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Donna opened the curtains of The Grand Suite of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa at Walt Disney World. It was just past 7:00 a.m.; the early December sun was starting to rise, and the glow of the Florida sunrise illuminated through the tall windows. The suite was more extravagant than she had ever imagined—high ceilings, sparkling chandeliers, and the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered the breathtaking view of Cinderella’s Castle across the lagoon. But the most beautiful view in the room to Donna was the sight of the three sleeping figures in the massive king-size bed.
Jude had climbed in some time during the night, claiming he had a dream about Figment the dragon. Sloane, of course, followed suit—Pooh tucked under her arm, Pooh pajamas tucked at her knees, her tiny feet wedged between Donna and Harvey, like she owned the whole bed.
Donna smiled; she walked over to Harvey, who was sleeping in the bed, and nudged his shoulder. “Harvey,” she whispered into his ear, slowly kissed his cheek, then kissed his lips; her lips lingered there for a beat.
He groaned. “Do I really have to leave this bed?”
“You say that like you didn’t book the Genie+ last night for Thon when you realized Jude just made the height requirement to ride,” she said flatly, tickling her fingers down his arm, still trying to get her husband out of bed.
Harvey sat up, rubbing his eyes. “I guess I should get up before our little monsters demand they want Mickey waffles,” he said with a laugh. He looked over at the kids, still asleep in the middle of the bed, both of their mouths slightly parted, Sloane snoring a little. “They each have a queen-size bed that they could have slept in last night.” Harvey teased as he stood from the bed and headed into the living and dining area of the suite to make coffee.
“They like to be close when we are away,” she replied, walking over to one of the dressers, searching for clothes for the day for herself and the kids.
It was their first full day at Disney World. They landed late yesterday morning at Orlando International Airport. They spent the rest of their day settling at their resort. They took the kids to the pool, where the four of them had a Dole whip poolside. In the evening, they watched the Magic Kingdom fireworks from their balcony. They decided to take this trip last year, figuring that both kids would be at the perfect age for their first trip. Donna preferred not to experience Disney World for the first time in the Florida summer heat and mentioned how great it would be to visit around Christmas, so they could see the decorations, since the kids love Christmas. So, they decided to book the trip for the first week of December. This way, they would be able to experience Christmas at Disney and celebrate Sloane’s third birthday.
Sloane stirred from her place in the middle of the bed, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands, her eyes slowly blinking open. “We goin’ to Disney today?” she mumbled as she rolled over on the bed.
Donna turned towards her daughter as she was placing their clothes out for the day. “Good morning, sweet girl. We’re going to Magic Kingdom today,” she murmured to her daughter as she rubbed her back to help wake her up.
Sloane smiled as she sat up in bed, Donna lifting her into her arms. Sloane rested her head on Donna's shoulder and wrapped her arms around her neck. “I see Pooh?” she mumbled into her mama’s neck.
Donna swayed with her daughter in her arms, hugging her close to her chest. She couldn’t get over the fact that her little girl was turning three in a few days. “Yeah, baby. You get to meet Pooh,” she said softly, kissing Sloane on the top of her head.
Jude stirred in the bed, his hazel eyes fluttering open, still heavy with sleep. “It’s Disney day?” he groaned, rolling onto his back dramatically like the morning was already too much.
Donna looked over towards the bed at Jude, Sloane still in her arms. “Good morning, Jude,” she murmured.
Sloane wiggled her way out of Donna’s arms until Donna put her down. She immediately crawled onto the bed and plopped herself next to her brother. “Jude, we go to Magic Kingdom! I see Pooh!”
Jude grinned, the excitement in his face slowly igniting. “Can we go now?! Like right now?!”
As Donna was about to answer her son, Harvey walked back into the bedroom from the living and dining area of the suite with two mugs of coffee in his hands. He sipped from one of the mugs as he walked into the bedroom.
“I need my coffee and a few Mickey waffles first before I deal with Mickey Mouse,” he murmured into his coffee mug, passing the other to Donna.
“And Pooh!” She shouted, bouncing on her knees on the mattress. “Castle! Daddy, I want to see princesses,” she declared, her voice full of certainty. She stood on the mattress and toddled to the end towards Harvey.
“You and every other girl under the age of ten,” Harvey teased, kissing the top of her strawberry blonde curls. “You will get to see Pooh, the castle, and all the princesses. Just don’t drag me on those spinning teacups.”
Jude leaned forward, his eyes mischievous. “Oh, we’re definitely going on the teacups. And the Mine Train and Buzz Lightyear,” he rattled off his list.
Harvey groaned dramatically, teasing. “Come on, you two. Let’s get dressed. And get some breakfast so we can see the mouse.”
“And Pooh!” Sloane shouted as she jumped into Harvey’s arms, almost spilling his coffee.
Harvey kissed her cheek as he caught her in his arms. “And Pooh—how could I forget the most important bear?”
Donna and Harvey both finished their coffees, then started getting ready for their day filled with Disney magic.
Jude and Sloane were practically vibrating with excitement as they got dressed. Harvey helped Jude get dressed in his shorts and gray Mickey Mouse t-shirt. Harvey reluctantly, with a highly amused sigh and smirk, pulled on a Mickey Mouse t-shirt that matched Jude’s, which Donna had snuck into his suitcase, paired with shorts and sneakers. Donna wore white linen pants, her hair up in a ponytail, and a pink Minnie Mouse t-shirt, along with rose-gold Minnie Mouse ears for later.
Donna helped Sloane get dressed in the outfit she had been waiting months to see her wear. Sloane wore a t-shirt that resembled Pooh’s signature cropped red shirt and his yellow belly, paired with jean shorts, and red high-top Converse sneakers, all of which featured white crew socks with Pooh’s face on the cuff. Donna finished doing Sloane’s hair. She opted for two pigtails for her soon-to-be three-year-old, with a headband that resembled Pooh’s ears.
Donna finished Sloane’s hair and placed the headband on top of her head. She stood back and took her in. “Oh, Sloane. Pooh is going to love you even more when he sees you.”
Harvey walked into the bedroom to see if his girls were ready, and that's when he caught a glimpse of Sloane dressed as Pooh. He smiled. “Well, if it isn’t the sweetest little bear in all of Disney World.” He walked over to Sloane, who was sitting on the edge of the bed; he crouched to her level. He gently booped her nose with his finger, which made her giggle. “You’re even cuter than Pooh—don’t tell him I said that.”
Sloane smiled the biggest smile at her mama and daddy, her eyes sparkling, as she clutched her Pooh to her chest. “We go, now? I see Pooh.”
***
By the time they left the suite to head to breakfast, the kids were bursting with energy. Their laughter echoed down the polished hallway as Jude tried to run ahead of Harvey. The lobby shone with polished marble, crystal chandeliers sparkling in the morning sunlight, and holiday decorations twinkled throughout. Donna pushed Sloane in her stroller, her Pooh at her side, her big brown eyes taking in the sight of the Christmas decorations throughout the lobby.
“Mama, they decorated for my birthday,” Sloane declared from her stroller as she gazed at the twinkling lights on the massive Christmas tree in the lobby.
Donna leaned toward her in the stroller. “I think you’re right, my love. But it’s also Christmas and Hanukkah.”
Sloane shook her head. “No. My birthday. My birthday December,” she retorted to her mama.
Donna chuckled, shook her head, and continued to push the stroller towards the restaurant.
***
The Gasparilla Island Grill was bustling with families, the air filled with the smell of Mickey waffles and fresh coffee.
They grabbed an open table near the window overlooking the lagoon. Donna left Harvey with the kids while she went in line to order breakfast.
When she came back, balancing the tray of food, Jude’s eyes went wide.
“Mickey waffles!” he shouted. The family next to them laughed.
Donna slid plates in front of him and Sloane. “With strawberries and plenty of syrup, just how you two like them,” she grinned.
Donna slid Harvey a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwich and a bacon, egg, and cheese croissant sandwich for herself, along with two more coffees. She slid one towards Harvey.
“Are we going straight to the park after breakfast?” Jude asked with a mouthful of waffle.
“Straight to the park,” Harvey confirmed. “Someone’s in a hurry to ride Thon.”
Jude’s hazel eyes lit up wide. “Yeah, Thon! But can we do Peter Pan first?”
Sloane pointed her fork at her brother, her brow furrowed, a smear of maple syrup on her cheek. “I see Pooh!”
Donna leaned toward Sloane, wiping the maple syrup and crumbs from her face. Sloane scowled at her. “You will, sweetheart. We have to finish breakfast. And then we get to ride the monorail.”
“The train in the sky!” Sloane gasped.
“That’s the one,” Harvey confirmed with a chuckle.
Once they were all finished with breakfast, Donna wiped Sloane’s hands and face clean and tucked her back into the stroller, handing her her Pooh. Donna handed Jude a few wipes to clean his hands and face, but Harvey had to come in to help. Donna gathered their things as Harvey threw away their trash and placed their tray in the tray return.
They made their way back to the lobby, where the sound of the pianist echoed throughout, and walked toward the monorail platform. Jude clutched Harvey’s hand as they stepped outside to the monorail station platform.
The crisp but warm December air hit them when they stepped outside to the platform, where other families bustled about, heading in the same direction. Jude clutched Harvey’s hand tighter.
Harvey noticed a change in his son's demeanor as they approached the crowds of people. “Monorail time, buddy. Excited?”
“Do you think we’ll get to sit in the front car, Daddy?” Jude asked softly, anxiously.
“Maybe if we’re lucky,” Harvey answered.
A Cast Member caught Harvey’s attention in the corner of his eye. “Jude, wait here with Mama for a minute,” he murmured as he moved Jude’s hand to hold onto Sloane’s stroller.
“Harvey—?” Donna started to question, but he was already jogging towards the Cast Member.
She watched as her husband engaged in a full lawyer negotiation with the Cast Member. He even handed the Cast Member what appeared to be a $100 bill.
Harvey walked back towards Donna and the kids, still waiting for the monorail, his Cheshire cat smile on full display as he approached them with his hands in his pockets.
Donna leaned towards him as he stood next to her, waiting for the monorail. “Harvey Reginald Specter, what did you just do?” she whispered, making sure neither Jude nor Sloane could hear.
Harvey looked at her with a smirk, hands still in his pockets. “You’ll see,” he whispered to her.
The monorail pulled in with a whoosh, sleek and white with its orange stripe glinting in the sun.
“Flying train!” Sloane squealed, bouncing against her seat in her stroller.
