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

[mnmrmustard]

You can make it with play-doh!

Mowgli and Baloo were under construction

The giant POP over the entrance to the lobby from poolside

Nice ‘vette! And it looks like Goofy was getting a makeover

Time to move on to the 70s – love those 8-tracks!

Foosball time

Now that’s a BIG WHEEL!

Calling Mickey!

Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head looked all touristed up

And now the 80s and the Rubik’s cube stairwells

I remember those walkmans!

Ppppllleeeaasssseeeee Eddie, don’t give me to the weasels!!!!

I was tempted to climb the floppy disks

On to the 90s! Oddly enough I still use one similar to this to do switch and router programming – lol

I don’t think this one will fit in my pocket

I wound my way from the “back 40” of the 90s area and rolled out onto the parking lot to see if I could get a good view of the main entrance gate to WDW, which backs on POP’s parking lot. Too many trees to get a good look at it though – ah well. I rolled back to the front of the resort and captured the decades.

50s

60s

70s

80s

90s

I rolled out and tried to capture the whole front of the resort but without a tripod the exposure was just too long to get a clear shot. This is the best one I managed

I came back around to the 50s and captured the juke box, which was also walled off for some reason

Then on to the back of the lobby area to catch the decades there

Next up I finish my photo adventure and we make our way home



Click here for the Next Chapter - Day 7 Part 18 – Farewell to “The World”

 

[mnmrmustard]

I snapped Petals bar which was still doing some good business on my way to drop of the scooter

I dropped off the ECV and walked back to our room and took my final shot of the trip, our window with Kyra’s watercolor of Mickey that she gave to me as a birthday present right before we left.

As an aside Roxy had that picture framed and gave it to me for Christmas. It now hangs proudly in my office at work

We packed up the last of our stuff except clothes to throw on and essential toiletries. We had and early wake-up at 5am to catch our Magical Express bus back to the airport and a 7am flight back out west. We were thankful that Roxy had picked up the new Mickey-themed suitcase at the Magic Kingdom. Without it we wouldn’t have been able to fit all of the memorabilia that we had purchased for the girls. It was stuffed full with Disney and Harry Potter trinkets.

We showered and slept hard and the alarm went off all too soon. We packed our bags and headed down to meet the bus. It was early so nobody was around except the grave shift CMs working the counter and front door. The bus was on time and we tiredly got ourselves aboard and snoozed until we got to MCO. The trip back was long but uneventful. 7am – 10:15am to Phoenix. Only an hour layover and then on to our flight up to Portland, arriving there at 1pm. We of course had “gone back” 3 hours so it felt more like the end of the day.

We caught the shuttle back to the hotel we stayed at the night before we flew out and found our car still there and in one piece – yay! We loaded up and hit the road, stopping off to have a sit-down lunch at an area Pizza Hut. Once fed, we got back on I-5 and made it home by about 6pm. Hugs and welcomes and unloading and handing out goodies and presents followed. Roxy was back at work the next day (Thursday) – poor thing. I had taken the whole week off so I did all the laundry and around the house stuff and braced for the post-vacation blues.



Click here for Final Thoughts - Final Thoughts

 

[Trentmom]

WOW!!!

You almost finished

Really enjoyed your update

Great shot of the Yeti and love Tree of life photos

Loved seeing all your pics as we never full explore AK. SO it was cool to see what we miss

Nighttime shot of Pop were so fun to look at



So, since you are "back", does this mean you are planning a new trip?

 

[mnmrmustard]

WOW!!!

You almost finished

Really enjoyed your update

Great shot of the Yeti and love Tree of life photos

Loved seeing all your pics as we never full explore AK. SO it was cool to see what we miss

Nighttime shot of Pop were so fun to look at



So, since you are "back", does this mean you are planning a new trip?

Yup, just composing those final thoughts. Thank you on the Yeti shots, last time I captured "the beast" himself but he was too quick for me this time

Exploring the Tree of Life was something I have been wanting to do for years, it is amazing what they accomplished with that. Its just one big piece of art. Glad you enjoyed the pictures of it.

