Disney Birthday

Birthday weekend began a couple weeks ago and things are finally starting to wind down. Thanks to the pals that rocked out with. Very big thanks to a friend from New York who flew in to surprise me. It was a fun time for all.

I did something like 16 hours at the Park. I was insanely there from open to close and then some. At the very end, a couple of us walked around Downtown Disney--by around I mean around the perimeter and not through as most people might--to get to the car. This was largely due to exhaustion--we were making unwise decisions at the late hour. I'm still not really clear on how we got outside the gates on foot, walking on Anaheim city streets, we were underground(?) for a brief while, and actually finding the car was a huge challenge.

Lines weren't too long and all 9 of us were on rides all day. There were few rides I didn't go on and I rode most things multiple times. My special request this time was for seven in the front row on Tower of Terror (2 partygoers are missing from this photo) with all hands in the air, please.

Well, six out of seven ain't bad.
Look at the fear in the second seat! Totally worth it..

When we weren't going hogwild looking for thrills, we were eating corndogs, skewers, anything on sticks really. Sometimes it's nice to just chill out in some corner of the park. I spent a good part of the morning by myself doing all the things I never really have time to do leisurely like walking that path that goes back around Big Thunder (what's that called?) that leads to the "European" area surrounding the Matterhorn. I spent about an hour in nursing a coffee for breakfast and watching my fellow nerds--I figure anyone who can afford to mill around taking photos of every statue has to have an Annual Pass. Yeah, I even took the train around the Park. Also went into damn near every gift shop they have; Disneyland gave me a birthday gift card worth $72 and I was determined to waste every cent of it on pirate jewelry, mostly.

Took some photos of course...

Time travel.


I like fall colors and days that are sunny but not HOT.


Dental work.


Flying.

My birthday fortunately fell on the opening weekend of all the holiday stuff so decorations and festivities were in full swing.

It's a Small World.


Sleeping Beauty's Castle w/full holiday lighting.