Walt Disney World Day Five-Magic Kingdom

We gave our last day at the parks a lot of thought and decided to end at the Magic Kingdom. There's just so much about this place that we enjoy. The classic rides mix with the new, it all blends together very well. I think Timmy thoroughly enjoyed his first visit to Disney World. I know it will not be the last. :)

Timmy with Buzz Lightyear

All of us with Buzz Lightyear

Timmy and I on the Mad Tea Party

Timmy wearing a 3 corner hat

Timmy on a barrel of rum

Views from Splash Mountain

Walt Disney World Day Four--Epcot

The fourth day we decided to head over to Epcot. Our intentions were to stay for most of the day but to be headed out by about 7pm. Needless to say, that did not happen. During the spring Epcot hosts the International Flower and Garden Festival. There were topiaries of several different Disney characters scattered throughout the park. There were also special exhibits about creating your home garden, a butterfly garden, etc. It was interesting and fun to walk around and see all these different works of art made completely out of plants. We ended up staying all day and leaving just as the Illuminations show began around 9pm.

Timmy got to meet Daisy Duck

 

Timmy in the mouth of Bruce the Shark from Finding Nemo

Timmy and Marie, one of the Aristocats

Timmy with Sleeping Beauty (Aurora)

Timmy with Donald Duck dressed as one of the Three Cabelleros

Erik and Timmy with Chip and Dale

Timmy in one of the display cars at Test Track

A Pumba topiary

A Timon topiary

A Rafiki topiary

 Timmy and me (slightly sunburned) in front of a Tigger topiary

 The symbol of Epcot

You can barely make us out in the dark but it was supposed to be a family picture in front of the Epcot globe. It's a nice picture of the globe at night.

Walt Disney World Day Three--Animal Kingdom

Our third day was the last day with Erik's mom. Her flight left in the early afternoon so there was no point going to a park and risking losing track of time. Instead we headed over to the Disney Marketplace and had fun looking around at some of the various shops. Erik then dropped Timmy and I off to take a nap while he took his mom to the airport. 

When Erik got back we headed over to Animal Kingdom again. This time we went into the Dinosaur area and enjoyed some of the rides over there.

Timmy and I by a pirate skeleton at the Disney Marketplace

Timmy and Grandma by Buzz Lightyear

Timmy in the temporary Lego store by a Lego Woody from Toy Story

 Me with Timmy after getting soaked on the Kali River Rapids

Erik with Timmy after getting soaked on the Kali River Rapids

Looking at all the different birds that we might be able to see

Erik on Expedition Everest (he's about halfway up in the red shirt)

Timmy and I on TriceraTop Spin

Timmy and I with Pluto and Goofy

Walt Disney World Day Two--Magic Kingdom

For our second day we decided to go to the Magic Kingdom. I had read in the guidebooks that before the park opens Mickey and his whole gang ride up on the train and welcome everyone. So we got up early, ate some breakfast and then headed over on the ferry (Timmy's choice). We saw the train come as we were just getting up to the gates but Mickey and his gang weren't on it (not that we saw anyway). Oh well.

We were going to get started right away but Timmy wasn't having the best time. He wanted to go back to the hotel right away. After some deliberation, Erik and I decided that we would go to a character breakfast buffet. Timmy ate a ton of food so he must have still been really hungry. Erik had a great idea and I'm really glad that we went to the breakfast.

Here's a shot of the castle

Timmy with Winnie the Pooh--he was so excited to see him coming around to the tables

Timmy seeing Eeyore come to the table

Eeyore, Timmy and Erik

Me, Timmy and Tigger

We have pictures with Piglet too but seeing as he is my least favorite...if you want to see some pictures with Piglet (and a lot more) there are pictures on my Facebook account.

A family shot on the way to Adventureland

Timmy and I on Aladdin's Flying Carpets

Timmy with Aladdin and Jasmine

The kiss that Jasmine planted on his face (we let it stay there the rest of the day)

In the Magic Kingdom we went on a lot of rides. We walked through the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House (for some reason I've always enjoyed this--simple as it is). We then went on Aladdin's Flying Carpets and Pirates of the Caribbean while we waited for our FastPass time for the Jungle Cruise. After that Timmy got his picture taken with Aladdin and Jasmine we went over to Splash Mountain. Erik got FastPass tickets for him and Timmy to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and then we went on Splash Mountain. Timmy LOVED Splash Mountain and wanted to go on again right away (we didn't). After Splash Mountain we took the Railroad around the park (I don't remember ever doing that) before Timmy and Erik rode on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Erik's mom and I waited for them--and I got a show I wish I hadn't. Turns out that if you are wearing a skirt and bend down to prepare a bottle that wearing underwear that covers everything is probably a good idea. Just a thought.

