DISNEYWORLD - Day 1 & 2

Dear Abigail,
WOOHOO!! We went to Disney World!!!  Man alive, we have been waiting for this moment for a long time coming.  If you recall, we had our fancy "Minnie Mouse" countdown and boy were we excited to get down to that last little ring!  It was Saturday night, we all got our baths, put our cute minnie pjs on, and cut that last ring!!!  Tomorrow morning, we are off to the most magical place on Earth!

We're going to Disney World! We're going to Disney World!  We're going to Disney World!!!  

Words nor pictures will truly explain the excitement, but to say the least, this house was hard to settle down on Saturday night.  But, alas, we did.  We got you two kiddos in bed as early as we could because we had a VERY early morning.  Our flight left at 7:00 a.m., so we were out the door by 5!  The plan was to pick both you and Kate straight out of bed into the car and head to the airport, which is why you wore your cutesy minnie pjs :)  But I guess you were too excited to sleep and were up and at them at 4:45.  Yowzers!  We did pick your sister up and put her in the car, but, again, there was way too much excitement to go back to sleep!  

We got to the airport, made it through security and to our gate, and had a few minutes to play.  

You were VERY excited about the plane ride, maybe more excited than Disney itself, and your biggest thing was you wanted to eat breakfast on the plane.  Katie Bug was still under 2 (only on the way there, though!) and had to ride in Mommy's lap.  Of course, she didn't want to do that, so you were nice enough to share your seat with her.  We got situated on the plane, watched Tennessee disappear and then got some breakfast! 

It wasn't too bad of a plane ride thanks to Mimi and the bazillion things she packed for you to play with, oh and, of course, the phones.  

You loved the plane ride and even got to use the bathroom on the plane which you thought was very cool.  We landed and had to do a little waiting, but you girls handled it well, especially considering it was an early morning and, really, the day hadn't even begun!!  

Finally you were able to let loose and burn a little energy while we headed to the Magical Express!!

On the way to our resort!  

This was Daddy's attempt to capture the moment of us entering the official Disney World gate.  We learned quickly that 'perfect pictures' are overrated!!! 

We arrived at our resort, The Wilderness Lodge, and were immediately impressed.  You and Kate were thrilled with the number of stickers that were being passed out to you, and Daddy and Mommy were thrilled with the whole place!

Check in was easy breezy, and then there we were, in DisneyWorld, twiddling our thumbs, wondering what to do.  We had planned to stay at the resort that day, not go to any park, but that was about the extent of our plans.  So, we decided to try out the fancy pool!

I'd say you enjoyed it...

We swam for a bit and grabbed some food.  You kept asking when we were going to ride rides and after the 20th time of answering "We won't today" I learned my first lesson of DisneyWorld - arrive late and go straight to bed :)  You just did not understand that the first day was just a 'hang out' day and instead had it in your mind we would be riding rides the entire time.  My fault, I admit, hence the lesson learned.  BUT, that's not to say we didn't have any fun.  Swimming was fun, or should I say sliding was fun, and after a quick lunch we changed and wondered around the resort and stumbled upon an arcade.  You and Daddy quickly became absorbed in the claw game...

And shockingly, didn't have anything to show for it.  BUT, you did find an arcade version of Temple Run!  Now, in case you forgot, Temple Run is your favorite game on the Iphone, or at least one of them and so when we saw it at the arcade, we were all super excited!  I know, it's the little things :)

We eventually began wondering, again, 

and walked upon a little sandy beach thing.  Really just sand that led to water, but not like a beach.  And actually those waters had alligators in them, which I did not know until after I dipped Katie Bug's toes in it a couple times and the resort people came up and told me that probably wasn't a great idea.  Disney World Lesson #2 learned... Thankfully not the hard way.  

While playing at said 'beach' we noticed these really cool bikes where our whole family could ride.  You were so excited to try it out, Daddy, though, was a little hesitant.  The guy assured us we'd be fine, so we took the plunge and went cycling as a family!  

