A video update and Disney on Ice

Jeff's been gone a week. He went back to Arizona to get our house ready for our big move at the end of December. The kids and I really miss him! But we are staying very busy. They have school every weekday. And this past weekend, we drove out to Dublin for Disney on Ice.

Disney on Ice started at 2:30pm with the doors opening an hour before. It’s a one hour and 45 minute drive from our house to the hotel where the show was playing. We left at 10:45 and went up to Applegreens for lunch and to play a few minutes. The drive to Dublin was super easy. I’d put Disney Planes Rire & Rescue on my mini iPad and they watched that movie for the drive. We got to the hotel grounds and hit a wall of traffic, but luckily the Gardai and event employees were there directing us into the parking lots. We had to park all the way in the back. The kids stuck right next to me and did a great job navigating the muddy lot.

We got up to the convention center and there was a huge line, but it was moving quickly because the doors had just opened. The kids, again, did amazing and stuck right next to me. Inside we rode the escalators up to the 2nd floor, hit the bathroom, then went to our seats to drop off our coats.

Our seats

  Then we went back to the 2nd floor lobby to the concessions. We got popcorn, peanut M&Ms, and each of the kids got a Toy Story Woody cup with a slushy inside. 

Treats!

The stage

We hung out a bit in the lobby, then took our stuff back to our seats just in time for the show to start. The lights went down and the kids all scooted to the edge of their chairs. Then when lights turned on  at the stage, their eyes got so big! They were enraptured. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy skated out first, doing a little bit. Adele was smiling from ear to ear and waving like crazy. Anytime the audience clapped, Adele would clap along. She claps with her whole body and smiles like crazy.  Walt claps these tiny little claps, right in front of his face. Gordon never clapped, but he was incredibly enthralled with the show.

In the opening half, they started with a bit from Aladdin with the Genie. The kids have never seen the movie, but they were asking me all about it. Then they did a bit from Beauty & the Beast, then a princess montage, and then Toy Story. They also did a Nemo skit the kids loved and the final act was It’s a Small World where they did an electric parade of sorts. BIG hit.

The Electric Parade

At intermission, we mostly hung at our seats. Then after intermission, they did a number with Mulan. The kids have never seen that movie, but they loved EVERYTHING about this bit. Especially the giant chinese dragon at the end. But I think the biggest thing was the songs.  Pinnochio was either right before or right after intermission. Gordon says that was his favorite. I think they all loved the Blue Fairy flying down from the ceiling and the giant whale swallowing Pinnochio and Gepetto. Gordon was talking about it the whole way home. When they came out with the Incredibles, Walter went nuts. He loves that movie and couldn’t believe the superheroes were down there. Then all three loved the Lion King. They all waved and clapped and waved and clapped during the big closing number.

We hung at our seats until the theater was mostly empty. We had to walk down a few flights of stairs and back through that parking lot. Except now it was full of moving cars. And the kids, again, did simply amazing. We got to the car and we sat in there a while just listening to music while they ate peanut butter sandwiches, bananas, and the other stuff I packed. After 45 minutes , cars were moving, so I let them watch the Incredibles on the iPad mini on the way home. We also talked a ton about the show and our favorite parts. We stopped again at apple greens so that I could get some food and the kids ate a little more. They got to bed a little late for them, but it worked out great.

I admit that watching them experience this event and seeing their joy and amazement got me teary-eyed a number of time. I was pretty emotional.

I've also been capturing a few videos this week to send to Jeff and though I'd share here.

The kids busted out this impromptu Jingle Bells performance at the Subway counter in AppleGreens


 The first half of Gordon's version of The Three Little Pigs


 The end of the Three Little Pigs, audio only.



Tonight's Jam Session