We're Doing WHAT For My Birthday??? - Final Thoughts

[mnmrmustard]

Day 6 dawned cloudless and bright. Despite all of the long days of park going I woke up wide-eyed and ready for the day. Because it wasn’t just any day, it was my birthday! And it was my first ever birthday celebration at a Disney park. I was now 42 years old but had never felt more like a kid.

I jumped out of bed at about 6:30am and took my shower, got dressed, and put on sunscreen. I sat down on the bed and talked with Roxy and bit and she was feeling very apologetic but was still wiped out from the hectic pace of the last week. We agreed that she should sleep in some more and then meet me at MK when she was ready. I said no problem and was happy to let her rest while I repeated something I started with our 2009 trip to DLR.

On that trip our last day was an MK day and the whole fam was wiped out but I was still ready to go. I got up and hit MK as soon as it opened and wandered around just taking pictures and enjoying the little things about the park. I had a very relaxing time with no pressure for ride schedules or keeping everyone entertained and ended up with some great pictures such as this:

Outside of the Disneyland Hotel

Tomorrowland as seen from the monorail

The rocket with the morning sun reflecting off of it

The cool architecture of the top of the rocket ride

Partners

Me with the Partners and the castle

Snow White’s grotto

The bench Walt sat on and first dreamed of Disneyland

An inspirational welcome

City Hall decorated for Halloween

Me n Mickey

Me and the Great Mickey Pumpkinhead

Will Turner’s Blacksmith shop on the Pirate Lair

I don’t think he wants you to have that treasure!

Davy Jones’s Heart

Skull on the Bone Cage

Fort Wilderness graveyard

The Columbia sails!

Some park goers about to feel the ‘Splash’!

The Matterhorn with Nemo’s subs

And if that made you want to see more feel free to click on the link for that trip in my siggy ;-D

Okay, done with the shameless plug. The bottom line is that it was some good “me” time with the world that Walt made, which I was quite happy to repeat to start my birthday. So I grabbed my big floppy birthday hat and headed out the door. After a quick stop at the food court for a breakfast burrito and a drink (along with several “happy birthdays” from both CMs and guests) I was off to the MK bus.

I was greeted by the entrance gate at 7:40 am with the park due to open at 8am!

I got off and walked with the flow of other park goers getting ready for the opening show. There were more “happy birthday” wishes from those around me as we gathered in front of the big Mickey Head.

This was my view in panoramic form two minutes before showtime

Large Panorama of the Station and Mickey

Next up I work my way down Main Street and say a fond “hello” to the Partners.

Click here for the next chapter: Day 6 Part 2 – A Disney Welcome and a Walk Down Main Street

 

[natebenma]

Love the photos from Disneyland!!!

Some of my favorite park time is solo time. Or as you experience, solo plus camera. My family does a good job keeping up, but sometimes they just want a break.

I have stayed behind at MK in the rain and seen Illuminations solo 3 times in the last 2 years.

Looking forward to hearing where you explore on your own.

 

[mnmrmustard]

Love the photos from Disneyland!!!

Some of my favorite park time is solo time. Or as you experience, solo plus camera. My family does a good job keeping up, but sometimes they just want a break.

I have stayed behind at MK in the rain and seen Illuminations solo 3 times in the last 2 years.

Looking forward to hearing where you explore on your own.

Thank you! And yes, love the solo plus camera! I think it is great when the fam is flexible and can rest while we keep driving on to get every moment of Disney fun we can manage

 

[mnmrmustard]

As we left of the show was about to begin. First the master of ceremonies and the crew came out to greet us.

And then we heard the unmistakable sound of a train whistle. Here she comes!

The conductor waived to a little girl as he pulled into the station

Then Mickey and his crew started to disembark

Full Size Panorama of Everyone on the Train

Mickey said “hi!” to all of us Disney fanatics

The lucky family was introduced

Now it was time to Let the Memories Begin!

Is it time for my close up?

After my first ‘photo op’ I was through the tunnel and following the early risers onto Main Street U.S.A.!

I wasn’t in the mood to peruse the shops this morning. Plus we had already dropped a bunch of cash shopping for the girls so I didn’t want to be tempted again – lol.

I strolled up the street and got my first sight of the castle

Hey look, another photo op!

I continued up the street to the hub and ran into another Photopass photographer, first a shot with my camera

Then some more lively pics with her camera

Me and the castle and the Partners

Whoohoo, I’m here!

Hey Tink, where did you come from???

