J's fifth birthday was a long affair this year. We celebrated in Miami with family and then again at the happiest place on earth! When she had to choose back in May (so that I could get dining reservations) between a party with her friends or a trip to Disney to have breakfast with the princesses she didn't flinch, as her birthday approached I think she was a little upset she didn't have a party, this will teach her to make smart choices! I've lost count how many times we've seen the Mouse this year but each time seems like it's the first with how excited they get, as soon as they see the archway from the car they start screaming and saying "we're here"!
We headed up on a Monday after breakfast, our plan was to leave around 10am but at 8:30am everyone had ants in their pants and were ready to leave. The car trip was uneventful, the girls watched some Chip and Dale and a Christmas movie, the "are we there yets" weren't too bad. We got there and went to the hotel to check-in, Grandma and Grandpa were waiting for us! We got settled (it's amazing how much gets packed for four days!) and had some lunch before heading to the Magic Kingdom. We arrived at the transportation center and while others stopped to pee mommy took the girls to the gift shop to buy something they have been waiting "years" for, $35 later and they were the proud owners of bubble wands, I am still wondering why I succumbed to these, but the girls were happy so that is all that mattered! We ferried across the lake (along with everyone else, it was crowded) and then the magic started, well as soon as we got through security (I am glad AP holders will soon have their own lines to go through). I don't remember when the last time I saw Disney decorated for Christmas was but it was just as magical as before, the girls took it all in and of course wanted to know where we were going first!
We spent the afternoon riding rides, Winnie the Pooh, the Carousel, Tea Cups, Speedway, People Mover, Dumbo, and mommy and daddy got to even sneak in a ride on Space Mountain (our backs were not liking us when we got off). We visited the Big Top, something we seem to always skip and got to meet Minnie and Daisy in their circus outfits. The girls were excited to show Daisy that Daddy was wearing a Donald shirt, she took her had to hear heart and pretended to pump it, they cracked up. J got to see her favorite the Move It, Shake It parade and was a dancing fool with her bubble wand, C just followed along and was a crazy fool herself! Everywhere we went all afternoon we heard "Under the Sea" and left a trail of bubbles (and needed to buy some refills).
We were going to try and stay for the fireworks but everyone was getting tired and we decided to head back to the hotel, but that wasn't before seeing the castle "frozen" over and taking a few pictures and stopping at the Emporium to spend some Mickey money. Both girls passed out in the car on the way to the hotel, we had a great (and not too exhausting) first day.
Tuesday we woke up to rain and rain predicted for most of the day, it wasn't going to ruin our day or our special breakfast with the Princesses! We had a morning snack, got dressed (the girls into their new princess skirts I had made them) and headed to Epcot when we got a break in the weather. Before we left home I had fixed my $5 stroller cover I had made, hopefully with it on and ready to be pulled down the rain would stay away! The girls saw Daisy when we first walked in and of course had to go and take a picture with her, they were just as excited as yesterday to see her! We then headed to meet the rest of the gang since the line was not long and the stroller parking was under cover. Of course C fell in love (as always) with Mickey, both were timid with Goofy and his size and were ecstatic to see Minnie again. We headed towards the World Showcase and the girls were upset that Mexico wasn't yet open and that they couldn't ride Donald's boat ride, they settled to meet Anna and Elsa before we headed to our royal breakfast.
10:45am finally came and our name was called to head inside the Norway banquet hall. Our first meeting was with Belle where we took some pictures (and forgot to get their books signed, mommy went back up and got them later) before being escorted to our table (in the main dining room this time, yay!). While we were waiting for the Princesses to make their entrance we hit up the buffet while we waited for the hot food to come to our table. I'm glad we were one of the first seated, gave us time to eat some food before the excitement started! Everyone chowed down, the food was really good, I think the potatoes were our favorite and the girls loved their specially made Mickey waffles.
About 20 minutes into eating the first Princess made her appearance and the other three followed. The girls sat anxiously waiting for them to come to our table, when Aurora was the first to visit J was so excited, she is her favorite. Then came Ariel who is C's favorite and she squealed in excitement. The looks the girls get when they meet them (even though they've met them all many times) is priceless, it is like they are star struck and their eyes sparkle. The princess parade started and while I thought both girls would race to a princess they were a little timid and shy this time. They both finally went and marched around the room (after a little coxing) with smiles on their face. After the parade they met Snow White and Cinderella, J had to snap her own picture of each princess posing with my camera. They brought J a cupcake and a card signed by all the princesses and we sang Happy Birthday to her yet again! While we were waiting to pay the bill they did another princess parade before they departed. This time both girls ran up to Aurora and Ariel with BIG smiles on their faces and marched around the dining room, that sight was worth the small fortune we were paying!
