They're also observant (and smart, if I do say so myself!). Indicative of just how much they were aware of this impending trip, Hartley got in the car and - seeing two of the three suitcases - said, "Oh no! Where is the big red suitcase?!" Think they pay attention to their surroundings? Crazy. Watch what you say and do around 2 year olds.... they see everything. ;)
I of course had created a playlist for the airport drive, but between the girls (who never. stop. talking.) and the flapping of the roof bag, I think it lost some of its charm. I didn't care, we were on our way to Walt Disney World. When we got to the Columbus airport, Zach dropped the girls and me off while he went to park the car. We got checked in quickly and smoothly with the most awesome skycap guy I've ever seen. By the time Zach called to let us know he was on the shuttle, everything was checked, the girls and I had gone potty, boarding passes were printed (having checked in on the SW app) and we were settled in a corridor eating breakfast and talking on the phone to Nana. He might have thought I was a bit of a hero ;) but not nearly as much as everyone else that saw me walking through, assuming I was flying with two two-year-olds and no help. I'm not insane, folks.
Eventually, after what seemed like forever, the plane showed up (and seriously - just before boarding. So different not flying the first flight of the day for a plane/crew!). We got settled in quickly and got the girls fastened in their CARES restraints (amazing, by the way). They were utterly adorable, and entertaining everyone around with their cries of "Blast off!" and "Bye, Columbus! We're all done with Columbus!" and "We're getting ready to start!". The plane was only three-quarters full, so we were optimistic we'd get an empty seat next to us in each row. At the last minute, someone joined Emmersyn and I, but at least it was too early to (realistically) be a drunk guy. Zach and Hartley had their own row. Nice!
At MCO, Hartley was immediately disappointed that "the monorail [didn't] have Mickey balloons anymore". We explained to her that it was just an airport monorail, and that we still had to drive to WDW to find the Mickey monorails. She was already a girl obsessed with said transportation form. :) While Zach went to get our rental car, the girls and I got all of our luggage, car seats, etc off the carousel and to the door (and scored some adorable Duffy stickers) long before he could make it back. Seriously, it was all going too easily and a little part of me kept wondering what giant thing we must have forgotten at home. Instead, it was just a good trip. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Zach returned in a bright blue Dodge Grand Caravan with about a thousand miles on it (which, by the way, after 10 days in a minivan we stand by our word - they're ridiculously annoying and not at all great. Glad we got to test it out instead of being swayed by raving fans. We will still be getting a third-row SUV instead, and would be happy to never drive a minivan again - though the bargain we got (and having a rental car) was well worth it. No real complaints, just not fans). We made a quick stop at Walmart for a few essentials, and were at our hotel by 2pm - but not before passing "A Mickey bus! With balloons on it! There is is!" and "Epcot! There is is! I see it!".
It was going to be a fun, fun visit.
As we checked in at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, we just continued to be blessed. We had requested a building in a particular location and got it, our room was ready (a first in several trips (if it's ever happened), and I have to say, the moderates are really nice. We were told we'd hate them after DVC, but I'm just not sure that's really "us". We were also told we'd never survive in a studio (or a sedan, for that matter) with 2 children and after having experienced a 2-BR unit, but it was fine. We were thrilled with the space, the beds, and the storage, the girls were delighted at the Nemo decor, and all was well. Great, actually. (Let me just say though, that it's admittedly all relative. If we had split our stay with our DVC studio first, I might have been a bit less gracious. I could certainly see the difference when we got to our next room ;) But we'll have no problem staying in a "regular" room again. DVC snobs we are not, I guess - just happy to be there. And the best part is, only about 2 of you reading have any idea what I'm talking about. Lol!)
Instead of going to the Magic Kingdom as planned (you'll find we did a lot of pants-seat-flying this trip!), we just hung around the hotel to get settled in and explore a bit. I admit that I'm not cut out for "split stays" (staying each half of a trip in two separate hotels), because I never truly settled in there - but it was good enough to get our vacation underway!
Around 4, we decided we'd at least go over to the park to get our passes processed. Emmersyn and Hartley cracked us up along the way, at first pointing out nearly every Mickey Mouse (or resembelence of parts of the big cheese) that they saw. "Girls," we'd tell them, "you're going to keep seeing Mickey in a few more places. It's really not as shocking as you seem to think." No, of course we didn't. But we did say that to one another, and found it quite humorous. They were seriously just in awe that he was there(!) and there(!) and there, too! :) We rode the ferry over which they loved, and I loved watching their sweet faces as they discovered Cinderella Castle in the distance.
When we got to guest services (after stopping by to say hello to our brick!), we heard the most enthusiastic, surprising phrase - "Look! There it is, Main Street, USA!" Hartley and Emmersyn recognized it from the train station I guess (thanks to DVDs, picture books, etc) ... so how could we not take them in to actually see Main Street, just for a few minutes before dinner?!
We spent just about 25 minutes (one trip up and back), watching our princesses soak it all in. It was magical, if I may use a potentially overused word. But seriously, it was.
It was quickly time to head to Chef Mickey's for our dinner reservation, so we waited anxiously (especially my youngest, obsessed daughter) for the "Mickey Monorail". If you know WDW, you know there are a bunch of monorails. Currently, all but one (with a Tron theme) are decorated with Mickey balloons in honor of their "celebration" theme for 2009-2010. Or so we thought. Monorail Orange pulled up, and it must have just been put back in use or something - because no balloons. Hartley was bummed, but we assured her the rest would have it and we almost certainly wouldn't have to ride the one without again. (Don't ever say "certainly" (even with a modifier like "almost") to your children. It will haunt you. We would get Monorail Orange (sans Mickey balloons) about 40% of the time, including later that evening back to our car!)
Dinner was great. The girls took to the characters immediately and couldn't have been happier to see them. The whole way home, they couldn't stop talking about the food (particularly the mac & cheese), the characters (namely Mickey and Pluto - who got LOTS of love this trip), and the BEAUTIFUL castle.
Despite having not really "accomplished" anything yet, it was a perfect first day. And this is why we can go back to WDW again and again - for the moments (days) like this, with no lines, no rides, nothing but a picturesque, magical (there it is again) place to spend time with one another.
It was almost ruined by a - literally - 3.5 inch long grasshopper on the inside of Hartley's van window that she pointed out on the way back to the hotel. It scared the crap out of her, but she was quite brave. This mama did a lot of praying that it wouldn't move, specifically that it wouldn't jump on her.... and it didn't. Zach got it out back at the hotel, and it really was a perfect day.
Next: November 10th, 2010 - WDW Day 2
No comments:
Post a Comment