McCormick Family

We went on our last big family vacation before Parker goes on his LDS mission. We took a week in Orlando Florida to Disney!! We went with our good friend, the Thompsons. They got us an awesome condo for the week a mile from Disney World. It had a full kitchen so we cooked and at there instead of frequenting the fast food places. Our first stop in Disney was to Epcot! We went into the future on Spaceship Earth and learned what we would be doing and how we would live in the future. They take a snapshot of you at the beinging of the ride, we all made goofey faces and then at the end they put your face on cartoon bodies doing all sorts of things in the future. We all heard Jill cracking up at her future! What a great laugh!! Off to space... literally. We boarded a space ship on a mission to Mars! It was my favorite ride. You can feel up to 3 G's pushing onto you as you take off. It was a scary landing on Mars but we made it!! And no one got air sick :).

We spent the rest of the day in the front have of the park where all the technology stuff is. We rode on a "test track" for cars... Driving with me in Utah is much more intense!! Parker was awed by the backwards waterfall... water up?

Next day.. Next park... Animal Kingdom!!

Better than a zoo, the animals were close and in great habitats. On the safari ride the driver was telling us about the animals we were seeing and as we rounded a corner she said that we were coming to the lions area, they slept all day and we probably wouldnt be able to see them and then she gasped and swore as a male lion was on the ridge looking right as us! She said that rare and she was caught of garud. There are no nets or fences to protect us or to keep the lion from making us lunch. He was beautiful! I dont remember what the name of the animal in the middle picture is but he is actully related to the giraffe.

The most amazing thing there is the tree of life. I cant tell you how huge it was and that amzing detail that was carved into it, words and pictures just dont do it justice.

We enjoyed the day and this is one of our 2 favorite parks!!

Day 3 we went to the Magic Kingdom.... To get to the park you either have to take the monorail in or a ferry. The kids were offered the opportunity to ride in the front of the monorail with the driver!! How cool!

Jill was gathering pictures and autographs for Stephens little sister, Crystal, which took alot of time, but having been to Disneyland.. that was all good. We rode the new Pirates ride and got to see Captian Jack on the street, meet Princesses,Monsters and walk thru castles and saw a great firework show!

Then next park was Hollywood Studios.. One of our favorites! and with our kids it is easy to know why :)!! Being terrified of falling I was NOT going on the Tower of Terror. Everyone went but me and the minute they came out they drug me on saying that I would like it.... I was going to HATE it!! I don't do falling rides. I just know that I will crap my pants, throw up, have a heart attack and die before I ever hit the ground. Well.... thankfully none of those things happened and it was my favorite ride of the whole trip!!! Thanks for dragging me on!!

The next best ride?? Aerosmiths rollercoster of course!! Rock On!!!

Pixar was a hit for sure! Everyone took a drawing class and drew Stitch. We met the incredibles, Jill found Audrey Hepburn (her favorite actress) and Parker rode a Speeder Bike 2000 style. and and we watched a stunt show with stunt cars and pro racers that was awesome!

The Thompsons daughter, Emily, has an increadable voice and she wanted to try out for American Idol this last year but missed the 16 yr old cut off by a month. So at Hollywood Studios she auditioned for it there and made it all the way thru to the last 3!! She is amazing!!

The next day we went back to Epcot... well I mean... we went to Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kindom and Canada.

The last full day in Orlando we drove to Cocoa Beach and spent the day there, making sand castels, playing in the ocean and collecting seashells.

It was the MOTHER of all vacations!!!! Truely done McCormick style!!!