Disney Day 2 Highlights

On Friday the 31st, we went to Hollywood Studios for the morning. We had a terrific lunch (just the Beck group) and did several rides with the whole gang. Here are some of the memorable moments:

* Betty had a noteworthy spell in line for Tower of Terror. Her fear overcame her and she opted not to ride.

* Most of us woke up with the head cold that Jack had had going into the trip.

* We were supposed to see the New Year's Eve fireworks from the beach of the Polynesian, one of Disney's hotels. I did lots of careful planning for this particular night and made a special reservation at a restaurant there so we could sit on the beach to watch the fireworks. We had lounge chairs, games for the kids, and cameras ready. Around 9:30, we were told we'd need to leave since we weren't staying at the Poly. Several of us were also getting a stomach bug, so we bailed on the plan and headed back to the hotel. We rang in the New Year playing Twilight Scene It. I was disappointed in the way it worked out, but what can you do?

* At one point, we were so far from the Poly's lobby that I had to resort to having Hannah pee in the bushes! Yikes! Not my proudest moment as an aunt!

* Hannah got to ride Tower of Terror for the first time (a favorite ride of ours). She didn't scream or cry. As she got off, she said, "That scared my breath!!!!"

Miss and Hannah got their pictures with Lightning McQueen and Mater from Cars.

Mom and Hannah on the tram to the car after a morning in the park.

It was Addie's 1st birthday on the 31st, so we did a character meal with the whole group. The theme was that it was quite the challenge to get all the kids looking at the camera AND smiling all at the same time. This picture actually ended up pretty well! :)

Here's the birthday girl with her cupcake and candle as we sang Happy Birthday to her.

Before we got kicked off the beach, we got to watch the Electric Water Pageant. Floats with lights set to music parade by this hotel. It's really cute, and the kids liked it. Matt, ever the encourager, reminded me when our plans for the fireworks fell through, "Well, we still got to see something new - that water pageant was good!"