Sunshine and Family 2014 (pt. 2): Disney Day

This year, Nagymama decided to combine all of our birthday gifts and give us a shared experience together, so she took us all to Magic Kingdom for the day! We had a nice time together making memories, especially the girls who soaked up every bit of the magical Disney experience. We had fun watching the girls eyes light up at the sight of a princess or Mickey!

As we walked into the park, the morning parade began. We had front row seats to some of their favorites and our girls were wide-eyed and smiley.

 

 ...and then Uncle Cory's childhood dream came true when we saw Woody! (though he might not be quick to admit it)

 

We didn't get on many rides with the long waits and small children, but the ones we did everyone loved. Our first was the merry-go-round.

 One of the best parts of Disney is meeting the characters. I love seeing how the people interpret and stay in their role the entire time you are talking to them. Everything from their expressions and gestures to the tone of their voice and the references they use from their movies match up. They do a great job! It even draws the adults in!

Remember a couple of years ago, when we let Abby watch Mary Poppins for the first time and she cried hysterically at the end because Mary Poppins flies away? Can you imagine how special it was when we got to meet Mary Poppins and her penguin friend? It was sweet.

Check out Ella's face. She is not sure what to make of the waddling penguin!

The video is blurry. For some reason, it didn't translate to YouTube well, but it gives you an idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAWIVkk74NU

Before it was our turn to meet Cinderella, we got to meet her stepsisters and stepmother. We got in line right away, but as Abby started thinking about it, she wasn't so sure. She asked me if they were going to be mean to her like they are to Cinderella and if they are then she doesn't want to go talk to them. The worker behind us assured her that they wouldn't, but they might ask Uncle Cory if he was on the market because they are both still looking for husbands.

They were a total riot! I'm not sure Abby knew what to do with the bickering sisters, but they cracked me up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK0C0fCSks8

The girls loved Ariel's Under the Sea ride. We all did! It helped that it was amazingly cool in there when we all wanted a much needed break from the heat.

Look at how sweaty we were!

And now...the moment we have all been waiting for. Well, kind of. That moment probably would have been meeting Anna and Elsa, but the wait was two hours long. So, equally as exciting was meeting Cinderella and Rapunzel. Abby was asking all day if it was time. When we walked in the workers greeted us as "your highness" and "your majesty". The girls felt like they in a real deal castle waiting to be seen by real deal princesses.

waiting their turn

Rapunzel was playful and whimsical. She talked to the girls about their favorite games to play and told them how much she loved to play in the grass ever since Flynn Ryder rescued her from the tower. She talked about her little lizard, Pascal, and how she loves to play hide and seek with him. The best part is watching all the little kids nod in understanding because they know the details of these Disney movies so intimately.

 

Cinderella was fancy, elegant and graceful, as you would expect. She glided over to the girls and talked with them quietly in her princess voice. Abby brought a princess story book along for the characters to sign and she turned to the page of Cinderella in a pink dress for Cinderella to sign on. My favorite part was when Cinderella looked at the page and said to Abby, "Oh, I love that dress. Did you know it was my mother's?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDxT9yixOD4

Abby, Daddy and Uncle Cory went on some more rides together. We enjoyed lunch and some other sweet treats. Then, we decided (as we all melted in the sun) that our last event would be the afternoon parade. Abby couldn't meet Anna and Elsa, but she was determined to see them while she was there. It was really fun to watch and a great way to end the day!

 

 It was a billion degrees that day, so we only lasted until about 3:30 before we thought we would all collapse. We were dumping bottles of water on ourselves (the girls included).  By the time we got to the car, everyone was crumbling. Mama and I were the only ones awake on the car ride home. One minute Abby was excitedly listing off all of the people she got to meet, the next minute she was passed out! Thank you Mama for the great experience and the magical memories!