Disney World is a 14 hour drive and we decided to stop a little over halfway to enjoy a day at the beach. The girls love staying in a motel! One of our fun traditions is to jump on the bed when we get there. My favorite moment was to see the girls play with Daddy.
That evening we did a famiily movie on the ipad and enjoyed some popcorn. Got to love Netflix!
The weather was 60 degrees and so I thought it would be too cold to swim. I had everyone wear long sleeves and pants without bring their swimming suits and how I regretted that. It was so warm that we played/swam in the ocean in our clothes.
I felt so much joy and peace being with our family at the beach. It was so much fun to see the kids play and enjoy the whole afternoon at the beach.
When we pulled up to the beach, the kids said, "Look, there is snow at the beach!" The sand was so white it looked like snow. It was absolutely beautiful.
This girls is such a free spirit. We get on the beach and realize it is actually really warm so Brinley asks if she can take off her clothes and we let her (there were very few people) and then she starts taking off her underware. She was disappointed that this wasn't a nude beach. ha ha. She was in her own world running free, playing with the birds, pretending she was Ariel, and enjoying the freedom. She reminds me everyday the joy that comes from living in the moment, being carefree, and enjoying life.
Desi loves the sand. She learned quickly that you don't put it in your mouth.
There is something so special about staying in a hotel! We stayed at Art of Animation in the Lion King family suite! We had a blast in the room it was so fun to see it all decorated in the Lion King theme. These girls were so excited about this bed they slept in. It is a murphy bed which can switch into a table where we would ate for some of our meals. Look at the leaf chairs...it was so creative.
Disney Spring
?????? (I need to find pictures)
So this is our whole family's first experience at Disney World. There are four different parks. We did one day at each park and then we had to do Magic Kingdom 2 days.
Ruth Ann got to the hotel right when we were leaving to go to the park. She was so sweet to take an overnight flight. She took a nap in the morning and joined us later in the afternoon at the park. We were so excited to see her and have her join us on this fun family memory!
Day 1: Animal Kingdom
This was a park that I would call a glorified zoo. We had a lot of fun! The girls were so excited to meet Mickey and Minnie. I just loved watching the girls look at the characters with amazement and awestruck. It was adorable. These girls would hug these characters with sincere love. It was so fun to watch them.
It took Des a couple of times to warm up to the idea of meeting the characters.
After the picture these girls didn't want to leave. I am sure they could have hung out with Mickey and Minnie all morning.
The Safari Ride was so fun! We went on our own excursion in the wild. We got close and personal with all sorts of animals: elephants, lions, bears, and more. The girls had a blast!
We were happy that Ruth Ann could join us to watch some of the shows. We went to the Lion King Show which had entertaining singing and dancing.
Pocahontas
I was so amazed to see how kind and friendly she was to our family. We didn't feel rushed and she really enjoyed talking to the girls.
I love this picture for a couple of reasons... Des just has the cutest smile talking to Pocahontas and
then look at Brinley's face of admiration. Too precious.
This is the Tree of Life in the Lion King movie.
We rode on a dinosaur ride and the girls loved to be in control of going up and down
There was a huge play area for the kids that was shaded. The girls had fun exploring. It was a workout for Derek and I to keep track of all the girls, but it was fun to see them enjoy the adventure of exploring.
So "Tinkerbell" came to our hotel during the night and gave the girls each a ward and they had to come up with a fairy name and family chant...well Ashlyn says, "Mom you did this." I tried to play it off, but the fact is I am a horrible liar and I'm denying the fact that Ashlyn is growing up too fast.
Day 2: Magic Kingdom
This is the day that I have been so excited about! I couldn't wait for my girls to experience the magic of Disney coming to Magic Kingdom. For the longest time Ashlyn has been asking if Princesses are real. I have been telling her that they live at Disney World.
Cinderella's Castle
I loved watching the Princesses play so well their character.
They are so sweet and friendly to the girls. Watching the girls meet the characters was one of my favorite parts. The girls were so speechless, MEZMORIZED by them.
Ariel's Castle and Grotto
Elena
Tiana
Rapenzel
One of the favorite rides (for the girls) was Dumbo. It had a cool wait line where you would check in and they had a HUGE playground that looked like a circus inside an air conditioned building. When you checked into the playground they give you a device like you get at a restaurant that will beep and light up when it is your turn. It was a neat way for the kids to be entertained while waiting for their turn.
