Adventures at Disney World - Day 3 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEGAN!)

Day three brought us an early start to our morning, with the hopes of leaving for the park around 7:30 a.m.  We had big birthday surprise number 2 scheduled for 9 a.m., and though we were only a couple of miles from Magic Kingdom, we found it takes just shy of forever and a day to actually get inside the gates.

We made it in good time, and used our head start on the crowds (the park doesn't actually open until 9, but you can get in early with breakfast reservations - further details unveiled below) for picture opportunities in front of Cinderella's Castle.  (We'd seen the castle plenty of times by this point, but it's a crowd hot spot, and we hadn't taken the time to fight the masses for pics yet).

Family photo - I didn't drag five sets of mouse ears all the way from Michigan for nothing!

...and one with just our Minnie Mouses - or is it mice?

By this time, we had unveiled Megan's big surprise to her:  Breakfast with the Princesses INSIDE Cinderella's Castle!  The birthday girl was pumped!!

Royal invitation in hand, we were on our way through the castle gates!

Mom had made the reservation months ago, and was pretty unaware of the perks that came along with this monumental event (I prefer to think that they were nice surprises rather than I just completely forgot), such as:

A personal greeting and photo shoot with Cinderella herself!
 (The good folks at Disney also gave us 2 - 8X10s and 4 - 4X6 prints of each of these shots)

Our birthday girl is beaming!  

Breakfast was great!  We had a fabulous meal, and in addition to spending more time with Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, it also gave us a chance to meet Ariel and Snow White.  Each of our girls got a cool souvenir magic wand and wishing star as well, which they used as part of a special "Wishing Star Ceremony" during the meal.  The princesses were introduced individually, and came to each table to do pictures and autographs and spend a couple of minutes.  

Belle - dressed a little less formally than yesterday

Hannah was a little more interested in her waffles than dear Snow White - no offense, princess...

Sleeping Beauty poses with the birthday girl

Meeting the coveted Little Mermaid at last!  (and then our camera died during photo shoot time - of course...)

I think our birthday surprise was a success!

...and she got a delicious birthday cupcake too!

After breakfast, we were on a mission to locate Tinkerbell and crew in Adventureland.  Birthday luck was on our side, and we found them right away without much of a line at all.  We also stumbled upon where Tiana (from Princess and the Frog) was hiding, and were able to meet her right after Tinkerbell.  Meanwhile, we sent Daddy to the front of the park to secure passes for Mickey & Minnie Mouse.  The birthday girl was getting a little character'd out at this point, but we knew Mickey & Minnie were a must for our Hannah Marie.

Hannah meets Terence (Tinkerbell's Pixie Dust Fairy) - we've never heard of him, but this is allegedly a rare sighting, and our more adventurous child had no problems sitting with a strange male in a fairy costume.  Grrreat....

Tink!

The birthday girl waits to meet Tiana with Grandma

Tiana!  (She was also one of my favorite princesses - so sweet to the girls!  They had a lot of fun with her)

Megan was ready to move on to the next thing, but Hannah was all about loving on Princess Tiana.

"OMG Dad, it's Mickey & Minnie!!!!"

In the flesh...or fur?  Collecting their autographs for our books.

Hannah's big moment has arrived!

We were all done with our character stalking admiration for the day, and ready for some ride action. After Mickey & Minnie, we headed back to Adventureland to try out some new rides, as well as some of our faves...again.

Double trouble does Swiss Family Robinson's Treehouse

Jungle Cruise!

We found a splash pad to enjoy while Grandma held a spot in line for Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride

Showing Grandma how to properly drive a carpet

Double trouble in a teacup

Who let Hannah steer the teacup???

Dumbo with Daddy!

 We declared it to be afternoon break time after the rides, and in advance of a storm front moving into the area.  We headed back to the condo to rest up - narrowly missing a very decent rainfall.  Good timing!  After another no-nap for Hannah, and in accordance with the birthday girl's wishes (specifically three-fold - time alone with Mom & Dad, cotton candy and a "super late" bedtime), we decided to explore Magic Kingdom for the last time that evening with only Megan.  (Hannah didn't seem to have any complaints about one on one time with Grandma, and by that point in the trip I was sort of jealous of her being left behind! - Mom and Dad were getting TIRED).

Five year olds talk a big game, but this is what she looked like as we headed IN to the park for the evening

Luckily, she rallied shortly after her cotton candy wishes were granted

In line and ready for her first rollercoaster experience - Goofy's Barnstormer

She was a little timid going up the first hill, but after the first rush she was SOLD!  She and Kyle rode again  immediately after disembarking.

In line for Mickey's Philharmagic and ready to party!

We also caught It's a Small World, Buzz Lightyear (again) and Pirates of the Caribbean, to name a few.  As specified by the birthday girl, we shut down the park for the third night in a row, watching the fireworks on the ferry ride back to the parking lot.  It was a fifth birthday fit for a princess, which is very lucky as that is totally what we have going on here - and we wouldn't trade her for the world!

Happy birthday, baby girl!  What an amazing five years it's been as your Mom & Dad.  We could not be prouder of the little lady you are becoming!  (though if you wanted to slow it down a bit, that would be cool too)