Disney Star Wars Weekend 2015

    What is summer without a trip to Disney? At least in this house. We especially love our favorite Star Wars Weekends at Disney. It's like being told you are having dessert first at dinner and that the entree is actually more dessert. Certain folks in this household may be referred to as Star Wars enthusiasts or Big Time Nerds as we like to call them but there is something about seeing the Star Wars cast up close and personal that leaves the rest of us standing in line for Yoda backpacks and pretzels in the shape of the Millennium Falcon and afterwards still feeling really excited about it. 

     We stayed at the Grand Floridian this time. The last time we stayed here we were only the proud parents of two children not partially embarrassed parents of six but it was still grand indeed. I particularly love the monorail at our door to the Magic Kingdom vs. parking getting on a tram to get to a monorail to get to Disney. With this many lemmings to corral I'll take whatever short cut is allowed. And Disney doesn't disappoint in the hospitality category either. We had turn down service with chocolates, a pull out bed from the wall with a Mary Poppins mural hidden behind it, spacious rooms, planned children's activities by the pool every hour, a camp fire with smores every night with an outdoor movie and an electric light parade on the water to end the day with fireworks soon after. But we still managed to leave the hotel to go geek out at the parks.

     On arrival to Hollywood Studios, Bobba Fett was talking about hunting down Solo and pointed straight at me with my brood in tow and said, "I see you have captured many." I think I might have squealed then snorted with glee. 

My prisoner's mug shot with Bobba Fett

     On our way from the Star Wars ride to the Brown Derby for lunch we spotted several of our favorites who gave us a hearty hello.

Even Darth seemed happy to see us....I think.

    After the Buzz Lightyear ride we happened to stumble across some of Carlos' favorite folks. Can you see how he's trying to keep his stuff together in this picture? He's probably repeating something like, "Keep it cool Car. Don't flake out in front of Buzz. That's it keep it cool. Definitely don't toot right now. Yeah, your pretty awesome right now."

     We would always end the day in the pool. Trying to bring the feeling of mass hysteria down a notch before dinner. I found bubbles to be very relaxing as did the triplets. Until, Gigi started playing a game we do in our pool called " Save me " where she pretends to need rescuing and I come give her a piggy back ride in the pool. The life guards were not familiar with this game and dove in to rescue her. I was mortified. She, on the other hand, thought it a fun game and immediately took off down the thirty foot slide.

     You can't come to Disney and not dine with the characters. (Really, it's like in the contract.) Highly overpriced but can you really handle the guilt associated with depriving them of the opportunity to let Alice and Mary Poppins interrupt your breakfast to stand for awkward pictures and conversations? 

     Mary was pretty cool though. When Nico started to fuss she said, " Now pish posh, there will be none of that." And he quieted down and took this picture. 

     We ate in Germany at Epcot and toured the tiny Romantic Road train village about twenty times before the kids let us move on. At the Biergarten, the kids got up and danced their little hearts out with the band. It was pretty fun.

     Here are just some of those things you never knew you needed until you see them at Disney. In their defense, they still wear them and Beau calls them her "Rock Star" glasses.

The nostalgia of watching your kids enjoy what you enjoyed at their age is priceless. Disney has that market cornered. It's a time machine you get to revisit with every new babe.

  Here was my favorite dinner at the Contemporary with a 360 view of the park.I just love my Krewe.

     I don't know if he is on to me but my favorite Mike photos are when he is just loving on our babes. I luckily have many moments to capture in our life together but I swear he looks taller, healthier and more attractive in these photos then when he is in a shot by himself. I doubt that is the case but only how I see him, a loving father and husband...who just happens to be a babe.

     A princess Leia Minnie. Are you kitten me right meow? Almost as adorable as my Beau.

     

Waiting for the boat to Disney. 

Just another day at the hotel.

     One of the last things we did was eat at the boardwalk and then strolled into Epcot for some pastries in France. Most of us were too excited for words to spot Princess Aurora who couldn't get enough of our gang. All those who were excited are in this picture. I must say  that Sleeping Beauty was just a little to affectionate for my taste (notice how she is cuddling up to my prince and looking at me while she telepathically tells me, "Don't I look good here?" ) All I have to say is listen here Ms. Sleep Apnea, this is my prince and these our my minions. Move along....but thanks for the picture the kids just loved you. See you next year.