Well, we all have to turn thirty sometimes. Right? RIGHT?
Ahem. I’m well-rested from an extended trip to Orlando (thanks to “blizzard” Juno)… even a week later. So I say that’s a pretty good trip, huh? I plan on talking about my November and January trips super soon (I’m going to stretch out these recaps because I don’t have another trip coming up) but first, this milestone of a day. Frankly, I’m less concerned with the number (seriously) and more like, how did this happen when I still feel so young? I hope I always feel this way. I know my love Disney and the Muppets and the joy I feel when I am in a Disney theme park certainly contribute to the “young at heart” vibe I have going on. The best medicine, I say.
Today I’m sharing 30 of my favorite parts of WDW — whether it’s because of sound, sight, or fun — and believe me, it was difficult to narrow this list down (and find all the pictures but that’s another story… must organize my photo albums).
Without further ado…
1. Harambe at Animal Kingdom | 2. BoardWalk Resort | 3. MuppetVision
4. Music on Sunset Blvd in DHS | 5. Epcot at night | 6. Walkway from Crescent to United Kingdom
7. Friendship boats | 8. BBQ Dingers at ESPN Club | 9. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at night
10. Kiss Goodnight at Magic Kingdom | 11. World Showcase at sunset | 12. Buying a new pair of Mickey ears
13. Fountain of Nations | 14. Live music at Animal Kingdom | 15. Riding Expedition Everest 3x in a row
16. Breakfast at Tusker House | 17. The smell of Yacht & Beach Club lobbies | 18. The smell of food at Mama Melrose’s
19. Dawa Bar | 20. New Fantasyland at night | 21. Dinner at Rose & Crown in time for Illuminations
22. Illuminations globe | 23. Future World background loops | 24. Tangled bathrooms
25. Browsing in Mouse Gear + Trend-E | 26. Resort TV loops | 27. Adventureland
28. The prayer flags in Asia | 29. The printing press scene in Spaceship Earth | 30. An extra long ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris
And because I think celebrations are more fun when you can share the love, I’m hosting a giveaway this week. I picked up a few awesome pieces of merchandise on my trip last week and they’ll go to one lucky winner. The gift pack contains: an Adventureland napkin, plastic Fantasyland plate, Space Mountain coaster, Small World magnet, 2015 postcard, and Mickey Mouse keychain. Due to shipping costs, this is open to readers in the United States only. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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This Happy Place Blog 
Happy birthday!!! Here three of my favorites: 1. Mornings on the BoardWalk 2. International Gateway background loop & 3. Crew’s Cup Lounge
Narrowing down the best to 3 (or even 30 is tough)! On our last trip in November, we had Dole Whip with Rum in Animal Kingdom while listening to live music and watching the crowd. That’s definitely up there on my list.
Hooray for Future World background music! I could just walk around there all day. I’m on board with so many of these, especially the Fountain of Nations, Big Thunder at Night, EPCOT at night (I’m sensing a theme), and even the Tangled bathrooms (strangely enough). We just got back on Sunday, and I’m ready to go again!
Hmmm … Big Thunder Mountain at night, seeing my husband SCUBA dive in the Seas, and the male lion growling on the Safari
I love this idea! You’ve got some good choices in there– I spy lots of Animal Kingdom!
Happiest of birthdays to you. I love being in my thirties, and dare I say enjoy the World even more? I think you’re onto something with that ‘young at heart’ philosophy. Cheers!
This is among my favorite posts ever – what a fun way to celebrate!
Hmm top 3 favorite things will have to be 3 of my favorite things because I can’t choose just 3!
Lefou’s brew
Germany pavilion
Muppet statue
My Disney Top 3 – Dole Whip, Arriving EARLY for Early Entry, and riding Expedition Everest – I can’t get enough!
Space Mountain, Epcot, and the Art of Animation resort we stayed in last year!
Top 3:
– running through the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights during the Wine and Dine Half Marathon
– pretzel and a beer from Germany in Epcot
– Top of the World lounge!
Love love love this post! And happy birthday! I went to WDW for my honeymoon a couple years ago and had so much fun! My top 3 for WDW:
1. Pirates and Thunder Mountain- different from Dland and really fun, especially the lines!
2. Finding Nemo ride at Epcot, wish we had it at California Adventure.
3. BE OUR GUEST RESTAURANT; I was so happy I wanted to cry! Beauty and the Beast is my favorite movie and it’s gorgeous in there. The food was fantastic too.
* Just generally contrasting and comparing to Disneyland, it was so much fun to spot the differences and similarities.
My Disneyland list!! I’ve been going since I was a toddler and had annual passes many times growing up. My husband and I had a bunch of dates at Disneyland too with our SoCal passes and sprung for Premier when we got married!
1. The snacks: churros, popcorn, Dole Whip, beignets!
2. Space Mountain
3. The Animation Room in California Adventure. I could sit in there all day watching Disney clips and singing along.
Can you tell I love Disney 😉 Thanks for the amazing giveaway.
That’s a good list! I would change out a few things for my list, but I agree overall.
And Happy Birthday! I wish that I were just turning 30! 🙂 Hope it’s a great year for you!
Happy birthday! My own top three would be watching Wishes from the Polynesian beach, eating a Mickey waffle for breakfast, and seeing baby elephants on Kilimanjaro Safaris.
Hope you had the happiest birthday! ❤
Just three things? This is so hard. I'm going to pick a theme and go with three of my favorite things about the BoardWalk, since we both love love love that place. 1) friendship boats 2) early morning walks to hollywood studios {so peaceful!} and 3) the hallway carpet that has mickey riding a rollercoaster. adorable.
Pirates of the Carribean
Wandering the shops of World Showcase
Minnie Mouse ears
My top 3 are: breakfast at ‘Ohana, riding Expedition Everest multiple times is a row, and riding Tomorrowland Transit Authority when Space Mountain lights are on.
Love your posts, they always make me sir, or laugh!
Safari
Meeting mickey
The castle, in all its views!
Hmmm… my top three today- off the top of my head- I’ll go with Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, and strolling WS.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
My top 3 (sooo hard to choose) are:
1. Boardwalk
2.Epcot
3.Spaceship Earth
Lemon tarts at Les Halles
The movie loops at Sci-Fi Dine-In
seeing the joy on the padawans faces
This is definitely a toughie! There are so many things that I love. I’m sure it will change every time I think about it, but for now I guess I’ll go with… Kilamanjaro safaris, dinner at Be Our Guest, and watching Wishes.
Wait for me! I join your club in December. 🙂
Ummmmmm…
1. The Festival of the Lion King
2. Hanging out in World Showcase snacking and drinking stuff
3. The feeling that I am home
Happy Birthday! So hard to choose! But here it goes…..1) Festival of the Lion King 2) when you used to be able to ride up front with the engineer on the monorail 2) dinner at Rose & Crown on the patio for a perfect Illuminations view.
Hmm…There are so many things to choose from. I think I’ll go with:
1) Illuminations
2) Window seat at Sanaa
3) Listening to BGM on Center Street in MK