Vacation with the Mouse

We took a family vacation to Disney World in mid February.  This was our first time back since 2010, even though it does not seem like it has been that long ago!  The weather went from sunny and in the 80s to rainy to a freeze warning our last night there.  In any case, it was warmer than Illinois!  As usual, I took hundreds of photos on the trip, and I have narrowed it down to some of my favorites.  We attended four character meals while on vacation (those continue to be Olivia and Ethan's favorite activities at Disney) and I promise I do not include all of those character photos!

 

Olivia with chocolate mouse ears ice cream - classic treat!

 



We ate at 1900 Park Fare for the first time.  This dinner has Cinderella, her Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming (although he was NOT at all charming at the dinner!), and two stepsisters.  We first "met" the stepsisters at a 2009 Halloween Disney event and they are hilarious!  So, we of course had to see them again, and they did not disappoint.  We waited by this Mary Poppins topiary while our table was prepared.

 

During Cinderella and Prince Charming's waltz, Ethan asked Anastasia to dance with him.  They proceeded to jump up and down as fast as they could for their "dance".  After the dance was done, Ethan promptly asked Anastasia to marry him and she accepted.  They were to be married the next day at sunset, but sadly we did not specify the location so it did not happen.

Unbelievably, this was the same Drizella that we had met at Halloween in 2009!  She is hilarious!  The best facial expressions, so fun with the kids, shouting at kids to come back to their table when she was there, wearing Olivia's sunglasses, etc.  

We have learned proper Disney balloon etiquette - buy one the first day so you can enjoy it in the hotel the longest, and buy it at the end of the day since you can't take them on the rides!  These also glowed in the dark.

Olivia enjoys upsetting Donald Duck by telling him that he is #2 and that Mickey is #1 (Donald signs the autograph book "Donald Duck #1).  (at Cape May breakfast)

 

Epcot - my favorite park!  The kids had a great time there this vacation visiting all of the different countries in the world showcase and getting their passport signed in the different laguages.  We really explored Epcot in more detail this time, even completing a secret agent game in China.

 



 

You have to love Nemo!

Classic Dale playing keep away with the autograph book with Chip!

 



We met several new characters this year - including Wreck It Ralph and Vanellope at Hollywood Studios.

 



 

The kids on the Star Wars speeder bike.  Joe is, to put it mildly, ecstatic that Disney has bought Star Wars and is hoping that they expand Hollywood Studios with a much larger Star Wars section.

 



 

Yep, picking the Norway's troll's nose in Epcot.

 

Waiting for Fantasmic.  Sadly, it was cancelled due to the wet conditions.  We have never seen it :(

 

Merida (from Brave) was by far the longest character line, but both wanted to meet her since when you were done you then moved on to an archery section to practice.

 

Gaston quickly became our second favorite character (after Drizella) of the trip.  He was a lot of fun, egging Ethan on to clap for him and sticking out his tongue at Olivia's "Girls Unite" shirt.

 



We think that Ethan loves meeting the princesses.  Here he is asking Cinderella to see her glass slippers before eating at Cinderella's Castle.  They had a very long conversation.

 



 

Ariel and Aurora got into a big discussion when Ethan told Ariel that a fork is for eating and not for combing hair, even though Scuttle had told Ariel that a fork is a comb.  It was never sorted out between the princesses.

 



 

Joe and I had to get our picture with Jasmine and Aladdin since Aladdin was our first "official" date (the date when I wasn't grounded).  We have loved the movie ever since!

 

Ethan and Tigger sharing a moment after bouncing together.

 

 

The kids were lucky enough to participate in the Jedi Training at Hollywood Studios.  As Olivia told the Jedi leading the group "this is my dad's dream come true!"  And when he asked Olivia if it was also her dream, she didn't respond!  Our kids battled Darth Vader while Darth Maul battled a second group of padawans.  Luckily, we defeated the Empire.

 

 

Leaving Hollywood Studios!  Goodbye Disney!  We plan to return in 2015!