Family Snapshots From Disney
We just returned from a much needed family vacation. The entire time I was on my book tour, traveling and away from my kids, we were looking forward to our family trip to Disney World, our favorite place on earth to go!
In fact, that was what was on my mind the entire time I was in New York for the Today Show. With all of the air travel issues due to the weather, I was SO WORRIED I wouldn’t be able to get back home in time for our trip and so grateful that I did!
Our time was filled with singing, dancing, laughter, thrills…and that was just the car trip down to Orlando!
In an upcoming post (as soon as I get our good family photos from Disney in) I’m going to tell you how to do Disney on a budget. I am not one to toot my own horn but over the years I’ve gotten really good at Disney money saving tips and this trip ended up being less than half the normal price for us, with all of our food included free as well. So keep posted and I’ll fill you in some time over the next few weeks.
Today, I thought I’d just share some of our family snapshots with you.
I love taking photos of my family walking together. It’s neat to see all of their varying heights and how much the kids have grown.
Me and Bradybug in Epcot.
You won’t see a lot of attraction photos in here. My favorites are just seeing the faces of the kids as we go through the day.
Katy Rose and her carrot smile.
Me and Carrot smile.
My family has Southern Plate t shirts that you’ll see throughout this post every now and then. I don’t sell them at this time because I just don’t have the time to process and mail orders (and if I ever do sell them I want to charge as little as possible, which means I can’t afford to pay someone to help me with them right now). I’m still having to travel a pretty good bit (but I avoid it whenever possible) and keeping up with Southern Plate while keeping my family as my top priority is about all I can do these days. Maybe I’ll have staff one of these years and we’ll be able to do cool things like Southern Plate Family t-shirts!
Ricky and the kids outside of Mexico in Epcot.
They have a counter service restaurant that is my personal favorite!
The kids inside Mexico
This is us getting ready for the Magic Kingdom to open. Brady and Katy are making a new friend.
Brady found some Mickey shaped confetti. This is my favorite photo of the entire trip!
Brady and Katy posing with Zurg outside of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Us in our 3-D glasses
Dumbo is Katy’s favorite ride!
I rode it with her once and liked to have died! lol That was when I learned I can’t do spinny rides.
Ricky and Katy watching a parade
Ricky and Brady went off to ride Space Mountain while Katy and I went to meet the princesses.
Main Street USA
Look at those happy faces!
Katy and Daddy
Brady and Mama
The kids posing with Prince Charming.
Katy got all giggly over getting to meet him!
The kids with Cinderella
At one point Cinderella and Prince Charming waltzed in the center of the restaurant and Katy wanted to waltz, too, so she and I got up and danced together
The Osborne Spectacle of Lights in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
We dearly love this for the obvious reasons, but also because we are big on Christmas lights ourselves and would dearly love to pull this off in our own front yard!
more Osborne.
We were there on the very last day they had the lights up!
Karo and Mama
One of the big guys here is Goofy. I’ll let you decide which one
Oh Mickey you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind!
Hey Mickey!
Hey Mickey!
~giggles~ You’ll be singing that all day now, won’t ya?
At one point during our trip Katy leaned over and whispered to me “Mama, I just can’t stop smiling!”
Me and Minnie
You are NEVER too old to get Minnie’s autograph!
Or to wear mouse ears
Yup! I’m the mom who packs bananas and granola bars in my bag to save money in the park.
Disney doesn’t mind and you’ll be in good company with tons of other moms who do the same thing!
There are lots of arts and crafts in the park. This is the kids making a mask in Africa (Animal Kingdom)
My cheetah and ape.
Ricky and Brady on the tram
Me and Karo
See those waving people? Thats m’family!
and to think, it all began with a mouse…
We had a WONDERFUL TIME this past week and I really needed this time away with my family.
It’s good to be home and back with you now, though!
Alrightly. Vacation over, time to get cooking!
“A man should never neglect his family for business. “
~Walt Disney
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Posted by Christy Jordan
on Jan 7 2011. Filed under Life at Bountiful.
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Glad you had a chance to get away with your family…and glad to have you back with us!! Looks like y’all had a terrific time! Thanks for sharinging the pictures with us!!!
Ah, another fan of the Mouse!! I knew we were kindred spirits! We just returned a few weeks ago, but don’t live nearly as far from WDW as you do, so we get to go a bit more often….. eager to hear your budget tips!!
So happy to have shared in looking at your pictures. I suspect it won’t be long until when you go places, people will recognize you and you won’t be able to move around. You will have to be in disguise as all the Stars have to do. Congrats on your success.
Glad you got your wonderful trip in. It’s my favorite place too. I’m lucky enough to live in FL, have a seasonal pass, and go about once a week. I spend Christmas Eve at the park (The Magic Kingdom) and then watch the Christmas Parade from Walt Disney World and Disneyland on TV Christmas Day. I also go to the Very Merry Mickey Christmas Party. I have photos of the parade in my albums on Facebook. You can enjoy them if you like. Good Luck to you in the upcoming year Christy. You have such a nice family.
I love the pictures! We love Disney World, too. I am anxious to go back, but with an 11 month old…not sure when we’ll head back. Can’t wait to hear your money saving tips!
What wonderful photos of you and your family. You definately look like you all enjoy yourself.
