Character Encounters

Before our trip, I researched doing Disney with little ones for months. I wanted it to be a memorable trip for the kids, but I also wanted it to be as stress free as it possibly could.  One great tip we took advantage of was booking character meals. They may seem kind of pricey but the fact that you get a great meal AND you get to meet characters in a quieter, smaller setting was awesome. Then when we were actually at the park, we didn't have to use much time trying to see our favorites, we could ride rides!
 

 Chef Mickey's Breakfast

We had breakfast with at Chef Mickey's on Tuesday. Our reservation was for 7:20 am, it was close to our normal breakfast time so I thought what great timing. I didn't think about that the fact that we had to catch the bus there and they like you to be there 15 minutes or so early. SO we left our hotel room at 6:15 to catch the 6:30 bus. It worked out great, but it was an early morning. 

At the Animal Kingdom, we happened to walk by a wait sign that said 5 minutes. Of course, we stopped to see what it was. Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore were tucked away in a hidden spot and since the line was so short, we went on in to meet them!

We spent two days at the Magic Kingdom and on the first day I noticed that the Storybook Princess's Meet and Greet had a fast pass line.(this is the only place I saw a fastpass line for meet and greets- the regular line was typically 50 minutes) On our second day there, I went ahead and grabbed those tickets first thing and enjoyed some rides before coming back to meet Rapunzel, Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) and Cinderella. Reagan really enjoyed the princesses (I think it helped they were people) She met them all and introduced them to cat (her lovie).

Although he wasn't excited to meet the princesses, Mason insisted on giving Cinderella a hug. 

Disney Junior Dine and Play

When I read about the Disney Junior Play and Dine, I knew we had to go. How could you not meet Handy Manny, Oso, Jake and June? I have to say this was my favorite character meal. The food was amazing. I mean really amazing AND every 10 minutes or so the characters and some Disney Junior staff would get up and lead the crowd in songs and dancing. So not only did you meet the characters when they came to your table, you could dance and play with them throughout your meal. Plus, it was never fully packed and the pace was really laid back. A must for anyone with a Disney Junior fan!

By this day, Reagan was okay with the characters coming to our table, but she didn't want to meet them. However, during one song she wanted to dance with me, so we headed up front to dance with Jake. He had already visited our table and knew Reagan was shy. After a song finished he came up and gave us both a hug. Steve snapped a picture quickly and although it's blurry it's one of my favorites. Again, the small touches at Disney are amazing.

Mason's favorite character to meet was Jake. I can see why.

Magical Moments

We recently returned from 4 day/nights at Disney World and the Art of Animation Resort. To say we had a wonderful time, is really an understatement. I can't remember the last time, we spent so much time together as a family laughing, having fun and just being. We had minimal distractions- little TV, internet and phone calls. That alone was a wonderful break, but pair it with spending time with my three favorite people in the world and it was magical memories that I will forever cherish. It was my first trip to Disney since 2000 and the very first trip for Steve, Mason, and Reagan.
I plan to write a couple entries about the trip, but I wanted to start with what I liked to think of as magical moments. These are small moments that I caught myself smiling and thinking I want to always remember their look at this very moment.

Arriving at Art of Animation

I think this was a magical moment for us all. The hotel is amazing, beautiful, breathtaking, UNFORGETTABLE. You literally walk into Finding Nemo, and Cars. (we never made it to the other two sections so I can't speak for them) Mason and Reagan were both in heaven. Every day we said good morning to McQueen, Mater, Doc, Sheriff, and at night we made a loop around the area to look at all the neon and say goodnight to our dear friends. Many days they were greeted with hugs from Mason and Reagan, something I will never forget.

Our room was literally located in the Wheel Well Motel. How cool is that?!?!

Phone call from Goofy

When we came back from the Magic Kingdom the first day, our phone was blinking- I didn't think anything of it, because who would call us at Disney? It must be a mistake. But Steve listened and then replayed it on speaker for Mason. Goofy called to welcome us to Disney World and give us a special welcome on our first trip to Disney. The look in his eyes and the sound of his voice were pure magic. He exclaimed "Goofy must have seen me at Disney Junior (what he referred to all parks as) with my button. Can we make him a card tomorrow to say thank you?" Honest, pure innocents. I hope you hang onto to Mase for a long time because it reminds me to take nothing for granted.

Minnie Mouse

If you regularly read my blog, you know Reagan loves Minnie. She had a minnie party for goodness sake. So I was so excited to see how she would react to meet the real Minnie Mouse. Little did I know, characters would scare her to pieces. Literally. It got better as the week went on, but on the morning we had breakfast at Chef Mickey's, she wanted nothing to do with her best bud. So much so, that Steve took her away from the table to help calm her down. I mentioned to Minnie when she saw the two empty chairs that our little girl loved her but was scared of her. She nodded, and that was that. Or so I thought. Later on as Minnie was talking with another table, she saw Steve and Reagan were back and that Reagan wasn't paying much attention. So she walked up behind them and posed so I could get a picture of Reagan with her Minnie. I know it seems small, and silly to consider this a magical moment, but Minnie, it meant the world to me. Later when we were going through pictures from the day, Reagan said "that's me and Minnie. I love Minnie." Thanks Minnie, for taking the time to remember a scared little girl.

Parades

I remember Disney Parades from my own childhood- how fun it was to see so many characters at once, the music, the dancing, and the electric parade. It's spectacular. All of them. So we did as many as we could and each time, Mason's face lit up with joy. 

Farewell Surprise

On Friday morning, we got up bright and early, ate breakfast and headed to the car to begin our journey home. Little did we know, Donald Duck and Rapunzel (Mason and Reagan's favorite characters) snuck into our car and left a little surprise waiting for them to enjoy on their way home. We had them get in one at a time so we could video their reactions. Mason couldn't believe Donald left him a little something to remember him by and since then, Mason and Donald have been inseparable. Rapunzel knowing how important friends are, left her best friend, Pascal to keep Reagan company and now our favorite lizard goes every where with us. 

We created so many great memories at Disney and I am already looking forward to our next trip. (I haven't mentioned this to Steve yet)

  "I don't want the public to see the world the world they live in while they're in the park. I want them to feel they're in another world. " Walt Disney

Well done, Mr. Disney. 

Oakes Farm

On Saturday, we headed up to Oakes Farm for a family fun day at the pumpkin patch. I was a little nervous about the weather, but we decided to go for it. AND I am so glad we did! It was a little cool, and overcast but the crowd was smaller and we were able to enjoy a great day together.

I love the rainboots.

About to head into the patch. 

Are you ready? 

This is our second year to enjoy Oakes Farm. 

And I hope every year we can measure our growth with the corn ruler.

The SLIDES! 

Mason loved them, Reagan took a little time to warm up to them but with the help of dad- the three of them conquered the slides together.

Reagan loved playing in the corn bin. 

She just kept throwing corn into the air and laughing. PURE. HAPPINESS.

She also loved the corn bounce house.

Mason and dad enjoyed the bounce pillow this year. Mason was so excited to go onto it and he had a blast bouncing. (He did stand and bounce too, but he liked having dad bounce him)

Ahhh the corn maze. A Marlowe tradition since 2008. 

We've come along way since the baby carrier.

We completed the farm tracks challenge.

Reagan showing off her completed card.

Getting ready to pick the perfect pumpkin.

Two of my favorite people. Happy Fall Ya'll!