A FANTASTIC FINAL NIGHT (continued)
The last few hours were a blur to me. I knew I wanted to shoot Wishes from a new angle, but I didn't have a plan for the rides or what all I wanted to accomplish with what little time I had left. Because I wanted to shoot the fireworks from Fantasyland, I decided to hang out over there. However, before getting to my destination, I stopped to make some "final arrangements" with 999 happy haunts; that definitely is one ride that takes on a new persona at night and really is my favorite way to take in the attraction. After picking up my "death certificate" (how fitting as that's how the end of a Disney vacation usually feels), I made my way over to where I had initially thought I would shoot the fireworks from, outside of Pete's Silly Sideshow tent in Storybook Circus. But after trying out a few different lenses and not liking what I was seeing, I made a quick judgement call and ran to set up in another spot I had envisioned to shoot from.
I often don't use the fish eye lens because I generally find it more tricky to capture certain shots. It most definitely is a fun way to shoot, and I plan on using it far more often in future trips, but I really wasn't ready to go when I got to my location and heard that Wishes was starting in 5 minutes. Turns out that I need more practice with this lens when it comes to shooting fireworks or at least properly lining up my shots. What I had envisioned was getting the castle on the left side and the turret wall off on the right. But once the fireworks started, the space I was looking to shoot from filled in quite a bit and it would have been too difficult to move and set up elsewhere. So I lazily fired off my shots before realizing that this wasn't going to really work. I counted my losses and didn't even bother looking at my camera to see what I was shooting. I decided instead, much like the MSEP, to simply watch and take it all in.
I will say that it is definitely different, watching Wishes from the backside like this. As the photos try to show, there is definitely more head turning here than at a tennis match with fireworks being shot from the castle and then again farther back behind Beast's castle. The more I think about it, I don't think my lens would even be able to really capture it all properly, as seen from the image below where I initially wanted to shoot from...
At this point, I decided that I had had enough with the camera. It is nice to forever capture the moment on file, but sometimes that can really take away from being truly present in the moment. I don't recall much after this, other than taking a few "laps" around New Fantasyland, hanging out around Gaston's Tavern, watching the mine train whiz by. I remember visiting my pals in the Hundred Acre Wood and even having a good laugh spinning around in the Tea Cups (See! I knew the 'Mad Hatter' in me would come out at some point
). As per usual, I try to make the TTA my "final ride" of the trip, as it is a nice way to sit back, soak in the sites and sounds one last time and spend a few minutes reflecting on the trip. This time around, I kept thinking back to my initial first night of the trip, partying it up at the 24 hour event and how this had been the final ride I took that night as well. Talk about coming full circle!
I closed out my time in the Magic Kingdom the same way I do any other night that I am there, hanging out around the hub and slowly making my way down Main Street to get my final glimpses in while I still can. Tonight, I was in absolutely no rush to get back to the room to start packing or to worry about sleep or anything else. I just wanted to be present in the moment. And of all the places to do that, a quiet and empty Main Street is definitely the place to do it in.
I pulled out my camera once more and decided to take a few photos of the hub in its (nearly completed) beautiful state. I must admit that I truly miss the "old hub" with its luscious green slopes, the Rose Garden/pavilion and the water ways that surrounded it all.
IF they did have to make the updates, I think they couldn't have done it any better than what they came up with (if only they could remove those stupid, extra light posts they use for the shows). While I think it looks gorgeous during the day, there is an extra bit of charm to the area once those lampposts and the tree lights come on.
I think what makes Main St. and the Hub at park closing my favorite place in the World, is because normally this place is jammed packed with people, the hustle and bustle and noise and chaos and commotion that I think often epitomizes what people think of Disney nowadays. But here, at this time, there is nothing but a peacefulness and serenity that you just can't get at any other point. I know I often complain or at least feel frustrated with how "crowded" Disney now is, but it is moments like this that make me forget about all of that and instead bring me back to what is truly my "happy place". As I always try to do, I stuck around for the "Kiss Goodnight", which as you may recall from a previous installment is an absolute tear-jerker for me. As written in a previous post: "
Nothing gets as immediate a reaction as the Kiss Goodnight from me, with the exception of walking in to One Man's Dream. Seriously I hear that twinkling and the chorus starts and I get choked up. I usually try to find a quiet spot to have the moment to myself. Although on this past trip it came on in the middle of taking a 30 sec photo with CMs nearby. Nowhere to hide but when I looked over at them all teary-eyed they had the biggest smiles on their face. They definitely 'understood' me and that was really cool."
This trip was filled with so many firsts: the 24 Hour Event, Star Wars Weekends, restaurants, shows and more; and yet it never ceases to amaze me that despite my ability to quote rides, memorize shows, recall favorite meals, and laugh and cry at certain things every trip, I still find myself "curiouser and curiouser" about what all there is still to see and do at Disney. This trip had sooooo many
amazing memories for me, and I was so happy to be able to share them with you all! So much so that I can't wait to share about my next big adventure.... my first ever Disney birthday, Christmas and DISapalooza celebration!!
Until next time.... See You Real Soon!