I’m not sure Andrew and I ever thought this day would come, or at least not this soon…
For years, when asked when we were taking Maelle to Disney, Andrew and I would often dance around the subject, uttering something along the lines of “If we’re going to spend that kind of money, we’re going to fly across an ocean.” (OK, maybe I DID say those exact words.)
Well, all it took was Andrew’s sisters planning a trip, and I’m a full-on Disney convert. (Not a bumper-sticker-on-my-car-ready-to-buy-an-annual-pass convert, but I can’t wait to go back.). I mean, I did buy a set of ears to wear at the park…
After we spent a few days at the beach, we drove back to Orlando and met the rest of the family at our AirBnb. It was perfect–enough room for everyone, plus a pool and a hot tub!
It even had an indoor rock wall!
First, we spent a day at Disney Springs, which was a prefect prelude to our Disney indoctrination. Oops, did I say indoctrination??
This bag caught my eye at the Orlando airport, but I thought, “No, I’m not *that* kind of Disney girl.” Well, I just wasn’t one YET! I decided it would make the perfect souvenir and bag for the parks.
We were visiting two parks on our trip, and we started with Magic Kingdom. Abigail and Marvin managed our Lightning Lanes (for 14 of us!) so well it appeared effortless. They even woke up early to enter a lottery so we could get a spot on Tiana’s Bayou, which is the re-themed Splash Mountain. It was so fun, and we got SO WET.
The kids all had gray shirts with various Disney characters, but I picked mine up THAT morning at WalMart on our way to the park (!!), when I realized I didn’t even own any Disney apparel, but wanted to look the part. (Yes, apparently I really wasn’t that kind of Disney girl before this trip.)
At some point, we learned that Maelle is a rollercoaster-junkie! Thankfully, she was tall enough to ride anything with a limit up to 44″, which includes Space Mountain! She even rode in the front row!
We closed the park with the Johnsons, as everyone else had gone home when the fireworks started.
Core Memory from Magic Kingdom: riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train during the fireworks. It was incredible. We’d wanted to ride it all day, but the line was too long. Just before the fireworks, the lines disappeared and we jumped in. At first, I was afraid we’d miss the entire fireworks show, but it began just before we got on the ride, so we were able to enjoy the fireworks while on the ride (awesome!) and for plenty of time afterward, too. I wish I’d been able to take a photo WHILE we were on the ride.
Here’s our girl, after 13 hours at the park:
Abigail was so wise to plan a ‘down day’ between our park days. In the morning, Marvin and I went back to Disney Springs to pick up special cookies from Gideon’s Bakehouse. (They were delicious.) The neighborhood where the AirBnb house was included a pool, so we visited it that afternoon. It was great…until Maelle whacked her face on a slide and gave herself a black eye and a giant cut. Whomp whomp. (Which is why I’m holding her in this photo.)
The next day we all went to Animal Kingdom. After watching Abigail navigate our Lightning Lanes and such, I felt confident I could get my little family around the park on our own if the opportunity arose. Andrew (surprisingly!) was the one who wanted to rope-drop Animal Kingdom, so I had Abigail transfer our tickets to my phone so we could go early!
Core Memory from Animal Kingdom: showing up to the park early and riding Expedition Everest FOUR TIMES in a row, mostly in the front car. I kid you not, we could have ridden that ride all day.
After we had the most fun in 30 minutes I think I’ve ever had, we met up with the rest of our family and rode Kilimanjaro Safari together. It was so neat to see all the animals close-up and close to each other.
We even got to meet Moana! I don’t know if Maelle thought she was the real Moana…
I’m so glad my MIL purchased the photos from our days at the park. They all turned out so well!
We had a great day at Animal Kingdom, and yet again, we closed the park down. Despite the rain, Andrew, Maelle and I rode Expedition Everest THREE more times. Another core memory.
Side note: I absolutely fell IN LOVE with the Expedition Everest spirit jersey–it is definitely my color and style. Since we all had such a great time on the ride, I wanted to have it so badly. (AND we ski, too!) Unfortunately, they didn’t have my size, and I was so sad to leave without it, especially since you can only get it in the park.
(Edited to add: I searched high and low on Postmark and Mercari for months, and in July, someone had my size for sale!! I could not believe it. I kept thinking it was too good to be true. I love it, and it makes me so happy every time I see it–it reminds me of the memories we made on that ride as a family.)
We ALL had a great trip to Disney, and some of us can’t wait to go back. I think what I realized is how much fun I could have! I’m not the fun parent. I’m not goofy. I’m not silly. But Disney let me be goofy and silly and stress-free, if only for a few days. It really is a magical place, and grown-ups can be kids again (even if this grown-up wasn’t all that kid-ish when she WAS a kid).
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