Double October Birthday Palooza-Lots New 5/12 & Now Complete!!!!!

[Disneygrl36]

Next we took the cute little train to Rafiki's Planet Watch.

There wasn't much going on there, but I really liked the way they had decorated the vet area for Halloween.

We visited the animals in the affection section. A hidden mickey on your butt ......hmmmmm.

We got to see 2 animals up close & personal.
A really cute armadillo.

And a prickly porcupine. I really wished we could touch his quills which she said were not really sharp & hard.

After we got back, we got a refreshing frozen lemonade because it was so hot we felt like we were roasting.
We rode EE one last time for the day....3 times in one day was pretty good.

Do you see the hidden Mickey?

I just love the Tree........it always amazes me with it's detail.

Then, we visited our bug friends in the depths of the Tree of Life.

I just love this show, no matter how many times I see it.

After letting our bug friends exit first.....we headed out of the Tree. We decided with the heat that we had had enough of AK for the day, so we headed back to SSR.
We rested a bit & then got ready for a night out on the Boardwalk.
We had dinner reservationsn at Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club.

When we checked in they were having trouble with the table buzzer system, so we waited in the Crews Cup Lounge & had a glass of Pinot Noir.

Vegetarians cover your eyes.....this is the meat case at Yachtsmans.

We really enjoyed the bread & butter with hawaiian salt on it.

We both had filet I think. Eric thought his steak at Jiko was better, but it was still a good meal. We shared mushrooms as a side dish & they were great.

After dinner, we strolled over to the Boardwalk. We were headed for Jellyrolls.

I love this dueling piano bar. It's so much fun.

Here's a snippet of the guys singing Tainted Love that I requested. Excuse any extraneous singing you hear. While I was videoing, someone came over & told me it wasn't allowed so I stopped. Still can't figure out why you can't videotape in there.

We left Jellyrolls much earlier than we would have if we were staying at the Boardwalk but we had a great time. Back to SSR we went after a chock a block full Disney day of fun.

Up next.......lazy morning & up, up & away........

 

[SoonerGirl]

I love AK! It looks like you guys had another great day.

for three rides on EE!!!

I also say 'just keep swimming' all the time

 

[Aburns8]

Love the "colorful" animal pictures you took! Funny how you can capture nature, especially the hidden mickey on the bat. How is Jellyrolls? I love piano bars and we have never been there. I think I want to try it out in October when we go. Oh, we are thinking about a cruise in August. It will be our first one!

 

[Disneygrl36]

I love AK! It looks like you guys had another great day.

for three rides on EE!!!

I also say 'just keep swimming' all the time

It's my weight loss mantra because you know there are times when you want to quit so you just have to keep swimming.

Love the "colorful" animal pictures you took! Funny how you can capture nature, especially the hidden mickey on the bat. How is Jellyrolls? I love piano bars and we have never been there. I think I want to try it out in October when we go. Oh, we are thinking about a cruise in August. It will be our first one!

We love Jellyrolls. The piano players are great & even when it's early & not crowded yet it is fun. Oh, go on the August 8th Double Dip with us.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi Melanie! All caught up again. I loved your busy DHS day! You really know how to pack alot in! We love HBD too. It's just so retro-classy! Your AK day looked like it was PG-13 I don't think we'll do Rafiki's train again - we felt like it was a waste of time, except for a chance to sit down. Jellyrolls looks fun - we'll have to go sometime.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

mmmm thta pizza loookkssss goooooddddddd


candi and i were talkinga bout it the other night.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Hi Melanie! All caught up again. I loved your busy DHS day! You really know how to pack alot in! We love HBD too. It's just so retro-classy! Your AK day looked like it was PG-13 I don't think we'll do Rafiki's train again - we felt like it was a waste of time, except for a chance to sit down. Jellyrolls looks fun - we'll have to go sometime.

Yes, I don't know how we caught so much weird animal behavior all in one day......but we did.
Jellyrolls is lots of fun. I highly recommend it.

mmmm thta pizza loookkssss goooooddddddd


candi and i were talkinga bout it the other night.

I wish I was there to have it for dinner tonight.

 

[Disneygrl36]

So we started the day out with sleeping in which was great. We had a light breakfast in the room & then Eric went to the fitness center because he's good like that while I edited photos in the room because I am a lazy slug. When he got back, we had another leisurely swim in the pool enjoying the view of DTD & the hot tub (which felt divine on my tired feet & legs). Then, we got ready for the day & headed out to DTD via our convenient foot path from SSR.
We had lunch at Earl of Sandwich.

