| We went to Florida the first week of February. JJ was actually going for the 2nd time, but I'm not sure she remembered her initial trip when she was 1 1/2! Keshni & Wally made their first trip to the sunshine state. We were VERY lucky to be able to start out at Rick & Dee Jarretts. They gave us all the lowdown and the tools to make it a special time (you've GOT to take the 2-way 900 mhz radio's [nee, high powered walkie talkies]). We were actually able to start at Universal Studio's "Islands of Adventure" for the first day since it was all of 12 blocks away from the Jarrett's. Pretty cool. | |||
 anniejarretts.jpg 31.82 Kb |
We were blessed to be able to stay with "Friend Rick" & "Friend Dee" Jarrett and to see Dee's mother Annie while in Orlando! Check out the Jarretts webpage. |
 islandshulk.jpg 120.33 Kb |
Day one we spent at Universal Studios "Islands of Adventure" A whole 5 minutes from the Jarretts Orlando home! The "HULK" roller coaster (top pic) and Spiderman 3D win cool rides of the day. |
 islandswebpiczoom.jpg 15.69 Kb |
Rick, while 'working at home', managed to find us on the web! Proof that it is truly a live, real time camera. |  islandswebpic.jpg 10.10 Kb |
Check out the ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE camera - this spot is "down and to the right" from where it starts. [click/refresh twice near lower right] |
 islandsrides.jpg 95.49 Kb |
Lots of new rides for JJ too, including "1 Fish, 2 Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" in Seuss land. |  islandscharacters.jpg 105.29 Kb |
A Common theme in these pictures will be the CHARACTERS of all kinds. These happened to be at "Islands" (I think they randomly licensed any characters Disney didn't have!). |
 islandscaptam.jpg 31.44 Kb |
Most of the Marvel comics super heroes were a little scary - but good Ol' Captain America looked safe! |  islandscathat.jpg 36.49 Kb |
JJ and the 'Cat'. |
 islandsbboop.jpg 31.04 Kb |
Betty Boop really liked Wally. |  islandsendofday.jpg 31.99 Kb |
The first of several LONG days in a row reaches its conclusion. |
| We checked into the "Villas at the Disney Institute" on the "Sunshine Getaway" package for 4 days & 3 nights. We got to spend time at all the major parks except Epcot (kids are probably too young to enjoy that yet). We had the best of intentions to do some cool nighttime activities, but we were always too tired. | |||
 disneyparks.jpg 113.86 Kb |
Keshni shows off the 3 main Disney parks we attended (Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom & MGM Studios). |
 disneywallyjj.jpg 29.56 Kb |
Wally & JJ are all ready to hit the parks! Gonna be some long days... |
 disneymainst.jpg 57.88 Kb |
"Lookin' right down mainstreet USA" |  disneywallygar.jpg 45.17 Kb |
Disney guys. Wally with the "infamous" Minnie hat. Ask JJ about this hat's adventure! |
 disneyshows.jpg 102.03 Kb |
Lots of shows to see. |  disneyrides.jpg 101.11 Kb |
Had to work in a few rides - JJ even liked the [kids] roller coaster [upper right], but she wouldn't drive the car. |
 disneyparade.jpg 22.98 Kb |
We saw our share of parades too. This is the MULAN parade at MGM/Disney Studios. |  disneydino.jpg 117.42 Kb |
The family heading to breakfast at the Animal Kingdom. As part of our "package" we got a free "character breakfast" everyday. |
 disneyankingdom.jpg 118.50 Kb |
Wow, the effort that went into the "Animal Kingdom Tree of Life" is amazing. Keshni also got to show of the South African flag in the "Africa" zone. |  disneysafari.jpg 91.88 Kb |
On safari - look carefully and you can see a world famous nature photographer in action! |
| Speaking of character breakfasts, the characters may have been the highlight of the trip - at least for a certain 5 year old. The big thing now is to get their autographs, so we waited in a lot of lines to do that. Thank goodness for the breakfasts where some of them would actually come to US. | |||
 disneyariel.jpg 54.29 Kb |
ARIEL for "The Little Mermaid" |  disneybelle.jpg 29.53 Kb |
BELLE from "The Beauty and the Beast". |
 disneybrer.jpg 70.61 Kb |
The less familiar - but no less a 'find' for autographs - Brer Bear and Brer Rabbit. Kelli and Wally looked on from the upper deck. |  disneycinder.jpg 51.85 Kb |
"The" couple, Cinderella and Prince Charming. Wally tends to mimic looking at what his Dad does too much... |
 disneybugslife.jpg 45.77 Kb |
A special, but inanimate, but - FLIK, from "A Bugs Life" |  disneybug.jpg 29.70 Kb |
A generic, but 'live', bug at the Animal Kingdom. |
 disneydonald.jpg 80.27 Kb |
One of Kelli's favorites, Donald Duck. Wally wants to take care of the bill for the breakfast... |  disneygoofy.jpg 33.08 Kb |
GOOFY. |
 disneyjasmine.jpg 63.27 Kb |
Jasmine from "Alladin" |  disneysleepbeauty.jpg 45.09 Kb |
The signature said "Princess Aurora" - took us awhile to figure out that was Sleeping Beauty's 'real' name. The rest of the gang's just ready for breakfast. |
 disneypeterpan.jpg 34.37 Kb |
Peter Pan - a little more masculine nowadays... |  disneypluto.jpg 32.29 Kb |
Pluto. |
 disneykesh.jpg 59.11 Kb |
Keshni got caught up in "character fever" too. |  disneypoohpals.jpg 127.79 Kb |
The other big favorites, the gang from the 100 acre wood (at breakfast). Piglet, Eeyore, Pooh & Tigger. |
 disneydinoback.jpg 71.82 Kb |
Good thing this guy couldn't sign anything. |  disneyrafiki.jpg 22.85 Kb |
Rafiki from "The Lion King". |
 disneymickey.jpg 55.38 Kb |
"The" mouse, the myth, the made to market photo. MICKEY! (again, Wally goes for the nose) | ||
| We also got the chance to work on getting some other SPECIAL mementos while there... | |||
 disneyjjdraw.jpg 45.66 Kb |
JJ's first portrait... well, more or less... |  jjcaricature.jpg 77.63 Kb |
The finished product. |
 disneyhaircut.jpg 38.74 Kb |
Wally's VERY FIRST HAIRCUT. And he got it right on "Main Street USA" at Disney! |
 wallyhaircutaward.jpg 109.68 Kb |
The OFFICIAL certificate. |