After breakfast we rode the new Frozen ride and made a quick exit before the rain came in, we were lucky that it had only sprinkled in the morning, the afternoon was calling for some heavier storms which was perfect for afternoon rest time! About 4:30pm we headed back to Epcot for the night. There was one last storm coming in so we took cover while riding Spaceship Earth, by the time we got out the skies were clear and it was actually nice out. Our first stop was to ride the Donald ride and meet Donald Duck. The girls crack up when they see him and love his silliness. We then made our way over to the U.S. to see Santa and Mrs. Claus, we had forgotten to take their letters when we went the first time and I was reminded every day he needed them! J popped right up on his lap, C wanted nothing to do with either of them and hid between my legs off to the side while J talked their ear off. Finally I made C take a picture (I know I was that mom) and she wasn't a happy camper! They had to meet Aurora (again) before dinner, they can't get enough of her! We had dinner at the pizza place in Italy, the pizza was fantastic and we polished off their giant pizza! We were going to stay for Illuminations but the girls were tired so we headed back to the hotel. We had a full day at the Magic Kingdom the next day!
Wednesday we spent the day at the Magic Kingdom and packed a lot into our day. We rode The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Tomorrowland Speedway, People Mover, the train, Dumbo and Small World. We also met Alice, Goofy (they were less timid this time), Donald, Ariel, Tinkerbell, Cinderella and Princess Elena. Princess Elena is new in the MK and C was very excited to meet her, behind Ariel his is her favorite princess. While we did a lot we had a more low key relaxing day (well as much as you can at Disney). We took an ice cream break and helped a lost little girl find her family, taught a good lesson to the girls about staying with us! Before dinner we watched the Move It, Shake It parade and watched Elsa turn Cinderella's castle to ice, was an amazing site to see the castle light up.
The girls met Tinkerbell before we had dinner at Tony's. Dinner at Tony's and pasta is more up their alley, it's where they wanted to go Monday after we told them we were eating with the Beast! We tried to stay for Wishes and the Fireworks but the girls were tired, we had gone all day with no rest time, and it was starting to show! They spent the last of their Mickey money at the Emporium and each got a new stuffed animal before we said goodbye. They were happy to take the monorail back to the Transportation Center, it was a little chilly for the boat. They both fell asleep in the car cuddling their new stuffy.
Thursday we had to head home but before we did we packed up all of our crap and headed to Bay Lake to resort hop on the monorail and look at Christmas decorations. We started at the Polynesian which didn't have much. Then we went to the Grand Floridian where we saw the giant tree and life size working Gingerbread House. We all had fun finding the hidden Mickey's, we need to get the book and start looking for them when we go to the parks now. Our final stop was the Contemporary where we say the Frozen gingerbread house. It was amazing to see what all went into making these houses, I wish I would have taken a picture of the ingredients lists. We had lunch at CFA before we said goodbye's and headed home. We had a magical time making memories with the girls we will cherrish! The car ride home was even more magical when C fell asleep!
When the girls found out where we were eating dinner and who was going to be there they were not big fans and didn't want to go. After some coaxing we finally for them to head to Belle's castle and Be Our Guest. We got a tour of the castle on the way to our table, of course they saw the Beast from afar and freaked out! We got seated in a quieter part of the dining area, at first I was a bit disappointed we weren't in one of the other rooms (since I had gotten up early back in May to make this reservation), but it was best for the girls and their "fear". We ordered dinner (and some wine) and then took the girls on a tour of the castle and to see the enchanted rose. Of course the rose was in a dark room and as you approached the rose there was thunder so of course J was scared and wanted to go, but not before I attempted a picture, didn't come out with the lighting. On our way back to the table to eat the Beast made his grand entrance which of course freaked them out again, why do I torture my kids? We ate our meal, the food was pretty good and then had some dessert, the grey stuff was delicious! It took some more coaxing but we got the girls to go with Grandma and I to see the Beast and convinced them to take a picture with us, one of them (I don't remember who) even gave him a high five at the end. Now I can say we've eaten here and I can cross it off my list of places to eat again, I think we'll stick with Tony's and Lady and the Tramp, more up the girls alley.
Tuesday we woke up to rain and rain predicted for most of the day, it wasn't going to ruin our day or our special breakfast with the Princesses! We had a morning snack, got dressed (the girls into their new princess skirts I had made them) and headed to Epcot when we got a break in the weather. Before we left home I had fixed my $5 stroller cover I had made, hopefully with it on and ready to be pulled down the rain would stay away! The girls saw Daisy when we first walked in and of course had to go and take a picture with her, they were just as excited as yesterday to see her! We then headed to meet the rest of the gang since the line was not long and the stroller parking was under cover. Of course C fell in love (as always) with Mickey, both were timid with Goofy and his size and were ecstatic to see Minnie again. We headed towards the World Showcase and the girls were upset that Mexico wasn't yet open and that they couldn't ride Donald's boat ride, they settled to meet Anna and Elsa before we headed to our royal breakfast.
