Tag Archives: Disney World

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To Everything There Is a Season

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Today I traveled home from Walt Disney World. It’s always a bittersweet day. After eight nights in Florida, I was ready to be home. But home meant saying good-bye to Emi and family for several months, and that is always difficult.

They are back home in England safe and sound. Jake and family are safely back in Illinois. And Mike and I are home tonight also. Mary Ann, our cat, greeted us with loud meows and lots of close contact. So, it’s good to be home after an incredible vacation. So thankful!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Love, Tears and Thankfulness

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Today was our last full day at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. We had tickets for a park, but only Jake went in today. He chose Disney’s Hollywood Studio so he could ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, his favorite ride. As he entered the gate who should he see waiting there? Daniel Carlson, a dear family friend! What are the chances?? They chatted for a bit as Daniel waited for his friends to show up. Incredible! It’s a God thing.

The rest of us stayed at the resort to chill and begin packing. Ida seemed to have a low-grade fever and Linnie is still recovering from the flu. It was a nice low key day.

Then it was time for Emi, James and Ida to catch the bus to the airport. With plenty of hugs and tears to go around, I thanked God for this time together. I’ll be looking forward to our next time together, perhaps as soon as March.

Mike, Jake, Eliza, Linnie and I wandered up to Turtle Krawl for dinner. With burgers, chili dogs, and pulled pork sandwiches for dinner from Good’s Food to Go and drinks from Gurgling Suitcase we whiled away the hours in the warm evening Florida breezes. It was a perfect ending to an emotional day.

Well, Dear Readers, I am one Disney-exhausted camper. So delighted for this incredible adventure. And yet ready to go home tomorrow. Home, where Mary Ann, our kitty cat, waits for me.

Until the next time…meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Magical Halloween Fun

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What an incredible evening we had at Magic Kingdom last night! Mike, James, Ida and I had dinner at Be Our Guest. It was so delicious! I highly recommend the filet mignon for a main course which comes with mashed potatoes and al dente green beans. My starter of cheese and fruit was perfect for the meal that followed. And the dessert was just plain fun! A mini white chocolate “Chip” cup filled with “the gray stuff”, a raspberry macaroon with raspberry jam and fresh raspberries, and a chocolate truffle. So cute and so sweet and so delicious!

And that castle! Just Holy Wah! It is truly an enchanting place to dine. Ida was nervous about Beast, so she was happy to only see him from across the room. She liked the big music box with Belle and Beast dancing. And she thought the rose was very pretty.

Then James and Ida legged it for the bus back to Old Key West Resort. Ida has a cold and was tired and a bit cross. But in her defense she has a nasty cold that she has been fighting all week. Bless her little heart!

Jake, Eliza, and Linnie spent the evening at the resort as Linnie has her first case of the flu. They took her to Urgent Care earlier in the day (a four hour ordeal) and got her a prescription and some pain meds. She seems quite a bit more herself this morning, but will have a quiet day today.

Our evening continued with rides: Mad Tea Party, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. We did quite a bit of Trick or Treating, and received a mountain of candy. We caught the end of the Hocus Pocus Spelltacular, just in time for “I Put a Spell on You.”

We ended our evening by finding a spot on the bridge between Tomorrow Land and the central hub. Emi went to Plaza Ice Cream and picked up some treats for us to enjoy as we sat and passed the time. We watched Boo to You Halloween Parade. And finished off the evening with HalloWishes fireworks. We had a great time just being together in such a beautiful place.

Feeling very blessed this morning! Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Magnificent Minnie!

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We are tired out! Emi, James, Ida and I opted out of our Fastpasses today and relaxed at Old Key West. Mike went in to Disney’s Hollywood Studio early on his own and walked around, until Jake, Eliza and Linnie showed up. They went to The Little Mermaid and Toy Story Mania!

The rest of us showed up in time for Minnie’s Halloween Dinner at Hollywood and Vine restaurant. It was a blast, and Ida finally warmed up to the characters, especially Minnie Mouse. As we posed with Minnie at the entry Ida kept saying, “She’s very gentle and kind,” to herself as a mantra. I can’t recommend this buffet dinner enough. The food was so delicious, and the characters all made sure to visit each table.

Linnie ended up seeing a nurse at the park and had a bit of a fever so they took her back to the resort to chill out. She seems to be doing a little bit better tonight, and the fever has broken.

What a busy, busy day!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Animal Kingdom Day

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On a cloudy Tuesday we made our way to Animal Kingdom. We rode Na’vi River Journey for the first time. It was magnificent! It was like being immersed in a whole new world. The colors and the vegetation, the huge insects and animals, and the sound track of life in Pandora blended into most memorable moments.