It was really neat.  You and Kate rode up front while Mommy and Daddy did the peddling in the back. The guy told us a path to take down through some woods and low and behold, look what we came across...

It was so neat.  Yes, we see deer a lot in Tennessee, but never while riding our bikes and never this close.  This pretty little deer just stood there munching on some grass while we zoomed on by on our bikes!  Just when we got over our excitement from the nature trail, we stumbled upon some horses!!  Well, I say stumbled, but really we knew they were coming up, but you were just as thrilled!  

Yep, you got to ride a horse!  AND, the guy told you it was one of Cinderella's horses, so you were beyond thrilled!!  You were so gentle with him and kept petting him over and over again.  Daddy got to walk him around this big track with you while Mommy walked Kate.  It was really neat and everyone had a good time with the horses! 

Eventually we hopped back on our bike and headed back to our room to get ready for dinner.  We were eating at the resort that night, which was (shocker) a western themed restaurant.  So, we saddled up and got prepared for dinner.  While we waited patiently for our table (we were a few minutes early), you got to play with Lincoln Logs!  It was neat how they had those out for you to play with while you wait.  

Soon enough we got our table and boy was Mommy excited to sit down :)  You, however, didn't seem thrilled in the first picture Daddy took, so we tried it again.  Much better!  

Dinner was really fun.  The waitress was very funny and threw straws at us and even made Mommy a really long straw so I could drink straight from the wine bottle (mainly because I spilt my glass all over the floor, but whatever).   Also, if anyone wanted ketchup you had to scream 'BRING ME SOME KETCHUP' and like 30 bottles would come to your table.  Another highlight of dinner was every so often, you'd have to go get your 'horse' and ride it around the restaurant.  This seemed to entertain you, as well!

But probably the most exciting was the surprise we received after dinner.  Somehow (we now know the travel agent put a note in our reservation) they knew it was your birthday and Kate's birthday (or at least we were there celebrating it!) and BAM! a huge cupcake appeared and everyone sang Happy Birthday to you!  

Yes, it was delicious, too!

Another lesson learned, after a few more meals - they give you a birthday cupcake at EVERY SINGLE MEAL!  Even breakfast (if at a restaurant, that is)!  We were cupcaked out by the end of this vacay.  Ha, who am I kidding - you loved every last one of them!
So dinner was wrapped up with two VERY tired kiddos and, well, two VERY tired parents!  We took a quick pick in front of the fire place and off to bed! 

Now, speaking of bed, let me just go ahead and say this.  Of ALL the things to be stressed about when planning a trip to Disney, the one thing that was keeping me up at night was being kept up at night.  I was so worried about the sleeping arrangements for us.  We were staying in a hotel room with 2 queen beds.  For most folks this probably isn't much of anything, but A) Katie Bug sleeps in a pak n play and never has slept with us, B) you sleep in your bed and C) you both go to be MUCH earlier than Mommy and Daddy.  So I didn't know how I was going to get Kate asleep, then you asleep, then what Daddy and I would do for the couple hours after.  Well, let me just say, I wasted much needed energy worry about that!  We ALL were so exhausted every single night that we'd come in, put Kate down in her area (the bathroom area in the pak n play) then you'd crawl in your bed, I'd be in mine (Daddy would be at the bar downstairs) and the lights would go out and BAM, you two would be asleep before  I could count to 10!  Then I'd turn the TV, and BAM, I would be asleep in 10 seconds! Ha!  It made me laugh after it was all said and done because it was so easy, sleeping that is!  Here's a glimpse at you that first night.  

Please note the single hanging snaggletooth.  Yeah, that bad boy drove Mommy crazy all week!  And, because Disney World is so awesome like that, the guy at the front desk noticed how loose your tooth was and gave this to you just in case you lost your tooth while at Disney!
SO, we made it through our first day and we still loved each other!  It was an incredibly long day, so I do give us props for that.
Monday morning came around a little too early for us, but hey, we're on vacation.  That's what you do, set alarms on vacations, right?!  On a side note, we do not set alarms at home so it was a bit of a shocker to not wake up naturally on vacation!  Anyway, we're in Disney World - we'll do whatever we have to do!  So we did - awake and fixing hair, bright and early!!  

