After yesterday we knew that today was going to be a lazy day, and that’s now we started it. Emily woke up at 9:02am and we didn’t leave the villa until 11:15am. We decided to go to the Mall at Millenia an indoor mall for some running and walking around.

First we stopped at the Starbucks for a coffee. After we continued to the Mall we first drove to a small rainstorm and afterwards there was a lengthy traffic jam on the I-4. I decided to take a detour but that was a mistake it took twice as long. But we saw some new things…

And how typical, just before we reached our destination Emily fell a sleep, after 20 minutes in the car we decided that it was time for her to wake up. We walked into the Mall and the first stop was the Macy’s with a special 25% event. Emily now drinks Apple Juice from a box on her own…just sometimes it gets messy like her in the fitting rooms! Happens only when dad is in charge..

We were all hungry and for lunch in the Mall. During lunch we started messaging with Dusty, a friend from Belgium, who was on his his way to Orlando. He would be visiting Epcot in the evening, we had three possibilities in mind nothing, Animal Kingdom or Epcot. We only wanted to make the final decision after Emily had her afternoon nap. 

Emily went to bed at 3:00pm and slept till 5:45pm, not really long but she was very active. At that moment a huge thunderstorm also moved over the villa and we agreed that we would just go for Epcot as soon as the thunderstorm was over, 

A couple minutes before 7:00pm we buckled up and drove to Epcot to see Illuminations and maybe do. a bit more. When we arrived at 7:10pm the sky didn’t look friendly and we parked Emily her stroller somewhere dry and decided to go for a ride in Spaceship Earth. 

Just before we entered the ride we met with Dusty and his parents. They went for dinner and Soarin’ and we would meet up with Dusty at the German Pavilion in World Showcase to drink a beer together and watch Illuminations. 

On the decent in Spaceship Earth the ride broke down, we were stuck for just 10 minutes but being stuck in a ride vehicle in backward direction going down in the dark is an experience on his own. But except for not wanting to sit down she did very well. 

After the ride we went back to pick up our stroller. Here we also found out that the wait for a picture with Joy and Sadness was minimal andd thus we stopped by to say hello before we walked to our favourite spot to watch the fireworks spectacle. 

While I went for a huge pretzel and beer Dusty joined Danielle and Emily. The girl from Hannover, in the country pavilions the cast members are all citizens of the country itself, ask me for my ID. I did not believe that she would think I was only 21-years old, she didn’t want to answer my question but her colleague thought it was funny. 

While waiting for the firework to start we chatted a bit in Dutch. Dusty is from the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. 

Emily really enjoyed the fireworks, during some displays she even reponded with a “Wooooow”. Maybe you can hear her (and me) in the background! 

After the show we left the park to go back to the villa. Emily slept before we arrived, but in 15 minutes she was in her own bed…tomorrow 9:00am again, I hope so! 

After a good night of sleep we were ready to go Disney’s Hollywood Studio’s at 8:30am. At 8:40 we arrived on th sparking lot and we were in the park at 9:05am after parking, applying sunscreen, walking to the entrance, the back check and enter the park. 

First stop was the Olaf, we went for a picture and Emily was a little bit afraid of this bright white snowman with his orange pointy nose. But he told her that warm hugs were a good thing. 

We tried that right after Olaf with Minnie, Emily walked to Minnie on her own and she just hugged her, out of the blue. A couple kisses and pictures later we followed the red carpet through the hallway. 

The next star was Sorcerer Mickey. In the beginning she was a bit shy but when we were about to exit Mickey went down to sit on knees, Emily turned around and gave him a 30 second long hug. We were a bit afraid that she didn’t wanted to let him go again…but we managed to get her to leave without crying…

Right after we exited we saw both Chip & Dale. After short while Chip got a big hug, she neglected Dale completely. Until the end, that’s when she almost jumped out of my arms to give him a hug too. 

Time for breakfast, which was more a brunch based on to the time with the Characters from Disney Junior at Hollywood & Vine a restaurant in the park. Emily met Handy Manny, Doc McStuffins, Jake the Pirate and Princess Sofia the First. Sofia got a hug and a kiss. 

After the brunch we decided to leave the park on go to Disney Springs to checkout some stores. As soon as we were in the car Emily fell a sleep. We waited in the parking garage to see if she would wake up on her won but after 20 minutes we decided it was time. 

An hour later we were back in the car on our way to the villa, here we had a visitor! There was a snake in front of the door…lucky for us he/she left quickly. I’ve never actually imagined to find a real life snake in front of the door and would not even have known if was venomous or not. I looked it up on the web later and i believe is was a non-venomous snake. 

Emily went straight to bed at 1:30 as we have big plans for tonight, Magic Kingdom! She slept till about 5:00pm and at 5:48pm we walked into the Magic Kingdom, that’s how close to the Magic we stay… 

First stop was out meeting with Mickey the Magician. Emily was a bit surprised that his. Öse moved but she gave him a kiss and an high five. 

After we said bye to Mickey we walked towards Fantasyland for dinner at Pinocchio Villagehaus. No way Emily would sit in a high chair. Somehow she decided to sit on the bench like mama and papa. 

Right after dinner we went on to meet with first Rapunzel and then Tiana. Both got a warm hug too. Most impressive was Rapunzel’s hair. 

Now it was time for some rides, we started with It’s a Small World, I fear that this isn’t the last time. Throughout the whole ride Emily clapped and waved at all the figures. The row in front and the row after us in the boat enjoyed watching Emily more as the ride…quite the entertainer for a almost 2 year old. 

Across the exit from It’s a Small World there was the entrance for the FastPass for Peter Pan’s Flight and its was just in time. Emily watched parts of the ride with open mouth, others with closed eyes. 

Exit was The Little Mermaid, Ariël is Emily’s number 2 favourite princess, every time she sees her silhouette or a drawing she points at her shouting something like “erelle”. This ride was so much fun, every time She or her friend Flounder were there she started pointing and shouting. Until we came to the part of Ursula the sea witch, her she cried a little bit. 

From Ariël Emily walked right to the Dumbo’s. Maximum amount of fun, she didn’t know where to look, we’ll see for yourself  tried taping something with our GoPro. I’ve uploaded it to Instagram and it should work…if not just visit my Instagram profile. 

That was Fantasyland for today, we walked towards Tomorrowland where we did our all time favourites. First a tour with the Tomorrowland Transport Authority and we ended with ride number 6 of the day in the Carousel of Progress. 

By now it was 8:51pm, just 9 minutes before the new firework show of the Magic Kingdom, Happily Ever After would start. We did not really know how popular this show would be but we were only able to get a spot on Mainstreet near Town Square. And maybe this was not even a real surprise the old show was almost 14 years old… Emily loved the new show she kept ‘dancing’ on my arm while they played music she recognized. For her the night was just 2 minutes too long. 

After the firework we took the monorail back to the Ticket & Transportation Center and at 9:46pm I started the engine, at 9:57pm we rolled onto the driveway of our villa. Moments later Emily was a sleep and I’m writing the blog and downloading the pictures from our Memory Maker. 

Today we did 2 times the number of rides we did so far and we met with a record number of 12 characters (yes we met Mickey twice but he changed clothes in between). 

Tomorrow we will relax a little bit..,