Oh..The Magic of Disney!

We embarked on a Disney Trip much earlier than I had originally wanted for numerous reasons which all proved to be valid.

We were invited by my husbands coworker to go to her husbands bosses lake house... Still with me? 

We were getting into the park complimentary because her brother in law (my husbands co worker) works at Disney and could get up to 6 people in. The kids were free of course because they are so little. We were hesitant to accept the offer for numerous reasons and as anyone knows traveling with a group of people, though fun, things never go as planned. For someone like me with OCD...just a tee whittle bit...irritable is not my prettiest side.

1) Money - Disney is crazy affordable. NOT! A bottle of water is $4

Little fact- our Disney World in Orlando, FL is one of the most visited places in the  world!! WHAT??! 

The place of Magic and "Dreams coming True" and all that Jazz.... Is really just all fluffer nutter.
There is nothing "Magic" about thousands of people completely invading your personal space when walking or in line just to get that "ONE" step closer to the attraction!

2) Kids age- though 2 1/2 - 3 is a fantastic coming into personality age, it does have some wickedly evil Horns!

3) Weather- too hot or for my Floridian ass too Cold!

4) Memories..... Or lack their of. Who really remembers there Disney visit at age 2?..3? or even 4?

Our trip started out in mass chaos. Allow me to elaborate. From the time my husband got off work Friday afternoon until 7:30pm or so we were running like crazy. To the bank... for about 45 minutes!! We won't go there! Walmart in a desperate attempt to get some warm attire for what ended up being a uncomfortable cold day and evil cold evening. To pick up dinner and then eat at the house, pack, and at least do the dishes, etc.

What I learned is to pack one week prior, cook dinner in the am and heat that shit up before hitting the road and go to bank a week ahead of time! Next time- don't go on a weekend when our normal Floridian weather decides to take a plunge into the deep pits of the polar ice caps! oh and NEVER go on a Holiday Weekend! Disney is crowded enough on an average day. Add a Holiday weekend to the mix and you just have a recipe for strangers shoving, and touching you in places you would never give authorization for. Not to mention complete invasion of personal space!

When we arrived at our destination, the Lake House in Lake Placid, it was cold, dark and we were exhausted. But guess what? Starr and Grayson weren't because they slept the majority of the 2 1/2 hour drive. So in their beautifully growing minds.NAP TIME WAS OVER!

The day of our Disney Trip began Saturday January 18th. After going to bed around  1-1:30 am, I awoke feeling hung over, but well rested. We ate and then headed on our way with the whole group of us-9 including us and baby Starr. David's coworker and her family were a party of 4 and they were celebrating 3 of their recent birthdays, add their brother in law, and us just along for the ride.

After an 1-1/2 drive, We were finally at our destination! The wonderfully magically, Magic Kingdom.

First stop was lunch! After that it was nursing the baby and changing diapers. It wasn't very long before we decided to split and go our separate ways so as not to ruin their birthday trip. Meeting up late before heading back to the Lake House.

We got to watch two parades. Went to see Pluto but were told he was done visiting guest for the day. We rode on some rides with Grayson in Tommorrowland and Fantasyland. We had corn dogs, David for first time. We got to experience the Starbucks experience, Disney style. Had some stranger convos, got a McQueen light toy and Mickey balloon, Rode the Carousel, got a Disney sticker from one of the "Cast Members", and froze our tushes!

Reasons why I never wanted to take the kids before age five all proved to be valid.

1) 3 corn dogs, a bag of chips, and a soda was $20. Yup. $5 a corn dog! Mickey balloon G-Man wanted so bad from the entrance when he first laid eyes on them- $12 and Up! In addition to several other purchases food and other. So why are we wasting away all this money on a day that they will never remember? Oh yeah....its for us...That's why?!

2) Grayson had some sort of fit every couple hours. Though I know being over tired from the night before and lack of nap on Saturday definitely were contributing factors, add in sugary treats, cold weather, and extreme system overload and you have a disaster just waiting to unravel.

3) it was FREEZING! I am talking can't feel my legs because my blood had frozen and the only feeling left is a sharp burning sting kind of cold. Thank goodness we were able to borrow a hat from Grayson's  friend. Starr had about 4 layers on and a blanket on top if that. Grayson about 3 layers.

4) We did not get many pics of us together, always need to have a photographer on hand if you want family memories! Though Grayson had a great time, he won't ever remember this trip and Starr def won't .

We left he park at around 9/9:30 pm arriving back at Lake House around midnight.

  

I would say despite being overly crowded, getting shoved -with my son in my hands- into someone else's rear end as though I am an accessory to their body, it being bone crackling uncomfortably FREEZING, the park costs being outrageous, Grayson being overly tired, & stimulated, having to stop to change diapers and nurse very frequently , not getting family pics and knowing the kids will never remember this day, oh and let me not leave out, dropping my cell phone onto the brick pavement AND whole screen shattering! I'd say we had a great time and really did have fun! Grayson had a blast! And seeing those little eyes though exhausted, filled with such amazement and joy , makes all the other details non existent...... Just not non existent enough to make another trip to Disney before Grayson is 5/6!

Sunday came and the Lake house was beautiful. The weather wonderful. Where was this weather the day prior?! The Lake house was warm and inviting filled with tons of photos and my favorite, quotes all over! This was a Home filled with Love so tangible you could see, feel, taste and inhale it! It was in the air. Not to mention their was so much character in this house.

Grayson  and David learned how to fish and both caught their first Fish! This was Priceless! We had a nice relaxing afternoon ending with lunch and their celebratory Birthday cakes before heading back on the road.

It was Home Sweet Home at last and though we enjoyed the company and our trip, I have never been so Happy to walk into the doors of our tiny one bedroom apartment!