Fall Fun - Part 6

October 1 (Saturday)

We are headed back to the Magic Kingdom this day. Now, I know Disney World's history pretty well. I am well aware the Magic Kingdom opened on October 1, 1971 - a fact I've know since that date. However, when planning a day at the Magic Kingdom on this date, the significance of the date never once connected for me. Go figure!!

Anyway, we arrive at the very busy Magic Kingdom shortly after the 9 am opening time and are quickly inside the park. As we enter, we notice folks passing out some sort of pins from a bag but pay little attention. I stop to grab a guidemap - something I do routinely even though I don't really need one to find my way around the park. The first thing I notice is that the guidemap is not the usual style I would expect and is thicker than usual. I take a closer look and notice "October 1, 2016" and "45 Anniversary". It finally clicks for me. I tell my husband we are here on the 45th anniversary of the park opening and the pins being passed out must have related like to that event. While I go to the restroom, he heads to City Hall and is able to round up a couple of the commerative pins there. We notice a line into the Emporium that begins at the entrance closest to City Hall. As we walk up Main Street, we see the line extends all the way back to Casey's!! Yikes!!!

We are headed to Peter Pan for our 9:20 fastpass. On the way, we stop for a bit to observe the 45th anniversary ceremony at the Castle Stage. In no particular order, today we are able to visit: Peter Pan's Flight (fastpass); Under the Seas - Journey of The Little Mermaid; Walt Disney Railroad; Sven Dwarfs Mine Train (fastpass); Pinocchio Village Haus for a Caprese Flatbread; Monsters Inc Laugh Floor; and Pirates (fastpass). By this time, we were a bit tired of people - the park was very crowded - so decided to head "home" a little earlier than originally planned.

Once at "home", we sit out on our patio for a bit (first time we've done that this trip). Gene takes a shower before changing for dinner. I'm about to head into the shower but spouse informs me there is no hot water. Another call to Maintenance. I had hoped to take a nice, warm shower before changing for dinner but that is not happening on this day. Oh well.

We head out for our dinner reservation at Citrico's - catching a bus for the Magic Kingdom and changing there for a boat to the Grand Floridian. Mizner's is much quieter this evening and we have a cocktail there before heading in the Citrico's for dinner. Our table is ready and we are seated immediately. We share a shrimp appetizer. For dinner, I select the Pork Porterhouse which is quite good while spouse has the Oak-grilled Beef Filet and is much happier with this steak than the one he had at Saratoga Springs. I have the Tasting of Gelato along with a decaf coffee while spouse has the Warm Chocolate-Banana Torte with a Nutty Irishman coffee.

At Citrico's, we had a window table facing out to the Grand Floridian pool. There was a lot of heavy rain and lightening. There are flood warnings posted. During dinner, we decide we will need to take a cab home. Before getting a cab, I visit Basin White (I need some more bath bombs as I only had one left.) There I discover the clerk lived not far from us (though in a different state) and originally was from a state a little further north we had just visited in the last couple of weeks.

The rain has pretty much stopped by time we arrive "home". I have my tubby and head off to bed.