Last Day at Disney

We had a jam packed day scheduled for our last day in the happiest place on Earth.  On our way to early breakfast reservations, we took advantage of the empty lobby and photographed to our hearts content.  I knew I wanted to make a Disney Christmas card and I was hoping to get a good shot. 

The kids were adorable in front of the huge tree and gigantic gingerbread house.  Jack Ryan speed crawled around most of the lobby while we were shooting.  Tessa patiently endured the picture taking because she knew the castle was in our near future. 

We caught the opening show again at the Magic Kingdom.  Lots of characters ride in on the train and do a little song and dance before the gates open.  The energy and excitement is contagious and that first stroll down Main Street in the morning is wonderful.  Totally worth getting up early, oh wait, we're always up early with Mr. I Never Sleep Baby Boy.   

We went straight to the castle for breakfast.  Cinderella, charming hostess that she is, remembered us from the Christmas party.  I never cease to be amazed that the characters remember us from day to day.  They have to see tons of other little princesses yet they always make mine feel super special. 

Did I mention that the characters are fabulous?  I was a little worried that the magic would not still be alive for Tessa now that she is older.  But I needn't have worried.  She was as dazzled by the princesses now as she was at three years old.  Heck, I'm pretty dazzled too.  The food was great and the coffee a welcome jolt of caffeine.     

Jack Ryan received a toy sword that he thought was the best thing ever.  He swung and banged for all he was worth.  He stared at the royal visitors with his big blue eyes and was happy as could be.  It's an extravagance to dine at Cinderella's Royal Table but it is hands down the most impressive dining experience.  I'm so glad we get to do it.     

After breakfast, Ryan and Tessa talked to the always hilarious step-sisters.  Tessa had a character encyclopedia (yes, they print things like that) that everyone had been signing during our trip.  These girls took it upon themselves to rewrite their biographies in a more favorable light.  They win for the best autograph experience.

We also saw the Woody, Jessie, Buzz and Fairy Godmother.  We had time to ride some of the major rides we hadn't been on yet this trip.  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad always seems to be a last day ride.  And I finally got to ride Splash Mountain!  You would think in all of our trips I would have ridden it but I haven't been on it since I was a kid.  First Tessa was too little, then it was being refurbished, then I was pregnant, then I was still pregnant.  Um, yes, we go to Disney a lot.  But this day I had a front row seat with Tessa.  I ducked when we splashed down and my dad, sitting directly behind me, got totally soaked.  So much fun.  We took another family picture in front of the castle.  I love the Disney photographers, such a great service they provide capturing memories of the whole family.

My sweet babies in their matching smocked outfits.  She has Snow White and he has the dwarfs.  

About a month ago, we were selected to make reservations at Be Our Guest restaurant for lunch.  Usually this is a counter service restaurant at lunchtime, thus no reservations.  But Disney is trialing a new system.  I have no idea how we got on the list, but I'm glad we did.  It's a gorgeous restaurant with good French food.  Jack Ryan was fascinated with the knights in shining armor in the entryway.  After lunch we whizzed around on the new Dwarfs' Mine Train.  As our time at Magic Kingdom came to a close I took a few more pictures.

Oh but wait, we're not leaving yet!  We park hopped over to Hollywood Studios for the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.  Holy moly it was crazy!  Wall to wall people, music coming through the loudspeakers and enough lights to be seen from outer space.  We had special Frozen themed treats and used up our last snack credits.     

Good bye for now, I'm sure we'll be back but surely not for another three years of so.  We need time to recover from this marathon of a trip. 

Getting me to leave Disney is like prying a kid out of a candy store.  Each time I have told Ryan that we could leave at a reasonable time, and we never do.  So this time we made hotel reservations just on the other side of Orlando.  That way we didn't have far to drive but we would be successfully extricated from the Disney Bubble.  This plan worked beautifully.  We got a decent night's sleep, it's all relative these days with Little Man, and had a leisurely breakfast the next day.  The drive home was much easier.  All in all, another great Disney vacation.