Monday, October 20, 2008

Disney Day Three

Sooo tired. We spent the whole day at the Magic Kingdom. The kids all had a great time and there were no major meltdowns. It was pretty hot today so we tried to find rides that took us out of the sun. It was pretty crowded, in my opinion and we had to wait 30-50 minutes for most rides. I'd hate to see the place in summer!

When we first walked in, a woman came up to me and said, "I read your blog!" Hee hee! I was recognized! I was giddy for like half an hour! Here's a shout-out to Melissa from Arkansas who recognized me! (At least I hope that's her name. I'm horrible with names. If I got it wrong, I apologize. I'm so sorry!)

I think Disney is overpriced and I hate how they route half the rides to exit through a gift shop. I think it's really cost prohibitive for the average family. Until this year, there was no way we could afford such a trip. Still, I have to admit there's something magical about the place. Their attention to detail amazes me. From the employees' costumes, to the music, the design of the buildings, the decor and decorative accents, and the landscaping, everything just flows and blends with the area it's in.

Right now, my legs are hurting so badly I may never walk again. I'm going to hit the shower, take large doses of Advil and drop into bed, but I'll leave you with a couple pictures...


Nice hats, boys!


Ya mon!

Move over Junior!


Oooo pretty pink castle


Clay getting his second wind (aka: Clay spazzes out!)

I a princess mouse, Mama!


I'm not a pirate. I'm a princess pirate!


Clay being Dumbo

Here we are! Magic Kingdom!

Everybody sing with me! "It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small, small, world......"


Another tiring day for Brooklyn

44 comments:

Unknown said...

Do all the employees call you princess? Because I found that it doesn't matter how old you are--if you are female you are a princess in the eyes of the Disney employees, and if you are male you are a pirate. Everyone calls you princess, right down to the people in Downtown Disney who take your money for all the expensive souvenirs.

Anonymous said...

I agree, it's way overpriced, but we can't resist the magic! We go to Disneyland every year.

I love the picture of Clay as Dumbo! And the family picture. You look great!

your friend,
Anonymous

Anonymous said...

Are you guys using fast pass? Just wanna make sure!

dhaynes said...

Poor little Princess Brooklyn. What happened to her chinnie chin chin? Little BooBoo. The news said another hot day in Florida tomorrow as well! Looks like everyone is having a good time.

Diane

Elaine said...

wow! I'm amazed that Brooklyn can pretty much sleep ANYWHERE! That girl sure can sleep :)

Glad you guys are enjoying the trip~

oh btw, will you be able to tell us what eye colours do the kiddies have on the next sunday sound out??

Love your blog~

Anonymous said...

Disney is our favorite place on Earth! Go to EPCOT, there is lots of free stuff to do there. There are some rides too, and with everything else it is an awesome park.

Rae_Momto2 said...

I just wanted to say you look so pretty in the family picture and you've gotten so skinny!! GREAT JOB on the weight loss!! (I think I found it lol.) Have a safe and fun trip! God Bless!

Anonymous said...

I love hearing about your trip! I'm a Disney freak and go there as often as possible! Trust me, you DO NOT want to visit Disney in July or August! Not only is it hot, there's a foreign country on winter break that take over the parks and evidently don't have any manners and don't understand the concept of waiting in line! It's pure torture!! I went twice to give it a fair shot, and yep, it wasn't just an off year, July and August are stay away from Disney months!

noexcuses said...

Wonderful pictures! Thanks for taking the time to post when you are on vacation.

I agree with the cost of things, and the ending of some of the rides being routed through gift shops. But I think most of us will agree, it is still "The Happiest Place on Earth." The employees have to meet very high standards, so sometimes one can justify the price. I have found that even the stores in the mall treat me as though I was at one of the parks.

The kids will remember this one!

Anonymous said...

Even though it sounds exhausting, I'm glad you are having fun. Have another great day!

Sherry

Anonymous said...

Thank you Dawn!!! Now I will have that stupid song in my head ALL day!=)
Nicole, N Aurora

Michelle said...

