Disney 2015 - Vacationing in the land of the Mouse (with three kids.)

We just returned from a Walt Disney vacation in Florida, and I already want to go back.  I have become such a Disney junkie over the years.  I think I may love it more than the kids.

We went during our "Mid-term break."  This is a distinctly UK tradition that is followed here in Bermuda, wherein the kids get a week off in October.  Since no school in the US has this holiday, it is wonderful time to go visit massive theme parks like Disney.  I personally lost track of how many Brit accents I heard whilst we were wandering the parks.  (Yes, whilst is a word.  See what I did there?)  Did I use it right?  Brit friends, help me out.

It is an especially fantastic time to go if you want to see Disney done up for the fall.



This is our dear friend K, who is the absolute best person in the world to travel with, bar none. Seriously. When the sh-t hits the fan in my own life, I ask myself .. how would K handle this? She is that good.
 

I'm not really sure why I love this place so.   Disney is over the top, expensive as heck, and absolutely mental in terms of planning, hyper stimulation and consumer spending ... but still...

We had the best time.

Does is make any sense to bring a one year old?  Heck yeah.

Did we have an awesome time with our fabulous friends?  Oh yeah.

Was trick or treating at Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party cool?  Yes!!!!  (even in the rain.)

Does Disney think of crafty ways to get you to buy their products. (I'm looking at you Memory Maker.)

Kidding aside, I do love Disney.  They know how go do it well.  All of it.  We have done it with the kids several times now, and each time, it seems to become more fluid.  Our first time was a complete disaster, of course... Jordan in the Disney hospital with a raging fever, flu across the board spread to friends with us, money wasted .. Etc.  

Since then, we've worked out some kinks...

I'm not going to pretend it was easy traveling with a 13/14 month old.  The airline flights alone (for us, it meant two plane rides both ways) were brutal enough to make the most seasoned parent nervous.  While it's nice that his entry into the parks is free, throwing him into this mix meant accepting some sleepness night, some overstimulation, and some fussiness from the extreme change in routine.

And he was constipated.  Enough said. 

But we kept our expectations low and were lucky to be with understanding friends who pinched in and helped make the experience memorable for all of us.  And on the plus side ... His screaming in the security lines at the airport became a fast pass of its own.  I am not joking.  They pulled us out and got us through longer lines than I have ever seen.  

And of course, at Disney, having an infant means you can legitimately use the rider switch program.  Combined with a fast pass, it is just about the quickest way for a group like ours to go.  Extra bonus points for the kids tall enough to go as solo riders.. (I am telling you, our friends have taught us the best Disney tips.)

Added discovery - the infant care centers located in each park.  I took advantage of one on our first day at Epcot, and brought Theo in there for a diaper change, a cuddle and some down time because he was over stimulated.  The place was amazing - quiet and serene in the midst of KA-POW happening outside.  Anything you need for a baby is there (diapers, formula, baby food, basic first aid care, changing tables, little bathrooms.)

Apart from private nursing rooms,  they also had a room set to the side with Disney movies playing on a low volume to keep the slightly older siblings occupied.  I had read about these in the Unofficial Walt Disney Guide, and was so glad I remembered.  After the big kids and adults had finished their ride, they met Theo and I and we regrouped.  Theo was calm again and we could venture forth.

We visited the parks we wanted to see, prioritized our rides and adventures, and made the most of what time we had.  The magic band system, particularly when used as a guest at an on site resort, is awesome.  Our super savvy Floridian friends booked us all at a great on site hotel (Tree house villas - the three bedroom option for those staying at the Saratoga Springs Disney resort).  With our own cars, traveling between the parks and the room was much simplified.
 

There's so much to say about each individual park, and the best way of navigating them.  Much of it depends on what your group consists of and what your priorities are.  Like I said, I really kept my expectations low.  Since we have done Disney before, done the character breakfasts and reservations at fancy restaurants .. for this trip, my only goal was getting Theo to see Buzz and Woody. 

Really.  That is it. 



Having accomplished that, I sat back and watched in awe as my big kids ran off and tackled the Tower of Terror, Test Track and Mount Everest expeditions. We let them run off and do their rides and meet us back at designated locations, so I could manage the baby.



 And just as I thought they had all and grown on me, I saw this happen:



 Disney brings out the kid in all of us.  Even the kids. 

Especially the kids.

