Day 3 -- EPCOT (Front)

Day 3 (Monday) was also still quite chilly. And the wind was fierce! It was so bad, I stopped and bought a sweatshirt on my way into the park because I didn't have a jacket or anything.

We decided to focus most of our energy this day on "Future World" aka: the "front part" of EPCOT. We did all the fun stuff: Spaceship Earth (the big ball), Test Track, Mission: Space, and Soarin'... and last, but not least, Raisha's personal favorite: NEMO & Friends!

Here is Natasha, being a "snack" -- for Bruce, the shark.

Raisha, hangin' out with the sharks...

After lunch, we did our old, standby -- "Living With the Land" which features some pretty remarkable gardening! Check out these 9-pound lemons!

Even though we were focusing on the front half of EPCOT, we did make a quick trip to the Norway Pavilion -- our favorite in the World Showcase.
Here, we are riding the "Maelstrom"
("It's very gentle.")
Ask me about this.

Natasha & Raisha trying to look fearsome, but coming off as mostly cute.

Viking Raisha!
Be afraid; be very afraid!
Seriously, she had a complete meltdown about 2 minutes after this was taken!

Later that evening (after we recovered from the meltdown by riding the Mexico "Three Caballeros" ride about 12 times), Raisha was dressed up & we were headed to Akershus @ the Norway Pavilion for a dinner with the Princesses!

We got to see: Jasmine, and Beauty, and Ariel, and Belle, and of course, Raisha's favorite:
Cinderella!

Raisha & Belle

We left the park just as the last fireworks were exploding in the air and made our way back to the front gates along with the 10,000 other lemmings park guests.

That night we were completely wiped out & vowed to take it slower the next day.
Yeah, right.

Day 2 -- HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

The big hat @ Disney's Hollywood Studios!

Sunday morning dawned gray and cool... and VERY windy!

We knew that there was a forecast for rain, so we changed our plans from "Animal Kingdom" where almost everything is outside, to "Disney's Hollywood Studios" (formerly Disney MGM), where almost everything is inside.

But we did keep our reservations for an early lunch at RAINFOREST CAFE at the Animal Kingdom and it was so cool! I loved it as much as the kids. :)

Raisha checking out the HUGE fish tanks near the entrance.

Nadia & Natasha listening to the "thunder" and the animals coming "alive."

Natasha & Raisha near the waterfall...
Many of these pictures were taken with my phone, so please forgive their quality.

After lunch, we headed over to Hollywood Studios.
What started out as a gray, dreary day was turning sunny and beautiful and COLD.
It was downright chilly!

We walked around a bit and did the usual stuff
(Muppets 3D, Star Tours, Great Movie Ride)
and picked up fast passes for Rockin' RollerCoaster for Natasha and myself.
But then we saw THIS:

ESPN was hosting "ESPN: The Weekend" special
at Hollywood Studios and guess who was there???

Just guess.

Ok, I'll tell you.
CURT SCHILLING and
(my personal favorite) SCOTTIE PIPPEN!

Wait, it gets even better:
They were hosting a televised, special, all-star edition of
"Stump the Schwab"
(one of Clay's absolute favorite shows on ESPN)
and we were going to be in the live audience!

Waiting for the show to start...

There are the contestants with their star-partners!

Scottie Pippen is on the far left (for you poor souls who were not loyal Bulls fans)
And Curt Schilling (awesome Red Sox pitcher) is in the middle wearing the baseball cap.

I love Scottie 1) because he was part of the awesome Jordan-Pippen team that made the Chicago Bulls dominant for so long, but also because:
2) He went to my alma mater! Just a couple of years before I attended there, Scottie graduated from UCA -- University of Central Arkansas!
How cool is that?

Scottie and some poor, hapless dude who didn't know any of the answers. =(
They lost.

Curt Schilling & his partner had equally bad luck. They lost, too. =(

The "Schwab" himself & believe it or not, we actually saw him stumped!

Ice cream stand at Hollywood Studios -- notice the "smoke"
coming from its nostrils?

Natasha & I rode Rockin' RollerCoaster TWICE -- It was awesome!!

We wrapped up the evening with dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe where Nadia became the favored pet of our waitress, Elizabeth.
If you've never been to the Prime Time Cafe, you really should try it.

The food is good (not awesome, but good), and the atmosphere is VERY entertaining!

The decor is all 1950's and there are black & white TVs everywhere showing old clips of famous 50's sitcoms.
But even funnier is the way the staff treats the clientele.
The treat you, literally, like one of the family.

And you'd better keep your elbows off the table
and finish everything on your plate!
And if you don't, you will be publicly shamed and made to sing "I'm a Little Teapot" as the poor girl behind us did.
I don't know if I've ever had such a fun dining experience.
NADIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (inside joke)

Day 1 -- Magic Kingdom!

View coming down "Main Street USA"

Day 1 started out bright and beautiful... The weather was warm and sunny.
Raisha didn't care for the monorail ride from Ticket & Transportation to the Magic Kingdom, but she cheered up considerably once she saw Cinderella's castle.

First stop: Breakfast with Pooh & Friends at
Crystal Palace!

A new tradition for us is to have breakfast the first morning at Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh and his friends. It's an all-you-can-eat buffet and the food is pretty decent.
Even better, the characters (all 4 -- Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, & Piglet) come around to each and every table to take pictures with each child. There's no running after them trying to squeeze in for a picture. Raisha loved it!

Tigger was relatively calm... :)

Adventure Land!

After breakfast, we picked up our stroller and headed over to Adventure Land -- home to the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House, the Jungle Cruise ride, Aladdin's Magic Carpets, and (my personal favorite) Pirates of the Caribbean!
Just watch out for the giant, spitting camel as you are coming in to the area. ;^)

On the Pirates of the Caribbean ride:
Sneaky JACK SPARROW!

It's amazing how REAL he looks!
This picture is not very good -- taken without flash with my iPhone

On the JUNGLE CRUISE!
No worries -- this Python doesn't bite.
Indeed, I don't think he's moved since I was about 2!

Headhunter "Deal of the Day:"
Two of his heads for one of yours.
Ha ha ha

Raisha talking to "PUSH" the talking trash can in Tomorrow Land

Natasha and Raisha were so excited to see "Push" -- Tomorrow Land's talking, robotic trash can.
He was very entertaining.
Here, Raisha is "feeding" him a french fry Natasha saved from lunch.

First day was spent entirely in the Magic Kingdom...
Natasha and I rode SPLASH MOUNTAIN (of course) and while we were waiting in line, we overheard that Curt Schilling (Boston Red Sox pitcher whom Nadia adores)
was in the park with his family.
Checking his Twitter site later that night, we found out that it was TRUE!
Even better: Boston was experiencing blizzard conditions and the Schillings would have to stay at Disney for a couple more days.
Nadia determined to wear her Curt Schilling #38 hat every day until she spotted him.
Little did we know, she wouldn't have to wait very long...