Back from Disney!

We had a fabulous trip. It was so much fun, I'm glad we decided to go. Of course I have wanted to go back to Disney as soon as we left the last time. But Molly was definitely old enough to enjoy a lot of it and will only grow to love it more.

I'll try to do a recap, but can't guarantee it will be as thoughtful as Becky's vacation summaries.

Pre vacation: We actually left Saturday at 4 pm...wait turn around, we forgot the stroller! Leaving again at 4:07 pm .... on our way to the airport to drop off Grammy and Poppy and spend the night at my mom's house so we could see her before Mother's Day. We were flying out of White Plains which is a great airport. It is tiny, only 2 gates. Also only 10 minutes from my mother's house. We spend the night, don't have to get up super early and on the way home she watches the arrivals online and when we've landed they leave the house. By the time we get luggage, they are there.

Day 1: 5:15 am, wake up. Is it time to get up yet? Nope. Can't get back to sleep. I'm like a little kid on Christmas morning. 6:15 am, hear Molly upstairs. Mom gets her. Lay in bed for a while longer until they make their way downstairs. 6:30 am, into the shower. 7:05 am out the door. 8:20 am on the plane and on our way to Disney!
10:50 am arrive in Orlando, get passes for the Magical Express and we're on our way to Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. We stayed at Saratoga last time we stayed too. We were quite happy with it again. The rooms aren't quite as big as the two bedroom at Hilton Head, but you don't really spend a whole lot of time in the rooms while you are at Disney. Molly fell asleep on the bus ride to the resort and got about 45 minutes of rest so we immediately head to the pool. Molly has a blast in the Horse Fountain.

Once she's had enough, we head up to the room so we can shower for dinner and head to Fulton's Crab House for dinner. We wanted to go to a nice place for Mother's Day dinner and the food really was fantastic, but slightly overpriced for the portions you received. Got a better deal at Wolfgang Puck (see day 4).
After dinner we wander around Downtown Disney and into the World of Disney. I wish we had our video camera, but never would have expected the reaction when Molly saw it for the first time. We walked into the Princess section and we let out this big, "Oh NOOO!" It was the cutest thing and she continued saying that anytime she saw something she was excited about. We tried to get her to say Oh Wow, which she would repeat, but it was Oh No that would come out. Too cute. Next we were on to Ghirardelli for sundaes. Not the most organized place in the world. Need to go up the counter to remind them to make our sundae after people 10 numbers after us were getting their food. Tasted yummy though. Eat our sundaes and then wander more and find a carousel. Molly and I go for a ride. She was a little nervous about the horses so we opted for the chariot. She really is a princess. Which by the way, all the cast members call all the little girls all the time. She giggled every time they said it. Ok, so finally we take the boat ride home to Saratoga and go to bed.

Day 2: It's Magic Kingdom time!
Fortunately Molly is still mostly scared of characters, so there is no waiting in lines for autographs or photos for us on this trip. Hopefully we'll get one more trip with out autographs...crossing fingers...Head straight for Space Mountain and walk right on since it is only 9:15 am. Woohoo. Grammy waits with Molly since she is unsure about getting in and out with the new knees. Convince Grammy that she can ride it, so her and Poppy go for another ride while we head towards Dumbo. First bit of advice, always get the fast pass. Always. Dumbo doesn't have one, but Winnie the Pooh does. We saw and said, should we? Nah...we'll go on Dumbo then Winnie the Pooh. The 10 minute wait at Dumbo is more like 25. I wait in line while John wanders around with Molly until the very end and she joins me in line. Weeeee!
By the time we get off Dumbo, the fast pass we should have gotten would have been good. Oh well, live and learn and get the fast pass and head towards It's a Small World. No wait, walk right on. Perfect timing because we were big winners of the Dream Fast Pass! As part of the Year of a Million Dreams, they are giving our prizes each day and we won the fast pass which gave us a fast pass for all of the rides that have them. It was the best thing because it allowed us to ride way more than we would have. Head towards Peter Pan and then to Winnie the Pooh.
Speaking of Pooh, it's time for lunch at the Crystal Palace with Pooh and Friends. Super yummy food. I was full for hours. Molly loved seeing Pooh (which is what she calls all of the characters on Pooh) from a distance....




After lunch, I push Molly in the stroller until she falls asleep. Get to ride Pirates of the Caribbean with Capt. Jack Sparrow...and wow does he look like the real thing. Molly is still sleeping so we are off to Splash Mountain. Get soaked. I think Splash Mountain is actually my favorite ride at the Magic Kingdom. Get off, Molly was woken up by some screaming kid. But she's doing ok. Take turns with Grammy and Poppy to ride Big Thunder Mountain. Head to Pooh's Playground. Molly could have stayed there all day. Make one last stop at Minnie's house where Molly starts to turn into Destructo so we decide it's time to head home. Go to the pool for a bit, get some food from the Artist's Palette and eat in the room. Molly is in bed by 8 pm, and we aren't that far behind her. Couldn't even stay up to watch the finale of The Bachelor.

I think I will start a new post with Day 3 and beyond since this is long and I haven't even added the photos yet, which won't happen until after American Idol is over. Sorry.