Walt Disney World… Law Momma Style

I hardly know where or when or how to begin to talk about our recent trip to Walt Disney World.

I could say that it was wonderful, but that wouldn’t quite be enough. I could say that we got drenched at Epcot but that isn’t everything. I could say that I fell head over heels over and over again for this little family of mine but still… it’s just not enough. But since I’ve come to this space and stared blankly at the page before me for two straight weeks, I suppose I have to start somewhere…. might as well be the beginning.

We didn’t arrive until practically midnight on Friday night/Saturday morning because Banks couldn’t get away from work. The drive down was pretty expected… J was great until he wasn’t and then cried himself to sleep about an hour and a half before we got there. Banks and I held hands and smiled at each other over the center console and picked strange fights over who should talk how to J… you know, the usual. And then we were all checked in and all tucked in to bed and before I knew it, Saturday morning had arrived.

Pure Joy

Did I mention that this was Banks’ first trip to Disney, too? Because honestly, I’m unsure who was more excited about our opening act… Breakfast at the Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh and friends.

I’d love to say that the day was perfect because we were together and at Disney… but let’s face it. We’ve all been on a trip where the morning starts at 8am and the night didn’t end for the 4 year old until midnight. It’s not pretty. There was whining and lagging behind. There was a lot of complaining, a lot of fidgeting, and a lot of “I WILL NOT SMILE FOR ANY PICTURE EVER.” Banks and J were at each others’ throats for a significant portion of the day. J and I were the same. Banks and I were also right there. It was a day at the Magic Kingdom but it was anything but magical. I worried the trip was going to be a bust. I worried that we just couldn’t make this work for us… ever.

I was wrong.

Day two was Animal Kingdom and day two was… amazing. The kind of amazing that you just take a step back from and think “Yes. This. Right here is where I want to stay forever.” J was mesmerized by the animals and the rides. Banks was mesmerized by the animals and the rides. I was mesmerized by Banks and J. A good portion of the day was spent with J on Banks’ shoulders, riding along above the fray so that he could stay on our pace with his four year old legs. A small portion of the day, which my GOD I wish I could share here but he’d kill me… was spent dying laughing as Banks was pulled from the crowd in Harumbe to dance with the band. The dance moves were epic, ladies, and you’d all be jealous of my man if you saw them.

Then our third and final day was at Epcot. And to say that we saved the best for last is cliche and also true. The morning was overcast and by 1pm it had started raining. The park basically cleared out by 3 and we had the place almost to ourselves. We literally walked right up to Journey Into Imagination and they turned the ride back on so we could ride it… we were the only people there. We had lunch at my favorite, Via Napoli, and did every ride we wanted to … even Soarin’ twice thanks to a sweet guy in Guest Services who decided J was in need of a pick me up. We stopped in France for dessert and the greeter shuffled Belle in through a back door right where J and I were waiting for the bathroom. My son basically fell in love at that moment, watched her walk away, turned to me and said “We’ve GOT to meet her.” So obviously we did….

I mean, look at his smile! #smitten

Probably the most fun I had, was when we went back through Norway to see what the line was like to meet Elsa and Anna from Frozen. If you know the track record of meeting those two princesses, you know that it’s nearly impossible. The wait that morning was 3.5 hours and aint nobody got time for that at Disney. But I figured in the rain maybe it would be better.

It was.

Banks and J went to ride the Maelstrom in Norway and I stood in line, through pouring rain, for approximately 30 minutes. Then they were done with the ride, I was drenched from head to toe, and we were next in line to meet the coveted princesses from J’s newest favorite movie. He was totally starstruck guys. We’d seen Elsa when we were in the gift shop and she’d leaned in close to J and said “Well hello there, handsome,” and I’d pretty much lost him to her at that point. But up close? He was all smiles and shyness.

I’m like a wet rat sandwiched between two lovely teens

It was soggy and wet.

There were bouts of frustration and moments of annoyance.

There were times when I thought maybe we should just call off the trip and head home because we were just not getting along.

But at the end of the day, it was those moments and the ones of such total love and warm, fuzzy, emotion, that made me realize that we are, in fact, a family. And this was, in fact, a family vacation. Even if we aren’t perfect. BECAUSE it wasn’t perfect.

Or maybe, because it was.