Day 4 - Epcot

We had dinner right on the lake at Epcot.

Love my girls!

Kate loved calling the Queen

England
Epcot at night.
You can see the Eiffel Tower in the distant background.
Ella watching the fireworks with her Dad.
Me and Mine

Day 4 - Character Breakfast

We made reservations for a character breakfast at our hotel.
We met Goofy, Donald, and Minnie!

Minnie
Minnie was so sweet to Lucy.
Lucy LOVED Minnie and cooed and talked back and forth to her.
It was surprising to me how excited Lucy was!
(I think we are going to have to plan a Minnie B-day party for Lucy's first Birthday!)

After Minnie came and left, the first time,
Lucy spotted Donald across the room and called out to him.
She got so excited. Donald came right over and showed lots of love to Lucy!!!

Goofy sneaked up on Ella. Ella was so surprised!
I was impressed with these characters. They came around to our table a couple of times and spent a lot of time with the kids. It was magical to see their
faces and so nice in a relaxed atmosphere, without any lines!

Day 3 - Disney Yacht Swimming, Movies, Bonfires

Disney Yacht Hotel

Our hotel was right on Crescent lake.
There are hotels and shops all around the border.
Epcot and MGM were just a short boat ride away,
or a 5 minute walk!

Lucy loved the water.

Lots of swimming at Storm Along Bay, at the hotel.
There was a water slide, lazy river, sand beaches, kids pools
all with sand bottom. It felt like a really clean beach!

The kid pool had a sand bar through the middle of the pool.
The girls loved, loved, loved it!!!
The bottom of the pools were all sand.
This is the kind of pool I would want in my back yard!

Kate, Ella, Lucy and I decided to walk around the whole lake and hit all of the Disney Shops.
Kate turned on Pandora on my phone and skipped along pushing Ella in the stroller.
So many people smiled as they walked by!
You Rock Kate!
All of the kids meals were served on Mickey Shaped plates,
all week long!

Make your own ice cream sundae desserts! Yum!
Kids dream come true!
Sweet dreams!
The girls LOVE Minnie Mouse.
Ella got a new Minnie Mouse nightgown, Lucy a bib!

We made friends with Meghan and Max from Philadelphia.
We swam 2 days with them at the pool.

The kids meals at the pool were served in sand pails!

Hotel Beach Bonfires
Every night they have a fire and let hotel guests roast marshmallows on the beach.

They show a movie on a huge screen. Our hotel was closet to Epcot, so every night we could see the fireworks from our room, or from the beach.

Day 3 - Hollywood Studios

From the Tower of Terror to the Rockin' Roller Coaster,
Abby loved Hollywood Studios!!!

Abby and Amy spent day 3 at Hollywood Studios.
Abby and Amy rode the Tower of Terror 10 Times, Abby's new favorite ride!
Everyone needs an Aunt like Amy!

Day 2 - Seuss Landing at Universal Studios

Seuss Landing

Sam I Am

Front row seats to Character Story time!

Caro-Seuss-el

Sneetches High in The Sky Trolly Train

All of the rides are based on Dr. Seuss books.

Day 2 - Universal Orlando Harry Potter

Welcome to Hogwarts!

Islands of Adventure

at Universal Studios Orlando

On this trip to Orlando,
we were most excited to visit
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!We were SO excited to ride Harry Potter and the

Forbidden Journey. Wow! I have a new respect for Harry Potter.
We also enjoyed Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge.
We ate lunch at "Three Broomsticks".
We toured all of the shops, and drank Butterbeer!

We toured Hogwarts, and wow, the pictures were just as
real and amazing as we had imagined!
Imagination brought to life!
Dream fulfilled!
Visiting Hogwarts was a dream come true,
and made for an unforgettable day!

Day 1 - Airplane and Disney Yacht Hotel

Today was the day! The day the paper chain ended! The day we packed our swimsuits, sunscreen, and snacks and boarded the plane to Orlando, Florida. The 4 hour airplane ride, involving 4 kids, including a 4 month old infant, began when the pilot invited us into the cockpit to get Delta "Wings." In all of the times we have flown, this was only the second time the captain has invited us in! The kids were VERY excited to meet the pilot and the cockpit.

We have a fun tradition. Whenever we travel, I plan little presents for the kids along the way to keep them entertained.
Ella's favorite was a bracelet to decorate, and when she was done,
she decorated Dad's bicep!
Kate enjoyed sticker books. Abby enjoyed movies on the iPAD.
Lucy slept most of the time.

Disney Yacht Hotel

This was our first time staying at a Disney Resort.
It was "magical" in every way! Disney picked us up at the airport.
We rode on the Magical Express to the hotel,
and they had mini chairs and a Disney movie for the
kids to watch while we got checked in.
The kids LOVED it!
We soon learn that they make everything more fun for kids!!!

They shaped the towels in a smile!
This was Abby's second trip to Disneyworld in Florida.
The last time we went was in 2005, when I was pregnant with Kate.
This was the first time to Florida for the rest of the girls.
Abby (8), Kate (5), Ella (3) and Lucy 4 months.