Disney World

Since we were so close, we decided to take Z to Disney World while we were in Florida.  Originally we had planned on leaving the 4 littles with Dad and Dena, while all the grownups went with Z.  But after the first few days there, Nate decided to stay back to help with the little boys. It would have been a long day and since the boys weren't in their own environment it might have been a bit hard for Dad and Dena to have them all day.  So grateful that Nate decided that, and that he let me go to Disney World, even though he has never been before! 

At any rate, Jenny, Greg, Emily, Z and I went for the day! 

We got there about 9:45 and took the ferry across. 

I was blown away and actually pretty emotional (ok, I teared up!) as we walked in and took the pics below, and as Z watched some Mickey show in front of the castle (love his face below as he watched).  It was just so fun and neat to be at Disney World WITH MY BABY...what a cool thing. 

He did SUCH a good job.  We got there early enough to quickly ride on Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. He was ok with them...and it's a good thing that we went on them early, because later on he started freaking out about rides ("I'm too scared to go on that!"). 

He kind of started freaking out about the Pirates of the Caribbean, but he liked it once we were on it.  We watched a "pirates tutorial" where they invited all the kids up, but Z would have nothing to do with going up on stage.  He happily watched, and loved it, but refused to go up there.  That's pretty typical for him. 

Here is where we started melting down a bit...The Haunted Mansion.  We had each just sucked down a whole frozen lemonade, and it was HOT at 145.  He was brave as we started to go thru the line, but when we got to the inner rooms he started to panic, and was crying about being scared, so he and I got out of there.  He claims that he "did HALF of the Haunted Mansion".  We went to a short 3D movie where we sat down in air conditioning and just chilled out a bit, and he was fine after that.   

After that, though, he went through a short phase of being too scared for any ride.  I did, in fact, force him to ride them though.  Haunted Mansion is one thing, but Peter Pan?  Yeah, that is another...get on the ride kiddo.  Same with Buzz Lightyear.  He liked them both after we went on them, but it took some doing. 

He LOVED It's a Small World (so did I...it is so classic and just perfect!).  In fact, it was the only ride he asked to go on twice, but we didn't, since we were running low on time. 

His other favorite was the Monsters, Inc LaughIn.  It was a funny show with jokes and it cracked him up.  They ask you to submit jokes via text, and Greg did, and his joke got used!  (Did you hear about the 2 cell phones that got married?  They exchanged rings!)

We got pretty worn out through the day, but stopped and watched shows in the AC, and that made it better. 

We stayed through the nighttime parade, which Z loved.  We ate yummy ice cream...here we are with the ice cream in front of the castle way behind us. 

We had a GREAT day, and it was so much fun.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I am so glad that we didn't have the little boys with us...it would have been a MUCH different day!  Z did wonderfully and stayed by my side all day, and behaved and obeyed so well.  I am so very proud of him. 

The funniest part, though, was on the way home.  We got to the car about 945 (exactly 12 hours after we got there in the first place), and I figured he would be exhausted and pass out as soon as we were driving.  WRONG.  I think he had so much to process, and hadn't really gotten to talk much all day, since it was loud and he kind of mumbles.  So he talked NONSTOP until 1050.  Literally on and on and on about EVERYTHING we did and saw, especially about the Haunted Mansion (which he didn't even do, but was so interested in).  On and on and on.  The rest of us were cracking up at him...it was so cute.  Finally he put his head on my shoulder and passed out.  It was like someone had finally turned him off.  So cute.  Will treasure this day for a long time!