Orlando Florida Day 1 - Magic Kingdom

Our first full day in Florida was spent in Magic Kingdom. We decided to do this park first as it was familiar in layout and expectation from our fairly recent visit to Euro Disney. In addition to this the rides are not as extreme as some of the other parks so it meant that the other theme parks built in intensity as we went on. Also for all the Disney parks I had arranged a DAS pass meaning we could use the Lightning Lanes to minimize queuing which I figured would be really beneficial for our first day given that it was 30+ degree with near 100% humidity.

So it was an early start getting up around 7 and arriving at the park for around 8 to 8:30. Then we got the ferry boat over to the park and even at that time of the morning the temperature was extreme and everyone was dripping with sweat. We took plenty of bottles of iced water with us and also ended up buying some of those cooling towels which you dip in water and then drape around your head/neck.

We covered pretty much every ride in Magic Kingdom and then towards the end of the day we ate dinner in the park and then settled down for the fireworks and light show on the Disney castle. This was truly spectacular and the pictures do not do this justice.

Anyway no point in waffling on, pictures speak a thousand words and as always I took tons of pictures from our holiday (despite the kids hating me carrying around my old digital camera!).

Not too much queuing as we pull up t the entrance to Magic Kingdom. I think it is a rip off that they charge $25 parking though (especially given the price of the them park tickets).

First Mickey Mouse we saw as we walked through the car park.

The monorail looked super busy so we decided to take the ferry to the Magic Kingdom entrance.

A slight breeze on the ferry, but the temperatures were already sky high.

Quick selfie with my dodgy old camera outside Magic Kingdom.

The Main Street was remarkably similar to Paris.

Main Street in front of the infamous castle.

First ride for us was the test track - Brandon wasn't impressed as he said they were too slow.

Tina rode on her own.

Brandon looking unimpressed.

Holly rode with me, but insisted she did all the driving.

Initially Brandon is some distance away from us, but we soon catch up.

We start reeling Brandon in.

And before long we are nudging him around the final corners.

Me and H in our blue car.

Next on the agenda was Space Mountain. Love Brandon's face.

After Space Mountain our next ride was the very fun Buzz Lightyear ride.

This time it was Tina's time to ride with Holly.

And as there was 5 of us, I rode on my own.

Me in action and clearly getting very competitive on Buzz Lightyear.

Who said they were too old for Buzz Lightyear?

Holly seeking out more targets to try and beat Tina.

Boys looking really unimpressed on the monorail ride.

But it was a nice way to sit down and cool off in the shade.

View looking down on the test track.

The spinning globe with free flowing water, any excuse to splash each other to cool down.

Chilling as we wait to board the Jungle Cruise.

We 5 King's at Magic Kingdom.

On the Jungle Cruise Boat which was narrated by many cool "Dad jokes!".

Some of the scenery from the Jungle Cruise.

The lions.

The hippo which we were all hoping would squirt us with water.

The waterfall gave a brief splashing of cooling water.

Elephant on the Jungle Cruise.

Next on the agenda was Splash Mountain - again any excuse to get near water to cool off.

Brandon's turn to ride with Tina. We tried to rotate so that someone different went on their own each ride.

Whizzing around Thunder Mountain.

Joshua on Thunder Mountain.

Not super fast but still a fun little coaster.

Amazingly they didn't seem to mind me taking my camera on the ride so I managed to get some good action shots.

Midday and we caught one of the parades.

Minnie Mouse celebrating 50 years.

More from the parade.

More from the parade.

Woody and Jessie.

The Genie.

Not going to try and kid you by pretending I know the names of all of these.

Goofy.

Holly was finally happy as she got to see her favourite, Stitch.

Funny shot of Brandon dipping his head in a fountain to try and cool off.

Aaargh, that's better.

Holly having a character meet with one of the Princesses (anything for some air con!).

A hug from a Princess.

Then on to her second meet and greet.

For once Holly is tongue tied and doesn't know what to say.

So she settles for another Princess hug.

Holly with Mickey Mouse.

Later in the afternoon and we enjoyed an ice-cream before going on The Little Mermaid.

Luckily Holly didn't get too scared.

Holly riding in her shell with Tina.

The end scene of the ride.

So we didn't manage to scare Holly with The Little Mermaid, so on to the Haunted House it was.

Ride picture from the Haunted House. Who is that 4th rider????

Who looks the most scared???

Still smiling and looking sassy.

Back on Splash Mountain to cool off again.

This is the main water drop where you get a good soaking.

Two boys riding together again.

Holly and Tina looking a bit wet behind the ears!

