It’s time for our weekly check in, Main Streeters!! We’re in our 8th week here in Florida, and yes, it still feels like an extended vacation. “Vacation” time is just about over, and reality is creeping in due to school starting this coming Monday. This week has been the least fun so far this Summer. We’ve done nothing but running around for school stuff, plus I got my first Summer cold and have felt under the weather. The kids’ school has a strict dress code, which none of us are happy about, so I’ve been scrambling to find them plain shirts and such. Not fun. BUT, lets move on to something that really WAS fun, shall we?
Last Friday night, we went to the Magic Kingdom to bum around and have something to do. We made fast passes for all of us, including my friend Andy (WDW Shutterbug) who has become like our 5th family member here! We went on some rides, watched the Main Street Electrical Parade, then headed back to Fantasyland to get on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train before the park closed. By the time we got through the line and ride, the Magic Kingdom was closed… and really empty. We walked over to the carousel and there was no one standing around but Cast Members. It was such a cool thing to see. In all the years I’ve been going to Disney World, I’ve never seen the parks empty. We took the opportunity to take pictures around Fantasyland and behind Cinderella Castle. We actually hung out back there for a little while, it was a lot of fun!
Once we were done behind the Castle, we walked through it, and looked around in front. Again, there was pretty much no one there. By this time Andy had his camera out and was taking some really great pictures. It’s not often that you get to enjoy the streets of the Magic Kingdom alone. Granted, it was around 1:00 in the morning, but staying up late was worth it. I felt like a little kid. I was actually more excited to be there that late than my own kids were. They didn’t appreciate it like I did. I stood there, at the door of Cinderella Castle… and felt like a Princess. Yes, as cliche as it sounds, I felt like a Princess and the Magic Kingdom felt like home. It’s so hard to explain without sounding cheesy, but it’s an awesome feeling.
After walking off my “porch” at the Castle, I went down by the Partners Statue to get some more photos. Just then, I heard the sprinkling of Pixie Dust, and the “Kiss Goodnight” began. Talk about overwhelming. There was no one there but us, yet this awesome production was playing, and of course I had to record it. My heart was just swelling with emotion, I was trying not to shake while recording the Castle lights. There we were….. just me, Walt and Mickey. Front and center. Words can’t explain it. Andy got some great shots, he even took one of me recording the Kiss Goodnight (see above). I didn’t want to leave, but out of respect for the awesome Cast Members who were there, we headed towards the front. It’s an experience I’ll never forget, and I hope to do it again sometime soon. If you’ve never closed the park at the MK, get yourself some caffeine and hang around till after hours, you’ll be SO glad that you did. (see attached video below of what I recorded!)
So, that’s this weeks update. Next week, school will have started and reality will completely be here. I can’t complain really, I know I’m blessed to be living the dream down here in Florida. The area in my home town got hit with some major rain two days ago. I’ve seen pictures of the freeway near my old house and can’t believe it, it looks like a lake. Sending love and prayers to everyone back home who had water and flooding issues, I remember what it’s like to have a flooded basement, it’s not fun. Thank you once again for reading our adventures and updates, I’ll be talking to you next week, if not before! Until then, see ya real soon! ~M
**Photos courtesy of WDW Shutterbug**
Video shot by yours truly!
Michele also contributes theme park news for Fox 35 Orlando 11pm news and on the radio on WDBO.
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I can understand why you felt so emotional! Just watching your video brought tears to my eyes! It’s nice to know there are people out there that love Disney as much as I do!!