Eric and Dede: Walt Disney World 2014

We promised the kids back in 2012 that we would take a family trip to Disney World after we got settled into our new house. We were all set to go October 2013, then Eric got furloughed. So after a couple months delay, we were finally on our way. It was a little colder on a couple of days then we were hoping but most days were lovely and there was even one day that was warm enough that we got to go to a water park and swim with the sharks! Here is an overload of pictures, but not nearly as many as we took, and a glimpse of the fun that we had on this amazing trip.

We started our trip out bright and early on Saturday to the sounds of a child throwing up! What a terrible way to start a vacation. We didn't know if he was just nervous/excited or if he had caught that nasty bug that is going around. He was sick all morning, the drive to the airport, and while sitting in the terminal. Then as soon as he sat down on his airplane seat, he became chipper and was healthy the rest of the trip, thank goodness.

Since we went over the MLK Jr Holiday, we tried to avoid the busiest parks first so the first day was spent at the Animal Kingdom. We got to the parks 1/2 before they opened every morning and had the parks to ourselves for the first two hours. So nice to do all of our favorite rides half a dozen times. Expedition Everest was Reed's first real roller coaster, he literally grew 3/4 an inch in three weeks just so he could go on it and Rockin Roller Coaster. We were a little worried that it would scare him and then he wouldn't go on anything else the whole trip. Instead, it turns out, he loves all that adrenalin stuff like his dad and we couldn't keep him of the roller coasters!

Second day was the warmest (high of 71!) But we decided to go swimming any way and we were so glad we did. We snorkeled with the sharks, rays, and fish about 4 times and walked on every single slide. The water was heated so it was only really cold for about 30 seconds after you jumped out of the water.

Third day we finally got to the magic kingdom. It felt busy everywhere you walked, I think it always does. But we waited 30 mins twice the whole trip and the rest of the time was less then ten min. We decided before the trip not to wait in lines to meet characters. We had tons of character dinning reserved where they come to you and we would see the characters when there was no wait. We ended up with 27 signatures in our little book!

My favorite ride is, and always has been the Haunted Mansion with Tower of Terror a close second. I prefer the original Mansion as opposed to the "Nightmare" one that they do at Disneyland.

Shy's favorites tied between Rockin Roller Coaster, the only ride in Disney world to go upside down, and It's a Small World. Could there be any two more different rides???

Reed's Favorites were Rocking Roller Coaster, Big Thunder Mountain, and Expedition Everest. I sense a theme.

Eric was sport to go on anything as many times as people wanted but I think his favorites are the roller coasters as well.

Fourth day was at Hollywood Studios. The kids favorite park.

Fifth day was at Epoct. Last two day were spent park hopping!

We worried about getting Reed signed up for Jedi Training Academy since at Disney World its first come, first serve. But we did, first in line actually, and Shy was a sport to join in.

When she walked up on the stage the Jedi Master said, "Well its about time you showed up to show these boys how its done!"

Shy is the little pink one in the back :)

One thing the whole family enjoyed was the dinning. We figured if we were going to go, we were going to make the best of it. We had some of the coolest experiences, including eating in the West Wing at Be Our Guest. We sat right next to the picture of the Prince that would turn into the Beast when the lighting came. And by the rose that would wilt through out the day.