Johnson Family

Johnson Family

October 23, 2009

Epcot

Epcot family 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Disney pictures?  Crazy, I know.  Just bear with me… I’ve got to get these done before I move on!

We all went picture crazy at Epcot…  so much to capture and a little different scenery than the typical Disney park… so it took me forever to go through, but definitely fun to remember.

Can you believe we didn’t have a Mike ‘Sasha’ pose until now?  I think Mike gives Epcot a thumbs up.

epcot sasha

epcot dans famly 1 mom dad amy       

In Canada we enjoyed the beautiful scenery, made human totem poles, watched a 360 degree screen movie with Martin Short, tried on animal hats and made ourselves right at home.

Canada totem  1 totem poleCanada Katie

Canada Megan

Canada wild animals

1 sasha in canada

In the United Kingdom we took pictures with Alice in Wonderland and ate fish and chips for lunch. While eating, Alice walked by and we waved.  Missing out on his own picture, Mike quickly jumped up to ask for a private photo shoot.  Alice’s escort said, “Sorry, she’ll be back later.” but when Alice looked into Mike’s dreamy eyes she said, “No, it’s ok.  We can take a picture.”  Nice one, Mike.

kids and alice

Mike with AliceLeah, Annie, Alice

In France we gazed at the Eiffel Tower, Katie told me she wants to go to France (she’s said that numerous times since Chris and I went), and took pictures with Belle and the Beast.  Mike jumped in line too, but after a picture with them both… he kindly asked the Beast to step out of the picture.  It was so funny that I just couldn’t crop Beast standing out of the way on the side of the picture.  Mike scores again.

BelleMolly, Beauty, Beastkids with belle and beast

In hung out in Morocco for awhile… trying on hats, taking pictures, and watching Molly shake her jingling hips. morocco group

 moroccoMorocco Amy and Mike Morocco brothers

In Japan we stopped to listen to the drum show at the base of the pagoda.  Dan videoed us moving to the beat for the ‘music video’ that will someday come from all our video footage.

 japan

china anniejapan chris ryan matthew

In Italy we took a breather and relaxed in the beautiful courtyard, enjoyed the architecture, and took pictures in front of the water fountain. I wished we could have eaten at my favorite Epcot restaurant – we’ve eaten there with great friends two different times –  but we were still full from lunch.  After the kids finished their masks we kept moving.

grandma and Leahitaly favorite restaurant 1 italy mike and the statue

italy hanging out

In Germany we entered the cute German town ready for Oktoberfest.

germany 1 germany germany chris lisa

We checked out the toy store, and took pictures of Snow White.  Here she is with her ‘seven dwarfs’… not hard to figure out who’s ‘Grumpy?’  Try to figure out the rest…

Snow white and seven dwarfs Snow White

In China, the kids had their names written in Chinese on their masks, Scott picked up some Chinese candy and we made a mental note to have Chinese food for dinner!

china

China - Mom, Dad, Mike

In Norway the group went on Maelstrom, a Viking boat ride, and tried on Viking hats while Matthew and I stayed behind, ate and took pictures.  Thankfully he was just perfect on the trip.  He nursed a little here and there, hung out in the stroller, loved being held by Dad and did lots of smiling.  He just knew he was at the Happiest Place on Earth.

matthew

Megan was pretty darn happy herself.

megan

We cruised through Mexico stopping for a minute to see Donald and wear some big sombreros.

mexicomexico emily and ryan

Donald

Besides the World Showcase some of us did Mission: SPACE, Test Track, The seas with Nemo and Friends, and our favorite… Soarin’.  Tired and hungry we left the park at 6:00 and headed  straight to Pei Wei for dinner.  Table for 20 out on the patio… the perfect ending to an Epcot day.

