.  The girls freaked every time there was fire or an explosion.  They didn't care for the show too much, but Stephen and I enjoyed it.

Stephen took Emory to ride the Star Wars Star Tours 4D show while I walked Harper around in the stroller so she would take a nap.

Next I took Emory to meet Buzz Lightyear and Woody.

The waiting line had lots of photo props, and she enjoyed taking a picture in each one.

And we even got to meet one of the green Army men!

Stephen rode the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror while the girls and I went to the Beauty and the Beast live show.  The girls loved it!

Then we met Sofia from Sofia the First. 

Next we rode the Toy Story Midway Mania.  It has been my favorite ride so far.  It's a ride with 3D graphics, and you play several carnival midway games.  You shoot arrows, balls, pies, etc. (it changes with each game) at targets to get points.  Stephen beat the pants off the rest of us.

Stephen took the girls to meet Mike Wazowski and Sulley while I rode the Aerosmith Rock 'n' Roller Coaster using the single rider line.  That single rider line is the best idea ever!  It's a fun ride.  It starts really fast instead of the slow climb uphill like so many roller coasters.

We finished our day at Hollywood Studios with the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration.  It was a hit!  The hosts were two "historians" from Arendelle that quickly recapped the story of Elsa and Anna.  We got to sing along with all the popular songs from the movie, and Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff made appearances.  The celebration ended with bubble foam snow, which the girls loved.

We ate dinner at a restaurant at the Animal Kingdom Lodge resort where we're staying.  It was African and American cuisine, which was interesting.  My allergies have been so bad the past few weeks that I literally can't taste anything.  I sure wish I could this week!

And my daily Disney blog post wouldn't be complete without...

I can't believe Sam has been gone two weeks already.

Bryans Do Disney, Day 7: Magic Kingdom

I was awoken abruptly this morning by Harper poking me in the nose.  We're never moving her out of a crib at home.

We headed back to Magic Kingdom this morning with Anna and Elsa.  

The girls insisted on being called "Anna" and "Elsa" instead of their real names for a few hours.  They made up a song whose only lyrics were "we live together," which they sang for most of the morning.  They harmonize pretty well.

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to get the girls balloons.  They loved them, but wouldn't hold them close enough, so they kept hitting Stephen and me in the face.  Harper popped hers by lunchtime.  

We rode It's a Small World first.

We found Rapunzel's tower and the village with her signature sun and lanterns.

We got in line for Aladdin's Magic Carpet ride, and it just started to sprinkle.  It was pouring by the time we actually got on the ride twenty minutes later.  We froze during the ride!  The girls thought it was hilarious, and then Harper threw a fit because she was cold.  The girls changed out of their princess dresses when we got to the restaurant.

We ate lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern, a colonial America themed restaurant.  Emory had mac and cheese, Stephen had fish and chips, and I had pot roast.  We got toffee cake for dessert.  It was all really good.  Harper slept through the whole meal.

The park is so beautifully landscaped.

Next, we rode Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.  You can spin the space car around and shoot at targets.  We all loved it.

We rode the peoplemover train that goes all over Tomorrowland. 

The girls met Buzz Lightyear and got his autograph.

Stephen rode Space Mountain

while the girls met Merida and got her autograph.  Emory and Harper didn't say much to Merida, and in her Scottish accent, Merida said Ursula must have stolen their voices.  Too cute.

It started to rain again while we waited in line to meet Merida, so the girls hid under a poncho tent.

We had a little popcorn snack.

Then we took a Jungle Cruise.

We ate dinner at Casey's Corner, a baseball park themed restaurant.  The girls put cotton candy beards on and pretended to be pirates.

Then we headed to sit in front of Cinderella's castle for the Wishes nighttime spectacular fireworks show.  We all loved it.

We finished off the evening by meeting Cinderella and Rapunzel!  I can't get over how precious the characters are.  They stay in character so well.  

Before our trip I thought it was silly to take young kids to Disneyworld, but there's more than plenty for the girls to do. And they are so excited about everything!

She wanted to take a bath.

She wanted to be held.

She got wet from the rain.

Tomorrow is Hollywood Studios day!