steve_rob
Mine? Mine? Mine? Mine?
- Joined
- May 23, 2002
- Messages
- 1,460
# Day 11 - 13th October (It's my birthday!!!) #
Well, the time had come. I was a year older, though I hasten to add, not a year wiser or more mature! And if you hadn't already worked it out from the earlier trip report part, the cast member at MGM earlier in the holiday had slipped Erika an "It's My Birthday" badge for me to wear today, so there was no way I could pretend it wasn't - especially as the badge was the size of a small plate!
But then, I don't consider myself easily embarrased. I was sure I could cope with a handful of people wishing me a happy birthday during the day. In fact, it'll be quite nice!
Well looking back, it WAS very nice. But it wasn't just a few people - it was virtually EVERYONE who saw the badge passed on their best wishes! And on the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom, I got sung Happy Birthday to by the whole car! The guy who started it seemed to know the whole spiel VERY well, so I can only assume he was off-duty cast member. And I might have gone a little red in the cheeks, but I still did enjoy it.
Having done most of Adventureland and Frontierland in the dark and wet two days ago, this was a chance to concentrate on the other side of the park, and as soon as we got in, we found that there were benefits to going on American public holidays - yes, the crowds were a lot bigger, but EVERYTHING was open, even Timekeeper and Carousel of Progress - although you could tell they didn't open them often as they had both had "teething troubles" within minutes of starting up and we were told we'd have to come back later in the day to experience them. But at least I got to do them eventually.
This was probably the hottest day of the holiday so far and we spent most of it criss-crossing the walkways so that we were in the shade as much as possible. Spent a suprising amount of time in Fantasyland for us (not something we normally do) including Pooh, Small World and the highlight of the day, Philharmagic.
This really does take 3-D to a new level. You know the effects must be realistic when the children in front of you are reaching out to touch the objects coming out of the screen! Add to that the smells and the wonderful Disney music from the films and it's a winner. Okay, so it helps that I think Donald's great (far better than Mickey) and he's the star of the show, but it's still wonderful.
Don't want to spoil the mood, but I'm going to have a bit of a rant now. I don't know what it is, but it's something about the Magic Kingdom that causes people to be rude. Talking through shows so other people couldn't hear, talking over announcements cast members were trying to make before shows so they had to shout to make themselves heard, not moving to the ends of the rows, even when asked, so people have to clamber over you, plus some others I've probably forgotten. Yet I didn't notice this happening in any of the other Disney parks, only at MK. I could understand it if it was the little kids (of whom there are a lot more at MK - just look at the amount of strollers parked outside attractions!), but most of the time it was adults. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this, or was I just unlucky? Oh well, on with the show...
Tomorrowland I'm not a huge fan of, mainly because I'm always disappointed by Space Mountain. Or rather, I've been spolit by the good one in California and the great one in Paris. Buzz Lightyear is fun although I'm not very good at it - strange given that I'm not too bad at Men In Black? Then head over to Toontown to queue 30 minutes in the baking sun to ride the 30 second Barnstormer. Hey, it's my birthday and we'll do what I want!
With queues everywhere getting longer and longer, we retired to Main Street for some shopping and then re-rode some of our favourite attractions like Pirates and Jungle Cruise while everyone else watched the parade.
All too quickly, evening came around and we had to leave in order to make our reservation at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. Once again, we ended up watching the fireworks while on the move as they started just as we were turning round by the Magic Kingdom parking lot entrance. It was quite a sight to see them frame the castle like that, even if it was just the castle on the sign, not the real one!
Dinner was very nice - Erika stuffed herself on the all you can eat skillet, while I had the steak, leaving just enough room for dessert which was topped off with a candle and all of the kids who had just done the hobby horse race around the restuarant being encouraged by our waitress to sing Happy Birthday to me for the second time that day! And no, I didn't ask for ketchup, though plenty of others did.
So now, so full we could barely walk, we watched the geyser go off before waddling back to the car to end what had certainly been one of my favourite birthdays to date.
Well, the time had come. I was a year older, though I hasten to add, not a year wiser or more mature! And if you hadn't already worked it out from the earlier trip report part, the cast member at MGM earlier in the holiday had slipped Erika an "It's My Birthday" badge for me to wear today, so there was no way I could pretend it wasn't - especially as the badge was the size of a small plate!
But then, I don't consider myself easily embarrased. I was sure I could cope with a handful of people wishing me a happy birthday during the day. In fact, it'll be quite nice!
Well looking back, it WAS very nice. But it wasn't just a few people - it was virtually EVERYONE who saw the badge passed on their best wishes! And on the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom, I got sung Happy Birthday to by the whole car! The guy who started it seemed to know the whole spiel VERY well, so I can only assume he was off-duty cast member. And I might have gone a little red in the cheeks, but I still did enjoy it.
Having done most of Adventureland and Frontierland in the dark and wet two days ago, this was a chance to concentrate on the other side of the park, and as soon as we got in, we found that there were benefits to going on American public holidays - yes, the crowds were a lot bigger, but EVERYTHING was open, even Timekeeper and Carousel of Progress - although you could tell they didn't open them often as they had both had "teething troubles" within minutes of starting up and we were told we'd have to come back later in the day to experience them. But at least I got to do them eventually.
This was probably the hottest day of the holiday so far and we spent most of it criss-crossing the walkways so that we were in the shade as much as possible. Spent a suprising amount of time in Fantasyland for us (not something we normally do) including Pooh, Small World and the highlight of the day, Philharmagic.
This really does take 3-D to a new level. You know the effects must be realistic when the children in front of you are reaching out to touch the objects coming out of the screen! Add to that the smells and the wonderful Disney music from the films and it's a winner. Okay, so it helps that I think Donald's great (far better than Mickey) and he's the star of the show, but it's still wonderful.
Don't want to spoil the mood, but I'm going to have a bit of a rant now. I don't know what it is, but it's something about the Magic Kingdom that causes people to be rude. Talking through shows so other people couldn't hear, talking over announcements cast members were trying to make before shows so they had to shout to make themselves heard, not moving to the ends of the rows, even when asked, so people have to clamber over you, plus some others I've probably forgotten. Yet I didn't notice this happening in any of the other Disney parks, only at MK. I could understand it if it was the little kids (of whom there are a lot more at MK - just look at the amount of strollers parked outside attractions!), but most of the time it was adults. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this, or was I just unlucky? Oh well, on with the show...
Tomorrowland I'm not a huge fan of, mainly because I'm always disappointed by Space Mountain. Or rather, I've been spolit by the good one in California and the great one in Paris. Buzz Lightyear is fun although I'm not very good at it - strange given that I'm not too bad at Men In Black? Then head over to Toontown to queue 30 minutes in the baking sun to ride the 30 second Barnstormer. Hey, it's my birthday and we'll do what I want!
With queues everywhere getting longer and longer, we retired to Main Street for some shopping and then re-rode some of our favourite attractions like Pirates and Jungle Cruise while everyone else watched the parade.
All too quickly, evening came around and we had to leave in order to make our reservation at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. Once again, we ended up watching the fireworks while on the move as they started just as we were turning round by the Magic Kingdom parking lot entrance. It was quite a sight to see them frame the castle like that, even if it was just the castle on the sign, not the real one!
Dinner was very nice - Erika stuffed herself on the all you can eat skillet, while I had the steak, leaving just enough room for dessert which was topped off with a candle and all of the kids who had just done the hobby horse race around the restuarant being encouraged by our waitress to sing Happy Birthday to me for the second time that day! And no, I didn't ask for ketchup, though plenty of others did.
So now, so full we could barely walk, we watched the geyser go off before waddling back to the car to end what had certainly been one of my favourite birthdays to date.
Happy Belated Birthday 