epcot close up

October 22, 2009

Hollywood Studios

katie, emily, megan

Magical Memories of Hollywood Studios…

  • Getting our pictures taken with Mickey
  • Grandpa doing the ‘Which character are you?’ test and finding out he’s Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast!
  • Getting our pictures taken with the UP characters!
  • Having front row seats for the High School Musical Dance Show and singing along
  • Going to the Playhouse Disney show.  Luke loved it!
  • Eating lunch while watching the Beauty and the Beast Show
  • Taking the Kids on Tower of Terror… Megan so sad she couldn’t go.  Actually we assumed she wasn’t tall enough and found out (too late) that she was.  But don’t tell Megan.  She’d be heartbroken… After the whole week was over I asked her what her favorite rides were and she said, “Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror, even though I wasn’t allowed to go on it.”    Hello, she’s four!  What about Dumbo or Pooh Bear.  Nope, this chick is super excited to be big like Ryan, Katie, and Emily and nothing scares her a bit.
  • Laughing as Mike gets in character with the Power Rangers
  • Laughing as Dad gets in character to take pictures of the Power Rangers
  • Getting all the characters to sign our Disney Character book!
  • Watching Sarah be chosen as one of the 'extras’ in the Indiana Jones Stunt Show… Chris told everyone to jump up and down so someone from our group of 20 would get chosen.  Dan leaned over and said, ‘Watch, it’ll be Sarah.”  Sure enough it was!
  • Coming back from the show to find a FROG sitting right on Lukey’s seat in the stroller!  So funny.
  • Watching the Toy Story parade and having Buzz, Woody and Jessie stop right in front of us to dance
  • Playing in the ‘Honey I shrunk the Kids’ Play land
  • Watching the amazing stunt car show… one of my favorites from this day!
  • Watching Luke meet Buzz and Woody
  • Going on the new Toy Story ride… used a fast pass (otherwise a 60-70 minute wait time)  Wish we could do it more!  It’s was so fun!
  • Eating Mickey mouse ice cream while watching Fantasmic!

Hollywood Studios

group picture

Up Characters        

waiting

stunt car show

frog frog2

Megan and Annie 

molly, annie, leah minnie

rockin roller coaster

ryan, amy minnie

power ranger 

Dad's power ranger stance

Matthew and Dad

Donald Duck

Mickey, Megan, Luke Lukethe chipmunks   

We had so much fun at the Toy Story section of Hollywood Studios.  Here are the kids waiting in line to see Buzz and Woody.  Luke was adorable.  He loves ‘Bup and Wooie’. 

girls with aliens copyRyan and aliens

Toy story Luke checking them out

Toy Story Luke

Toy Story Luke2

Toy Story family

October 21, 2009

Pool Day

Wednesday was our free day.  We slept in, cleaned up, and headed to the pool.  We had great weather all week… so fun to be swimming at the end of October.  The kids had a great time. Molly was hysterical with all her noodles.  Luke loved swimming around with his floaties.  Ryan loved being thrown up in the air and playing catch.  Katie loved entertaining the little cousins.  Megan loved swimming to Dad. (She’s doing so well!) Matthew loved hanging out in the water.   Dad loved playing with all the kids.  Mom loved taking pictures.   Everyone loved hanging out in the hot tub.  We also went out for Mexican food and wrote an email to Elder Walton of all our favorite things about Disneyworld.

Kids and Dad

scott, elisha, foster

mrgan

emly

Grandma and Megan 

Katie and Leah 

leah and dan

Luke and Dad

Matthew

grandpa and luke

Matthew and Chris

Megan and Annie

Megan and Dad

 molly

molly and amy 

Leah

ryan

Ryan flying through the air

Scott and Molly

hot tub

October 20, 2009

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

magic kingdom

mainstreet2 Mainstreet 

(Dan’s pictures)

We heard about the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party only a month before our trip and were immediately convinced.  Dang those amazing Disney marketers!  The kids worked on their Disneyworld Halloween charts before we left to earn half the money for the Not So Cheap tickets…   We got our Halloween costumes ready and packed and were so excited for the big night. 

After Animal Kingdom everyone else went out for dinner and home for a relaxing evening.  Dan’s family and my family headed to Chipotle for dinner and then over to the Magic Kingdom.  We got outfitted in costumes in the parking lot and boarded the tram full of characters for a perfectly wonderful night. 

Magical Moments of Mickey’ Not So Scary Halloween Party…

  • Watching the BEST parade of the week… full of spooktacular costumes and lots of villains.  It was amazing!
  • Looking around to see EVERYONE in costume… tons of group costumes (like everyone dressed in costumes from Toy Story) and lots of couples dressed alike. 
  • Getting handfuls of candy at the Goofy Trick or Treat stations throughout the park
  • Changing Matthew out of his costume 15 minutes into the night cuz he pooped everywhere… he wore football jammies the rest of the night!
  • Seeing all the characters in their costumes
  • Doing the Electric Slide with Pluto, Goofy and Stitch at a Dance Party in Tomorrow Land
  • Going on the Haunted house ride… Luke so still that he fell asleep sitting beside me
  • Dancing YMCA with Donald and Daisy at a Dance Party in Fantasy Land
  • Playing in Minnie’s house and seeing Minnie all dressed up like a witch
  • Seeing so many characters… our favorite… Snow White and ALL the seven dwarfs.  So fun!
  • All the rides had only a 5 minute wait!!  It was so fun
  • Spending the night with our two princess cousins
  • Riding Thunder Mountain at 11:59 – last ride of the night
  • Getting back to the hotel at 1:45!!  Crazy but so worth it!  Would totally do it again!