Universal Studios - Day 7

Thursday was the day we went to Universal Studios. Zander was VERY excited to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
We headed there first, but were told that there was a 75 minute wait just to get it. So, we were given a "Return Pass" to come back at 11:30. We saw Jurassic Park stuff while we waited.

Brandon and Zander went on the Jurrasic Park raft ride. The girls and I walked around. We went down the Triceratops trail where there was a "REAL" Triceratops with dinosaur experts to tell us all about it.

We stopped by the dinosaur discover center to learn about dinosaurs.

Finally, it was time to go to see Harry Potter stuff.
Entering Hogsmead

Hogwarts Castle

The original plan was that Brandon and Zander would go ride the rides and the girls and I would look in the shops for the Harry Potter things - gifts for Zander.
BUT, it didn't work out that way. First of all, they wouldn't let Zander on the ride. He was 1/4 inch too short - even with the boots we bought for him. But, he did get to walk through the castle, and there was a smaller ride - The Flight of the Hippogriff - that he was able to go on.
As for shopping - there was an hour wait JUST to get in the shops. It was SO crowded. As I've mentioned, I do NOT function well in crowds. I found a little corner to "park" in as we figured out what to do.

There were a few neat things to see - I kept having to explain to Ady that it was NOT real snow, it was not REALLY cold, and she didn't need to touch it to see. Notice ALL the people? It was NUTS!



Thanks to modern technology - texting - I was able to let Brandon know that we were leaving, and the girls and I headed to Suess Landing.
It was all decked out for Christmas.

We rode on the Cara-Suess-el


And we looked around a bit while we waited for Brandon and Zander. They waited in line to shop and got a "real" Harry Potter wand and a time turner.
Then it was lunch time and the fun REALLY started.

What do you get when you mix an already defiantly independent almost-two year old with a week of late nights, early mornings and naps on the run? NO FUN! We had to wait in line for lunch, and they wouldn't let us bring the stroller in. She didn't want to stay with us, and we couldn't exactly have her running around. She refused to be held in my arms, so I was holding on to her arm as she pulled and pulled trying to get away.
And then there was a pop, and a scream.
When Zander was about the same age, his elbow was dislocated while playing "monkey" with dad. So, we figured it was the same thing. They had shown us then how to pop it back in place. Brandon tried, and it didn't work.
So, while Zander, Ady and I ate, he took Ainzlee to the nearest first aid station. They gave him some ice for it, and told him where the nearest emergency room was.
Great.
So we left. She cried the whole way there. And screamed louder if we tried to move her arm at all.
ERs are never much fun, but at least we didn't have to wait very long before they took us back. They took her for an X-ray - Brandon went along. After she got back, the nurse gave her some Motrin. 5 minutes later, she was jumping around as if nothing had ever happened. By the time the doctor came to see her, she was perfectly fine.
Apparently, when they moved her arm to get it in place for the x-ray, they popped her elbow back into place. Brandon hadn't been twisting it far enough when he tried. Lesson learned.
Even though we hadn't done everything we had wanted to at Universal Studios, we decided that we were tired, and just called it a day. We went back to the timeshare to pack and get ready for the trip home.

Disney World 2010 - Day 6

Wednesday was Princess Day!
Papa and Gran wanted Ady to feel like a real princess, so they got her an authentic Sleeping Beauty costume, and reservations for a Princess Tea party. I was lucky enough to accompany the little princess.
We took the monorail to the Grand Floridian where the party was taking place.

Ainzlee didn't want to feel left out, so she dressed up like Tinkerbell

Zander wore his new Indiana Jones hat

We looked around the Grand Floridian resort while we waited for it to be time for the party. It was a NICE place - Ady decided that a Princess MUST live there.


A giant gingerbread house - with a sweet shop INSIDE

The princess in her throne

Lots of pretty flowers outside

A beach


More flowers

At last, it was time for the party to begin.
They had all of the princesses line up to be greeted by the hostess - Miss Rose Petal

They announced each princess as she entered the tea room and gave her a new crown and sprinkled "magic" rose petals on her head.

And of course they had to pose for a picture with the hostess

When we got to our seat, we found a new friend waiting for us. At first, Ady was just happy to see a pretty doll. But when I told her she got to take her home - she was THRILLED!

After everyone was seated, Miss Rose Petal told them that before she could serve them their tea, they needed to take out their napkin and place it in their lap. But, when they pulled out the napkin, there was a surprise - a new bracelet!

Then they served the "tea" - apple juice. Ady told me that this is how princesses drink - they have to hold the plate under the cup.

Yum!

Giving dolly a hug

Then it was time for the food - yummy!



Miss Rose Petal went around and talked with each girl and signed her note card.



The Musical Baron talked with us too


We listened to Miss Rose Petal tell a story about who she is. She was once the most beautiful flower in the garden of the king and queen - Sleeping Beauty's castle. When Princess Aurora was born, the good fairies wanted to give her magical gifts - of beauty and song. In order to make the magic, they needed a petal from the most beautiful flower in the land. Miss Rose Petal willingly gave of herself, and was then magically transformed into a human. (ta-da!)

Then it was time for all the princesses to get up and dance

And then... SLEEPING BEAUTY arrived!

SO Excited!

Sleeping Beauty went around and talked to each girl. While we were waiting for our turn, we got some cake.

And we had our picture taken

And then Sleeping Beauty came! She gave Ady a rose.

And they chatted a while

When she asked Ady what her favorite thing she had done at Disney World was, Ady's response was "coming here today and seeing you." Awesome!

After Sleeping Beauty left, the princesses lined up for a princess parade.

And we posed for some pictures






It was really a fun party and I'm very glad that we were able to go.

After we left, it was time for another thing that Gran and Papa wanted us all to do - family pictures. So we rode a BUS to the Wilderness Lodge and had pictures taken.
It was quite the event, but we got some good ones, I think. Here's some of my favorites



















After pictures, we went to Magic Kingdom. I decided that it is really just a bad copy of Disneyland. Disneyland is SO much better. We went to the Tiki Room - one of my all time favorites from Disneyland. They have pretty much destroyed it by having it "Under New Management". The annoying parrot from Alladin interrupts the show. Not cool. They did have the Hall of Presidents which was pretty neat. I was surprised that the kids (except for Ainzlee who fell asleep) really liked it. And we saw the Country Bear Jamboree - it just didn't seem as magical as it did when I was a kid. (Why is that?) I really wanted to do the Peter Pan ride, but the line was too long. We rode the train to Toon Town and found out that the line to see Mickey was only about 15 minutes long. When we had been there a few nights before, it was over an hour. So we decided to see the Big Cheese. Minnie was there too!

Ainzlee was actually willing to "cheese", as long as she didn't have to get too close to them.
Zander and Daddy went on the Toon Town roller coaster again.
It was getting pretty late by then, and we didn't want to fight the crowds again, so we decided to call it a night.
So long Disney World!