Disney 2016–Day 1, Travel and ‘Ohana

(Sat, Sept 10, 2016)

Hannah and I recently returned from our annual Disney trip and we had an absolute blast!!!  It was her 15th Disney trip but the very first time that we were on our own at Disney, not knowing anybody else there.  We often have family or friends at Disney at the same time we are but this year it was just the 2 of us and while we missed our family we had the very best time together!!! (Hopefully Uncle Dave, Auntie Trish, Makenna and Kallen will be back with us in 2017!)

After spending Friday night with wonderful friends Hannah and I were up bright and early Saturday morning and made our way to the airport.  We were in Orlando by mid-afternoon and hit the ground running! 

Our traditional airport pic.

I had checked us in online a couple of weeks prior to our arrival as well as received a call from our resort a few days before we arrived to confirm a couple of our requests.  When we arrived at Disney’s Pop Century Resort we were checked in within a few minutes and on the way to our room.  As a mom to a kiddo with skin sensitivities it’s wonderful to travel to a place that caters to our needs and stocks our room with hypoallergenic sheets and towels on a daily basis!

I was thankful to receive my request for a room on the first floor.  It’s the first we’ve had this and while it was nice not to need to use elevators, I’m pretty sure we’ll be moving back up to a higher floor next trip. 

We were in our room mere minutes when we were on our way to our first activity.  Hannah and I both enjoyed the drawing class that we took at Art of Animation last year so we wanted to do another one.  Today was the easiest day to fit it into our schedule so off we went, walking across Generation Gap bride to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.  The character we drew this year was Dory and I will say she was much more challenging to draw than Pluto was last year.

My girl hard at work.

Dory!!  Great drawing Hannah!

With our animator

Hannah sharing our finished pictures.  I don’t think anyone at Disney animation need fear for their jobs!

These classes are so fun and offered free of charge 3 times each day in the lobby of the Art of Animation Resort.  This will be something we’ll be doing again on another trip for sure!

After our drawing class we took a bus to the Magic Kingdom then a boat to the Polynesian Resort as we had a dinner reservation at ‘Ohana.  I asked if they had the same deeeelicious pineapple bread with macadamia nut honey butter that Kona Café served next door and while the answer was ‘no’ the chef immediately offered to go get some for us and bring it to our table!  Nothing is too much to ask at Disney….even when you don’t ask!    The rest food at ‘Ohana was amazing with huge skewers of BBQed beef, chicken and shrimp brought to our tables along with noodles, veggies, pot stickers and more.  We’ll be booking another dinner at ‘Ohana next year I’m sure!

Part of the entertainment of the evening is activities for the kids.  Hannah had such fun participating in the coconut races!

My little luau girl.  Day 1 was now behind us and it was time to head to bed as the next day we were headed to the Magic Kingdom!