Trip to Disney World (2.8 years and 14 months)

Last week we took the kids the Walt Disney World for the first time.  When I first mention to Brian about taking the kids to Disney he thought I completely lost my mind since they are still so young.  However kids under 3 are free so Brian then realized maybe this isn't such a bad idea.  I started planning this trip back in the spring.  Going into it we didn't have any expectations.  We were doing this trip to learn some things for the future.  We knew we would get some great memories while doing this.

Brian made a video that highlights various clips from our trip.  Here's a link if you want to check it out:

We flew out of Akron Canton on Monday morning.  This was Sydney's first airplane ride.  I was really nervous on how she would do but she did good all in all.  We just had to continuously entertain her.  Austin did fantastic.  He had his Kindle with Mickey Mouse headphones we got for the trip and played on it most of the trip.  I also had activities like a Magna Doodle and coloring that they did too. Sydney also enjoyed playing with the plastic cups with ice.  The airplane ride was less than 2.5 hours so it was tolerable.

We arrived in Orlando and the Disney Bus took us to our hotel.  Sydney fell asleep which was nice.  It was about a 40 minute bus ride to the Art of Animation.  We checked into our hotel and walked around.  The resorts are huge.  It was a 7-8 minute walk from the hotel lobby to our room and we did not have the furthest room.  The kids played on the playground.  We ate dinner and then went to bed.  We were tired from a long day of traveling.

On Tuesday we went to the Magic Kingdom.  I had some things planned out but also really wanted to do whatever the kids felt like doing.  Sydney woke up at 5 am which that woke up Austin and neither would go back to bed no matter how hard we tried.  Once arriving to the Magic Kingdom, Brian took some pictures of the kids by the castle.  Austin and Sydney hugged each other which was a cute picture.  Then we walked around.  Sydney fell asleep in the stroller since she woke up so early.  We decided to take Austin on some rides.

First he rode Dumbo.  Brian took him first and he loved it.  Then I took him.  It was fun.  Then we saw a little roller coaster next to Dumbo.  We thought we would give it a try.  Brian took him first.  I am not a huge fan of roller coasters and I knew that Brian would make it fun.  It was best that Brian took him.  Austin loved it!  Austin probably rode that ride 6 times between the two days we were there.  Brian took some cool pictures of it too!

Once Sydney woke up we went and saw Goofy and Donald Duck.  Then we went and saw Mickey Mouse.  This was the first time Austin got to see Mickey.  He was shy.  I think he still really liked seeing him though.  We had lunch at the park and then went back to our hotel for nap. We realized that it's easier for everyone if the kids take a nap in the stroller instead of nap in the small hotel room.  Neither of them wanted to sleep even though they were exhausted.

After they got up from nap we went back to the Magic Kingdom.  We spent a lot of time in tomorrowland.  Austin drove a car.  We went on a space ship ride, the people mover, and buzz light ride.  It was a really fun evening.  We had dinner and then stayed until the start of fireworks.  We wanted to see how far back you could see the fireworks.  Austin was getting tried and was asking to go back to the hotel so we left basically as soon as they started.

On Wednesday we were originally planned to go to Hollywood Studios but decided to do Animal Kingdom because we thought it would be a shorter day.  It was a crazy day. Austin locked the safe in the room and we did not know what code he entered (nor what he put in it, he just told us he was "cooking" something). Brian forgot his wrist band but luckily the card in his wallet worked to enter the park.  It wasn't a good start to the day.  Plus everyone was up at 5 am again!  Once arriving to Animal Kingdom we rushed over to the safari ride.  The wait wasn't long so we did that.  We got to see some animals and the kids seemed to enjoy it.

After that we took a train to the petting zoo part.  Austin wanted to ride a train so it worked out.  At the petting zoo, Sydney enjoyed petting the animals.  Austin was more interested in using the brush to brush the bench and not the animals.  There was a character we took our picture with too.

