Joni's Digi Blog: DAY 3 (CHEF MICKEYS/MAGIC KINGDOM/DAYTONA)

We got up really early Wednesday morning. I had told Dean the night before that we wouldn't be doing Chef Mickey's in the morning. I had made reservations months ago (again Passporter recommended) but the more I thought about how expensive it was, I thought we better not. Having left for Florida with far less money in my pocket than I had anticipated and having to put a $200 deposit on my rental car because I was using a debit card and not a major credit card (unplanned) we still had several days ahead of us and I didn't want to cut ourselves short.

Having slept very little through the night. I even got up and sat by the pool and read my book for a while. I decided. (I am the one who made every single decision on this trip and me ALONE) we were DEFINITELY doing Chef Mickey's. I didn't want to go home and say "I wish we would have done that!".

Half the excitement was getting to be on the monorail just a little bit more than those just riding to the Magic Kingdom. Again, having just seen pictures, we were PSYCHED to finally be aboard THE MONORAIL!! Part of what makes Chef Mickey's so exciting is that the Monorail drives right through the center of the Contemporary Resort.

Goofy was the first character to visit our table. What a hoot he was. The whole family had gotten up to go to the buffet and I was alone at the table. He was dancing in front of my table and swinging his napkin. I would go back to Chef Mickey's just to see Goofy!

I missed my picture with the most famous mouse of all but it was still awesome to pair up with my girl Minnie!

This is it! This is the picture I have dreamed of. Of course we all thought that the Cinderella's castle would be visible all over Orlando, it was not. We couldn't really get a glimpse of it until we were in or very near the Magic Kingdom.

We saw LOTS of characters. Kate and Andy both got autographs and pics from Mary Poppins and Bert, Pinocchio, Chip and Dale, Jimmy Cricket, Pluto, Goofy, Mickey, Minnie and Buzz Lightyear. I am sure there were others but that was on the top of my head.

Ahhhh the best ride ever!!!! I could ride this over and over and over again. The whole family enjoyed this. We got the experience of a ride and a game all in one. I wish Disney had more rides like this one. But I can't complain too much. Everything was perfect!

Again we missed a lot @ this park and we even went back in the evening on another day to watch the fireworks. Our favorites were the Main Street Vehicles (Kate loved this), Jungle Cruise (it was just nice to sit down..although I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't sitting on the old guys lap next to me.) We were gonna do Splash Mountain as it is legendary but Kate wouldn't go on it after she saw it and I am kinda with her anymore. I think I have a bad heart! Our very favorites were Stitch's Great Escape and Monsters Inc. WE could have spent all day in Tomorrowland and been perfectly happy! (I wish we would have gotten to Peter Pan's flight on this day...when we returned it became my favorite ride and Philharmagic was DEFINITELY my favorite show!!!)

Luckily we found a few of these around the park. They kept us cool!

We waited for about 20 minutes in the wrong location for the parade. I was looking @ the map wrong. We then proceeded to Main Street to watch the parade in the mess of people and the blazing hot sun. Everyone has always said how great the parades are but it is one of those things you just have to experience. Again...truly magical. There were several times on the trip where I was just so happy to be there that I wanted to cry. This was one of those moments.

Those that know me well, know that I am a die hard Eeyore fan. I have a million stuffed animals, PEZ dispensers, straws...pretty much anything stupid you can imagine...I own it!

After we left the park, we headed to our hometown strip (192) to try the Black Angus Steakhouse. We pass it every day when we turn down Old Lake Wilson Rd to get to our pool house. I think this was the best food we had the entire stay. The side salad (I know stupid right?) was the best thing I have ever eaten and it was followed by a strip steak that was out of this world!!! Everyone was happy and I didn't mind paying $65.00 to eat. WELL worth it!

We went home to swim for a bit. It clouded over pretty good and we thought it would storm. It sprinkled a bit but nothing major. By around 5:30, I got this crazy idea to drive to Daytona Beach. I wanted to see the beach so bad it hurt. So we drove to Daytona. It was so nice to relax and just drive in places I have never been before. We got to the beach a little after 8. The sun was going down and we knew there wasn't much time. It was enough for us. We all (minus Dean...he doesn't do water) got in the ocean and had a blast!!!! We pretty much had the entire beach to ourselves. It was sooooo quiet. When we go back...we will go to Daytona. I liked it a lot better than Clearwater.

Still doesn't look right, seeing pictures of MY kids on the beach. Who'da thought???

Andy and Kate had a blast finding shells and even some baby crabs on the beach. We collected sand, water and shells to bring home.

I had to drag her out of there kicking and screaming. She didn't want to leave! These are just a couple LOs I did for Day 3. (Click on them to make them larger)