The place we stayed was very close to Magic Kingdom, so close, it only took a 5 minute ferry ride to get there!  You both loved the boat ride and I have to say, Mommy liked it too! 

We made it to Magic Kingdom before the doors even opened, which was exactly what we wanted and we got to see the opening 'parade' with all the dancers and Mickey and Minnie and all kinds of other characters.  It was SOOOO exciting.  I think I had a few tears come down I was so excited.  They played this 'welcome to Disney' song, or something that just made my heart swell with joy and then they opened the gates!!!  

HOORAY!!  WE MADE IT TO DISNEYWORLD!!!!!

Let the adventures begin and may the odds be ever in our favor!  And, so they were, sort of...
So off we went.  Now, our lovely travel agent gave us this wonderful hint - go left, not right, like everyone else.  So we did and guess who ran into with no line, why Chip and Dale.  Mommy was a little nervous about how you would react to them, but surprisingly, you were happy to see them and wanted to say hello.  So we got out our fancy picture frame mats (yep, who needs autograph books when you got fancy mats for them to frame!) and you immediately went to give Chip a hug.  I was THRILLED.  Let me repeat that - I was THRILLED!!!  I could not believe you were giving a costume headed character a hug.  

And then you asked him to sign it!!!! THRILLED!!!  

And then the photographer asked you to turn around to get a picture.  And then you ran.  That was it... That's all it took.  You refused to step anywhere near them, or any other costume headed character after that.  So, Mommy took the picture.  

Yeah, so I have no clue what triggered it in you, but you for some reason got scared and decided you couldn't handle them.  We went to Disney World and did not get a single picture (or autograph) from Mickey, Minnie, Donald, or any other character with a costume head!!! Oh well, at least you didn't have a panic attack and instead just said "Let's go this way."
So we quickly went away from Chip and Dale and happened upon the Magic Carpet Ride ride.  We hopped right on and were thrilled to finally be riding.  All four of us rode and had so much fun.  When we got off, we walked right up to someone standing in line.  We asked what they were waiting for and the Disney staff person said Aladdin and Jasmine were about to walk out for a meet and greet.  This was VERY exciting news for us all because A) not costume heads and B) it was Aladdin and Jasmine - Mommy's fave!  (Side note:  Both you and Kate were wearing your "It's My Birthday" buttons).  We waited in line maybe 2 minutes (we were second in line) and all of a sudden we heard 2 people saying "Where is Abby?  Where is Kate? We want to wish them a Happy Birthday."  IT WAS ALADDIN AND JASMINE!  They knew it was your birthday and were looking for you!!  At first we were all shocked!  Then, Aladdin asked if you wanted to go ride on the Magic Carpet ride with him and Kate with Jasmine.  Let me repeat that so it will sink in - Aladdin asked you to ride with him on the Magic Carpet ride.  This, my sweet darling, precious, daughter, was a once in a lifetime kind of gig.  You, however, did not recognize it as that and just ran.  That's right.  You got freaked out (I can only assume) and ran.  I don't know if it was just the randomness of it all or what, but you took off and so Aladdin went to the ride and found some other friends to ride with while Kate and I waited in line to meet them and you sat in the stroller around the corner.  I am still in a bit of shock about the whole thing and it's been a solid month later...
SO, finally Jasmine and Aladdin came back to meet us and Kate was thrilled to meet Jasmine. 

Aladdin, on the other hand, was very concerned about you and kept asking Kate where here sister went.  We pointed to the stroller around the corner and off he went!  I was a nervous wreck because I just knew this would send you over the edge and we were maybe 20 minutes into Disney.  But, I looked up and low and behold, you and Aladdin were hand in hand.  He was telling you all about Azkaban or wherever it is that he's from (yes, I recognize that might be the prison in Harry Potter, but whatev). 