Now the only things we haven't done there is the train out to Rafiki’s Plantetwatch and Kali River Rapids.

I love POP's theming, it is just such a fun place to stay. I'm really torn at this point since you brought up the concept of planning our next adventure.

The big announcement is that I'm trying to put together an early December trip for the family We've never been there with the Christmas theming

I know we're going to be staying at a value resort, gotta save wherever we can. And I know we loved staying at POP. But right next door is the Art of Animation resort which will be open at the time of our trip. The girls don't know about the trip yet but Roxy, mom (MiL), and I have been talking. We need a place that sleeps 5 so the Lion King suite is a strong contender. We'll have to see how that plays out. Wheeeee!

 

[Trentmom]

I knew there had to be a trip brewing

Art of Animation looks so cool!! Would love to see pics of all parts of resort.

Disney at Christmas time is awesome. The icicle lights on castle is breathtaking

Plus, the osborne lights at DHS are amazing!!!!!!

 

[mnmrmustard]

I knew there had to be a trip brewing

Art of Animation looks so cool!! Would love to see pics of all parts of resort.

Disney at Christmas time is awesome. The icicle lights on castle is breathtaking

Plus, the osborne lights at DHS are amazing!!!!!!

Yeah, just can't stay away. I'll certainly take a bunch of pics if we stay there.

My only question about staying in December is when the Christmas stuff is really open in early December. Specifically the Osbourne lights.

 

[mnmrmustard]

Looking back on my life I think this was the first “surprise” birthday anyone has ever given me. And it was made better by the fact that Roxy presented it in a way that still allowed me to do the planning, which I love to do. The trip itself had so many magical moments, from me hamming it up and getting to be an extra for the Indy Stunt Spectacular to my birthday itself at the Magic Kingdom. The fun rides and smiles shared with my wonderful wife and all the good food – yum! That meal at Le Cellier still counts as the best I have ever had in my life.

And just being able to do it at our own pace without anyone but us to worry about being bored or tired or hungry or whatever was so very nice. I am so very happy that we were able to take this adventure. Looking forward I know it was the last time that we will have such an experience as just a couple for years to come. Any other trips we take we both want to do as a family. We have so few years left before the girls are grown and have moved on and before mom is no longer able to travel. I’m sitting at my desk and one of the pictures is of Roxy and the girls, when the girls were around 2 and 5 years old. That was 10 years ago but doesn’t seem so long to me. Gotta capture those moments!!!

So that of course makes me think of our NEXT TRIP!!!!!!!!
LOLOLOL.

Roxy and I are in discussion right now so I’ll keep you posted as we try to firm things up :-D Thank you for coming along and sharing my birthday adventure. May you all find as many magical moments as I have!

 

[Trentmom]

Yeah, just can't stay away. I'll certainly take a bunch of pics if we stay there.

My only question about staying in December is when the Christmas stuff is really open in early December. Specifically the Osbourne lights.

cool

When we went last year, we were there November 8th to 15 and Osbornes lights were up the 11th

So anytime after mid November, as far as osborne lights go you will be set!!!

MVMCP at MK started last year November 8th.

Hope that helps

 

[Trentmom]

Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. Roxy did great job

Time goes fast, so planning more family trips is the way to go for sure

Can't wait to hear any future plans

 

[mnmrmustard]

cool

When we went last year, we were there November 8th to 15 and Osbornes lights were up the 11th

So anytime after mid November, as far as osborne lights go you will be set!!!

MVMCP at MK started last year November 8th.

Hope that helps

Well that's good to know, THANK YOU!

We just want to get as much Christmas magic without dealing with the holiday crowds

Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. Roxy did great job

Time goes fast, so planning more family trips is the way to go for sure

Can't wait to hear any future plans

You're very welcome, thanks for coming along with is. Roxy rocked it. And she's really looking forward to seeing the girls and her mom's reaction to the Christmas stuff at WDW, but especially the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

I'll get a PTR going sometime in the fall, until then I'll be doing a LOT of research.