Walt Disney World, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and the Grand Floridian

 Okay folks as you can "see" I am back safe and sound. What I'd like to do is knock out this 3 day/2night trip out in one post, but it surely will take two. Try to anyway.

We left out Friday mid morning for the 90 minute trip south. Knowing that our room would not be "ready" when we got to the "Grand Floridian" a beautiful resort and spa on the Magic Kingdom property our plans was to immediately hit up Mickey and we did.

Made a pit-stop as soon as we got on Florida's Turnpike. Elijah didn't want to take a picture because it was fake bear, lol.

So I did. Then back to road. Made good time of course and "checked in", they held our bags and off to the Magic Kingdom we went.

Tram ride we took vs the boat ride or walk to the entrance.

One souvenir in (the hat) and a pic.

Another souvenir (pretty sure E played with that all weekend).

See the bubbles, so does he.

Yeah, he couldn't take his eyes off of Buzz Light Year.

Just trying this one on. He is in mid step as music started playing that he liked. Shorty there after we took the ferry ride back to the resort.

Immediately upon entry this was waiting for us.

Even though the park was open til 11pm, we headed back long before dark so that we could eat outside of the hotel (Papa John's) and not knowing how late the pools (there were 3) would be open. The above shot is from out balcony.

This would be a daily thing.

Now here is some background. I raised my girls a certain way, bedtime was bedtime (8pm elementary school, 9pm middle school, 10pm high school), no matter what day or season. Year round! I didn't hold them to that when we were on a vacation where them parks were part of the activities. I also would make an exception if there was something special (high school). It is the one thing that has stuck the best with all 4 of them because they themselves still are in bed my 10/10:30 even today. Hunter on the other hand is in bed by 8pm. The youngest and only 25 years old and single (sort of).

Yep, 8 pm was the nightly cut off literally lights curtains, tv, everything. For a night owl like me, that was not good. (next trip we'll get separate rooms, lol).

I decided to walk around the venue and grab a couple of celebratory cocktails (19 years since last vacation), and then watch the fireworks from the lake. You are looking at the one and only one drink I had. I don't indulge often and when I do it is not house brand or tier one 1 whiskey. Makers Mark, typically a tier 2 or 3 depending where you are. Yeah, $20.00 drink here, nope just one for me. That would cover an entire 5th back home. I watched the fireworks and forgot to take pics Friday night.

One last picture for the first day. Again view is from the balcony. By the way, the pools stayed open until 11 pm each night. I'll post day two tomorrow (Animal Kingdom) which will also have 2 pictures from check out day.