Day 5: Magic Kingdom

Our last day at Disney, we wanted to make sure we did everything we wanted to, all the time knowing it was going to be a very, very crowded day!!!

It was extra magic hours, meaning the park opened at 8am instead of 9am, but I thought this was only for those guests staying on property.  So, we arrived at about 8am only to find that we had to park in a whole different parking lot than we usually do because the other one was already full!!  We had to wait in a line for the monorail to get to the park(which we never have to do!) and then when we got to the park entrance we discovered that EVERYONE was able to go in at 8am.  I was kicking myself!  We'd lounged around that morning, taking our time, when we could have been riding rides.  Oh well!!  We still were in line for Peter Pan's Flight(already 25 minutes!) by 8:30 so that wasn't too bad.  We then started getting our rides in while the lines weren't completely ridiculous - Dumbo, Barnstormer, Speedway, Fast pass for Mine Train, Ariel's ride and Magic Carpets before stopping for lunch in a place we were able to watch the Dream Along with Mickey castle show.  

After the show we used our fast passes for both Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain and then settled in with more ice creams to watch the parade - it was so so so crowded trying to get a spot for the parade!  While we waited for it to start, I reloaded our fast passes for Winnie the Pooh because it had been down earlier in the day and the lines were now getting pretty long.  

After the parade we climbed Swiss Family Treehouse, checked out the Tiki Hut, watched Mickey's PhilharMagic, rode the carousel and then it was time to use our fast passes for Winnie the Pooh.  We then rode Buzz Lightyear and the People Mover before declaring that we were done with the rides for this trip! 

We ventured back towards Main Street and checked out the railroad depot(since it was closed for refurbishment the entire week which was pretty disappointing) and while we were there got the kids their crushed/stamped pennies to commemorate our trip!  

We had dinner reservations at The Crystal Palace to end S's birthday celebration with Pooh and friends.  The buffet was really amazing and we all took advantage of going back for at least a second plate, and in M's case a 3rd plate!  HA!  The atmosphere was a bit loud and chaotic, which I guess was probably good with our little wiggly boy, but it was not a relaxing dinner by any means!  The kids loved it, though!  They thought it was great to see all their favorite Pooh characters and eat as much as they wanted of whatever they wanted!!  After dinner, we enjoyed a cake there for S's birthday and sung happy birthday to her as she enjoyed her final birthday treat:)  

When we'd finally eaten until we could eat no more, we had gotten more fast passes for a final ride on Splash Mountain, but we were so stinkin' full that we just could not do a ride!  Sad but true!  Instead we went to a Christmas store that I'd been eyeing since the first day we were there, and I bought a couple of ornaments for the kids' yearly ornament(they still haven't seen them since they'll be a surprise at Christmas time!).  It was then time to settle in for the electrical parade(we had terrible seats because we were confused about the parade route!) and then watch the light show on the castle and the fireworks.  Guess which little one, yet again, could not make it to the end.  Yup!  C fell asleep just before the fireworks again this year!  He did wake up about half way through so he was able to watch at least some of them:)

It was an amazing trip, that we'll never forget!  

Thanks for the magical memories, Disney World!!!

Last morning to see this lovely site!

Sitting on the laps of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse

C had been interested in the step sisters all trip. We saw them
but were not about to wait in line to meet them, so this was our
best attempt at a picture with them:)  Listening to them as we
walked by was hysterical!  They are so in character and so funny!

Dumbo

Getting ready to ride the race cars

Small World

Buzz Lightyear - check out M's intensity shooting!

And me too!

Look who's in the front of Splash Mtn...again!!!  I wanted to get
both arms up, but S's signature pose on this ride is to be
squeezing the life out of the person's arm sitting next to her!

Magic Carpets - after a very long, hot wait!

Settling into our spot to watch the Dream Along with Mickey
show.

Watching Dream Along with Mickey show

Sticky popsicles before the parade - my last picture before my
good camera died(it had gotten turned on and left on... SAD!)

They LOVED it!

Of course we had to ride the carousel again!

View from the railroad station

M had to get a picture INSIDE the railroad station

Dinner time guests!!

Think they enjoyed themselves!??!

Happy birthday sweet girl!

Waiting for the parade!

This was just resting his eyes before the parade, but he was really
out during the castle light show and fireworks!

Magical!!!

And, couldn't not get a picture of C with his one gift from the
trip choice - a bow and arrow!  Very appropriate!