We had to take the train back and then both kids fell asleep in the stroller.  Brian and I walked around the park.  We stopped for lunch and it was great not to have to rush to eat.  We enjoyed our time together while the kids napped in the stroller.   Once they woke up, we took them to a play area.  Then they rode a dinosaur ride similar to Dumbo.  There was a roller coaster then too that Austin really wanted to ride but he was too short.  That made Austin sad.  We wanted to stay for the parade but there wasn't much to do so we decided to go back to the hotel and go swimming.  They kids really liked the fountain and swimming pool at the hotel.

On Thursday we went back to the Magic Kingdom. It was extra magic hours so we got in an hour before the park opened since we stayed at a Disney Hotel.  It was nice not having a ton of people around.  We went back to the ride section and Austin rode rides while Sydney took a nap in the stroller.  Again we were up at 5 am so by 9 am she was pretty tired.  Then it was time for Chef Mickeys.  I made reservations for this months ago. I knew this way Austin would get to see Mickey Mouse.  We went for late breakfast because it was cheaper.

It was a buffet. We got our food and then the characters started coming over.  It was really cool.  We got some cute pictures of them with the characters.  Austin was shy around some of them but Sydney loved them.  It was cute.  Afterwards we went back to our hotel and took them swimming.

After nap time, we again went back to the Magic Kingdom.  We went to Adventureland since we had not been there before.  We rode on the Aladdin ride and went up in the Swiss Family Robinson House.  We walked around the park and ate dinner.  After dinner we wanted to ride a jungle cruise boat but it was closed.  So we found more rides like the tea cups, Winnie the Pooh, and the carousal.  Then it was almost 9 pm and we had to get back to our hotel.  We really enjoyed our days at the Magic Kingdom.

The Art of Animation was having bus issues that night.  We had to wait a very long time in line for a bus.  It was annoying but the kids did really well.  Once on the bus, Sydney had to scream herself to sleep but it was understandable for what she had to wait for.  We were glad when we finally made it back.

On Friday, we went to Hollywood Studios.  We first went and saw the Disney Junior Live show.  Austin did not like it at first but as the show went on he did.  Then we went and saw Mickey Mouse again.   We learned that we have to keep a hold of Austin's hands or they will be in his mouth for all pictures.  That was the last time he would see Mickey on this trip. I thought it was impressive the number of times we saw Mickey Mouse.   Then we went on a behind the scene tour of a movie set (the Backlot tour).  Because half of the tour was a ride the kids liked it.  They did not do as well just sitting an watching sometime.  There were explosives and they did not mind it.  It was kind of cool.  Then we ate some lunch.

After lunch the kids took a nap in the stroller again.  We did some shopping.  We got them some T-shirts.  They never asked for anything while there except Mickey Mouse balloons on the street.  Every time we would pass them, Sydney would scream.  She just likes balloons.  We knew we couldn't take it home so they never got a balloon.  We saw a girl at the airport give her balloon away to someone who just arrived going to Disney World which we thought was an excellent idea.  Maybe next time.

After nap, we tried to see the Disney Jr Live Show again but Austin freaked out so we left.  There was something in the beginning of the show he did not like.  We got ice cream instead.  They loved it!  Then the kids found a fountain to drop pennies in.  Austin showed Sydney how to do it.  They had fun doing that.

We decided to go back to our hotel and let the kids swim if they wanted.  Of course they did.  Brian took both of them so I could pack a little bit. Then I met them there.  It was a little chilly but they loved the water.  Afterwards we had dinner, went for a walk around our hotel, and went to bed.

We had a great time in Disney.  There is something magical about that place.  Some moments were stressful but all and all the kids did fantastic.  We have some great memories.  Brian took some amazing pictures and he is working on a video (see link up top).  Austin still love the cruise ship video so I'm sure he will love this one too.

The trip home was uneventful.  Austin did great on the plane with his Kindle and headphones.  Sydney did well too.  She would play with ice and toys.  When she would get upset a sucker would cure that.  We are lucky we have two great travelers!

