Disney 2012 - Part 3

Which brings us to Epcot, Day 3.

Epcot was an interesting place, for sure.  But I think it was geared for an older audience with lots of opportunities to read and learn.  It had more of a discovery center/museum feel than the blatant entertainment feel that the Magic Kingdom had offered.  Had it been just Jack, we might've spent more time here.  But we were all pretty darn tired by this time, and Emma was in and out on interest level. 

This, friends, is an example of an "out" moment.

Quite possibly another.  You get the point.

Some things that were right up Jack and Dad's alleys were the big rides.  Mission: Space was top priority for Jack, the space fanatic.

Mission: Space had some warning signs upon entry.  There were two choices: a code orange level experience and a code green level experience.  One was tame and would not induce vomiting.  The other would.  I paraphased the exact wording on the signs, of course.  Jack and Jim were pushing the limits here.  I shrugged as they both volunteered for the torture line. 

Some 45 minutes to an hour later, I saw the boys exiting the ride.  Jack was perky, happy, and fine.  Jim was messed up.  And he doesn't get motion sickness.  The "things don't feel right" sensation stayed with him the rest of the day.  He described it later as what you see on those movies that spin fighter pilots/astronauts around at the end of a long mechanical arm so that they can experience G-forces.  Gosh, I'm glad I didn't even consider getting on this ride.  Whew.

On the way to Mission: Space

Another big priority for the freshly blendered boys was the fast roller coaster called Test Track.  After riding that,  they were pretty satisfied with themselves.  While we waited, Emma and I practiced our photography skills. 

Hm.  I don't like my sunglasses.  Why didn't anybody tell me that my sunglasses were ugly?

Pretty standard Emma shot.

Palm trees.  Pretty.

I don't have many more pictures from Epcot.  Oh wait.  Yes I do.

I had never been to Epcot before, but when you ride the "Spaceship Earth" ride that goes up into the large "golfball" looking attraction, remember to smile nicely.  And don't make a face. 

This ride has a "history of society" kind of theme.  In order to give glimpses of the future, the rides summarizes mankind's past.  It's sort of an interactive ride, as it includes YOU as a character in the future.  In your "car", you also have a touchscreen, like we did, that will ask you questions such as "In the future, do you want to live in the country or the city?"  Another was, "How would you choose to get to work in the future?  By foot, bike, train, or personal vehicle?"  Anyway, all of these questions and answers will then be incorporated into a little movie about what your personal future will look like.  Every car's movie is different.  For instance, Jack will live in the country.  He will use solar power proficiently.  And he will live in this cool, futuristic looking tree house thing.

In my movie about my future with Jim, I don't remember what the specifics were on our living conditions actually.  I was too busy noticing that I will look like an idiot in the future.  See, nobody warned me, like I just did you, to smile normally.

Jim, of course, whipped out his phone to document this future Whitney.  I should've known.

Oh and just so that you can consider yourself EXTRA warned.  Your mugshot will be displayed for all riders to gaze upon later as you exit.  Just look up on the constantly updating ceiling panels out in the ride's lobby/exit room.  Yes.  I was definitely avoiding eye contact with anyone gazing upward, laughing sort of a cruel laugh.  Kind of like the one you're imitating now.  

AGAIN, just smile like a normal person.

Like I said, Epcot was kind of a short day.  We were tired.  But here's a moment that I forgot to mention from the Magic Kingdom.

I didn't have the heart to tell Emma that the lyrics aren't "Pirates like-a me."

Thanks for this little girl's self confidence boost, Pirates of the Caribbean.

Disney 2012 - Part 2

Monday was our first full day of vacationing in Florida, and we headed out for the Magic Kingdom with much excitement.  In fact, it sort of felt like everyone had the very same idea.  The place was clearly going to be a busy place during spring break season.  We stepped off of our shuttle bus, which was packed with standing room only.  Streams of people flocked into the gates of the Magic Kingdom from all directions.  Thus began our day of LOTS of waiting in line.

And when you wait in line for as long as we did, you play lots of wait-in-line games.

But it was all worth it. 

For these smiles.

After the initial castle-in-the-background shots, we hung a right into Tomorrowland. 

There's no doubt that Emma was just as impressed with the "Peoplemover" as Jack was when he was little.   And just to be fun, I tried to create the then/now comparison that follows:

Little Jack/Big Jack.  Makes me feel sorta nostalgic.

And this? Yeah, this just makes me laugh.  What a ham!

We battled Emperor Zurg in Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.

I still can't believe that Jim beat me. 

Jack and I were graceful losers.

Later,we got our chance to meet several Disney celebrities. 

including Buzz Lightyear.

And Woody and Jessie.  Jack did as Buzz had asked and delivered a love note to Jessie.  There was some swooning.

Other highlights of our Magic Kingdom days included:

Carousel riding.

It's A Small World gazing.  Awe.

Riverboat riding.

Parade watching.

Dopey crush developing.

And making stops for Dopey hugs.

And more hugs.  Over the course of many days.

