Disney Family Fun Day

We zipped over to Disney on Friday for the express purpose of riding two rides that will disappear forever next month: The Great Movie Ride in Hollywood Studios and Ellen's Universe of Energy in Epcot. The sky was dreary and it spit rain at us most of the day, but we still managed to have some fun and enjoy our time. 

The Great Movie Ride is housed in the replica of Grumman's Chinese Theater from California.  The new attraction will be a train ride based upon Mickey and Minnie Mouse short movies - there are no Mickey/Minnie rides anywhere currently in Disney World. 

Scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark 

Scene from Tarzan

Scene from Casablanca

Scenes from The Wizard of Oz

We also managed to sneak in a trip to Toy Story Midway Mania and Mama beat the whole family this time (that's Davis' score next to mine). 

We took the bus from the Studios over to Epcot and these guys tried to tag along for the ride. 

Over in Epcot, we got some lunch in the Land pavilion. While we were eating a family gifted us with three paper fast passes for Soarin! So I rode with the big boys and Baba and Davis hung out together. 

A few of our favorite scenes from Soarin' - places we've visited! 

Then it was time to ride the Universe of Energy one more time. This is one of the few opening day attractions left in Epcot; it was updated about ten years ago with a new storyline featuring Ellen Degeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy. It's one of the longest rides in the park - it takes 45 minutes - as you go back in time to learn about energy. It's going to be replaced with a Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel) superheroes ride. 

We walked throughout the rest of the park and visited the Three Caballeros Ride in Mexico. 

And then we discovered that there was a drawbridge in the back of the park we didn't know about - and watched the sphere of Earth move out on a barge for the Illuminations fireworks show. 

The last ride before we left? Spaceship Earth only had a five minute wait and we jumped at the chance. 

Finally we took the ferry boats back from Epcot over to our car at the Studios. 

Youth Group

Parker and the youth group went bowling on Wednesday night this week and they had a great time. They also found this cool rock at the bowling alley - there's a group of people leaving painted rocks all around Lake County with special messages. 

Moving On Towards Eagle

On Monday night we went as a family to Troop 143's Court of Honor. As part of the ceremony, Parker read his speech on the American flag that he wrote for his Communications merit badge. 

Parker also ranked up to Life Scout. He's on track to be the youngest Eagle Scout in his troop. He has five badges left to earn and do his Eagle project. We are so incredibly proud of him and all of his accomplishments!!!!

More Cub Scout Camp

Davis had lots of fun at his Bug Hunters Cub Scout Camp. He was painting his "litter-bug" in this picture, made with recyclable materials from home. 

And the whole last day was water day fun outside with these great water slides and obstacles. 

Magic Man

Wednesday night we hosted a Christian magician at the church as a fundraiser for the upcoming Honduras Mission Trip. David Berardi was great and very engaging. And Wesley was thrilled to be called up to participate in a card trick with two of his friends. 

Cub Scout Camp

Davis is spending his days this week at Cub Scout Camp, at the First UMC in Eustis. He's got a few friends from his den in our pack that are there too. So far he's had a lot of fun making slime, learning first aid, shooting bb guns on the range and doing archery. They even had a visit this week by professional bee-keepers. 

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Yesterday was our 18th wedding anniversary! We celebrated by going out to dinner at Disney! 

Specifically, we went to a new restaurant for us, the California Grill, which is on the 15th floor (the very top) of the Contemporary Resort, adjacent to the Magic Kingdom. The restaurant has floor to ceiling windows all around with amazing views of Disney property including the parks and other hotels. You check in on the second floor and then are escorted up by a hostess in a private elevator to the fifteenth floor. All of the food was absolutely delicious and amazing. 

Appetizers included our first sushi - Spicy Kazan Roll - as well as a Goat Cheese Ravioli. 

Our entrees: Filet of Beef with Truffle Risotto and green beans and San Francisco Style Cioppino which included lobster, crab, shrimp, mussels and clams. 

Dessert: Creme Brûlée' and Warm Chocolate Cake. 

And a bonus - a special cupcake with "the grey stuff" for our Anniversary. The grey stuff inside is actually a cookies and cream panna cotta usually served at the Beast's Castle inside Magic Kingdom. 

Then after dinner was over we wandered outside to the viewing deck for a special view of the new Magic Kingdom Fireworks show: Happily Ever After. They pipe the music into the observation deck so you can experience the whole thing without fighting the crowds of people in the park. It was a fantastic way to celebrate our anniversary and make the occasion super special!