Happiest place on earth!

Disney was fantastic! Like I said it was only mildly busy, still busy, but nothing like high season. And the Christmas aspect was amazing. When you enter the gates they have this Disney Christmas music that just knocks your socks off. There is music playing everywhere you go. Ellie was just beyond excited. She was practically vibrating! There were several rides which we went on again and again. The Buzz Lightyear ride we went on at least 10 times! And the Haunted Mansion we went on about 6 times. Our hotel, The Annabella, was great! The service was outstanding, the resteraunt was one of the best we have ever been to, and Ellie had her own little room with a daybed and her own TV. The only thing I will say, though, is it is not sound proof. We heard our next door neighbors TV so loud, it was ridiculous, and every door slammed shut, and footsteps. THe only saving grace is that we were so exhausted at the end of the day (we got back around 930 every night) we slept anyway despite the noise. The shopping was so fun! I suddenly could not get enough of Disney stuff!! ALL DISNEY ALL OF THE TIME!! Every single store I had to stop in, eventhough they have a lot of the same stuff. Loved! The best thing we did on recommendation from a friend, (Thanks Ang! ) was to buy a book on Disney ahead of time and plan our days there. Especially that first day. The night before we piled onto our bed and strategically plotted out our next day. We went thru each ride, and the description of it, and beside the name of the ride on the little map we put our initials on who wanted to go on what. Once we went there after the first day, though, we had hit every ride and knew the grounds pretty well. The second day we went to the California Park. Now this place was DEAD which was AWESOME!!!! We waited, oh about 5 minutes per ride!!!!!! It was insane! I actually went on the massive roller coaster, never been on a big one in my life.. it was wicked fun! Soaring over California was amazing too. A really neat part, that one. It was pretty chilly there, it only warmed up mid afternoon for a couple of hours, so we wish we had more long sleeved stuff. My favourite picture of the whole trip is the one Regan took at the very top of this post. It just chokes me up to look at it! Walt Disney was such a great man with an unbelievably happy and profound vision. He is a truly iconic figure, who aparently to those who knew him, also a genuine nice person.

Anyway, so fun, not expensive, a great time had by all!!!