words from wick

# 0 – ask my wife. She was pretty much awesome at researchin’ and planning it all out. But for real, if you only have one day, and wanna fit as much as you can/care to into it….and with a 3 year old, an almost 2 year old, and a 7 month old….this is how you do:

#1 – In line at 8am, board mono-rail at 8:45, head straight to Dumbo. Seriously…don’t get distracted by all the stuff they throw at you when you walk in. Even the picturesque etc. etc. Take a split second to laugh at families getting their pictures taken with stuffed animals…seriously.

#2 – After Dumbo, you have options. Several kid-oriented rides surround you. If you opt for Snow White, take caution that the word “Scary” IS actually in the title. Seriously…not a ride for 3 year olds really. But they can survive it. 🙂 Enjoy being able to drop your stroller off with all the others outside nearly EVERY ride! (don’t leave valuables, so you don’t worry)

#3 – After 2 or 3 kiddie rides, and maybe a trip through the Haunted Mansion, you may wanna take a break. Both the Philharmagic and the Country Bear Jamboree (if your kids would rather clap and laugh than sit and stare with glasses on) are in walking distance.

#4 – You’re probably hungry by now, and the kids ask for a snack in EVERY line….so get something here. No need to be fancy, just fuel for the tank. Go cheap and fast. 🙂

#5 – Head to Toontown. In just a couple hours you can: 1. play in a pretty nice, contained toddler play area. 2. tour Mickey’s house and get a private picture audience with Mickey & Minnie. 3. Have an audience with Cinderella, Belle, and Sleeping Booty all in a row at the Hall of Fame!!!
#6 – Leave the park and get a nap. Blasphemy, or wisdom? For us…it was definitely wisdom.

#7 – Head back in time to see the (around Christmas) lighting of Cinderella’s castle. Pretty sweet. Then lock a spot for the parade while you alternate shopping, snacking, and dinnering. Make a few friends with other parade-waiters. Watch the parade, and catch the fireworks from the mono-rail back to parking. 🙂 You’ve survived!!
ps. Try and go with a ridiculously awesome family who helped make it all happen, and happen more smoothly than I would ever dare to try on my own. Who sacrifice time spent in other places doing other things….thanks everyone. 🙂 It was “Magical”.

1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, ^F9 the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, ^F10 praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” ^F11 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ “) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, ^F5 who is close to the Father’s heart, ^F6 who has made him known.

19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ^F7 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ” as the prophet Isaiah said. 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, ^F8 nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.”