This is the sixth, and final, post from our family reunion in Orlando, Florida. You can see the previous post here:
This was our last day in Florida. We decided to return to DisneyWorld's Magic Kingdom, to catch a few rides that we missed on the first round.
The obligatory "entrance to Disneyland" picture...
In our family, we were excited when Disney and Pixar introduced the red-haired character Merida, in the movie Brave. At last, our little girl had a red-head to look up to, that was more modestly dressed than a seashell bra (Ariel). We decided to wait in line to meet her. Unfortunately, it didn't go well. The picture is fine, but you have to see the video for the full story...
We took a break for lunch, right next to the Tomorrowland Speedway (in my day, it was called Autotopia).
After the meal, we had all the kids driving their own cars...with a little assist on the gas pedal. Here's a short video of G-Man attempting to control the vehicle:
As you might have heard, DisneyWorld has completely revamped FantasyLand. One of the best features that they've included on several rides, is a play area that is adjacent to some of the long lines that people wait in. Here at the Winnie the Pooh Ride, the kids could play, while parents waited patiently in line for the attraction:
Right next door, the pursuit of Disney character autographs continued, with a sighting of the White Rabbit:
You had to guess that all of this running around would make some people really, really tired...there were times that I wish there was an adult-size version of the stroller ; )
Obviously, the best part of DisneyWorld is watching the children have such a good time. I caught a moment of that when two of my nieces were in the middle of dancing to music in the background of the park:
The big finish for the day was a parade. Anyone that's been to DisneyWorld and DisneyLand knows how fun these are. They would also know how tough it is to find a decent place to watch. As dedicated parents, we staked-out a spot, right on the street. The problem is that you have to get a little protective of your territory, as other folks will quickly fill up any open spots, and the crowd will push you forward, into the street. That's just the way it is. I ended up standing in one place for almost 2 hours, to form a human guardrail with the strollers. That, my friends, is true love...or true stupidity...I leave you to judge.
While waiting, the kids had fun around us. The Main Street of Disney was decorated for Christmas, which is the BEST time to visit DisneyWorld. All the Christmas lights were out and the decorations really made it special:
G-Man wanted to "lift" Cinderella's castle on his shoulders...
This will always be a classic photo for our family....
The kids' grandparents are pretty awesome...for a variety of reasons. They saw a vendor selling these cool light toys, and grabbed one for each of the grandchildren. Here's what they looked like:
My youngest daughter, L, loved to play a game where she steals my hat from my head - and I act very surprised. We repeated this over...and over...and over. It took all of my considerable acting skill to keep this up ; )
Finally, the big Disney Electrical Parade arrived, and the kids were captivated by the music, characters and lights:
The final image that I leave you with...is Cinderella's castle, all decorated for Christmas. It was a magical experience - not just to visit DisneyWorld and Harry Potter World, but to spend time with my wife's family. We had a BLAST, and I treasure these kinds of experiences. Can't wait for the next reunion!
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