Friends & Fun, a Fabulous First Family Trip

[ellajeansmom]

Day 8 - May 9

Our last day had arrived but our flight was not until 3:30 so we were going to stretch out the WDW magic as long as possible!

We had ADRs at ‘Ohana for 8:30 this morning. Everyone got up and dressed and we were on our way shortly after 8:00. The Poly has such a lush, beautiful lobby, the girls and I were most impressed! We checked in and were given a pager. We took some pics to pass the time:

After 5 or 10 minutes our pager buzzed and flashed and we were shown to our table. Our server quickly brought our juice which we all enjoyed and the food arrived shortly. Mickey was at our table almost right away:

Then Lilo came

About 10 minutes later we met Stitch:

And finally Pluto

The girls thought it very funny how Pluto put the books on his nose to sign them! We all had our fill of Mickey waffles and scrambled eggs and sausage – I thought E would eat more but he said although it was all delicious he was full from eating all week!

They did the parade as we were waiting for the bill:

On the way out E stopped at the gift shop so I took some more pics of the girls while we waited

We went back to our room, finished packing and loaded everything in the car. We drove over to DD with the goals of picking up a few specific souvenirs (photo album, gift for my nephew, gift for a co-worker of E’s who is a Disney fan and just adopted a baby, gifts for Ella’s class) and getting a hair wrap for Jean – after seeing Ella’s she wanted one too.

We found the hair wrap booth and the CM said to come back in 20 minutes as he had just started a new customer so we went to World of Disney

and immediately lost E. The girls and I found a few of the things we needed and then we finally found E – I swear he was worse than the kids the whole trip for just wandering off! I handed over our selections to him and instructed him and Ella on what else to get while Jean and I went back for the hair wrap.

I was a little worried when we got there as there were some other people now also waiting but the CM remembered us and Jean went next. After Ella’s costing so much yesterday I knew to ask it be done on the short side of her part and we didn’t pick nearly as many beads (those are extra) as Ella had. Jean’s ended up coming to $24 (compared to $37 for Ella’s) which was almost exactly how much spending money she had left.

We saw a stand selling frozen lemonade and strawberry which Jean immediately wanted, seeing as we had a bunch of snack credits left I figured why not. So we shared that while we waited for E and Ella. Of course once Ella saw that Jean had a snack she wanted one too, so we got some popcorn and a bottled water. It was getting close to the time we needed to leave – I suggested that we get some take out sandwiches from the EofS to have at the airport but it was so hot E was concerned they would go yucky by the time we got there. In reality I think he was starting to get antsy about the flight and just wanted to get going because the car had air conditioning, it would have been fine. Anyways I didn’t want to argue, so we headed to the car stopping to take some pics with the Lego displays

Ella didn't want to be out in the sun so Jean carried on solo

Ella was able to hide in the shade here - she's not letting go of that bag of popcorn!

On the way to the car Jean insisted on stopping for a couple more photo ops (I think she was trying to find ways to not leave)

I didn't get the best angle on this to reduce the reflection but hopefully you get the idea - Cinderella's skirt is made up of Cinderella dolls. The girls thought this was very cool!

Putting all the new purchases in the trunk we realized we were going to have to do some luggage re-arranging at the airport before checking in! As we drove past the "Welcome to WDW" sign I told the girls to turn around and wave good-bye. Apparently Jean didn’t fully realize that we were actually leaving to go home because when we pulled up to return the car and E said everyone out Jean asked where we were and why. We replied that we were at the airport and we needed to get all our stuff out of the car so it could be returned. Jean burst into tears and kept saying over and over “I don’t want to leave!”. A porter helped us get all the luggage inside and we directed him to a quiet area so we could do the afore-mentioned re-arranging. Jean was still sobbing and Ella just quietly sat in a chair with tears streaming down her face I have to admit to feeling a bit teary myself but tried not to let it show as that would not have helped the girls at that point We got everything organized and Jean calmed down – she then started asking when we were coming back, this girl doesn't miss a beat! We replied that we didn’t really know when but we would most definitely be back – that seemed to help.

Check-in and security were uneventful and we were soon waiting at our gate. E decided to go and get some sandwiches – it was getting close to 2pm and none of us were really hungry but figured we would be sometime soon. He came back with a funny look on his face and I asked if there was a problem – he said no, not really but we really aren’t at Disney anymore. I said yeah, what makes you say that, and he replied that the person who sold him the sandwiches barely smiled and did not wish him a magical day I laughed and said welcome back to the real world!

