Make A Wish {Friday at Animal Kingdom. And Hollywood Studios. And Epcot!}

**friday, february 21, 2020**

Well, we didn't see any snow in Florida, but the temperatures sure did drop overnight!

Our mid-80s blue skies traded for mid-50s with a stiff breeze and clouds.  And we found ourselves woefully unprepared.  Yes, I know it can be cold in Florida.  No we didn't pack winter coats.  Just don't ask questions and roll with it...we did.

Thankfully getting into line for Avatar took us inside the building where we were at least out of the breeze and much more comfortable.  

While on Pandora we decided to give the Na'vi River Journey another go despite not getting anything out of it when we rode on our previous trip. 

(If I'm being perfectly honest it was part that we had fast passes and part that it too is indoors and out of the wind).

 Turns out actually watching the movie before going makes all the difference as we all had a better appreciation for the recreation of the world of the Na'vi.

At that point we headed to Asia.

Because even the cold an our lack of preparedness couldn't keep us away from our favorite thrill ride in Animal Kingdom, Expedition Everest.

And even if the speed of escaping the Yeti put more of a breeze in our faces, we couldn't help ourselves and did the run back in line repeat...with new seating partners of course! 

Before we headed to Africa we stopped to grab a quick snack.  Because when you're cold you need more calories, right?  Plus we still had SO MUCH left on the Make A Wish debit card.

have i mentioned kylie is there for the theming and food?
she was so excited about her Simba pretzel that she bit his head off before we could fully capture the moment

Appetites sated, we continued on to a new continent. 

And when in Africa you take a safari. 

The animals were mostly out and active and we saw pretty much every species on our vehicle checklist.  Highlights of our ride included not only seeing a tower of giraffes, but getting to see the teenage giraffes run.  Let me tell you, you've never seen anything quite as awkwardly graceful as a running giraffe...makes you feel good about your own teen years.  

The other highlight was hearing one of my teens (who shall remain nameless) mumbling incredulous responses to the safari driver's decision to stop super close to the crash of white rhinos seconds after telling us that black rhinos were nervous animals that often respond to being startled with aggression.  (hence the term 'a crash of rhinos' I suppose).  Said child was having none of the two different types of rhinos with two different basic behavior patterns and was quite disturbed until we started moving again.

Following the safari we stopped briefly to observe the silver back gorilla and learn from the cast member giving a talk, but did I mention it was cold?  Some of our 'insulated challenged' kids were having none of standing still in the elements, so back to Pandora we went.  

After all, this fully immersive experience is easily the most excellent overall ride.  And it's inside!

Once again the Genie pass to the rescue shortening the 180+ minute wait to under 10 for us.  At that point it was lunch time.  Because the prepaid Make A Wish Visa card had plenty of money left, we enjoyed lunch at Satu'li Canteen popular in our family because of the customization possibilities for their noodle, rice, or salad bowls.  

And of course the blueberry cream cheese mousse.  Partially because it is beautiful, but mostly because it is delicious!  The cast member at the register saw we were a wish family and added a free cupcake for each of the kids to our order 'just to make sure everyone got a sweet ending' to lunch.  

At that point we had covered all everyone was interested in seeing on a cold day and decided to head back to another planet ~ Batuu.  

We were ushered directly into the adventure of Rise of the Resistance.  

So many details to take in everywhere you turn!

And then back one more time to try our hand piloting and smuggling coaxium on the Millennium Falcon one more time.

Okay.  Two more times.  But why not?  

Oh, and Darcy lost a hand to the sarrlacc.  But no worries, we were able to secure a fantastic animatronic hand before we left Galaxy's Edge.

At this point it was nearly 5 and we had to call a family meeting to decide what to do next.  Our hopper passes allowed us the opportunity to continue exploring parks or head back to the Village for a leisurely dinner (but obviously no time in the pool).  Because we had cut our time in Epcot short on Nicholas's birthday Monday and we had a few that love to walk around the World Showcase Lagoon to admire the different world pavilions and the vote was 5 to 1 from the kids on continuing on, off to Epcot we went.

What stop in Epcot is complete without taking a tour in the 'golf ball."

There is so much construction going on in Future World right now.  Many of the areas have screening fences to distract guests from the actual building.  The littles happily hopped from character image to character image, totally missing the fact that former shortcuts were blocked off, so I guess it worked. 

On the way toward the World Showcase we stopped for a quick photo opportunity (after realizing we had taken so few pictures on Monday during our brief time at Epcot) but didn't ride...we had covered that the other day and we were on another mission...a walk around the world.

But before we did that, a quick stop to find some long sleeved Disney merch was necessary.

And who can resist checking out the numerous types of 'ears' available?

apparently not my son...this kid keeps us in stitches!

