This was an absolute marathon day. It took some strategic planning, but we pulled it off. We started with an 8:30 a.m. breakfast reservation at Chef Mickey's. After gorging ourselves on Mickey Mouse pancakes, we headed off to spend a half day at Hollywood Studios. It's worth mentioning that this part of the day occurred during a torrential downpour (the only time it rained the entire week...and it was only for a couple of hours). TORRENTIAL. Nonetheless, we plowed forward like good Disney veterans...lines are at their best during a good rainstorm. We covered quite a bit of territory by mid-afternoon, including the newly revamped Star Tours. Then, it was time to make a quick change into our Halloween T-shirts and get our faces painted before heading to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. This is my all time favorite Disney event. It is the sole reason we generally go in October (along with lower crowds and cooler weather). This event is hosted several times a week throughout late September-October. This was our first time to be there for the REAL Halloween and we were pumped! Disney did not disappoint...we rolled back to our hotel room around 1:30 a.m. In hindsight this doesn't seem like responsible parenting, but the kiddos were troopers!
My friend Heather sent me a text after the posting of "Disney...Day 2." It read: "You may or may not be aware of this, but on day two of your trip, another child morphed into your family. And then he was gone just as quickly as he appeared. You may want to address this at some point." Whoops! She's right! I forgot to introduce the fabulous Dale family. John, Susan and Jordan were our travel companions for this trip...and fine ones, too, I might add! This is our group shot before feasting at Chef Mickey's for breakfast.
I can tell the boys are getting older because they seemed more interested in the food than the characters coming around to the table.
We had to make them wait for Minnie to arrive before letting them go back for thirds...or fourths.
I must have been on my third or fourth trip to the buffet when this shot was taken. I have no recollection of it or from where the hats materialized, but it's pretty cute!
Goofing around in the gift shop in the Contemporary Resort.
Braving the weather...please note the coordinating ponchos.
This was real. You could actually audition for American Idol. Russ did. He could only take one person back for his audition and he chose Alex...probably because Alex was the most supportive member of our family. I think I kept saying, "Are you kidding me? You can't sing!"
Alex took this shot of Russ and a judge "on the inside." Russ auditioned with "Ring of Fire." Johnny Cash is always his fallback! Apparently, the judge told him he did pretty good, but his voice was a little low. He wanted him to sing a bit higher...not going to happen.
The agony of rejection!
The big reveal: The newly designed Star Tours. There are now eight different "tours" you can navigate to eight different lands. We rode this ride countless times over a two day period (there were no lines) in the hopes of seeing them all. I think we covered 6 of them. We saw Coruscant and Tattooine multiple times. They must be the most popular!
Hopping on their speeder bike to escape the rain!
Must use the force!
Our first time EVER to do Aerosmith's Rockin' Roller Coaster. It lived up to the hype. Might actually be our new favorite ride!
After riding it 10+ times, we figured out when the camera was going to shoot our picture!
Carter's first time on the Tower of Terror. This is the only ride that I absolutely refuse to do. Please note that I have done it many (ok...three) times in the past and I have surmised that I simply do not like to be dropped 13 stories. Not fun to me. At all. No amount of peer pressure (or child pressure) will work. Nonetheless, I'm proud of my baby boy for being crazy enough to give it a whirl. Four times.
The boys love the t.v. show The Middle. They were so excited when they saw this poster hanging outside the ABC Commissary. I was excited when I saw the bust of Oprah Winfrey, but no one took my picture. You'll have to use your imagination.
Toy Story Mania in 4D. Awesome ride.
Russ and Carter preparing for some Toy Story antics.
Final Hollywood Studios group shot before changing into our Halloween attire.
Arrrrrr!!!!! I present the Pirates Galbraith. Carter opted to be different and impersonate Jack Sparrow...his pirate hero!
Love this parade. We always save our spots in front of Casey's on Main Street.
Halloween fireworks. Beautiful!
At the beginning of the parade, the Headless Horseman rides down Main Street U.S.A. This is Disney magic at its finest.
Feel free to marvel in appropriate wonder.
Best Halloween E.V.E.R.
We love to ride the Astro Orbiter at night. You get the most amazing view of the park.
