Our trip went by super fast and day 8 was our last day to go to the parks.  We had an early breakfast reservation at the Crystal Palace so we headed to Magic Kingdom bright and early.

We’ve never seen a “rope drop” before, which is basically the opening ceremony at the park, so we decided we wanted to see it.

We had a pretty good spot to see the opening show.  We loved it!!

Then it was time for breakfast.

Tigger signing an autograph for Hailey.

Piglet and Hailey

Pooh and Hailey

One last birthday celebration in Disney World.

A big hug for Eeyore.  Hailey asked Eeyore why he was always so sad.  He pointed to his stomach, so I guess that means his tummy hurts.

I love the colorful character topiary when you first enter the Crystal Palace, so I had to take some pictures on our way out:

Pooh

Eeyore

Piglet

Tigger

Since it was our last day we went off to ride on Hailey’s favorite rides again.

We started in Adventureland

First up we went on the Magic Carpet Ride since it broke when we were sitting on it waiting to ride on day 7.

We rode on the Jungle Cruise and then Hailey played in the water for a little while.

Hailey and her “opera glasses” at Mickey’s PhilharMagic

Hailey and Buzz

And one last attempt at pulling the sword from the stone:

And she pulled it out!  I love the look on her face!!  It was actually pretty heavy so Rich and had to help her pull it all the way up.

Rich and Hailey waiting to go on Hailey’s favorite ride- Peter Pan

Hailey on her favorite ride

Walt Disney and Mickey

Me and Hailey on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Hailey was so excited to get to pose with the captured Zurg.  She had remembered from 2009 that he was at the end of the ride and had been asking repeatedly to see him.  Earlier in the week he was covered up so we were glad she got to see him on our last day.

We rode Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin again and I got my highest score ever.  Never mind that we got stuck in the one of the rooms and I was able to keep shooting.  But after we got unstuck I wasn’t able to shoot for the rest of the game, so it all evens out (except that I usually get a very low score).

We stopped for one last pose by the castle before going to see the parade.

I’m not sure how we managed to miss the Celebrate a Dream Come True parade all week, but we did.  But we were excited to get to see it.

And then it started to pour.  I can’t complain though because this was the only day it rained at all during our entire trip.  We actually had amazing weather, it wasn’t even humid until about the 7th day.  But I was disappointed that it had to pour just as the parade was starting.  Rich took a few pictures from under his poncho but they cut the parade really short.

Minnie and Mickey

Fairy Godmother with Cinderella and Prince Charming

After the parade we went over to Epcot to enjoy Extra Magic Hours on our final night.

We started out in Innoventions West and played “Where’s the Fire?”  Then Hailey got to practice getting out of the house if there was a fire.

Then we went over to Innoventions East and did Storm Struck, played in the Test the Limits lab and then we played Don’t Waste It.

Hailey pushing our garbage truck in Don’t Waste It.

Then we had some delicious dinner at the Sunshine Season Grill.  It was raining again and we were wet.  When you’re wet and in the air conditioning it is sooooo freezing.  We decided to just do a few more things- so we went to the Imagination Pavilion and rode on the Journey into Imagination with Figment.  Then we had to finish up with Hailey’s favorite ride at Epcot- Nemo.  Afterwards we went to Turtle Talk and then decided to head back to our hotel.

On our way out of the park.

When we got back to our hotel we played at the arcade for a little while and then we were off to bed.

Hailey’s favorites of the day: ride- Peter Pan and Nemo, character- Buzz Lightyear.  Her favorite thing that happened- when she pulled the sword from the stone.

Day 7 was a sleep in day, so we took our time in the morning.

We walked around the hotel for a bit before we left for our breakfast reservation.  This is in the 70s section of the resort.

Mickey with a rotary phone in the 70s section.

Hailey posing in front of a big wheel, also in the 70s section.

Then we were off to breakfast.  Hailey and Rich enjoyed the ride on the monorail.

When we got off the monorail at the Grand Floridian for breakfast we went to 1900 Park Fare to check in for our reservation.  While waiting to check in Rich and I realized that neither one of us was carrying our backpack.  In a bit of a panic I went back to the monorail, not really sure what I was going to do and how we were going to track down our backpack as it was riding around by itself.  Thankfully our backpack was at the station since someone very nice must have realized we left it and taken it to a cast member for us.

