A Magical Week

The last time we made the trip to Disney World I was 7, Julie was 6, and Jessica was 4... and Aaron, well he hadn't showed up yet {believe it or not} This time around, I am 23, Julie {now 22} was in Charleston with friends, and Jessica is 20. We missed not having Jules with us but this was her last "hoorah" with all her friends before they all part ways and we didn't blame her one bit.  Aaron was basically there via phone, but I really can't wait for him to see it with his own eyes.

This trip to Disney was just as magical as I remember it being all those years ago... We were still starstruck by all the characters!

...even the "plant" ones!

We happened to be there during Epcot's Garden and Flower Festival so needless to say... I was in heaven. These flowers WILL be in my yard one day.

We were "big enough" to ride all the roller coasters we wanted and as much as Mom and Dad loved to watch us enjoy the park when we were little ones, I think they thoroughly enjoyed having fun with us as "big girls".

We visited all four parks and I really don't know which one was my favorite... but I will show you the highlights from all of them.

The Magic Kingdom was well, magical. The castle, the parades, Tomorrowland, Space Mountain, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse... it was definitely the perfect way to start out the trip.

This was one of our favorite movies growing up and I used to DREAM of living in their treehouse. The kitchen was always my favorite part of the house... imagine that.

I think we rode almost every ride in Magic Kingdom... even some of the "kiddie" rides just so we could rest our legs!

We rode the Space Mountain rollercoaster twice... It was definitely my favorite ride in the park.

Did I mention how much we enjoyed the food? The ice cream bars, lollipops, caramel apples... It was every {big} kids dream!

The parades gave me chillbumps...

and I must say... I have never seen an electrical parade.

Our first day in the park was a dream to say the least and the night ended with a bang!

The next day was spent in the Animal Kingdom where we went on an African Safari, got completely drenched in a water ride, saw Mt. Everest and the largest "tree" I've ever laid eyes on.

Mom LOVED the bird show.

The next day we went to France, Italy, Germany, Canada, London, and America at Epcot of course. Epcot may have been one of my favorite parks because I loved seeing all of their staged countries. And I didn't take hardly any pictures that day... probably because I was so enthralled!

Bri and Joe came to Disney World for their honeymoon and they have the picture above framed... I bet they weren't thinking then that they would be taking their children back at THEIR ages!

Well I did take one of this Asian country and I couldn't even tell you which one it was... Asia really doesn't interest me much {However, my heart breaks for the Japanese people right now}.

Paris was my favorite of course and I did make time to stop and eat a crepe! I know, this picture's a framer.

Moving on...

While at Epcot, we toured the Princess magical butterfly garden... As a little girl, I would go outside on pretty spring afternoons and catch butterflies with my net. Then, Dad would kill them with a pin and I would add them to my collection. {I know, the killing part sounds terrible come to think of it but for some reason, I didn't think anything of it!} I loved my butterflies and showed off my collection to anyone I thought was even remotely interested.

We made our way through MGM {or Hollywood Studios, I should now call it} and I didn't take a single picture but just know we had fun! :)

I know I'm a "big girl" now and I know I've changed a LOT since I was 7, but all the excitement and wonder was still there... I don't think Disney World will ever lose it's "magical" effect on me! 

TTFN! Ta Ta For Now!