Beta Test Staycation

     The past couple days have been a blast!  My mom and my cousin both came up to Orlando for a couple nights to visit, and I got the time off work to hang out with them.  I had a "beta test stay" at Art of Animation Resort, to assist in testing the new Magic Band technology.  We were able to add a night before and after the beta stay, so we had three nights to spend together!  When I checked us into Art of Animation, I was blown away!  It's such a cool resort!

     As soon as I got off work, I rushed back to the resort.  I got to hang with my family, and we got a quick bite at the food court in the hotel.  First thing after breakfast, we headed to Hollywood Studios, where we had fast passes set up on our magic bands.  We did Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, and Rockin Rollercoaster all super quick,  We even had some time to swing in and see some friends before we left!

       We jetted over to Magic Kingdom for a lunch reservation at Tony's Town Square Restaurant, which is right on Main Street, and themed like the Italian Restaurant in Lady and the Tramp.  It was our first time there, and the food was absolutely delicious (I suppose it's hard to ruin eggplant!), and the decor is perfect.  I only wish I could have heard a little more Bella Notte!

      We had time to kill before the start of the Halloween Party at 7, so we stuck around to play until then.

        As it started to get dark outside, and the party began, the music changed and Halloween creeped out all over the Magic Kingdom.  We snagged our event wristbands and some treat bags and went to score some candy.

      We hit all the treat stops (treat trails!) and caught the HalloWishes fireworks.

     A trip to the kingdom just isn't complete without the princesses.  And finally, after three visits to the Halloween party, I got to meet the Hundred Acre Woods crew in their costumes! So happy!

      After a late night at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, we got up bright and early to get breakfast at Cape May Cafe at The Beach Club Resort.  The bananas for the waffles were so yummy, and the little beach outfits the characters had on were super cute.  I had never done character dining with a child in tow before, and it was sad to see them be quick to blow of the adults at the table.  We all want pictures!  Thankfully, we were able to snag everybody!

      We just hung around Orlando for the day, wiped out from all the park hours the previous day.  We did some shopping, bought some fabulous PJs, and even fed some roadside donkeys!

     We made our way back to the hotel, and got ready for dinner.  After a bit of a struggle, I was able to book us a reservation at 1900 Park Fare in The Grand Floridian.  1900 Park Fare is a character dining buffet, including Cinderella, Prince Charming, the stepsisters, and the evil stepmother.

 

 

 
 

     Dinner was wonderful, and afterwards, we went back to our hotel, and into some particularly snuggly pjs.

     This morning, when they both had to leave, and I had to go into work, was pretty sad.  I hate goodbyes!

     That being said, I'm already planning their next trip up, I love when my family is here, and keep looking forward to more visitors!

It's not goodbye, it's see ya real soon!

xoxo