Our first adventure to Disney in 2011 didn’t turn out well. The girls were secluded to the resort hotel and pool – which they loved. They even thought they “had been to Disney”… And I was secluded to the ICU for the week while I suffered from diabetes complications.
I vowed I would get back there — the girls would experience Disney and we would have a great time.
Well.
Life got in the way.
Five years passed.
This is the first time in years that Spring Break was the same week for the girls and myself, so we took advantage of it!
A few things are different with this trip…the girls are older, of course.
They weren’t into character breakfasts like I had planned with our first visit. They didn’t want to take pictures with any characters, but obliged me with Donald Duck. I mean, we couldn’t go ALL the way to Disney and not take a single picture with a character!
They are totally into rides now – and discovering what rides they do NOT like. Poor Cailyn immediately regretted the Rockin’ Roller Coaster. She survived the ride through clenched fists and shut eyes. She still talks about how she will NEVER get on another roller coaster! Carys LOVED the Tower of Terror, which is not something she inherited from me. I hate roller coasters and thrill rides. Carys should be very thankful that Nana joined us on this trip — Nana rode the Tower with her, because I refused 🙂
My new FitBit Alta arrived right before we left for Disney. We were exhausted every day from all the walking – 15k, 18k, 19k, 21k steps. There was so much to see and do every day! The girls thoughts it was cool to keep checking our step count, set a goal and track our progress.
The girls are already talking about their return visit. I’m so thankful we were able to replace those 2011 memories with awesome ones! Here are a few images from our trip. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring my heavy Canon on the trip, but my iPhone is my photo-BFF these days. I didn’t take as many photos as I normally do. I’m trying very hard to live in the moment these days and not create perfect camera angles with every memory.
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- With Lumiere topiary at Epcot. We love Beauty & the Beast!
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- Donald Duck 🙂
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- We were at Epcot during the Spring Festival of Flowers – so many beautiful topiaries and floral structures
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- Our last day was at Epcot. I think we ate our way through every country represented.
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- That’s a BIG cookie 🙂
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- Animal Kingdom was our favorite. by far!
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- They were even happy waiting in long lines. We did use Fast Pass, but it didn’t help with some rides.
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- The Magic Bands were very helpful and fun
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- Those poor feet – we WALKED off all the goodies we ate, that’s for sure!
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- Carys loved the Dole Whip
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- A little overcast, but we did see all the princesses at once. They may say they don’t like princesses any more, but their eyes still lit up 🙂
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- Nana and the Little Lanford Ladies
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- I promise Carys had a good time. She just won’t smile in pictures. Ugh, 12-year-olds…
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- First order of business was making their ear purchase