Enjoy some of my favorite shots and the stories behind them. It was a once in a lifetime trip!
Love, Court, Max, Ryan + Elise
This was the beginning of the journey. Max had to stay behind for a day to wrap up school, but Eric and Kir were on our flights which helped a TON. If you could read my shirt, you'd understand the irony: "Shhhhh...My kids don't know they're Disney bound. Please help keep the Magic Kingdom a magical secret."
No one thought it would work, but I'd point to it the minute I started to hear the "D" word. So in other words, most of the plane landing in Orlando knew what was happening, and there was mass laughter in the silence just after landing when Ryan proclaimed, "I knew we were going to Chicago." I never out right lied. Just let him fill in the blanks..incorrectly...a lot.
The view every night from the porch of the home we rented in Reunion. I keep looking for the silhouette of an elephant on the horizon...or Whoopie Goldburg's children..(watch the last 5 minutes of "The Color Purple" and you'll understand the reference.)
Ryan surveying a 2 acre Lego display (that took 100 workers 2 years to complete.) He has a new goal.
Reunited two days later.
Ryan was amped to meet the characters at Chef Mickey's inside the Contemporary resort. Elise, well, not so much. She'd wave to them and if they got within 10 feet she'd start hitting the air at them and yelling, "NO! NO!" until they backed off.
We're not sure who was more excited for Pluto, Ryan or Auntie K (my sister).
We waited 45 minutes to score this pic with Minnie. I think it was worth it! He got to meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy. Thankfully our kids aren't "Disney Kids" so that was about the extent of the character fun.
We are blessed to have Eric and Kir as part of our kids' lives. They were stellar with our routines, our melt downs and constant energy. Most rides when we were all together meant Ryan was seated with them and not Max and I!
So we got him for a few rides...Splash Mountain was his absolute favorite. We rode it 5 times I think in the course of three visits to the MK, one day to Animal kingdom and one day at Epcot. He realize that between Max and I, he'd stay dry. But thought it was hilarious when we got annihilated by the water...or rather, when Max did.
Sweet Elise was amazing with 5 days at the park, or so we heard. Largely, my mom and dad had her and kept her amused so that Max and I could ride. It was awesome to be able to experience everything alongside Ryan. I don't know how else this would have worked with such age gaps between the kids (although Elise did ride It's a Small World, Jungle Cruise and watch the Country Bear Jamboree with all of us.)
Ryan waving to one of the characters during the afternoon parade. Our perfectly shaded parade spot was accidental found as we were trying to leave the park. It was the perfect ending to our first day at the Magic Kingdom.
Ok, THIS was actually the perfect ending to EVERY day: The Monorail. For a kid who is all about transit, it could not get any better. Though we entered the park our first day by ferry and ended our last night the same way, we mainly stuck to rail transit at every opportunity!
So my dad did get to ride a few rides. Here we are seriously competing on Buzz Lightyear. Like father, like daughter.
Max might have gotten a little to into the racing at Magic Kingdom. He was behind Ryan and I and helped egg Ryan on through the ride.
These race cars—though somewhat guided—are actually driven by the kids. Ryan did great, but was so pro that he figured out that it was more fun to purposely ram the cars in front. He had so much fun and laughed so hard....It was almost maniacal. And isn't that what Disney is all about?
This is by far, my favorite photo of the entire trip. I look at Elise and hear the word, "RIDE!" as though she's Mel Gibson in Braveheart.
This was the sentiment we were hoping for from the last photo. At least Ryan and my mom (who rode Dumbo together) were well behaved for the pic!
Disney is not complete without a train ride and a Mickey lollipop.
Elise back at the house with my Dad as he sang her songs (which if you know Tom, you know that it means she's got him wrapped around her tiny finger. Tom is tone deaf. We'll just leave it at that.)
We got a kidless Magic Kingdom adventure with Eric and Kir one night. Thanks to FastPass+ we got to ride Space Mountain twice in 35 minutes! And saw my high school drama teachers family in line with us. All roads lead to Grand Rapids.
Many mornings we awoke to hot air balloons floating over head. It was magical!
Elise was quite the bathing beauty, though she refused to get in the water. She's risk averse to anything "public" but will then be in her comfort zone and scale a building. Go figure.
Reunion had an amazing water park for residents. Here's Ryan in the kids area coming down one of it's three waterslides. They also had a lazy river and a regular pool. And a bar :) We went two days and Ryan never stopped moving!
Elise watching Ryan's every move on the water slides.
We were in Florida for my 37th birthday (whoa) and my parents and Kir/Eric treated me to a spa day. It was the best massage and facial I've ever had!
These two were inseparable. (Trolly to Animal Kingdom above, It's a Bug Life ride in front of an ironic poster below.)
Our little family at the Tree of Life in the Wild Animal Kingdom for my (rainy) birthday extravaganza!
My parents celebrating 40 years of wedded bliss.
I love that with all the crap Disny could sell (and some of which it does), Ryan was desperate for an apple and then shared it with little miss on the train out to the animal care area of the park.
So exotic.
Ryan thought that Chip and Dale were the characters from Nami and Papa's backyard. That shows you how he lacks Disney in his life :) Here they are playing a game.
The kids got to witness live surgery on a mammoth tortoise and were so curious about all of it.
We got to ride Expedition Everest twice in a row for my ultimate Birthday dream come true. (Outside of getting to wear the Disney "It's my birthday" button and having random park employees talk with me, because who doesn't love attention meant for a 13 year old directed to you as your cart your kids around). Front car. Check. Back car. Check.
Kir and I braving the outdoor coaster, in the rain, which was something special. And cold. And wet. But fun. Because if you haven't ridden a ride with Kir, then you're missing the giddiest time ever. Her laugh is contagious. So much so that strangers on the ride were laughing and commenting.
Max and I on the River Rapid ride at Animal Kingdom.
This is what a baby wrapped in plastic on overload looks like.
The rain day was by far my favorite. Low lines, an adventure, and no need to put sunscreen on my fair babies every 2 minutes!
Eric and Kir at their happy place, Epcot.
The bros.
Max, once again, very excited about auto related rides. Test Track in this case...Maybe this is where Ryan gets it from. Our car got best overall design over Kir/Eric, Ryan/Papa. Yes, I am a sore winner.
Kir talking trash about their design.
Elise at Epcot playing in the Cars park area.
Our family prior to the Great Fireworks Meltdown of 2014 at Epcot. Even animated fireworks on TV now scare Elise. Fourth of July will never be the same!
Bubbles back at the house during a rainy afternoon made Ryan smile.
On our last day at Magic Kingdom Max threw his back out and had to stay behind and both of my parents occupied Elise, so that meant Ryan and I got double the fast passes! Rides that had an almost 2 hour wait were ridden twice in 15 minutes. It was a great day though we missed Max a lot!
The last ride of our Florida adventure: the giant carousel. (While eating churros. Apparently the apple wasn't that great.)
Right before leaving, Ryan's wish to walk through the castle came true. It's closed A LOT as it turns out, so this was a more difficult task than you'd imagine!
The final shot, on the final day. Thank you mom and dad for giving us a trip we could never replicate. The pictures don't do it justice!
