Chef Mickey's

While making our reservations, this was the first table service meal that we reserved. We knew that booking character meals would cut down on waiting in lines to meet characters. Chef Mickey's includes the Fab 5 (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto), we reserved it as our b-fast (10:30) on our first park day. It was kind of funny because the week before leaving for Disney, I read that it is best to do it as your first meal on your first day to satisfy your child's need for character time early. CM is located in the Contemporary resort and we left Magic Kingdom in enough time to make it there by the monorail. (You will definitely need to make reservations here and all other table service meals to guarantee a spot) We went right it with no wait. After taking the photo that almost all of the restaurants take and then come by later and try to sell you. They were cute, but we passed on that purchase. I was so glad we were there for breakfast! I love b-fast food! They had everything you could ever want for b-fast too! Mickey shaped waffles, all sorts of pancakes, french toast (my fave), b-fast potatoes, eggs, omelets, biscutis and gravy, bacon, sausage, on and on and on all at a buffet. Praise God for the free meal plan, because even though Caden only ate watermelon and bacon, the bill for the four of us was around $100!! You  are still responsable for the 18% grat.

Caden was taking a picture of Pluto,

but look at that sweet little girl giving him a birthday cupcake!

They also sign autographs while at your table.

Minnie is my favorite!

Mom and Minnie

Patiently waiting on his favorite, Goofy.

He made every character that he met at Disney pose for his own picture!!

One fun thing that they do at CM is that all of the servers and guest break out into dance and begin twirling their napkins above their heads. You and your family should join in on the fun! Come on, it wont hurt you to be a kid and let yours see you having as much fun as they are!

If you need any more details or tips on Chef Mickey's (or everything else Disney) you can visit THIS awesome blog that I found only 1 week before our trip. Mercy, I wish I would have found it earlier!



Downtown Disney

After a few hours at the pool, we loaded up on the bus and made our way to Downtown Disney. We didn't want to use a park ticket on the arrival day, so that's why we decided to relax, recover from the drive, and check everything out (which I highly recommend). This would also be a great time for me to tell you about Caden's camera. Although a lot of sites recommended to get your child a disposable camera for the trip, I did not remember until the day before to get him one. When we were at Shane's he ended up giving Caden a camera that he had from a few years ago that he had not ever used. Caden thought it was the greatest thing ever to have his very own camera. Throughout our stay at Disney, Caden always made sure he had his camera ready. It was so neat to see the things that caught his little eyes that we might normally not see. We would be walking somewhere and he would just stop in the middle and start snapping! I am so glad that he had his own camera! I am pretty sure it taught him a little more responsibility too!I cant wait to get the pictures back. I bought him his own album to put his pictures in! I plan to do a seperate post with pictures from his camera!

Waiting to go to dtown disney

Had to take a picture with the parrots!

(Shane's last name)

One of the first things he spotted with his camera!

We caught a little princess parade!! so adorable!

We had lunch at Planet Hollywood and admired all of their movie memorabilia.

 

This Trex restuarant was highly recommended by friends,

 as well as the Rainforest Cafe

And the best of all my friends,

THE LEGO STORE!

Lego Woody

This looks like a Lego Brittany and Shane to me!!

We picked up a few goodies for his Lego bday party next weekend.

Lego Disney family

Me with Sleeping Beauty statue

Mom with Cinderella statue

Caden was in the BEST mood on this day!

It was like he was a different child!!

Look how silly?!

Pop Century

After being told by everyone that you spend no time in your rooms, we chose to stay at a value resort. Pop Century is the newest (until next spring) and we heard great things about it, so that is where we stayed. For it to be the lowest resort offered, it was very nice and super kid friendly (of course!) We also booked at a time when they were offering the free meal plan, lord knows Im all about a little free discount! We each had 1 table service (some with characters), 1 quick service, and either 1/2 snacks (cant remember) a day. We were always so full because every meal included a dessert. And guess who didnt gain weight?! whew!  Here are pictures from around the resort, taken with a few different cameras!

It was divided into 5 different decades;

50's 60's 70's 80's and 90's

We stayed in the 70's

Each night they had a different Disney movie showing;

we were back in time to watch Nemo, Princess and the Frog, and Gnomeo & Juliet

Whatching Nemo

Caden with Potato Heads

Caden with Jungle Book

They have so much more than this around that we werent able to see, I would recommend it for your family's trip.



Getting Ready for Disney

We didn't have as long as some families to plan out our Disney vacation. We booked in June to go in September. Right away I got the "Disney Fever" and Im pretty sure I was one of the annoying facebook friends that post every detail leading up to the trip, even though I tried not to be! I began buying everything that was Mickey related, because I knew it would all cost a lot there. Besides, anyone can tell you that I am a pretty festive girl anyways! Remember me telling you about how I announced to Caden that we were going? That's where my obsession began.

I made this cute little thing from the Disney website!

My mom bought Caden this water bottle

What Disney bound mom could pass up this handwash from target?!

We put together this Disney puzzle with most of the characters, and began ordering all of the classics from Netflix so that Caden would be refreshed on everyone he would be seeing

I ordered his pin starter collection and autograph book online from Disney. (the pins have to be from Disney to trade them) I was a no shipping special so they cost the same as in the shops there.

We ordered our Mickey's Not- So- Scary- Halloween party tickets

(you have to go to it if you there during this time!)

And I statrted a countdown for Caden the week we were leaving,

here he is with one more day!



We left Sylacauga for Disney on Friday, Sept. 9. After Caden got home from school, we were off to Pratville to get with Shane. After loading it all up, printing off last minute confirmations, and double checking everything, we made our way down to Foley to pick up my mom. This time the 3 hour drive there felt like nothing, knowing that it was not even close to what we were about to drive to Orlando. Sweet Palyn greeted us, as always with her sweet smiles and giggles! We spent a few hours hanging out and sitting around before the second part of our drive. We left her house around midnight and expected to arrive around 8am.

Sweet girl wanted to go with us, and cried when we left!

I love her, but nothing could make me take a two year old that isnt my own to Disney.

Have you seen a Disney tantrum???

Were here!!

At almost exactly 8am!

If all of these next few posts bore you, forgive me! I have to remember all of these details!! There are some pretty amazing ones!

How much fatter?

The funniest thing happened on our way home today! Caden was eating Ritz crackers and reading the label. He then said, "Mom, Ill be 7% fatter after I eat this!" I thought it was funny, then he said, "But if I eat it on a Saturday (sat) Ill only be 5% fatter!" I DIED! (He thought that the percentage of fat meant how much fatter he would be!!! And after that, he thought saturated meant Saturday)