Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Favorite Pics of me and my girl!

Dinner at the Yachtsman

Fireworks over the castle

Waiting in line was not her favorite activity!

Ready to get on the ride - FINALLY!

Outside our hotel - The Beach Club

France - the home of Beauty and the Beast

We love our Belle!


Italy - before lunch

Via Napoli 

Magic Kingdom first thing in the morning!

Monday, March 30, 2015

Ellie's Favorite Foods at Disney

Chocolate and M&M covered rice crispy treat

Shirley Temple before dinner at The Yachtsman

Root Beer Float

Ellie's birthday present delivered to the door ..
A Mickey bag filled with treats!

She loves her Pecan Rolls for breakfast!

That turkey leg (Animal Kingdom) is nearly as big as she is!

Mickey Sugar Cookie at The Writer's Stop in Hollywood Studios

Via Napoli (EPCOT) Mozzarella Nuggets .. YUM!

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Jude's Top Vacation Moments

So happy to be back at Via Napoli!

Pizza and Sangria - for lunch on vacation - doesn't get any better!

This gorgeous cardinal showed up at our window during lunch.
It was absolutely by Dad .... based on a coin thrown in a fountain about 15 minutes before lunch!

Now THAT'S a pizza!  And a happy, hungry girl!


Truth be told I asked them each for the top 5 .. they each gave me 6 while my list grew to 11!  Then I decided there really were no rules since it was OUR vacation!

Jude's Top Vacation Moments

1)  Via Napoli - Pizza and sangria for lunch in Italy at EPCOT (we've looked forward to going back for 4 1/2 years - and it didn't disappoint, not one little bit!)

2)  Changing of the Lifeguards - each day at 4pm the lifeguards changed shifts.  The new ones stood in a line and did this really upbeat dance while the kids in the kids club across the pool mimicked all their moves.  It was so fun to watch.

3)  Cinderella movie preview - 15 minutes of a cool movie theatre watching the extended trailer of the updated version of Cinderella to be released in the theatre the next day!

4)  Soarin' - the ride at EPCOT that felt like hand gliding over the entire California coast

5)  Flower and Garden Festival - so many gorgeous displays of flowers, topiaries and gardens throughout EPCOT

6)  Fireworks - truly magical!

7)  Breakfast in France - a best kept secret - delicious coffee with croissants!

8)  California Grill - date night dinner with Bill at the top of the Contemporary Hotel.  We saw an amazing sunset, enjoyed a cocktail and a delicious and relaxing dinner!

9)  Ellie singing a solo of "Let It Go" from the movie Frozen at the pool one afternoon to the entire place!  She's so brave!

10)  Disney's exclusive Pandora charm - the Castle!

11)  Writer's Spot at Hollywood Studio - another best kept secret for an afternoon break - coffee, sweets, books and quiet!

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Bill's Top Vacation Moments

and the continued tradition of remembering vacation moments ..

Bill's List:

1)  Fishing with Ellie
2)  Fireworks over the castle
3)  California Grill
4)  Toy Story Ride at Hollywood Studios
5)  the pool!
6)  First sight of the Castle this trip - its magical even though we've seen it before!

Bill's first catch of the day!

Bill and Ellie in front of the castle - awaiting the fireworks!

Date Night at California Grill!

Even waiting in line for the Toy Story ride is an adventure!

This is just 1/8 of what our pool looked like

The castle from the OTHER side!

Friday, March 27, 2015

Ellie's Top Vacation Moments

On our first day home we sat around the kitchen table as I explained the beauty of vacations ... the enjoyment comes in three parts.  First comes the anticipation of the trip - the planning, the scheming and the excitement of what's to come.  Second comes the actual trip - all of it - travel, seeing new things, laughing, relaxing and of course, the food!  Third is the one that lasts the longest - enjoying the memories.  I asked everyone to think of their top vacation moments so that we'd have this list to look back on when the memories begin to fade.

This is Ellie's list:
1)  the pool parties each afternoon
2)  her very first fishing trip
3)  Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom
4)  Fireworks over the Castle
5)  Ariel at her Grotto
6)  Food tasting at EPCOT during Flower and Garden Festival

She did hula-hoop, ring toss, dancing and so much more!

So happy to have caught her first fish!

Fireworks over the castle - truly like no other experience!

Ariel and Ellie!

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Day Seven

Disney Magic in EPCOT

Mexican Restaurant for dinner on the last night in EPCOTs World Showcase

And it all started with a mouse ....

A view of our hotel from the boat ferry that took us to and from EPCOT

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Day Six

Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom for lunch

Ellie and Luminare outside Be Our Guest

Oh the joy of Magic Kingdom

Sprinkling Fairy Dust wherever we go ...

Inside the castle at Be Our Guest

The welcome song at Be Our Guest before the first seating of lunch

From inside the castle it looks snowy outside - just like Beauty and the Beast

The Dining room at the Castle

Monday, March 23, 2015

Day Five

Hollywood Studios brings out the actor/actress in us all!


Great spot for coffee in Hollywood Studios called The Writer's Spot for coffee and treats!


We call this a 'selfie' waiting for a bus to take us somewhere fun