Breakfast in Animal Kingdom at Tuskar House with Daisy Duck & Mickey (below)
To say this trip was PRICELESS is truly an understatement. Other than the first day where we were in our big jackets and wind burnt we had the best weather, the best experience and most of all the BEST COMPANY!! When we booked this trip I threw the idea out there that we would appreciate any company that wanted to attend. Literally very last minute, like a month in advance, did the Beach's decide that their schedules could accomodate a trip to Disney. The best part is that still neither Addi or Arden knew about either of their trips. Addi thought we were going to the beach for mommy's birthday.
I don't regret for one minute not telling her any sooner. IF you know our Addi you know 1)she talks non-stop, with no taking breaths and jumps from one thought to another so you better keep up and 2)she talks non-stop, with no taking breaths and jumps from one thought to another so you better keep up. HA! I just couldn't handle telling her at Christmas, which was way before we booked the trip, and having to not only hear it 24/7 for 100+ days nor could I handle telling her that was her Christmas present yet nothing to show for it. Needless to say we down played Christmas a bit this year. And what was even more difficult was the fact that we booked this trip with no notification to any "grands" what so ever - we felt terrible but we knew we wanted to do this before baby Harper arrives but at that point still had not told anyone I was pregnant. We came very close to slipping several times.
We were non-stop from the time we arrived at Magic Kingdom until we left Downtown Disney our very last night.
So we had planned on bumping into the Beach's as we strolled along through Magic Kingdom. I swear, kids can surprise you no matter what. It was the cutest but really subtle - Arden merely walks up to Addi (Addi does give a bear hug) and say's "Hey Addi, wanna go ride its a small world with me?" And...So we went. I think mom's were way more excited to see each other for sure! We spent the entire day at Magic Kingdom and could not decide whether to stay for fireworks or not as it was frigid. I was not a happy camper because I had extremely high hopes of tanning this blinding body (or at least my arms and face) but that was not happening, or at least not the first day. Thankfully Matt was so thoughtful and had already made reservations at Boma, a delicious buffet at Animal Kingdom Lodge and we had just a little over an hour to get there. ****DISCLAIMER**** I'm fixing to rant and please remember the views expressed here are merely MY OPINION, we all have them so if they are not shared well its my blog, get over it. We waited on our bus to arrive, then waited on 1 of thousands of lazies to be loaded up with their Jazzy Jet, and that in itself was a debacle when the driver is about 100 years old and can barely bend down to buckle the Jazzy Jet or help the "lazy" and their baggage. I'd like to use another word but this is kid friendly here! FINALLY we loaded on the bus to go about 5 feet and ... dum, dum, dum...the bus was going to have to unload us and we were to wait on another. Who knows...I seem to think it was a weight limit issue - ha!
We cut it close, missed our actual reservation but they managed to hold it for us and we enjoyed a very delicious dinner through all the exhaustion. And Matt being incredibly thoughtful again took care of the tab for my birthday...I tell you, blessed isn't even begin. I'm saving my hormonal sappiness for towards the end though.
Our next day was again non-stop. We were up early to be down at the bus at 7:30 for our 8:30 breakfast reservations at Animal Kingdom's Tuskar House. The character breakfast are awesome!!! Not only do you get the one on one time with the individual characters but its so seamless and the staff ensure that each table is visited. The breakfast itself was a pregnant woman's dream, even though I am not real big on a big breakfast. Anything you want its there...Mickey Mouse shaped waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, fritata's, quiche, fresh fruit, bagels, toast, donuts and danishes. I am certain I am forgetting something but you get the idea!!
We left straight from breakfast and hopped onto the safari ride with no wait. The weather was great on this day and the animals were out everywhere. We were so close to them it sometimes got a little scary, in my opinion. I mean waiting on rhino's to cross that were the size of the front of the vehicle was insane. Elephants, rhino's, hippos, gators...the variety was amazing and the kids loved it. So much, we rode again once the Beach's made there way.