Then it was on to Kilimanjaro Safaris. We have ridden this many times, but because there was cloud cover and it was feeding time, we saw more animals than we had ever seen before. I always love seeing the flamingoes, and there were lots of them out and about. Ida loved the rhinos, with their big horns, instead of noses.

And one of the highlights of the day was a Memory Maker moment. Jake became Rafiki and baby Elinor became Simba. It was magical!

Then we had a delicious dinner at Yak and Yeti. Oh, that mango pie! And we tasted a new favorite: the green bean appetizer. So good!

Another lovely day at Walt Disney World!

Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna

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A Break in the Action

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Today we took a day to chill out and appreciate our resort. It was glorious! Some swam, some rode a bicycle built for four, some enjoyed shopping at Disney Springs.

Then Mike treated us all to an amazing dinner at Artist Point, an Arts and Crafts inspired restaurant at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort. It was a fun adventure, too, because we took a bus to Magic Kingdom, then transferred to a boat to the lodge.

The food there is northwest inspired. My dinner was buffalo steak and farrow with crispy Brussel sprouts. We enjoyed an artisanal cheese board for starters. Then we capped off our meal with two desserts which we all shared: creme brûlée and wild berry cobbler with coffee. Delicious!

What a lovely, decadent day! I am thankful.

Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna

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Magic Kingdom Day

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Day two of our Walt Disney World adventure has been so incredible!

  1. Character breakfast at Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. Ida was completely traumatized by the arrival of Winnie the Pooh. “Too big!” She begged to be cuddled by her mum and hid her face until Pooh went away. Tigger-same thing. Piglet-a little more interested. Eeyore-not so scared, and Ida didn’t hide her eyes.
  2. We rode Peter Pan’s Flight, and Ida and James were a bit scared. “Too dark.”
  3. We rode it’s a small world next. Ida dug it!
  4. We rode Winnie the Pooh. Ida thought it was OK, but a bit too bumpy.
  5. Finally we rode Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid. When we finished, Ida said, “Really cool!” Success at last!
  6. We finished our day with a swim and dinner at Olivia’s.

What an incredible day! What an incredible time with family! What a beautiful place!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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We’re Here!!

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We are at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, all settled into our villa. Thank you, Jesus!! Three years of planning all come down to this day. Our flight was good. The Conch Fritters at Good’s Food To Go were delicious! Our luggage showed up at our room as if by magic. And we’re getting groceries delivered any minute now. Emi, James and Ida are due soon. I am so grateful! More news tomorrow.

Come on down and meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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One Day More

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Tomorrow, tomorrow I love ya. Tomorrow, you’re only a day away…

So today is crazy, busy getting ready to go day. As I sit here watching “The Real”, I am sipping my Airborne which I hope will help to boost my immune system. I don’t want to pick up any nasty germs on the plane tomorrow.

Tomorrow afternoon, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I will be sipping a Diet Coke and sharing an order of Conch Fritters on the small boardwalk at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. Jake, Eliza and Linnie are scheduled to arrive in Orlando within a minute of our arrival, so there’s a good chance that we will ride the same Magical Express bus to the resort. That would be a little extra magical, right?

I’m packing a swimsuit in my carry on, so if our room isn’t ready when we arrive, I may just take a dip in the main pool. It’s a very nice zero entry (beach entry) pool that I can walk right into. No ladder to climb, nor even steps. My kinda pool!

I can hardly believe it’s here at last. Three years of waiting is down to one day more. I won’t lie to you; I’m feeling blessed!

Meet me at the Kingdom. Tomorrow!

Donna

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Two Days!

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In two days I am going to Walt Disney World! I can hardly believe it’s so soon.

Yesterday, in the nick of time, the rest of our luggage tags for Magical Express came in the mail. We have to attach these tags to our luggage to have it delivered to our room by Disney. Jake’s, Eliza’s and Linnie’s tags had not yet arrived, but they finally showed up. And since today was one of my days watching Linnie for a few hours, Eliza slipped the tags into the diaper bag so they would be sure to make it home with them.

Whew! That is calling it close.

Tomorrow I finish up my packing. My whole day will be dedicated to finishing up with my suitcase, organizing my Disney purse, and filling up my carry-on.

Every vacation I over plan and over pack. And this time will be no different. Every vacation I over think all of this. Too much planning, too much plotting. Too much, period. When all that really matters is occupying the same space as some of my favorite people on the planet. That is what this reunion is all about. Sharing time with those we love. What a blessing!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna