Okay, covering theme parks is my job, but I always welcome the opportunity to visit the parks just for fun. Since today was my birthday, I decided to leave the computer at home for the day and hit up some of my favorites at the local theme parks. And I invited our Theme Park Insider newsletter subscribers to follow along on our Twitter and Instagram accounts. Here's what I did!
Good morning from Disneyland, where I'm spending my birthday! pic.twitter.com/RNHzbOGKI1
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) October 25, 2016
I decided to start with the Disneyland versions of the rides I used to work back when I was a Walt Disney World cast member. But Disneyland's Thunder is even better than the Magic Kingdom version where I worked, thanks to its plussed finale (which will be debuting in Orlando soon).
The explosive finale from Disneyland Big Thunder Mountain. pic.twitter.com/pYFIRqiwjn
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) October 25, 2016
There's even a quick look at the future from the top of the "B" lift.
Sure, I like Thunder. But I love Pirates.
There's still no way to tweet the smell of Pirates of the Caribbean. Mmmm, home. (I'm weird, I know.) pic.twitter.com/1onxaVKZsV
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) October 25, 2016
This birthday is on fire! (Sorry...) #APiratesLifeForMe #Disneyland pic.twitter.com/Z2sSBHLjY0
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) October 25, 2016
But if you know me, you know where my heart lies in any Magic Kingdom.
I turned around and accepted my consolation prize.
Fortunately, it's time for Haunted Mansion Holiday. Halloween, Christmas, and a Birthday, oh my! #Disneyland pic.twitter.com/8oigPQOAh2
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) October 25, 2016
As much as I love Disneyland — the first theme park I ever visited — I had other things on my birthday to-do list.
Let's head over to Disney California Adventure. (If you know me, you can guess where I'm headed.) pic.twitter.com/j2ospxxkF4
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) October 25, 2016
You have your Happiest Place on Earth. I have mine. #AnimationAcademy #Disneyland pic.twitter.com/NOQcaLHV64
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) October 25, 2016
We drew Phineas and Ferb today, which I've probably done more than any other characters at Animation Academy. Perhaps I was trying to be too cute, but it wasn't my best work today. (Follow the instructions, friends!) But I had fun, as always.
Of course, I wanted a birthday button, but the line to get one outside City Hall in Disneyland might have been the longest I'd faced all day. Fortunately, I knew a Theme Park Insider's tip.
Two parks on one day? That's normal. But this is supposed to be a special day, so I did something that Orlando theme park fans might take for granted, but Southern Californians might find crazy.
Next stop on today's birthday tour: @UniStudios pic.twitter.com/rmw2WWJQl1
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) October 25, 2016
You know where I'm going with this!
Birthday lunch at the best counter service theme park restaurant, The Three Broomsticks. pic.twitter.com/PE9woh9AcZ
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) October 25, 2016
I know I'd been out playing all day, but at some point I guess I had to acknowledge that this was a Tuesday.
Feels like a school day today. #WizardingWorldHollywood pic.twitter.com/deQlfw2Z02
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) October 25, 2016
After my trip on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, I decided to pick up a Universal birthday button to go with the one from Disney. And in the Guest Relations office, I discovered something I'd never seen before in a Universal theme park.
Who said Universal didn't have MagicBands? ?? pic.twitter.com/XplcfmP6NS
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) October 25, 2016
I wished I could have kept going until close, but even on a birthday, certain responsibilities can't be skipped.
Thank you to everyone who followed along today, and to everyone who sent good wishes along, as well. Thanks for reading Theme Park Insider and, yes, I'm already making plans for what I should do on my rather big birthday next year!
For More:
Yeah, the handwriting on the Universal button is amazing. The "o" looks like an "e," but is different from the actually "e," and the "b" is capitalized. And the three strokes in the R don't connect. Basically, I want these letters made into the most spectacularly anarchic font face ever. When next to the straight-laced Disney button, the Universal button is totally, well, Universal.
I did Disneyland & Universal in the same day before & it's cool. I wanted to add Knotts in there, but figured those 2 were enough!
Three parks in a day is a lot, especially when they're all major parks. While I've done two with some regularity, the only time I've managed to do three has been a major park and a couple small parks (for example, Scandia Amusement Park, Castle Amusement Park, and Knott's Berry Farm).
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