My daughters got the chance to fly and go to Disney with their girlscout troop 2 years ago. I would say that you had a better time than they did since Disney lost their luggage and they got it back the day before the left. They laugh about it now but they were so miserable that week. Thank God, the girl scout leaders were able take care of the panty/sock area.
Hi Christy, looks like you had a blast in my town! O-town. Yelp, you were right down the street from me and didn’t even come by for some Butterfinger cake that I made or one of my many casseroles that I’ve been whippin’ up. Just wanted to also give you a little tad bit of info in case you do decide to print you up (or us) some t-shirts, I am in the promotional items business, t-shirts, lanyards, cups, pens whatever you can think of, I have a way to put a logo on it. Anyway not trying to make a sales pitch *(and I do give discounts to family, even my SP family)..
So hope you have a wonderful New Year and look forward to reading you soon.
I’m 55 years old and would love to go to Disney again. Haven’t been in 20 years. (And I did the fruit, crackers, nuts, snacks thing in the backpack back then too….not sure Disney was too happy about it back then.) Enjoyed so much seeing all the pictures and sharing in your fun. Can’t wait to see the Disney money saving posts. Just may make my hubby take me back again.
Welcome back. I know you deserved a great family vacation…but I’ve missed you.
Looking thru your Fam Vacation pics…the past flashed before my eyes. When my FIL retired..we packed up three car fulls of FAMILY & headed to Disney!! What fun lol. And I’m soo glad you guys had THIS TIME….
Together!
Welcome HOME….
I”VE NEVER BEEN TO DISNEY WORLD – BUT WOULD LOVE TO TAKE MY GRAN-DAUGHTER “KATIE” SOME-DAY — LOOKS LIKE SO MUCH FUN – LOVED THE PICS – THANKS FOR SHARIN”
Great photos! We have some of those same pictures with our family. Disney is our absolute favorite place to go as a family no matter what time of the year. Luckily, we’re only about 4 hours away so that we can often!
Looking forward to your post of doing Disney on a budget. I’ve learned a lot of things myself to do that too, but I am always wanting to find out more!
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing! I’ve never been to Disney World, but like Katy, I was grinning the whole time I was looking at your pictures! So glad you had this time with your sweet family!! …but glad you’re back!
So glad you got to have some precious family time. I can’t wait until you can share how to do it on a budget. I have some young couples who are trying to plan a trip on a budget. I would love to send them to your site for this great info. Love to the family. Tell Katy Rose we love seeing her smile all the time.
I love Disney World!! Thanks for sharing your pics. Looks like y’all had a wonderful time.
Thank you for sharing! I’m glad you all had a wonderful time.
I love WDW too. I haven’t been in 10 years and personally I’m ready to go back but we (hubby and I) would like for our youngest to be just a little bit older (she’ll be 3 in several weeks) but our oldest daughter is ready to go now.
Can’t wait to see your Disney on a budget!
So glad you got to get away from everything and take a much needed break. Buuutt….and there is always a but, I’ve missed my blog and recipes soooo much. Welcome back!! Now get to cookin!!!
Looks like y’all had a blast – I’m anxious to hear about the budget part – 2 yrs.
ago dh & I took the whole family on a cruise (18 of us) for Christmas & it was
so much fun – we’ve been on many cruises but none of the rest had -the
little ones still talk about that Christmas present – I’ve been thinking about
doing Disney but trying to figure out how to get there (car, train or plane)
and lodging etc and time frame – Don’t know if June, Thanksgiving or
Christmas break & then I have one who works offshore – Any suggestions
sure would be appreciated -
I just love your nickname for Katy Rose! Karo fits her perfectly, and she looks sweet as syrup, too!
Glad y’all had fun. I’m looking forward to those money-saving tips for Disney – I always wanted to go, but it just seems too pricey.
Great pictures, glad yall had a great time! And I love Katy Rose’s nickname too! =)
You are a wonderful person and you also have a great family. Best of luck to you in the future.
Hi Christy,
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos! I’m probably the only person living in Tampa who has not been to Disney yet–It just seems so expensive. I told my daughter that if anyone can give good advice about saving money at Disney, it’s you! I’m looking forward to hearing your money saving tips. And yes, thanks to you, I am now singing Oh Mickey You’re so fine….LOL!
Dear Christy,
What lovely photos and what a great time you all had.
Thank you for posting these as it is somewhere I am unlikely ever to visit, but wish I could.
Sue
Thanks for sharing your life with us! You are a blessing!
I had to share your pictures with my hubby and kiddos. We LOVE Disney World!
We miss it dearly and can’t wait to get back ourselves.
I hope yall are able to get back soon, there is just no other place like it on Earth!
I’ve never been to Disney! None of them. I really would love to one day very soon. I already told my boyfriend when we come back to the US I have to go to Disney, most likely Disneyworld as it’s closer to his side of town.
There is a Disney much closer which is Disney Hong Kong but it kinda doesn’t feel the same. I grew up seeing “the” Disneyland and Disneyworld on TV, not Hong Kong Disneyland!
I can’t wait to ride those teacups!!!!
Su, yall will LOVE it!!! I hope you get to go soon.
I liked your site, and great pictures from a children author of Concord, Ca.
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