There are two or three dance parties going on throughout the park on Halloween. Great atmosphere. Every time we would pass one, I would start dancing and Carter would be appropriately mortified.
Close-up of the back of our shirts. They said, "Seven Swashbucklers of ARRRRRkansas."
Showing off our best pirate moves.
Close-up of those darling faces.
Waiting on the parade to start while feasting on Disney's infamous $10 hot dogs :) This was the only day we rented a stroller. It served a dual purpose: 1) to carry our excessive STUFF for this day (ponchos, change of clothes for the Halloween party, etc) 2) to help hold our spot on the street for the parade. Without something to "shield" you, people tend to encroach on your space once the parade starts. Carter used it to catch a short siesta while we waited. He's the green glob in the background!
All Seven Swashbucklers. Again, BEST HALLOWEEN E.V.E.R.
My friend Heather sent me a text after the posting of "Disney...Day 2." It read: "You may or may not be aware of this, but on day two of your trip, another child morphed into your family. And then he was gone just as quickly as he appeared. You may want to address this at some point." Whoops! She's right! I forgot to introduce the fabulous Dale family. John, Susan and Jordan were our travel companions for this trip...and fine ones, too, I might add! This is our group shot before feasting at Chef Mickey's for breakfast.
I can tell the boys are getting older because they seemed more interested in the food than the characters coming around to the table.
We had to make them wait for Minnie to arrive before letting them go back for thirds...or fourths.
I must have been on my third or fourth trip to the buffet when this shot was taken. I have no recollection of it or from where the hats materialized, but it's pretty cute!
Goofing around in the gift shop in the Contemporary Resort.
Braving the weather...please note the coordinating ponchos.
This was real. You could actually audition for American Idol. Russ did. He could only take one person back for his audition and he chose Alex...probably because Alex was the most supportive member of our family. I think I kept saying, "Are you kidding me? You can't sing!"
Alex took this shot of Russ and a judge "on the inside." Russ auditioned with "Ring of Fire." Johnny Cash is always his fallback! Apparently, the judge told him he did pretty good, but his voice was a little low. He wanted him to sing a bit higher...not going to happen.
The agony of rejection!
The big reveal: The newly designed Star Tours. There are now eight different "tours" you can navigate to eight different lands. We rode this ride countless times over a two day period (there were no lines) in the hopes of seeing them all. I think we covered 6 of them. We saw Coruscant and Tattooine multiple times. They must be the most popular!
Hopping on their speeder bike to escape the rain!
Must use the force!
Our first time EVER to do Aerosmith's Rockin' Roller Coaster. It lived up to the hype. Might actually be our new favorite ride!
After riding it 10+ times, we figured out when the camera was going to shoot our picture!
Carter's first time on the Tower of Terror. This is the only ride that I absolutely refuse to do. Please note that I have done it many (ok...three) times in the past and I have surmised that I simply do not like to be dropped 13 stories. Not fun to me. At all. No amount of peer pressure (or child pressure) will work. Nonetheless, I'm proud of my baby boy for being crazy enough to give it a whirl. Four times.
The boys love the t.v. show The Middle. They were so excited when they saw this poster hanging outside the ABC Commissary. I was excited when I saw the bust of Oprah Winfrey, but no one took my picture. You'll have to use your imagination.
Toy Story Mania in 4D. Awesome ride.
Russ and Carter preparing for some Toy Story antics.
Final Hollywood Studios group shot before changing into our Halloween attire.
Arrrrrr!!!!! I present the Pirates Galbraith. Carter opted to be different and impersonate Jack Sparrow...his pirate hero!
Love this parade. We always save our spots in front of Casey's on Main Street.
Halloween fireworks. Beautiful!
At the beginning of the parade, the Headless Horseman rides down Main Street U.S.A. This is Disney magic at its finest. 
Feel free to marvel in appropriate wonder.
Best Halloween E.V.E.R.
We love to ride the Astro Orbiter at night. You get the most amazing view of the park.
There are two or three dance parties going on throughout the park on Halloween. Great atmosphere. Every time we would pass one, I would start dancing and Carter would be appropriately mortified.
Close-up of the back of our shirts. They said, "Seven Swashbucklers of ARRRRRkansas."
Showing off our best pirate moves.
Close-up of those darling faces.
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