Florida Day 4 & 5

Day 4 Disney World Magic Kingdom

Monday was our 4th day in Florida. We had tickets to a pre-fireworks dessert that comes with VIP fireworks viewing. it started at 6:30 with fireworks at 8. Plus we were exhausted and the kids were asking for a break so we decided to have a slow start. Eric had an appt at 10am to view his star. next he discovered the spa isn't just for girls; he got a sparkly blue transformers tattoo and red stripes in his hair (OMG the red hair spray dyed his scalp more than his hair and I still can't get it off!) We had lunch at GKTW and then headed out to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. We didn't arrive until 2pm and didn't really have any plans. The first thing we did was buy one of those huge clear balloons that has a mickey shaped balloon inside it, red in Eric's case. It was $16 USD and spent the entire day smacking me in the head as I pushed his wheelchair. What a mistake! We ended up walking right into a front row spot for the parade. It was so magical; the floats are HUGE. While waiting for the parade to start, Eric checked out the map and decided that we must go immediately to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride in Fantastyland. It was a smaller roller coaster with just small drops so Joel and I were convinced to ride as well. It was a lot of fun to have all of us together on the ride and not too scary. We wandered from Fantasyland into Liberty Square for the Haunted Mansion ride; there were lots of ghouls and ghosts, but not scary at all. From there back to Fantasyland for the Little Mermaid ride. It was a bit lame but the music was lovely. Next was Tomorrowland, which is now perhaps Eric's favourite place on earth. We started with the Speedway where Eric and Joel got to drive (with the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car!) and Chuck and I were passengers. Eric kept telling me he was a good driver after but he sure hit the rail a lot. From everywhere in Tomorrowland you can see the Astro Orbiter which sticks up really high and is super colourful so Chuck and Eric did that. It was not a roller coaster, but seemed a bit high for Joel and I. Its really unfortunate that I've passed all my complexes on to Joel, but at least I had company??? It was now time for dessert! There were cookies the kids could decorate, chocolate covered strawberries, fruit, cheese, crackers, chocolate mousse, crepes, cookies and cream cheese cake, etc. Plus lots of juice (including POG!), hot chocolate, coffee, tea and alcohol!!! I had some bubbly. Next off to the fireworks, with about 40 min to wait. UGH. But we had a great spot. We were in the VIP area, plus got the wheelchair section. And Eric let me sit in his wheelchair and then sat on my lap, for warmth. Did I mention it was freezing?!?!? After the torrential rains the night before, it was really cold on Monday all day, and by the time the fireworks rolled around it was only 11 degrees. We were wearing our sweaters, but needed blankets, parkas, mittens and toques! The fireworks were incredible, indescribable, so amazing and enchanting. 8:20ish, freezing to death, but Eric needs to go back to Tomorrowland for the People Mover, Tron and Space Mountain. Joel and I did the People Mover, but skipped the other two. I figured Eric would do Tron and then want to skip Space Mountain (after the VelociCoaster) but apparently not; they aren't as scary. He loved Tron and it just energized him for the next ride. Joel and I met Eric and Chuck coming off Space Mountain and Eric says BEST RIDE EVER!!! It was finally time to leave Magic Kingdom for the day, but we wanted to stop at the Emporium, the biggest Disney store, on our way out. Unfortunately, there were 12 million people in the store, so we booked it out of there and to the exit. Despite being told not to leave immediately after the fireworks or right at closing because it would be too busy, we discovered it was 10:01 (park closes at 10) as we were walking through the exit. It wasn't too bad though. A small wait for the monorail to the parking lot and we are lucky enough to get preferred parking so it was a quick walk to the car. Back to the Villa and by the time we get everyone organized for bed it was well after 11. 

Day 5 Disney World Epcot & Magic Kingdom

We had a bit of a slow start after the late night and actually had to send a runner (me) to get breakfast to go before it closed at 10am. We decided to do Epcot today for a half day and then park hop to somewhere else after. We got to Epcot about 11:30. The giant ball thing, that probably has a name, is pretty cool, especially at night when it lights up. We went on Spaceship Earth, inside the ball thing, right at the entrance. Then headed over to Norway to do the Frozen Ever After ride which was great. Next to France for Remy's Ratatouille ride. That one was 3D/4D and slightly nauseating for me. Along the way Eric got his face painted (like a red T. Rex) we had some funnel cake, and a slushie. It did seem like all of Epcot was alcoholic slushie beverages, amusing since Eric just wanted a slushie. That was about it for Epcot for us. We walked all the way around the World Showcase loop, but by then we were done so didn't want to venture off into the other areas - World Nature, World Discovery, etc - and we didn't want to watch any shows after that Spaceship Earth ride we started on was a bit long. Epcot was just a "meh" for us. From Epcot we could have park hopped to Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom, the parks we haven't been to yet. However, our trip director just had to go back on Space Mountain so we took the Monorail and the ferry boat over to Magic Kingdom. The weather was quite a bit warmer than the day before, which I did tell my family after checking the forecast, but they all wore pants and long sleeves after the day before, and then were too hot! It was about 4pm when we made it into Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom was closing at 6pm for a special ticketed event - Mickey's Christmas party. We split up with Chuck and Eric heading straight for Space Mountain. Joel and I went to the Christmas store and got an ornament, picked up a popsicle and a mickey shaped pretzel, Joel got a Beymax stuffie and then we went to the sweet shop. Chuck and Eric rode Space Mountain and then went to Tron. They ended up riding Tron twice because the staff hadn't moved Eric's wheelchair from the front of the ride to the exit yet, so just asked if they wanted to ride again. They met us in the sweet shop and the kids bought all the sweets! We were leaving the park a little after 5 but had to take the Monorail back to Epcot to the parking lot. On the way home we decided to stop at Target because why not? We were very exciting and got the kids some new pjs (Pokemon for Eric of course) because they keep growing and everything is too small! Back to GKTW for late dinner, baths/showers for the boys - one of which was covered in face paint - and then off to bed!