What a day! What a day! It took quite a while to get to the picture above taken around 4:30 pm on this day. Our day began with some happy kids bouncing and ready to go to the park. We ate some snacks to hold us until our Chef Mickey reservation for breakfast/lunch at 10:50 am. We had a big day planned for this was to be Belle's special day as a princess. So Magan was bring the big camera to capture the moments in her dress. Disney transportation is also a new thing for our family, so we made it to the line early that morning after taking some pictures from around our hotel, notice Belle did not get in the "mean ole lady" picture.
We were in line for the bus and ready, when I hear "oh, I forgot the camera"...So off I ran to get the camera, and luckily made it before the bus got there. Excitement was building as we rode the bus to the Magic Kingdom, then waited in line for our Christmas tickets (need to buy these early, as they were sold out for this night, but I had ordered about 3 months prior), then rode the monorail (Mickey Mouse train) over to the contemporary for breakfast.
At Chef Mickeys we had a great breakfast with our good friends Mickey, Donald, Pluto, Goofy, and Minnie. Everyone was very nice and played with the kids, except for Goofy who was apparently ready to get away from Chef Mickeys and back to the parade in the magic kingdom.
After our Breakfast, Belle changed into her princess dress and transformed into Princess Cinderella. She had the dress, the crown, and the light up glass slippers. Below is from her first march through the contemporary resort to wave at her loyal subjects and remind them that she was princess Cinderella.
Cowabunga, dude. We decided to rest at the Polynesian resort after walking all the way from the Grand Floridean. This is definately the trip that I have seen more new things on the Disney Resort than any other. The plan was to take Belle's pictures at the Grand Floridian beach area with the castle in the background, we then found that there is not a clear picture of the castle from the GF beach area. So we could see the Polynesian from way across the way, and decided to walk. Through construction, chasing and catching a lizard, and winding through the Polynesian Resort area, we then found that the castle was tiny when viewed from the Polynesian beach...altho there is a clear view. So Magan just decided to get the pictures from inside the kingdom, which turned out pretty fun anyway. Can you find the hiding Tiki guy in the picture below, Sam did, but doesn't want anyone to tell the mean Tiki trying to find him outside. Our rest stop here was fun as the kids got to watch cartoons and draw pictures, then both Belle and Davis got one of the light up balloons they charge a lot for, because some of the Polynesian guests could not take it with them to the airport. Boo Yah, free magic...we later realized it was very difficult to push the stroller with two of these balloons hitting you in the face, so Magan found that one of them had "got a hole" in it. Oh no, too bad, but we gave Davis the light up part and it became his light sword for the rest of the night. That Magan is resourceful. :)
Finally at the gate to the kingdom and waiting to go in! Our first stops where to visit the Princesses, then capture Belle with the castle behind her. Trust me, there were much...much...much more pictures of this moment, I decided one was enough for the blog. But Belle with those princesses was a sight. Her face was so funny and cute, she just could not believe she was with the real princesses. With Cinderella, she started feeling her dress before the picture, right on Cinderella's chest. :)
After all of the princess time, we finally got to start riding rides around 5:00 that evening. We were here for the Mickey's Christmas Party, so the park was open to us until Midnight...Will the kids make it? Well Belle was out for a nap pretty early, but as seen through the remainder of the pictures, they made it. Belle took a nap, but for some reason woke up during the cannon ball scenes of Pirates of the Caribbean. I think one of the splashes hit her in the face. And that must be a wild way to wake up for a three year old princess, to lots and lots of loud pirates.
Funny how the classics like "The Country Bear Jamboree" are still making kids laugh. All three of ours were cracking up during this show, and Belle just kept pointing and saying "Look at that one" then laughing. After the country bears, we lined up for the parade. Dad went to get some cookies and hot chocolate (free during the christmas party) for the parade.
After the parade, we went to see the new Fantasyland. Pretty cool, and unexpected. It was a soft opening just for the Christmas Party, so very few people even in the area. We checked out both of the new castles, then the new Ariel ride (walked right on). So, do I even need to say that Belle was super happy for this ride. The boys and I rode it one more time, while Magan and Belle got to go see Ariel.
Then the fireworks began...I have NEVER been behind the castle when the fireworks went off, but now back in the new area, you are closer to where they are shot from, plus fireworks were coming from the castle area. It felt like we were in the middle of a war. Really awesome. Then the new Story Time with Belle.
I think Magan was crying the whole time during this new attraction. Belle was chosen to play "Chip" during the story with Belle, and our growling Davis was chosen for the "Beast". It was just too cute to see Davis sneak up behind the "real Princess Belle" and scare here, then at the end, he got to dance with Belle. Really Really fun. Sam decided to sit this experience out, not exactly his style.
We ended out Christmas tour of the kingdom riding the IndySpeedCars, Space Mountain (Sam and Magan), the People Mover, and Buzz Lightyear. Can you believe we did not have time for Dumbo? or Pooh? or Peter Pan? or Philharmagic? Just to much stuff to do and not enough time. After one last tour of the Princesses for Belle, we headed for the hotel at around 12:30 am.
The Bus ride home had us crammed into a resort bus separated in two groups. Davis stayed with me and as I watched him slowly fall asleep next to an old lady that also fell asleep, and as "The Circle of Life" played on extremely loud speakers for 1 in the morning, I realized that Elton had it right...its all just the circle of life. Back at the hotel, it did not take to long for this crazy family to pass out asleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment