D'World: That Kingdom and It's Magic!

Hello, I'm sorry I didn't finish my posting series. I was busy fighting a Balrog in the depths of the Mines of Moria and eating Taco Bell. Why did the LOTR franchise think that Taco Bell would be a suitable marketing partner? Every time we re-watch the movies and hear the score we think of Taco Bell. Oh, I see now. Well played TB. Well played...

But really, October is the second most busy month of the year for us. I'm trying not to stress about it as I've learned that perfectionism has a hold on my heart and I'm learning to say "Oh well!" more than, "Oh cr*p!" But I did say the latter- or mouthed it rather- in front of our church assembly on Sunday. That's another story.

As is the Texas Renaissance Festival which we toured this Sunday. Oh my.

How do you intro and talk about Magic Kingdom?
I don't know.
It was magical guys. I just knew Leelah was going to be over the moon with taking pictures of the characters. So we found Marie from Aristocats as soon as we walked in and then this happened:
This was the very first pic inside Magic Kingdom. 
This.

Can you feel the excitement?
It's not that she wasn't super happy fun excited and grateful to be there. It's just that she knows they are not real. NOT from us, from her own deductions. Plus, she doesn't really like being the center of attention, but also loves being the center of attention. Yeah, I know we don't get it either. We just try to roll with how she is bent and just let her do her. Spoiler alert: she did get into it after the 2nd character!

So we had this whole magic band miracle happen. I get a call from our agent saying, "You've been selected to try out the new magic band system..." I had NO idea what that meant, but who doesn't like being selected!? !?
"What all I have to do is bow down to Mickey 3 times a day?"
"And give blood offerings to Donald once a quarter?!"
SIGN ME UP!
But really, it was free for us. Although I've heard this will not be a free deal for patrons? Not sure about that. I'm guessing it will be an addable option to your magic. But let me say oh golly, we got spoiled!!!
I went online prior to the trip and signed up per their info and the box came with the bands (got to pick out the colors) and we had so much fun with them!

I'm really proud of this pic by the way. I should watermark it. Just saying.
What we did with our magic bands:
- Set up our fastpasses (You can pick up to 3 -sometimes they throw in a forth) in advance online and through an app on my phone: My Disney Experience. You could pick the schedule yourself or it would set up 3 options for you like Mad Hatter's Tea Party at 9:30, Splash Mountain at 10:30, Space Mountain at 12:00pm. You were permitted to arrive at the time listed and up until an hour: so from 9:30-10:30 you had a spot reserved. When you arrived to the ride they have these little stands with a convex circle and it has a Mickey head on them. You wave your magic band over it and it would make a fun little beep and then turn green and you just walked on through that fastpass line like a Rockefeller. Whaaaaaaat. You also have the power to change the times if they are not working for you and this and that. So we would do these advance ones and then also add more when we got there. I told you we became spoiled monsters with power and greed on this trip.
WE WAIT FOR NO ONE!!!!!! This greatly reduced our wait time. We went in August- or 'Hot'gust- and it was still very crowded.

(MONEY TIP: That mister there- $7 dollars at the Target in Orlando about 8 minutes away from our hotel. Misters at Disney, $14!! And it saved our lives.)

- We used the magic bands to add stuff to our tab (that we had budgeted for). So for instance, we were at a store and we didn't have cash, but had money in the budget to spare so we would just beep that bad boy at a register and voila, instant payment or payment at the end rather. This could be dangerous if you don't have money in the account --- do not go into debt over a pair of Mickey ears friends.
- To get into our room, they had the convex Mickey head on every door. So we just beeped it and got in. Funsies!
- To accessorize! I had to write that.

We broke up MK into 2 days. HIGHLY recommend. You just can't do this park justice otherwise. You can if you have been before and know where you want to go, but you got to sample it first (like cheesecake) to really get a feel for your faves and then come back and just hit those.

So you will see us in different clothes and that explains it. We didn't all have accidents and have to change. Although with all the sweat, it sure felt like we messed ourselves. So declasse! I'm too lazy to accent that French word.

And now, my most favorite picture of all time that I've ever taken ever. Behold, my sweetie pie and one of the greatest moments ever captured on digital space:

This is just joy right here. This was our first ride, the classic Mad Hatter Tea Party Ride. No brainer, right? I didn't think my eyes could withstand the spin, but I'm so glad I went for it and didn't have to get another lens repositioning surgery (to make 11 eye surgeries). Thank you Lord for this moment right here and for allowing me to capture it and enjoy it.

We also got to enjoy the new Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction. I say attraction and not ride, because it's an interactive deal where you get to be a part of Belle's story and see Belle herself! Leelah LOVED being what felt like the actual movie. They did such a great job on the set for this.
But when asked to be in the part- like everyone had been asked to be a particular role and you got to hold up a mask for whatever you were- Leelah declined. Oh sweetheart.
She barely went up to get a pic with Belle at the end... And that's okay!

 And we LOVED the lunch there!!! L O V E D! Leelah was over-the-moon about eating in the West Wing. You can do that separately from the attraction. It was so fun seeing the rose petals fall and when the lightning struck you got to see the picture of the Prince turn to the Beast and then back. SO cool. And the food was gooooooooooooooooooooood.

 We saw this above Belle's Castle:

I didn't get the entire message- but it said "Jesus Loves You."
And I started crying unnoticeably of course being the soft-shelled crab that I am. 

Leelah's fave ride: Space Mountain. Had no idea that would be the one, but it was. Out of all the parks. I was shocked!!! Little daredevil!

After lunch, we had an appt at the Bippity Boppity Boutique. It's a little salon for girls inside Cinderella's castle. I KNOW RIGHT!?!?!! So I did what any mom would do, force my daughter who could care less about getting gussied up to go and get gussied!

I had brought her Merida costume from home for her to change into at the salon. And then we waited (we had an appt but still waited) for about an hour to get in... iPhone 4 pic...

That's my girl.
But she did get into it like I knew she would!!!

 Did you happen to catch John's reaction in the mirror? I did and started tearing up! John, if I could marry you everyday I would. The best daddy.

So then we took this pretty princess over to meet the princesses!!!

And y'all as much as I want to continue with this... I will stop and save for later! Thanks for going on this trip with us!!

Thank you Lord for little girls and the many ways you have bent them.

D'World: Downtown Disney, Pop Century Resort & Animal Kingdom

The journey continued on and on past swamps, Crackerbarrels, scary rest stops, bridges, me saying- "I don't want to go to the restroom there at that place!" and then we finally arrived....  John drove the whole trip himself, 'cus you know I'm all gimp-eyed and stuff of that nature...

We stayed at the Pop Century Resort. Now, we didn't arrange these plans on our own. As a kid, my family and I didn't go to the Smithsonian or the Grand Canyon, no, no, we just went to 2 places: Disneyworld or Lake City, CO. That was it. So I do know my way around Disney fairly well.

HOWEVER, I am new to this whole meal plan and there are a whole lot more resorts than when I stayed. So we went with a professional agency to hook us up with all the reservations: hotel and meals. I feel like I'm not talking enough here about the food on this trip.

Sweet, gracious mercy.

The Food. 

(Outside the blog conversation b/w imaginary concerned friends: Hey guys, someone's gotta tell Gillian to stop talking about food in every single blog post. I know right? It's getting... weird... Maybe we can just bring it up to her or tell John or something. No way, that guy's nuts! He has that crazy look in his eye. I hear he is all into Sci-Fi and stuff. Oh okay, well let's just pray about it. Agreed!) 

Jim Gaffigan, comedian and truth speaker, does a funny bit about Disney and how you walk 1,100 miles in 976degree heat and STILL gain weight simply because that D' Food is so spanking good. We got waaaaaaay spoiled on it. Way. As in, where's the dessert? Where's my snacky? Pot roast for lunch in the West Wing of Belle's castle, well isn't that what everyone does for lunch these days? No. No, they don't. I don't. On a special day I eat leftovers for lunch in front of a computer. So magical.

HIGHLY recommend getting the meal plan. Because all you gotta do is make those reservations (or hire a pro- Family Fun Travels in Mississippi was our choice thanks for the referral from our buddies!) and then budget for tip and eat like a food eating competition rock star. We definitely recommend Family Fun Travel's services 8:)- Mickey Mouse face.We are budget conscious and we didn't have to pay for their amazing service in planning our vacay AND we were able to break up the trip into payments which be budgeted for. More to come on how to save some cashola in future posts this week...

You know what, to heck with it. Food will get it's own proper posting. Separate from all this foolishness. Just you wait and see!

The resort was great. I will have to say that there was a leeetle more walking than I expected, but I just counted that mess as pure joy that I was exercising from eating what I will post about later....

So after we dropped of the 'gage at the resort, we got lost- I mean to say- drove to Downtown Disney.

You know that scene in Minority Report where Tom Cruise straight up loses his kid at the pool because it was so crowded? And you are watching it all like, why am I scared and sad I thought this was a sheer action/sci-fi film and now I'm disturbed!?!?! Well, Downtown Disney was THAT CROWDED.