We both had yummy Mediterranean Chicken Salads. This was our first time not having sandwiches & the salads were just as good as the sammies.

We did some shopping............I loved the interiors at TrenD.

Really cool & off the wall Disney Art.

Looked like the balloon was up & flying for the day.

We hung out with some Lego creations.

And behind the crab was our room for the week across the water.

We saw this beautiful creature......

Then we headed for the Characters In Flight balloon. I was excited but nervous at the same time about going up in it.

Eric before take-off

Saratoga Springs resort from the air.

A couple of great views of EPCOT

Downtown Disney & Orlando

That oh so cute Reddy Creek fire house.

Our pool that we had been enjoying at SSR

And DTD again on the way back down.

It was a weird sensation when the balloon first takes off & when it touches down again, but it wasn't really too scary while we were up there. We went up about 400 feet I think. I wish we had gone on around & then I could have gotten pictures of the Contemporary. About the only Disney icon you cannot see from up there is Cinderella's castle & he said the balloon would have to go up another 150-200feet to see it. I really would love to go back & do it at night when all the lights are sparkling & the fireworks are going off---how awesome would that be?
On our way back through Pleasure Island I stopped to have a pout outside the Adventurer's Club.

I went a couple of times way back in the day. This area is like a ghost town now & it's so sad. I hope they do something good with it.
We stopped back by & had some treats in DTD. I had a giant oreo from Goofy's. She's dipping it in chocolate & then rolled it in crushed oreos.

Eric had an ice cream from Ghiradelli's.

I couldn't eat my whole cookie because it was so rich so it went back to the room with us, but Eric ate all his ice cream.

Then, we went back to the room to rest up because we were going to MNSSHP that night.

Up next..........Halloween party fun.

 

[SoonerGirl]

So we started the day out with sleeping in which was great. We had a light breakfast in the room & then Eric went to the fitness center because he's good like that while I edited photos in the room because I am a lazy slug.

I feel this way a lot too - Don is so good about food choices and exercise, and here I sit....... I'm getting better, I walk 4 miles, 5 days a week, it's the food part I have the most trouble with And you certainly wouldn't catch me going to the gym on vacation!

Amazing views from the balloon, makes me want to try it even more!

 

[Aburns8]

That balloon ride looks fun. We will have to do it when we go in October. That oreo looks really yummy. I shouldn't have read this report on an empty tummy!

As for the cruise we are going August 17th (it is cheaper, and I am cheap). But you never know, we might change our minds since we haven't put the money down yet.

 

[Disneygrl36]

I feel this way a lot too - Don is so good about food choices and exercise, and here I sit....... I'm getting better, I walk 4 miles, 5 days a week, it's the food part I have the most trouble with And you certainly wouldn't catch me going to the gym on vacation!

Amazing views from the balloon, makes me want to try it even more!

It is hard living with someone who is so good about excercise when I hate it so. I am doing pretty good on the food thing right now with Weight Watchers (just keep swimming ), but I really have trouble getting motivated to excercise. I actually did go to the gym on the Disney Magic once during a 7 day cruise in the past & I was so proud of myself.

You must try the balloon it was great.

That balloon ride looks fun. We will have to do it when we go in October. That oreo looks really yummy. I shouldn't have read this report on an empty tummy!

As for the cruise we are going August 17th (it is cheaper, and I am cheap). But you never know, we might change our minds since we haven't put the money down yet.

I can't wait to go back & try the balloon sometime at night.
The oreo was so good but really rich. I took it back to the room & we nibbled on it a bite at a time the rest of the week.
Well, let me know if you change your mind about the cruise. It would be fun to cruise together.

I've been having some trouble with photobucket. The last 2 times I have uploaded photos there it has done something wonky to the computer, so I may try another site. Need to upload MNSSHP pics so I can do the next update.

 

[Jennifer48]

What great photos from the balloon! You had a nice clear day to see far.

You are absolutely not a lazy slug for not going to the gym on vacation, you are smart!

 

[Disneygrl36]

What great photos from the balloon! You had a nice clear day to see far.

You are absolutely not a lazy slug for not going to the gym on vacation, you are smart!

