Sweatmans Do Disney 2014 - Day Three - Epcot

Epcot for us this year was kind of a hot mess. I was as sick as a dog and missed breakfast and meeting Anna and Elsa. I was, and still am, so upset about this. Tommy took the kids and everyone did great. It's always such an early morning and we are so tired, but it's worth it to get in the park early. 

We ate breakfast at Akershus just like two years ago. Again, it did not disappoint. They were apparently the first ones there, and got to see Belle as she came in. 

I don't know why Drew held his little hand up like that, but it was cute as a button. I love that my girl still loves those princesses. 

During breakfast, all the princesses starting making their rounds. The kids loved every minute, as usual. 

The royal parade: 

After breakfast, Tommy knew to immediately get in line for Anna and Elsa. They were SO fortunate, and it was exactly why I planned things this way. They only had to wait 30 minutes to meet them. Later in the day the wait was over four hours. 

My angel. 

Both kids were over the moon meeting them! 

This is where Drew ran away after hugging Elsa, and Anna called after him to get a hug. Tommy said it was so cute and Drew just loved it. 

About this time I was back in the hotel and decided that I'd powered through feeling worse than this before. I took every medicine I could find, called a cab, grabbed a coke and some crackers, and booked it to meet up with my loves. I couldn't let a little (MASSIVE) stomach bug get me down. I met them at Epcot and we did a few things. We got on a boat ride that took us around gardens. It was slow paced and cool and just what I needed. Because at one point during the ride, I had to lay down and thought I was going to pass out. Thank the Lord we were on that ride. It scared all four of us. But when it passed, I felt better. We walked all around, rode Soarin' (our favorite! we can't wait for sweet Drew to be able to ride), and just walked around the countries. I love Epcot. It's not the kids' favorite. 

We got them Mickey popsicles, which I think is one of the greatest things on this Earth! We saw Mary Poppins and a few other characters. But mostly we just walked around and looked. I was sad that I felt so bad, because we typically snack our way through the countries. We did go to our reservation at Biergarten, which we didn't get to do last time. I really liked it but Tommy didn't so much. I don't know that we'll go back, but I'd like to give it another try when I don't have a stomach bug. 

The kids loved the band and were able to go down and dance. They were precious. 

I thought the setting and stage was adorable! 

We left lunch and the kids wanted to ride one more thing. We had a fast pass for Spaceship Earth, so we did it. I think they enjoyed it. It wasn't my favorite. Then we just decided to go on back to the hotel. We needed a nap and the kids wanted to swim (the hotel had some really nice pools!). I think we'll put Epcot off one more trip and wait for two trips from now to go back. The kids really don't enjoy it too much and Tommy and I want to do more there! 

Sweatmans Do Disney 2014 - Day Four - Magic Kingdom Pt. 1

After taking Day Three easy by only spending half of it at Epcot, and taking a nap, and doing the luau for dinner, I had high hopes for our second day at Magic Kingdom. We started off at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary. Our family loved this, but a lot of people don't think it's anything special. We will probably go back though! We chose this as our meal to meet the Mickey characters, which are Drew's favorites. 

Mama is still looking pretty rough here. I did not feel well, and ate nothing. These are pretty expensive meals that I keep not eating at!

That smile stayed on Drew's face the whole time.

Every time a character came around that he loved - Goofy, Mickey, or Pluto - he just yelled "Hey ____" to them as loud as he could, jumping up and down, with pure excitement. It surprised me completely and is something I will never forget. He was the happiest little thing in the entire restaurant. 

I mean, you can just see excitement and happiness all over that sweet face! 

You can see him just clapping with happiness here. Sweetest thing ever. 

(I love AK's "been there, done that" look.) 

Last time we met Donald, Drew was a baby. And Donald took his passy! 

I am SO THANKFUL we took these kids to Disney at their young ages. There are always people that can't believe we take them so young, or can't believe we spend that money, "they won't remember it," - we hear it all. But WE remember it. Tommy and I do. Some of our best and happiest family memories have happened and Disney. And I am thankful and happy for each one. 

So we left Chef Mickey's and rode the monorail, per Drew's request, to Magic Kingdom. It is much easier and quicker to walk, but Drew loves that monorail. We decided to split up and hit the children's favorites while the crowd was low. Addie Kate wanted to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad again, so she and I did that, with no wait. It was great and is such a classic, fun, Disney ride. And I love that we can share those rides together now that she's getting older. Plus, I just loved our walk together around Magic Kingdom, in the quiet of the morning. 

My girl posing, literally, for a picture while waiting. 

And this picture. My whole world. I just love it. 

We stayed in Fantasyland, riding all our favorites, over and over again. Then, as it got close to lunch time, we met friends at Pecos Bill's. It was so fun to run into friends while we were down there, and Addie Kate especially loved it. 

After lunch, Tommy and Addie Kate went to ride The Haunted Mansion with Meghan and Caroline and their parents. Drew and I went to guest services to straighten out a problem with our meal plan, then rode the ChooChoo again. We met Daddy and sister back in time for the parade a second time around. 

After that, we hunt around in Tomorrowland and rode the People Mover, Test Track, and a few other rides, then went to Adventureland and rode Aladdin's Magic Carpet and a few other rides there. We then used our Fast Pass to ride the new Ariel ride and Enchanted Tales with Belle. This little "event" is precious! You go into a room with a small group (Drew was asleep and I was carrying him around, which killed my back--- but he needed that nap!) and some cast members explain what's going to happen and gives every child, and some adults, a part and a prop. 

Addie Kate was chosen to be the Beast! She loved it. 

The wardrobe was precious. Everything was so interactive and just Disney-perfect. 

Then, you go in another room and Lumiere narrates the story of Beauty and the Beast, and Belle comes in. The children play their various roles (with help and prompting from the cast members). And it goes perfectly smooth and precious. (And the parents get to sit in the cool and watch it all - perfect!) 

(You can see the cast member that stayed with AK and helped her with her part.)

Being the Beast, Addie Kate got to dance with Belle for her role. She loved it. And did a great job! 

After the little "show" Belle posed with everyone there that wanted a picture. She was SO sweet to all the children, especially to Addie Kate and Drew. (Maybe every parent felt that way. But I was impressed.) 

Here are a few videos:

At the very end, Drew woke up. He wakes up so alert and happy. He just jumped right up there with the cast member to wait in line to meet Belle. 

(The guy standing there in gym shorts was one of the adults they picked to be a "guard." He had to hold a mask up the entire time. There were two of them. This one finally just propped it up on his hat.)

The look on his face - not really captured at this camera angle - was so cute. Happy and nervous and smitten. 

This was one of my favorite new Disney things! As per usual Disney style - it went off perfectly, without a hitch, with their famous animatronics, etc. The kids were in awe!