Just Disney pics

Disney World

The whole story and adventures are below, but just to recap, I will say the kids did GREAT! They really held up well for 3 days straight without naps and trying lots of new things. Though I knew I would be tired after this trip, but I never knew how sore my WHOLE body would be!!

I guess walking on pavement all day every day 3 days in a row and carrying children more than I planned to do, lifting, bending, walking in the heat really took a toll on my out of shape body. I was sore for 3 days straight after returning to Atlanta.

OK, so about 5 months ago, before Sophia was even born, I decided I wanted to take the older kids to Disney World this year- the older kids for me is a 3 year old and a 23 month old! My parents offered to watch the baby so we did not have to drag her around disney- which I was so grateful for. I saw a lot of babies in the hot sun there and was so glad that my baby was in the shade and getting alot of attention. It also allowed us to each ride and spend lots of time with the older kids and they needed that!

I did a lot of research beforehand, I talked to friends that had been with their kids and got lots of useful , I read a disney book about traveling with kids and of course did some research online I felt prepared before I left, and then left ALL my notes and research at home in Atlanta-I left it

to the side because the kids kept digging in my suitcase and I did not want them to lose or ruin my notes...and most of all I did not want them to take them out of my suitcase and make me forget them, HA HA, i forgot all of the notes and the book. No one to blame on that but myself.

I planned to go to Animal Kingdom on Sunday and then Magic kingdom on Monday because I read that Monday was their slowest day- if they have a slow day, Monday is it! When we checked in we bought our tickets to the 2 main parks and it included tickets to a smaller park of our choice. We chose to go to Typhoon Lagoon- a water park. It was fun, but it was busy walking around and swimming, but some of the things were too advanced for our kids and some of it they did not like. I think when they get older they will like water parks more.

The kids slept pretty well that night due to how busy we were that day and no nap! The next morning we had to be up and out early to go to our timeshare presentation, which is how we got such a good deal on our hotel reservations, so we had to go! I knew we were not going to buy a timeshare, Brian was not thrilled about going but he went. The kids were even pretty good at that place. They had a kids room where they hung out for about 45 mintes and then we brought the kids to the presentation with us, mostly to get out of there quicker and get to Animal Kingdom!

The kids were so excited to pull up to Disney and go on the Safari ride and a little train ride to Rafikis planet watch. There we saw our first character- Pocahontas! I bought little autograph books for the kids after over hearing some people talking about how the characters sign autographs and kids like it. I was SOOO glad to have that book because James walked right up to Pocahontas and had his book. but if Charlotte had not seen James hand her his book, she would not have gotten close to her. Charlotte was saying "I dont Like it!!" until she noticed James hand over his book and then she was saying "My book, my book!!" and then she took her book right up to Pocahontas and then to Rafiki, who I know if she did not have that book she would have not gotten anywhere close to Rafiki!! As the day went on, we met more characters and as long as Charlotte had her book she would approach them, but if she did not have it in her hand, she was not getting close! James was excited to see every one of them!

The next day was definately the day I had been looking forward to- Magic Kingdom!!! I knew the kids would love seeing the castle and ride the rides. It was fun to have it as the finale day, but it was also the MOST exhausting. It was 80+ degrees and full sun, busiest park we had been to so far and it was our 3rd day of very busy days and I think I did not take that into account. It was so fun and I got a little teary 2 times - once when we were on "its a small World" because I remember being on that when I was a kid. Charlotte was not as thrilled about it, but Ithink she was just so tired she could not appreciate it. She did just sat in her daddy's lap and took it all in. James was so excited about it.

The second time I got teary was when we were in front of the castle at about 4 pm to watch the show. Charlotte was up on my shoulders and when Minnie and the princesses came out, she was jumping up and down and clapping and I thought, this is why I went thru all this work to get us there, so she could enjoy that! Loved seeing her so happy and excited. I hate that we never really got to see the princesses and get autographs, but I think the next we go, I will have to do a better job of locating them, especially since I will have 2 girls there wanting to see them!

Overall, the trip was a success, but I think the next time I go, I will arrange for someone to watch my kids the last day so I can sleep and recover!