from Disney that is....
We had a great trip! We decided to do everything low-key and casual so we didn't have much of an agenda besides a few must-see rides. It was hotter than I would have liked. I don't know how people live in Florida year-round.
I love this picture. Buck's favorite ride has always been the Haunted Mansion. Ian SO wanted to love this ride as much as Buck did. Ian and I did lots of Haunted Mansion prep before our trip. We watched tons of You Tube videos, we looked at old guide books, he made drawings and Lego models of the house, we listened to the soundtrack to the ride. We figured out how they made the ballroom ghosts (it's an old trick called
Pepper's Ghost). Ian figured out how they made Madame Leota's head float in her crystal ball. We talked about the nature of ghosts and whether we believe in them or not.
I showed him an older picture I took of the tombstone in the picture above. He was intrigued when I told him that she opens her eyes and looks around. That started a fascination with watching her on You Tube and talking about tombstones and death and fright and excitement. Everything really does lead to everything else!
On our very first day of the trip we asked Ian what he'd like to see and he said, "The Haunted Mansion!" so we headed that way and walked right on the ride (no line yet!) I captured this moment between Buck and Ian. Ian saw the Leota gravestone and was simultaneously excited and frightened. I love the way he's hanging on to Buck for protection, but still interested in what's around him. Oh, by the way the Haunted Mansion IS his favorite ride now. We rode it 5 times!
He loved Donald's boat in Toon Town.
We were able to meet up with Buck's good friend who lives in Florida. It was such a pleasure to see our kids become good friends. All of the kids loved the Winnie the Pooh playground.
Right before we got in line for Buzz Lightyear ride we spotted Stitch. The kids ran over to get their picture taken (or "made" as we would say in the South) with him.
Favorites from our first day included the Haunted Mansion, it's a small world, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh playground, the teacups, Donald's boat, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear, the Carousel of Progress, and Thunder Mountain Railroad at night.
Here are some more views from our day:
