Disney

Hi Everyone!

Consumerism

I will have to add pictures later for you all to see. We have just spent the most magical time with my sister, Karen and her daughter, Hannah at Disney in Florida. We arrived on the 4th and my sister and neice the next morning. We spent our first day (Jan 5th) at MGM. By the time we arrived back that night my sides were killing me. I don't think I have laughed that hard in a long time! I don't think I can even say what was so great about it. I just laughed and laughed all day. (oh ya, the kids had a good time too) We stopped and had dinner that night at Chef Mickey's where Goofy, Mickey, Minnie and Donald all come to your table and sign autographs and have their pictures taken with you. I had to take Brett to the bathroom and on our way back she ran ahead of me and when she came round to our table Donald Duck was near by. She ran past him and spanked his bum! (She says her had was just out because she was running and it was an accident). There were many jokes for the next few days about Brett and duck spanking. We left dinner having had our fill of their all you can eat ice cream sundaes and went back to MGM for their Fantasmic performance which was truly amazing. Karen wanted to see the seasonal dancing lights (for Christmas) as she hadn't seen them before. When we were there watching the lights an employee asked me if Brett would like to turn out the 5 million lights! (Disney is having a make a million dreams come true campaign right now). So Brett, Darcy and Hannah turned the lights out together and each girl was given a certificate. It is such a small thing for Disney to do but it makes such an impression. I told Brett about the campaign on the way out of the park and she said "I hope one of my other dreams come true tomorrow Mommy!"

Disneys year of a million dreams

The next day we decided to spend at the Magic Kingdom. Brett woke up in the morning and put on her Cinderella shirt and got a permanent marker from Andrew hoping to get Cinderella to sign her shirt. We had a great day. The line ups were not bad at all. Disney is a crowd moving machine. You never feel like you are jsut standing waiting in line. The worst line ups were 40 minutes but didn't feel like it. While waiting for the afternoon parade Darcy played with one of the security guards who bring games out for the kids. The guard then gave her a pass for all 7 of us to go to the front of the line for space mountain! (another part of the campaign) As the day was drawing to a close and we had not seen Cinderella I started to ask around. I found a tent where she was signing autographs and Brett and I stood in line. When it was our turn to see the Princesses Ariel was first and she signed Brett's shirt. We moved on to Cinderella who was very sweet and apologetic but said they were not allowed to sign a shirt that was on a child (understandable) so we had her sign Brett's book but she said just a minute and went to talk to someone. Then we were told to wait to the side. Brett saw Belle while we waited and all sorts of Disney employees hustled around us thanking us for our patience. Then the supervisor came out with a shirt from the Disney store. Brett put it on and he took her shirt back to Cinderella (who had left as her shift was over), had her sign it and brought it back to us and let Brett keep the shirt from the store!

Magic Kingdom

I am now full of admiration for the Disney machine.

We spent the next day split between Animal Kingdom and Blizzard Beach.  Which were both great! The next day we got up packed up and headed north to Panama Beach (where the temerature was 20 degrees cooler than in Kissimmee!).

We are now staying with Bill and Donna (Andrew's parents). The kids have had a swim in the heated pool and I am up-dating you (or should I say y'all) .

I better go. I hope the weather in Ottawa is still mild for all of you!

Julia

Sister and kids

This one speaks for itself