It was so awesome to have the two oldest tall enough to ride the roller coaster rides. One of the family favorites was the Seven Dwarfs ride.
I love everyone's faces!
Everything was so perfect about this trip: weather, limited crowd, and the girls behavior. They were so so good and they couldn't have been any better. We were at the park at opening and we stayed late in the evening without complaints and whining. I think the thing that was our saving grace wAS renting 2 double strollers.
I love this sweet girl!
Another ride that we rode on was Splash Mtn. These girls were so brave. We rode on it 3 times! Brinley would get scared and cry when we were done (each time we rode), but wanted to go on it again and again.
This is the grounds of the resort.
This was the swimming area which was had a Nemo theme. It was so fun and creative. One of my favorite parts is that you could hear Disney music when you were underwater.
Claire kept drinking the water . It was hilarious!
Day 3: Hollywood Studios
Buzz Lightyear Ride
I love how concentrated Ruth Ann is trying to get the target. ha ha.
Good thing that Derek doesn't have this concentrated look while he is working on patients.
While Daddy, Brinley, Ashlyn, and Nana went on Star Trek; Claire, Desi, and I went on our own quest walking around the park and visited some of the characters. It melted my heart seeing the sweetness and special love that Claire got having individual time with these characters. My favorite was after the greeting Claire wouldn't look away from the characters, waving so enthusiastically, with the biggest smile from her face, saying in her sweet little voice yelling, "Bye".
Moana
We loved telling her that we listen to her songs all the time at home!
Sofia- She is the #1 show choice in the Williams' home.
Pluto
When Pluto signed Ashlyn's book, he had to put it on his nose. It was pretty funny.
I absolutely love these pictures because this is how the girls would come up to the characters...it shows a lot about their personalities.
Doc. McStuffins
Claire meeting Goofy
One of the rides (I can't remember which one)
The Disney Jr. Show: Sofia, Doc. McStuffin, and Jake.
It was a fun day...we watched a lot of shows like Ariel and my favorite was Belle.
Ashlyn was so brave and she rode the Tower of Terror with Derek and I! She said that she liked it, but never wants to do it again. Ha ha.
I love our faces! Derek's is totally for real! He was screaminng and I'm laughing at his screaming. Ashlyn face describes her experience.
Day 4: Epcot
Elsa and Anna
Anna pointed out to the girls that their hair was like hers and they were so excited!
The Frozen ride was one of the first things we did when we got to the park because we heard it had an average of 2 hour wait. Well we got to ride it 5 times because we were early enough where the line was a 10 minute wait. It was one of the family favorites!
One of my favorites!
My little free spirit girl just went right in the middle of the walkway and made herself at home. Ha ha.
Epcot has a fun atmosphere where you walk around to the different countries. They had Germany, France, Mexico, America, and more. This is us explore each one.
We feel so blessed to have Ruth Ann come with us! We couldn't have done it without you. You are so patient and loving with the girls and they absolutly love being with you. At one point I got jealous that the girls wanted to ride with Nana and not me...ha ha. Ruth Ann was great at making memories with our family with the fun conversations in line (aka entertaining us and the girls), enjoying the moment with the girls (playing with music instruments and trying on hats at the stores), and letting the girls lay in her bed in the morning. Thanks for helping us make this trip unforgettable with adventure and fun!
I love this picture when Ruth Ann with the girls. I wish I would have taken more.
Free soda testing from around the world.
Family Portraits
Day 5: Magic Kingdom
Of course we had to do this Park twice! It is our favorite!!!
Splash Mountain
It is fun having our girls tall enough to go on some of Derek and I's favorites!
Tea Cup with Nana!
Carousel
The girls really didn't nap and so this girl was so worn out. I love this position that she chose to sleep in.
Watching the firework show was the perfect way to end the most amazing family trip that we have had! There is something so magical about Disney being so family oriented and fun for all. I really felt complete joy!
I am glad we got this picture because we rented these two double strollers and it was a life saver. I contrubute part of our successful trip to the strollers because we did a lot of walking, but the girls were well rested and happy. Happy children, happy trip!!!
I will post Derek and Ruth Ann's pictures, videos that were taken, and memories from the girls in later posts.
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