10:45am finally came and our name was called to head inside the Norway banquet hall. Our first meeting was with Belle where we took some pictures (and forgot to get their books signed, mommy went back up and got them later) before being escorted to our table (in the main dining room this time, yay!). While we were waiting for the Princesses to make their entrance we hit up the buffet while we waited for the hot food to come to our table. I'm glad we were one of the first seated, gave us time to eat some food before the excitement started! Everyone chowed down, the food was really good, I think the potatoes were our favorite and the girls loved their specially made Mickey waffles.
About 20 minutes into eating the first Princess made her appearance and the other three followed. The girls sat anxiously waiting for them to come to our table, when Aurora was the first to visit J was so excited, she is her favorite. Then came Ariel who is C's favorite and she squealed in excitement. The looks the girls get when they meet them (even though they've met them all many times) is priceless, it is like they are star struck and their eyes sparkle. The princess parade started and while I thought both girls would race to a princess they were a little timid and shy this time. They both finally went and marched around the room (after a little coxing) with smiles on their face. After the parade they met Snow White and Cinderella, J had to snap her own picture of each princess posing with my camera. They brought J a cupcake and a card signed by all the princesses and we sang Happy Birthday to her yet again! While we were waiting to pay the bill they did another princess parade before they departed. This time both girls ran up to Aurora and Ariel with BIG smiles on their faces and marched around the dining room, that sight was worth the small fortune we were paying!
After breakfast we rode the new Frozen ride and made a quick exit before the rain came in, we were lucky that it had only sprinkled in the morning, the afternoon was calling for some heavier storms which was perfect for afternoon rest time! About 4:30pm we headed back to Epcot for the night. There was one last storm coming in so we took cover while riding Spaceship Earth, by the time we got out the skies were clear and it was actually nice out. Our first stop was to ride the Donald ride and meet Donald Duck. The girls crack up when they see him and love his silliness. We then made our way over to the U.S. to see Santa and Mrs. Claus, we had forgotten to take their letters when we went the first time and I was reminded every day he needed them! J popped right up on his lap, C wanted nothing to do with either of them and hid between my legs off to the side while J talked their ear off. Finally I made C take a picture (I know I was that mom) and she wasn't a happy camper! They had to meet Aurora (again) before dinner, they can't get enough of her! We had dinner at the pizza place in Italy, the pizza was fantastic and we polished off their giant pizza! We were going to stay for Illuminations but the girls were tired so we headed back to the hotel. We had a full day at the Magic Kingdom the next day!
Wednesday we spent the day at the Magic Kingdom and packed a lot into our day. We rode The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Tomorrowland Speedway, People Mover, the train, Dumbo and Small World. We also met Alice, Goofy (they were less timid this time), Donald, Ariel, Tinkerbell, Cinderella and Princess Elena. Princess Elena is new in the MK and C was very excited to meet her, behind Ariel his is her favorite princess. While we did a lot we had a more low key relaxing day (well as much as you can at Disney). We took an ice cream break and helped a lost little girl find her family, taught a good lesson to the girls about staying with us! Before dinner we watched the Move It, Shake It parade and watched Elsa turn Cinderella's castle to ice, was an amazing site to see the castle light up.
The girls met Tinkerbell before we had dinner at Tony's. Dinner at Tony's and pasta is more up their alley, it's where they wanted to go Monday after we told them we were eating with the Beast! We tried to stay for Wishes and the Fireworks but the girls were tired, we had gone all day with no rest time, and it was starting to show! They spent the last of their Mickey money at the Emporium and each got a new stuffed animal before we said goodbye. They were happy to take the monorail back to the Transportation Center, it was a little chilly for the boat. They both fell asleep in the car cuddling their new stuffy.
Thursday we had to head home but before we did we packed up all of our crap and headed to Bay Lake to resort hop on the monorail and look at Christmas decorations. We started at the Polynesian which didn't have much. Then we went to the Grand Floridian where we saw the giant tree and life size working Gingerbread House. We all had fun finding the hidden Mickey's, we need to get the book and start looking for them when we go to the parks now. Our final stop was the Contemporary where we say the Frozen gingerbread house. It was amazing to see what all went into making these houses, I wish I would have taken a picture of the ingredients lists. We had lunch at CFA before we said goodbye's and headed home. We had a magical time making memories with the girls we will cherrish! The car ride home was even more magical when C fell asleep!
Here are the pictures from the visit!
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