So backing up a bit, we were in Orlando the last week of January and had the most amazing vacation with some dear friends of ours. We did the whole Disney thing, but instead of staying in a boring basic hotel room on Disney property, we rented a 5 bed/5 bath house at a golf resrot which was SPECTACULAR and cost less money! The night we arrived, it took us about 5 minutes to pick our jaws up off the floor . . .
Coming into the house . . .
Dining to the right, family room straight ahead . . .
Kitchen . . .
Family room - that's a 52 inch TV mounted above the fireplace!
Our master suite . . .
Again . . . 
Hallway upstairs . . .
Jack and Noah's bedroom (had their own bathroom attached)
Family room shot during the day - doors go out to the pool.
Friend's kids' room . . . 
Friend's master suite . . .
All of us at Legoland in Downtown Disney . . . 
Jack and Noah with the Lego dragon -
While at Downtown Disney, we ate at this AWESOME place - T-Rex - fantastic for kids and the food was great too . . .
. . . there was a massive TRex in the middle of the restaurant that went nuts every 20 minutes.
and there was this cool "ice cave" room that changed colors periodically . . .
Check out the jellyfish . . . .
The four buddies . . .
Dino skeleton in the wall . . . .
Back to the house - we had our own pool and I honestly think that was the kids' favorite part of the trip. That's all they wanted to do!! Here's an aerial view from the balcony -
. . . there was a massive TRex in the middle of the restaurant that went nuts every 20 minutes. and there was this cool "ice cave" room that changed colors periodically . . .Check out the jellyfish . . . .
The four buddies . . .
Dino skeleton in the wall . . . .
Back to the house - we had our own pool and I honestly think that was the kids' favorite part of the trip. That's all they wanted to do!! Here's an aerial view from the balcony -
Happy swimmers! (Jack's sitting next to me right now, looking at these pictures, and wistfully says "oh I wish we were still there . . . .")
Another great feature - the house had a game room, complete with pool table, foosball, air hockey and a Wii (which they never even played!!). If the kids weren't in the pool, they were in here.
On to Disney -
On Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -
Notice the complete lack of people!! No crowds, no lines - it was fantastic. The kids would get off a ride and just get right back on, no waiting.
Ice cream break!
Pluto was the favorite character this trip (Chip and Dale being a close 2nd)
It's awesome - the total drive-in movie theater experience. You get your very own car to eat in, and they have black & white movies playing. SO FUN!
Another great feature - the house had a game room, complete with pool table, foosball, air hockey and a Wii (which they never even played!!). If the kids weren't in the pool, they were in here.
On to Disney -
On Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -
Notice the complete lack of people!! No crowds, no lines - it was fantastic. The kids would get off a ride and just get right back on, no waiting.
Ice cream break!
Pluto was the favorite character this trip (Chip and Dale being a close 2nd)
We went to Disney Studios one day mainly just to eat at this restaurant - a favorite from our last trip here:
It's awesome - the total drive-in movie theater experience. You get your very own car to eat in, and they have black & white movies playing. SO FUN!
Turns out the restaurant was not the highlight of the day. Aerosmith's Rockin' Rollercoaster was! This was a mega-roller coaster which, had I known a little more about, would NOT have let the kids go on. Luckily I didn't find out about the 5G's impact until we got home (by comparison, astronauts on the Shuttle experience 3G's when they take off!!!!) No matter - the kids LOVED LOVED LOVED it. Each went 3 times and we left with them still begging for more! They were much braver than their mama who thoroughly enjoyed sitting safely beneath the big guitar basking in the sun listening to Aerosmith and NOT getting my head ripped off my neck.
We also visited with the cast from UP! :)
Mark was nearly jumping out of skin because the resort we were at had CLAY tennis courts. So he and the boys smacked the ball around a bit.
These were some of the boys' favorite rides . . .
Our resort also had a gorgeous water park, which the kids had pretty much to themselves . . . but they liked our little pool at the house better!! Kids . . . . can't ever figure them out, can you?
One night we ate at a yummy restaurant at Epcot where several of the characters came around to the tables for photos -
Can't remember if this was Chip or Dale (I'm told one has a red nose and one has a black nose)
And the boys wrapped up our trip with a ride on the teacups. Which I declined because I can't stand spinning rides. Plus someone had to capture in megapixels my 3 boys in a pretty yellow and pink teacup. :)
We also visited with the cast from UP! :)
Mark was nearly jumping out of skin because the resort we were at had CLAY tennis courts. So he and the boys smacked the ball around a bit.
These were some of the boys' favorite rides . . .
Our resort also had a gorgeous water park, which the kids had pretty much to themselves . . . but they liked our little pool at the house better!! Kids . . . . can't ever figure them out, can you?
One night we ate at a yummy restaurant at Epcot where several of the characters came around to the tables for photos -
Can't remember if this was Chip or Dale (I'm told one has a red nose and one has a black nose)
And the boys wrapped up our trip with a ride on the teacups. Which I declined because I can't stand spinning rides. Plus someone had to capture in megapixels my 3 boys in a pretty yellow and pink teacup. :)It was such a great time - we ALL had serious post-vacation blues. Thankfully I went through it with one of my best friends! And it really was amazing how both families co-existed beautifully together for a week - could have easily stayed with them another 7 days.
Now we're back in our crazy routine, counting down the days to CAMPING SEASON!
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