HOLY SMOKES! We ran into Scooby Doo and Shaggy today at Universal Studios. They were hanging out by the Mystery Machine and they were so fun. Mason could not get enough. We also walked past the NASCAR Restaurant, again thinking of Kevin. Who knew those rednecks had their own restaurant.

Probably the highlight of the day was Animal Actors at Universal. It was great, if I could have a dog as smart and talented I might consider it. It was alot of fun and we got to hang out after the show for a meet and greet with some of the animals. The photo is with Frank the Pug from Men In Black the movie.

Mac and Dad rode Men In Black, its a giant video game where you shoot aliens with your laser guns all throughout the ride. We had a blast. They put us on teams and we destroyed the other team. We saw Shrek in 4D, rode the Disaster Movie and watched a special effects show and saw how they make horror movies, you know blood and guts. It was awesome, a little graphic but fun.

We called it a day pretty early at the park and went back to the village to wind down. The kids of course were excited to see what Mayor Clayton left on our table, it was more movies, games and bags. Their was a volunteer from Discovery Cove here with a Sloth, what a funny animal. Then Mac, Lydia and Dad went to find some gifts for Mason's birthday tommorrow. They had many great ideas.

Tonight in the Village it was Double Dare Safari night in the theatre. It was several games and contests. All ended with a pie in the face. Mac volunteer'd for Wet Sponge which is their version of Hot Potato. If you ended up with the sponge when the music stopped you had to squeeze the remaining water over you head. Then Mac and Dad played the Chicken Catch game. Mac threw rubber chickens over his head and dad caught them in his pants. We caught all but one and obviously won. The winner gets the pie. It was so much fun.

We wanted to show you a few things here at the village. Lydia loves that she can have soda pop with her breakfast and the tables are children heights and filled with candy. She has been working really hard at her poses for the camera, she obviously has ran out. The ice cream shop is obviously a hit and Mason loves the Merry go Round which is attatched to the Castle of Miracles. The castle of Miracles offers a Spa where you can get manicures and pedicures, they hang a star in the ceiling for each child that has visited here and there is a magic pillow machine that magically puts out pillows with whatever you want on them in just a few minutes. We will be experiencing the Castle tommorrow before we leave. There are lizards, frogs and racoons all over here. They have been quite a hit as well.

The Candy Land House is where we eat most of our food. And the common area which is at the opposite end of the village street is where most of the gatherings and activities take place. The little trains come by every few minutes and will take you wherever you want to go especially if you just want a ride. They have a wheelchair lift so we can all ride. Ol Elmer is a large tree who snores loudly, we pass him on our way back to our villa each night. The signs says he has been sleeping their for hundreds of years and dreaming of happiness for all the passerby's.

We are all tired and wore out just like Ol Elmer. We have had such a blast and experienced more than we could possibly have hoped for. Unanimously we have decided that it has been an incredible week but we are missing Charlie and looking forward to seeing him tommorrow.

Hopefully nobody needed help or saving today because all of the Superheros were in Florida with us. We went to Universal Studios Island Of Adventure today and had a blast. We immediatley had to find Spider Man and beleive me it was not hard. We got a photo with him and he left to get the rest of his friends. Mac and Sarah rode The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man and loved it. Then the Heros showed up on ATV'S. They greeted the crowd for a few minutes then left to meet our family "back stage". Spider Man asked Mason and Mac to work hard in school to become architects and to build huge cool buildings for him to swing on. It was without a doubt the highlight of the day.

After our fill of Super Heros or probably after their fill of our family, we went into Jurrasic Park. Mac & Lydia rode the Pterandon Flyers ride and then found themselves in a water fight. Clearly they lost - or won since it was nice a refreshing in the heat.

Mason found dinasour tracks in the Jurassic Park Discovery Center and we heard dinosaur activity all around us, we even bumped into a few. Mason and Mac went to the lab and did some tests on some dinosaur eggs.

After Jurrasic Park we went into The Lost Continent. We saw The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad Stunt Show. It was so alot of fun. So much action, pyrotechnics, water and amazing stunts. Then we found a magic show. It was pretty good, even Mason the Magnificent seemed to be impressed.

Next it was off to Seuss Landing. What a fun colorful place. Mason rode on the Caro-Suess-el a few times. He cannot get enough of the Merry go rounds. He loves the one at the village as well. Even if he's not riding he loves watching. Look closley, Mom, Mason, Mac and Lydia are all in the last photo.

Then it was story time in the landing. The storyteller was fantastic and we loved seeing the characters. He read Green Eggs and Ham and Oh The Places You'll Go.

We look forward to getting back to GKTW Village everyday for many reasons. One is because Mayor Clayton leaves somthing on our table to surprise us each day. We've received card games, movies, lots of treats and today we got Candy Land "Give Kids The World" version. After dinner we went to the DinoLand Put Put at the village. It was the funnest put put I've ever seen. Then we went into the Game Station and closed the place down. Of course we finished the evening off with Ice Cream.

IT'S A HARD LIFE!

This mornigs excitement at the Village was horse back riding, not really an option for the Echols family so we headed out for Magic Kingdom. We had to get to some rides. The first 3 days did not offer many rides and we were excited to get our rides on. We have a VIP pass that puts us straight to the front of all rides, unfortunatley most do not accomadate Mason. We did find the Winnie The Pooh ride and rode it twice. Mason Loved it, Mac thought it was OK and Lydia cried because it scared her. It did seem to be a little excessively happy and confusing but it was overall a hit. Mac drove a race car, mom Mac and Lydia rode the Mad Tea Party. Mason and dad had fun watching.