Disney World 2024

After years and years of trying to plan this trip and several factors (including COVID) pushing it back, we FINALLY took the trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth!! The kids were given this gift at Christmas and it was the longest 55 days of waiting!! It was just as we imagined it and so many memories were made! Beware: this post has TONS of pictures! 

Finally on our way...bright and early!

So thankful for the 50 degree temperature change!

Had to stop at Buc-cees. Charlie was the only one who would take a pic with Buc-cee. My big kids were "too big". 

Finally in Florida!!

And after two days of driving....we made it to our resort in Walt Disney World!!! 

Our first stop that evening was Chef Mickey for dinner. We got to meet 5 characters and the kids loved the buffet.

After a really late night of watching the Chiefs win the Super Bowl!!!!!, we headed to Magic Kingdom bright and early monday morning! Seven Dwarf's Mine Train was our first ride and definitely a favorite!

The grandmas didn't want anything to do with "It's a small world" ha!

Haunted Mansion....once the lights went out in the stretch room, the boys "tapped out" so it was just us girls.

Cosmic Ray's for lunch....

The Tomorrowland Speedway so the kids could do some driving

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin...somehow I didn't get a picture of Charlie, John and mom...

Snacks and the parade....a much needed and welcomed break!

After the parade we rode the train and the boys had been asking for this all day! They loved it so much we rode it twice!

Barnstormer!

John really loved Dumbo haha!

Charlie and I didn't really care much for Space Mountain...

Then it was time to ride the most anticipated ride of the day....Tron! Hands down a favorite....it was amazing! The boys wanted to test out the motorcycle seats first...and I'm glad they did because Charlie decided he wanted the seat option. 

Day 2 was spent at Hollywood Studios. We all really enjoyed this park!

We loved this park mostly because the kids love Star Wars so much! And Galaxy's Edge was truly amazing! It truly felt so "real".

Riding Rise of the Resistance....which was another absolute favorite!

We had lunch a Sci Fi Diner

Teresa, Mellany, John and mom rode Tower of Terror....

...while the boys and I went to Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy.

We rode Swirling Saucers and it was so cute!! I was very thankful it wasn't a completely spinning "teacup" situation...

We rode Toy Story Mania...

And then we ended the day building droids. The kids knew from the moment we were going to Disney, that they wanted to build droids, so to say they were excited would be an understatement, 

Johnnys face beaming ......it melts my heart!

3 droids ready to take home!

We also got to meet Chewbacca! The kids thought this was so cool!

On our day "off"....we venture to Disney Springs to the Lego Store and Rainforest Cafe...

....then after Teresa headed to the airport, we went back to Magic Kingdom for dinner with the princesses at Cinderella's Castle. 

We had two tired boys!(Little did we know, Charlie was starting to get sick...)

The crowd was pretty low and the light was amazing....so we took a few more castle pictures. I'm totally regretting not getting a picture of Teresa with the grandkids!

On Thursday, we went to Epcot! Teresa sent us a message on that morning asking if we were at the park already, so we sent her this picture to say we were and that we were already in a line!

Test Track was the first stop and the kids thought it was really neat to be able to design your own car.

We rode Cosmic Rewind which was another favorite ride!! Again, I'm missing a picture of mom and I...

Then after eating pizza at ViaNapoli.....

we headed to Remy's Ratatouille Adventure.

After riding Remy's, Charlie and I left so I could take him to urgent care. I was pretty convinced he had the flu. While he didn't test positive, the dr did give him some tamiflu because she said he had all the flu symptoms and she thought it was strange he didn't test positive. 

These two and John and mom stayed at Epcot then swam in the pool once they left the park. 

On our last day, we went to Animal Kingdom! Charlie still wasn't feeling great, but he said he wanted to ride a few rides....so we rode both Avatar rides (which were incredible!) and then Kilimanjaro Safaris which was so cute and fun!

And we rode Dinosaur! Charlie had been really excited about this ride!

John and Charlie left to go back to the room while the rest of us went back to Hollywood Studios to eat at Roundup Rodeo and build lightsabers. Once we finished there, we went back to the resort and John and Mellany went back to Epcot to get a dress Mellany had her eye on. 

Saturday morning it was time to head back into reality and we left for home. It was the longest drive ever and we were really wishing we had flown. We were so exhausted after five days in the parks, and all we wanted to do was sleep! But we made it home on Sunday night safe and sound, and Monday morning the kids went back to school. I think we have talked about a portion of the trip every day since we've been back and the kids are all hopeful that we will go again someday! It was definitely a vacation we will all remember forever!!! 

 

Ninja, Pinewood Derby, Baskeball, Dance

We are definitely keeping busy with our kids activities and enjoying every minute of watching them do the things they love, but a break is on the horizon and I'm pretty excited about that too! It will be so nice to be able to get some things accomplished around the house and start prepping for warmer weather!!

Johnny at one of his absolute favorite activities...ninja class! Getting good pictures is really hard because of the glass and the fact they are moving so quickly! 

Us girls spent another Saturday at a dance competition! This particular competition was regionals; the girls qualified for state in both of their dances!! These days are pretty long, but really fun! 

While the girls were at dance regionals, the boys were participating in the Pinewood Derby for Scouts. Their cars ran really well and the boys had a great time! Charlie ended up taking 2nd overall and Johnny placed 7th. It was a super fun day for them (and John too)!

A great group of girls taking selfies at Student Community at church

Winston getting some snuggles from Charlie.

Charlie had to create a robot from recyclables/extras around the house for school. This is the design he came up with.....He used a pinewood derby car that got messed up, some clothespins, pipecleaner, googly eyes and a puppy mouth and ears and made it into a robot dog. He was really proud of it and couldn't wait to get it to school!

Charlie's last basketball game was this weekend. He had a great season and a fun time with a few of his best buddies!

State Dance was also this past Sunday and while it was another long day, it was an experience to remember!! The girls performed their dances the absolute best they've ever performed them and walked away with 4th place in hip hop and 5th place in pom! To say we are proud of them is an understatement! They worked their tails off all season and it really paid off! They were on cloud 9 leaving that building! 

The boys loved watching their sisters, but didn't really care much for the rest of the performances.

Mellany sent me a series of selfies.....

...so John and I responded like this because we are cool parents like that!

Love these two so much! While we were waiting, we realized these girls have been dancing side by side since 2017.....7 YEARS! 

The team performed their pom routine first....

...then their hip hop!

And after a long day, they were given their hard earned trophies!!!

Just so extremely thankful today for my kids finding things that they love to participate in! Nothing makes this mama (and I know John too) more happy than seeing my kids happy!