Before the line of guests started moving, the Cast Member to whom Harvey had slipped a $100 bill came over to Harvey.
“Mr. Specter, your family can follow me,” the Cast Member said as he motioned towards the front of the monorail.
Donna’s eyes went wide as she started to follow Harvey and the Cast Member. “Harvey—?”
Harvey looked back as he walked with the Cast Member, holding Jude’s hand, “Disney Magic, Donna.”
Donna chuckled, continuing to follow to the front of the monorail. “More like Specter Magic,” she mumbled under her breath.
As they approached the front of the monorail, Jude’s eyes widened, the morning sunlight making them sparkle. “We got the front car!” he exclaimed, jumping a little as he walked.
Harvey leaned down towards his son. “Today’s our lucky day,” he murmured, smiling.
Donna pushed Sloane in the stroller inside the monorail car. Jude dashed inside, already claiming a window seat. Harvey slipped the Cast Member another $100 bill and then stepped inside the car.
Donna shook her head at her husband as he sat on the bench next to Jude. Jude pressed his palms against the glass as they waited for the monorail to start moving.
“What?” Harvey asked her.
“Nothing,” she chuckled. “I love how generous you are just to see your son smile.”
Harvey didn’t say a word. He slid closer to his boy, wrapping his arm around him as they both looked out the window of the monorail.
Sloane craned her neck, desperately trying to see out the window. Donna unbuckled her straps and lifted her onto her lap, pointing out the spires of the castle in the distance. “That’s where we’re going, Sloane. Where Mickey lives.”
Her little mouth dropped open in awe. “No, Pooh. That’s Pooh’s house,” she murmured.
Donna kissed the top of her head. “Yes, sweet girl. And Pooh.”
The monorail doors slid closed, and the famous announcement; Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor, manténganse alejado de las puertas was made, and with a gentle lurch, the monorail began to glide along the track.
The monorail curved gently along the track, passing lush gardens, sparkling water, and a glimpse of the lavish resort grounds. Sloane bounced in Donna’s lap, pointing at every tree, every flower, every tiny detail. Jude rattled off everything he could see, from the bridges over the lagoon, the swans, and the boats gliding across the water.
The monorail slowed as it pulled into the Magic Kingdom station. Jude leapt out of his seat, pulling Harvey by the arm. Donna lifted Sloane back into the stroller. She gave her mama a little fight going back in, kicking her feet a little. Donna adjusted the straps of the stroller and looked into her daughter’s dark brown eyes. “Ready for the magic?”
Sloane smiled and nodded her head vigorously as she clutched her Pooh to her chest.
They stepped out of the monorail car onto the platform, greeted by the sights and sounds of the Magic Kingdom. The first day of their Disney adventure officially began.
***
The four Specters walked down the ramp of the monorail station to the gate of the Magic Kingdom. Donna stopped as they approached the turnstiles, digging through the backpack underneath the stroller.
She held four MagicBands in her hand, each of them different. Jude’s Mickey and Friends, Sloane’s Pooh, of course, Donna’s light pink, and Harvey's black. She gave Harvey his and Jude’s MagicBands. “Here, your MagicBand to get into the park.”
Harvey placed Jude’s on his left wrist, doing the same for himself.
Donna crouched down to Sloane in the stroller and adjusted the MagicBand to Sloane’s wrist, knowing her daughter well enough that she would insist on scanning her MagicBand herself to get into the park like everyone else. “Okay, Sloane, Mama is going to let you wear your MagicBand to scan to get into the park, but then it comes right back to Mama, so we can keep it safe in the backpack so it doesn’t get lost. Got it?”
Sloane watched her mama place her Pooh MagicBand on her tiny wrist. “It, Pooh, Mama.”
Donna smiled as she finished adjusting the MagicBand. “Yeah, it’s Pooh, baby, but you understand the MagicBand is really important and has to come back to Mama after we scan it?”
Sloane nodded, her eyes on the Pooh MagicBand. “Got it. Scan. Back to Mama.”
Donna nodded once, then stood, adjusted the sunvisor of the stroller, and started pushing it towards the turnstiles. “Good. Now, let’s go.”
“Let’s go! Let’s go!” Sloane yelled, her arms above her head, kicking her feet against the footrest of the stroller.
They walked up to the turnstiles. Jude scanned his MagicBand as if it were a secret code. Sloane scanned hers proudly; her eyes gleamed when the Mickey head lit up as she held the band to it. They all passed through the turnstiles. Donna quickly snatched Sloane and Jude’s MagicBands and put them back in the backpack before they would get lost. They walked underneath the train station and stepped into the heart of Main Street, USA.
Harvey slid on his sunglasses as he walked, holding Jude’s hand in his. Main Street, USA, stretched out before them, alive with music, as the scent of popcorn and churros, along with baked goods, drifted from the confectionery. Colorful storefronts, wreaths, and garlands stretched across Main Street, twinkling lights wrapped around every lamppost, the giant Christmas tree near the entrance, balloons bobbed in the air, other families rushed through Main Street, and straight ahead was Cinderella’s Castle.
“Whoa,” Jude breathed, slowing his pace. Cinderella’s Castle came into view, the sight they had been anticipating the whole morning. The castle, rising tall and gleaming in the morning sun, the ultimate symbol of Walt Disney World.
