WDW 2007

This past June my entire family, grandma, parents, sisters, brothers, and significant others took a family trip to Walt Disney World. Now, as a family, we have ventured to this destination many times, but never have I experienced Disney World in the muggy heat of June, 5 months pregnant, having to wear support pantyhose with a 2 year old toddler-needless to say I now view the place that self proclaims "Where Dreams Come True" in a very different light. All kidding aside it was a lot of fun.

Here is a somewhat brief synopsis of our trip:

First Stop: Cocoa Beach, FL

Matt and I thought it would be fun to take Blake to the beach, so both of us including Blake flew down to Florida a few days earlier than my parents. My two sisters, brother and sisters boyfriend flew in from Reno to meet us. The only set plans were to play at the beach and surf. Blake loved the ocean.

Just a few highlights from Cocoa Beach:

• The Beach (of course)
• The nearly perfect weather
  
• The sweet townhome we rented
• Dunkin Donuts (only Teddy and Matt can appreciate this one)
• Watching a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral
• Blake spending many minutes of his life searching for Nemo
• Blake losing his newly acquired plastic crocodile into the ocean and not crying about it (although we did make sure to reassure him that we would get another one)
• Long afternoon naps
• Apples to Apples board game and Teddy (long story and probably best told by Teddy)

Second Stop: Walt Disney World Resort

After Cocoa Beach, we packed up the minivan and headed west to Orlando to meet up with the rest of the family. Thus continued the trip that Blake still talks about even 3 months later.

There are so many good memories and laughs to even begin blogging about-so again, here are some of the highlights from the Disney World portion of our vacation:

• My mom introducing Nemo fruit snacks to Blake and my sister, Dani, introducing Natural White Cheddar Cheetos, both foods (if you can call them that) NEVER existed in Blake's diet before this trip. And, yes, you guessed it, I have now even purchased these food items post trip and fed them to Blake.
• Waiting 45 minutes for the Dumbo ride, when the sign said 20 minutes. And this ride only lasted 1 minute 15 seconds to be exact
• Experiencing the Nemo ride at least 12 times with Blake (his favorite ride if you couldn't tell)
• Mastering the distraction tactics to keep a 2 year old preoccupied while waiting in line for rides. I seriously considered writing Disney after this trip to suggest a line for parents with kids 2 and under. It seemed that every line we waited in had numerous toddlers all hot, over tired, over stimulated and sick of standing still waiting in line!
• The heat
• The Buzz Lightyear toy that my dad said he would buy for Blake, only to realize that he didn't have enough cash, therefore Matt had to buy it for Blake.
• Not going to the theme parks until late afternoon...we figured this trick out quickly. Instead of getting to the park as it opened, we would show up before it closed. In doing so we beat the crowds, avoided the heat and were able to get on just as many rides, if not more.
• The numerous trips to Super Walmart. My mom would swear we spent more time in Walmart than at Disney World.

Blake and my Dad after scoring the infamous Buzz Lightyear toy

Blake and I posing in the sharks mouth after the nemo ride

Blake enjoying a popsicle at Animal Kingdom (which we never saw any animals!)


It's only 11am, and we are already hot and tired


Teddy, Allison, Dani, and myself for one final night at Epcot

Even if all my dreams didn't come true on this trip, it was still an experience we won't forget! Thanks Mom and Dad and the rest of the Smith and extended family for all the memories and leftover Nemo snacks!