Back to Disney, Day 1

WHY
How did we become one of those families that "does Disney"? I like to blame it on Josh, who grew up going often, but it takes two to plan a trip like this... ;) This year, our excuses were:

• WORK DISCOUNT: Josh had another medical conference on the premises (as he said, How can I go to Disney World without my boys!?).
• GOOD MEMORIES: We had a GREAT time last year.
• SHORT WINDOW: We saw then how quickly kids outgrow some of the magic, and we want to take advantage of these early years when they still love Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Mickey Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, The Incredibles, Disney Jr, etc. At the same time, it was nice that Aaron is 40" and so able to ride everything he wanted to ride.
• EXCELLENT CHILDCARE: My mom was available and willing to keep our littlest munchkin, freeing us of nap/diaper/height constraints.

FLYING
We left early Wednesday morning and had two lovely flights. I even read a book. As we discovered throughout the week, traveling with kids (vs. babies/toddlers) is a piece. of. cake.

To all my fellow baby/toddler mommas, I have seen the future, and it is EASIER.

It can also be very funny. I wrote down some of Aaron's in-flight commentary:

Aaron, looking out the airplane window...
"Guns!" (Josh: No, engines!) 

"Is [our airplane] going to explode?" 

Passing over a lake...
"Water! Are we going to go under water [in our airplane]?" 

Later...
Josh: Look - the mountains are getting bigger!
A: "And our airplane is getting smaller!" ?? 

Looking at the family behind us...
A: "Oh, I see their mom! (to her) Hello That Mom!" 

Walking off the plane...
Pilot: Good-bye!
A: You're a policeman!
Me: No he's the pilot.
A: Pilots are policemen?
Me: No, he's just a pilot.
A: Well pilots are good.

These pics are actually from Day 6, since we picked up the car
and drove it largely in THE RAIN Days 1-4.

ARRIVING
We rented a car this time so it would be easier for Josh to get to/from his conference duties, and my car aficionado even let the boys pick it by color (blue, of course!).

Upon check-in, we received our super-cool new magic armbands (only Isaac's pictured since we put ours on immediately). They served as our tickets to...everything (hotel, dining, parks, fastpasses, and shopping).

Our flight landed around 2pmET. By the time we got through baggage claim, the rental car, tolls (it's funny how much FDOT charges you to drive from the airport to WDW), lunch, groceries, armbands, and the hotel room, we arrived in Epcot around 5:15pm (which was fine since the 4-day and 5-day tix are the same price, so this was our "free" day).

Test Track, where Aaron is convinced the cars "fly,"
because they go so fast, outside, and
(momentarily) perpendicular to the ground.
Noah was obsessed with designing his car to be
the fastest, including the super plasma engine,
hood/roof/tail accessories, and painted flames.

EPCOT

Overall, our favorite rides in Epcot were...

Daddy: Test Track
Mommy: Soarin'
6-yr-old: Test Track, then Maelstrom
4-yr-old: Test Track, then Spaceship Earth

Spaceship Earth: Aaron loved the end, where you get to choose your own adventure (under water or in space). Meanwhile, I found myself smiling back at the anamatronic people out of courtesy. #toosouthern

FOOD
Each day, we ate breakfast in the room (Art of Animation has kitchenettes), took brown-bag lunches into the parks, and ate at a sit-down restaurant in the parks for dinner. Our first night was at La Hacienda de San Angel in "Mexico," where we ordered 3 appetizers and an entree, tapas-style, and it was delicious! Not to mention warm and dry.

WEATHER
Last January, Orlando was too hot and sunny.

That was not a problem this year. Fortunately, we were well equipped. It was admittedly not ideal for strolling the park, but it was perfect for thinning the crowds. Wednesday to Friday, we rarely encountered a line, and we didn't touch our sunscreen the whole trip.

And then after we were safely back in TN, the spread widened a bit...


Still interested? Disney, Day 2 (Hollywood Studios)

And for past posts on Disney, check out:

To Infinity, and Beyond!

Walt Disney World, Take 2

Disney Debrief 

The Denny Disney Adventure of 2013 (This was supposed to be the first of several posts -- which never materialized. Thus my rabid determination to document this visit!)