Disney World - Part I

Wednesday, February 12th began our Disney World trip Extravaganza! As we waited for the Magical Express to escort us from MCO to Disney World, I snapped this shot of all of us in our very sporty magical bands! They have everything loaded on a micro-chip for our vacation adventure!

I reserved "premium location" rooms when I first began planning this trip in March of last year. Wouldn't you know it, but the hotel oversold those types of rooms and offered us the "premium pirate-themed" rooms instead..... and 3 "Multiple Experience Fastpasses". These came in handy at the Magic Kingdom and I'll explain what they are later in my post.

We stayed at Caribbean Beach, which has really pretty palm-tree lined landscaping and an easy walk to the Skyliner transportation station!

After getting settled in the hotel and discovering the workings of the Disney meal plan for dinner, we headed back to our hotel room with our desserts!

Finally!! Time to get on the bus for the Magic Kingdom!

Hmm... but the bus's arrival continued to be pushed back... and we were going to miss Rope Drop!!!!.... so we scurried over to the Skyliner for a short trip over to Hollywood Studios and THEN boarded a bus to the Magic Kingdom! Ha!

Brock set the course right down Main Street to Tomorrowland!

Cloudy day, but still pretty view!

First ride - Buzz Lightyear's Space Station Spin! As we were there so early, it was no longer than a 10 minute wait!

Brent won with the high score for our family..... I was distracted taking pictures anyway!

Cute little video from Disney: 

Next up - our first FastPass ride - Mad Tea Party - the spinning teacups! Brent was shocked we all fit in one teacup! :) 

Now here's where we used our first Multiple Experience Fastpass - regular fastpasses have to be used within the hour that you had signed up - for example, our teacup ride was from 9:15-10:15, reserved 60 days in advance. The better the ride, the faster the Fastpasses would "sell out" (they're free). It was IMPOSSIBLE for me to get a Fastpass on the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride - it is such a well-loved ride! The Multiple Experience Fastpass can be used at certain attractions, but can be used ANY time of the day - any availabilty. Our compensation for the room mixup worked out really well!!

I think it would have been a 120 minute wait had we not used a Fastpass! Instead we waited 5-10 minutes. We are sitting in the Third Mine train :) 

Trekked over to It's a Small World - when at the Magic Kingdom, there are some rides you just HAVE to ride!

Time for the next scheduled Fastpass - Brent & Brock headed to Space Mountain - with a minimum height requirement of 44", Kade was unable to ride - so I scheduled a Fastpass for Buzz Lightyear and Kade and I rode again! 

Brock LOVED the big boy rollercoaster, but said it was very loud! They were sitting right behind each other, but in separate cars, therefore separate pictures. 

Snack time!!

Space Ranger Slush - Grape and Sour Apple Layered Slush with TWO Candy Straws

Photo Credit to Kade!! (hence why part of the castle is cut off!)

This was our longest wait at Magic Kingdom - 30 minutes for the Haunted Mansion. I love how they have little things along the waiting route that can occupy the kids!

"Allergic to Dirt so he's pickled in Brine.
He Braved the Sea and All her Wrath
But Drowned on Land while Taking a Bath"

Had a little time before our lunch reservation, so headed to the Shooting Arcade! Always a crowd favorite with my boys - all my boys!

Family Style All-you-can-eat lunch at The Diamond Horseshoe. It was absolutely delicious, but I feel like the boys would really enjoy it in their teenage years when their appetites grow! Carved Beef Brisket (SO YUM!), Smoked Sausage, Marinated Chicken, Pulled Pork, Corn Bread, Mac & Cheese, Baked Beans, Corn, and Mashed Potatoes!

Kade enjoyed a nice lunch of corn and 2 bites of chicken.

Last scheduled Fastpass on the Peter Pan ride, then headed to Frontierland and used our ME Fastpass for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Wish we got our pictures from this ride, but forgot to load them after riding the ride! Kade REALLY loved this roller coaster!

Losing momentum now for sure - only one ride to go before we were calling it quits for the day. We got held up crossing the road with the parade, so stopped to watch from afar. 

Snapped a picture of the dragon/evil queen from Sleeping Beauty - Maleficient - same name as Moose's mommy! She shot real fire out of her mouth!

Rode the Pirates of the Caribbean and then headed for the exit. Alas, no pictures.

Poor Brock was complaining his feet hurt - so Brent gave him a little ride to the bus stop!

And he's out!

Headed to the pool after Kade woke up from his nap and after a dinner at the hotel, headed back to our room to relax and prepare for the following day! 

Whew! I'm exhausted just writing everything down we did that first day!!