Alexis has a well-documented and frequently proven phobia of people in furry costumes. We should probably go ahead and send the Pittsburgh Pirates a bill for about ten years of therapy because I know the exact moment the phobia started, and that stupid moron in the pirate get-up is to blame. Alexis still HATES that thing with the fire of 10000000 suns.

She doesn't seem to hate any other mascots or characters. However, she is deathly afraid of them. I know this. I have seen this. I don't need to be reminded of this. Apparently, SHE DOES. Every single time she sees the Penguins' Iceburgh she gets all sorts of excited. She points, laughs, and begs to go see him. At that moment, I start a countdown. 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . FREAK THE HELL OUT. It happens every time.

In a meager attempt to minimize the trauma, I came up with a little plan for Miss Scaredy Pants during our time at Disney. We brought along her digital camera and instead of posing for a photo with or trying to get an autograph from a character, she can get as close as she is comfortable getting then snap a little photo. It's an all-around win because she gets to "see" them without getting freaked out, and we don't have to stand in any lines. She's totally cool with snapping her photo from afar. LOVE it, and LOVE that she is going to be able to make a scrapbook with all her own photos.

After the Princessification Project, we headed over to Disney Studios for a few hours because they were having Extended Magic Hours (the park stays open longer for guests of hotels on Disney property). One of the attractions there is a Playhouse Disney show, so of course we HAD to stop there. You know how I love my Darby, after all. The thing was that instead of being the usual show, the Playhouse Disney attraction had morphed into a toddler rave. There was a DJ, music, crazy lights, bubbles, and characters.

Lots of characters.

It started out with Jojo and some lion (I'm proud that I don't know his/her name, so don't tell me). Alexis, as expected, maintained a safe distance from them as she got her boogy on. She was excited to see them, just so long as they were OVER THERE.

But then Mickey showed up.

The Big Cheese himself popped into the party and suddenly Alexis thought it would be essential to close the gap. Mr. Husband took her over to him. As expected, she started out cool with it.

Then she freaked the hell out. As expected.

Yet, she refused to leave. Alexis was ALL about "Mickey Party" and there was no way we were getting out of there. A few moments later, Minnie showed up. If there is anyone that Alexis loves more than all the princesses combined, it's Minnie. Alexis quickly forgot all about that phobia all over again and asked to go see her. Mr. Husband and I rolled our eyes, but he took her over.

She stood there.

Then moved closer.

And closer.

And suddenly, Minnie grabbed Alexis' hand. AND NO ONE DIED.

As Alexis stood there dancing with Minnie, I tried desperately to take a photo of the momentous occasion. Of course, I was not at all prepared, so all of the photos suck. You might think that WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN I would have been prepared, but I wasn't. Those photos suck, too.

Princessification + dancing with Minnie = GREATEST DAY EVER!

P.S. Alexis has refused to go within ten feet of any characters ever since. I'm guessing that the bubbles floating down from the ceiling during Mickey's Party were filled with some sort of fear-numbing narcotic. There is no other possible explanation.