The Hayhursts

Back from Walt Disney World. Debbie, Dondi, Jordan, Matt and I spent four fun-filled days at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and had a blast.

Thursday, March 4
Jordan and Matt made their first-ever trip on-board an airplane. We left Dallas on Thursday morning, sitting in the very back row of an ancient American Airlines MD-80 bound for Orlando. It was noisy and bouncy (and the engines obscured any view out of our windows), but otherwise uneventful. Matt fell asleep in flight, and Jordan happily colored, watched Bob the Builder episodes on my iPhone and otherwise enjoyed looking around the airplane.

Upon landing in Orlando, we were the last people off the plane, so the captain offered to let Jordan and Matt see the cockpit up close and personal.

Matt plays in the play area of Terminal C at Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Airport.

Matt sits in the copilot's seat of our MD-80 as we sat at the gate at Orlando.

Jordan sits in the pilot's seat of our MD-80 at the gate at Orlando.

Matt, on the very back row of an American Airlines MD-80. The engines were directly out our windows on this flight. :-(

We picked up our rental car (a Chrysler Town & Country minivan) from the Alamo outlet at the airport and headed to our condo. As we headed down the Central Florida Greenway (which runs from the south end of the Orlando airport to the condo in Kissimmee), Jordan announced that he had to go to the bathroom: "Bad." So, we decided to pull off at the first exit and found a Ruby Tuesday restaurant. Jordan used the facilities, and we all had a great lunch.

We finally arrived at the Fantasy World Resort condos and checked in. We had a two-bedroom, two-bath condo, with a private screened-in porch.

While Debbie and Dondi settled things into the condo, I went to get some groceries. First stop: Publix, which I had heard was a popular supermarket in Florida. I don't know why. Orange juice was $1 more expensive than at home. Grapes were $3.49/pound. I walked out and went down the street to the Walmart Supercenter and bought groceries at prices much closer to what I was used to.

That evening, we headed over to Downtown Disney to have dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. As we walked from the van to the restaurant, we passed many (and we do MANY) gift shops. Jordan and Matt had to check out some of the life-size figurines.

With Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.

With Buzz Lightyear.

Friday, March 5

We had breakfast scheduled with Tigger and Pooh on our first day. So, we had to arrive early. Pulling into the parking lot at Magic Kingdom, though was similar to that scene in National Lampoon's Vacation when the Griswolds arrive at Wally World (remember the empty parking lot?). The parking lot was empty. We found a cast member walking across the parking lot and asked him where we should park. He pointed to the very first parking space.

Wow.

From the ticket booths at Magic Kingdom, you walk out to either take a steamboat to the Magic Kingdom proper, or you take a monorail. That early in the morning, the monorail was all that was running. We made our way there, but we could see "the castle" (as Jordan has referred to it since he was 2). I asked him if we came to see the castle. He said, "Yes!" enthusiastically. I pointed to it in the distance, and said "There it is, now we can go home." He turned around absolutely dejected. I think Debbie was going to hit me. :-)

We boarded the "local" monorail, that goes through the hotels (the nonstop one wasn't running yet). We got to see the Polynesian and Grand Floridian resorts. (Very nice). We arrived at the entrance to Magic Kingdom, then headed to breakfast before the park opened. Nice.

Matt loved breakfast, and would take off chasing Pooh and Tigger. Once we put him in a highchair, his gaze focused on the characters the whole time.

That morning, we rode the Dumbo ride, the Carousel, a Winnie the Pooh story ride, played in the Pooh Thoughtful Spot play area, rode the train, It's a Small World and toured Mickey Mouse's house. We left for a couple of hours to rest, then came back to see the fireworks.

We got back in time to see the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor (a comedy club with interactive video). You know how comedy clubs choose one poor sap who has done nothing wrong but pay his entrance fee to pick on? Yep. That was me. All night long. :-) Matt loved it. Jordan did, too.

Jordan and Matt pose in front of "The Castle" (Jordan's term). You can't overstate how mesmerized they were with seeing it.

Tigger caught himself a Matt and a Jordan.

Saturday, March 6

Saturday morning was Epcot. We arrived at rented Jordan a stroller (he was hurting from walking all over Magic Kingdom the day before. First we rode the Spaceship Earth ride. Not as impressive as it was in my memory from the past.

