Disney!

 

I’m not even sure how to start this post, or series of post as it will inevitably turn out to be, because Disney was overwhelming in so many ways. It was a high stress time for me and Derek and he ended up missing the first three days of the trip. It was also so so so hot. But despite it all, we had a great trip and Madeline had the time of her life. She is still talking about it every day. I’m so glad we got to do it and I can’t wait until next time.

Our first day was spent in Epcot.

Trying to get a picture with Madeline is impossible. Trying to get a picture with Madeline and multiple people is like trying to pull teeth from a really angry shark.

Meeting her first character…Goofy!

Meeting her second character, Duffy bear. She put the autograph book on the ground in front of him and all characters after that. She was a little hesitant to actually touch them, but she would walk right up to them. Funny thing was that when they would squat, she would squat.

Because who could resist this face? Courtesy of Aunt Jessie, who was so great and such a help the whole trip!

Coloring her Duffy Bear on a stick, which was probably her favorite thing ever. Every country would put a stamp and a flag on the back of the bear and she could color on the front. She loved it. We may have brought about 6 home with us.

She loves Donald duck.

At this point, she was starting to get really tired. We had just ridden the Norway ride, which was a dark boat ride. She fell asleep on Jessie’s lap the minute we sat down. I’m only putting these terrible pictures up because Jessie says we have a picture in the same place from when we are younger.

Posed and how we really felt…

We did a princess lunch that day and here we are meeting Belle at the beginning. When the first princess or two walked in Madeline didn’t necessarily realize what was going on right away. As they were walking around in the section beside us, she finally realized who it was and what was going on, and she stopped eating, got down from the table, and stared and asked for them until she finally met them.

Meeting her idol, Cinderella.

Sleeping Beauty wasn’t quite as exciting.

Ariel… who is now tied with Cinderella for favorite. That pen could also be her favorite. Ariel spent a lot of time with her and said she was one of the nicest little humans she had ever met.

Snow White wasn’t so exciting. Overall, the lunch was an awesome experience for her and she couldn’t have had more fun.

Passed out in China while Pops gets her Duffy Beat stamped. It was raining when she fell asleep and poor kid was stuck in all that hot stuff until she woke up.

 

Meeting Alice, who she normally loves, but by this point I’m sure she was so exhausted she didn’t know what was going on

 

Playing in the phone booth in England

Maybe this is why she was so freaked out about sharks at the aquarium last week…

We kept going until after the fireworks show at 9 PM. Madeline sat on Lolly’s lap for the show and she really liked it, after Lolly covered her ears. She did not like the noise or fireworks after that. I would put down a million other little details, but honestly, it was kind of a blur and something about writing it all down takes away a little of the magic. Needless to say, it was an awesome first day. It wasn’t crowded, it rained a little so it wasn’t too hot in the afternoon (the morning was brutal), and it was just the right amount of action for a slow introduction to Disney.