Going to Disney World as an adult brings out the kid in you. Going to Disney World with your child actually turns you back into a kid. Even the Mickey Mouse logo on the side of a bus brought true enjoyment for all of us.
I was a little nervous about the plane ride. Not only was it Barrett's very first flight, but he likes to get down and run every 3 minutes. I was so shocked that he did so well! It probably helped that we had food: quiche, banana nut muffins, fresh fruit, and biscuits. We just fed him the entire flight and let him watch movies on my iPad.
Once we landed we took a bus to the Animal Kingdom Lodge:
Barrett sat with Gamma and Poppy and got more and more excited with each character he saw on the tv while we were driving.
Eventually, he the excitement may have been too much because he fell asleep the rest of the way. (Barrett never just falls asleep like that ... he must have been exhuasted!) And Poppy got some good cuddle time :)
After checking into the hotel, and checking out our safari view room, we headed to Downtown Disney for some afternoon shopping and dinner. Barrett loved running around to the different character statues that were in the stores. He looked at each one with such awe and amazement that I thought the novelty was sure to wear off. But he loved every second of it.
Barrett's First Disney World Picture
Sharing Honey with Pooh Bear
Notice The No Climbing Sign ... Oops!
After a few character pictures, it was time to go shopping. And try on hats ... apparently:
What. Is. On. My. Head?!?!
Not Amused
Mom! Did you put a HEADBAND on me?!?!
The next day was Magic Kingdom Day! We started the day at Chef Mickeys to meet all of the characters. I thought he might be afraid of the huge, oversized characters, but he loved them! He was a little unsure about each of them as they approached us, but he ended up giving each of them hugs, high fives, and kisses. (Especially Minnie ... who apparently is his current favorite. He spent most of the week pointing to anything that could possibly look like Minnie Mouse while yelling "MINnnie! MIIINNNnnnie!")
Looking at Pluto as He Comes to our Room
Then we took off to the Magic Kingdom ....
So Excited!
Little Unsure About the Parade on Main Street
Watching the Parade
Our First Ride: Winnie the Pooh
More Pooh Bear Honey
Pooh Bear's House
Favorite Lunch at "Be Our Guest"...
Lunch Giggles
...The Beauty and the Beast Castle
Poppy and Barrett
After an eventful day, we had to head back to the hotel for a nap ... and then back to the park for fireworks and some last minute rides and character pictures! (With no crowds!)
Little blurry ... but I love This Picture
Projector Presentation on the Magic Kingdom Behind Us
Mickey Actually Runs Across the Castle
What's Happening?
Waiting for It's a Small World ... Round 1
With Goofy and Daddy
High Fives for Donald
Electrical Light Parade!
The next day we visited the Animal Kingdom. None of us had been there before, so we really didn't know what to expect. We had so much fun there! We went to some fun shows, saw animals, and got to visit more characters! It was a nice change of pace from the hustle-and-bustle of the day before.
One Last Picture with Mickey
Is Poppy Going to GIVE Me to the Bear?
The Animal Kingdom also had Barrett's favorite activity: Finding Nemo The Musical. He sat for 45 minutes and watched, clapped, pointed to new characters, reached for bubbles, and asking for "Bruce" the shark after he left the stage. To say he was mesmerized would be an understatement.
"MeeeMO! MeeeMO!"
Family Self Portrait
Still Waiting ... Kisses for Little B
Entertaining Ourselves
Watching Nemo Live on Stage
Catching Bubbles
Before we left, we had a few more characters to visit that we hadn't met yet. One of Barrett's favorite bedtime books is a Winnie The Pooh Book, so we had to!
Smiles with Gamma and Tigger.
Before heading home, we had to take one last look at the animals back at the hotel.
Watching Birds
Getting a Closer Look
Last Picture in Disney World
I was a little nervous about the plane ride. Not only was it Barrett's very first flight, but he likes to get down and run every 3 minutes. I was so shocked that he did so well! It probably helped that we had food: quiche, banana nut muffins, fresh fruit, and biscuits. We just fed him the entire flight and let him watch movies on my iPad.
Before Take Off
(And Trying to Hide My Nervousness)
Looking at Clouds With Daddy
After checking into the hotel, and checking out our safari view room, we headed to Downtown Disney for some afternoon shopping and dinner. Barrett loved running around to the different character statues that were in the stores. He looked at each one with such awe and amazement that I thought the novelty was sure to wear off. But he loved every second of it.
After a few character pictures, it was time to go shopping. And try on hats ... apparently:
Dancing Time ... After A Long Day of Travel and Excitement!
The next day was Magic Kingdom Day! We started the day at Chef Mickeys to meet all of the characters. I thought he might be afraid of the huge, oversized characters, but he loved them! He was a little unsure about each of them as they approached us, but he ended up giving each of them hugs, high fives, and kisses. (Especially Minnie ... who apparently is his current favorite. He spent most of the week pointing to anything that could possibly look like Minnie Mouse while yelling "MINnnie! MIIINNNnnnie!")
Mickey Waffles!
"Pew-Pew"
Kissing "BICKKKey"
Posing with "Ish"
(How he gets "Ish" out of "Goofy" ... I"ll never know!)
Waiting for Minnie with Gamma
"MINNNie!" Barrett's First Girlfriend
Kisses for Minnie
So Excited!
Watching the Parade
Pooh Bear's House
After an eventful day, we had to head back to the hotel for a nap ... and then back to the park for fireworks and some last minute rides and character pictures! (With no crowds!)
Mickey Actually Runs Across the Castle
He LOVED Making Dumbo Go Up and Down
The next day we visited the Animal Kingdom. None of us had been there before, so we really didn't know what to expect. We had so much fun there! We went to some fun shows, saw animals, and got to visit more characters! It was a nice change of pace from the hustle-and-bustle of the day before.
Watching The Lion King with an Elephant
One Last Picture with Mickey
Poppy loves the Bear Necessities. Not necessarily The Jungle Book ... just the Bear Necessities song. My sister even surprised him at her wedding by adding it to the end of their father/daughter dance. If you knew my dad, you would know why he wanted to take Barrett to visit the Jungle Book characters. (And there was no line ... hmmmm ... wonder why!) The result, however, was some of my favorite pictures of the whole vacation!
Maybe Mommy Will Save Me!
Playing Until Show Time
Before we left, we had a few more characters to visit that we hadn't met yet. One of Barrett's favorite bedtime books is a Winnie The Pooh Book, so we had to!
Pooh Bear Fun
Figuring Out Eeyore
Before heading home, we had to take one last look at the animals back at the hotel.
