25th Anniversary Trip.. A bit late and picture heavy

Your photos from the butterfly house with your macro lens are stunning! I just love the two with the butterflies. This one you can really see how delicate and fragile the wings are and it looks like the white wings are almost transparent. Very cool!

Thank you so much! I got one a few years ago in the butterfly house I think came out even better. I will have to look for it.
 
I have the 50mm f1.8 but I would love the 24-70mm f2.8. A girl can dream :)

It is so funny. My husband and I were just sitting talking about the posts on here and when I read him this he said, that is me! And it is true. He was saying that the whole Disney trip. It would be so nice to get the wider angle with it. He said, "A guy can dream too!" :)
 
It was complete luck when after we booked it was announced that we would be there for the last Wishes and the first Happily Ever After. Wishes is always a must watch when we go so there was no way I wanted to miss the last one, although we did think about skipping it due to the fear of crowds, but Todd, the one that hates the heat and crowds the most talked me into keeping our plans.
Fireworks were at 9 and we got to the Magic Kingdom at 4. We went to Pecos Bills to grab a quick dinner then scope out our spot.
We found a place a place on the outside curb of the hub and planted ourselves. I was really regretting not bringing a towel to sit on, the pavement was so hot from the day. We took turns walking around for bits and I caved and bought a cute throw blanket that I knew I would love at home and we used that to sit on.
It got CROWDED and I have been in the Magic Kingdom for the NYE preview fireworks on the 30th and on the 4th of July. But it was worth it. Everyone was singing it, and applauding and tearing up afterwards.
So happy I can say I was there.IMG_5483.JPG.jpegIMG_5484.JPG.jpeg IMG_5485.JPG.jpegIMG_5489.JPG.jpeg


And the crowds didn't leave with the end of the fireworks. We were hungry so stopped in Cosmic Rays to share something and the line was so long. Long lines for the bathrooms, rides and everything. We ate quickly and used our one fast pass for Haunted Mansion and headed out.
The bus lines were long too but they did have a large number of busses running so it didn't take too long.
 
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Day 6

Today we were opening the Magic Kingdom. I usually try to start and end our trips with the Magic Kingdom and I knew tomorrow would be spent at Pandora so it is the Magic Kingdom today.

Since we had done so much already and it was an adult only trip, and we had fast passes set up we decided to grab breakfast which we never do. We always grab cereal or granola bars in the room and that carries us until lunch.
Today we saw that the Ice Cream Parlor was serving breakfast we decided to grab some. And I had to get my Mickey waffle fix.
It was nice to sit at the tables outside, eat breakfast and watch the faces of all the excited people coming into the park to start the day.



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Our visitor during breakfast.IMG_2128.jpg


First up was our Space Mtn. fast passes.
I took these while riding the moving walkway up after the ride.

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Then we had a fastness for the Mine Train.

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To pass some time before riding Buzz again using our last fastness we decided to Ride the Riverboat. It has been a really long time.


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We decided to take the monorail to Epcot, do a lap around Flower and garden for some snacks then walk to the hotel for some rest and to pack up a bit
:(

We decided to take a quick break in the DVC lounge in Imagination before making our lap around the world showcase.
Have to love the view:

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After our world showcase lap and some packing and down time we decided to head to the Poly. I really wanted Banana bread pudding but didn't make Ohana reservations. We decided to grab some apps at the Tambu Lounge and then make our way into the magic kingdom.

Drinks to drown the last night blues:
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Sticky Wings
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Skewers with chimmichuri sauce:

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I was so excited to eat the bread pudding I forgot to take a picture until this point:

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Hopefully the Magic Kingdom is not as bad tonight as it was for the last wishes last night........

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What a wonderful trip. Congratulations on your milestone plus one celebration. Quite an achievement these days...
Also want to let you know I LOVE that tropical print tank you had on for your park hop day. LOVE it!.
 
What a wonderful trip. Congratulations on your milestone plus one celebration. Quite an achievement these days...
Also want to let you know I LOVE that tropical print tank you had on for your park hop day. LOVE it!.

Thank you!
And Thank you on the tank. H & M!!
 