Oh I am so with you on the cost prohibition and the gift shop stuff.... I was looking at the prices of 1 day vs 2 vs 3 vs 4.... Once you hit three days, it only increases the price by about $3 per day, which is a bummer. But I couldn't do the 10 days of Disney for $22 per day or so! We still have to figure out which day we're going.

So did you buy anything in the gift shops? I do love those princess Mickey ears!

Anonymous said...

It's good to see you, JOE and the kiddos together. I'm hoping you and Joe have worked things out. Margie

Brenda said...

Love the family photo. Dawn you look so SKINNY.

Patois42 said...

Wow! A celebrity. How cool is that? There are definitely some things wrong with the House of Mouse, but they do know how to give all ages a good time.

On Stage said...

We have gone to Disney with my sister and her family for the last two years. My sister was able to get us discounted hotel and park tickets through Pop Warner (her oldest competes in cheerleading and went to Nationals @ Disney). We love the place! The fireworks at the Magic Kingdom even brought tears to my husband's eyes. To save $ we learned to purchase things from the Disney Store at our mall before leaving for the trip. Packed up the stuff without the kids seeing and then brought it out while on the trip. It kept them from asking for everything in the parks! Loved the photos!!1

Anonymous said...

Love your pics - What a great family! I agree about the cost of Disney, yet our memories of similar trips are still some of my kids' favorites (31 and 38 year olds and a 16 yr. old grandson). However, I 'druther' go to Sea World! And they have them up north as well, so you don't have to try to beat our heat and humidity. -- A Tampa Bay area fan

Kristy said...

That family photo is so awesome! You all look so great! Glad yall are having such a great time at Disney. We hope to take our 4 kids in a few years. We gotta save up lots of money first.

Janis said...

You are scaring me as I plan our trip for the busiest week of the year!! How about some tips about what to do for a princess that is Brooklyn's age to make it as nice as possible? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I always find it interesting to hear people complain about the cost for Disney parks...but when you look at what you get, I think the price is very fair. I am a proud annual passholder to the original Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, and yes, it is expensive, but I look at the way Disney keeps everything very, very clean. No grafitti. No trash. Rides are kept in top condition. I feel SAFE because there are a gajillion employees there, and many are security in plain clothes. Oh, and then there's a fireworks show that will knock your socks off. So, too expensive? No.

kimbalaya said...

I wish I had seen your blog before you were leaving for Disney, I'd have recommended www.ridemax.com RideMax is a program that you plug in the dates you're going to Disney, what rides you think you want to ride, etc., and it creates an itinerary for you (with built-in "free time") and you are basically guaranteed an average wait time of 10 minutes or so. (Yes, it's even a money-back guarantee.) No matter what day of the year or how busy it is. It was well-reviewed by both Reader's Digest and AAA's magazine. I can't wait for our next trip to Disney to try it out!

Anonymous said...

I keep waiting til the kids are old enough to go. I love it and have been several times but I'm afraid my 4 year old would never be able to keep up. I am thinking next year or maybe when he is 6 though......

have your younger children had a more difficult time other than for obvious reasons?

Shelly said...

Dawn I love top you are wearing in the family pic! You look amazing in it.

Welker Photography said...

Thanks for taking us along on your trip! Since we can't afford it, I am glad to go with your family, Dawn, right down to the expensive gift shops, the cheesy snapshots, the description of the amazing cleanliness and attention to detail (light bulbs stay lit or get changed within minutes!) and of course, the sore legs. I know the whining about long lines and how tired we are will go on through the day, ( my husband whined a lot, too the day we were there, ) but the memories are so precious when the sore leggs have healed! Sleep well, enjoy, and remember in the morning that "Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work you go!"

Some day, come back without the kids....

Anonymous said...

We just got back last Saturday from 14 days in Disneyworld. You heard me right. A lot of things worked out to where we were able to make this trip possible. We had 8 day hopper passes. I wish we could have crossed paths, but we left before you got there.

With all of this fresh in my mind, I agree with you 199%. The cost is ridiculous - and the food??? Don't get me started. This is our third visit to Disney in three years and we told the kids it's our last. I'm so over it. But like you said, it is magical.