Us posing at 1900 Park Fare

Hailey all ready with her autograph book.

Hailey and Pooh

I love Pooh!!

Hailey with Mary Poppins

And we celebrated Hailey’s birthday again

Tigger is one of my favorites!

Hailey and Tigger

Hailey with Alice in Wonderland

Hailey with the Mad Hatter… who was probably the funniest of all the characters we saw.  He had me laughing right out loud!  I also think that 1900 Park Fare for breakfast was our favorite place to eat from our entire trip.  It was amazing!

The beautiful Grand Floridian

Then we were off to Magic Kingdom

Hailey with Wendy and Peter Pan

Another attempt at pulling the sword from the stone.

Then we went to visit Minnie Mouse’s house… it’s going to be gone the next time we’re there so we had to take a bunch of pictures.

Living room

Craft room

Minnie’s desk

Having some tea

See all the cheese in her refrigerator?

I love them so much!

Waiting to meet the fairies

Iridessa and Hailey

Tinkerbell and Hailey

Vidia and Hailey

Hailey meeting the White Rabbit

Hailey and Dumbo

Time for a little snooze… I had a delicious Dole Whip Pineapple float while Hailey napped.

Jessie, Hailey and Woody

Hailey, Goofy and Rich right before we rode the Pirates of the Caribbean

Hailey on the Magic Carpet Ride… we waited forever for the ride to start and it never did… so they made us get off

My aunt and uncle who live a few hours away had called and wanted to meet up with us to take us out to dinner.  So, we left Magic Kingdom and headed over to Chef Mickey’s.

Mickey mouse saying hello to me and my Uncle Dave.

Hailey and Mickey

Hailey and Goofy

Hailey and Donald

Hailey and Pluto

Hailey and Minnie

A group picture before we parted ways… it was wonderful to get to eat dinner together and to talk for a little while.  The last time we saw them was in Disney World when Hailey was 11 months old.  Much too long!

After dinner we went to Downtown Disney to do some shopping.  We were so tired from the day that we only stayed for a short time before we were ready to head back to go to bed.

Hailey’s favorites for today: Ride- Peter Pan, Characters- Peter Pan and Wendy

Day 6 started bright and early again.  We had an early breakfast reservation at Akershus and Hailey decided that she wanted to dress up in her Ariel dress.

Posing at our hotel before we left for the day.

Us with an empty Epcot behind us.

There was no one around but us.

Empty Epcot

Akershus, where we had a princess breakfast

Belle and Hailey

Hailey and Sleeping Beauty

Hailey with Cinderella

Hailey and Snow White

And lastly Hailey got to see her favorite princess- Ariel.  Hailey has a necklace that sounds like Ariel singing, so she was wearing it and pushing the button for Ariel to hear.

Celebrating Hailey’s birthday again.

Hailey got to meet Marie

And then the Queen of Hearts… she was pretty funny.  She made Hailey kiss her hand.

When a cast member yelled at the Queen of Hearts for making Hailey kiss her hand, the Queen had a little tantrum and was stomping her feet.

Hailey waiting to go on Soarin’ for the first time.

Hailey on the ride… she loved it!!  There were a couple of times she said it made her feel “bizzy” but she liked it enough to want to go on it again.

Next we went on the Livin’ With the Land boat ride- see the Hidden Mickey I found?

Afterwards we went to see the Circle of Life… I always manage a little nap during that show, then we went on Soarin’ again.

We spent a long time doing all the activities in Innoventions West- here is Hailey while we played a game called The Great Piggy Bank Adventure

Afterwards we went to a comedy show at Slap Stick Studios- Hailey got to be a part of the show.

There were 2 teams and they had to see who could use all of their blocks and have their tower remain standing.  The blocks had velcro on them, so if positioned the right way they stuck together.  Hailey’s team won!

Then there was a game for the dads- Rich was thrilled to be picked to be a part of the show… hahahaha

They had to see who could put diapers on the most babies and then give them a bottle…

…then stick the babies to their aprons.  Rich and the other dad tied.  It was lots of fun to watch!