We didn't have to stake out a spot as early for Happily Ever After, but almost.
The spot we had last night was not roped off for Disney to record the new show so we moved about 40 feet towards Tomorrowland.
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Since we were in the hub area it felt just as crowded as the night before. But it was worth it.
I was concerned about Wishes leaving. I have such vivid memories of my son that turned 17 this week watching it for the first time and crying when it was over because he wanted to see it again and the next night us video taping it so he could watch it at home.
And three years ago being there with my now 24 year old just the two of us. We were walking through Fantasyland and stopped to watch. At the end we were both singing and felt like such nerds but loving it. We pause for a moment and here singing continuing. We both look around and there was a line of cast members singing Wishes at the top of their lungs. I remember looking at her and saying that could be you one day, sure enough a year later she spent a semester in the College Program.
But all that aside, WOW. We really liked it.

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It has been a great end to an amazing time. And tomorrow....Pandora. The perfect last day.
 

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Our Pandora preview was for the DVC and was the first day and ran from 9-11. We sat in front of a Cast Member at the fireworks last night and he suggested getting there early since he got in 30 min early for his Cast Member preview.
Animal Kingdom had AM EMH opening at 8 and we got there at 8. We walked right over by Tiffins and were about 30 people back in line. And sure enough we got in at 8:25.
We were given a paper fastness for Flight of passage from 8:30-8:45 so we went right there. It was amazing.
Then it was time to wander and take pictures.


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Wow - loving your TR! Beautiful pictures! My DH and I are doing a couples trip in early December. Looking forward to trying out the express bus and seeing Pandora!
 
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I got the Night Blossom. I have to say, it was really good. Right before we left Pandora at 11 I got another one it was that good but this one in the souvenir cup.
Todd got the grog ale. He said for being green he liked it better then the other one he tried later in the morning. Not that he needed much of an excuse to try a beer at 10:00 in the morning. I guess it makes going home a bit easier :)IMG_5603.JPG.jpeg

We got the Pongu Lumpia as well. It was ok. We didn't finish them. I have seen so many people that like it but I guess just not our taste.

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A few pictures I took with my phone:

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Todd grabbing some pictures with his phone, too.

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Wow - loving your TR! Beautiful pictures! My DH and I are doing a couples trip in early December. Looking forward to trying out the express bus and seeing Pandora!

Thank you. I am having so much fun doing this, going through all the pictures and reliving it all.
There is nothing like a couples only trip, it is great going with kids, but there is so much adults too.

Have you been in December yet? That is when we did our first adult only trip a LONG time ago. It is such a fun time to go.
 
And that is all.
Thank you so much for those that followed along.
I am going back with my 17 year old son and 20 year old daughter and her boyfriend in August. Planning on writing a trip report with my daughter if she wants to. The dis is what gets her through the stresses of college and helps feed her Disney addiction (yes, I raised them well).
She also took a photography class her senior year in HS and I know she is anxious to get down there and play with her camera with some of my lenses. Will be fun to see things from her perspective.
 
And that is all.
Thank you so much for those that followed along.
I am going back with my 17 year old son and 20 year old daughter and her boyfriend in August. Planning on writing a trip report with my daughter if she wants to. The dis is what gets her through the stresses of college and helps feed her Disney addiction (yes, I raised them well).
She also took a photography class her senior year in HS and I know she is anxious to get down there and play with her camera with some of my lenses. Will be fun to see things from her perspective.

Sad that your TR has ended but I am happy to hear that another one will be coming again sometime in August/September after your next trip. I can totally relate to your daughter using the DIS to help her de-stress during college. I use the DIS as a way to unwind during the school year when I am teaching. It gives me the chance to interact with others that love Disney.
 
Sad that your TR has ended but I am happy to hear that another one will be coming again sometime in August/September after your next trip. I can totally relate to your daughter using the DIS to help her de-stress during college. I use the DIS as a way to unwind during the school year when I am teaching. It gives me the chance to interact with others that love Disney.

Thank you! There are times it seems like we are the only crazy Disney nuts out there at times, doesn't it.

It is funny, I can tell when Megan is having a rough day or at the library. I will get a text saying, "I saw this on the boards". And then I know she is taking a break at the library or needing an escape. :)
I hear you on the unwinding while teaching, I was a K/1 teacher before kids and I wish there had been a dis then. I could have used it!!! And that was before all the regulations and testing there is now.
 














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