Timmy wasn't as big a fan of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as he was of Splash Mountain (he didn't want to go on again) but later said it was one of his favorite rides. We got some lunch and then went on the Haunted Mansion. Erik and I had not been able to go on the Haunted Mansion when we were there for our honeymoon because it was being renovated and cleaned--what a disappointment! Timmy was not a fan of the Haunted Mansion but that's because of the pure dark that you get plunged into before the ride, he actually didn't seem to mind the ride itself.

After the Haunted Mansion we went on It's a Small World which Timmy really enjoyed. After that he wanted to go on Peter Pan and so we waited in line forever (literally about an hour) for the ride. It was the longest wait we had the entire trip but he seemed to enjoy the ride a lot. The long wait actually seemed to work out well because Timmy was able to take a few bathroom breaks before the ride.

That was the last ride we went on of the day and actually called it a day not too long there after. We went out to dinner with Erik's mom before heading back so she could pack and we went to the pool. It was the only time we went in the pool the whole trip but it was a fun time.

Walt Disney World Day One--Animal Kingdom

We'd been talking up Disney World for a while before the trip (turns out Timmy was too--at school). We just wanted to make sure that he actually wanted to go and that it was something he was excited about. Turns out he was very excited about the entire idea and all that was involved--so excited that we had to put a calendar on our fridge counting down the days until we left so he would stop asking every day if we were leaving for Disney the next day. It was nice to be able to share a few days with my mother-in-law too. I know that other family wish they could have come--especially after hearing us discuss our day and seeing some pictures. Well, there's always the next trip, right? =)

There was one park that we knew we wanted to visit with my mother-in-law because she had never been there--Animal Kingdom. Some people say it's a glorified zoo but it's really a lot more than that (of course!). There are zoo aspects to it but there are also rides, shows and characters to meet and greet.

On our last trip to Disney World (when I was pregnant with Timmy) it was Erik's least favorite park. I'm sure that there were several aspects that played into that--not the least of which was parents of children. Some people just want to get what they deem to be their monetary value out of the parks which is just kind of sad. Yes, Disney is expensive--however, you should have known that before your trip. We look at the trip as having a good time and ensuring that our child has a good time as well--what a concept!

Timmy getting all set for his first day at Disney--eating cereal and watching the Disney Channel

Timmy and I ready for the day

Captain Erik

Anyway, our first day went really well. We got to the park about an hour after opening (hey, it's my vacation--the only alarm clock I have is my child) and proceeded to find our first characters of the day--Lilo and Stitch! He did really well waiting in line and asking for their autographs. I was so proud of him!
We next ran into Pocohontas and Meeko. Turns out that raccoons can actually write their names--who knew? After entering the park we decided to go to Camp Minnie Mickey which really worked out to our benefit. The Festival of the Lion King had just started so we were able to get pictures and autographs from a lot of characters while the show was going on. After getting the autographs and pictures we then went to The Festival of the Lion King. Look how smart we are!!

Family picture with Thumper and Miss Bunny

Koda with Erik and Timmy

Timmy asking Goofy for his autograph

Timmy and I by the elephant float from Festival of the Lion King--we were even able to sit in the elephant section!

After eating some lunch we decided to get FastPasses for Kilimanjaro Safaris. Before our FastPass time we went up to Rafiki's Conservation Station. There we were able to meet and greet the biggest cricket I have ever seen (and it's the first time I remember seeing Jiminy Cricket out and about for pictures/autographs).
Once we were done at the Conservation Station we headed back for our safari. Upon exiting the safari Timmy immediately saw this stuff elephant that he just HAD to have (and luckily he had some of his own spending money). He named the elephant "Ducky".
After buying "Ducky" we went over to the Kali River Rapids--the ride is as wet as it sounds. Erik and I really enjoyed the ride the last time we were at Disney and I'm glad that everyone seemed to enjoy it this time too.

Erik and I after going on the Rapids

Timmy post-Rapids

Once we got off the Rapids we decided to get some frozen lemonade and call it a day. I was really proud of how well Timmy did with getting autographs, posing for pictures, and just being a generally pleasant little boy. Way to go!