March 10

March 10 - Epcot Center, WDW

This was the first day, I think, that Craig started to feel sick. We strolled around Epcot, had some drinks and some food. The kids did a craft at the Canadian pavilion.

Once we got back to the hotel, I took the kids for an ice cream sundae and a stroll around part of our resort.

March 9

March 9 - Animal Kingdom, WDW

As planned, the first thing we did upon arriving at the Animal Kingdom was go straight to the Safari and get Fastpass tickets. Also as planned, this gave us just enough time to have breakfast before going back to the Safari. We were still early enough that all the animals were out, although the lion was already napping where I couldn't get a good picture.

   
   
   

After the safari, we went to the Rafiki's Planet Watch area, which promised us the "Affection Section," a "petting yard featuring a number of rare, domesticated breeds from across the globe." I can't believe Disney lied to us like that, sniff... Here is Liam petting one of the (rare???) breeds of goat. Who was standing beside a sheep. And the only was to get to this area is to take a 5 minute train ride with a conductor who had a most unDisney-like attitude. Then, after brushing the only goat and sheep that AREN'T under the shelter where you can't pet them, you get to take the train back.

On to Disnier moments.... We went to DinoLand, where Liam's favourite part of the day was doing a puzzle matching up dinosaur jaw bones to their skulls. Whatever works! Quite a few rides here, but most were for taller kids. And it was soooo hot that day, we were eager to get back to the pool and a nap!

March 8

March 8 - Magic Kingdom, WDW

Once inside the gates of the most busy, I mean magical, place on earth, we took the train straight to Frontierland, with hopes we might avoid some of the crowd. It seemed to work... We spent most of the day there, eating, and moving around the back for some rides in Fantasyland, then on to Mickey's Toontown Fair for the boys' first real roller coaster and to meet the big mouse himself.

Unbelievably, there was a line up of 1 or 2 to meet Donald in Frontierland. Talk about good fortune and kicking it all off by meeting Logan's favourite!

Finally (in Liam's opinion), a REAL ride.

Big birds (alive), pretzels and turkey drumsticks (not alive!)
    

The carousel.

A break in the mini-water area at Ariel's Grotto, while Logan had a nap and Craig had a snack. Typically, despite everything Disney had to offer, this was all Liam could talk about for days!

On the way to join the line to meet Mickey; a stop in his garden. Also, more proof that everything at Disney comes Mickey-shaped.

The moment you've all been waiting for (and that we waited a very long time for...).

To meet Mickey at the Toontown Fair, you file through an incredibly long, boring and somewhat hot line that snakes around a deceiving number of time. You wonder why it doesn't take longer, given how many people are waiting to meet Mickey. Then you get to the front and are ushered in a group of about 4 families into an antechamber, where you proceed into either the green room or the red room. And there are Mickey and Minnie, waiting for you. And you get to be pretty relaxed about the whole thing and take more time getting a picture then you thought you would. And with that information, it's up to you to figure out why the line moves quicker than you thought it would ;) But don't tell the kiddies!

We stayed late this day and saw the SpectroMagic parade and the Wishes fireworks show. However, we were much too tired and uncaring to even attempt to get good spots to get good pictures! Dad, I did try a couple, and they're not bad, but I really needed to be in a better spot without a tree and stuff in the way.

March 7

March 7 - Hollywood Studios, WDW

Our first "real" day at WDW was Saturday and we started off with a character breakfast at Hollywood & Vine, inside the park. The characters were all from the Playhouse Disney channel, of which my children are avid viewers.

  

As far as the kids knew, we were just going for breakfast. This was the moment Liam discovered just who was there, too.

    

As we expected, Liam was thrilled to meet all the characters, and Logan was shy and intimidated. After all, they are a lot bigger in person! And, I think, understandably, his two favourite characters to meet were Jojo's lion (above) and Donald Duck. They're sort of the only cuddly ones around!

Before you go, you hear that everything at WDW is Mickey-shaped.... It's true!

A family picture with Lightning McQueen and Mater. You know, after you've seen the movie enough times, you sort of feel like they are family!

As for the park itself, we saw a "live" (puppet-type) show of Playhouse Disney on-stage, which the kids loved as it involved their top 4 shows. We had to hold them back; they would get so excited they would want to run up to the stage. Other attractions were The Muppets, Star Wars, Toy Story.... There was a Chronicles of Narnia one that was entirely disappointing.... However, it was a good park to spend a day, and a good start to the week. Not too overwhelming, not too boring.

March 4 to 6

There will be many parts to our trip pictures - it's much easier for me to upload them in the right order this way.... so hang in there!

Overall, our trip was very good. I think the kids really enjoyed themselves, even if they are still worn out from it all. I think it will be easier if I just put up pictures and talk about them as I go - here we go! And if you want to just go and look at all the pictures, let me know and I will send you the link.

We left Iqaluit on March 4, flew to Ottawa, stayed overnight, then flew to Miami via Toronto. Then we picked up our rental car and drove to Disney World. It sounds like a long day, and it was. If we did it again, the logical thing would be to fly to Orlando, but given the great deal on plane tickets to Miami, I think we should have stayed overnight there. It would have been much easier to navigate toll roads, etc, in the daylight after a night's sleep. Hooray to Craig who got us there safe and sound!

We stayed at Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, which wasn't anything fancy, but it did the job for a reasonable price. It boggles the mind to think of how many people are staying there at the same time, and yet it doesn't seem overly crowded at the hotel. To give you an idea, All-Star Movies is made up of 10 separate hotels. Here is a map - we were in #8, one of the Fantasia themed buildings.

March 6

After the long day of travel, we actually spent our first day at Disney World sleeping, then shopping in the outside world. There were things we needed, like diapers and snacks, and we only had the rental car for 24 hours. As it happened we made the best purchase ever that day, which was our new stroller - you will see it later in pictures. Considering the hassle of renting a stroller at D.W., not to mention the cost (double stroller = $31/day and you can't leave the park with it to get back to your resort), this was a small price to pay. And I think there was maybe one day on our whole vacation that we didn't use it!

Guess which of these pictures we took for Liam?

And our Disney experience really started on the 7th....