Well, we are home and recovered from our Disney trip. It was such a great time!
The trip was wonderful. Weather was perfect... a tad cold on Tuesday and Wednesday but sunny and clear the entire week. We really could not have asked for better. Off course we didn't get everything we wanted to do done, but the kids all got their top three "wants" accomplished and I’d say that is pretty good!
The characters were some of the most loved parts of the trip for the kids. We did three character meals and they were just great for meeting lots of character up close (and the food was good too!) We were one of only about five tables at one of the meals (all others were empty), so needless-to-sa
y, we had the attention of the character for a long time! Much of our time was spent hunting down other characters in the park, which was fine with me. It was fun seeing the kids having such a good time (which is a lot of what I was looking forward to). The Cars characters were probably my favorite (and Jots), but all of them were enjoyed…the Incredibles, Buzz and of course the Princesses among others. Our entire family wore Incredibles shirts to MGM and had our picture taken with both Mr. and Mrs. Incredible... that was especially fun! Mr. Incredible was on an upper level of the gallery and Mrs. Incredible was on the lower level. We met Mr. Incredible first and when we were down meeting “Mrs. I”, we looked up to see “Mr. I” running down the stairs so we could all be together. That was quite a thrill! I’m glad I found those shirts on that clearance rack ;) (I think the most 
expensive one was $4.00!). Dressing alike paid off earlier in the week as well when we wore matching blue shirts on Tuesday to the Magic Kingdom. I had ordered them online before Christmas and were Mom and Ron’s gifts to us and the kids. Mom and Ron matched us too for that day and upon entering the park, we were selected to be the Grand Marshals of the Parade... what a thrill! They took pictures for us of that, so I’ll have to post a few later when we get them.
The trip was wonderful. Weather was perfect... a tad cold on Tuesday and Wednesday but sunny and clear the entire week. We really could not have asked for better. Off course we didn't get everything we wanted to do done, but the kids all got their top three "wants" accomplished and I’d say that is pretty good!
The characters were some of the most loved parts of the trip for the kids. We did three character meals and they were just great for meeting lots of character up close (and the food was good too!) We were one of only about five tables at one of the meals (all others were empty), so needless-to-sa
y, we had the attention of the character for a long time! Much of our time was spent hunting down other characters in the park, which was fine with me. It was fun seeing the kids having such a good time (which is a lot of what I was looking forward to). The Cars characters were probably my favorite (and Jots), but all of them were enjoyed…the Incredibles, Buzz and of course the Princesses among others. Our entire family wore Incredibles shirts to MGM and had our picture taken with both Mr. and Mrs. Incredible... that was especially fun! Mr. Incredible was on an upper level of the gallery and Mrs. Incredible was on the lower level. We met Mr. Incredible first and when we were down meeting “Mrs. I”, we looked up to see “Mr. I” running down the stairs so we could all be together. That was quite a thrill! I’m glad I found those shirts on that clearance rack ;) (I think the most 
expensive one was $4.00!). Dressing alike paid off earlier in the week as well when we wore matching blue shirts on Tuesday to the Magic Kingdom. I had ordered them online before Christmas and were Mom and Ron’s gifts to us and the kids. Mom and Ron matched us too for that day and upon entering the park, we were selected to be the Grand Marshals of the Parade... what a thrill! They took pictures for us of that, so I’ll have to post a few later when we get them. In all I took about 300 pictures, not including all the ones the park photographers took that were uploaded to the internet for us. (A CD has been order of all those). We had the park hopper passes that really paid off and enabled us to go to more than one park per day. It was especially nice for when we had dinner reservations at a different park than were we planned to spend the day. Each day we went to one park for most of the day and made it to the big four. The water parks weren’t included on our passes and it was a bit cold
for that anyhow :). We spend the least amount of time at Animal Kingdom, but it might have been my favorite park…maybe, I really liked MGM too. Maybe because those were both brand new to me… I’ve been to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot before. I liked all the foliage at Animal Kingdom and the way the park was arranged. We didn’t even see all of it, but I saw enough to like it :) The Lion King show was spectacular! Definitely the best show we saw. Mom, Tim and I rode the big coaster there, Expedition Everest, and it was good. I think, as even mom commented, we are all a bit tainted for roller coasters after being exposed to so many good ones at Kings Island. The Beast is still the best, but Everest was quite fun and the Disney touch always makes it an adventure. Hannah wanted to ride the Kali River Rapids, so Tim, Emma and I joined her. We all got wet…Emma got soaked. Thankfully it was a warmer day :)At the Magic Kingdom, Emma got quite courageous and rode Space Mountain. She said she liked it, but also added that she probably wouldn't go again. Faith rode the Goofy Barnstormer roller coaster thing about five times... definitely her favorite. I was surprised that Hannah didn't want to ride more of the "big thrill" rides, but she enjoyed what she did ride. She had a good time taking Faith on the “Goofy Planes”. Hannah’s favorite park was EPCOT and I was able to take her back one n
ight after the others were in bed (they had late hours). She loved Soarin’ and we were able to go on it twice :) Jot's favorite was the Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom. That was the first thing we all rode together (even Quin!). He and Tim were able to return and ride it several more times toward the end of the week. It was Buzz Lightyear, how could he not love it? The first day at the park after riding it, Buzz was just outside the exit, so he got to meet him that first day too. What a great way to begin!The food was delicious and I was very pleased with the food plan that we had. It worked out very well. We had tons of food and often were able to split a quick service meal between two (or more) people. All of the food we had was delicious and I really was impressed with the portions! It was so nice not having to think about money for food or tips (included) with the meal plan. I’d definitely recommend it.