Hailey had been asking all morning about meeting Mulan and it was finally time to go meet her.  Hailey was thrilled!

Then she got to give the Beast a big hug.

Hailey with Beauty and the Beast.

Then Hailey took a little nap.

When she woke up it was her turn to meet Pluto and Mickey.

We stopped by Club Cool to sample soda from around the world.

You get to try all of these sodas for free.  I got a good picture of Rich tasting the Beverly but he said I couldn’t post it.

Then it was time for dinner at Le Cellier!  I was so excited that we were able to get a reservation here.  The food was amazing!!

We celebrated Hailey’s birthday, again

Our beautiful princess

Hailey loves the Sea with Nemo and Friends- so we had to ride that and then we were off to Animal Kingdom for Extra Magic Hours.

We went to see It’s Tough to Be a Bug- one of our favorite attractions when we arrived at Animal Kingdom.  Then Rich insisted that we go on the Dinosaur ride.  I thought it was too scary for Hailey but he wanted her to try it.

While we were waiting in line I saw this sign and I love it!  It’s definitely how I feel when I’m in Disney World and one of the reasons I love to go there.

Us on Dinosaur… Hailey did not like it, she was terrified.

So we had to end our evening by going on It’s Tough to Be a Bug again.

Hailey’s favorites for the day: Ride- Soarin’, Characters- Ariel, Mulan and Beauty and the Beast.

Day 5 was our take-it-easy day.  We slept in and had a nice slow morning.

Hailey waiting for her breakfast at our hotel.

Hailey with her Minnie Mouse that she found in the gift shop and loved right away.

Posing with Goofy in the Goofy Spray Area.

Enjoying the spray area.

The Hippy Dippy Pool, shaped like a flower in the 1960s section, is the main pool at the Pop Century Resort.

Hailey posing in front of Baloo and Mowgli in the 1960s section of the resort.

Play-Doh, also in the 1960s section.

Entrance from the Hippy Dippy pool area to Classic Hall.

Hailey loved the kiddie pool.

Everything Pop had the gift shop and lots of dining choices.

After a relaxing morning at the resort and a little nap we got ready to head out to dinner.

Waiting for the bus, all dressed for dinner.  We decided to celebrate Hailey’s birthday everyday for the second half of our trip- so notice her birthday button.

My beautiful princess waiting for the bus.

We enjoyed Cinderella’s Happily Ever After dinner at 1900 Park Fare.

Hailey posing in the beautiful Grand Floridian Resort (where the restaurant was) while we waited for our table.

Us

Hailey got to meet Prince Charming first while we were enjoying our dinner.

The she was able to see Cinderella.

Hailey was so excited to get to see the stepmother and the stepsisters!  I think she was more excited about seeing them than she was Cinderella or Prince Charming.

Hailey asked the stepmother, “Why do you always yell at Cinderella?”  And the stepmother responded by saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I never yell at her.”

When Drizella saw that Hailey had a Cinderella dress on she told her that she looked like a little ‘Rella.  Hailey asked Drizella, “Why are you so mean to Cinderella?”  Drizella answered by saying, “I am not mean, I’m just honest and some people don’t like honesty.”

Anastasia also called Hailey a little ‘Rella.  Hailey told Anastasia that she is her favorite, which made Anastasia act a little bit more friendly.  All three were very funny though and very perfect for their roles.

Hailey was so excited that she got a cupcake for her birthday celebration.

I loved the character interaction at 1900 Park Fare but the food was probably our least favorite of the whole trip.  Not that it was bad, I guess it just wasn’t as good as we expected it to be.  I did absolutely love the Strawberry Soup- amazing!!

After dinner we went over to Epcot for a few hours.

Of course we had to ride on the Nemo ride and afterwards we had to go see Bruce and the other shark displays.  Hailey loved this one and wanted to keep sticking her hand in the shark’s mouth which resulted in various responses from Bruce.

We also enjoyed riding on the Gran Fiesta Tour in Mexico.

Then we rode on Maelstrom which Hailey did not enjoy so much.

Taking a break to play the bongos.

Waiting for Illuminations to start.

Illuminations.

Another perfect day in Disney World!  Hailey’s favorites of the day: Ride- Nemo, Character- Anastasia