Other highlights:

 - The Food and Wine day at Epcot.  Yes, I would like the three wine pairing and cheese tray, thank you.  Sushi and pineapple sake?  Go on then...

-  Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party fireworks and Boo to You Parade;

-  The Kilamanjaro safari ride at Animal Kingdom (done this three times and I still love it.);

-  Beating Jeff's score  on the Toy Story Mania Ride;

-  The creepy crawly effects on the "It's Tough to be a Bug" ride at Animal Kingdom. Very cool.



All I want for Christmas is a Disney Annual Pass.  I know, in fact, I am quite certain, I can make it economically feasible within  year. 

Scenes from St. George's, Bermuda

The last two weekends have found us out on the eastern end of the island. While there, we've revisited St. George's and wandered around the town on two quiet Sunday afternoons.

A few snippets:



Flagstone in Town Hall. 



The stockade - home to many a tourist and resident photo op.



No one escapes it.

Of course St. George's is more than just a stockade in Kings Square. The town itself retains its historic charm, through its architecture and protected status as a UNESCO world heritage site. The cobblestone streets wind through narrow alleys, with beautifully preserved houses, designed in the Bermuda style. For pure walking purposes (ie with a stroller) Sundays are perfect as there is minimal road traffic (sidewalks are a rarity in BDA generally.)



We've enjoyed several of the restaurants in the area over the years.  Jordan watches the waves ripple on the harbor at the Tavern by the Sea.  This is a  pretty place, and was apparently quite popular with the stroller set on a Sunday afternoon.  I tried Jordan's mac and cheese, and it was one of the better ones I've had on the island.  My spicy Bloody Mary wasn't too bad either.



The White Horse Tavern is always popular with the tourists, but it's another nice spot on the water, and it is right in Kings Square.  It gets windy though!  And be sure to save some bread for the fish.  They put on a good show.



Looking through old photos on Flickr, I remembered St. George's was one of the first places we explored upon moving to Bermuda.  Poor Admiral George.  First forced to crash his ship on the reefs of Bermuda, and now serving as a monkey bar for American rug rats four hundred years later.  The irony.



There blow some mighty canons.



It's a pretty town - and the former first capital of Bermuda.  These days, it's a source of endless discussion as far as reviving tourism and preserving a slice of historic Bermuda.  There's actually quite a bit to see, if you don't mind wandering around and exploring. 



I noticed a few more stores and boutiques since I last visited, and there are still places I need to check out.  The Bermuda Perfumery is here, and is tucked down a little lane right by St. Peter's Church.  I mean to get there one of these days to try their high tea.



Fort St. Catherine.

 

Flashback stockade days, October 2010.



Yep, no one leaves the island without a picture in it.  Hi Grandma H!

Happy to answer specific itinerary questions though my partners at Tipglo! 

You can reach me here: 

Destination Florida - the last leg of our trip.

Deciding to spend a month "off island" was easy.

How to make it work was another story. To maximize our time away, and do it cost-effectively, we relied on the generosity of the Grandparents Parvez, who let us stay at their vacation place in Florida.

We love it here!

Welcome to Land O'Lakes!



By the way, I was informed, that the proper way to pronounce this is "Landa Lakes" - not LAND O Lakes.. with the emphasis on the O sound. It should roll smoothly off your tongue, like, well... butter.



My parents' place is close to Tampa, which is a fabulous city that boasts many kid friendly attractions. This year, we visited the Museum of Science and Industry, a/k/a MOSI! (We also learned what an acronym means.)

MOSI is an amazing place to spend the morning. In addition to several floors of hands on exhibits, a butterfly garden, and a dome IMAX theater, there is also a separate facility for kids designed to introduce basic science principles.

 Oh.. and there's an enormous bounce house, slider, and zip line.



Yeah.. we spent a lot of time here.  Their family membership plan is a great deal.



This season, they are hosting a very cool special exhibit called "Sea Monsters!"

 The kids were speechless. Or maybe they were just scared. Meet the jaws of the Megaladon shark.



On another occasion, we hit Tampa to tour the Big Cat Rescue . This place is gorgeous. Although they limit children's tours to Saturday and Sunday morning at 9:00, it is worth it to make the trip. Seeing these beautiful animals up close in a way that respects their natural instincts was very touching.

