Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

Aloha!  Madison enjoyed very much her visit to the Polynesian Resort.  This morning, we had a breakfast at Ohana with Lilo & Stitch.  It was a huge breakfast, Hawaiian style - and with a few visitors as well.  Madison gave Lilo a big hug, and got an even bigger one from Stitch.  Pluto was there also, and Mickey Mouse stopped by to say hello too.  We bought Madison an autograph book, and she caught on very quickly.  She presented the book to each character, who happily signed for her.  Later, she went through the four pages looking at her signature collection.

This is where it all starts - soon, we'll be searching for obscure Disney characters in far off places to sign this book for a complete collection!  She's now a part of the paparazzi!

It was a lovely day at the Polynesian.  We enjoyed the pool - it has one of those great gradual entrances like at a real beach.  Daddy even got to go down the rock slide, which he's always wanted to do since he was like ten.  Madison especially enjoyed the water feature there, where small jets of water shoot out of the ground randomly.  She just laughed and laughed.  So did we!

The new Bay Tower just opened up near the Contemporary.  It wasn't our cup of tea, but we snuck in to take a look because it was brand new.  Madison enjoyed riding around on the boats across the lake, and also the monorails of course.  She's jumping and hopping all over the place, dragging Mommy and Daddy everywhere.  You really have to keep up with her!

Speaking of which, after a good afternoon's nap and rest, we went to do a craft at the Cub's Den there at the Wilderness Lodge.  Madison made a necklace and had fun in their playroom for a short while, and immediately after that, we went back to the Wilderness pool again to relax.  Madison swam for the first time without anyone touching her - she was using floaties on her arms, but she was also paddling and kicking.  Big moment!  "How Does She Know" was playing on the big stereo system as Madison laughed and slowly paddled back and forth between Mommy and Daddy in the pool.  I don't need a photo to remember that moment...

When it was time for us to get out of the pool, they were playing bingo again in the shade.  We joined the fun again, and this time Zena was one of the three winners!  She took Madison up to the DJ and together they picked a prize for Madison:  a fun playdough kit that we'll have to open up at home.  Madison clutched that prize tightly as we headed back to the room again.  I offered to carry it for her, as it was a little big - but she wasn't going to let go!

Later on that night, I took Madison down to the beach to watch the Electrical Water Pageant.  The shore was empty, as a rainstorm had just cleared everyone off.  But we sat there in the dark quiet and waited for the music to start.  Madison was surprised when it did, and smiled big when the music from "Pete's Dragon" started playing out on the water.  We joined Mommy in the hotel room after that and watched the fireworks over the castle from our balcony.  

A little over a year ago, in Hong Kong Disney, we watched the fireworks there from our room.  How time flies!