Next, we took on the Seas with Nemo & Friends ride. Matt and Jordan both enjoyed it immensely. We then traveled to Turtle Talk with Crush, an interactive video exhibit. "Crush" (the surfer-dude voiced turtle from the Finding Nemo movie) takes questions from an audience of small kids. Jordan was one of them. (Jordan said his name was Jor-DAN (emphasis on the "dan" part of his name) and Crush repeated it back identically). Jordan asked how fast little sea turtles swim. Can't remember the answer, but Crush answered it and told him good question.

After lunch, we visited Innovations West, which had a fire safety house (Jordan loved practicing jumping out the window) and then we had the opportunity to meet, greet and photo Mickey, Minnie and Goofy. Sadly, Matt slept through the whole thing, but Jordan enjoyed it.

Afterward, we walked through the World Showcase, stopping and visiting several of the "countries". Best part: Jordan had fallen asleep in his stroller. Because it was so bitterly cold that night (seriously - 30s, with a windchill in Central Florida!), we stopped into a toy shop in "the U.K." Pooh and Tigger just happened to be doing a character photo session there. Jordan woke up just in time to see them and responded with, "Oh, my, Pooh!"

As we left, Matt cried out "My Pooh Bear!" It was too cute and too fun.

Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, too with Matt and Jordan at a toy shoppe in "the United Kingdom" in EPCOT.

A very shy Jordan meets Mickey and Minnie at EPCOT.

Sunday, March 7

Hollywood Studios was our destination Sunday. This park was a blast. First, Jordan got to meet Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. He was wearing a great little Buzz Lightyear outfit Debbie had found at Walmart back in Texas. "Woody" did the shame, shame thing to me as Jordan showed up to get his photo taken. Jordan loved it.

We had lunch at the Hollywood & Vine diner and got to meet characters from the Little Einsteins and from JoJo's Circus from the Disney Channel. Matt had never seen JoJo's Circus, so wasn't sure what to make of the lion (Goliath), but he LOVED the dancing segments. (In fact, after the first dancing time, Matt just followed the characters to the back, like "hey, let's dance here!")

Jordan, Dondi and I rode the "Star Tours" ride, which was a "Star Wars"-themed ride. It was cute, but I think Jordan was a bit overwhelmed. The highlight for all of us was the Toy Story Mania ride. Jordan and Matt (and Dondi, Debbie and Roy) all loved it. If you go though - get the fast past first thing in the morning. We got fast pass as soon as we arrived and had to wait five hours until our appointment to ride (we were able to do other things during those five hours). When we rode it near park closing, it was a 60-minute wait. (The wait exceeded 100 minutes during the day).

We also got to watch the Playhouse Disney live show, which the kids both enjoyed. I would have enjoyed chairs inside (you sit on the floor), but alas, I don't think I'm the target audience. :-)

Our final stops were the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame and the Muppets 3-D movie.

Monday, March 8

Our last day we decided to return to the Magic Kingdom to finish up some things we wanted to do. We had breakfast at 1900 Fare (inside the Grand Floridian) and got to meet Winnie and Tigger again, as well as Mary Poppins, Alice (in Wonderland) and the Mad Hatter. Lots of fun.

We rode the Buzz Lightyear Spin (which Jordan did not enjoy), the race cars, the train (several times), watched the afternoon parade and got to enjoy some really good ice cream.

This was a short day (we all hurt from walking for three days). Debbie took the day to rest, and so when we got home, she watched the kids so Dondi and I could shop at Downtown Disney and go out to a quiet dinner by ourselves. (Yay! Pizzeria Uno!)

Matt, Alice (in Wonderland), Jordan and Mary Poppins at breakfast in the Grand Floridian

Tuesday, March 9

This was our day to head home. We packed up and got out of our condo, then headed back to Downtown Disney to play at the Lego Store and eat lunch at McDonald's. Then, it was to the airport for the ride home. (I've put that part of the trip out of my mind, so that in the future, I'll want to fly again). :)

We absolutely had a blast and can't wait to go again in a couple of years!

We had a fun, hectic Thanksgiving. We started Thursday off with lunch with Don's family in Arlington, moved to dinner with my parents, then hit the road first thing Friday morning to have lunch at Dondi's Grandma Cross' farm near Perkins, Oklahoma. We had planned to stay until Sunday morning, but it worked out best to come home Saturday, instead. Saturday's return trip involved eating at Babe's Chicken Dinner in Sanger, Texas, so all was not lost. :-)

Here are some pictures from the weekend. (Some were taken with our Olympus, some with my iPhone, so the quality is a little different from photo to photo).