Thankful Tuesday : Vacation

I think it is time I talk to you about the family's vacation to Orlando Florida and let me tell you we all had so much fun, even though it rained here and there, but hey that is Florida for you.  On June 28, we went to Riverton Utah to spend the night with some good friends and it was great to talk with them and catch up.  Then on June 29, we ate breakfast there, before we left and then around 7:30 am, we packed up the car and left for the Salt Lake City Airport.  We took Bangerter Highway all the way down and that was the best thing, I have never done that before.  We parked the car, took a shuttle to the terminal, checked in our bags and went through security, which went okay.  Then got on the plane and we left around 9:30 am.  Ethan sat next to Zach and Connor on one side of the plane and Will and I sat on the other, with someone we didn't know by the window.  The plane ride was about 4 1/2 hours or so and yes it was long, but we made it to Orlando around 4:30 pm.  We got off the plane and headed for baggage claim and we had to take one of those trains to get there.  We noticed a girl from Give Kids the World Village ( the place where all Make a Wish Families stay) with a sign with Zach's name on it and we went to her.  She helped with our bags and took us to the car rental place, where we got a van and we had Zach pick out the color and it was a grey Dodge Grand Caravan.  The girl gave us directions of how to get to Give Kids the World Village and we were on are way and it was raining a little bit too.  We had to pass through 2 toll booths to get to Kissimmee Florida, that is where Give the Kids World is.  We parked the car and went to check in.  They checked us in and they gave Zach a stuffed Mickey Mouse.  We got to the villa where we were staying at, unpacked the car and then went to go eat dinner at the Gingerbread house (we didn't have to pay anything, everything at Give Kids the World was free) and the food was so good.  Then Will went to an orientation to get all the tickets and to get information about our stay for the week (they only would let 1 adult go to the orientation)  I waited for Will and then he explained everything to me, well the best he could and then back to our villa, where the boys were.
The next day was Sunday June 30 and we decided to go to Walt Disney World because that is where Zach wanted to go.  We ate breakfast at the Gingerbread house before we left and then we were off.  It was pretty easy to get to and we parked.  Then we had to take a ferry to get to the park and that was fun.  It was pretty crowd, but that is okay because we had fun.  We also ate lunch there and we also got rained on too, but it wasn't that bad.  Well, it rained a couple of different times throughout the day.  We had lots of fun on the rides, but we didn't do everything that I wanted to do (teacups), but we were there for Zach and he didn't want to go on the teacups.We also ate dinner there and we also saw some fireworks, so we were there all day and it was a long day, but a fun one.  Then took the ferry to the car and back to Kissimmee,  where it was time for bed.
Monday July 1 we went to Universal Studios: Island of Adventures and that was a fun day for the most part, but this was the day that it rained a lot, but we did manage to go on some rides.  We also ate lunch there and we also got to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and let me tell you that was so much fun.  There was only 1 roller coaster that Zach could go on and he loved that one.  We did have a pass that either Will, Ethan or I had to wear around our necks, it was like a fast pass and even with out Zach present, we could still use it.  During one of the rides that Will and I were on, it was raining the whole time and me screaming and let me tell you I did lose my voice some of the time that day.  We left around 6:20 pm and then we got stuck in traffic and it was raining more.  We got back to the village, changed and then went to eat dinner.  Then we did a few things at the village and then went to Walmart, to buy some things for when it rains the rest of the week.
Tuesday July 2, we got up later than we planned, but we were all tired and then off to eat breakfast.  Then to take pictures with Dora the Explorer, which Ethan didn't want to do, but Zach did.  Then off to Universal Studios, where we did some rides and then we ate lunch around 2 pm and it was raining again.  We ate and then went to a animal show and before it started, I noticed that my mom and dad were trying to get a hold of me and I found out that my grandma died and it made me real sad, but the animal show we saw made me happy.  After the show was over, we got to meet a dog from the show and it was fun, but Connor didn't think so.  He was staying far away from that dog and we took some pictures.  Then called my mom and talked to her about grandma.  Then did a few more rides and then we left just in time because it started to rain again.   Then we found an Applebee's and ate dinner there.  Then back to the village and relaxed some and then it was time for bed.
Wednesday July 3, they had some horseback riding at the village and we did that first thing.  Connor even got on a horse and I thought that would never happen and Zach also got on a horse with someone riding with him.  Then we ate breakfast and off to Hollywood Studios and this was a really fun place.  We did Toy Story Mania and then a ride that we went on as a family, which I never thought we would do, Tower of Terror and let's just say Connor hated it, but Zach loved it.  Will and Ethan loved it too and as far as me goes I don't know.  Then Ethan, Connor and I did Rock n' Roller coaster starring Aerosmith and that was fun and it was an indoor roller coaster and it also went upside down and fast of course.  That was lots of fun, but Connor didn't like it.  Then we saw Muppet Vision 3D and that was fun because it is the Muppets, but man they had so much 3D there and it got to be a little too much for me.  Then we ate some lunch and then we saw Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show and that was super fun, we all loved it.  Then we got to take pictures with Phineas and Ferb and that was fun.  It turned out to be another fun day and then we left at 6:30 pm, so we could eat dinner at the village.  We ate dinner there and then it started to rain really hard. After dinner, we ate ice cream at the village and that was really good.
Thursday July 4, we got up early and we ate breakfast and then we were off.  We parked at Walt Disney World and then we took a bus to get back to Hollywood Studios because we didn't see 2 shows that we wanted too.  First, we saw Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Show and that was so much fun and we even got to meet the stars of the show, Indiana Jones and Marion and we also took pictures with them.  Then we went to Beauty and the Beast and that was a fun show, I am glad we came back for it.  Then we took a bus to Animal Kingdom and it started to rain, but not that much.  Then we ate lunch there, then saw some animals and then went on this ride called Everest and that was such a fun ride.  Then took a bus to Epcot and we went on a few rides there and we didn't get to see everything at Epcot that we wanted, but oh well.  Then we ate dinner and then we did some shopping.  Then it was time to see Fireworks and let me tell you, those were some Awesome Fireworks and it was great to see them on the 4th of July.  Then we waited for the crowd to leave and then we did a little bit more shopping and then we took the monorail back to Walt Disney World because that is where the car was parked.  Then got out of the park and we got stuck in traffic and lots of it.  Then got off the exit to head back to Kissimmee, but we got lost and then we turned around and made it back to the village and it was almost 1:30 am, by the time we got back.  It was a very long day.
Friday July 5, we got up and going because this was the day we were heading back to Utah.  We started packing some, then we ate breakfast and then packed some more.  We had to check out by 11:00 am and we did, but we still could hang out at the village, which we did.  We took some pictures, ate ice cream there and then we left for the airport.  We dropped the car rental off and then we found someone to help with our bags, that was a relief and we paid him and we checked our bags in.  Then went through security and then got something to eat and then on the plane we went.  The plane ride was long and let me tell you there was so much turbulence, that I hated it.  It scared me so much, but thank goodness we made it back to Salt Lake City in one piece.  We got are luggage and then took a bus to get to our car.  Then loaded up the car, paid to get out of the parking lot and then off to find a place to eat.  We ate at IHOP at Jordan's Landing and that was good food.  Then off to Spanish Fork in a thunder and lightning storm  to spend a few days with my sister and her family.