Syderella Had A Blast!

Well, we're back from Sydney's Big Girl Trip to Disney World, and ladies, I cannot advice more adamantly - if you can do this kind of trip to any place with each grandchild solo, DO IT! My husband and I will CHERISH every moment spent with our sweet girl. When our own two kids were growing up we took them to Disney World many times. We all love it and none of us has grown tired of going again. Though Papa and I had seen and done just about everything there is at Disney World probably 25 times over the years, we saw and enjoyed it all this time through the eyes of our granddaughter and it was beautiful, wonderful, joyous!!! Somehow it all seemed different this time. Perhaps it was because we'd never been to DW in the Fall, or perhaps because we were traveling with fewer people (thus way easier than with 8!), we got great airfare and we already had tickets to DW, so it was fairly inexpensive, or maybe just because it was a last minute, spontaneous trip. But it was the most fun we'd had at Walt Disney World since our own kids were very young. In fact, the last time I remember anticipating the trip with so much excitement and experiencing it with such joy, was the first year we finally had our family complete with two children. Our daughter was 8 and our son 5 months. It just felt like all was right with our world. And that's how it felt this time with our first grandchild. A warning in advance - this is a lengthy post!

We left home on Tuesday, September 1. Sydney was just beside herself with excitement and she looked adorable with her pink Hello Kitty carry on!

She had a blast on the plane with two big eared old friends from an earlier trip to Disney...

Right off the plane, her prince awaited!

We stayed at Disney's All-Star Music Resort - wonderful!

They know how to make a girl feel welcome with a balloon AND a long stemmed red rose!

Our room was adorable and naturally, pure Disney!

The hotel grounds were beautiful, as they always are at any place Disney...

There was a little pool side excitement with a black rat snake on the loose. With the large number of grounds/pest control workers on the spot within minutes, you might have thought a cobra was closing in on the president! This might have seemed an over reaction, had this rat snake not been moving in on the estate of Mr. Mouse himself! At Disney World, even the president can't top Mickey.

After we were settled in our hotel room, we went out to, in Sydney's words, "paint the town yellow"! First stop, Downtown Disney, a fun and fabulous shopping/dining strip across from the Disney parks. We used all complementary Disney transportation to and from the airport and for any shopping and eating outside the parks and it was wonderful - reliable, and the operative word - FREE.

Sydney and Papa had fun trying on all the strange and wonderful hats SOMEONE must occasionally buy at one of the large stores there. Much to his credit, Papa's always a good sport about having his picture taken looking silly if it makes his girls laugh. Mimi...not so much.

That was it for the first day of Sydney's Big Girl Trip. We needed to get some rest in order to visit the Magic Kingdom in our typical family style - no matter how tired you are, open and close those parks!

Everything at WDW was beautifully decorated for Autumn. Naturally, the shape of all the pumpkins resembled a certain Master of Ceremony!

Day 2: EPCOT in the AM and back to the Magic Kingdom

Be still my heart...that castle!

Sydney and her Papa twirled the cups at the Mad Tea Party with glee! The more Mimi sqealed, the faster they went!

Oh, a visit between gal pals! What could be better?

Mickey's humble abode sported a pumpkin in the yard with a strange familiarity...what could it be???

Now here is a sweeeeet little cottage designed for every pink loving girl! This one is owned by none other than Ms. Minnie Mouse herself.

The royal couple receiving their admirers...

EPCOT...

One of Sydney's most anticipated rides was EPCOT's Soarin'. You sit in a long row of connected seats and as you "fly" high in the air, you are treated to gorgeous panoramic scenes of California. You're sort of part of the movie. I love this picture of Sydney as the ride began. Don't you wish you could bottle the unrestrained joy of a child?

WE FOUND NEMO!!!



Our granddaughter, who was too shy to tell folks her name, entertained the crowd with a hoola hoop show as we waited for the Electric Light Parade. We had no clue she could hoola the hoop with such exuberance! That tiny little body wiggled and twirled until she had the crowd clapping and laughing. It was a total scream!



Just one sample of the wonderful displays and floats in the Electric Light Parade. Wish you could hear the music too!


The fireworks over the castle are just not to be missed at WDW!



Day 3: We spent the early part of the day at the hotel pool. Then we went to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. What fun! It was a first for us. The kids and quite a few adults too, dressed up for Halloween and trick or treating at specific stations in the park. There was special music and a "dance party" for young kids with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy. We had a ball!


It felt kind of silly wearing a Halloween t shirt on September 3 and 88 degrees, but with the cutest little mouse in the world at my side, what's not to like?


Oh, yes...I could most definitely get into a little girl state of fantasy staring at Cinderella's gorgeous carriage!



The trick or treat party started in Toon Town...



Of course we had to take in some more rides too!

Sydney and her man Mickey connected at the happening dance party of the night...



Oh, ya, Minnie is most definitely intimidated by the beautiful new mouse in red...



A ride off into the sunset...



The fireworks and music at the Halloween party had a slightly sinister edge, but the castle looked gorgeous under the starbursts!



Ah NUTS!!! Every good thing must come to an end. A not quite as happy 5 year old waits for our ride to the airport to go back home.



It just went by way too fast, but kindergarten awaits!


A sucker and Dumbo makes everything better...

I warned you this post would be long! Thanks for sticking with me through this long pictoral. Let me suggest once again that you consider some kind of solo trip or event with each grandchild - or your own children. It doesn't have to be a Disney World kind of thing - a sleep over in a back yard tent, or an over night at a hotel with an inside pool and games, etc. The idea is to make a memory both you and your special little one will cherish. I plan to make or order a memory/scrap book for Sydney and for Sandy and I. We decided to buy Sydney a lasting gift from Disney World other than the t shirt and stuffed animals we got her. We wanted her to have something that would remind her of these special days together for the rest of her life. We bought the same thing for us to keep too. We had it shipped home - when it arrives I'll show it to you.

I wish special memories for you and yours!