Sloane leaned forward in the stroller, clutching her Pooh tightly. “Big house,” she said softly, her mouth dropping open. She turned, moving the sunvisor of the stroller out of the way to see her mama and looked up at her, as if she were asking, Do you see this too, Mama?!
Donna looked down at her daughter, and her chest tightened. Sloane’s strawberry blonde pigtails framed her wide brown eyes, which grew wider as the castle came into view.
As they walked further down Main Street, the castle looming larger with each stride, Jude tugged at Harvey’s arm. “Daddy, can we go inside the castle? Do people live in there?”
Harvey smirked, his voice soft but teasing. “Do you think Cinderella is going to let us crash at her place?”
Jude gave his daddy a shrug and a smirk that matched. “Maybe if we asked nice.”
Harvey lifted Jude onto his shoulders so he could have a better look over the crowds of people. Jude wrapped his arms around Harvey’s neck for balance, leaning his chest against his daddy’s head.
Donna laughed softly, her heart impossibly full as she looked at her husband and kids admiring Cinderella’s Castle, something that was only a dream not that long ago. Now she was here with him, with them, experiencing the magic of Disney. The castle may have been the main attraction to everyone else standing on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, but to her, nothing could outshine this moment.
Harvey looked over at Donna, marveling at the kids admiring the castle, “Is it exactly how you imagined it?”
Donna looked over at Harvey, her eyes starting to fill with tears, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “It’s better than I imagined. It’s perfect.”
Just then, a PhotoPass Cast Member, wearing a lime green polo shirt and navy shorts, approached them with a warm smile, a camera hanging from her neck. “Would you like a family photo in front of the castle?”
“Yes, please. That would be great,” Donna replied instantly, already slipping her hand into Harvey’s as if to tell him We’re doing this, I don’t care how much you hate pictures.
Donna parked the stroller and crouched down to unbuckle Sloane. Sloane clung to her Pooh in one arm and reached for her mama with the other. Donna adjusted her Pooh ears and lifted her from the stroller, Sloane’s red high-top Converse hitting the ground with a soft tap .
“Hold me, Mama!” she murmured, bouncing on the balls of her feet, reaching for her mama.
Donna scooped her up, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Okay, sweetheart.”
The Cast Member directed them in the perfect position, the castle towering behind them. Donna held Sloane on her hip. Sloane adjusted Pooh in her arms so he was visible in the photo. Harvey lifted Jude from his shoulders. Jude stood in front of him. Harvey rested his free arm gently behind Donna’s back.
“Okay, everyone, look here! On three,” the cast member said, holding up the camera. “One, two, three—say ‘Mickey’!”
“Pooh!” Sloane shouted, grinning so wide that her dimples showed, lifting her Pooh in the air so he was well shown in the photo. Jude shouted something that was more like “Mee-kee,” while Donna and Harvey laughed.
The camera clicked, capturing the four of them—the Specters in front of Cinderella’s Castle, their first memory of Disney forever sealed in a photograph.
After the photos, the Cast Member scanned Donna’s MagicBand for the Memory Maker, allowing them to access their photos later. After the Cast Member wished them a wonderful day, Donna looked over at Harvey with Jude, then to Sloane. “Who’s ready for some rides?”
“Me!” Jude shouted, trying to run ahead, but Harvey was able to grab him.
“Me, Mama! Me! Me!’ Sloane shouted, bouncing on Donna’s hip.
Harvey chuckled as he took Sloane from Donna’s arms, sliding her back into the stroller and buckling the straps. “Looks like we aren’t wasting any time.”
They walked towards Fantasyland, their first stop was Peter Pan’s Flight . Jude eagerly pulled them towards the queue. Jude laughed when the pirate ship flew over London. Donna’s heart melted at the sound. Sloane sat with Harvey during the ride. She was nestled at his side, her brown eyes wide as she gazed down at the twinkling lights of London below.
After Peter Pan’s Flight , they wandered across to “ it’s a small world .” Jude leaned over the boat, narrating the scene to Sloane as if he were her personal tour guide. “Look, Lolo! That’s France!—Oh, Africa! Sloane giggled uncontrollably at the animatronic dolls, drinking in the singing dolls and pastel colors.
“That song’s going to be in my head for the rest of the day,” Harvey muttered to Donna as they stepped off the ride and walked towards the stroller parking. She laughed and pressed her shoulder against his.
Next, they headed to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train . Donna had reserved Genie+ passes to skip the 40-minute wait time. Since Sloane was too short to ride, Harvey sat out with her, and Donna and Jude went on the ride. Harvey decided the wait was a perfect opportunity to get a snack for himself and Sloane. He spotted a food cart across the path selling turkey legs.
He crouched down to Sloane’s level in the stroller, where she was sipping water from her cup. “Hey, Sloanie, do you want to share a turkey leg with Daddy?”
Sloane looked over at the food cart where they were selling turkey legs. Her mouth formed an O as she gazed at the perfectly browned turkey legs. “Yeah!” she nodded.
Harvey strolled over to the cart and waited in the short line for the turkey leg, the smell of the roasted turkey legs drifting towards them as they entered the queue. He grabbed a bib from the backpack at the bottom of the stroller, as Donna wouldn't be happy if Sloane ruined her Pooh outfit before meeting him.
He placed the bib around Sloane’s neck before he placed the order. “Sorry, Sloane. You need to wear this because if you ruin your outfit, Mama would have me tossed in Disney jail.”
