Grant,
What an amazing couple of days we had at Disney World!
On our very own Father-Son trip we took a train from Cary, NC to Orlando. You were so excited to be on a train. As we pulled out from the station you waved at mommy and TJ and settled in for a thirteen hour journey. Luckily, you fell asleep quickly. Unfortunately, it took me a couple of tries to get comfortable but once I did I actually got a few hours of sleep.
You are different than TJ or Samantha. What I mean is that you have always had older siblings. Samantha never lived with us when TJ was little. In other words, TJ had a few years by himself. In those years we had some one on one time that you never got. So this week was really our first time alone together.
You are different once you are apart from your brother and your mom. You are perfectly content with being in your own mind, doing your own thing, but you like to have someone you love nearby. To be honest - your manners are better too.
We arrived at the Polynesian Resort and went right to the pool while they got our room ready. As I predicted, you loved the volcano pool and the water play area. I could not keep up with you! For three hours you swam, slid, and played. It was a perfect way to end a year where you learned to swim, learned to jump and slide, and learned not to be afraid of getting water on your face. It thrilled me to no end.
When our room was ready they sent the luggage but lost your Stitch pillow! You took it in stride. You didn't cry, or freak out, or have a panic attack like some kids might. You simply let Disney replace it with a new one. Of course, two days later when they found the original Stitch you took both of them home!
I can tell Disney is not as magical for you as for me. That's okay. You seemed less enthralled with the wonder of the Magical Kingdom than the mechanics of it. You were less interested in how the Peter Pan Ride looked than how they got the ships to go up in the air. You spotted Tinker Belle's zipline instantly. That is how your mind works. For the record; you did not like Space Mountain but loved Splash Mountain - and the fifty foot drop! You liked the Seven Dwarves Mine Train and Mickey's PhilharMagic but did not like the Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean (even though you have been on them before).
You wanted to meet Donald Duck and Goofy but didn't want to meet Gaston and were unimpressed by meeting Mickey Mouse - after all it was just a person in a costume.
Our first night we watched the Wishes Fireworks from our room as we FaceTimed with mom and TJ. You seemed more interested in TV than fireworks. On the night we were in the park you were more interested in the projections on the castle than the fireworks show meaning you wanted to know how they did it not what it contained.
Even when you picked out souvenirs you wanted something "mechanical". Of all of the things there are to buy at Disney World, you chose the .51 cent Press-a-Penny with different images on them. The fact that you could hand crank those big metal gears and turn a round penny into an flat oval - it was an easy way for me to spend $1.82. I hope you keep those pennies forever. I hope we add more!
Perhaps you are more likely to be an Imagineer instead of a Guest. I hope you always keep Disney in your life in some way. It is a connection with my mom that makes my heart feel good.
We stayed up late to watch one of the last Main Street Electrical Parades in Walt Disney World! We had perfect seats on the corner in Main Street USA. That you thought was pretty cool!
What an amazing couple of days we had at Disney World!
On our very own Father-Son trip we took a train from Cary, NC to Orlando. You were so excited to be on a train. As we pulled out from the station you waved at mommy and TJ and settled in for a thirteen hour journey. Luckily, you fell asleep quickly. Unfortunately, it took me a couple of tries to get comfortable but once I did I actually got a few hours of sleep.
You are different than TJ or Samantha. What I mean is that you have always had older siblings. Samantha never lived with us when TJ was little. In other words, TJ had a few years by himself. In those years we had some one on one time that you never got. So this week was really our first time alone together.
You are different once you are apart from your brother and your mom. You are perfectly content with being in your own mind, doing your own thing, but you like to have someone you love nearby. To be honest - your manners are better too.
We arrived at the Polynesian Resort and went right to the pool while they got our room ready. As I predicted, you loved the volcano pool and the water play area. I could not keep up with you! For three hours you swam, slid, and played. It was a perfect way to end a year where you learned to swim, learned to jump and slide, and learned not to be afraid of getting water on your face. It thrilled me to no end.
When our room was ready they sent the luggage but lost your Stitch pillow! You took it in stride. You didn't cry, or freak out, or have a panic attack like some kids might. You simply let Disney replace it with a new one. Of course, two days later when they found the original Stitch you took both of them home!
I can tell Disney is not as magical for you as for me. That's okay. You seemed less enthralled with the wonder of the Magical Kingdom than the mechanics of it. You were less interested in how the Peter Pan Ride looked than how they got the ships to go up in the air. You spotted Tinker Belle's zipline instantly. That is how your mind works. For the record; you did not like Space Mountain but loved Splash Mountain - and the fifty foot drop! You liked the Seven Dwarves Mine Train and Mickey's PhilharMagic but did not like the Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean (even though you have been on them before).
Our first night we watched the Wishes Fireworks from our room as we FaceTimed with mom and TJ. You seemed more interested in TV than fireworks. On the night we were in the park you were more interested in the projections on the castle than the fireworks show meaning you wanted to know how they did it not what it contained.
Even when you picked out souvenirs you wanted something "mechanical". Of all of the things there are to buy at Disney World, you chose the .51 cent Press-a-Penny with different images on them. The fact that you could hand crank those big metal gears and turn a round penny into an flat oval - it was an easy way for me to spend $1.82. I hope you keep those pennies forever. I hope we add more!
Again - you are much more matter of fact and technical than others who suspend belief for "pixie dust". It's a bit of an eye roll for you to pose - again - in front of the castle. I hope you like Disney because I don't think you will ever l-o-v-e Disney.
Perhaps you are more likely to be an Imagineer instead of a Guest. I hope you always keep Disney in your life in some way. It is a connection with my mom that makes my heart feel good.We stayed up late to watch one of the last Main Street Electrical Parades in Walt Disney World! We had perfect seats on the corner in Main Street USA. That you thought was pretty cool!
Like your brother, it was important to have some time together. One-on-one time without other distractions. These are things my dad never did. I saw a side of you I think I knew was there but hadn't really embraced. I see the sassy, smart, gifted boy that you are. I know there is greatness in you that we can only begin to imagine.
It's hard to believe that you are only 5 1/2 years old.
I love you,
Dad
It's hard to believe that you are only 5 1/2 years old.
I love you,
Dad
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