Day 3

It was Magic Kingdom day for us. We didn't want to miss the opening like we had with Epcot so we got to the shuttle station early. It was great timing because a shuttle came about 5 minutes later.

There is a opening performance with Mickey and his friends before they open the gate. I thought it was good but Ethan just wanted in the park. Our plan was to go as quickly as possible to the Seven Dwarfs Mine ride. We had a fast pass for this one but it wasn't until later in the afternoon. We were worried that it would rain before we could use it so that's why we went there first. Everyone else had the same idea but we still got in pretty quickly.

It was a really fun ride! We were hoping we could use the fast pass for it later on.

We then walked around and saw the Beast's castle and Gaston's pub.

I made Ethan go on Ariel's Grotto ride with me. There wasn't a wait and I thought it would be fun. He was a good sport.

There was only a 10 minute ride on the Speedway so we made our way over there.

Ethan drove his own car and did a great job.

Ethan hadn't ever been on Space Mountain and the wait was only 15 minutes so we decided to try it. He did well but it wasn't his favorite ride. He likes roller coasters but not when they are in the dark. Here is his after face and he is still smiling!

It was then time for our fast pass to Splash Mountain. There were a ton of your groups from other countries in the Magic Kingdom and they all had fast passes. Luckily we were able to get in front of them so it was a 5 minute wait to get on the ride. The regular line was 60 minutes.

Here is Ethan's wet face.

He thought it was a blast!

We made our way over to the Haintes Mansion and the line was about 20 minutes long. It wasn't too bad but it was hot so Ethan was kind of miserable. He was fine once we got in the air conditioned rooms.  

He thought this tomb stone was hilarious so we had to take a picture.

We made our way to Casey's Corner for lunch. It was baseball food and prices the same as it would have been at a baseball park. ;)

Since we were full we didn't want to go on a crazy ride and it seemed like most people showed up after lunch (not smart!) so lines were really long. We thought the Carousel of Progress was going to be something cool so we went there. It ended up being boring but we got to sit for a while.

On our way out of Tomorrowland we saw the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor so we thought we would try it. It was a comedy show by the characters from Monsters Inc. using audience members. Ethan was actually spotlighted and used in one sketch. It was a lot of fun!

When we walked out of the show it had just finished raining. We have been very lucky/blessed this vacation! It was time for our fast pass to Pirates of the Caribbean so we made our way over there. The fast pass line was SO LONG!!! Everyone was trying to avoid another rain storm by going on the inside rides. But the line actually moved fairly quickly. It only took us 10 minutes to get on.

We were disappointed that the ride was quite a bit shorter than it is in Disneyland. Too bad!

When we got off the ride and walked into the gift shop it was really crowded. It was pouring rain and everyone was taking cover! We had already decided that would be our last ride so we put on our rain ponchos and made our way out of the park. It was crazy because there were huge puddles/lakes of water everywhere. The park ended up being shut down because of lightening. We were glad we were finished!

We caught a shuttle and got back to the hotel. Once again we changes into dry clothes and then went to the laundromat to dry our clothes. 

An hour later the rain had stopped and there wasn't any lightening so the pool at the hotel reopened. We changes and went swimming. It's a cool pool that is shaped like a flower and each pedal is shallow with the center being the deep end. We almost had it to ourselves.

When we were done, we went back to our room and got dressed then went to get some dinner.

It's too hard to catch a shuttle and run to another park unless you have quite a bit of time so we just hung out at the room, packed some things and relaxed.

This has been a great vacation. We have one more day (or half day) at Epcot then we fly to meet Bryan and Courtney in Baltimore. We are excited to see them!

Day 2

We started the morning by getting ready, eating pop tarts, making a plan and getting to the shuttle stop. It was our day for Epcot today. We had fast passes for mission space, test track and maelstrom. 

The shuttle from the hotel to Epcot was 30 minutes late so we didn't get to Epcot until after it had opened. We were so bugged because it meant we were in the middle of the crowd instead of ahead of it. But it worked out okay.

Epcot has a weird tiered system to their fast passes so we couldn't get one for soarin' and test track both. We had decided we would run to soarin' first thing and them use a fast pass for test track.

We were worried we would have to wait in a long line at soarin' because we were so late but we ended up walking right on the ride. It wasn't very crowded at Epcot. I did my research and it was supposed to be a great day to go.

I was a bit disappointed because I thought it would be a Florida version of soarin' but it was the same as California. I love soarin' so it was okay but a bit disappointed.

After soarin', we realized that our water bottles were in the fridge back at the hotel and Ethan needed sunglasses so we went to get some things. There weren't mirrors in the store so I took pictures so Ethan could decide which glasses to buy. I think he looks handsome.

It was time for our fast pass to Mission Space so we made our way over there. The line was really short so we only had to wait a few minutes. 

