Well I have never run a marathon and probably never will but I can say I just completed a week long visit to Walt Disney World that ought to count as some sort of qualifying event for an Olympic triathalon or something. I can describe myself in one word at this moment- exhausted! I cannot believe how fast 10 hours can go by in that magical place (and on another note how slow it can go by in an airport when you miss a connecting flight and get stuck for 6 hours- but that is another story). We went non-stop in 14 hour days fighting much bigger crowds than we had hoped for in order to take in every sight and sound disney had to offer. You sort of embark on a mission to get your monies worth because it is no cheap vacation I will tell you. So you hurry, hurry, hurry in order to wait, wait, wait. No line was long enough to discourage two little boys missing a week of school. They had a BLAST and did not seem to be phased by the fact that we were suddenly surrounded by more people than probably inhabit the entire state of South Dakota. February is not an off month for the Disney resort, and I hear they are laying people off! Are they kidding me? The media is definitely making the economy worse. I have battle wounds to prove that Disney is not hard up for business. Anyway, our temporary home for the week was The Dolphin resort conveniently located in between Epcot and Hollywood studios just adjacent to the Boardwalk. We loved the resort and its direct access to the parks. It was as beautiful as the weather and when put together it was paradise found. I just wish we would have had another day to just relax there. But, park hopping was calling and so we went. The Magic Kindom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom- we park hopped to them all. Monorails, Boats, Busses, Trains- any means of locomotion we could find to get us where we wanted to go. If I close my eyes right now I still have the feeling of being on a roller coaster. Yes, roller coasters! As many times as we could and as many as we could find. My dreams of leasurely rides through Its a Small World or Peter Pan were squashed with the thrill two boys found on Space Mountain, Rockin Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Test Trak and their absolute favorite- Expedition Everest (which I have to say is my favorite too). I am usually not a roller coaster kind of girl but a good mother cant very well send one of her babies into such terrifying circusmastances as a single rider. We did so many things that I could never mention them all in a single post. I hope my mission was accomplished- creating life long memories for my boys like my parents did for me. I felt like a kid again. The lights, the parades, the fireworks, the music, the magic that is Disney are hopefully etched inside of my boys for life. I hope we return as a family but if not I hope the memories we made will always remind them that it is possible to wish upon a star and have your dreams come true.
