After months of planning, we packed up the family truckster for a week in sunny Florida; Our first big vacation since our daughter was born last April.

We drove overnight, leaving late Friday night and headed straight to Daytona Beach. We couldn't check in to our resort until 4pm but we wanted to drive overnight so Avery would sleep. After a long night of driving we pulled right onto the beach and had some fun!

We checked into our resort Saturday afternoon and spent Sunday around the pool. For this trip, we stayed at Vacation Village at Parkway, an RCI affiliated resort that we were able to trade into from our home timeshare at Massanutten in Virginia.

Monday was our first park day, starting out with a brief stop at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The only reason we hit the studios was mainly to catch the newly freshened Disney Junior: Live on Stage! Avery is obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so we knew she had to see the show. She loved it, barely moving the entire time.

After wrapping up at the studios, we headed to the Magic Kingdom for the rest of the day. We arrived and Aves was able to meet Daisy Duck as soon as we got there, which she loved. After that, we did the new Town Square Theater Meet and Greet with Mickey and Minnie. I can't say enough good things about this experience! The room groupings were small, and the CM's were more than happy to let us linger as long as we liked for her to spend some time with them.

After meeting Mickey, we headed to the Harmony Barber Shop for something very special: Avery's very first haircut! This was awesome, the barber did a great job holding her attention and making her feel special the whole time. She capped off the cut with some pixie dust and a special ears cap, embroidered with "first haircut" on the back.

I was completely impressed with the amount of attractions she did that day: Pirates, Dumbo, Aladdin's Magic Carpets, it's a small world, The Laugh Floor, TTA Peoplemover, Jungle Cruise, and the Mad Hatters Tea Party.

We ended that day with the Main Street Electrical Parade. Avery loved all the lights, but man does this one look old and tired. Time for something new here.

We spent Wednesday at SeaWorld, which was much different with a 13 month old! We made a few loops around the park, feeding the Stingrays, Dolphins, and Sea Lions, but not seeing any shows. This park is still beautiful, but I've been disappointed with the food quality since the ownership change.

Thursday began with Animal Kingdom, and the weather was perfect for it. We started by getting FP's for Kilimanjaro Safari and then hopping on the train out to the Conservation Station. Avery enjoyed the "affection section" petting zoo, but this who area has a very non-Disney feel to it. We did the safari next, and then a few odds and ends before leaving the park.

From Animal Kingdom we departed for our favorite park: EPCOT. Here, were were able to do the Character Spot meet and greet first, as Avery can't get enough of these characters. This was followed by a long nap (for her, not us) in her stroller as we staked out a shady bench in FutureWorld. We followed the nap with rides on SSE, The Seas, Living With The Land, and Journey Into Imagination, all of which she absolutely loved! We had dinner at the Rose and Crown before making the World Showcase loop. She really loved all the sights, sounds, and smells of the different countries, and she rode Norway's Maelstrom without even batting an eye! We did a few rerides on SSE and JII before heading home for the night.

The rest of the trip was spent lounging by the pool and spending the evenings at Downtown Disney.

It was very, very different than any other vacation we've ever taken, but it was so much better in so many ways! It's exciting to think about how her reactions to these things will change over the years.

Now, onto the pics!

Travel / Resort Randoms

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Magic Kingdom

First Haircut!

Mainstreet

Evening Randoms, MSEP

SeaWorld

Breakfast!

Seeing the Stingrays:

Feeding the Dolphins:

Riding the Carousel of the Sea and Swishy Fishy

Park randoms:

Animal Kingdom

Rafiki's Planet Watch / Affection Section

Kilimanjaro Safari

EPCOT

Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures and experience of your family. I love being a Dad and visiting Disney/parks with my kids as it sounds like you are also beginning to - it makes it so special. I hear so many people say they'll wait until kids are the "right" age to visit - I say any age is right as you also show.

Is that a Horizons tattoo?

Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures and experience of your family. I love being a Dad and visiting Disney/parks with my kids as it sounds like you are also beginning to - it makes it so special. I hear so many people say they'll wait until kids are the "right" age to visit - I say any age is right as you also show.

I know, we got plenty of rolled eyes from our friends when we told them we were going, but she had such a great time! The great thing about the Disney parks is their almost complete lack of height requirements... Our toddler was able to ride Maelstrom, for crying out loud!

Is that a Horizons tattoo?

Sure is! Horizons was a huge influence on me as I was growing up, and inspired me to get into design.

Your little girl is darling! I'm glad you three had a splendid time, making memories indeed!

Sure is! Horizons was a huge influence on me as I was growing up, and inspired me to get into design.

2 things:

1. I hope you've seen Mesa Verde Times. Not that I approve of what they did, but I'm glad they did it.

2. That is pure awesome. I really wish I remember that ride better than I do... it's dearly missed.

Sure is! Horizons was a huge influence on me as I was growing up, and inspired me to get into design.

2 things:

1. I hope you've seen Mesa Verde Times. Not that I approve of what they did, but I'm glad they did it.

2. That is pure awesome. I really wish I remember that ride better than I do... it's dearly missed.

I was absolutely infatuated with the MVT story. I agree, i don't condone it, but holy crap what a great story!

Have you seen Martin's videos on Vimeo? He has some awesome pieces on Horizons. If you haven't seen them, I'll try to dig up the links.

Thanks for sharing...it looks like you all had a great time. I am also not a believer in waiting until the kids are "the right age". Sure the little ones may not remember it when they get older...but they are having the time of their life now...and I do think it molds their personality even if others might not. You took some great pictures...your daughter will always cherish them. I think this one is great:

Your daughter's expression is priceless!

Your daughter's expression is priceless!

"Let me back at that mouse! I love him!!!!"

Thanks for sharing your trip. Your daughter is adorable and looks like she had a great time!

Thanks for sharing! Looks like you had a nice time.

Thanks for sharing and I love seeing someone starting the magic early. Just makes me even more excited for our trip to The World in 11 days even more exciting.

Looks like the whole family had a blast. Your daughter is absolutely adorable! Thanks for sharing the pictures!

That was one of the best PTRs I've ever seen! I love the shot of the seal 'barking' at the bird... looks like "Hey, that's my fish!"

Great pics!