This ride was a flight simulator of a space flight. You were put in a four person crew and had to work together to get yourself to Mars. They kept warning you that it was a very dark and enclosed space and they weren't lying. Once you sat and strapped in, the console came down over you and it was tight. But it was a fun ride.

On the way out they had games and Ethan played one where you had to find the other people in your crew and rescue them. 

We had about 30 minutes before our next fast pass so we went into Innoventions to explore but were very disappointed. In California it is a huge Exploritorium where you can play games and things. This one wasn't like that at all. It was boring but they did have a few games to play.

They did have a hybrid car there that Ethan thought was cool.

By now it was time for our fast pass to test track. We were so excited for this ride because you design your own car and then race it against other people. We got right on which was kind of sad because they had cool cars you could look at while waiting.

They out is into teams and we had 3 minutes to design a car. I let Ethan do it.

We were then put on a 6 person car where we each touched our magic bands to a sensor and it attached our designed car to the one we were riding in. Then we took off and the car we were riding in went through maneuvers where it tested the various car designs we had made and scored them. Ethan's designed car came in 3rd in our car!

As you walk out of the ride you can touch your magic band to sensors and make a commercial for your car and race it against others. It was a lot of fun!

The "single rider" line was really short when we got out so we decided to try it. Ethan was really disappointed when we realized that we couldn't design another car. But then we realized that his car was still programmed on his magic band so he got to race it against the other people in our car. So it was okay.

When we walked out of the ride Ethan decided to design another car. They had a station where it wasn't timed and you could do a lot more. Ethan spent about 30 minutes making another car. 

He made a commercial for it and even raced it in the games with other cars. He was really excited to go back on the ride and see how it would go against other cars. We decided to come back later and do the single rider again.

We had some time left so we went to Club Cool. I had seen this place mentioned in some of the places I had researched so we thought we would try it. It is all-you-can-drink soda from other countries.

You grab a taster cup and push the button under the soda you want to try. It fills up just a little and then you try it.

Most were really yummy but a couple of them were disgusting!

We drank ourselves sick!

By this time we had to go to our other fast pass ride Maelstrom. This was a Viking ride that started out seeming like a pirates of the Caribbean ride but it was a dud. We were kind of disappointed.

We walked around the various countries to look around but we were hot and tired so we took the boat back to the other side of the lake.

We decided to see if we could so another single rider for test track. They tell you that you will be split up but Ethan and I had ended up in the same car last time. The single rider line was so short we just walked on. We touched our magic bands to the sensors and were waiting for our car to come to load into when the ride malfunctioned and shut down. They evacuated everyone and gave us a fast pass that we can use anytime. We are pretty excited about that!

We were tired and wanted to go to the hotel pool so we loaded back up (we actually caught a quick shuttle which was a miracle!) and went to the hotel. But it began raining and the pool was closed by the time we got back to the hotel.

We just relaxed and then decide to go to Aminal Kingdom for some rides. It had stopped raining but we figured people would be leaving the park and we could ride anything we wanted. But we had a fast pass for a roller coaster. 

When we got to Animal Kingdom we went to the Dinosaur ride first. 

It was okay but nothing great. When we came out and started on out way to the fast pass ride it started to pour rain! I put on my poncho but Ethan is too much of a man. We bee lined it out of there. And, another miracle, there was a shuttle waiting when we finally got to the bus stop. Again, that NEVER happens here!!  Ethan was soaked all over. I was soaked from the knees down and our shoes are so wet!

We got back to the hotel, showered, put our wet clothes in the drier at the laundromat and them went to dinner. We split pizza sticks, salad, minestrone, and a drink. Then we spent the rest of the evening relaxing in our room.

One gross thing is that there are worms all over the sidewalk trying to get out of the rain. They keep trying to get in the doors and it is just creepy! One hotel door had works all over it, crawling all over. Gross!!

It was a good day!

Greetings from around the world! 

Day 1

Ethan and I are at Disney World! Our plane yesterday took forever to get here and the shuttle to the resort seemed to take even longer but we got here!

When we checked in to the resort they are Ethan a button that told everyone that it's his birthday. Since he is on his birthday trip, it fits. When we got to our room there was a message on the phone from Mickey and Minnie singing him happy birthday. It was cute!

We ate dinner, watched cartoons and then went to bed. We woke up at 7 am, got ready, are breakfast, and then loaded on a shuttle for Disney Hollywood.

We had fast passes for three rides but they weren't until later in the morning. When the rope dropped we were set to go. You have to scan your magic band and then scan your finger or thumb. Ethan got through ok but there was a slight mishap when I tried to get through. An old man on a red scooter lost control and I ended up on the ground with my foot caught between a cement barrier and his tire. I am fine but I have quite a few bruises. I asked Ethan later and he said I wasn't very graceful when I was rammed. Darn!