The flight was relatively smooth and once we arrived in Detroit our luggage came almost right away. We had some trouble finding the shuttle back to the hotel to get our car but after 3 or 4 calls back and forth we finally connected. At the hotel we piled into our car, stopped at the Tim Horton’s down the street for some dinner to go and then we were on the last leg of the journey home. About an hour in Jean fell asleep and Ella followed about 45 minutes later. We crossed the border with no problems and finally pulled into our own driveway around 11:30.

We all slept in the next day - no big surprise there! I don't think you really realize how much you're doing at WDW until you get home and stop! Jean and I went to get groceries and printed all the pictures that I had deemed “print-worthy” – still more than the 200 I had room for in the album! – and actually managed to get them in the album just as E’s parents and sister arrived to go out with us for a Mother’s Day meal. We had a great time re-living our amazing week showing them all the pictures and telling all our stories!

Well I guess that’s it – we had a fabulously fun time and can’t wait to go back!

In the next day or so I will pull together our favourite moments and final thoughts.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

so sad

I could sure use some of those mickey waffles and juice right now!!

 

[Angies1274]

Aww...such a sad day. Poor Jean and Ella when they finally realized you were leaving. WDW is such a magical place, it's always sooo hard to say goodbye.

But on a brighter note, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Ohana's!! We love breakfast there--very yummy!! My son still talks about the juice!! Great pictures with the characters!! Your daughters are too cute!!!

My DH did the same thing when we got to World of Disney this year. He wandered off, and I had the hardest time finding him.I guess he was just looking for that perfect sovenier....who knows.

I'm anxious to hear your favorite moments and final thoughts.

 

[ellajeansmom]

so sad

I could sure use some of those mickey waffles and juice right now!!

They were sooo good - I could go for them anytime, anyday

Aww...such a sad day. Poor Jean and Ella when they finally realized you were leaving. WDW is such a magical place, it's always sooo hard to say goodbye.

But on a brighter note, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Ohana's!! We love breakfast there--very yummy!! My son still talks about the juice!! Great pictures with the characters!! Your daughters are too cute!!!

My DH did the same thing when we got to World of Disney this year. He wandered off, and I had the hardest time finding him.I guess he was just looking for that perfect sovenier....who knows.

I'm anxious to hear your favorite moments and final thoughts.

We knew they would be sad but we didn't expected the full out sobbing

Thanks, we think they are cuties but we're a little biased

At least I could usually guess where he was (comes with being married for 13 years!) but it was annoying to have to either wait or track him down. If that was our worst problem though we did pretty well

I have to poll the family still to get their opinions but will try to have it posted by the end of the week

 

[ellajeansmom]

I'm back and finally sitting down to do my "wrap-up"...it always takes me longer to pack for a weekend at the cottage than I think it will and then I don't have time for fun things like this

By the way for us finally having a hot sunny weekend in southwestern Ontario this summer - it was almost too hot and humid! As luck would have it we spent most of the weekend with the D-family (our friends that spent the day at Epcot with us), we decided that there must be something about our families vacationing together that ends up with hot weather

So, I polled the family to get everybody's favourites and we all decided that it was a very difficult exercise to narrow down all that fun to single attractions or moments! But after much discussion (which was fun in itself!) we came up with the following:

Favorite Meal
E - Artiste Pointe (the food was amazing!)
Jean - 'Ohana (we met Stitch)
Ella - Cinderella's Royal Table (princesses, in the castle no less)
also being able to eat in different countries around World Showcase was very cool
L - a tie between Artiste Pointe (divine food) and CRT (its the castle and the food was much better than I anticipated)

Favourite MK moment
BBB was the favourite MK moment for all 4 of us
Honourable Mentions are BTMR (Ella) and Peter Pan (L)

Favourite EPCOT moment
E & L - Soarin'
Jean - Turtle Talk with Crush ("even though Crush didn't actually talk to me")
Ella - a tie between Spaceship Earth and Soarin'

Favourite AK moment
E & L - Festival of the Lion King
Jean & Ella - Kilimanjaro Safari (from Jean "I was just so happy that the baby elephant was saved!")

Favourite HS moment
E - Muppets 3D
Jean - Tower of Terror
Ella - Indiana Jones stunt show
L - Toy Story Mania

The overall best memory of the week
E - the crying at the airport (not that it was good or funny but showed us how great of a time the girls had and made us so thankful that we were able to do this trip )
Jean - meeting all the princesses and also spending the day with the D-family
Ella - spending time with 2 of her best friends at this magical place
L - the BBB experience rates really high...the girls had looked so forward to this and it did not disappoint at all
Also pulling off the surprise of spending time with the D-family...as I said before, the look on Ella's face was priceless and still makes me laugh when I think of it!

When I look back at our "favourite things" the conclusion that I've come to is that WDW really provides a place and an atmosphere to allow adults to have fun like kids do, its a pure and simple fun. As the parent there's so many things that you don't have to worry about so you have the freedom to kick back, relax and have fun with your kids (or whoever you are with!). I'm not sure if I described that very well but its the best I can do!

To close off, we finally got the pictures from Ella's camera downloaded to our computer so I will share some of those. She didn't take all that many - she kept forgetting that she actually had her camera with her (can't say I blame her!).

Exploring Cinderella's fountain on our first night (I took the pics but Ella wanted them on her camera)

From the aquariums at the Seas Pavillion:
a fish

a stingray

She got a great shot (I think!) of the Fantasmic! stage just at dusk:

and various "wildlife" around POR throughout the week:

Thank you very much to everyone who read along and for all your comments. I had fun doing this report and I hope you enjoyed reading it!!

 

[Angies1274]

I had so much fun reading along and again I'm so sad that it's over. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip and took home alot of great memories with you.

Loved the list of your favorites!! Soarin' was definitely a favorite Epcot moment for us as well.--and after seeing all your great BBB pictures, I can understand why it topped your list in MK.

Ella got some great pictures!! Especially the one of the Fantasmic stage!! Wow!!

I agree with your conclusion. Disney is such a magical place and I think it does give adults the opportunity to feel like a kid again, to relax and have fun!! I think you described it perfectly.

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[dd50]

Great trip report. It is funny that you liked CRT but that was the best meal that I had when we went and I thought it was going to be the worse.

Yes, I do believe that WDW does bring out the child in every one.

 

[ellajeansmom]

I had so much fun reading along and again I'm so sad that it's over. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip and took home alot of great memories with you.

Loved the list of your favorites!! Soarin' was definitely a favorite Epcot moment for us as well.--and after seeing all your great BBB pictures, I can understand why it topped your list in MK.

Ella got some great pictures!! Especially the one of the Fantasmic stage!! Wow!!

I agree with your conclusion. Disney is such a magical place and I think it does give adults the opportunity to feel like a kid again, to relax and have fun!! I think you described it perfectly.

Thanks for sharing!!

Thanks for sticking with me!! I'm glad you enjoyed it

It was really fun to go through everybody's favourites - some were surprising, like Jean with TTwithCrush because we don't talk about that one very much and don't have pictures of it, or Ella choosing Indiana Jones at HS over Little Mermaid and Beauty & the Beast.

BBB is an amazing experience for little girls who like to dress up - even if you only did the basic package they really do treat you like royalty We are very lucky to have a wonderful extended family that made it possible for the girls to experience the full deal!

Your family must be so excited - your trip is almost here Have wonderful, magical time, can't wait to read all about it!!

Great trip report. It is funny that you liked CRT but that was the best meal that I had when we went and I thought it was going to be the worse.

Yes, I do believe that WDW does bring out the child in every one.

Thank you! I knew I would enjoy CRT just for the fact that we were eating in the castle but like you it was a nice surprise that the food was also very good

Yep, the child in me was definitely out - at home I fit the typical conservative accountant image but at WDW I can start dancing in the street when I hear the HSM music

Looks like your next trip is not until next summer but I'm sure the time will fly by!

 

[dismagiclover]

I just read through your whole report and loved it! (And neglected my poor children for an hour or so) That first trip is just so magical! And you have a little thrill seeker in your youngest! I can't believe she loved Splash Mountain and willingly went on Tower of Terror I agree with you about how Disney is a place where grown ups can be kids and parents can just relax and enjoy their kids. It is definitely set up to just have fun and experience Magic. That is why we all keep going back! Anyway I loved your report. Thanks for taking the time to do it and I hope you get back sooner rather than later

 

[ellajeansmom]

I just read through your whole report and loved it! (And neglected my poor children for an hour or so) That first trip is just so magical! And you have a little thrill seeker in your youngest! I can't believe she loved Splash Mountain and willingly went on Tower of Terror I agree with you about how Disney is a place where grown ups can be kids and parents can just relax and enjoy their kids. It is definitely set up to just have fun and experience Magic. That is why we all keep going back! Anyway I loved your report. Thanks for taking the time to do it and I hope you get back sooner rather than later

Thanks so much for coming over, glad you enjoyed it

Jean is definitely a thrill seeker, and proud of it too

I would love to go back sooner but it likely won't be for a couple of years -brother getting married in Ireland next summer takes a huge chunk out of the travel budget...too bad I can't convince them to do a destination wedding at WDW But even if its a couple of years away that just means I have extra time for planning all sorts of possibilities - I described the Beach Club to DH and he is intrigued Thanks again for reading