Addi was too small to ride Everest and cried about it. Bless her heart - she has no fear sometimes and I wonder whether that is good or bad at times. We did make the mistake of taking both her and Arden on Dinosaur (Just me and Josh might I add) and that was a huge mistake. Neither of the girls liked it at all and in fact Addi was scared to death - Arden had ahold of Josh and definitely was not letting go. We watched the jungle parade and then headed over to Hollywood Studios for Fantasmic. Fantasmic was so cool. The neatest show with fireworks and laser which I might add that Josh almost missed. I won't give details but it involved he and Christy being shut out of the show (that is what they get for being able to ride tower of terror w/out this preggar!), Christy kept going, Josh having an amusement park employee try to stop him and then Matt having to do a search and rescue. It resulted in all of us enjoying the show, together. (Note - everyone's phone at this poing..DEAD. I had all the $ and room key's on me and NO IDEA where my hubby was - I was in panic mode!)
The next day we got up and headed back to Hollywood Studios for more fun. Again, Addi was too small for Rock N Roller Coaster but that kid of mine was all about going on Tower of Terror and could not wait to call Seth and Eli to tell them about her adventure. Although, when asked if she wanted to ride again she passed. We spent most of the day there and then headed back to Magic Kingdom for the fireworks...
Our last day we headed again, back to Magic Kingdom for breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table with the Princess' before the park opened. It was so cool to walk around with no one hardly there, you had to have reservations to get in park that early, and just take it all in - in peace too. I tell you Disney definitely knows what they are doing. My child was in awe from the moment we stepped foot into the castle and each time a Princess came out...but she was waiting for Ariel. The smile on her face when she met Ariel and even got smooches from her was worth every dime we spent and the time it took to plan. I will never, ever forget that moment for as long as I live. She smiled from ear to ear for hours and would constantly ask if Ariel's lips were still in tact on her cheek.
We spent most of this day standing in line for autograph's for those we had not seen just yet, Rapunzel, Tiana and Jasmine/Aladdin. We rode the tea cups, let Addi drive a race car and piddled for a while. We trucked it over to Epcot but in all honesty by this time we were all pooped. We had lunch, visited the Nemo area and just made our way back to the hotel to wish the Beach's a safe trip home and hit the pool. We were able to grab a nap in there too before hitting downtown Disney for shopping and Rainforest Cafe.
We spent our last day going to Sea World. Had I not paid for this prior we probably wouldn't have done it but again, the shows were amazing and we had a really good time. When we finally hit the road there was no stopping daddy and we made it home safely by 11:45 that night and enjoyed a night in our own bed! At this point Addi kept asking when she was going to see her family so we knew we weren't the only one that was ready to be home.
I truly can not explain how exhausting this trip was but the time with my girl, especially right before things are fixing to change ALOT, can never contain a price tag. The experience of getting to watch both Josh and Addi see the castle for the first time EVER was awesome - the awe in both of their eyes, priceless. The time with my hubby and just thinking about where our lives are, how lucky we are to have this beautiful healthy girl and adding another to our family, priceless. The time spent with my best friend, priceless. The time Addi spent with Arden, priceless. Watching Addi interact and be thoughtful and helpful to Brock, priceless.
NOW - I know I have some serious hormones going through this ever expanding body of mine but I thank God every day for the blessings in my life and I tend to wonder what did I do to deserve such a man willing to bend over backwards, drive almost 10 hours listening to "are we there yet" or "I have to pee" 1000 times a day.
My life is definitely full of daily hiccups, frustrations & disappointments but this time with my family allowed me to regroup & thank God for continuing to be a rock in our lives and for keeping us safe.
Lastly, I will say - Disney is truly the MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH but I will NEVER go back pregnant - I love me some roller coasters and thrills and standing on the sidelines was at times no fun, but that is the true definition of being a parent...no fun at times but the reward over all, you know it....Priceless!
