Disney April 2026 – Day 4 – Magic Kingdom

Dear Liza Jean and James,

Day four of our Disney trip started out with the two of you enjoying apples and peanut butter in bed.  One of the best things we brought with us to Disney was a bag of crisp apples and the best thing we purchased at Disney World was a $4 jar of peanut butter.  These became parts of our breakfasts and snacks – usually the peanut butter served with pretzels or on a spoon. 

If Animal Kingdom is all about the Animals and Hollywood Studios is all about the shows, Magic Kingdom is all about the rides and THE CASTLE. Maybe that is why it is the most crowded of the parks.  After securing our stroller we bee lined to “It’s a Small World After All”.  With no line we were on this iconic ride before 9 a.m. We then waited in line for the teacup ride.  Although the sign indicated that the wait was 15 minutes, it ended up being a 35-minute wait.  So, I learned to not necessarily trust the wait times. I am proud to say that this was our longest wait time at Disney World. As a reference point, the average posted wait time was 90 minutes with the longest posted wait time coming in at a whopping 170 minutes for Slinky Dog Dash at Hollywood Studios. That is almost three hours!

James, you and I created a lot of spin on the teacup ride, which we loved.  Unfortunately, Gizzy did not.  I had forgotten that she can get motion sickness very easily.  So, your Gizzy spent the next two hours recovering!

James, after the teacups we used a lightning pass for Pirates of the Caribbean, which you did not like at all!  Gizzy and I realized, when looking back, that Jack and Carter did not like this ride either – too dark with scary faces.  However, everyone’s spirits bounced back quickly when we visited the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse.  We loved it so much, we did it twice.  Liza Jean, you love climbing stairs.  So, you made it to the top all by yourself! 

Afterward, we used a lighting pass to ride the Jungle Cruise – a big hit.  Lighting passes usually dump you back into the line closer to the ride, which shortens the wait to 10- or 15-minutes.  However, this lighting pass took us all the way to the ride, which was cool.  James, you thought all the animals were real at first.  And I must admit, they looked real!

After this ride we ate a snack that included soft serve ice cream! James, you chose vanilla and Liza Jean chose chocolate.  James, after you tried ours, you decided that you liked pineapple better than vanilla!  Afterwards, we paused in Frontier Land for a nap for Liza Jean and lunch for all of us before proceeding to the Winnie the Pooh attraction. James, you really wanted a photo of you and Liza Jean in front of Pooh’s house.

After Winnie, we started back to the front of the Park to catch some of the show on the main stage in front of The Castle.  It was now 2 p.m. – an hour before the 3 p.m. parade.  Do we stay or do we go? We made the decision to leave.  In hindsight, the only regret we have is that we did not stay for the Parade. 

James, when we took your dad and uncles to Disney world many years ago when Carter was the same age as Liza Jean, we attended the Magic Kingdom Parade.  While watching the parade from the curb, Snow White left the parade and came over and gave Carter a kiss on the cheek. We talked about that moment during the rest of that trip, and we still talk about it to this day. I really wanted the two of you to see Snow White in the parade.  Of course, neither of you really cared about that.  So, in hindsight, it would have been more for us than for the two of you. 

When we got back to our Lodge, we were determined to use the pool. We found out that our pool had a water slide that had no height restrictions.  James, after you and I went down the slide a few times, we talked Gizzy into letting Liza Jean go down the slide.  Each time she hit the water, she shouted, “Again, let’s do it again!”  Although the pool was heated, the outside temperature was cold.  When I saw you shiver with blue lips, I knew it was time to head to our room for a warm bath. 

James, after bathtime we had a picnic dinner in our room and then you and I walked around the Lodge and bought a few gifts, including a gift for your Aunt Patti – a beautiful Disney shirt.  Of the most important people in your lives, Aunt Patti is up there with Gizzy.  She loves you and Liza Jean so much.  You two are so lucky to have people like Patti in your lives who love you and care for you.  Aunt Patti is a saint. 

As we nestled in our beds, I picked up my phone and read a text from your father. “Thank You” was all it said. He had also included a photo of a letter that I had sent to James after his first visit to Virginia from Boston as a six-month old.

After reading that letter, I realized that I need to do a better job of writing more letters to you.  Those letters not only capture what seemed so important at the time, but they also capture how I felt. And at this moment I have a full heart with a feeling of bliss and joy. Yes, magic does happen at Disney.  But if you look for it, there is magic happening every day. You just need to slow down and be present with those around you. And that is one thing I learned from this trip – to be more present with you when I am with you.

You two are a blessing to everyone around you.  You are good.  You are strong.  You are important. And most of all, you are loved and always will be.

Papa J