Jump ahead a few years. Our girls were getting older. School friends started going and then returning and sharing stories of the fun. Those darn Disney Jr. commercials started getting to them in between episodes of Sofia the First and Star Wars Rebels. Despite all this, though, I was still standing my ground: Disney World did not sound fun. (Note: hubby had never been as a child, so he had no opinion one way or another.) That's all until Carter's love for Star Wars took a central role in her interests.
So, one day when we were chit-chatting because we'd arrived thirty minutes early for a movie, because Mommy apparently couldn't read the showtimes, she asked me if Disney World had anything from Star Wars. Unsure, I did a quick search on my phone and came across this...
The Star Wars Lovers' Ultimate Destination.
I took this quick screenshot and sent it to Lindsay who was just as excited as Carter was. As a mother of three girls, it never crossed my mind that our first trip to Disney World would be based on the limited engagement known as Star Wars Weekend. But, alas, within the coming weeks, I found myself connecting with our amazing Disney travel agent and ensuring that we would be able to schedule a brunch with Darth Vader, Jawa, and the Storm Troopers; if not, the trip would need to be rescheduled. {No joke.}
We told the big girls that we were going but we did not tell them when we were going. {Littlest sis sat this trip out. Next time, Little Princess, next time.} So the next few months involved lots of anxious anticipation, guessing, and speculating on their part and planning, organizing, and arranging on mine. They were also extra good and extra helpful around the house as they worked hard to earn spending money for the trip.
On the evening of May 15, the stage was set: suitcases were packed. Pops and Misha were in town to watch spoil Wrighty Pie. American Girl Dolls, Nora and Murphy, were in on the surprise.
Custom made Princess Leia outfits
thanks to my super talented friend, Christine and her mom.
We scooped the girls up out of bed right at 6:00 AM, carried them downstairs, and let them figure out the surprise. Murphy took one look at the packed suitcases and knew what was happening. A groggy Carter took a little longer to figure it out. Regardless, within fifteen minutes, this was the scene on our front porch.
Wooooo Hooooo! 6:15 never looked so excited!
Even Murphy broke her usual fancy schmancy dress code to get in on Team Star Wars.
{Though, she did ask that I would rejoin her 'Princess Team' the next day.}
Touchdown in Orlando!
Excited for our first Mickey sighting, on the airport wall. HA!
MagicBands activated.
Lewellen Family Fun Commences!
After a quick check-in at our resort we were on our way to
Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Fan or not, the Star Wars energy was electric in this place.
So. COOL.
Carter especially loved seeing all of her favorite characters roaming around the park.
The girls have both said this moment was the highlight of their trip:
Meeting Princess Leia.
She wasn't supposed to stop and pose for pictures.
But she was swayed by their darling faces and their Mommy's subtle begging.
While we were in line to meet these guys,
the girls were asked to film a promotional video for Star Wars Weekend!
Ready for their close ups...
Her chosen line?
"Leia is my favorite princess."
Carter chose to reenact Darth Vader revealing his identity to Luke.
Carter's reaction to meeting Anakin Skywalker was one of my favorite parts of the trip. She was trying to get him to admit that he is Darth Vader.
It. Was. Hilarious.
Refusing to admit his connection to the Dark Side.
"OH, COME ON?!?!?" she exclaimed.
She gave up, struck a pose, and then opined on the conversation
for the next three days.
Aside: I was so grateful that my girlfriend, Denise, who is always in the know about all things gave me a head's up on the autograph books and the clicky sharpies! As a Disney novice, I had no idea!
The fireworks that night were timed to a Star Wars soundtrack and really were amazing to see. I was so proud of all of us for hanging tough till nearly 11:00 that night.
Well, Murphy, who'd made a costume change earlier,
did take a quick shoulder nap while waiting for the bus.
Day two began early as we headed to the Magic Kingdom for breakfast in Cinderella's Castle.
Had to snap a pic of the three Disney first-timers!
The must-have Disney pic.
Sweetest sisters.
Greeting Cinderella.
The girls met several other princesses at breakfast but were still mildly disappointed in Rapunzel's lack of appearance. Carter decided against her original plan of telling the princesses that she doesn't 'like princesses' and that she only came 'because of my sister'. Glad she made a well-mannered choice.
Though we did hit the classics like It's a Small World, Dumbo, and the Tea Cups, I'm oh-so-proud to say, that my girls are thrill seekers! So, most of our day was spent riding the big, fast rides.
My big girl and me about to go on my favorite ride. Ever.
Space Mountain.
A quick selfie before boarding.
{It was her favorite, too. She took Daddy on it an hour later.}
An action shot while riding Thunder Mountain Railroad.
She road it three times and was begging for more.
The whole crew on Splash Mountain.
Not my fave. {Holy. Wet. Shorts.}
During most of the trip, the girls really did look just like this.
Sweet. Happy. Fun.
But, for the moments when they did not, we'd all take a moment to pause...
Sit for awhile...
Until we all loved each other again.
Daddy doubled up on the shoulder seating for the laser light show,
but for the fireworks, Murphy moved over to my shoulders.
Princess. Out.
A human head asleep upon another human head is much heavier than you may think.
Day three was a combo day split between Hollywood Studios (for the must-do Star Wars breakfast) and Epcot.
You can lead a princess to the Star Wars breakfast,
but you can't make her dress the part.
I'm going to go out on a limb here,
and say that Lindsay was the most excited person in this picture...
Being Star Wars-y.
Insisted she do it, too.
Front row. Left side.
Our family.
Our family riding the Tower of Terror.
Yes, one of our children is only four and a half.
Don't judge.
They freaking loved it.
Us.
So, I guess I wear Star Wars clothing now?
Oh, and that light saver in my face? NBD.
Yep. That pretty much sums them up.
Except those Pumas on Murphy's feet.
She reminded us more than a few times that they were not fashionable.
The Festival of Flowers had just ended at Epcot.
Everything was blooming and so gorgeous!
No matter where they are,
they search for fairies.
A final pic of our bunch.
We opted out of any evening activities at Epcot. Instead, we returned to our room to relax a bit and let the girls survey what they'd purchased over the course of our trip.
Carter's assortment included Star Wars goods {well, of course},
Brave and Tinkerbelle figures, and a NASA spacecraft.
Murphy went BIG with a Rapunzel tower
and added a Sofia jewelry set to finish out her savings.
We spent our final day enjoying the hotel pool.
And, just like that, our magical vacation was over...
I've never been so happy to be proven wrong about something. Sure, it was hot, and there were crowds, but I'd say each one of us was genuinely sad to see our trip come to an end. {Though only Carter cried actual tears while in the backseat of the uber van. HA!}
Our family trip to Disney World was fabulous in every way. I loved seeing both my children and my husband experience it for the first time, and I loved sharing some of my favorite memories with them. I can't wait until the day we'll go back as a complete group, with little Miss Wright along, too.
PS... I must add, it did not rain one, single, day! It was like a Disney miracle!