Yes it felt like you could see for days from the balloon. Thanks for the support Jenn....I didn't feel like I needed to excercise after all that walking.

Testing out a new photo hosting site.....

hmmmmmmmm that didn't work. Anybody use anything other than photobucket? That was with snapfish & it's giving a red x.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

so you could see the contemporary but not the castle, that is weird since they are so close, unless it is because the castle is blocked by the contemporary.

 

[OhMari]

You are the first person, that told about the hot air balloon ride. It doesn't seem so scary now.

You also said you went to the Adventures Club. I went to school with 2 cast members, that played in a band "Panama" at the Beach Club. They were so sad, when they shut down the Adventures Club. Here is a picture. David and Ron are brothers and they are on each end.

 

[Aburns8]

I want to hear about MNSSHP! You promised you will finish! Please?!?

 

[Disneygrl36]

You are the first person, that told about the hot air balloon ride. It doesn't seem so scary now.

You also said you went to the Adventures Club. I went to school with 2 cast members, that played in a band "Panama" at the Beach Club. They were so sad, when they shut down the Adventures Club. Here is a picture. David and Ron are brothers and they are on each end.

Thanks for reading. I have a video of the balloon ride too & I am uploading it now. I loved the Adventurers Club & it seems so sad that all those fun places are closed now.

I want to hear about MNSSHP! You promised you will finish! Please?!?

Ok, ok Andrea. I am uploading pics now just for you! I had those problems with the pics & just kind of lost my mojo but I was thinking the other day just for completeness sake I should finish.

 

[Disneygrl36]

 

[Disneygrl36]

So after our ballooning adventure, we went back to SSR & had a nice nap to get ready for our evening at MNSSHP. It is amazing how refreshed you feel after a nap at WDW. We were ready for a great evening.

We got to the Magic Kingdom around 4:30.

We had an early dinner reservation at the Plaza Inn so we went in & looked at the Halloween decorations that were around Main Street before heading to dinner.

We had never eaten at the Plaza before but had heard people rave about their burgers.

We both had cheeseburgers & wow were they good.

The Plaza is a very small restaurant with a quaint ambiance. We will be back.

As we came out of dinner, the Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It party was going on, so we went over to the castle area & watched it. It was really cute.

Then, we rode the TTA & I finally got a decent pic inside of Space Mtn which was closed for refurb.

Next we rode Buzz & I beat Eric for the first time ever!!!!! Amazing.

We also did the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor & I got called on to guess a number & proceeded to get called "psychotic" by a monster. It was embarrasing but fun!

We rode Pooh & Peter Pan & also caught a bit of a dance party that was going on.

We also took a spin on the tea cups.

Next we took a little boat ride.

Then headed to the Haunted Mansion which had extra spooky lighting for the Halloween party.

And a ghost outside chatting with guests. She was a southern belle & was pretty funny.

After riding with the 999 ghosts, we stopped to check out the graveyard.

Then we rode Thunder Mountain & Pirates.

continued in next post...........

 

[Disneygrl36]

Next up we found a place in front of the castle to watch the Villian Mix & Mingle & fireworks. I would have liked to be closer for the mix & mingle but we had a nice spot for fireworks.

Hallowishes is an awesome fireworks show & it's not to be missed if you go to the party.

My favorite part is at the end when you feel like you are surrounded by fireworks. Here's a bit of video from the ending.

After the awesome fireworks, we headed over to our favorite spot in Frontierland to watch the Boo to You parade-which might just be my favorite Disney parade. I love the music & all the characters in their Halloween costumes.
I finally got a picture of the Headless Horseman. Not saying it's a good picture, but at least I got one.

Next up the mice.

Then the cuddly 100 acre woods critters.

Next some scurvy pirates came by.

And a funny croc...

The next part of the parade is my favorite.....the Haunted Mansion section started out by the groundskeeper & his dog. Here's a video of this section. I love the gravediggers & the dancers.

Next up the Villians.

Next was Goofy's Candy Co & the end.....

We loved the parade as always & would be singing "Boo to you & trick or treat" until we went to bed.
After the parade, we rode Pirates again & finished off our night with a ride on TTA.
We left the Magic Kingdom around midnight after a wonderful evening enjoying the Halloween festivities.

We were back in the room by 12:30. Had a snack & chatted about our day before heading to bed after a long & full day.

Next up............Poly breakfast, we're on a boat & Jiko part deux