Since I am so incredibly behind on posting all of the trips we've taken this summer, I'm just going to roll them all out this week. Pull out your passports, friends.
First stop, Disney World!
Back in April we were plotting a family vacation when the mister threw Disney World into the hat. I voted for anything other than Disney World. CJ was the swing vote. The odds weren't good. I attempted to bribe him towards the cultured wonders of the world by telling him how cool it would be to throw a beach ball in St. Lucia or ride a trolley in San Francisco.
A few weeks later we were rubbing elbows with Mickey. Wheee! Honestly, CJ had been asking to go to "Mickey's house" for like a year and when I saw his little eyes grow to the size of two little globes I knew this was the wonder of his world.
I probably should have a bazillion and two pictures from our day at Magic Kingdom. But. I don't. Quite honestly, the day was a bit overwhelming. There were massive crowds of people and it was all I had in me just to keep an eye on CJ as he went full steam ahead, darting from ride to ride. Juggling drinks and balloons and an overheated kid doesn't make for easy picture taking. And honestly, I wanted to enjoy the experience with my little family. To sit next to them as we rode the magic carpet, not a camera between us. To laugh as we plummeted down the log ride, not working to get the perfect shot. For him to remember me begging him to ride the teacups again, not to pose for another picture.
I did take some pictures to remind CJ that he was at Disney World when he was three. And I feel better knowing the memories they jog to life will include me in them.
We did everything your little heart could wish for at Disney. We met Mickey Mouse 35 times. Took pictures with Buzz Lightyear. Rode magic carpets and jungle boats and alien-hunting spaceships. We ate pineapple ice cream and cotton candy and funnel cakes. We wore Mickey ear hats and pirate hooks. We skipped through Cinderella's castle and bumped into Jasmine while buying a balloon.
And oh those teacups.
I can't say I wasn't wishing for St. Lucia about 392 times as we waited in lines longer than the DMV for rides and bought expensive toys and sweated while waiting to take a picture with a Disney celebrity.
But I have a soft spot for those teacups. CJ only wanted to ride them once and pointed to the racing cars one ride over the whole time. I felt slighted. I needed at least a few more twirls in those girly cups that made me feel like I was the honored guest at the Mad Hatter's tea party.
So when next year rolls around and it's time to throw around ideas for our next family vacation I may just be asking myself, does St. Lucia have teacups?
P.S. If you do make the trip to Florida to visit Disney World an insider's tip to surviving, head to Park Avenue in nearby Winter Park where the farmer's market held in an old train depot, adorable boutiques and the Italian food at Prato will erase your tourist-trap trauma.
Friday, August 10, 2012 at 11:38AM 
