We had waited three years since our last visit
and after six months of saving, planning and disboards reading the time
was here – we were headed to Disney World!
The
last time we were at “The World” Laci had just turned 5 and Ella was a
tiny 9 month old. Though she had technically been there before and
loved it, waving for the first time in her life (at Pluto) screaming in
joy at princesses – for me this was Ellas first “real” trip and I
couldn’t have been more excited.
Being
a three year old means you are obsessed with all things princesses –
especially when you have a princess loving older sister and a room full
of princess gowns. A normal day at our house consists of multiple
wardrobe changes. I have no idea why I have so many regular clothes for
the kids as they spend their days wandering about in renaissancestyle gowns provided by the Disney store. A princess dress is the uniform of their childhood.
This,
I knew, would make this trip special for all of us. I cried everytime
thinking of those giant blue eyes lighting up as the castle first came
into sight, as she saw Ariel, Cinderella and Belle at the three o clock
parade and the sheer joy when she would finally get to meet them and hug
them. I knew it was going to be magical.
I
was a little worried about Laci – being 8. Our last visit she was 5 and
still very much enthralled with all things Disney. And while she still
is a Disney-phile, the innocent simple faith of childhood is being
washed from her eyes and I worried that she would see through my
explanation from our first visit that the “animal “ type characters
cannot talk because in our world animals don’t talk but Mickey and
friends can talk in the cartoon world just like on the movie Enchanted….
Of
course the challenge of having Layla just having her first birthday the
day before we departed on our Disney adventure weighed on my mind and
kind of dampened a bit of my pre disney excitement. Going to Walmart
with these three is a hardship what will 7 days in the World be? The
stress of that thought was pushed aside though as I remembered how much
Ella had loved her trip as an even younger baby and I knew that despite
being a stroller hater on a normal day would be provided with enough
sensory input in Magic Kingdom to make her endure sitting in a stroller
much of the day. The added task would be entertaining three kids at
different ages and excitement level.
The
day before we left was sheer chaos. It was Laylas birthday and I was
determined to not allow her first birthday be overshadowed by this
trip. It really already had been as most of my organizing/planning
faculties had been directed towards making this trip perfect . In order
to not further push her day into the background I spent the week prior
staying up til 4 and 5 am trying to get things ready. In a silly notion
I had decided I wanted to make the girls adorable custom Disney outfits
like all the boutiques sell. Great idea- just not a month out from
the trip date. So I had to finish all these things, pack, and of course
clean the house top to bottom – because everyone knows the cumpulsory
need for a spotless house before vacation.
By
the day before we left- Laylas birthday- I was a zombie. A severely
behind in her duties zombie. We enjoyed a nice day of cake and presents
before Tony left for work. Instead of packing we put together her cozy
coupe car. Madness.
After
running to stores to get last minute supplies for the trip and last
minute sewing neccessities –no I had not finished their outfits (or mine
and Tony’s costumes. Yes costumes for the parents) but was determined
to do so, I came back to finish packing. Did I mention I way over pack.
It’s a sickness.
We were travelling
from MD to FL with three young kids. I felt we needed ample
entertainment. And snacks. Lots of snacks. Each girl had at least one
big bag of toys. Not to mention the Disney stuffed animals they “had “
to take with them (about 20. I am not lying) in a suitcase, our entire
Disney DVD collection along with some other kid movies, a cooler, a huge
tote of candy; chips; cookies and general unhealthiness, a new thirty
one bag filled with coloring books and art supplies. This was in
addition to our several suitcases of clothing – including one full of
dress up clothes.
Yes
my girls dress daily as princesses in the park. If they want to walk
around in itchy organza and a full four layer skirted dress in the
oppressive Orlando heat- im going to let them. It makes a great photo.
My
husband was ready to kill me as he packed the car –even a roof cargo
holder- full. There was just enough room for human occupants as we left-
7 hours later than planned.
I popped
in a Newsboys dvd and blasted our travel theme song with the lyric
“everywhere we go that’s where the party’s at” and off we went.
We made it a couple of hours and hit Berkely Springs when Ella asked
“is this Disney?”
Wow were her expectations low!
Ella’s
bladder cooperated with my first Target sighting somewhere in VA. Tony
had said no to Target and a little voice yelled “I have to PEE” and
mommy said “YES that Target has a bathroom! “
After
scooping up Great buys on cute clearanced shorts and a flip video
camera purchase for me to more easily document my trip and make a fun
travel video for us to enjoy we finally made It to our first rest stop-
just inside NC.
Rocky mount NC was far far from our planned overnight stay in Savannah GA.
Tony was not at all happy.
The
next day we left at 10 am – again late and continued the venture. Our
destination wasn’t Orlando but The Villages – Floridas friendliest
hometown.
We were spending two nights
with Tonys grandmother before our Disney extravaganza. We didn’t arrive
there til about 10 pm but being that we werent under a reservation for a
couple days I really wasn’t stressing on how long it took to get there.
Car rides are about the only time tony and I have time to talk.
Did I mention all the toys I packed to entertain the monsters on the 16 hour car ride werent touched?
Nope.
\The
couch potatoes were fully entertained the entire time with dvds. Kind
of sad really, but I don’t let them watch much tv at home so I suppose
they were making up for it. In all honesty I didn’t care I was just glad
there was no crying and tearing out of each others eyes.
Lesson
: $100 for a set of portable DVD players will save you from fights and
free up three suitcases worth of room on a long trip. Buy them.
The
following day we spent a nice day swimming at the family pool at The
Villages , chasing geckos and counting hunreds of golf carts.
They even drive those things to Target and Walmart. Amazing.
It was nice to visit family and have a day of down time before our
real trip began but the anticipation was mounting. Ella spent her pool
time reenacting the Little Mermaid – making me sing the entire score.
Thankfully we were the only ones there – aside from one young guy
sitting in a cabana pretending to read as I made a fool of myself.
^^ the youngest people in The Villages by about 90 years.
Pointing out geckos.
Finding geckos and spying on retirees.
^^gecko
looking for the elusive outer space geckos
Finding geckos and spying on retirees.
looking for the elusive outer space geckos
After
minnie mouse manicures the girls surprisingly went to sleep without
issue. I on the other hand stayed up gluing rhinestones on their
outifits. Its not like I would have slept anyway – I was going to Disney
the next day!!!
Still having stayed up til about three
I woke ready and eager at 6 am. I am not an early riser but the
prospect of Disney will get me moving.
Interested in The Villages ( who wouldn't be with the peeping tom toddlers and herds of golf carts described in this post?) check out Dwellable for more info!
Interested in The Villages ( who wouldn't be with the peeping tom toddlers and herds of golf carts described in this post?) check out Dwellable for more info!
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