Now that you're feeling real sorry for us and all (Ha!), I'll share the sad news that we were only able to see 2 attractions and eat lunch before the skies opened up and dumped massive amounts of rain on us. Luckily, they were the two best rides in the park, Expedition Everest and the Kilimanjaro Safari. 
Katie and Emily were both a bit nervous before Everest, but they weren't about to miss out on the experience. Jack, however, was more than happy to let the opportunity pass him by. Maybe in a few more years, his adventurous side will come out. Jax was more than happy to have to have some company while waiting on those of us that met the height requirement.
On the safari, the kids (especially Baylor) were all excited to get up close and personal with the animals. What's funny is that some of the animals were experiencing the same sense of excitement and wonder when it came to the park guests. The ostriches, for example, were laying directly next to the road watching as each truckload of guests cruised by. In that moment, it was clear that we were their entertainment! The lions, however, were less than thrilled about our presence. They couldn't be bothered to raise their heads from their naps and thrill us with a glimpse of their pride.
The hippos were a sight to see though. Baylor was so impressed by them that he actually shouted, "Hippo!" as we passed. I'm not sure that I even realized he knew that word. Maybe he was clued in by the rest of us shouting, "Hippo!" and pointing. Regardless, he knows the word now!
There were a quite a few baby elephants on the range. So I guess it's safe to assume that the adult elephants are happy with their habit.
When the sky opened up (at 1:00pm on the dot just as our iPhone Weather Channel app predicted), we made a mad dash for the Lion King show. To our disappoint, we discovered that Disney does not open the doors early even in the event of a torrential downpour. Thanks, Disney! I guess they want to make sure that everyone ends up spending $7/each on a rain poncho. They made a small fortune that day on those flimsy plastic sheets!
Once inside, we shed our soaking wet ponchos and enjoyed the Broadway-caliber performance. Baylor clapped and danced his way through the entire production. I was certain they would invite him to join in the fun, but the offer never arrived. Almost as soon as we started to finally feel dry, the show ended and we were forced back into the monsoon. It was at that very moment, that we decided to call it a day, bringing our Disney adventure to a close. It was fun while it lasted, rain & all. However, next time, I'll trust the Weather Channel when it says 90% chance of rain and suggest a Plan B that's indoors!
Saturday was a great day! The sun was shining and instead of complaining about the week's unusually chilly temps, some of us were wishing we had packed shorts. We spent the entire day exploring Disney's Hollywood Studios, and it was a huge hit with the gang. After pausing briefly to attempt the perfect group photo with Mickey's sorcerer's hat, we raced off to "baby pass" the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Rock' n 'Roller Coaster.
Next, we made our way to the Indiana Jones' Epic Stunt Spectacular. The actors re-enacted some of the movie's famous scenes and in the process shed some light on how Hollywood stunt doubles perform their incredible feats without being injured. Some of it is special effects, but mostly it's impeccable timing and training.
From the Indiana Jones set, we made our way through New York in search of ice cream, Lightening McQueen, and Mater...not necessarily in that order. Sadly, Baylor missed out on the excitement of meeting the Cars characters once again. On our next visit, McQueen and Mater will be the first stop. Baylor is now almost as infatuated with these characters as his big brother, and an face-to-face introduction is long overdue.
After passing back through the New York City set (Oh, did I forget to mention that it was set? Surely you didn't think we traveled that far North just for some ice cream?!), we found ourselves in a strange universe filled with even stranger creatures. Turns out that we stumbled into the Star Wars attraction, and the kids were beyond excited to take a virtual ride on a Starspeeder!
Thank goodness for the replica outside. I was able to get a picture of the kids since taking one while they were zipping around at the speed of light inside the attraction was virtually impossible!
Of course, our little inter-galactic heros couldn't depart without arming themselves with appropriate weaponry. Jax & Baylor selected blasters, and Jack went with the build-it-yourself light saber. I was beyond greatful that my boys didn't ask for yet another sword. Shooting each other with imaginary guns is definitely the better of the two completely non-PC options should you ever find yourself pondering which way to go with your own child!
I know it's hard to believe given all the excitement I've described, but by dinner time, we were growing weary and decided to make our way back to the Tower of Terror and the Rock' n' Roller Coaster for a grand finale. Anh sat with all 3 little boys, while Mike, Amy, and I accompanied the girls on the park's top two attractions. While nervous about what they were about to subject themselves to, both Emily & Katie agreed after the ride that they were thrilled with the experience and couldn't wait to see what was in store for them on Sunday at Animal Kingdom.
We were lucky enough to visit during the annual International Flower and Garden Festival. As if Disney's landscaping isn't impressive enough already, during the Spring they really raise the bar. We were all amazed by the topiaries and endless beds of blooms. Sadly, there was one downside. By the end of the day, Jack D's eyes were almost swollen shut thanks to his aggravated allergies.
Baylor appreciated that the parks weren't as crowded during this trip. As a result, he was able to escape the stroller on more than a few occasions and do a little exploring of his own. It was clear he didn't want the older kids to mistake him for a baby. Nope, he was one of the gang and on a mission to prove that the could do anything & everything they could. He wasn't going to miss a thing!
The playground was far from typical. For starters, it was surrounded by an enchantingly beautiful garden, but the play structure itself was unique. The equipment was from the Evos / Weevos company. While incorporating all of the popular climbing, sliding, and swinging elements you'd normally find on a playground, the equipment has a modern design. It's worth checking into if you're considering something for your backyard. Why settle for normal?
After that warm-up, we were off to explore the globe. China was a hit with it's delicious dishes and entertaining acrobats. As it turns out, chicken with sauce over rice is a huge hit with the D kids too. Who knew?! Could it have something to do with the sweet, sugary flavor? Nah!
From China, we made a beeline for Germany & beer. The parents desperately needed something to take the edge off herding 5 active children through an increasing packed park. I guess the majority of Disney guests agree that Epcot has the best food and with dinner time approaching, it's only logical that the park felt like it was filling up quickly.
From Germany, we wandered through Italy, but only because it was on the way to France where we loaded up on delicate pastries to enjoy with our German beer. It was in France that we discovered the kids are also fans of quiche and croissants. Oh, and chocolate cake, cream puffs, and mousse! I guess I shouldn't be surprised on those last three.
With our bellies stuffed, we sat back and enjoyed the nightly fireworks display. To celebrate a memorable day, the parents toasted a future trip to Paris with champagne served in illuminated flutes (it is Disney World afterall!) as the kids anxiously looked on waiting to inherit the empty glasses. On the way out of the park, the kids sipped water out of their new champagne flutes. Occasionally, we'd notice some horrified looks from others park guests and have to explain that kids were just goofy and enjoying a little H2O! Lots of laughter followed, and really what better way is there to end the day?!
