This is the trip that never ends! Yes it goes on and on my friends.. 10 days o' pics!

[winkers]

Word. My 13 year old son was chasing after them, clapping like a darn fool and repeating every chant they bellowed out.

I tried to stop him. Sort of...

my 16 yr old was just drooling......

 

[Sarilas]

Ah, what a difference a few years makes... lol

 

[Sarilas]

Back at Port Orleans Riverside we decided to go grab some quick service from Riverside Mill, and then go BACK to Downtown Disney because we were TOO EXCITED TO SLEEP.

Riverside Mill was never 'busy' the entire time we were there. Even at peak meal hours it was super quick and easy to grab a hot meal. Two thumbs up!

Fish sticks, pizza and kids chicken nuggets (QS Dining, henceforth known as QSD), fruit bowl (snack credit).

Jose's beef 'n bleu cheese sandwich. (QSD) He was 'meh' about it.

Kyle's burger

Somebody's brownie and MY Magic Bar. Oh, Magic Bar, how I love thee. Let me count the ways... (Why are they always better when you buy them than they are when you make them at home?)

When dinner was finished we all headed back to DD!

The kids spotted a bunny hiding outside Ghiradelli!

Tinkerbell takes flight... sort of.

And Kyle spent some more of his Disney allowance.

Before we headed home for the night we decided to grab a snack here!

Then it was back to the boat dock and time to head 'home'.

What's this? LIGHTS? Who on earth cold I have been thinking of when I was taking pictures of lights? (Happy Birthday, LL!)

Treehouse Villa closest to the golf course.

Stasia was OVER having the breeze from the boat blow her hair in her face. And she hates ponytails. This should say everything you need to know about how she was feeling about the boat by this time.

Looky... lights INSIDE the Villa!

Back at the room, I let the kids open and attempt to dig in to their snacks... This was the oreo cookie:

And pretzel sticks!

As the sugar rushes subsided we tucked in for the night, prepared to get up early in the morning and head to Animal Kingdom.

Lexi was sleeping in a Pack 'n Play. Lexi HATED THE PACK AND PLAY. She cried so much, and I felt so badly for her. We kept taking her out and hugging her, talking to her and telling her that it was alright, she was just going to go night-night and we'd all be with her in the morning. She was having none of it.

So night #1... less than stellar. (It did get easier for her as the 10 days went on, but she was just SO confused as to where her crib was and why we were in this strange place... Poor baby.)

Up next... Animal Kingdom, here we come!

 

[GeminiAngel]

Okay, back from the great beyond am I, and ready to pick up where I left off which was... at the beginning of course!

First thing first: I've missed you guys! Lots has been going on here, including my Dad's dialysis, my husband's final year of school, and my oldest two kids returning to public school so that I could go back to university myself! I'm a college student, again. I've gone back to get my Bachelor degree in Social Science and consequently my teaching license for secondary education. I am VERY excited about it, if not a little bit exhausted and schizophrenic (mom, daughter, wife, nurse, student, you get the idea). We're also planning on moving to California next year, which should prove to be interesting with seven people.

But this trip report is about something else entirely, isn't it! We had a fantastic time, I took over 3,000 pictures and I've even got video to share with you all.

See you in my next post for Day 1 of 10!

Welcome Back!!! I really thought you were gone for good!
What a busy bee you have been. Wonderful news, you going back to school.
So far your report is just great. The photos are fantastic. I'm along for the ride.

 

[Sarilas]

It was really starting to feel like I was gone for good. NOT a feeling I enjoyed, believe me.

I'm glad you're along for the ride... after all you are IN THE REPORT! lol

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a shame that Jose was not feeling good .

Ah, Legos and Light sabers -- Connor would approve.

I am sitting here reading your update while I eat lunch, and now I really wish I had those fish and chips and a giant covered and smothered Oreo instead of a sandwich and chips. Disney food is always so yummy!

 

[Sarilas]

Kyle's light saber ended up being double sided. I was telling him there is no way the CM's were going to let him make a dual sided light saber, and not only did they let him they were hooking him up with extra crystals and what not! He was in hog heaven.

Dang that fish was good. lol

 

[Sarilas]

ah, morning.

On this morning we waited for the bus at the front of the resort; it was a bit of a hike but we weren't sure where the other bus stop was, and didn't want to risk figuring it out!

The wait was never very long at all, except for one day which I can no longer even remember.

Stasia was a wee bit apprehensive about this whole bus thing.

The driver gave Kyle a handful of bus cards!

It was just a LITTLE bit sunny that morning...

Before you knew it we were pulling into the lot at AK and practically running for the entrance! (Again, we were just a we bit excited!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTbswi9hEbc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTZbxhtlUlc

And we were standing with the rest of the crowd, ready for rope drop!

Then it happened... I spotted our first PhotoPass photog and made the family stop cold for a picture!

Don't they look... confused?!

Then he said for everybody to ROAR! And I'm the only one who did!

Needless to say, we had a little discussion about doing what the PhotoPass guy says for you to do! And they did. Do you love Stasia hiding her face? She was having NONE of this!

That all changed when we saw THIS though!

And THIS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgWEQ9Q2iYI

We knew exactly where we wanted to go first. So off we went to search for Expedition Everest!

