Disney Birthday TIme

 While the younger boys were at camp, Daryl, Parker and I headed to Disney to celebrate my 49th birthday! We started on Thursday afternoon at Typhoon Lagoon for a couple of hours (a checkin perk for Disney hotel guests now). And despite the threat of lightning and having to sit aside for about 30 minutes wiating for it to pass, we had a really nice and very relaxing time riding the raft rides together and also floating in the lazy river. 

Afterwards we drove over to our hotel, Port Orleans Riverside. You can checkin on your Disney app now and use your phone as a room key - so they texted when our room was ready and we were able to go straight there. We stayed in one of the royal rooms in the Parterre Place building. I brought along some decorations for the window and we were greeted by a towel animal. 

We got changed and walked over to the French Quarter part of the resort to have beignets for dinner (the guys had beignet sundaes!) 

Then we took a bus to the Ticket and Transportation Center and we walked to the Contemporary Hotel to checkout the 71 Steakhouse Lounge. The waiter gave us free champagne for my birthday. 

 

 

 

And then we ordered their signature drink - the 1971 Sunset - a fishbowl drink for 2-4 people. It was delicious and we made an admirable try but the three of us only got down about half of it. 

On Friday morning we started off in Epcot with a character meet and greet - Phineas and Ferb from one of Parker's favorite tv shows when he was little. 

Then we rode the Living with the Land boat ride and took flight on Soarin!

Then we stopped at the Disney Chase Visa cardholder meet and greet with Minnie and Pluto. 

 

Our main reservation for the day was for a late lunch in Canada for my birthday. Daryl and I have been here once before for our anniversary but it was Parker's first time. He LOVED it. Their steaks are amazing!

We wandered through the park in the drizzle for a bit before getting dessert - a new vegan chocolate soft serve for me that tasted like I remember a Frosty. 

We called it an early night and went back to the hotel to hang out and relax. This was the sight that greeted us upon our return. 

 

On Saturday morning we grabbed breakfast at Boma in the Animal Kingdom Lodge and then headed over to Hollywood Studios. We checked out two new shows there - about Villains and the Little Mermaid show. They were both great. We loved the Villains one with its brand new programming.

On our way out, we ran into these rare characters - these two mice from Cinderella!

We spent some time in Disney Springs shopping before heading out to Seffner to celebrate with the rest of the family.

Labor Day Weekend

Friday Daryl and I window shopped in St. Armand's Circle (got lunch at Cha Cha Coconuts!) and drove all around Lido Key and Longboat Key just seeing how things have changed since we were kids. 

We ended up at Siesta Key public beach and spent some time enjoying the sound of the waves - ended up napping on a blanket from the car. 

Saturday we spent with the Hills at Typhoon Lagoon. Definitely enjoying having added the water parks to our passes this year so we can still Disney on the weekends when we can't get into a regular park. And it's always so much more fun to Disney with good friends! 

Davis went home with them and spent the night in Auburndale before Amy brought him back late Sunday afternoon. These two are the bestest of buds. 

Sunday morning it was just Wesley and Daryl and I for church. Wesley and I joined Daryl for the 11am worship service at Grace - and I sang a solo so people could get to know me a bit.  I am according to one woman who approached me after worship, "the elusive preacher's wife." That's what you get when your spouse is also clergy and traveling around the district. 

We stopped just off the island for lunch at Pinchers which was great - their fresh blue crab was wonderful. 

Most of the rest of the weekend was spent relaxing at home and enjoying our pool.