Okay, enough cheesing up to the lens, time for me to get back to my journey. First a shot of Walt and Mickey in the early morning sun

The partners and the castle

Now where shall I go? I’m at the hub and the crowds are flowing up Main Street. Care to take a guess?

 

[kaoden39]

Love the shameless plug!!

Once again I love the tour of WDW. How fun is it that they are out to greet you when you come in. I have never made it in to Disneyland first thing in the morning so they may actually do it there.

 

[Marshay]

Love that you can do a solo trip within your trip. Sorry, Roxie wasn't able to join you but when I can get a few hours by myself -- I it, too!

Thanks for showing the picture and sign of the bench where Walt dreamed up Disneyland!! Learn something new every day!! That is cool! I had heard the story but never knew he had bought the bench.

Love your birthday hat!!

 

[mnmrmustard]

Love the shameless plug!!

Once again I love the tour of WDW. How fun is it that they are out to greet you when you come in. I have never made it in to Disneyland first thing in the morning so they may actually do it there.

Hehe, thank you

Yes, loved being there for the train coming in and the official greeting, so very cool. It would be cool if Disneyland did some sort of big show to open the Magic Kingdom.

Love that you can do a solo trip within your trip. Sorry, Roxie wasn't able to join you but when I can get a few hours by myself -- I it, too!

Thanks for showing the picture and sign of the bench where Walt dreamed up Disneyland!! Learn something new every day!! That is cool! I had heard the story but never knew he had bought the bench.

Love your birthday hat!!

Yup, both Roxy and I were happy - she got the down time and I got a little extra magic

You're welcome about the bench. I don't know if it something that Walt picked up or if it was purchased in some other circumstance, but it is so cool that they had it on display.

Thank you on the B-Day hat, it was hot to wear but also a lot of fun

 

[Trentmom]

Love all the pics

Great Birthday Hat. i Bet that was fun getting all those HB's

I am going to guess you head to Liberty Square, Adventure land area

You want to stay away from the busier lands, Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.

Am I close

 

[mnmrmustard]

Love all the pics

Great Birthday Hat. i Bet that was fun getting all those HB's

I am going to guess you head to Liberty Square, Adventure land area

You want to stay away from the busier lands, Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.

Am I close

You know me, trigger happy with the camera The hat certainly helped with the HBs!

You are a keen guesser for sure - got it right on the head! You Rock Kelly!

And as a reward here's the next chapter

 

[mnmrmustard]

Now most guests were going one of two places, Tomorrowland or Fantasyland. So I took the road less traveled to Liberty Square :-D

One reason for this is the brilliant early morning photo op of the castle reflected on the waterway

Large Scale Shot of the Castle

I moved on to the square itself. The Hall of Presidents was looking very stately

And the Liberty Tree Tavern where we had my Birthday dinner reservations

Here is why I went this way, how often do you get a chance to have an entire area of the Magic Kingdom to yourself? Well, except for the CMs getting ready for their day of course, but I like to think they were there for me ;-D

Large Scale Panorama of Liberty Square

I wandered around the Rivers of America from there

Just one other family down this way

Well, a family and a local resident doing some early morning shopping …hehehe

Ye ole storefronts including the wooden Indian

I continued on around the lagoon and stopped to capture a panorama of the sun coming through the trees as the first barge crossed over to Tom Sawyer Island

Panorama of Rivers and Tom Sawyer Island

I walked up towards Big Thunder Mountain and was the first guest of the day to head that way.

I walked up and a CM asked me if I wanted to ride and surprisingly enough I thanked him but said no. I was feeling a bit too leisurely and continued past him to a nice spot for another panorama.

Large Scale of Thunder Mountain Architecture

Some gold panning equipment

The fort across the river

And there goes the train I could have had to myself :-]

I wandered back down and stopped for a quick photo of Splash Mountain

Looking back up the street from Frontierland with the castle peeking out through the trees

Large shot of the Street

But my focus was on Adventureland

I don’t know, looks pretty crowded this way, lol

The teeming crowd of one family starting to head into PotC

A shot of the sail sign before I head in

I wonder if I should go stand-by?

Yo Ho!

…A Pirate’s Life for Me!

Yo Ho on a Large Scale

The rigging looks a little rough

Next up a cruise followed by a cruise


Click here for the next chapter: Day 6 Part 4 – From Pirate Waters to a Jungle Journey!

 

[Trentmom]

You know me, trigger happy with the camera The hat certainly helped with the HBs!

You are a keen guesser for sure - got it right on the head! You Rock Kelly!

