The Three Mousekateers | Little Piles of Pixie Dust

Once upon a time, sometime last April, I was up to my mouse ears in researching curriculum, methods and local homeschool groups as I prepared to take my first step into our family's next adventure. Or to put it plainly, begin homeschooling.

The kids didn't know that we're going to Walt Disney World, just that we're going to a homeschool seminar in Orlando.
If they knew, they'd explode in little piles of pixie dust.
I decided to tell them well after Christmas or about five minutes after this photo.

I discovered, almost by accident, that there used to be something called "Disney Homeschool Days" that offered fun student programs at Walt Disney World. They also just happened to offer discounts on Walt Disney World park tickets.
You might remember that my poor, neglected children were left behind last spring when I went to the World on a girl's trip and that prior to that, they've only visited Walt Disney World for one short day of magic. (Before you feel too badly for them, remember they've been on four Disney cruises in the last three years, totaling nearly a month at sea.)
On disembarking our last cruise and travelling home via the Orlando International Airport, we started to explain to the kids they would need to behave extra well the next time they flew into Orlando, as it would just be me and the two kiddos heading out for a homeschool seminar. Kylee was super enthusiastic. Chris less so.


Gifts from our Disney friends to the kiddos!

I booked FastPass+ in the dead of night and arranged and rearranged touring plans and ADRs like it was going out of style.
Kylee reached an important Disney milestone at the start of January, finally clearing 44 inches.
Over the few weeks following Christmas, it came out that if Chris were going to build his own student seminar in Orlando he would want to put it in Walt Disney World, but otherwise he was perfectly happy going to the homeschool day at Space Center Houston like we did in the fall. We let that sit for a few days until finally Kylee asked us if we were in point of fact going to visit Walt Disney World.
Ben and I said of course!

Kylee has gone to Cheshire Cat mode!

Thus began a very busy week of planning with the kids picking out favorite rides, making their own packing lists, deciding which park would be which day and generally finishing up some odds and ends.
Ben opted to sit this trip out in the interest of saving up vacation time for later this fall. He hopes that it might possibly be necessary for the Disney Parks Moms Panel training trip...or just a super long winter break around our family reunion, whichever.

Packing lists?
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

The days ticked down, the suitcases filled up and only one semi-essential item was destined to be left behind...

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This is Part 1 of an Ongoing Trip Report "The Three Mousekateers."
Additional sections will be found on the Trip Reports page after they are posted!