It is such an off the beaten path kind of Florida adventure, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. Contrary to what some might think, Florida isn't all about Disney and amusement parks. It's an amazing state when it comes to wildlife and nature. The birds alone have Jordan fixated every time we visit.



We had plenty of downtime as well. Gotta have a pool in August!



Of course, kids being kids, we can't escape Florida without hitting an amusement park. (sigh)

We justify it primarily because places like this do not exist in Bermuda. Not even close. This year, we went to Leggo Land. These buildings just kill me! I chuckle thinking of my pathetic Leggo building attempts when I look at this detail.



Leggo Land also has a splash zone, which is pretty key in August.

Although the kids had a blast there, I don't think we'll go again. It's expensive and was just too far a drive from the house. Most of the amusements seem geared toward younger children.



That being said, Jordan spent at least two hours in the model race car test track. Building those cars and racing them down tracks with other kids (and grown men, who really seemed to enjoy Leggo racing) might have justified the cost of this place.



We became annual ticket holders at Busch Gardens last year, so we went again. The kids on the skyline.





One of our favorite parts of visiting Florida is spending time with our friends. They joined us at Busch Gardens. Here Jordan rides with them and his buddy on water log flume. Look at the terror. But also check out how Mama Kristen is protecting Jordan! It just melts my heart.



Another thing that does not exist in Bermuda is ice skating. Florida, however, has an amazing ability to create venues for this sport in every conceivable place. Here, the kids try it out at the Westfield Mall, in Clearwater. I love it because it's a super energetic sport that they can work on by themselves. Oh.. and there is tons of shopping! Instructors can be hired to provide very affordable lessons and skates are available for rental as well. The kids had two lessons while we were there, and they loved it.



Simple thing make them so happy. Fro Yo at the "You Say When Yogurt Shoppe" is a no-brainer. 

It was hard saying good bye to the U.S.A once again.

 It's such a great feeling being home and understanding how everything works, "getting" the people, fitting in and the ease of life here. Not that BDA is a bad place, by any stretch of the imagination. It's just hard sometimes being a stranger and knowing that no matter what, you will never fit, that your time is limited, your friends come and go depending on their work permits, etc.

But, all good things must come to an end!

AND IT IS ALMOST TIME FOR SCHOOL!!! Hurray!!!

Fish Tales.

We wrapped up our holiday break (did I mention it was three WEEKS long?) with a trip to the Bermuda Aquarium. Both Jordan and Mina have been there with their respective school classes, so they were excited to show me around.



Jordan's first stop - the shark tank. Uh. I had to repress the involuntary shudder when I saw this guy. I think I watched Jaws too many times as a kid. Just thinking about this thing slithering around in that tank paralyzes me.



Look how brave they are.

Look at that crazy person back there taking pictures. Doesn't she realize all the beauty of nature surrounding her right there in that deep water tank? Can't she just stop and smell the roses without having to take a picture of every single thing? Jeesh..

This is more my speed. Ahh.. look how pretty!

The Bermuda Aquarium is also a zoo - these are scarlet ibis. The picture is totally unedited. Can you believe their coloring? That poor little white one in the back looks jealous.

And there's also a small playground in the complex as well. Score!

Wildlife on display.

The kids and I had a great time at the Aquarium and they have a very reasonable family pass for the year. So I signed up for that. I intend to get lots of mileage out of that one.

So, I had to contrast the fish fun we had on Saturday, with the disastrous fish eating experience of last night. Yeah, I took pictures of the whole, weeping mess. It was the only way to maintain my sanity.

Behold - tilapia!

If for some reason you haven't tried tilapia, it's just about the mildest, least offensive, least fishy smelling like fish you could ever encounter. You might as well call it a piece of white bread. Kind of like the white bread Jordan uses to hide all the food that makes its way onto his plate.

I'm not entirely sure why tears need to be involved. He's not related to you, after all. Oh, and guess what? You've eaten it before many times and barely noticed. Remember? And it's not a far cry from the frozen fish sticks you happily munch on every week.

Do any of you have kids out there that bask in the attention of being the "good" kid? Mina's got it down to a science. When she sees Jordan pull his "I'm not eating" card, she goes the other way.

"Look at me mom! I ate it!"

Right. And there's nothing hiding under that slice of bread over there.

Maybe he's aspiring to be vegetarian. All I know is, I am storing these pictures as ammunition. One day, little man... they will make a reappearance.