Darrow Disney Vacation Days 6-8

Saturday we kept open as our wild card day. All of the parks were crowded so we decided to first ride the Skyliner and go to EPCOT and do Ratatouille again. We got breakfast in France and had egg croissant sandwiches and crepes and it was delicious; such a lovely way to start the day. We were in the virtual queue for Guardians and so we were kind of waiting around for our time when the ride shut down. We talked to a ride person and they said we could come back anytime before 9pm and they would let us ride so we took the monorail and rode to Magic Kingdom. 

 

We had hoped to shop on Main Street in the early afternoon when we hoped it wouldn't be crowded but turns out it was closed because they were filming a Christmas special. We didn't fight the crowds to see if anyone famous was there but we ducked around them to go ride Dwarfs Mine Train and get more cinnamon rolls at Gaston's and we rode the People Mover, Thunder Mountain and the Jingle Cruise and then Main Street was open so we shopped a bit (those stores can get so crowded though so we weren't in there for long) and then we decided to head back to EPCOT, we rode Guardians and then we got dinner at Connections before heading back to the hotel. Josh and Curtis ran to Mexico and got churros and then met us by the Skyliner and it worked out that we were on the Skyliner going by EPCOT eating our churros right when the fireworks were going off. It was a perfect Disney moment and a fantastic end to our day. 

 

Sunday we went to Animal Kingdom. We went right to the safari and enjoyed seeing all of the animals, then we did the Lion King show, which is awesome. Then we took the train up to Rafiki's outpost to do a drawing class, which was on Josh's list of 5. We had each made a list of five things we wanted to do while in Disney and we managed to do them all! The drawing class was super fun and my kids wanted to stay and do another one but we had things to do and the park closed early so we were on a deadline. But we drew the pig from Moana, Pua, and then met the actual pig that inspired the animators to create Pua so that was cool. Pua has a bigger part in Moana 2 so I'm excited to see it. 

 

 

Then we walked the Gorilla Falls trail to see animals and we went to the bird show, which I love. We talked about doing the river rafting ride but decided we didn't want to get wet so Lily got some snacks (she had declined the pineapple whips we got earlier) and Emma and Brandon stayed with her while Josh, Curtis and I went in the single rider line for Expedition Everest and we got on really quickly. It is a fun ride and I'm glad we got to do it because the younger kids were not feeling that one at all. Then we went to Pandora to ride Flights of Passage. It was a long line but it is such a good ride. The last time we went on it Brandon was not quite five and he screamed the whole time. This time I sat on the opposite side from him and told him to just close his eyes if he was freaking out; no screaming allowed! He ended up liking it enough he went on it again with everyone else while Emma and I went shopping and to do It's Tough to be a Bug. Then we did the river ride in Pandora that had a stupid long line but was not that interesting of a ride, but it was on Lily's list so we did it. The park had closed while we were on it so we left and went to Hollywood Studios and got some more pop tarts and dinner at Woody's Lunch Box. Then we had time to ride Toy Story Mania one more time and it was a great way to finish our trip. We leisurely walked out of HS as it was also closing and rode the Skyliner back to our hotel and packed up a bit so we could leave early the next morning. 

 

 

Our goal for this trip was family fun. We wanted to stay together as much as possible and just do everything we could together, which meant riding rides other people had picked and being fun and flexible. Our kids did a great job with that and we really did have so much fun together.  We switched up ride buddies and I really don't remember any complaining. Everyone slept well (after the first night when Emma was coughing the whole time) and besides Emma not feeling her best and being a bit whiny, especially when it came to eating, our trip was amazing and just what we had hoped it would be. This is such a sweet time in life where the kids are just so fun and easy and all I want to do is travel and have fun with them! 

We got up early Monday morning hoping to leave by 6:30 am. Unfortunately the cafeteria didn't open until 7 so we had everything packed up and everyone ready to go by 6:45 and then we waited in line until they let us in to get our breakfast. The serving team was lined up and clapped and cheered as we came in; it was totally fun and sweet. We got our food to go and hopped in the car by 7:15 and we made really good time. We made a quick bathroom break since everyone had OJ for breakfast in the car and then we stopped to get gas later and Josh stopped at Buccee's to get cinnamon rolls and nuts but those were all super quick. We had no traffic or issues; it was a  great day to drive on 95. We got to the Wawa in VA and got dinner there and gas and then made it home by 8:30. I had everyone dump their suitcases into laundry baskets and then take showers and get to bed since we were back at it by 5:45am the next morning. Early November was a great time to be in Disney. The Christmas decorations were nice but the holiday parties and stuff hadn't started yet so the parks weren't super crowded and the wait times were decent, especially since we weren't willing to pay extra for lightning lane passes. It was perfectly warm but not hot and besides the rain that first morning, we had perfect weather. 

Since being home, it has been back to work and school and piano lessons and dance and church responsibilities. Josh had a meeting Tuesday evening and Thursday evening, Lily and Curtis went to the temple last Wednesday night, and I went to the temple on Friday and did two sessions, one of which was with the Baldwins who went for the first time and that was super sweet. Brandon started basketball and luckily he and his buddy are on the same team, which is awesome. Saturday was Nutcracker rehearsal and I went to a stake RS service activity and sorted clothes for the Solomon's Mission and Lily went to a Friendsgiving and the rest of us went out to Niccoletti's for dinner. My mother-in-law very kindly sent a gift card when she heard I had been so sick and she wanted to help out so I could rest and get better so we took advantage that night and it was good. Sunday was the primary program and both our kids did so well. Then I helped in nursery and there was a linger longer and Josh and Curtis went to a priesthood meeting and the other kids and I played some card games. Yesterday Lily was home sick but I enjoyed having her around and it was laundry and cleaning and I made dinner for the sister missionaries and the Rays and taught piano lessons and picked Brandon up from his first play rehearsal.