 

We did some souvenir shopping.

Treat eating.

And more Peoplemover riding.

Happy exhaustion #1.

Happy exhaustion #2.

Disney Trip 2012 - Part 1

Last week was our spring break, and we spent it at Disney World! 

It has been about five years since we took Jack.  He was Emma's size then, and so we thought it was time for a repeat visit for Jack and a first time visit for Emma.  The experience was wonderful, fun, amazing and exhausting.  We spent a non-stop five days park-hopping through the venues:  Magic Kingdom--2 days, Epcot--1 day, Hollywood Studios--1 day, and then back to the Magic Kingdom on our final day in Orlando.

We began with the airplane ride.  Emma has been on a plane already once?/twice? in her life, but this was the first time that she may actually be old enough to remember.  Needless to say, she was excited.  The photo above says it best.

We arrived at our Disney All Star Movies Resort in the wee hours of the morning Monday.  No pictures were taken then.  Our eyes were barely open.  But here are some photos that were taken on later days.

Each section of buildings has its own movie theme in this resort - hence the name, Disney All Star Movies Resort.  Just like last time, we were booked to the 101 Dalmatians section.  There were dalmatian puppies everywhere.  Larger than life yellow fire hydrants encased the staircases at the end of each building.   Dog bones were scattered throughout the winding sidewalks.  Just across the courtyard from the huge lady dog in the picture is another huge boy dog.  Incidentally, do these dog characters have names???  I guess I've never made it all the way through a dalmatians movie, so if they do, I'm sorry.  "Superbig Lady dog" will just have to do.  Just to the right of the lady dog, top floor, you could see our door if it weren't for the dang tree.  Not my picture... I snagged it from the internet.  No worries... our door looked like everyone else's door. 



Dalmatians are impressive, sure.  But we've always wanted to be booked to the Toy Story buildings.  No such luck.  In any case, we've made a special walk over to this section both last visit and also this one to snap a few shots.  The grass is always greener, people.

Big Buzz.  Little Emma.

Whopping checkerboard, blocks, dinosaur... all simulating "Andy's room"  = FUN.

Jack says that "the sky in Florida looks just like Andy's wallpaper."  Pretty accurate observation there, Jack.  Florida treated us to absolutely beautiful weather.

 Even good ol' RC car is there, the perfect size for climbing.

Just like our cruise entries a couple years back, I think this trip may need to be broken down in multiple posts.  So let's think of this as an appetizer.  Or a first installment.  Whatever.  More fun was to be had, but I'll save that for another day's writing. 

You'll have to come back later to find out if Emma's bargaining/pleading to be allowed to ride the Hotel of Terror worked on the ears of her father.  She is pictured below, making her case. 



"I am, TOO, big enough, JAAACK!  And I will NOT get scared!"

Valentine's Day 2012

Jim and I turned to each other somewhere in the days before the big V-day this year and said, "Have we been married long enough now that we can... not.... do Valentine's day?"  This cracked me up.  I love it. 

Other things I'm loving right now:

www.pinterest.com and the super cute (and easy) valentine box idea it provided for Jack.

This little thing

Bird tracks in the driveway snow

Stumbling upon weird and sort of nerdy photo ops at the local theater. And then internally chuckling at the way the ewok guy is constantly mothering over the soldier guy at left during picture taking. "Your chestplate isn't straight, honey."

The pretty ingenious compromise I witnessed when two siblings can't agree on whose turn it is to slide. 

And random showcasings of baseball enthusiasm.  Learned at school.  During the off season.

I hope you had a terrific Valentine's Day!



Bedtime Stories With Emma

Welcome to "Bedtime Stories with Emma".  I'm thinking of making this a regular entry.  What do you think?

Tensions Are High

My iron is a scowly pants.

My gray wrinkly shirt hangs around crying all the time.

Mr. Lint Roller is getting the silent treatment from Mrs. Starch.  Maybe he shouldn't have gone off and gotten himself a mistress. 

You see, the situation is dire.  Things are bad, and I've started to wonder,  "What's gone so very, very wrong in my little ironing world?"

I think I know.   

It's this ugly guy.  What a plain jane ironing board cover!  It has no spunk.  No flair.  It brings no happiness to the lives of its fellow ironing cohorts.  It causes dissension. 

So what is the answer?

Winning Danavee's giveaway would pretty much do it.  I need a new and beautifully handmade ironing board cover.  Little hearts, rainbows, and songbirds would suddenly appear at my ironing station.  Schlager  make me your finest with yo bad, crafty self!

Life would sure be better. 

Dance For Your Papi

Saturday is 'cleaning day'.  Music gets turned up loud at our house, and people go to town on their respective chores. 

Everyone's busy, in theory.  Jim's paying bills.  Jack is groaning upstairs about not wanting to clean his room.  I'm elbow deep in toilet-scrubbing-land somewhere in the house. 

And then there's... Emma.  NOT doing chores when she thinks no one's looking. 

Dancing for her papi.

This girl doesn't feel accountable...