Disney World Trip Part ...4? The End.

Here is the rundown on our trip:

First two nights at Nickelodeon Hotel w/Universal tickets (blog post here about Wizarding World of Harry Potter). We swam, watched part of a movie from the pool, there were quite a few people watching. Wish I got a pic. It reminded me of a child's version of this:

--Trevi Fountain, Rome, with some friends some of whose kids are now grown...what a fun memory.

In the end, this hotel wasn't our favorite. It felt dirty, and though there were some fun perks, like getting "slimed," we came to do Universal, so we spent all of our time there, making the extra perks a waste of money (lesson learned). Still fun, though.

Days two and three were spent in the Keys (here) and the Everglades (here). So nice. Long drive, the kids did great. Had a great laugh to "Where is my Hairbrush," and "Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet?" on rented van's satellite radio.

Day four we returned to Orlando. Went through Costco for our hotel/tickets-- this was nice because we had a kitchen and a washer/dryer.

Spent day five at Disney's Animal Kingdom (pics here), days six, seven, and eight at Epcott and Magic Kingdom, visited the Orlando temple, then returned home.  The following pictures are of those last days at Magic Kingdom and Epcott.

Loved this mosaic of Cinderella-- isn't it beautiful?

Castle at Disney World a little prettier than Disneyland?

The jokes on the Jungle Tour sailing over someone's head?

Epcott:

Pros for March visit: all the cool bushes/flowers.  Cons: busy time of year to go.

My favorite part of Epcott is the countries.  Norway was a favorite. 

 It was also one of my favorites when we visited Norway when K/Isa were little.  Here's a little blast from the past:

We had some really late nights waiting for the shuttle.  I thought I would die at some point, yet this provided just as much a great bonding time/memories as all the fun stuff.   More Norway below:

 Kaedon, Miguel and I loved the Bonzai trees in the Japan section.

 Morocco was my favorite when I was a teenager.  Walking through again reminded me why.  Loved it.

We visited the Orlando temple while we were there.  Beautiful and peaceful.

 Emerson cracked me up with how excited he got to see all the dressed up characters. (Back to Magic Kingdom)

 Waiting for Rapunzel (first thing in the day) was actually worth it.  It was in a beautiful grotto and they had coloring stuff for the kids.  She was adorable, notice how she tips her foot up. (can you see it in first pic?)  She was really cute with the kids.

 (back to Epcott) Isa especially wanted to visit "England" since that is where she was born (not at Disneyworld, thank heavens).

 Canada, O Canada.  We actually enjoyed the 360 movies, though there was no place to sit (standing only, baby gets heavy).  Welcome relief from the heat, too. 

The verdict: wonderful once-in-a-lifetime trip, awesome memories.  Highlights for the kids were Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Magic Kingdom, and the Keys/Everglades.  (Ava inserts that her favorite was Rapunzel) For Miguel and I: Harry Potter, the Keys, Animal Kingdom, and Epcott, though it doesn't quite have the same allure it had when I was 15 and hadn't travelled anywhere (Miguel said we could have travelled to Europe for the cost to go to Florida).  We probably tried to do too much, though the kids were troopers.  We did the Park Hopper option, which probably wasn't worth it (it takes so long to get to each park, its far for little legs to walk, and then you have to wait in line all over again, go through security again).  If I could do it again, I'd go in a different season (not so busy) and when the kids were a bit older.  That said, it was still a great trip!