Disney World, Day 1

We went to Disney world last week. We'd never been, and there was a lot of advance planning that went into it. Almost all of it by Emily. I took notes all week, and I think the best way to try to recap it is a day by day sort of blog. So here goes.

Day 1

We got a Disney Shuttle from the airport. It played old Mickey Mouse cartoons on a screen, which the kids watched with rapt attention. At the end of each one, Kate clapped her hands happily.

Checked into our room at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We picked one with a view which enabled us to see actual animals from our balcony -- giraffes, gazelles, ostriches, etc. It also provided arguably the funniest (uh, but unfortunate) moment of the trip, with Kate running toward the balcony to see and smashing flat into the glass door. Anxious moment where we checked to see if she was OK followed by an awkward moment where Emily and I tried not to laugh and Jack guffawed heartily. Kate was in good humor about it after she stopped crying, which was good because Jack recreated the moment frequently the rest of the week. "Kate, remember when you went like this -- Wham! -- into the glass?"

It was too late to do much so we grabbed the shuttle into downtown Disney and walked around. It was also cold (for Florida) and rainy. First thing we saw, outside the Lego store, was a giant, life size Loch Ness monster in the water. Jack has been obsessed by Nessie for the past two months, so that was great. Then inside we saw a Lego Hulk, also life size, and I've been fond of the Hulk for about 35 years, so that was great too. We can go home now!!!

Had dinner at the T-Rex cafe. Totally awesome restaurant with huge, animatronic dinosaurs throughout. We were seated in I guess the Ice Age room (maybe had a fancier name), which had blue lighting and icy walls all around us, with huge dinosaur skeletons frozen into the ice! Had a steak and a giant drink or two, both of which were fantastic. Unfortunately both kids were half asleep from the long day and low lights, and we ended up trundling them out of there, taking dessert with us, and making our way back to the room. In the shuttle home, they slept on our laps; don't know the last time either of them did that.

When I put Kate to bed (Jack: "Watch out for the glass, Kate! Guffaw, guffaw), she sleepily said, "I'm lucky to have you as my Daddy..." Not sure what prompted it. I took her Minnie Ears off and turned out the light.