 

[Sarilas]

We let the boys go off on their own to ride Everest first... and check them out talking all kinds of smack about it! Don't worry... Everest took revenge on Jose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j29A8jkfm4I

Looks like it was easy enough to find!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWuDD49dt6o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwo5pz1yWdI

There was absolutely no line, and we enjoyed that same lack of line atmosphere almost the entire ten days of our trip! (Late January in WDW gets two thumbs up!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjNL_9voGms

Jose started to get a bit nervous...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFYXE1AIMhI

Pardon my husbands mouth as the train begins its ascent in this video... you have been warned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRptFGl32aE

And when it was all over?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4uOm6YYbZ4

Meanwhile, the girls and I meandered slowly through the park, taking pictures and enjoying the amazing detail on everything.

As we passed Y&Y we decided this is where we'd have our QS lunch at the counter next door!

The shrine

Tatiana

LOVE the signs

And the lights, flags... everything was just awesome.

And we finally found where we needed to wait for the boys!

I don't know what's better here. Random rug-rats picking their noses in the background or the look on my husband's face...

The first thing Kyle did was RUN to get these:

Which he and I used later in the day.

Coming up next... What is this ride exactly? And way to go, MOM!

 

[winkers]

The EE picture is hilarious!! Between the nose miners, Jose's look or fear and your sons rather bored expression......

You took great pictures around everest! Gorgeous!

 

[Sarilas]

Thank you! I love the heck out of my camera. I can't wait to take more pics when we go back in November, now that I know how to really work the darn thing!

 

[JenAusty]

Your food looks yummy. Especially the brownie.

I love all your pictures. They are all clear and so focuses and bright. What camera do you use?! and your zoom capability is awesome. I need a new camera sooo bad. And I'm actually searching to buy a new one.

Goofy's Candy Co.!!!!!! Your snacks look soo yummy.

I love the second pic with a rawr!

Great pics of Animal Kingdom!

I like EE- but it was a little to intense for me.. and it seems that way for your Husband.. but the kids in the back are funny.

 

[If U Had Wings]

You have some wonderful pictures from the Animal Kingdom. I had to laugh over the videos from Everest. I love how your DH progresses from talking smack to the "Oh Nos!". The picture of him and Kyle is priceless.

 

[Sarilas]

I'm reading your TR right now, Jen!

The camera is a Nikon D40. When we started planning our January trip I researched every DSLR camera known to man, because I wanted to take amazing pics for our first trip to the World. The D40 delivered, big time! I seriously love it.

 

[Sarilas]

You have some wonderful pictures from the Animal Kingdom. I had to laugh over the videos from Everest. I love how your DH progresses from talking smack to the "Oh Nos!". The picture of him and Kyle is priceless.

I know, my husband had me ROLLING when we came home and watched all the videos. He can't wait to go back and take more videos.

I kept trying to convince Kyle that he really did want to go, but he so totally doesn't. Sigh. I'm taking him to the Paramore concert on November 1st as a belated birthday present; that's his Disney right now, I suppose.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Poor Jose......

Kyle looks like a pretty good sport around his sisters: that's a tough ration 1 older brother to 3 younger sisters...i love that he wanted legos and a light saber...DD's male friends are kind of cute that way...they'll get all excited and want to play with DS's toys...there girls are kind of busy being "Mature"...

Your photos are lovely...beautiful pictures...

Poor Lexi-I hope she gets a little use to her PACK AND PLAY...

 

[Sarilas]

Kyle's a really good kid; he didn't want to do the whole character thing at first but I convinced him it was mandatory. Meaning I begged him to do it for the family. lol

I think Lexi will be alright, though I have a feeling the first night or two might be a bit of a battle. This time I think we can be a bit more prepared though. We'll have her own pillow and blanky and such since we're driving down and don't need to worry so much about space for packing like we did when we flew...

 

[Sarilas]

Following the guys' memorable ride on EE, we followed the Yeti prints to discover new territory.

And we came upon this!

It was a really chilly morning and the girls were still on the cranky side so once again Jose and Kyle decided to give it a whirl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPcUTSwQoF4

And Jose got a little of the ride on video before the shaking made the camera go kaput.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3glONXE1ac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUfQ5Qph-cw

While the guys were on the ride I noticed Goofy and Pluto just around the corner at a picture spot!

I'm not sure what's going on with Tatiana's hair here, but I love it.

Doesn't this just say EVERYTHING! Bless her heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irCd_7Zrts4

Genius flower border...

Coming up next... How to soothe the savage 3 year old.

 

[Sarilas]

So, yeah. Anastasia was REALLY freaked out by the characters. This was her first ever trip where anything that large was waving wildly at her while we photographed the goings on. I'll start saving for her therapy.

I thought, "Oh, the boneyard! Stasia will love that!"

Not so much.

But he did!

Finally it was clear that there was only one way to tame the beast that was our cranky 3 year old.

That's right. Snack time!

And suddenly all was right with the world!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8fQomr_yjg

It was pretty clear that lunch was in order by this time, so we headed off for...

Kids chicken 'n fries

Kid, eating the chicken 'n fries (is that not a look of joy?!)

King Pao Beef

Sweet 'n Sour Pork

Shrimp Lo Mein

Key Lime Pie

Chocolate Cake

Coming up next... SERIOUSLY?!

 

[BenA81]

what did she not like about the boneyard? (subbing!)