EPCOT, Day 4...

We arrived at EPCOT when they opened! Actually a little before. It is pretty cool how they let you in the park before it actually opens...you can only walk in so far, but they have all the characters out to greet you and put on a little show to keep you entertained while you wait for the opening countdown at 8:30am on the dot!!!

We spent the morning riding rides with Donnie's family and waiting for my family to join us that afternoon. Katie, Dan, & I rode Mission:SPACE which was AWESOME!!! We picked the Orange Team (a more intense training session where you experience forces up to 2.4G—more than twice the force of the Earth's gravitational pull.) I have no idea what it is like to blast into space, but I have a feeling this was pretty close! I LOVED this ride! If they have to put barf bags inside the space capsule, you know it is going to be a great ride! After a few less intense rides and shows it was time for lunch at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall with the rest of the Disney Princesses! Princess Belle, Princess Jasmine, Princess Aurora or better known as Sleeping Beauty, & Snow White...

The kids were so excited to see their cousins, Aunt M, Uncle B, Mimi & Poppy!

The big kids rode Test Track...

while we waited with the little ones..

We spent the rest of the afternoon catching up, waiting in lines and riding more rides like Spaceship Earth & Soarin', another favorite!

And of course, a family picture before leaving EPCOT...

Silly faces in our Mickey Ears...

Hollywood Studios, Day 3...

We started our day off with the best ride at the park...Toy Story Mania! We hit this ride first hoping that the line would be a little shorter and it was shorter, but much like everything at Disney! You hurry up and then wait in line...are we there yet? So cute waiting in line...

Lunch at Pizza Planet...

We saw the Lights, Motors, Action! Stunt Show, Playhouse Disney Live, Muppet's 3-D Show, Voyage of The Little Mermaid and more at Hollywood Studios!

After Hollywood it was time for our dinner at The Grand Floridian Hotel. We had a few minutes before dinner to look around the hotel. It was so beautiful! The entire lobby smelled like gingerbread!!! So yummy! Look at this amazing Gingerbread House...

We also took some picture in the lobby! I love this one of Luke..

The kids even got to play on the beach before dinner...

Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner was so much fun! The kids loved meeting Cinderella, Prince Charming, and her evil step-sisters!! It was great how they came over to your table to say hello, sign your autograph books, and take pictures!

I loved how "in character" each person was, too funny!

John didn't want to take a picture with Lady Tremaine at first, but he changed his mind...

Anastasia...

Drizella was the most entertaining!!! Katie couldn't get over how terrible her smile was all the pictures!

Dinner with Cinderella was the perfect way to end Day 3 of our Disney trip!

Disney Baby! Day 2...

This was probably my favorite day at Disney! It was a Magical Day at the Magic Kingdom!

The kids and I started the morning off with a few pictures in front of Cinderella's Castle, while Donnie ran around the park to get Fast Passes (the key to riding rides without ridiculous lines)!
Making our own Mickey Mouse Ears...

Katie found a little friend...

Then it was off to ride all the rides in Fantasyland, starting with Dumbo...

We all enjoyed the 3-D shows, especially Luke who tried to touch everything that was coming at him. It was really cute!

Katie & John ready to see Mickey's PhilharMagic 3-D Show!

Katie & Uncle Dan getting ready for It's A Small World...

Donnie & John being silly getting ready to ride It's a Small World...

After our Carrousel ride, we got to meet Mary Poppins and get her autograph!

Tea Time...

The White Rabbit...

and Alice & Wonderland... She had to run off for tea so we missed her in the first picture, but lucky for us, after our lunch she was back!

I honestly think we rode all most every ride in the Magic Kingdom this day! It was SO MUCH FUN!!! The kids loved all of the rides and there was even a roller coaster that we could all ride on, The Barnstormer! We ended our day at the park with a picture in front of Cinderella's Castle all lit up! It was magical! This is my favorite family picture from our trip!

Back at our hotel we had the chance to meet Scrooge McDuck & Daisy...

A perfect end to magical day!

Disney Baby!

It's here! We have been planning our trip to Disney for Christmas since last Christmas! I can't even explain how excited we all were to go on this Disney trip! All year long we have been saying, "Disney Baby! Disney Baby!" We made it Florida with no problems! That is a huge in itself!

Here are the kids waiting to go to our resort on Disney's Magical Express Bus!


We got all checked in at the Contemporary Resort, met up with Uncle Dan and then walked straight to The Magic Kingdom!!!
We spent the evening in Tomorrowland and had our first of many rides on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin Adventure!
We finished off the evening with Disney's Electrical Parade down Main Street!

Basketball...

John started basketball practice. The class is set up to teach the kids basketball skills with different drills and games.

Donnie and John work on how to dribble...

And he has it!!!

The Little Fur Tree...

Katie's 1st Grade class had a holiday celebration and invited all the parents to see their rendition of The Little Fir Tree. Katie was the Maple Tree in the play. See the maple leaves on her hat...
Katie did a great job saying all of her lines in the play. In the first scene the Fir Tree wants to be a different kind of tree, especially a Maple Tree because then birds would come and live with her. The Maple Tree "Katie" responds...

But you can keep your needles on
When all my colored leaves are gone.
And when my boughs aer bare and gray
My pretty birds will fly away.

The students put on a great performance and then treated the parents to refreshments! It was a special holiday celebration! They also got to celebrate by wearing their PJs to school that day! Nice & cozy!