We stayed at the All Star Movies in the Buzz Lightyear building - his belt was just outside our doors... Jot about died to see the four/five story Buzz. I was gla
d that the beds were comfortable because by the time I made it there, I was tired! Though the rooms were on the small side, we really weren't there much except to sleep, so they worked fine for us. Clean and comfortable…just what you’d want in a hotel :) All the toys in the courtyard were too cute. We had wonderful rooms.
Now for the downside….all was wonderful until we got back on the bus to return to the airport.
We initially thought that it was nerves, but we soon found out otherwise. Emma had been pretty scared all week about getting back on the plane and worried herself sick (so we thought)... throwing up on the bus as we were being transported back to the airport for our return trip. Things went downhill from there. We were all on the plane ready to go, when there was a security breech in the airport. We all had to deplane and que up for security again (the entire airport). That was at least a four hour delay... then one of the flight attendants couldn't fly (she had gone over her hours) so we had to wait for another plane to arrive to get another attendant. By this time Emma had worried herself into a mess. She and her flight sick bag spent much time together. She was such a trooper though. And looking back, I know just how horrible she felt and yet she kept going. Anyhow, by midnight, we were back to loading the plane. Thankfully, Emma was sleeping, so she did OK on the plane. The others soon followed suit and even Tim and I caught a nap. Traveling with five kids was definitely NOT fun at this point. But we arrived safely, though quite later than expected. At least there wasn’t any traffic on the drive home :)
Tim slept for about three hours and went to teach at church Sunday morning. Hannah was up and went along too...I stayed home with the others who all worn out. By about 3PM, the rest of the family, one by one came down with what we are supposing was some strand of flu. By 1AM, each of us had it and it was just horrid. It is times like this that I sometimes doubt God really knew what He was doing in giving us five kids! Even in the middle of it, I tried to remain thankful that we were not in Florida or all sick on the plane… we were home and we had what we needed to get through it. By today, Thursday, we all are still feeling a bit weak and dehydrated, but much, much better than before. God saw us through, though the WHY question may still be a question in my mind.
I said to Tim last night that I’d just once like to go through something where, even I – the perpetual pessimist (not a good thing by the way), can’t imagine anything better… he reminded me that that would be Heaven. Well, after days like this weekend, I’m ready. Revelation 20:22 Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
d that the beds were comfortable because by the time I made it there, I was tired! Though the rooms were on the small side, we really weren't there much except to sleep, so they worked fine for us. Clean and comfortable…just what you’d want in a hotel :) All the toys in the courtyard were too cute. We had wonderful rooms.Now for the downside….all was wonderful until we got back on the bus to return to the airport.
We initially thought that it was nerves, but we soon found out otherwise. Emma had been pretty scared all week about getting back on the plane and worried herself sick (so we thought)... throwing up on the bus as we were being transported back to the airport for our return trip. Things went downhill from there. We were all on the plane ready to go, when there was a security breech in the airport. We all had to deplane and que up for security again (the entire airport). That was at least a four hour delay... then one of the flight attendants couldn't fly (she had gone over her hours) so we had to wait for another plane to arrive to get another attendant. By this time Emma had worried herself into a mess. She and her flight sick bag spent much time together. She was such a trooper though. And looking back, I know just how horrible she felt and yet she kept going. Anyhow, by midnight, we were back to loading the plane. Thankfully, Emma was sleeping, so she did OK on the plane. The others soon followed suit and even Tim and I caught a nap. Traveling with five kids was definitely NOT fun at this point. But we arrived safely, though quite later than expected. At least there wasn’t any traffic on the drive home :)
Tim slept for about three hours and went to teach at church Sunday morning. Hannah was up and went along too...I stayed home with the others who all worn out. By about 3PM, the rest of the family, one by one came down with what we are supposing was some strand of flu. By 1AM, each of us had it and it was just horrid. It is times like this that I sometimes doubt God really knew what He was doing in giving us five kids! Even in the middle of it, I tried to remain thankful that we were not in Florida or all sick on the plane… we were home and we had what we needed to get through it. By today, Thursday, we all are still feeling a bit weak and dehydrated, but much, much better than before. God saw us through, though the WHY question may still be a question in my mind.
I said to Tim last night that I’d just once like to go through something where, even I – the perpetual pessimist (not a good thing by the way), can’t imagine anything better… he reminded me that that would be Heaven. Well, after days like this weekend, I’m ready. Revelation 20:22 Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
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