And as a reward here's the next chapter

Thank You, Thank You, I try


Off to read

 

[Trentmom]

wow...love how empty that is

Great pics

I really liek the one of Hall of Presidents....so prestigious looking

The last time we went on Pirates was awesome

People always head to the entrance on the left for whatever reason

We went to right 3 times in a row, no one was catching on you could either way

We were only people going that way, so 3 times in a row

 

[natebenma]

WOW!!! Great pictures of the empty lands! I think my favorite is the one of Big Thunder Mountain!

Have you at least pulled a FP? You're killin' my commando spirit!

 

[cherbear]

Best. Tinkerbell pic. EVER!

I bet the photographer got a good laugh out of your 'surprise face' there


I think I about spit out my coffee when I read that you passed up the opportunity to ride BTM with no wait AND the first ride of the day. C'mon now.....it would've taken 2 minutes of your time. I'm a bit disappointed

 

[cherbear]

WOW!!! Great pictures of the empty lands! I think my favorite is the one of Big Thunder Mountain!

Have you at least pulled a FP? You're killin' my commando spirit!

**like**

I would get a FP, then come back and get another when it was time, that way he and Roxy could ride together when he got there. But that's just me....

 

[mnmrmustard]

Thank You, Thank You, I try


Off to read

Hehe

wow...love how empty that is

Great pics

I really liek the one of Hall of Presidents....so prestigious looking

The last time we went on Pirates was awesome

People always head to the entrance on the left for whatever reason

We went to right 3 times in a row, no one was catching on you could either way

We were only people going that way, so 3 times in a row

Yes, it was so great feeling like I had a land to myself. Thank you on the Hall of Presidents pic, I really like that one too. You are reading my mind with Pirates, had to tod that one.

Three rights are the right way to go for sure!

WOW!!! Great pictures of the empty lands! I think my favorite is the one of Big Thunder Mountain!

Have you at least pulled a FP? You're killin' my commando spirit!

Thank you very much on the photos. No, sorry - no FP for it

Best. Tinkerbell pic. EVER!

I bet the photographer got a good laugh out of your 'surprise face' there


I think I about spit out my coffee when I read that you passed up the opportunity to ride BTM with no wait AND the first ride of the day. C'mon now.....it would've taken 2 minutes of your time. I'm a bit disappointed

**like**

I would get a FP, then come back and get another when it was time, that way he and Roxy could ride together when he got there. But that's just me....

Thanks much on my Tinkerbell pic ...she totally suprised me The photographer was very animated

Yes, sad but true, no BTM for me. Quite honestly we had spent the past few days doing all kinds of thrill rides and I just wasn't feeling it. Chalk it up to old man syndrome

Besides, I had another goal closer to my Disney heart

 

[mnmrmustard]

There be a cannon pointed at me!

Odd place for a crow’s nest

Another cannon and the other side of the crow’s nest

Swords and barrels

Some “boom sticks”

The trash can looks a wee bit out of place

Cannon assembly area?

Big themed cellar room, I’m used to it being full of people, nice to see all of the detail they put into it

Big view of the cellar room

Cellar room without the flash

Looking out on a ship at night

I made it through to the loading area and I was all alone. This is what I wanted and what made skipping Big Thunder Mountain soooo worth it. I was “piloting” my own ship into PoTC.

I missed seeing Davy Jones, but here is his misty veil

I was moving a whole bunch for this one so it turned out fuzzy, but really liked the look of it

…and what it really looked like

Probably my favorite “scene” in PoTC with the lightning and the skeleton at the wheel

Jack cross-dressing

Show us your larboard side!

Heeeerrreee doggie doggie

Jack and his ill-gotten booty

I came out and took one more shot of the ride entrance – love me some PoTC!!!!!!

Next stop was another classic, JUNGLE CRUISE – w00t! I forget our captain’s name, but he was very entertaining

The headhunter village

Time to break up camp!

*insert elephant trumpet here*

The “circle of life” team gather

Next up I finish my cruise, take in the castle, and find some locomotion


Click here for the next chapter: Day 6 Part 5 – Cruising, Strolling, and Riding the Rails

 

[kaoden39]

Wow I see some major differences between the POTC's. They are sure different.

 

[mnmrmustard]

Wow I see some major differences between the POTC's. They are sure different.

Yes, very different and both for me are favorites. I gotta say that I still prefer the original at DL over WDWs. I know some of it is the thrill ride aspect of those drops at the beginning

 

[kaoden39]

Yes, very different and both for me are favorites. I gotta say that I still prefer the original at DL over WDWs. I know some of it is the thrill ride aspect of those drops at the beginning

I am inclined to believe that. The drops a huge part of making it great!!