Magical REUNION at Walt Disney World

Lady Hiva was gone for a whole month. We all missed her. So the kids and I conceived a plot to surprise her. She was planning a solo trip to Walt Disney World, but we could not let her go without us! So for a few weeks we planned and kept it a secret. We met a few roadblocks, but in the end we arranged to go see her and interrupt her solo trip! HAHA. 

It was hard to keep it a secret because we share bank accounts, we share Disney logins, she can see the credit card statements! LOL. She finally found out a few days before when work sent out a message and included people on leave and she saw my name. Oh blah! 

These two are the best travel companions. We left India in the middle of the night. We were all tired, but they are so helpful and willing to be cheerful. We took several empty suitcases so we could bring things home with us. 

Several people, including the flight staff and others along our way made comments about the fact the kids did not use devices. They each brought books and a few Lego sets to keep themselves occupied. I love that they love to read. 

In fact one of their bucket list items for being in the United States was to go to the library! HAHA

All three of us were mesorized by the cheese selection in the Amsterdam airport! 

We worked it out that one slept along the row, the other slept on blankets on the floor so they could stretch out. 

New York brought a whole new level of eye-candy. There were toys and stuffies and candy and burgers. So much all at once that we took for granted when we lived in the USA and that we miss when we are in India. 

The three of us landed in Orlando, we checked into the hotel and then went to EPCOT. We didn't even change. These two were as excited to go as I was! 

We were able to celebrate being Annual Pass Holders. We have wanted them for years but due to COVID they kept stopping the sales. Having Annual Passes would have saved us thousands of dollars the last few years! 

Some fellow Disney Lovers were willing to take our photo as we walked in with all the "Rope Drop" early birds. 

We LOVED the new TRON ride. The three of us watched the two TRON movies before we left India so we would understand the theme of the ride. However, even if you do not understand the theme of the ride, it is an amazing thrill. It is a bit short, but still amazing. 

Thanks to their mum's influence I have two Haunted Mansion lovers. 

We had fun giving out our Pixie Dust bags throughout the trip. We left some to be found by other guests. We gave them to Cast Members whom we felt helped us or did something kind. I loved seeing the two of them focus on having gratitude. It was a fun experience to watch them give the bags away and see the cast member's eyes light up. 

Finally we were able to meet Lady Hiva. We went to the airport to pick her up. It was a fun reunion! We were all so happy to have her join us. 

We did the fourth of July celebrations in Magic Kingdom and then the next day in EPCOT. It was so much fun to do some things we had never done before. At one point we just had a blast dancing in the street together as the DJ blasted some fun music. 

Lady Hiva was finally able to ride the train around Magic Kingdom. She has wanted to do that for years and it was closed. Then when we were in Disneyland, it was closed. When we were in Paris is closed before we realized and so she has never been able to ride it until this trip!

One of the things that we did to prepare was to make T-shirts. The kids went to the place and designed the shirts themselves. They wanted to put the family nicknames that Lady Hiva gave us one night as she was putting the kids to bed. We all laugh now when we use them. 

One night we made our way over to Port Orleans resort to get Beignets. It was fun to tell Lucky Dragon that the first airplane and trip he went on was to New Orleans when he was only six months old. While Port Orleans is just a mimic version of New Orleans French Quarter, it was still fun to reminisce. 

The kids were able to pick out their own shell and pearl at Japan Pavilion in EPCOT. It was so fun watching the Japanese Cast members be so lively about them choosing an oyster and a shell. 

Another first was to eat at the Mexico Pavilion. I did not have high expectations, but it was actually really good food. They have done so well with the theming you forget that it is not night time outside. 

I bought me a big beach hat the first day and it was the best purchase the whole trip. Florida (and later Hawaii) were both so sunny and hot. This hat shaded my skin and kept me cool. I cannot tell you how many people commented on it. 

Another set of the shirts that we had made. We wore them on Independence Day. 

We planned all year and we were able to spend a week at the Polynesian Resort. It was amazing. The location is perfect. We love the Hawaii vibe and we could watch the fireworks from the beach. Every night we would come home and go straight to the pool! 

As we went through the parks it was fun to see all the décor. We loved that animal kingdom had so many nods to India and Nepal. Small details that before we did not notice, or if we did notcies, we did not understand. But we loved that the soda stand was called the "Drink-walla." In India "walla" is the designation for a profession. So a foodwalla makes food etc. We also loved all the Sherpa things around the Everest Ride. As we went through the queue we all commented on how we saw all of these same things when we were climbing up Everest. 

