FAMILY!

I am typing this blog post from my family's living room at the Marriot Vacation Club in Orlando, FL. My family is HERE. We did DISNEY. And we will CONTINUE DOING DISNEY.

<3.

Today started with a bit of sleeping in, of course. I woke up around 11, I got up around noon and got in the shower and by the time I was out and had breakfast, there was a text waiting for me from both Becca and Daniel - they had touched down in Orlando! I made sure my stuffed animals and my toothbrush were packed alongside the Disney surprises I'd bought for my family. I waited (impatiently) for the text from Daniel saying they would be there in 5 minutes by browsing the internet and tapping my foot and watching the time pass.

Finally. It came. And I put on my sandals and made my way to the security gate. I had my family all signed in and ready to go when they pulled up. Mom jumped right out and hugged me while we waited for the car in front of them to move, and then I got in the van while security photocopied IDs and hugged everyone else. We drove to my apartment and I was able to show them my place. We grabbed my stuff and some groceries and headed out.

We got the the grocery store and spent a while buying food for breakfasts and snacks. We drove to the suite where we are staying and dropped off my things, and I realized I'd forgotten their Disney passes at my apartment. We'd have to go back and get them on the way to Cast Connection. But first! Disney surprises.

A scarf and a C3PO Mr. Potato Head for Mom. A bracelet, sunglasses and a purse for Loo. Hats and a golf towel for Dano. And a hat and a pin for Dad. And my favorite discounted find; Perry the Platypus walkie-talkies for the boys, where the only 'damage' was ripped packaging.

We were off to Cast Connection shortly after - with pins on lanyards and stopping by to pick up passes. Mom and Dano got pictures of the 'Welcome to Walt Disney World' sign as we drove underneath it. Between Mom with a map and me having been here for 7 weeks, we made it to backstage MK where the cast discount store lives. When we got there, a line was forming for Pin Trading! A man who only comes twice a month was coming to set up his boards with a couple hundred pins he was willing to trade. Well, aren't we glad we'd brought dad's ebay purchased trading pins with us! The last time we were here, I'd started a set of 26 pins - the alphabet with different characters for each letter. I'd only collected A, B and C before I went home. But this guy had several different letters on the board! I now have D, E, F, R. (And later I found T, H, and... one more but I can't remember which.) So while we waited Becca and Mom shopped around. When we were done, we headed straight for Hollywood studios!

It is so awesome to be here with my family! Between my Cast ID and Dad's VIP parking pass at the gate, we parked for free in the closest lot to the front entrance. With my knowledge of HS, we went in the side section of the front entrance and voila! From gate to inside in less than 10 minutes. No waiting for a trolley, no waiting for bag check, hardly any wait for passes. So good :) We spent the first few minutes wandering through the stores as we tried to escape the heat and make our way towards something to eat for supper. We were planning on Pizza Planet but chose the ABC Commissary instead. I thought it was good - Becca and Dano didn't enjoy theirs though.

We walked down the Streets of America where I showed my family how little there is there without the Osbourne Family Spectacle of Lights that happens at Christmastime. But, surprise of all surprises, we happened upon a character explosion going on down one of the side streets. I got pictures with a Green Army man, and there was Captain Hook, Stitch, Chip n Dale, Goof Troop, Penguins, Jasmine, Pocahontas (we got a quick picture with her, too! She even said 'wingapo' to us!) the Evil Queen and others. So awesome!

Around the corner was a metal umbrella attached to a lamp post that I'd seen before... but it wasn't until today when I saw the water that came down around it, and had my sister there with me that I realized what it was - Singing in the Rain. Becca got her picture and we moved on! :)

We went into Honey I shrunk the Kids play ground to get the classic picture of the three of us on the slide and me eating the giant cookie. The Backlot Tour museum was next so I could show Becca and Mom the Sound of Music marionettes and the Oz - The Great and Powerful costumes. Original music from West Side Story was there as well :)

We wandered up Pixar Place, skipped rides where the line was too long and went through One Man's Dream for some escape from the heat and to show my family the video of Walt. As we excited, we turned out right at the Art of Animation museum, so we strolled quickly through that. I happened to see a friend of mine at the Fast Pass Entrance to the Little Mermaid show, and she let us through!! (Thanks, Jenn!!) So Becca got to see the Voyage of the Little Mermaid - ish. Unfortunately, a costume malfunction at the end meant the curtain closed early. But it was still excellent! :)

After that, it was time to head over to Fantasmic! We went tonight so that tomorrow we don't feel the need to stay all day at HS; we can leave whenever we want to knowing that the night show has already been seen! We got our seats, Mom bought us ice cream, we participated in the wave and the sing a long being conducted by cast members as we waited, and then! It started.

It was just as good as I remember, and I got such joy from seeing the reactions of my family!! When Mickey comes out and the music builds and the princesses dance with their princes and the fireworks shoot up and Mickey defeats the bad guy? It's all overwhelming - and all very wonderful!

I also have the best family in the entire world - As the show ended, we all were up and ready to go in less than half a second, and weaving our way in and out of folks walking slower than us. We made it to the front gate, and instead of following the crowd, went back out the side entrance, right to the car and off we went! We don't have to wait in line for the trolley, boat, bus, or anything! 14 minutes later, we were halfway home. When thousands of people are leaving a park all at once, and you and your family are first to their car and out of the gate in 5? You're amazing. my whole family is amazing.

We got home and Dad, Mom and Dano headed for the pool while Becca got ready for bed and I planned out our day tomorrow and wrote this post. Getting distracted with teasing and candy and tickies have made it a much longer process than I'd hoped, but everyone is in bed now and I'm following suit!

A long day tomorrow, but my family is here!!!!!!!!!! :) :)