A 16th Birthday/New Years Celebration(with 75,000 friends)updated 1/27

[MHTeacher]

Ok - finally all caught up!
Wow at those crowds! It seems like you were still able to get a lot done though
How wonderful for your daughter to spend her big birthday at Disney - looks like she had a blast. She seems like a sweet girl!
And NYE looks amazing - crowded but amazing! I would love to experience it one time!
Can't wait for more!

Thanks Courney! It was VERY crowded, but yes, we did do a lot of things. It helped that we've been there several times, and didn't feel as if we HAD to do things.

DD Elizabeth is a pretty sweet girl (especially when she's sleeping..... ). I hope she remembers her special birthday for many years.... Now, I've set the bar pretty high for my 13 year old daughter.

You will need to rewind your annual trip back a few weeks and celebrate New Years at Disney. Maybe a disneymoon around that time ?!?!? It was an amazing time!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Just noticed something really funny in one of these pictures.

I'll give you a two hints---

1. Look at the picture of Elizabeth and Rachel sittiing in their car for the TSM ride.

2. Think about the reason for our trip.

Very cool!!!

How awesome that you didn't have to wait for Fantasmic, that is rare on a normal night, but on NYE!

We sat down, and it was almost 9:30. Rachel and I volunteered to go buy snacks, while everyone else held our table. As we snacked on ice cream, milk shakes, or caramel popcorn, the kids played their DS or their iPods. Kevin and I people watched and listened to the band. Can I just say that their Michael Jackson tribute/medley was awesome. I’m a teenager of the ‘80s, so I love my MJ!!

This really sounds like a lovely evening! Spending time together, just enjoying being there.... The whole atmosphere sounds like it was a lot of fun.

And Happy (early) Birthday!!! Have a GREAT time at the concert!!!!

 

[MHTeacher]

Very cool!!!

How awesome that you didn't have to wait for Fantasmic, that is rare on a normal night, but on NYE!

I know...no line.... Of course, it was 5 minutes until show time! But that was ok with us. I'd rather skip the line anyday, even if I have to sit in the "Witch" section on the far right!

This really sounds like a lovely evening! Spending time together, just enjoying being there.... The whole atmosphere sounds like it was a lot of fun.

And Happy (early) Birthday!!! Have a GREAT time at the concert!!!!

We really did have a lot of fun. We're usually the ones who spend NYE at home, and in the bed before midnight. So it was lots of fun to be in the middle of something like we might see on television!

AND, thanks for the early birthday wishes!

BTW....this is my 1,000th post!

 

[MHTeacher]

Thursday, December 31, 2009---Day 3 /Part 6

As it got nearer to midnight, it got really crowded around the area we'd staked out around Min and Bill's Dockside Diner. This picture was taken from our picnic table, looking back toward the entrance of the park. It's somewhat blurry. (Let me have a Kate Gosselin moment, "I hate this camera!")

Around 11:15, Reid closed up his DS and laid his head on my lap. The next think we knew, he was sound asleep!

When it was about 10 minutes until midnight, we decided to try to wake him, so he wouldn’t miss the fireworks and getting to blow that stupid party horn he seemed to love! I picked him up and laid him in my arms and Elizabeth and I called his name. “Reid, time to wake up…you’re going to miss all the fun….”

Well, to no avail, could we wake him up, as much as we tried. So we just laid him on the bench and prayed he wouldn’t roll off as we were watching the fireworks! Awesome countdown to the New Year, and the band continued to play through the fireworks—lots of fun!

Reid stayed asleep and missed all the big countdown, the party horns, the people screaming, “Happy New Year”, the NYE fireworks, AND, he didn’t roll off the bench!

When the fireworks were finished, we sat and let the crowds move out. The park was officially closed, but having EMH for resort guests. Wouldn’t you know that now, Reid woke up. We decided to walk to the Osborne Lights. It was close to 1 a.m., and it was practically deserted compared to how it looked earlier when we’d peeked in around 6:30. We strolled around and just took our time enjoying the sights. I think Reid really got a kick out of trying to catch the “snow.”

Up next...."Dream on, Dream on... Here's your automatic fastpass !

 

[disneybird69]

Good update through new year's eve fireworks. I can't believe your little one slept right through and missed it all. Sounds like you all had fun.

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Great update! The fireworks look amazing - I can't believe Reid slept through all of that, he must be a heavy sleeper!