I overheard him telling you all about Abu and about how the camels are fun to ride but they will spit if you don't watch out!  You were instant best friends and you told him all about you and Kate and it being your birthday and everything! My heart, again, swelled with joy!

HOORAY!!!!  Aladdin will forever go down in my books as my fave.  He pulled you out of your random shyness shell and made you very confident going forward in Disney!
SO, off we went to explore more of Magic Kingdom!  We continued around the 'opposite' way and it seemed to work.  We bypassed the 'log' ride because you figured out that you'd get wet (Daddy's fault) and didn't want that, but then we discovered the roller coaster and you were set for life!


I think this was probably your favorite!  AND, you always got to ride it 2 times in a row.  See, Kate was too little to ride it, so I would wait with Kate while you and Daddy rode it and then we'd get a pass so you and me could hop right on!  Seriously, you LOVED it, and I have to say, so did I.  It's one of those coasters that you think is going to end and then it takes you on another loop or hill or scary dark place!
We made our way around to all kinds of different rides and even a Beauty and the Beast show.  It was super cool and you even got to meet Belle afterwards!

Let's see, we rode It's a Small World, oh, I'd say 200 times.  You and Kate both loved this one and every time it was like you'd never ridden it before!

Let's see, Peter Pan was pretty awesome (we loved flying over London and saying "Do you see Uncle Martin?", and the Carousel, oh and Mermaid, where we sang every single song along the way, and Winnie the Pooh!  All of them, awesome! We rode and rode and rode and rode!

"Waiting" for Pooh!

We got plenty of riding in and loved every minute of it.  There was the Goofy roller coaster, which you AND Kate loved, and Dumbo and the Tea Cups.  We rode lots of them multiple times and really didn't have too many we had to wait on, which was perfect.  Eventually we had to end our day at Magic Kingdom and head to dinner.  We had a special "princess" dinner with Cinderella and Prince Charming.  You got to pick a princess to be and you, of course, picked Arial.  Mimi surprised both you and Kate with Arial dresses and, of course, all the fixings including tiaras and wands!  We hopped on our boat and headed over to dinner!

Here we are looking all dapper for special "Happily Ever After" dinner...

And then here we are...

What's that you ask?  Oh, well, that's you hiding under the table.  From the very beginning of dinner.  To the end.  

Why you ask?  Because Cinderella's 'evil' step-mom and step-sisters were also invited to this special dinner and, according to you, they are very mean.  We tried to convince you that they were not mean anymore, or that they would not be mean to you, but you just knew they were and that's all it took.  So, under the table you stayed.  You did not get to meet Cinderella...

Or Prince Charming.  You actually didn't even eat any food.  The staff was so sweet though and set it up where none of the characters would come to our table.  Instead, Kate and I had to go around the corner to avoid you seeing anyone's feet.  You didn't care, though.  You stayed under the table.  Oh well, Kate was happy to take the pictures for you...

Well, except for the Step-mom.  She knew something was up with that...

It was a long dinner and after literally running out of the place with you in my arms, you were finally happy again... sort of.   It took us getting in the stroller and high tailing it out of there to get a true smile back on your face!  

What a crazy evening, for sure!  I did NOT expect that at all.  Lesson #320, expect the unexpected, or well, don't have expectations, or well, just go with the flow.  Yeah, that's the moral of this story.  You never know what's coming your way, so just chill and enjoy the moment for what it is - a great story to tell at your rehearsal dinner.  Hopefully you won't hide under the table when your Prince Charming comes around ;)
Oh Abs!  What a fabulous first day at the parks.  It seems like you had a few quirks to get out of your system, but the smile on your face on EVERY SINGLE RIDE made up for all those quirks.  You love the thrill of rides, just like Mommy and are so brave to do all those rides over and over again!  I wish I could have captured all those moments on my camera but I was having too much fun right along side you.  (Lesson #490 - perfect pictures are overrated).
Day 1 & 2 of Disney - whew - what a ride in itself!  We are having a blast and there is only more fun to  come our way!!!
Love you quirky little girl!!!