We learned a lot about Disney on this trip. We will probably not pay for a dining plan again.  We will go when they offer a free one.  We will never go in the summer.  It would be too hot and crowded.  It is nice to stay on Disney's property and not have to rent a car.  With the meal plans, I don't need to pack so much food.  We are not big fans of the sit down dinning because it seems to take away time you could be spending in the parks.  The Magic Kingdom is fantastic for little kids.  The other parks, not so much.  The next question is, when will we go back?

Happy Halloween

October is always a fun month.  We loved October before we had kids because of the beautiful weather and trees changing colors.  Now with kids it is probably one of my favorite months because there is so much to do.

On one of the warm days after work, we ran to the park and took some pictures of the kids before it got dark.  They had fun running around a we chased them to stay still for pictures.  Brian got a few good ones.

On Saturday night we went to my parents for trick or treating in their community.  Before trick or treating Sydney had a fever so we took her to the doctor.  They diagnosed her with pneumonia.  She started an antibiotic.  She hates medicine.  The only way to give it to her easily is with mommy milk.  Austin on the other hand takes his medicine easily.  I wish Sydney would learn that from Austin.  We ate dinner with my parents and then got the kids ready to trick or treat.

My mom went out with us.  The kids did really well.  Austin would say trick or treat and thank you.  It was so cute! Austin was Mickey Mouse and his costume was so cute.  Sydney was a cat that night.  She was cute too!  After we went down the street we came back and my mom took Sydney inside and we went back out with Austin.  We had a lot of fun.

Then on Sunday, Macedonia had a kids Halloween party at the fire station.  We went with Austin's friend Kaitlyn.  We got to ride on a fire truck.  That was really cool.  They also went up on the fire truck ladder.  I was happy to stay on the ground and take pictures.  They had cookies and cider there.  Austin had 3 cookies!  They had a costume contest too.  It was a great day.


On Wednesday night it was the Cavs home opener.  Before kids we had season tickets and would go to almost every game.  We still like to go to the opener and my parents were nice enough to watch the kids so we could go.  The game was close and it was a lot of fun.  It was a nice night out.

Thursday was Halloween.  The kids' school has an annual Halloween party.  I took the day off so I could go.  Brian also decided to take the day off too.  We all went to Austin's classroom.  Since Sydney is still in the baby room they really don't have a party.  In the bigger kid room, Sydney fit right in.  She sat at the table, colored, and played with stickers like the other kids.  She even enjoyed the treats.  The kids walked around the school outside too in their costumes.  We had a good time.

After school we went trick or treating at our house.  It was raining so that was a bummer.  But it was warm (around 60 degrees).  Brian was going to bring both kids, but with the rain it was too difficult.  So Sydney went to three houses and then came back home with me.  We wasn't too thrilled about the rain anyway.  Our neighbor Sherry came over and we handed out candy.  We had about 15 kids which is pretty good for us.  I enjoyed staying home with Sydney and hanging out with Sherry.

Austin and Brian had so much fun trick or treating.  They went with Bill and the kids across the street.  They are 6-10 years older than Austin but he still kept up with them.  Brian carried him between houses and then Austin would run up the driveway on his own to go to the door.  He would always remember to say thank you.  The neighbor kids are so good with him.  They would help him down the stairs as needed.  After each house, Austin would run back up to Brian to pick him up.  Each time Austin would say, "Time for our Daddy Mission."  Apparently Austin saw it as Daddy's mission to transport him.  It was so cute.  They trick or treated for the entire 2 hours in the rain!  But they all had fun!

Sydney is saying more words.  She can say na-na for night night.  She also loves to say "this".  She will point to something and say "this".  She is starting to be more picky with food.  She use to eat anything.  Now she only eats what she likes which are things like hot dogs, macoroni and cheese, and fruit.  She is not a big fan of vegetables anymore.  She also says "all done" when she is finished with her meal.  That is helpful.

This weekend we started swim class again.  We are so getting ready for Disney World.  There is so much to do but I am super excited!