If you really want to get sick, to go Downtown Disney and visit "World of Disney." It's the biggest Disney store in the world. It's amazing but it's also so over the top and opulent I almost felt like I was committing a sin just by being there - lol.

Anonymous said...

Dawn, thank you so much for taking the time to share your trip and pictures with us! You are truly devoted!!

Looks like a fun time is being had by all and that makes me happy!

Donna in PA :)

Keeley said...

What fun!

Great pictures!


And dang, girl, all that walking around must have caused you to lose weight because you're SKINNY in that picture.

Jenn said...

Dawn, glad you all are having fun! But it definitely wasn't hot in Florida on Monday lol. It's cool compared to what it's been - if you had come a few days earlier it would have been closer to 90!

Anonymous said...

I was at Sephora today and saw that Sephora has a nail polish called 'Because I Said So'. I immediately thought of you and you MUST buy this color just because it's your name:

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P217311&searchString=because%20I%20said%20so

Anonymous said...

Sounds like it's such a blast! You're going to need a "vacation" after your vacation! :)

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, you've shriveling up! The trip pictures didn't reveal how small your arms are and everything...that shirt looked huge on you! You go girl!

Anonymous said...

I am really hoping there is something magical for your family there and hurt feelings are mended.
Rayn

Anonymous said...

Definitely take advantage of fastpass...we have been to Disney several times (in July I might add) and hardly ever wait in a line--Dumbo is about the only one. Check it out and use it...it's part of the crazy ticket cost!

Anonymous said...

Darn, we just missed you. We came home Sunday evening. I love the magic of Disney but want to write a book or start a blog called "Sticking it to the Mouse" to help people get the most for their Disney dollars.
Amanda

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

Yeah, be very glad you are not there in the middle of June. It sucked!

Anonymous said...

My husband sings 'Its a small world' with different words. 'Its a long song after all. Its a long song after all. Its a long song after all. (verse)Its a long, long song and it never ends. It goes on and on to annoy your friends!!!'

Anonymous said...

For those aching legs and feet, get a cold bottle of water or some other bottled drink. Put in on the floor (or bed) and run your feet over it. The cold reduces swelling, and the rolling on the bottle massages your feet. Guaranteed to make you feel better.

Sherry said...

Everyone looks like they are having a great time! We will one day do Disney World...hopefully before the kids are all grown! I have been reading your blog for awhile, but really got hooked with the pics and tale of your sons daring refrigerator climbing abilities! He sounds like some little one I know very well! hahaha

Anonymous said...

Yes. It's Melissa from Arkansas. I wish I had thought to have Joe take our picture together. Oh well. Enjoy the rest of your week. We are having a great time. Melissa

Anonymous said...

Dawn. . . just want you to know I'm praying for you and Joe. You don't need to publish this, I just wanted you to know.

Just another way Abba loves the way His kids love each other!

Hugs,
Sue in Dallas

Anonymous said...

Great family pic and I have to agree I love your shirt....where did you get it? (Another question to add to your sound off list!!)

The Bertone's said...

I actually live next to Disney, and I agree it is highly overpriced for the average family. I just wanted to say I am glad you are enjoying it. I also wanted you to know I nominated you for most Creative blog! Love reading your blog!

Carol said...

Aargh!! Now I have "that song" stuck in my head! It looks as though you guys are having a great time. Wish I were there. Not with you, exactly. But at Disney!

Anonymous said...

I'm just a repeater of everyone else (so why bother then???)

Your shirt is FAB! You look great in it. Awesome family shot, too. Did the photographer of that shot know you are a celeb? Just wonderin'.

And the fast-pass! Just ask anyone who has mentioned it if you don't know how to use it. We went in June, too, and I don't think we ever waited more than a 1/2 hour. And like you said, with the heat, you don't mind being in line in a building that's air conditioned anyway.

Thanks for sharing. Enjoy the rest!

Who's Visiting My Blog Right Now?

 
Home About Dawn Blog Books News & Events Press Kit Contact

Dawn Meehan 2008-. All Rights Reserved.
Site Design by Jones House Creative