Disney

Went to Disney last week. We'd gone a couple of years ago and had so much fun; just had to go another time before the kids got older, Jack was in middle school, and such a trip away would be less feasible. So we went ahead and did it.

A couple of days were better the first trip. The newness of it all. The fact that our weather at Universal wasn't quite as good this time. On the other hand, we didn't make some of the mistakes we made the first time, and no doubt Universal was way less crowded with the lesser weather. We got to do all the rides we wanted to do, AND got to do them more often because the lines weren't as long. And when we went back to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner, Kate asked at the counter if our waiter from that trip, a colorful, charismatic guy named Vegas, was working. And he was. We were seated in his section, he charmed the kids again, and I seriously thought about getting a picture with him before we left. But that one we'll just have to keep in our minds.

Our best Disney day was Thursday, our second one in Magic Kingdom. Started at Chef Mickey's, where the food was just ordinary but the character meetings were fantastic. Goofy got the whole room swinging their napkins and clapping, us included. Minnie was as beautiful and charming as a giant mouse could possibly be. Mickey and Donald and Pluto gave and received big hugs all around. It was awesome.

After breakfast it was off to the park, where we began by standing in an hour-long ride for the Mine Train. Too long, but a great ride and so worth it. Then it was off to another roller coaster, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and a ride the kids were more into than us, Buzz Lightyear, where basically you're just trying to shoot things with lasers. Strangely addictive though, and while Kate got frustrated at times, when she had a good game, she was very excited. Those rides pretty much consumed the morning, and after lunch, we did them all again.

This was the night we were going to stay at Disney to watch a nighttime electric musical parade and maybe fireworks. They had them every night, but it made for a long day if we'd been there early, as we were. But our plan was to go back to our hotel to relax for a little, then return for the night show.

Trying to leave the park, we were delayed -- by another parade! In front of us, were dancers, and a huge dragon (the one from Sleeping Beauty) and other dancing, singing Disney characters. We rode a boat home, relaxed for an hour, watched a hilarious episode of Gravity Falls, then went back to the park for hotdogs (the baseball-themed Casey's, Jack "helped" by getting way more ketchup than any hotdog needed) and the parade.

It ended, and it was 8 p.m. Two years ago, we'd have just gone home -- did just go home. But this time we said, hmm, let's see how long the lines are at our favorite rides. And they weren't too bad. So as darkness fell (staved off by all the lighting) we ran about the park doing rides. Buzz, the Barnstormer, and more, after which Kate would say "Again! Again!" And then we rode the People Mover around the park, which was basically a train that went across the top of all the different rides. And then, as we ran from ride to ride, the fireworks started. And the Speedway was zooming off to the edge of the noise.

We ran from ride to ride as fireworks crashed overhead and park music played and Kate said "Again." Did this until around 9, but it seemed like forever. And then it was time to go.

Walking home, after catching the monorail to our hotel, I said to Kate -- neither she nor Jack will ever admit to being tired -- "You look like you'll admit to being tired." A little glassy-eyed, she said, slowly "I am tired." And that was the end of the day.