A Warm Break

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Time for a Break from the Snow.
On Jan 29 we headed to Florida for a 2 week winter vacation. We were meeting up with Karen's family and mom and dad and had rented a house, just like we have done twice before in San Diego. This time it was time to explore DisneyWorld. We had a 10 day park hopper pass with an additional 10 days availalble for water parks, Disney Quest video arcade and golf. What a jam packed holiday it was. This blog covers some highlights from our first few days, up to Feb 3.

First day to visit the parks the boys picked Epcot. They wanted to see the giant dome. M absolutely loved the speed of the Test Track ride. His first roller coaster type ride. We had a fun day and left early to head for dinner. We ended the day at T-Rex cafe in Downtown Disney for a birthday celebration of sorts for M and cousin A since we wouldn't be together this year for either of their birthdays. A very loud, overwhelming restaurant, but the decor was very cool. The boys loved it and the food was actually very good. They all made stuffie dinosaurs at the Build-a-Dino shop in the restaurant. These became favorite playtoys for the rest of the trip.

Second day was Magic Kingdom for some real traditional Disney. P and I did Space Mountain as it was one of his favorites from California. M was big enough this time for Thunder Mountain so we all got to do that. He loved his first big boy roller coaster. He certainly is a boy of speed. We were lucky today as they had a special parade for the Chilean Miners and their rescuers. They had brought them all to Disneyworld for a special visit and had a parade in their honor. The boys thought that was very neat.

The weather had been so nice that on Feb 1 we headed to Typhoon Lagoon water park. Wow! That was a great beach day! The family tube ride was a lot of fun. We went to do the swimming with sharks as a family but the boys got scared of the deep cold water right at the last moment. Mom and dad took them and Claude and I did get to do the swim. It was kind of like swimming on the barrier reef with all the fishes, small sharks and rays below you. They gave such warnings about how cold the water was but it was warmer than the last hotel pool we were in in Quebec! There was a lazy river running around the whole park that you could grab a tube and float along to get to different areas. that was fun. M loved the kids splash park area while P went tubing with Claude.

Feb 2 was mom's birthday so we decided Animal Kingdom would be a more relaxing place to go. I just loved the feel of the asian and african areas. This park is definitely more laid back than the other ones. The Everest roller coaster was a very intense ride. Claude kept M while the rest of us went on it. P hadn't been sure if he would go as he was scared of the Yeti, but he decided to go with Bumpa since the two of them had braved the Matterhorn ride with the Abomidible snowman at Disneyland together (and neither one liked it much). This time P thought it was scary but pretty neat. You actually go backwards for part of this coaster. We finished off the day with the safari tour. It really felt like you were in a real safari. That night we returned to Epcot to have a birthday dinner at the Moroccan restaurant for mom and watch the evening fireworks show. The boys were quite in awe of the fireworks, lights and fire show.

Finally it was on to Hollywoood Studios (formally MGM Studios for those of you that visited some time ago) on Feb 3. They boys favorite ride was Toy Story 3, which you have to be at very early in the morning to get a fast pass for. By 9:30 our fast pass was already for 3:30 in the afternoon. They had a great time in the Honey I shrunk the kids playground area. At the end of our day there (we didn't stay late), we watched the Pixar Toy Parade. M was so excited when Buzz showed up on the Toy Story float. We had now been to each main park at least once. Time to start again!

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Photos

Dino in Ice at T-Rex cafe
this part of the restaurant was done like an ice cave with back lit skeletons in the walls

T-Rex cafe bar
The bar area was all done like the sea with a giant octopus over the bar and a huge aquarium of live fishes.

The gang at Magic Kingdom
M and cousin E were both very grumpy this morning.

Country Bear Jamboree
Karen, mom, dad and I all remembered this show from Disneyland back in 1976. It had been Karen's favorite for along time afterwards, so it was fun and nostalgic to watch it again here.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
M's first big boy roller coaster and a favorite of all of ours.

Chilean Miners parade at Magic Kingdom
It was a special parade. They came by before the parade to hand out Chilean flags to the audience. The boys thought this was very neat. There were several Chilean families close to us on the parade and the miners really lit up when they saw the familiar faces.

Typhoon Lagoon
Playing in the giant waves of the wave pool. P loved the waves.

Typhoon Lagoon 3
View of the lazy river that you could float around the perimeter of the park in a tube in. A nice way to relax on a hot day.

Everest ride at Wild Animal Kingdom
a very wild roller coaster! I love how this photo looks almost surreal with the hazy background that day.

Siberian Tiger at Animal Kingdom
There are now more Siberian tigers in captivity than in the wild. A disturbing reality. there was a very good section in the park that talked alot about endangered animals

Animal Kingdom parade
the colorful african animals and costumes in the parade were spectacular.

Animal Kingdom Parade 2
a cool african water buffalo (I think).

Epcot dome at night
Dad took this great picture after our Moroccan dinner.

Epcot Fireworks
We watched the fireworks from behind the Japanese gate. the view of the fireworks exploding through them was amazing. Dad took this picture.

Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground
A fun part of Hollywood Studios. The Playdoh actually sprayed out "playdoh smell".

Giant Tonka Truck
Located just outside the "Shrunk the kids" playground. There is a giant scrabble game piece in the dump truck.

Pixar Toy Parade - Hollywood Studios
M was tired at the end of the day, but when Buzz came by on the Toy Story float he got super excited.