"When there's a smile in your heart..."
So, I know I am quite late with this post. Please forgive me...I've been super busy lately hanging out with the most incredible people.
And now...the saga of my 23rd birthday...Disney style!
So Phil had the day off and we decided to go to DAK to visit our friends. I wore my brown dress and we huddled under umbrellas through Animal Kingdom. I got my birthday button and wore it with pride. Our first visit was the Boat Dock to see Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, and Tigger. Tigger came right up to the fence to say hello. Pooh Bear had the most gorgeous handwriting. I love my buddy! Phil and Eeyore go way back and he was very happy to see the grey ol' donkey. When we went to see Tigger, his theme song was playing. Tigger bounced up and down like a maniac, getting us all to bounce with him in a circle and make funny poses for the camera. He even personalized his autograph: "Happy Birthday Nikki! Love, Tigger."
Soon afterward, Phil and I ran into Rob, who was working at DAK that day. Rob told Phil he wanted to be in on the surprise...more on that later.
Phil and I went to Dinoland and saw Goofy. Goofy walked back to the line with us and took pictures. Then we hopped over and rode Expedition Everest. I love it! I haven't really seen the Yeti yet because the light was pretty bad. But the ride itself is amazing. By this time, Crystal met up with us and we headed over to Camp Minnie-Mickey. Goofy made his way over there and was so excited to see us. He saw my button and thought that I was 5 years old. We took some pretty fun pictures and I was smothered in kisses. Goofy even tried to leave set with me! lol It was wonderful.
Crystal disappeared for a time. When I asked Phil where she was, he said, "Oh, she's off making some magic."
After a brief visit with Lilo and Stitch and a quick lunch, we piled into my car and took off for the Magic Kingdom. At MK, we went directly to Toontown to see the princesses. The princesses knew I had come especially to see Belle and they were all very polite. They congratulated me on my birthday and we even took a group picture with all three of them. Phil and Crystal told them about my surprise for the evening and they thought it was great.
Following the princesses, we rode the train all the way around the MK. We rode Big Thunder Mountan Railroad and saw Goofy again! (Man, that goof travels fast!) Then we dropped Phil off at Chatham and took off for Vista.
At Vista, we were joined by Liddy, Ben, and Rob. The Fab Five piled into my car, singing to showtunes all the way to the secret location. Once we hit the MK resort area, Ben covered my eyes. Crystal went to go park the car and when she came back I got to open my eyes. We were at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa! I got a double escort from Rob and Ben into the most expensive hotel on property. They took me out to dinner at the Grand Floridian Cafe, where I shared a delicious shrimp and procisutto pasta and a chocolate fondue. They all toasted me and I was presented with a song and a Mickey Mouse cupcake. Afterwards, we hung outside the hotel for a while taking pictures. They're all online now. Here is my absolute favorite: "Second star to the right and straight on till morning."
Walking back to the car, I got an escort from Rob as we quoted Peter Pan and sung more showtunes. We drove back to Vista and hung out in Liddy's room, talking and exchanging massages. I came home to find the birthday flowers from my family, all of my roommates and Mike waiting. I got another shoulder massage before heading off to bed.
The next day, I came home from work completely exhausted due to the four hours of sleep I got the night before. Mike wanted to take me out to dinner for my birthday, so we bused over to Olive Garden and got the never-ending pasta bowl, which was delicious. Afterwards, we went back to Vista to hang out with the Fab Five and we had one crazy night of playing these amazing personal games.
So, that's my birthday!
And now...the saga of my 23rd birthday...Disney style!
So Phil had the day off and we decided to go to DAK to visit our friends. I wore my brown dress and we huddled under umbrellas through Animal Kingdom. I got my birthday button and wore it with pride. Our first visit was the Boat Dock to see Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, and Tigger. Tigger came right up to the fence to say hello. Pooh Bear had the most gorgeous handwriting. I love my buddy! Phil and Eeyore go way back and he was very happy to see the grey ol' donkey. When we went to see Tigger, his theme song was playing. Tigger bounced up and down like a maniac, getting us all to bounce with him in a circle and make funny poses for the camera. He even personalized his autograph: "Happy Birthday Nikki! Love, Tigger."
Soon afterward, Phil and I ran into Rob, who was working at DAK that day. Rob told Phil he wanted to be in on the surprise...more on that later.
Phil and I went to Dinoland and saw Goofy. Goofy walked back to the line with us and took pictures. Then we hopped over and rode Expedition Everest. I love it! I haven't really seen the Yeti yet because the light was pretty bad. But the ride itself is amazing. By this time, Crystal met up with us and we headed over to Camp Minnie-Mickey. Goofy made his way over there and was so excited to see us. He saw my button and thought that I was 5 years old. We took some pretty fun pictures and I was smothered in kisses. Goofy even tried to leave set with me! lol It was wonderful.
Crystal disappeared for a time. When I asked Phil where she was, he said, "Oh, she's off making some magic."
After a brief visit with Lilo and Stitch and a quick lunch, we piled into my car and took off for the Magic Kingdom. At MK, we went directly to Toontown to see the princesses. The princesses knew I had come especially to see Belle and they were all very polite. They congratulated me on my birthday and we even took a group picture with all three of them. Phil and Crystal told them about my surprise for the evening and they thought it was great.
Following the princesses, we rode the train all the way around the MK. We rode Big Thunder Mountan Railroad and saw Goofy again! (Man, that goof travels fast!) Then we dropped Phil off at Chatham and took off for Vista.
At Vista, we were joined by Liddy, Ben, and Rob. The Fab Five piled into my car, singing to showtunes all the way to the secret location. Once we hit the MK resort area, Ben covered my eyes. Crystal went to go park the car and when she came back I got to open my eyes. We were at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa! I got a double escort from Rob and Ben into the most expensive hotel on property. They took me out to dinner at the Grand Floridian Cafe, where I shared a delicious shrimp and procisutto pasta and a chocolate fondue. They all toasted me and I was presented with a song and a Mickey Mouse cupcake. Afterwards, we hung outside the hotel for a while taking pictures. They're all online now. Here is my absolute favorite: "Second star to the right and straight on till morning."
Walking back to the car, I got an escort from Rob as we quoted Peter Pan and sung more showtunes. We drove back to Vista and hung out in Liddy's room, talking and exchanging massages. I came home to find the birthday flowers from my family, all of my roommates and Mike waiting. I got another shoulder massage before heading off to bed.
The next day, I came home from work completely exhausted due to the four hours of sleep I got the night before. Mike wanted to take me out to dinner for my birthday, so we bused over to Olive Garden and got the never-ending pasta bowl, which was delicious. Afterwards, we went back to Vista to hang out with the Fab Five and we had one crazy night of playing these amazing personal games.
So, that's my birthday!