Harvey placed the order for the turkey leg and scanned his MagicBand to pay. He found a bench near the ride exit to meet Donna and Jude when they were done.
He took the first bite of the turkey leg, its juice seeping as he bit into the meat. Sloane watched as her daddy took the first bite. Her mouth opened in awe as she waited for her turn to take a bite out of the turkey leg.
Harvey finished chewing the turkey meat in his mouth, then held out the turkey leg to Sloane. “Here you go, Sloanie. Your very first turkey leg.”
Sloane stared up at the turkey leg as if he were handing her a million dollars, sniffing it like she was some seasoned foodie. She grabbed the turkey leg with both of her chubby toddler hands, which surprised Harvey, and took a confident bite, just as Harvey had done; her teeth sank into the juicy, dark meat. Her eyes widened as she chewed thoughtfully, her cheeks puffing as she tasted the smoky, salty meat. Harvey watched from the bench, trying not to laugh at the intensity of his daughter’s face, her pigtails bouncing with her enthusiasm.
“Whoa, you mean business with that turkey leg.”
Sloane hummed happily through her mouthful of turkey, then took another confident bite. “Hmm. Yummy!” she declared proudly, bits of turkey meat sticking to her lips.
Harvey smiled, enjoying his daughter’s delight. He leaned back against the bench, continuing to watch as she tackled the turkey leg with an impressive focus for an almost three-year-old. “I knew you’d like it.”
Harvey continued to watch Sloane with the turkey leg as she took a third bite. “Can Daddy have another bite?” he asked his daughter.
Sloane shook her head furiously, her Pooh ears nearly falling off her head. “Mine! All Mine!”
Harvey chuckled, brushing a loose curl from her forehead. “Alright, little warrior. You’re doing Disney the right way.”
Sloane finished chewing her bite, then paused and looked up at her daddy, a smear of turkey juice on her chin. “Best turkey!” she declared. She held the turkey leg out to him with two hands. “You have bite, Daddy.”
Harvey grabbed the turkey leg from her now turkey-stained hands, then took a bite, sharing this experience with his little girl, the park buzzing around them with laughter, music, and holiday cheer. Still, for him and Sloane, it felt like their own little world—a dad with his little girl sharing the simple joy of eating a turkey leg.
When Donna and Jude finally emerged from the ride, Jude’s hair was sticking up at all angles with a grin plastered on his face. Harvey was wiping Sloane’s face and hands when Sloane spotted them walking towards them. “Ride done! Daddy, ride done!” she yelled, waving her still turkey-stained hand at her mama and Jude.
Harvey looked up from wiping Sloane’s hand and spotted Donna and Jude. He smiled at the two of them as they approached. “How was the ride?” he asked as he wiped Sloane’s other hand clean.
“Amazing!” Jude yelled as he jumped in the air. “It was so fast! It went up and down and then dark!” He spread his arm up and down and wide, trying to mimic the ride.
Donna chuckled at her son's excitement, then looked down at her daughter as Harvey finished cleaning her up, taking off her bib. “I see you kept Sloane entertained while we were on the ride?”
Harvey smirked as he stood up from cleaning Sloane from her turkey leg feast. “Someone had to make sure our little warrior here didn’t miss second breakfast.”
Donna raised a brow as she watched Harvey toss the massive turkey leg bone, now nothing more than a few charred edges, in the trash next to the bench. “Did she really eat that thing?” she asked, making a grimace face.
Harvey chuckled. “Not all of it. But don’t let her fool you—your daughter can take down a turkey leg like a champ. I’m surprised she let me get a second bite in.”
Sloane beamed, proudly pointing to herself. “Mine! My turkey leg!”
Donna smoothed her hand over the loose curls that fell from her daughter’s pigtails, then she glanced over at Harvey. “I was thinking—this would be the perfect time to take her to Pooh,” she murmured, gesturing over to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride and meet and greet area.
At the sound of the name, Sloane wiggled in her seat, clutching her Pooh to her chest, her eyes wide. “Pooh?!” she gasped.
“Donna reached down, unbuckling Sloane from the stroller, lifting her out and placing her feet on the ground, holding her hand. “Okay, sweet girl. We are going to see Pooh and ride his ride,” she confirmed, softly as she grabbed Sloane’s Pooh from the stroller and handed it to her.
Sloane squeezed Donna’s hand tight and clutched her Pooh in the other. Jude slipped his hand into Harvey’s, still buzzing from Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and helped Harvey push the stroller over to the stroller parking area near the ride.
Sloane squealed as they walked, still clutching her Pooh and holding her mama’s hand; she had a little skip in her step. “Pooh! Pooh! Pooh!” she chanted in a sing-song voice, at one point looking up at Donna with so much joy.
As soon as they turned the corner, and the bright-colored sign for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh came into view, the honey-colored facade decorated with honey pots and Pooh and his friends. As soon as Sloane spotted the big sign, she gasped and pointed to it. “Pooh! Pooh! Pooh’s house!” she chanted, her little voice filled with excitement.
Donna lifted Sloane and held her on her hip, adjusting her Pooh ears. “There it is—the Hundred Acre Wood. Ready to meet your bear, sweet girl?”
Sloane hugged her Pooh tighter, nodding so hard her headband nearly fell off her head. “Ready!”