Ears tried on, lovies squeezed (and purchased) and extra layers procured we began to make our way toward the Lagoon by way of Soarin'.

Did I mention that wind and the rapidly dipping temperature?  We all wanted to venture 'around the world.'  We really did.  

But we. were. COLD!

We made it as far as Disney Traders.  And when everyone wanted to go inside to 'look around,' even the ones that had complained about the length of time we shopped in Mouse Gear, we realized that while Ian and I could tough out the cold for the sake of the experience, perhaps it wasn't in our best interest to expect the kids to do the same.

So we stepped outside and took a glance at the World Showcase at its finest...with its lights twinkling in the nighttime.  

And then we double-timed it back toward the car, but not before passing to capture perhaps the best family selfie of the trip...

We came so close to the 'quadfecta' of Disney park hopping.  We approached the monorail station at 7:30 and the Magic Kingdom was open until 9 that night.  I came so close to talking everyone into hopping on the monorail and running into the Kingdom to the first ride we could find just to say that we hopped all four parks ~ and rode the best ride in each thanks to the Genie pass ~  in one day.  In the end though I looked at the happy (but tired) faces around me and decided to keep that crazy goal for someday in the future.

Finally it was time to bid adieu to Disney.  Always hard to leave the magic, but there's always 'next time' to look forward to.  Besides, even though we were flying home the next day, we still needed to make one last stop to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal before we left Florida!

Make A Wish {Thursday at Magic Kingdom}

**thursday, february 20, 2020**

As I mentioned in a post earlier, this amazing trip was quite some time in the making, from Ian and I accepting that Nicholas qualified, to applying to meeting our wish-makers, to learning that his wish had been granted and then waiting for the next calendar year so Ian actually had time off because of all the time we spent in Boston in May/June of 2019 for surgery.  We all had expectations and parts we were especially excited about.

For me, while I really enjoy many of the thrill rides at other parks, THIS day was MY day.  This was the day 100% dedicated to the Magic Kingdom!  While not crack of dawn early, we were well into breakfast by 8:15 which is something considering our tween/teen brood that likes to sleep in, especially after three previous days of theme park enjoyment.

so appreciated that they have tables for large families in the dining hall so we don't have to drag tables around or sit in different locations!

Our "I'm bored waiting in line so I'll nibble something" snack stash was running low, so we pulled into the Walmart just up the street from the village on the way to restock.  Just as an FYI, if you're ever going to the village, you can TOTALLY get any and ALL Disney gear in a section larger than the baby/toddler clothing and gear area in an average store.  We could have purchased "family uniforms" easily...but for the teens in the group.  With them we're lucky to pull of "theme "days at this point!

From that point it was a 30 minute drive in our rental van to my very favorite place!  It's possible I may have been the most excited person in the van to arrive.  

As we approached, we simply flashed Nicholas's "Genie pass" and were escorted to some primo parking, just a quick walk (though some of us *may* have been jogging in our anticipation to get there faster) from the monorail station.  

Much to the chagrin of our reluctant paparazzi victims, I was determined to make full use of the free Memory Maker services, though we did have to strike a deal that we'd only stop once an hour for the Disney photographers to snap a full family photo.  

Instinct when we walk in a circle is to head right.  But long ago my dear friend Bekah ~ our Magical Vacation Planner when we plan a Disney trip...my girl can hook us up with deals we can't find on our own! ~ shared the simple tip of heading left instead.  Of course we didn't need to worry too much about lines, the Genie pass got us unlimited FastPasses our entire trip, but it was nice to walk less "shoulder to shoulder" as we randomly made our way around.  

First stop?  

Try on some bling.  

I didn't purchase, bows aren't quite my thing, but they are adorable on my beautiful girl, no?

Our first ride of the day was to to take a spin on the Magic Carpets of Aladdin.  Not one of my all time favorites, but the Fast Pass line was super short.

Besides it put us in good proximity to Aloha Isle because enjoying a Dole Whip was high on EVERYONE's (especially my riding partner's) list.

From there the boys tried to ride Pirates of the Caribbean and were next in line when the ride malfunctioned.  Nicholas, who LOVED the Pirate movies, was especially disappointed and we kept checking, but it never went back online that day.  I'm just glad they weren't already in a boat when it came to a grinding halt.

Since we were in Adventureland, we went ahead and walked the Swiss Family Treehouse and of course took a journey on the Jungle Cruise ~ the only place where the jokes are more groan worthy than 'Dad jokes.' I will say it was great just to watch our older kids catch (and roll their eyes at) the puns that rolled right over the heads of our littler ones.

We grabbed a yummy carnitas lunch at Tortuga Tavern and then headed to Adventureland to hit a family favorite...Big Thunder Mountain! 

We rode twice in a row just for good measure.  Because...well...why not?