Anyway, we followed the crowds to the second rope drop and were entertained by Olof from Frozen. It was fun. When they did the final countdown and let us all in it was a stampede but we made it to the Toy Story ride in record time. It was a great ride.

We had about an hour before our fast pass for the Great Movie Ride so we just went exploring. We went on the backlot tour and saw how they do special effects.

 Here is Ethan on the tram:

This was a fire and water scene.

Then we got to see some props that were used in movies.

Here is Indiana Jones' whip from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Superman's cape:

And Batman's suit:

 I checked the app and found out that there wasn't a line at Star Tours so we went there and walked right on the ride! When we got off we realized that the line was still small so we went on Star Tours again.  (We realized later that there was a parade going on and that's why there weren't people around. It was so nice!)

Then it was time for our fast pass to the Great Movie Ride. This was a ride where they took us through the history of movies. I was glad we had the fast passes because we only waited in line for a few minutes. It helped also that they were looking for a party of 2 to fill the ride. So we volunteered and were put ahead of the line. 

We went to check out Star Tours again but the parade was over so there were people everywhere!! It was insane so we went for lunch.

Ethan has a pizza and I are the salad.

It was then time for our fast pass for Star Tours. Once again, they were looking for a group of 2 to fill the ride and we volunteered. We ride Star Tours there times!

By now we had seen what we wanted to and were ready to go. We still had a fast pass to a show but we didn't really want to use it so we made the plan to go back to the resort, change into out swimming stuff and go to Typhoon Lagoon. So we said goodbye to Hollywood around 12:30 pm.

It takes forever to get around because you have to wait for the shuttles to come and get you. They claim they come every 20 minutes but we don't believe it. We had to wait for about 30 minutes for one back to the resort. It was hot so we were happy to be going swimming.

We're waiting... (He seems to always have his eyes closed in pictures.)

We changed and loaded on another shuttle we thought was headed to Typhoon Lagoon. There is a soccer tournament going on so there are a lot of soccer players of all ages from all over the world. The cast members were trying to get them to Epcot quickly so they had a few charter buses they asked to drive the teams to Epcot. There were only 4 of us not affiliated with the soccer teams in the line and there was a miscommunication. The regular shuttles go to Epcot and then on to Typhoon Lagoon. The shuttle we got on only went to Epcot. But once there they found another shuttle to take us to the water park. So it all worked out.

I didn't take the phone with us so I don't have any photos but we had a blast! We first went right back to the Shark Tank and went snorkeling with sharks, sting rays and all kinds of fish. It was neat and the fish were not shy and would almost hit into you. 

Ethan wanted to just hang out in the pool so we went to the huge wave pool. A boom would sound and then a huge wave would come out. It was massive and you had to watch yourself or you would smash into people. We decided we need one in St. George. We stayed in the water for a long time. 

I wanted to go down the lazy river on tubes so we tried that but it was really packed and hard to just relax so we only floated half of it before we went back to the pool to play in the massive waves.

We decided to go back to the Shark Reef and snorkel a couple more times before going back to the room. Then we were ready to go.

Once back at our hotel, we took showers and caught another shuttle to Downtown Disney for dinner. Ethan wanted shrimp but the line tithe Rainforest Cafe was 1 1/2 hour long. But the woman told us that if we only had 2 people that we could find a seat at the bar. So we are there and it was quick and easy.

Ethan saw that there was a Lego store so we had to make a bee line there. Ethan had his allowance just burning a hole in his pocket. He bought some mini figures and a Lego kit.

Then we went back to the hotel. It was a fun day!

T-shirt relay

Swim team last Thursday was a fun day for the kids. It was really cloudy so there weren't too many kids who showed up for practice. The Wednesday before practice had been moved inside for lightening and they had to lift weights. This wasn't popular so I think some kids skipped Thursday because they thought it would be cancelled again and they didn't want to chance having to lift weights again. ;)

But the kids just played relay games. I got pictures of the t-shirt relay where the first person swam 25 meters and them had to take the wet shirt off, give it to the next person, they put it on then swam 24 meters back. There were 6 kids on each team. It was fun to watch!

She's Tall!!

Courtney was playing at the neighbors house when their babysitter sent me this photo.  I don't know exactly how Courtney got so tall but I'm sure there was a ladder involved!

Don't get the paper wet!

At swim team on Monday Ethan's group played a bunch of games aimed at getting them to swim faster and smarter.  It was really fun to watch.  Ethan is a great swimmer and has a lot of confidence.

Here are photos of the last game.  They had to hold a piece of paper in their hand and swim, one armed, to the other side of the pool while keeping the paper dry.  Ethan was really fast at it but at the end he forgot which hand he was supposed to keep dry.  But his time was the fastest of his team so they called it a wash.  The losers had to do push ups so he was really happy he had been fast!