Magic Kingdom!!

We got to Magic Kingdom about 11:00 on our last full day in Florida (after we played a game of put-put...hard to get that in!) We decided to take the ferry from the parking lot, and then we'd take the monorail back. Leave it to Disney to make even that park fun! We had fun just getting there

Ta-da! The castle!! The clouds look ominous, but I it dind't do more then spit a little rain at us. Temperartue-wise it was great.

The Ferry coming is the ferry we would be on. The kids had never been on one, so it was fun
Walking down Main Street at Magic Kingdom! Hooray!!
We went to Monsters Inc Laugh show and had a blast. Disney is not in favor of people taking pictures on rides or at shows. Bummer because Sophia actually ended up on the screen getting to help with a joke. It was a great time!!
We HAD to ride on the tea cups! I rode with Jacob and Sophia....they are vicious spinners!


After a few rides, I took the girls to a powdered room to get all dolled up for our very special lunch date at Cinderella's castle. Stay tuned!

Gabbie's Special Star

I got some better pictures of Gabbie's special star that now hangs in the newest star tower at Give Kids the World....so thought I would share them today!

This is a great picture of the carousel that is right next door to the Crystal Palace. Gabbie's star hangs in the tower with the blue flag. Its a fun building that feels right out of a fairy tale. It was great fun to be in and around it.
We got a special note that told us Gabbie's start had been hung, and that we needed to bring the card to the Crystal Palace and they would show us where. We gave the card to the volunteer who put it in the special star locator computer. All this while Gabbie stood on the center yellow star.
This is a picture looking straight up in the star tower.The tower isn't 2 years old yet, this tower, already has many stars.

Evening fun Day 5!

We returned from Adventureland and Jacob was ready for some down time, and Gabbie fell asleep. After a little hang out time, Dad decided to take Sophia and Hannah swiming. After another hour, Gabbie and I joined them. There was a light drizzle going on, who wanted to give up a chance to swim in the rain? Not us! Most places, pools would close. It was good chilly fun. After that, we went over to the Gingerbread place for burgers, the cook out at GKTW having to be canceled do to the weather. After that we wandered around and enjoyed the improv going on at the Safari theater.

Mayor Clayton joined us at dinner for a bit. Always fun to ham it up with him and snap some pictures!

Before going to the ice cream palace for some before bed ice cream, we stopped at the Crystal Palace too visit the pillow tree! The tree tells a fun story, and the kiddos need to answer some questions, and then shake the tree before looking around to see where a pillow for them might be!

Sophia is giving the tree a good shake here. Will it be enough?
Hannah found the secret spot. Hooray!

After all that, a good round of CandyLand seemed the perfect way to end the day!

The Beach Day that wasn't

Our original plan was to take the kids to the ocean on this day. However, the weather conditions for the week were not going to cooperate. There were rip tide warnings, rain, sigh. So, we decided to take the kids to Adventure Land with Universal Studios. Universal is a lot of walking. We visited Dr Suess land, and Harry Potter, and realy, were pretty much worn out and ready to go back to GKTW to swim and relax.

We had a great time at AL. Dr Suess was so fun, and even though my kids are big fans of Harry Potter, they enjoyed the park. Mom and Dad thought it was awesome

The streets of Harry Potter Land! It felt really authentic, so even if you aren't a "fan" it was fun to be on the streets of an English town, with snow, and still be warm, and in Florida.

The joke shop! So fun, It was a little small....I kept waiting for one of the brothers to jump out at me!

Hogwarts! The best ride I went on this trip. It really gave you the feeling of riding on a broom. I loved it! The world of simulation in regard to amusement park rides, is really something!
We all enjoyed dodging....or maybe not dodging the water squirters on this ride! FUN!


Dr Suess had amusement parks all figured out thats for sure!
Our thing 4 with Suess's Things!
Our Sophia would be the one to see the Grinch, and run to hug him! His heart swelled, I'm sure of it!
The girls and I hit this fun ride....the the one fish, two fish ride again, while the boys went to tackle the Incredible Hulk ride. Ask them about it sometime! It was a favorite!

All in all, while Mom still missed the beach a great deal, man I love the beach, Adventure Land was great. We loved trying the butter beer, the pumpkin juice...and just being there! Another fun day! Stayed tuned for the evening part of this wonderful Tuesday!
.

Hollywood Studios

We went to Hollywood Studios on Sophia's birthday in search of the Little Mermaid show as Sophia has been a fan of her's since longer then I can remember. It seemed the thing to do on this birthday in place of having what would have been her 4th Little Mermaid themed party!

We had a great time there, and we have some great pictures of us all there and one of Gabbie and the boys with the Tower of Terror which yes, my little girl went on! However I do not yet have the disc with those pictures on it. When it arrives, I'll post 'em. As for Tower of Terror? My youngest thrill seeker met her match there, and she strongly suggests you take the stairs. Something in me says that she'll try that ride again some day however.


The Beauty and Beast show was great! They even sang my favorite, "Be our Guest" I loved it!
Brian and Jacob went on another roller coaster that Gabbie was to short for, so the girls and I took a walk down the streets of Hollywood. A traveling show got our attention, and when they invited people to come dance with them, Gabbie was quick to run up and join in the fun!
Note the thumbs up! We had arrived. The special effects of the show did not disappoint!
The Muppets 3D show was also fun! Now they all want to see the movie coming out even more.
Two cutie pies at the stunt show. This after we climbed to the top of the bleachers to need to go all the way back down and back up...for a potty break. Naturally.
After returning, getting a quick swim in, dinner and dressing for the Halloween party...we got there and had a blast. Gabbie and Sophia had fun using these punching gloves to knock over punching bags. MUCH giggling!
OK, I rotated this, I don't know why it won't stay where I put it. Anyway...there we all are with the peeps on stilts! Lots of fun costumed people at the party.
Running ahead for more ToT. That orange barrel up ahead? Completely filled with candy. Crazy.
My kids were also introduced to puker powdered. Cause sure, they needed more sugar. :D LOL


On the way back to our villa after the party, we stopped off to drive the remote control boats....cause well...we could....and it was fun. :) Another fabulous day!

Sophia's Bday....Day 4

Yes, we needed to celebrate another birthday during this fabulous trip! Sophia turned lucky number 7! Hooray! We had lots of fun celebrating, and Give Kids The World also made her day extra special too!

Once the birthday girl woke up, we started right in with presents! First up, a special shirt with the number 7 on it and Ariel! Big smiles from that one!

Yes indeed, the DS game system made its way into Miss Sophia's hands. Happy face for sure!
We got dressed and ready for breakfast to find that the people at GKTW surprised Sophia with a balloon and list of fun birthday things to do at GKTW on your birthday.
One thing on the list was a special birthday waffle. Of course their was singing. It was a fun!

Then we made a trip over the Crystal Palace where she got to pick out a special prize! (which was not the potato head toy in this picture....but rather a scratch off crayola art thing with none other then Ariel being featured hooray!)
Big brother giving a DS lesson to the birthday girl. Thanks Jacob!!
We made it to Hollywood Studios, and found the Little Mermaid show. Mission accomplished!
As an added bonus, Gabbie and Sophia got to welcome and announce this showing of the Little Mermaid show. Very fun.
We had a good time at Hollywood Studios, and made it back in time for dinner so we could then get ready for the GKTW Halloween party! A great way to round off a birthday!!
The kids with Mayor Clayton and his wife. It was a gorgeous night and the kids had a blast trick or treating (getting hand full of candy at a time) playing games, making magic wands, and just having fun together.