I think your pictures of the Osborne lights are actually the first I've seen. They look amazing as well! I wish we could have seen them - when we were at DHS they were still up but we only spent the day there so no lights for us

It seems like you all had such a wonderful NYE - this one will be hard to top I'm sure!

 

[serrotak]

Those lights are beautiful. One year we will go see them.

 

[praisehisname]

Around 11:15, Reid closed up his DS and laid his head on my lap. The next think we knew, he was sound asleep!

Poor thing must have been exhausted to sleep through all that!

 

[MHTeacher]

Great update! The fireworks look amazing - I can't believe Reid slept through all of that, he must be a heavy sleeper!

I think your pictures of the Osborne lights are actually the first I've seen. They look amazing as well! I wish we could have seen them - when we were at DHS they were still up but we only spent the day there so no lights for us

It seems like you all had such a wonderful NYE - this one will be hard to top I'm sure!

Thanks Courtney. I couldn't believe he slept through all that either...he is a heavy sleeper until about 6 a.m........

You will definitely need to rewind your annual trip by a week, so that you can catch the Osborne lights. They are one of my favorite Christmas attractions at Disney!

 

[MHTeacher]

Those lights are beautiful. One year we will go see them.

You definitely need to see them, and all the Christmas activities they have. Anyone who loves Disney will love seeing it all done up for the holidays!

 

[MHTeacher]

Poor thing must have been exhausted to sleep through all that!

I guess he was........He still doesn't know he missed it! When the girls told him about it, he just grinned and said, "No, I didn't."

 

[carissanboys]

Hey Michelle! Stopping by to say hello. I'll catch up soon!

 

[ladybugmom]

WOW! I cannot believe that Reid slept through all of that!! But it sounds like something my girls would do!! When we took Ally to her first BAMA game (she was 1) she slept through the entire halftime and 2nd half of the game!! (in '05 we beat TN 6-3)

 

[MHTeacher]

WOW! I cannot believe that Reid slept through all of that!! But it sounds like something my girls would do!! When we took Ally to her first BAMA game (she was 1) she slept through the entire halftime and 2nd half of the game!! (in '05 we beat TN 6-3)

I wish mine would have slept through it (Elizabeth was 7 and Rachel was 5!) It wouldn't have cost me as much money......Instead, they wanted to EAT throughout it!

 

[MHTeacher]

Hey Michelle! Stopping by to say hello. I'll catch up soon!

Hi Carissa! Thanks for stopping by to read. I've been thinking about this 1/2 marathon ALL DAY !!!

 

[carissanboys]

Hi Carissa! Thanks for stopping by to read. I've been thinking about this 1/2 marathon ALL DAY !!!

Hopefully you won't be like me and not be able to sleep tonight!!

 

[MHTeacher]

Hopefully you won't be like me and not be able to sleep tonight!!

It's very possible---but at what time, who knows? Kevin, (my DH) has been out of town since Sunday, and won't be home until tomorrow. So....I tend to sit up TOOOOOO late on this board!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hey there Michelle! Just found your TR and I'm all caught up.

I can't believe the crowds! It looks like we got out of there just in time

I loved your daughter's cake - it was so pretty. I'm thinking about ordering a cake for my mom & I to be delivered during our dinner at the GF Cafe. Both of our birthday's are in May, but aren't actually during our trip, so I feel kinda weird ordering a cake.

I'm also shocked that Reid slept through all that noise, poor guy must have been exhausted.

Oh, and by the way, my 13 year old thinks your 13 year old is cute.....

 

[MHTeacher]

Hey there Michelle! Just found your TR and I'm all caught up.

I can't believe the crowds! It looks like we got out of there just in time

I loved your daughter's cake - it was so pretty. I'm thinking about ordering a cake for my mom & I to be delivered during our dinner at the GF Cafe. Both of our birthday's are in May, but aren't actually during our trip, so I feel kinda weird ordering a cake.

I'm also shocked that Reid slept through all that noise, poor guy must have been exhausted.

Oh, and by the way, my 13 year old thinks your 13 year old is cute.....

I know...the crowds were crazy, that's the only reason we've always avoided visiting during this time. But your baby girl only turns 16 once. I thought the cake was pretty too, and it tasted pretty yummy as well.

So...your 13 year old thinks my 13 year old is cute ?!?! She is pretty cute, even if I do say so myself. I love her, but boy, does she drive me CRAZY somedays!

 

[disneycruising]

Love your trip report!

We were in WDW thed 26-30...it was a busy place.