Dream Big, Live Grand - 4th of July at the Grand Floridian!

[LittleMissMagic]

After dinner, we headed to Downtown Disney for shopping. World of Disney was a madhouse, as usual. We spent a good bit of time in there, though, going through every room. If I bought everything I liked, I'd be taking home the entire store, practically!

Soo... I settled for some practical rainboots.

Don't get your hopes up, ladies... these are kids' rainboots. They did have some cute adult rainboots in another print, though.

Rachel collects these plastic sippy cups...

As well as shot glasses...

After World of Disney, we browsed through Arribas Brothers. I fell in love with this castle and couldn't leave without purchasing it. $37,500? Pfff... pocket change!

I would like to know if anyone has ever bought one of these... I'm sure some rich fool has! Actually, after a closer look, I realized that the Swarvoski crystals on the backside were rather crooked towards the bottom. (My mother has taught me to closely examine every detail before buying.... it kind of takes the joy out of bargain hunting. )

Then, we headed over to TrenD, which is absolutely adorable! Much of the merchandise in the store can be found in other stores, but there were several items exclusive to TrenD. Such as an adorable $90 Minnie Mouse sundress... grr... pass. It was fun to look at, though. Also, they have new Minnie Mouse bow Dooney & Bourke bags, which Rachel now has her eye on. Practical Mother pointed out that white bags could only be carried for two more months, and Rachel didn't like the black version as much.

 

[TyTyandMickey]

I am a Disney freak too! I am 11 years old and I go to Disney still and my Mom is telling me that if I get bored with WDW That is NOT true!! Glad you are a Disney Freak

 

[LittleMissMagic]

The next morning we got up for what else but AK EMH ropedrop?

Of course, Rach was dragging...

Changed the bows for AK day...

We were headed to the parking lot to drive to AK when we noticed the AK bus pull into the GF. So, we took the bus, instead.

Of course we didn't actually make it to rope drop, but we got there soon enough. The park was practically empty.

Dad ran ahead to FP Expedition Everest. Then, we all went through stand-by. 5-minute wait.

Some guy in front of Dad was taking pictures, which made him feel the need to do so. (Dad's scenery pictures are pretty good... people, not so much)

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Rachel and I got to ride in the front row!!! It was awesome!

Hahaha!!! Mom and Dad!!!!!!

Most I've ever been able to see from up here...

What's really cool that we never knew before is that they don't switch tracks (like they do to take cars in and out of Big Thunder Mountain and the like) after going backwards to going forwards - the track actually flips over from the backwards track to the forwards track. It's really cool to watch, so next time you're in the front row on Expedition Everest (or you could peek your head around the side), watch how the track flips in front of you!

 

[disneylovin24]

Those bags are really cute. How did your mom make them? (I think I read that she made them.)

I love the shirt your sister wore to AK

 

[blackdogg]

love the report i was there with my family the week or so after you guys amazing time... needing to work on the report of my own!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Those bags are really cute. How did your mom make them? (I think I read that she made them.)

I love the shirt your sister wore to AK

My mom sews and appliques. She looked around for a pattern for the bag but never found one, so she came up with her own by looking at other string bags we have.

The shirt is from Old Navy. I think they recently got Disney character lincensing. So... she had a bunch of twins that day!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

The wait was still short, so we rode Expedition Everest, again! Mom sat out, this time. She said that it was funny because after we left she watched another family do the exact same thing... everyone else went back to the entrance, but mom said, "I think I'll sit this one out - can I hold your bags?"

We didn't get the front, this time. So now we're spoiled front seat hogs!

 

[heaven2dc]

Cool pics!! Love the story about mom - I'm the mom though that loves riding in the front seat! I got spoiled on my trip with ex-BFF in 2008 where we got front seat of every ride we went on without asking! Even when we rode Soarin' - we got middle top row for our very first ride on Soarin'

 

[eculmone]

Oh... another note on the tour group from Argentina.... most all of the girls(including the 12-13 year olds) were wearing thong bottoms. At first I was like, what the heck, why would you wear a thong to a waterpark? But then I realized that if you're already wearing a thong, then you don't have to worry about getting a wedgie on the waterslides!

 

[johnsonet]

GREAT TR! Really enjoying it. Y'all are TOO cute
The bags your mom made are adorable - she should sell them on etsy!
LOVE your EE pics
Great to see the Grand looking so good - it's nice how they've furnished the outer building lobbies with real furniture. Haven't stayed in any outer lodge buildings since they've done that. Looks good!
Totally agree about 1900 PF for dinner

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Dad went to FP Dinosaur, and Mom, Rachel, and I headed towards Kilimanjaro Safari. We bought some fruit for breakfast in Harambe Village. I got apples with caramel dip... there wasn't quite enough caramel dip for the apples. We bought pineapple for dad. While we were eating our fruit, we realized that there must have just been a rope drop, because all of a sudden the people started picking up - all walking fast and getting in line for the safari. So, we decided we ought to go ahead and get in line.

Here's my safari pictures:

Wild Africa Trek rope bridge:

Wild Africa Trek safari truck:

 

[LittleMissMagic]

You can never have too many photos of the safari... (the following photos are from the Canon)

 

[LittleMissMagic]

There were many giraffes on this safari. I feel like you're always very likely to see giraffes.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

The elephants were in hiding, though. And there was a surprising number of rhino! They must've all been out and about this morning.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

After Kilamanjaro Safaris, we (err... Dad) decided to do something we hadn't done in several years - Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. Of course, Rachel isn't one for nature or exhibits... so she fussed the entire time. "Okay, you've seen in - come on! Let's walk!" (Says the girl who is never in a hurry!) The first time I go to Disney without her, I plan to spend an extensive amount of time exploring World Showcase and the Living Seas in Epcot, as well as Animal Kingdom!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I feel like many families have that one uncle/brother/grandparent that whenever someone sees a monkey, they say, "Hey, look - there's Uncle whatever!" Well, for us it has always been Uncle John. Whenever my Dad sees a monkey or a gorilla - "Hey, look - it's Uncle John! huh huh huh!" (remember Dad's laugh? ) So... here's Uncle John.

Dad's idea...

 

[LittleMissMagic]

We then headed to Festival of the Lion King. We were there about 30-40 minutes early, so we got first pick of seats. Of course, the front row seats are for wheelchairs, so we sat on the first row you can actually sit on.

I kind of hope that this show never really changes. It's been pretty much the same ever since I can remember it (with the exception of the now-talking Timon), and I love it.

 

[Disfan3]

I definitely need to read back but wanted to say:

I agree on your assessment of the GF, especially the non-shelved bathrooms!!! EEERRGH!!! Impossible when you have more than one woman/lady/girl in a room!! My friends and I (were in Sugar Loaf in Feb) all brought our hanging Vera organizers and hung them on the towel rods... I never thought I would like the GF but I do. I really do! I loved club level even more! I truly do, still, prefer the Polynesian but the GF is an awesome resort. The smell....mmmmm!! Love!

Your bags are way cute!

Can't wait to read more...on my way to read back!!

Thanks!


p.s. I cannot believe that waitress yelled at that poor man like that!! She is so lucky it was not ME she was yelling at...I would have not been so nice!

 

[Merida]

Your dad's pictures are really cute! My dad likes to cut off people's heads in pictures, so that's my basis of comparison, though.

I've never spent a lot of time in Animal Kingdom and it does seem kind of under-appreciated sometimes. So many fun places to explore! Of course, I'm the type of person who will take five zillion pictures of the same bighorn sheep while on Pike's Peak, so I guess it takes a certain type of personality. The pictures of the animals are great!