Blessed by Two: Disney Part 2

Ok, after day 1 and 2 we decided to go MGM or Hollywood studios as Disney calls it for Day 3. We started the day with another character breakfast at Hollywood and Vine. The characters at this breakfast were from Playhouse Disney. We got to meet June and Leo from the Little Einsteins and then JoJo the Clown and the lion from that show (obviously we don't watch that show ever- my kids didn't even know who they were but were still happy to meet them). They did some cute songs and dancing with the kids and they seemed to enjoy it. After breakfast we saw The Voyage of the Little Mermaid (which Lorelei of course LOVED!). We did the back lot tour. Oh and I must mention Josh the actor. Please check out the video below. Josh got chosen or rather volunteered to be apart of the show here. He was so funny being the boat deck man and he got totally soaked! Lorelei was freaking out that daddy was out there- you can probably hear her screaming in the video below. Next the kids loved playing on the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. It was so good to let them find some time each day just to play and kind of let loose.

Um, let's see, it's so hard to remember everything we did each day. Paxton and daddy did the Star Wars ride while Lorelei and I got a place for the parade that didn't happen because of rain! So went on to meet, yes, drum roll please, Lightning McQueen and Mater! Lorelei didn't want to meet them, they were life size and a little on the loud side, but boy was Paxton so excited! We had lunch at a place called the Brown Derby, which was supposed to be really nice, but we didn't care for it too much and it took forever. Imagine 5 kids under the age of 6 at a nice restaurant in the middle of Disney and asking them to sit nicely for an hour and a half-not going to happen!

After a very long meal we ran over to catch the Beauty and Beast musical show. It was fabulous and we loved it-Disney does such a great job with these shows, I just can't say it enough. After the show Paxton and Josh went to ride the Tower of Terror! And yes, Josh says it was quite terrifying. He said he didn't think Paxton breathed the whole ride. For those of you unfamiliar with this ride, it is one that takes you up 14 stories and then just drops you- but that's not all- it continues to go up and down random stories until the ride is over. At the time, Paxton was not a fan but now it is all he can talk about. So I think he will ride it again next time!

At this point in the day, the kids were exhausted, no nap today, and it was raining. But, we kept going for the finale of the evening: Fantasmic. We got our seats in the amphitheater about 7:20 and by 7:30 both kids were asleep in our arms. It was raining and we didn't want to move them so we sat there waiting for the show to start. And am I ever glad that we held out. Wow! Fantasmic was incredible!! You sit in this outdoor amphitheater and in front of you is this big mote of water and behind it is like a big mountainous like stage (hard to explain). Fantasmic is about Mickey the sorcerer and his dreams. It was an amazing show with fire, lights, stage performers, water show, boats, fireworks, animals, and everything in between. Lorelei slept through the entire thing but Paxton woke up about half way through and loved it! I was so glad that he got to see it and we can't wait to see it next time with kids who are awake and a dry place to sit!

Ok, on to Day 4. We started this day going back to Polynesian Resort for a character breakfast at Ohanas. The characters here were Lilo and Stitch and then Mickey and gang. Once again the kids got to get in a parade with instruments and march around the restaurant, which they really enjoyed doing. After breakfast we headed to Epcot. Epcot is so neat, once again lots of great childhood memories for me here. We started by doing the Finding Nemo ride and then Turtle Talk with Crush. It's an interactive show where Crush on the screen can "see" people in the audience and respond to their questions as well as ask his own (kind of like Monsters Inc at Magic Kingdom-which I forgot to mention- in Monsters Inc, they singled out Lorelei to be apart of the show and put her on TV several times as a part of the show).

We went to the Land and then on to Imagination (with Figment-Matt I know you remember him!) Next we had a Princess lunch in Norway. It was in their banquet hall and Lorelei was in heaven. We got to meet and see Belle, Aurora, Jasmine, Cinderella and Ariel. They each came to our table for pictures and autographs. Of course not much eating got done but the kids did enjoy it. A cute thing happened with Paxton here, Cinderella was just about to leave us and she told Paxton to close his eyes because she had a secret for him. So he did and she kissed him on the cheek! He thought that was too cool. So for the rest of the week and still now he and Lorelei have been doing that to us, "Close your eyes, I have secret for you. . . kiss!" Too cute!

After the wonderful Princess lunch we did the Norway Viking ride and the Mexico ride. Then we headed back to the resort for a nap. Once again the kids really needed it! After naptime we returned to Epcot and Paxton and I rode Soarin', an amazing ride that makes you feel like you are flying. Then we went over to the big ball to ride Spaceship Earth and then Paxton and Josh went to ride Test Track. This is a ride by GE that stimulates you being in a test car. They go fast and spin you out and all kinds of things. Josh says it was his favorite ride for the whole week. I didn't ride this one, anytime I mention Lorelei sitting out, it is usually because she didn't meet the height requirement. There really weren't too many but at her rate of growth she might be 13 before she can ride some of these!

We finished the evening by eating outside in front of Mexico and watching Illuminations, another Spectacular Disney show. They use lights (lighting up the countries that surround the water) and fireworks along with a big globe in the middle as a part of the show. The kids were in great spirits because of their naps, so we bought them a Mickey light up sword (what could be better?) and a flashing light necklace for Lorelei. The kids fell asleep on the bus ride back to the resort but we had another great day! Whooosh. . . ok, I think that is enough for now. Check back for more on Disney soon! Enjoy the pics and videos.

At Hollywood and Vine with the Disney Playhouse characters

Josh is the one leaping around the deck if you can't tell!

Disney Hollywood Studios