When they approached the meet and greet area, Pooh wasn’t there yet; he was still on his break, according to a Cast Member, so they entered the short queue for the ride while they waited for Pooh.
The queue wound beneath a shady awning decorated with oversized pages of the book. Jude craned his neck, trying to read snippets of the story. Donna crouched down, trying to help him sound the words out.
“Pooh—was—hungry—and—went to find honey!” Jude read aloud, proudly.
“Nice job, buddy. Sounds just like you. Always hungry,” Harvey teased.
“Hey! I’m not the one that ate half a turkey leg,” Jude shot back with a smirk, earning a laugh from Donna.
When it was their turn, a Cast Member ushered them to a bright yellow honey pot-shaped ride vehicle. Harvey lifted Sloane inside the honey pot, settling her between him and Donna, while Jude scrambled beside his mama. Donna tucked Sloane close; her hand lay protectively over her daughter.
The ride started gently, and the honey pot glided forward into the pages of the story. Sloane gasped instantly as Pooh appeared on the wall, singing about honey. Pooh! Hi, Pooh!” she shouted, waving at him, her excitement beaming.
As the honey bounced through Tigger’s scene, Tigger’s Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo! bellowed throughout the scene, Sloane laughed so hard that she tumbled into Donna’s lap. Jude leaned forward, trying to bounce in his seat.
The ride shifted into the Hufflalumps and Wozzles dream. Sloane's eyes widened, she tucked herself into Harvey’s side, her fists clutching the fabric of his shirt and her Pooh. Harvey gently rubbed circles on her back. “It’s only pretend, my love. Watch—Pooh will be okay,” he whispered to her, comforting her.
As the ride continued, the storm faded, and the honey pot floated into a sunny scene. Sloane perked up as she noticed Pooh sat happily with his honey. “Pooh, happy now,” she pointed.
The honey pot glided to a stop as the ride ended, the four Specters climbed out, Donna took Jude’s hand as Harvey lifted Sloane out of the honey pot. Sloane toddled towards her mama and grabbed her free hand as Harvey climbed out.
Donna glanced over to the character meet and greet area, where a Cast Member was setting up ropes and guiding guests. She looked over at Harvey, “I think Pooh is about to come out,” she said softly.
Sloane’s head whipped around, her curly pigtails brushing her cheeks, still holding on to Donna’s hand and her Pooh. “Pooh? Pooh coming?”
Donna nodded as she looked from Harvey to their daughter. “Yes, sweetheart. Pooh’s coming to meet you. But we need to walk over and get in line.”
Sloane squealed, her little arm reaching for Harvey behind her, as she bounced on the balls of her feet, her whole body vibrating with excitement. “Daddy! Come! Pooh! My Pooh!”
Harvey chuckled, then smiled at his daughter, walking closer to the three of them. “I’m coming. Let’s go meet your Pooh.”
***
The line to meet Pooh stretched along a shaded corner alongside the The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride, curved past the wooden fence decorated with honey pots, bees, and the soft music of Pooh’s theme, which made the wait feel magical. Families clustered together, kids tugging at their parents’ shirts or bouncing on their toes, some clutching autograph books in anticipation of meeting the bear. Donna adjusted her sunglasses as she held Sloane’s hand, where she was sandwiched between her and Harvey. Jude hovered beside them, leaning over the rope divider, his eyes scanning for the first glimpse of the bear and his little sister’s reaction.
Sloane clung to Donna’s leg with one hand, her stuffed Pooh wrapped tightly under her arm. At first, she had been chatty in line, pointing out decorations with Jude, even chatting to the kids next to them, but as they inched closer to the small area where Pooh would greet her, her voice got quieter.
Donna noticed Sloane’s change in demeanor shortly after she clung to her leg. She crouched down beside her daughter, brushing a strand of her strawberry blonde curls that fell loose from her pigtails away from her face. “You okay, sweet girl?” she asked softly, gently.
Sloane shifted from one foot to the other, hugging her Pooh tighter, closer to her face. Her lips pressed together as she gave the slightest nod of her head to her mama. “Mhm.”
Donna sensed that her daughter’s emotions were building and might be more than the little girl could handle. She picked her up and balanced her on her hip. Sloane immediately rested her head on her mama’s shoulder, still keeping an eye out for Pooh.
Harvey turned his attention from Jude, who was telling him all about Seven Dwarfs Mine Train , and noticed Donna holding Sloane and their daughter’s excitement to meet her favorite bear slowly fading.
“Is she okay?” he asked, gently.
“She’s getting nervous,” Donna murmured, keeping her voice low. She rubbed Sloane’s back slowly, swaying with her a little. She looked down at Sloane, who was still resting her head on her shoulder. “Hey, you don’t have to go over to him if you don’t want to. We can just wave to him from here if you want,” she whispered gently to her daughter, then kissed the top of her head. “It’s okay to be nervous about things you’re excited about, Sloane.”
Sloane didn’t say a word; she kept her focus on the line of people and wandered her eyes to see her favorite bear whenever they were close enough for him to come into view.
Jude toddled over to his sister in their mama’s arms and held her hand that was draped around Donna’s arm, his thumb rubbing her knuckles like he had seen his parents do a million times. “Don’t worry, Lolo. You’re gonna love it. Pooh is gonna love you. He’s funny and soft just like in his books.”
