"Disney World Day 4......, last day"

Technically, our last day was a travel day starting very early in the morning, so I am calling this post our "last day" because it was our final day being in the parks. And, there are ALOT of pictures. For my Star Wars fanatic, this was his most exciting day because he was going to get to go to the Star Wars Jedi Training Academy and "fight" Darth Vader.  Oh my, I never dreamed I would be so excited about "boy stuff".  I didn't grow up around boys - only have a sister and girl cousins that I grew up with - so this world of Star Wars, weapons, wheels, engines, machines etc....., is still kind of new to me.  But I am learning to love it - because I love to see my son so happy and in his "boy world".  For the record, the training academy is not open all day long, like most everything else at the park. We found out the night before that there are only 10 sessions throughout the day, and only 15 students are allowed in each session.  Ummmmm, glad we found out that important information!!  I have never seen Jay so bound and determined to make sure that Elijah Brooks had the opportunity to at least try to get in. This truly was the only thing that our sweet boy really had his heart set on the weeks leading up to this trip - this was all he talked about, so we just prayed that God would orchestrate all of the details of this opportunity if it was meant to happen. Instead of eating our normal sit-down breakfast, we grabbed our breakfast "to go", hopped on the 1st bus to the park and arrived at 8:00am - the park didn't open until 9:00!   Thanks to my hubby, we were the first people in line at the gate, but it wasn't long before we looked behind us and there was an increasingly long line of moms and dads with their sons lined up behind us.  As we listened to the conversations happening behind us, they mainly consisted of this comment, "This is the only thing my son wants to do. He is going to be devastated if he doesn't get in. We just have to make sure he gets in".  We understood that, because we felt the same way.  But, we weren't going to be rude and push people out of the way etc......   We had already told Elijah Brooks that we were going to do our best to make sure he was able to get in, but there was a possibility that he might not be able to - and we tried to prepare him for how to respond to disappointment, just in case.  We have always been super honest with him, about everything. We sat down on the ground and ate our by now, cold breakfast, but were still having fun nonetheless.  EB would get up and down practicing his best "lightsaber moves" while he waited.  We had already been told that when the gate opens, no one was allowed to run (y'all this is serious stuff - people wanted to run really??? - all so new to me)!  Well, the gate opened and the race was on - I veered off to the restroom, and the boys walked very briskly to the training academy sign up table - which was a nice little walk away. I was praying the whole time that if this was meant to be, God would just work it out - who wants their child to be disappointed really?  Well, I finally found them walking back towards where we split off, and could immediately tell by the smile on EB's face, that he was IN!  He was the 4th person to sign up and got into the very first session!!  I was so happy for him that I teared up alittle :)  We were all so thrilled for him, because really, this is all he wanted to do. He practiced his moves again in the street before getting in line with the other kids to go "train".  He immediately made friends with some of the other boys in his little training class, which is not surprising.  The pictures will tell the rest of the story:

"Hollywood Studios" 

The piece of paper that he was handed when he signed up - he was pretty happy as you can tell! 

Lovin' that tiny slip of paper :) 

This was his "trainer"!  He was a BIG guy! 

Each student was handed a lightsaber and a Jedi robe to wear - he was pumped! 

Once training was completed, these huge doors opened and the "Storm Troopers" came out - was pretty intimidating actually! 

And then, Darth Vader entered the scene - he was HUGE too! I truly didn't know what EB might do at this point. All of the kids were so happy and confident during training, and then when Darth Vader came out, the kids all started backing up and huddling together, and the smiles on the faces faded quickly.  All of the parents watching were all wondering the same thing, "is my child really going to go through with this"?  But, every single child did it and we all found ourselves cheering for each child like they were our own - just to see the confidence on these kids' faces when they walked out there on stage and conquered their fear was really pretty awesome to watch. 

You can tell that the kids were huddling together at this point, and had backed up as far as they could. EB said, "I thought I might cry mommy, but then I just found my confidence and went for the head"!!   

Here is the trainer giving EB one last set of directions before it was his turn

Look at that intensity and confidence! 

All of the kids using "the Force" to make Darth Vader leave 

"Take that Darth Vader - we are through with you" 

Getting his diploma 

And...., of course it quickly became a lightsaber 

That was one proud little boy, and one relieved momma! 

After the training academy, we went through a few more exhibits and saw 2 more shows before heading to our "Character lunch" with Jake and Handy Manny 

Look who we found at Disney World!!!!   COUSINS!!!!  We planned our trips separately and didn't know when the other was going to be there, but we happened to overlap by 1 day and we hooked up at lunch together and spent the next several hours be-bopping around Hollywood Studios.  SO fun - Elliot would have loved this so much. 

These sweet boys held hands the entire afternoon - Wyatt truly is EB's hero and best friend in the world

"Little Elliot and little Erin" 

Had to stop for a cool treat before the parade 

 

Goodbye Disney World! We had a fabulous time, and hope to go back in 3 years when Ellison turns 4!