I love this photo. It shows how we are a family that goes all in, and arms up! Enjoy the ride, even when it is hard an scary. 

It was so good to see the Lion King show is back to normal. They had the fireknife dancers and the acrobats back. Every time I watch this show I am reminded why I love it so much. 

We went up to Rafiki's Planet watch and all did an animation class together. It was so much fun to do that. We did it years ago during the Art Festival and glad we made it back to do it again. 

Below you can see all four of our version of Judy the Rabbit from Zootopia. 

Look at all those magic bands ready to go! I was so glad that I had read the tip to get one of these big chargers. It is life changing for people with several devices that need to be charged! 

Making Tye-die shirts at the pool. So it gives the impression they were mad scientists! 

Riding TRON again. We were able to ride it several times during our trip! 

These two Muggles started to do make faces when they knew there was a camera. Although she looks scared, she inherited our adrenaline junky genes (see below). 

This si the first year we have done a photo pass before too. We have never wanted to spend the money, but I am so glad that we did it. We were able to get some great photos of all four of us. Usually it is Lady Hiva or I with the kids, but never both. If we ask someone to take a photo they always take odd angles and/or chop off someone's head while getting the entire sidewalk in front of us!  HAHA

These photos were funny. We took them after dinner and the Evil Queen played her part so well. We took the photo with the kids first then she told us to join. When we were standing there smiling she said, "What did you do to them, they don't say a word!" I said, "We are full from eating." Before I could finish, she quipped, "I didn't ask for excuses!" Then they took the photo. Hence all of us in half laugh mode. 

Guardians of the Galaxy was another family favorite. Again, none of us have seen the movie, so do not really understand the storyline, but it was so much fun to ride the coaster and sing along to the amazing music. And it was longer than TRON so we had more time to enjoy! 

We tried all kinds of restaurants. Some that we have eaten before and loved, and others that were new to us for the first time. One new one was the Sci-Fi 50s Diner. You sit in cars and watch a drive-in theater while you eat burgers and milkshakes. 

This was us waiting out the hail storm in the Everest gift shop. While we were in there lightning struck the ride mountain and fried the sensors. So the ride was closed for the rest of the day. We all made a  joke about the way we always get stuck in bad weather when trying to tackled EVEREST. HAHA

The two Muggles were so happy to see the Buddhist Prayer Wheels and stones. Something that we saw all the way along our trek.  

We went to Nimo and Friends stage show for the first time. To be honest, it was just a chance to get out of the heat and humidity. None of us were overly excited to go. But it was really great. We all talked about it for days how the character puppets were used and the expressions of the actors. 

The kids and I had just watched Elemental when we left. So we loved seeing the ads etc around the park. We even named our red stroller Ember and red car Burnie (tradition in our family to name them). So instead of saying "where is the stroller" we say, "I will go get Ember" haha. In the past we have had Donald, Walt, Ursula, Ariel, etc.  

I LOVE the Frozen Sing-Along show in Hollywood Studios. I am not really a Frozen fan per se, but I love the way this show uses acting and wit to tell the story. I love to go and see the different cast put their own unique spin on it. I also love to hear the crowd enjoying themselves. My family are good sports to go with me a few times--even if it is just for them to escape the heat!  

We are not really Star Wars Fans (I have never seen Star Wars). Lady Hiva had no either until this last year. She started to watch them with the kids because both kids really like the animal type characters--Porgs, Chewbacca (not sure how to spell it) etc. 

He was trying to be sneaky and touching buttons to see if the "guards" would yell at him! 

We had fun with the new magic bands and seeing them light up and dance with the different shows. We all really enjoyed Fantasmic. 

Even eating was entertainment. These two could have sat at the restaurant all day and waved to It's A Small World guests going into the ride below. 

These two were trying to re-enact the barrel guy holding dynamite in the Haunted Mansion stretching room. This was out on Tom Sawyer's Island. 

I really like the American Pavilion and EPOT and the Hall of Presidents at the Magic Kingdom. Both were cool to see being there over Independence Day Weekend. The animatronics and story telling about the history of the Country is such an inspiring thing to see. 

Tinkerbelle is getting ready to fly! My favorite part of the whole show! 

Our family is competitive. And this ride ALWAYS brings out the competition--every time! 

It was a great trip to Florida. A special reunion. I am sure that we ruined Lady Hiva's solo trip. But we had so much fun together!