Harvey patted Jude on the shoulder, smiling. “Great pep talk, buddy.” He glanced over at Sloane again, then leaned in closer to her so only she could hear. “You’ve got your Pooh, you’re little good luck charm,” he said, tapping the bear she held. “You’ve carried Pooh with you every day. He’s going to be so happy to meet the little girl who loves him the most.”
The line moved forward, and they could see him clearly—Winnie the Pooh himself, round and golden, standing under a shaded archway, arms wide open as he greeted the other kids who came to meet him as the Cast Member next to him guided families one by one.
Sloane’s eyes widened at the first glimpse of the bear, her mouth forming a little O . She wiggled in her mama’s arms slightly. “Down. Down, Mama. Pwease,” she said softly.
Donna’s heart squeezed as she lowered her daughter to the ground, then crouched at her side. “There he is, sweetheart. Pooh.”
Sloane’s eyes never left Pooh, even as they inched closer and closer in the line, her big brown eyes darting up the line as other kids met Pooh. She watched as a little boy around the same age as her squealed and hugged him, and then another shy girl toddled forward, gently guided by her parents.
Suddenly, they were the next family; the Cast Member just waved over the family in front of them to meet Pooh.
“Look, my love,” Harvey said softly as he crouched next to Sloane, nodding towards the meet and greet in front of them. “He’s giving out hugs to everyone. Big ones. Squishy ones. But I think he is saving the best ones for a little girl named Sloane Riley Specter.”
Sloane didn’t answer. She pressed her lips again. She shuffled forward, practically glued to Harvey’s side, and her hand started to sweat in his.
She watched as the family in front of them stepped aside from Pooh and waved goodbye. One of the Cast Members gave a warm smile and waved them forward. “Come on up! Pooh is ready to meet you!”
Sloane froze. Her red high-top Converse were planted to the ground right where she stood; her Pooh hugged tightly against her chest, her eyes wide as Pooh turned towards them. He looked just like she knew him—round belly, soft golden fur, his little red shirt stretched across his tummy, and that gentle smile that matched the pictures in her books since before she could talk. Seeing him in real life, only a few steps away, overwhelmed her.
Pooh crouched down, arms opened wide, tilting his head as if he was trying to say, Hello, friend .
Donna crouched down and gave Sloane an encouraging smile. “It’s okay, sweet girl. Go say, hi.”
Jude stepped beside his little sister and, with his bluntness that matched Harvey’s, told her. “Lolo! If you don’t go over there and hug Pooh right now, I’m gonna do it first!” he declared as he gave a little stomp with his foot.
Sloane gasped at her brother. It was as if all her courage rushed back into her all at once; she dropped her hand from Harvey’s, clutched her Pooh tighter, and barrelled forward as fast as her little legs would carry her.
“Pooh!” she squealed, her voice loud, bursting with joy.
Pooh was still crouched down with open arms, waiting for her. Sloane crashed right into him, throwing herself into his embrace as much as her tiny arms could muster, her stuffed Pooh squished between them, but she didn’t care—she buried her face against her favorite bear’s big fuzzy middle and squeezed as hard as she could. Her head pressed into his belly, her Pooh ears slightly askew.
Pooh patted her back in slow, loving strokes, rocking with her as if he could hold her forever.
Donna’s eyes filled with tears as she watched her daughter melt with joy into the arms of the bear she loved most. Harvey, beside her, she could tell, was near to sobbing as he looked on.
Harvey looked over at her, his tears about to spill over. “Looks like someone got over her nerves,” he teased.
Donna chuckled, then wiped a tear from her cheek. “You think so,” she whispered.
Sloane stayed in Pooh’s arms for what felt like forever, not letting go of the bear, while a Cast Member snapped pictures of the moment. When she finally pulled back, with the biggest smile Donna and Harvey had ever seen, Sloane tilted her head up at Pooh, her face glowing. “I love you, Pooh,” she whispered in the sweetest voice, but loud enough that Donna and Harvey could hear.
Sloane giggled, then pulled on her Pooh shirt so Pooh could see it fully. “Do you like my shirt? We match!”
Pooh pointed at her shirt, then to his matching one. He clapped his paws together and nodded enthusiastically.
Sloane giggled again. She held up her stuffed Pooh. “I brought you—him,” she said, softly. “He’s mine. But I want you to see him. Now you and my Pooh are best friends, okay?”
Pooh looked at the bear reverently. He took it carefully, studied the bear like it was a long-lost friend, then brought him to his chest and squeezed him into a hug.
Sloane smiled so wide it hurt. “You’re my best friend,” she murmured, her voice cracking a little.
Pooh mimed a big, slow heartbeat and pointed to her, then handed the stuffed Pooh back to her.
“I know,” she beamed.
Jude, who had been watching intently, was letting his little sister have her moment with Pooh, tugged on Harvey’s arm. “Daddy, can I go over now and say hi?”
Harvey nodded, and Jude ran forward towards Pooh. Pooh spotted him and opened his arms for a hug. Jude wrapped his arms around the bear’s soft belly, resting his cheek against him.
“Hi, Pooh!” Jude said it as if he were speaking to an old friend. “My sister loves you a lot,” he gestured to Sloane. “Like a lot, a lot.”
Again, Pooh mimed a big, slow heartbeat and pointed at Sloane.
