Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World

Hi All,

Well, here's what you've been waiting for! Our trip to Walt Disney World in sunny Orlando, Florida:

Schedule:
4-17: Nathan leaves for Disney World
4-18: Nathan's SANS conference begins
4-21: Mom and Noah leave for Disney World - stop in Macon to spend night
4-22: Nathan still in class; Mom and Noah arrive at hotel - The Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort; the entire family strolled the boardwalk during the evening and then had dinner with Goofy and Pluto
4-23: Nathan still in class; Dana and Noah play mini-golf and hang out by the pool; we journey by bus to Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party in the Magic Kingdom - and what magic it was!
4-24: Nathan still in class - last day, hooray; Mom and Noah journey to Downtown Disney where we visited the Lego store; Nathan and Noah spend the evening playing golf while mom heads for the fabulous Mandara Spa for some massage, a pedicure and a bonus of Reiki! What a treat finding a masseuse who knows Reiki.
4-25: Seaworld!
4-26: Animal Kingdom!
4-27: Magic Kingdom and Epcot!
4-28: Home again.

Well, that was our schedule. We had a great time. The first couple of days were sort of relaxing. Noah and I took it easy. Good thing, too. Nathan injured his back and he and I were up several nights in a row dealing with his pain. We finally had to call the doctor and he was given pain medicine which finally relaxed him and allowed him to ease up his muscles. That's what happens, I guess when you lug around 2 laptops for several days.

Overall we had a great time. Everything is horribly expensive but the look on Noah's face during much of the time was so worth every penny spent. We loved all of it. But, we were so exhausted when we arrived home. In fact, today is Friday and I am still tired. I even took a 2 hour nap today!

We will hopefully go back when Noah is around 11 or 12 and have a younger child along for the fun. By then Noah will be able to ride some of the bigger things with Nathan, but Nathan had fun riding the kids stuff too. We loved the Safari ride in the Animal Kingdom. I'm very glad we did it.

Our only real regret is we did not have a day of downtime at the pool as a family. We'll definitely plan that next time. This time we were sort of on someone else's schedule and really could not do an extra day. As it was, Nathan was out of the office for 2 full weeks.

So, here are some photos. I hope you enjoy them!

Dana

Posted by Dana at 10:14 PM

Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World

Here are a few random photos from our DW trip.

Noah took this great photo of Nathan and I outside of our hotel our first night there together.


This is Noah and I watching a funny magician on the Boardwalk near our hotel.



Here is Goofy, Noah and I at the Garden Grove: AKA horrible restaurant. Thank goodness Goofy and Pluto were there.


Noah is showing me that his golf lessons are paying off here at Fantasia's Garden near our hotel.


Finally, here is a picture of our hotel. The fabulous WDW Dolphin resort. A great place to be.

Posted by Dana at 9:55 PM

Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party

Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party

These pics are from Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party. This was so much fun. It was a nighttime extra in the Magic Kingdom focused on all things piratey and princess. Here is our pirate below:


I'm a little embarrassed to say the castle brought tears to my eyes.



Here are Noah and I on Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride.


The guys in the Tea Cups! Nathan loves these!

Here are my guys watching the Pirate and Princess parade. Notice Noah changed his pirate hat for Mickey's sorcerer hat.

Posted by Dana at 9:31 PM

Sea World

Friday, May 2, 2008

Sea World

I'm not posting many pics, but we had a great time at Sea World. When we get back to Orlando - say in 5 or 6 years - we will definitely do this park again. Here are some of my faves:

Posted by Dana at 9:21 PM

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom

We really had a good time visiting the Animal Kingdom. We got some great photos and it was neat seeing all of the animals as well as Rafiki! I love Rafiki and so does Noah. Noah also wanted me to get my photo made with Pocahantos . He says she is my favorite. I didn't know.





The World Tree in the Animal Kingdom. Truly a work of art.


Don't ask me why I was standing like that.

Here are some more wild animals:

Posted by Dana at 8:30 PM

Magic Kingdom and Epcot

Magic Kingdom and Epcot

These photos are from our last day at the happiest place on Earth. I must admit that I was pretty thrilled to meet Mary Poppins! My herioine and my favorite Disney movie.


Mary Poppins and Dana. This was big fun. She asked me if we flew in by umbrella. I said, "No, broom."


Nathan in the gallows....just where he belongs!



Just a darn good picture and Nathan and Noah watching the Magic Kingdom show.


Too Cute!


My son, the Viking warrior. Watch out Odin.



Noah and his favorite Dwarf - Dopey. Bet you couldn't have guessed that one.




We were shocked. Noah would not go and meet Pan and Wendy. So, I was the one to go and get their autographs.


You can imagine. These are the folks Noah was waiting for. He was so excited, though this picture does not do that emotion justice. Some of the photos that the Disney photographers took were better. If I can, I'll upload one of those later.


Our little prisoner!

We were all so exhausted that after Epcot and the MK we went back to the room, ordered a pizza and then went back and hung at the pool.