For the love of Benji, we about lost our crap in that place. Pardon, but it was alarming. John about drove back home over it. He doesn't "do crowds." Ikea to him is kyrptonite. 

But we had a promise. A surprise promise. Our kid just had had her bday and she is ALL ABOUT dinosaurs, y'all. So we did the dang thang and went to:

 

It's like Rainforest Cafe on acid. Whatever that means.

 

 Leelah made this face the entire time. Because her mind=blown.

Then for the next 20 minutes she did a robotic dinosaur reenactment. It was funny.

 

I was too busy trying to not lose my kid to take more pics of this place. This was just one of the 5 landscapes- the water one. It was amazing. In the true since of the word. 

Our kid is clinically obsessed with animals. For real. SO we began the plan at Animal Kingdom. And we did it right by scaring the absolute pants off of her for her very first ride at Disney...

 After the traumatization was over, she got silly with a dinosaur and I was happy because I went to the bathroom and heard: "Everybody walk the dinosaur!" 

Yeah, that ride is scary. 

Our sweet travel agent DID warn us!!! Sorry Terri we didn't heed your pleas.

Oh well! On we went to the safari. Now look y'all, you know we are never going to go on an actual live safari in our lives. But at Animal Kingdom, you do. Please to see the pictures.... Leelah had fits of joy.

 

Leelah as a flamingo.

 Did you know a group of hippos is called a "Bloat?" Now you do and that is power.

 This was actually at the Animal Kingdom Lodge restaurant- SOGOODOHMY...

 

Hold that phone call, I'll be right there!

We got to hear this tiger make sounds. Yeah, that was a highlight. All reverb and such!!

This is Leelah watching that tiger. Can you see and feel the intensity?
I mixed up these pics by the way. We were never allowed off of the safari ride. Some of them are just the walking around a looking at animals parts. It's like a zoo, but way more awesomer. 

The best ride: Expedition Everest- well, after the safari! Leelah LOVED that ride, but not Dinosaur. Go fig. 

Thank you Lord for animals and kids that love them so.

Tomorrow, we talk Magic Kingdom!

D'World Trip: the surprise & Pensacola, FL

This summer whilst we were abiding in "Candlewood Suits" as our daughter called it, the huz and I had a plan to surprise the kid that we had actually been devising a Disney trip since Marchish. She had no clue that we were going when we woke her up on the morning of and that moment went something like this:

We still don't know what that whole, last comment was about... She had just woken up though so....

So we got in the car and headed on down to Florida but first stopping at Acme Oyster House in Baton Rouge, LA to get some amazing http://southernbite.com/2011/08/26/boo-fries-and-a-great-big-thank-you/
BOO FRIES!!!!!
You have not truly lived on this planet until you eat this. If Jesus eats fries, and I'm pretty sure He does, He eats Boo Fries.
I eat ground turkey all year just on the off chance that we happen to pass through LA so I can get my Boo Fries on.
When I went to the restroom and came back I was actually sad that they had brought them to the table and I wasn't the first to gaze upon them.
Some say gluttony, but I say "How dare you don't talk about Boo Fries that way!"
We have a dog named Boo, her middle name, that's right- Fries.

Okay moving on, I hadn't realized that I was wearing my FTAshirt (Fightin' Texas Aggie) all up in there. Let's say that it wasn't popular with the locals as I got several stare downs. So we proceeded to roll up on the LSU campus and take a pic in full Gig 'emming style. Leelah got to learn what a prank is and well, that may haven't been the best lesson we've taught her...

From Katy to Pensacola took about 10 hrs. We stopped a lot and I regret that, but hey, road trip!
We got to Pensacola and enjoyed the strip of beach and kept yelling, "THESE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY HAAAAAVE!" People probably thought we were nuts. A true assessment.  But all we see is Galveston. No offense Galvestonians.

So here's a little photorecap of the Pensacola adventure:
(Note: the ever changing sunset. The perfect time to arrive at the beach when you aren't able to stay all day!)
(Another Note: I didn't take my ginormicon camera for this trip. Just took the ol' Rebel XS even had the kit lens on there and everything!)
(One more thing of Note: I also didn't think like a modern day mom and plan our outfits for "beach portraits" and I don't care about it. TMNT shirt and all!)

This pic at the end is the essence of my girl. I tried to get her to stand still and it couldn't be done. So finally I just went with it.
Thank you Lord for making beaches, little girls, and Boo Fries.