Sloane bounced on the balls of her feet a little, her eyes sparkling at her favorite bear. “You mine!” she said with confidence, pouncing into a hug again.
Donna laughed, tears still stinging her eyes. “Oh no. She claimed him,” she whispered.
Harvey was crouched slightly in front of Donna, snapping pictures with his phone of the kids with Pooh. A Cast Member asked them if they would want photos of the kids posed with Pooh, not just candid shots.
Donna was able to coax Sloane to agree to pose with Pooh. She stood proudly with Pooh, clutching her Pooh tight against her chest. Pooh put one arm around her and the other around Jude. Sloane was smiling so wide that her cheeks took up her whole face.
After the pictures had been taken, Sloane looked up at Pooh one last time. “Bye, Pooh. I love you so so so much,” she said softly, waving goodbye to him. Pooh leaned down one last time, pressing his paws over his heart, then pointed to her. Sloane smiled, then reached up and booped his nose with her tiny finger and said goodbye to him one last time before Donna took her by the hand and led her out of the meet and greet area.
Jude gave Pooh one more high five, pretending to be too cool for Pooh, but was clearly smiling ear to ear, then he took Harvey’s hand to leave the meet and greet area.
As they left Pooh and were walking back to the stroller. Sloane, in Donna’s arms, looked back at Pooh. “Mama?” she whispered.
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
Sloane nestled into her mama’s neck, and she gave her mama a little squeeze. “I think my heart got bigger,” she whispered back.
Donna squeezed her daughter tighter in her arms. “I think mine did too.”
***
The kids were finally asleep in their queen-sized beds in their suite. Jude had fallen asleep mid snack, his Mickey rice krispie treat still clutched tight in his hand. Harvey gently pried the snack out of his boy’s hand, trying not to wake him. He then turned to Sloane in her bed, curled up around the blankets, her little body pressed against her beloved Pooh, and the few others she had been able to weasel out of her daddy today; it didn’t take much. Her strawberry blonde curls still damp from her bath spread across the pillow, and she had a dreamlike smile spread across her face—the kind that let him know she was dreaming about the magic of today. Harvey bent down and kissed her cheek. Sloane stirred a little from his touch.
He brushed his thumb over her chubby cheek. “Sleep tight, my little Pooh bear,” he whispered.
Harvey padded out onto the balcony, carrying two glasses of red wine. The December evening air in Florida was cooler than he expected. He handed a glass to Donna, who was curled up in one of the lounge chairs, her legs tucked beneath her. She was in her oversized Minnie Mouse sweatshirt, her glasses back on her face, her damp copper curls draped loosely over her shoulder.
She turned her head slightly when she caught sight of him in her peripheral vision and smiled at him.
He handed her one of the glasses of wine. “Thank you,” she said softly, tired from their whole day in the park.
He sat next to her in the other lounge chair and leaned back with a sigh. “Hell of a day,” he said, taking a sip of his wine. “Even for Disney.”
Donna nodded, staring at Cinderella’s Castle in the distance. “That was—more than I expected. I knew it would be sweet. But I didn’t think it would crack me open, on the verge of crying my eyes out.”
Harvey looked down at his glass of wine, then over to her. “She ran over to him like she’d waited her whole life for that hug.”
“She had ,” Donna said, smiling, taking a sip of her wine. “Since she was a baby. That bear’s been with her through fevers, teething, and nightmares. He’s comfort. He’s safe. And today she looked at him and saw him. Really saw him.”
He let the silence sit for a moment. He leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knees. “She told me—later, when I was giving her a bath. She said to me— Daddy, I think I’m in Pooh’s heart now,” he said, his voice a little rough.
Donna froze. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, my girl—” she whispered, her voice cracked slightly. “She’s magic.”
She turned towards him fully, the glass of wine dangled loosely in her hand. “She’s barely three and she already had one of those moments—one of those life-defining moments. You don’t always get that when you’re little.” She looked down at her wine briefly, twirling it in her hand slightly. “And—as a parent, you don’t always get to see your child’s dream come true,” she whispered, then taking a sip of wine. “Even if it's just your daughter meeting a silly old bear.”
Harvey reached over, his hand covered hers, and his thumb brushed over her knuckles. “For a minute there, I thought she wasn’t even going to go near him—when she started to get nervous. But of course, it only took her older brother threatening that he was going to hug Pooh first for all those nerves to go away.”
Donna chuckled, taking another sip of wine. “He knows his sister so fiercely, it scares me sometimes,” she admitted, her voice low.
Harvey leaned back slightly, not letting go of Donna’s hand. “Both of them are going to remember that moment forever,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
She squeezed his hand, just like he had squeezed hers a moment before. “And we’ll remember watching them feel it.”
For a while, they sat there in silence, finishing their glasses of wine, watching the people below walking around the resort's grounds, when suddenly the sky lit up in the distance. A firework over the lagoon, soft, golden, it glowed like honey.
Donna tilted her head back, smiling. “It’s like the universe wants to continue with today’s Pooh theme.”
Harvey watched his wife looking up at the fireworks. The fireworks’ golden honey glow had beamed across her copper curls and her pale, freckled skin. He turned his head towards the sky as another firework burst in the sky.
As the final firework echoed and shimmered across the lagoon, both of them sat on the balcony of their suite, grateful for their day with their kids and knowing that these moments would live with them just as vividly as the memories would with their kids.