What a wonderful vacation the Tharpe family had! WE LOVE DISNEY!!! We flew to Orlando on Friday, October 1st and took the magical express to our resort--Disney's Beach Club. It was located inside Epcot--it literally took less than 5 minutes to walk from the resort to Epcot (entering into the park inside the world showcase between England and France). We loved going to eat in the world showcase! Magic Kingdom was decorated so pretty for the Fall--and we went to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween party which was amazing! The kids went trick or treating, and we watched the Halloween parade which was so fabulous--we didn't leave Magic Kingdom until midnight! We had lunch at Cinderella's castle! We exhausted ourselves, but we went to every park and rode and saw just about everything, and the kids did fantastic! Gabe and Emma were tall enough to ride most of the rides, except for 2 roller coasters (one at Animal Kingdom and one at Hollywood Studios). We had so much fun! I'll never forget standing outside Magic Kingdom waiting for it to open, and watching the Disney charaters arrive in a train singing "Zippity Doo Da, Zippity Day..." The looks on Emma's and Gabe's faces were priceless!
The first night, we did not go to any of the parks. We decided to relax at the pool (which was quite amazing by the way), and then go to the campire and movie on the beach. The kids loved roasting marshmallows and singing songs around the fire. Then as they were starting to put the huge movie screen up, a cast member came over and asked us if we would be interested in taking a pontoon cruise (free) down the lake to watch Epcot's illumination show. This year's theme at Disney is "What are you celebrating" and we rode on the "birthday cruise". When I booked the vacation back in the Spring, they asked me if we would be celebrating anything, and I told them we would be celebrating Emma and Gabe's birthday! So Emma was wearing her "birthday" button, which I assume is the reason why the cast member asked us. There was another pontoon that was decorated for the "anniversary cruise". It was very cool, to say the least!
Gabe loved roasting marsmallows!
Waiting on the beach...
Emma loved the campfire!
Gabe and mommy enjoying the cruise!
The movie out on the beach--Our resort is in the background.
The birthday cruise!!
Emma loved it!
Our family on the cruise!
The beach at our resort--across the lake was the Boardwalk Inn.
Gabe and I on the safari ride at Animal Kingdom
The Epcot Globe moving out onto the water during the illumination show.
We LOVE Mickey and Minnie! Doesn't everyone?
Isn't it Magical?
This is what Disney is all about!
Breakfast at Cape May Cafe
On our way to Epcot, we stopped for a picture!
Our babies!
With Jasmine at Cinderella's Castle
Cape May Cafe--this one makes me laugh!
In "England" at Epcot's World Showcase!
Our beautiful resort!
Gabe and Daddy waiting at the bus stop!
Gabe's favorite ride! He loved driving!
Aunt Tonya and Emma at Biergarten!
Cheers!
The scenery at the Beach Club was beautiful!
At the Halloween Party, in front of Cinderella's carriage
Gabe posed for me outside our resort
Outside the Nemo ride at Epcot
The pool at the Beach Club was awesome, and had a sand bottom!
Around midnight...Halloween party
With Smee and Captain Hook. Hook was so funny--he would "steal" the kids' candy and run away with it. But he didn't steal Emma's! He gave her a hug!
Daddy and our babies!
The entrance into our resort!
Playing in the pool
Gabe and mommy playing in the pool!
So pretty!
On the flight to Orlando!
Our pirate and princess...ready for the Halloween party!
On the carousel!
Emma's FAVORITE princess--see the look on her face? Spending the $$$ to eat at Cinderella's castle was totally worth it!
Getting sprinkled with "PIRATE" Dust--arrrrrrrrrrrrgh!
Getting sprinkled with Pixie Dust outside the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique inside the Castle
We had breakfast with Pooh and friends at Crystal Palace--YUM!
Magic Kingdom decorated for the Halloween party!