Here we go.....

Nice view out on the park from the top of the ride.

Ride photo from Splash Mountain.

And again.

Ride picture from Pirates Of The Caribbean.

The park already had their Halloween decorations up.

Walt Disney himself with Mickey.

More of the Halloween decs.

Getting the most out of our photo pass (much to the boys disapproval).

Another family snap in Magic Kingdom.

Note my T-shirt which is one I bought from Magic Kingdom 29 years ago which was the last time me and Tina were there.

We 5 King's.

And again.

As the sun went down the castle looked spectacular.

The detailing of the lighting and the animation cannot be appreciated in photo's.

All lit up and ready for the light show and fireworks.

Main Street also looks incredible at night. You can also see just how many people were congregating ready for the light and firework show.

Some of the fireworks over the castle.

And more....

 

And more...

And more....

And more......great way to end our first full day. Some very tired children. Time to head home and get some sleep before Day 2.

Orlando Florida Day 0 - Outbound Travel

2022 was the year we spoilt ourselves and the kids with a once in a lifetime family holiday to Orlando, Florida. We had been planning this holiday for many years and with me being made redundant back in 2020 we decided to set aside some of the money to pay for this holiday. So this one has been building for sometime and we were all pretty excited in the lead up.

We booked the flights, accommodation and car hire all through BA and our outbound flight was at a sensible time of 1:30pm meaning we didn't need a super early start to travel to Heathrow. On the 9+ hour flight we were slightly split up being a family of 5, 3 of us in row 33 and 2 of us in row 34. So Holly and Tina sat together and then me and the boys sat together.

Despite all the recent horror stories of super long queues, the security, passport control and baggage handling at both ends was amazingly quick. We landed in Orlando at around 6pm and in no time at all picked up our big silver Toyota Sienna hire car and headed off to our accommodation in the Bahama Bay Resort in Davenport. The hire car looked pig ugly externally, but inside was amazing with individual captains chairs, tons of space, cup holders and loads of gadgets. It had a hybrid engine which gave us slightly better fuel economy plus all the electric car benefits of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping etc.etc.

The accommodation was about 40 mins from the airport and I suppose we arrived around 9pm US time in the end. We was checked in to apartment 309 which was on the top floor with rear balcony's looking over the gardens and pool. The apartment was super spacious with 3 bedrooms, 2 double beds, 2 single beds, 2 bathrooms, large kitchen area and living area. We had a dish washer, kettle toaster, coffee maker, washing machine, tumble dryer, smart TV and a big American fridge with water and ice dispenser. So everything we needed really.

We was all very tired after the long journey so we quickly threw in the luggage and then headed out to a local Wallmart to get some supplies for snacks and drinks etc in the room. Then it was off to bed ready for a busy first full day which we had planned at Disney's Magic Kingdom.

Us Brit's all packed up and ready to head US bound. Second time for Josh this year after skiing earlier this year.

5 suit cases all ready and waiting for our shuttle to Heathrow.

No real delays at the airport and we were soon boarding or BA flight to Orlando.

Tina and Holly were next to each other in row 34.

Me and the boys were one row back in row 33.

Holly trying to get comfy and have a nap on the flight.

My two ladies excited for the coming holiday.

Our hire car was a Toyota Sienna which didn't look bad from the front.

But the back looked ugly.

40 mins after landing getting our hire car and we are at Bahama Bay Resort.

We had apartment 309 on the top floor of this block.

Loads of thick American grass and palm trees surrounded out hotel block.

The master bedroom was huge, the picture really doesn't show how enormous this bed was.

Ensuite shower with triangular bath.

Dual his and hers sinks in the bathroom.

More of the master bedroom.

The lounge area which for day 1 was missing a big TV on the wall.

View looking from the lounge down in to the kitchen and dining area.

The second bedroom with another double bed. Josh had this for week 1 and then swapped so Brandon had it in week 2.

Second ensuite bathroom servicing the two smaller bedrooms.

The main hallway in to the apartment with very high and spacious ceilings.

Brandon gets Level 2 Award in Algebra

Super proud of Brandon who as a high achiever took some additional classes last year for a Pearson Level 2 Algebra course. He took things a little for granted leading up to the mock exam and subsequently failed. However he learnt from his mistakes and put the work in for the actual exam and successfully passed. Quite a few of his friends failed so this was no gimme.

1st Day of Year 4 for Holly

At little jet lagged from flying back from Florida yesterday, but Holly was still excited for her 1sr day back to Abacus school as a Year 4 now!!!! Where does time go?

1st day back to school for Year 4.