Santa brought us a great big surprise this year–a trip to Disney World! Needless to say, the girls were quite excited, and their parents were equally as much so. On New Year’s Eve we set out on a nine hour drive to Orlando. The trip went remarkably well, as both girls entertained themselves and each other.
About three hours into the trip, we stopped in Dothan, where I grew up, and had lunch with a high school friend and her two daughters. (Hi Tamara, Lydia, and Evelyn!) Hunt’s Seafood was just as good as I remembered, and the company was even better than the food. It was a fun break before getting back on the road to finish the remainder of our driving.
We got to Orlando just in time to spend New Year’s Eve with another high school friend and her two boys. (Hi Joy, Stig, Taylor, and Toby!) Joy has the gift of hospitality like none other, so she had a fabulous spread of appetizers, delicious chocolate fondue, and enough fireworks to light up Orlando. I was so thankful to be able to spend a little time with both of my friends and let our families get better acquainted. What a treasure to have twenty-five-year friends!
We spent three days in the parks, two at Magic Kingdom and one park hopping to Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend trying to do three parks in one day, but we really wanted to hit Hollywood Studios at the end of the day to see the Osborne Family Christmas Lights. If you are ever at Disney in December, don’t miss it. There are over 5,000,000 lights, and we got some great family photos there. It’s very magical.
Of course, my girls’ favorite part of the trip was meeting the characters, but the rides were also a big hit. My girls are 11 and 5, so they are just beginning to ride some of the bigger rides. I was particularly surprised when they both rode and LOVED Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Who knew I had two little daredevils on my hands?
I’m happy to report that the teacups are just as fast and fun as ever!
One thing that has definitely improved since the last time I was at Disney is the food. We ate breakfast at the hotel and packed our lunches most days, but the snacks we purchased during our time at Disney were some of the best food we’ve ever eaten on a vacation. One particular favorite was Boardwalk Bakery at the Boardwalk.
We also enjoyed one of the best meals we’ve ever eaten at Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant at Downtown Disney. Jonathan had the bacon wrapped meatloaf topped with a port wine sauce, and served on a bed of mashed potatoes. I chose the pumpkin ravioli, filled with butternut squash and mascarpone cheese, topped with browned butter, candied pecans, arugula, and shaved fresh parmesan. Even the girls’ kids’ meals were fantastic. It’s definitely a must-do next time we go to Disney, as is our friend Joy’s husband’s restaurant The Flying Fish. We didn’t get to try it this trip, but it is definitely on our list for next time.
I can’t tell you what a blessing it was for our family ‘o four to hang out together for five days in the happiest place on earth. We stay so busy with work, homeschooling, the kids’ activities, and church that we sometimes seem like ships passing in the night. This trip was a great reminder that we need to infuse a little more fun into our regular schedule. I mean, I really do like these people I get to hang out with everyday.
Have you been do Disney lately? What was your favorite part?
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