At this point it was getting pretty toasty (funny that was just about the time it started to snow back home) and while the boys went to explore the Riverboat, we girls claimed some prime real estate near the Liberty Bell and enjoyed some people watching.  In general that is a fun way to pass time, but especially fun at Disney when folks are in matchy-matchy or themed shirts.  

Speaking of matchy-matchy theme dressing...

Next stop, a new one for us ~ the Haunted Mansion.  In trips past we skipped it, mostly because if Dr. Facilier from the Princess and the Frog freaked my kids out and prevented them from ever watching the movie in its entirety, then there was no way they'd handle a ride full of spirits.  But this time Darcy was determined and while Ian, Kylie Caleb and Nicholas weren't interested, again with the Genie pass.  Waits were so short for us that other family members didn't mind a bit of time off their feet to people watch while everyone got to ride everything they wanted (unless of course it was a height thing...those are rules that don't budge for anyone).

From there we headed through the edge of Fantasyland straight for the Speedway.  Because when you're underage, driving sounds like THE BEST idea.  Thankfully at this point all our kids are tall enough to drive themselves save the littles.  Ian was chauffeured by Nat.

And I took my life into the wee one's hands by taking a spin with Nicholas.  We'll say that there IS a reason that center rail is there and leave it at that...

Once in sight of Space Mountain, it's nearly impossible to not heed the call to venture inside to ride.  

Never would have imagined we'd have enough kids to fill a rocket, but here we are...

It was right as we decided iced coffee (who can so no to something with the name 'mission to s'mores' latte?) and slushies from Joffrey's Coffee Revive that photo texts from friends back home of their kids playing in the snow started rolling in.  

We toasted with frozen beverages and took advantage of a break in the crowds to test out the new Tron coaster seats.  From everything we can tell, that's gonna be an awesome ride!

The one ride all day long we had been avoiding despite it being on everyone's top five list was Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.  For whatever reason it was insanely popular and even the Fastpass line was longer than we had been willing to wait.  At this point though we had hit most everything else and decided to buck up and wait in the line before beginning to take repeat requests.

At least the line allowed for a bit of time to get some individual shots. 

Luckily the wait time numbers were overestimated and HeadsUp continues to amuse.  Bonus that while on Disney property several Disney themed games are unlocked, so we reviewed our Disney character knowledge as we snaked toward the front of the line.

One last selfie and we were on!

As always, worth the wait in the end!

Because much of the Kingdom is so compact, we frequently would park the stroller and wander a bit.  Proving that it indeed is the 'most magical place on earth' siblings would volunteer to give Nicholas a lift when he started dragging.

As we passed back through Fantasyland to get the stroller, we noticed the line for the world's most catchy ear worm was super short, so we hopped on a boat to explore our Small World.  

all smiles save the one who had been requesting to ride all day...at this point i don't remember what that was about

Repeat requests began at this point.  

That moment you realize the above and below will be your reality in less than three years...

But I couldn't dwell on soon to be drivers too long.  Jesus take the wheel because Nat sure wasn't!

Since we were so close and even the standby line was essentially non-existent, we literally walked right on the PeopleMover.  Everyone has their reasons for liking it, mine is because when you're really lucky Space Mountain will be offline when you cruise through and you can see what the track looks like.  Ian loves it because it is magnet powered.  The kids have various thoughts, but this night DQ was all about the view.

Originally we had planned to go back to the village for dinner.  But we still had plenty of money left on the Make a Wish card, the fireworks were just over an hour away, and everyone said they were hungry for a burger.  With all that, why not extend our time in the magic?  So we quickly ate burgers and fries at Cosmic Ray's and then went to hunt out a spot to watch Happily Ever After.

This experience definitely beat the previous time when we stood in the gentle rain to watch.  Despite being surrounded in a sea of humanity that made me feel like we were back in China, we all enjoyed the show and found ourselves cheerfully humming and singing along.  

At that point we once again considered heading back to the village to get an early night.  But the stroller was where we ditched it for dinner near Cosmic Ray's and that's near the Mine Train and we noticed the line showed pretty short on the app while gathering the stroller.  So one more time we rode off to work with the dwarfs,  after all, it is a different, more exhilarating experience by night!

As we finally began to exit, we decided not to get caught in the crush on Main Street.

If you enter the shop closest to Casey's Corner, you can continuously shop pretty much the entire length of Main Street in the Emporium.  Besides, we had kids with cash to burn...

I don't think anyone ended up buying anything beyond Daniel getting an adorable plushie Space Mountain, but they sure had fun browsing.

why shouldn't an ewok disguise himself as an alien?

Until next time Magic Kingdom...we will miss you so!

You know you've given a twelve hour day your all when you lose a few in the van along the way home.