This Happy Birthday Was Rescued by Disneyland

So, my day started out pretty normally...got up early, hopped on the Metro and didn't go the wrong direction at all (new one for me).  Got to Disney, took the never-ending line ride for way too long for someone who already had a sunburn, finally got into the park and...couldn't find my phone.

The plan was to jump on the app and fast pass a bunch of rides so I could actually go on rides today.  but no phone.  I looked everywhere, in every pocket of everything...no phone.

So I went over to the helpful folk at the Disneyland lost and found who took a report for me and told me to keep checking back every couple of hours.  I headed into the park, had a yummy muffin, a very awful bite of donut, and a cappuccino for breakfast.  I walked around a bit, made my dinner reservation at the castle,  and checked out the ride times...then I sat in the shade and played with my crappy phone with the Chinese SIM card.  I figured out the phone number and headed back to lost and found.  No phone, so I updated them with my local phone number.   They found out it was my birthday and gave me a birthday button.

Went to the Metro station and fruitlessly tried to locate a lost and found by using my phrase book and a lot of gesturing...no luck.  I decided that I needed to go back to the apartment, log into my Norton Security and lock down the phone, just in case it had been stolen...although I was more leaning toward it being lost when I was taking off my jacket and getting out my umbrella (to use as a sunshade) while waiting in the line.

Took the hour long ride back, tried to locate the phone and/or lock it down, but everything said it was offline.  Thank you Great Firewall.  I finally decided to call the damn thing and someone answered...it was Disney lost and found!  I happily hopped back on the Metro and picked up my phone in time for me to rush up the hill to the castle for dinner.

Got to the castle and the guy at the door saw my button and SANG "Happy Birthday" to me...lol.  Now, the castle in Shanghai is enormous and has a couple of shops (including the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique) and a theme restaurant where you can dine with Disney characters.   Which is exactly what Donna the big kid did.

You get checked in, go up the stairs and meet your first princess...

My new friend Minnie and I...and my awkward fanny pack. You can see my birthday button which will get you a lot of attention at any Disney park.  If you go to any park on your birthday, get the button.  Sometimes,  you will have to ask for it (in Shanghai, for example).

 I was then seated and met my charming and delightful server, Christine, who was very excited to see my birthday button.   I was told that I get a choice of a two or three course meal and that the experience would last one and a half hours.   I was also offered the opportunity to purchase a VIP experience for the light show and fireworks that happen at the end of the day.  For about 30 bucks,  you get to be up front and not have to grab a seat a couple of hours before the show starts.  I was in!  Oh and you get a souvenir (I opted for the Tangled chalice).

I was one of the first people seated, so I got a decent photo of the dining room I was seated in.

There were about 6 or 7 rooms in all, each with a different princess theme.  This one, Sleeping Beauty, was the largest.  A couple were tiny and only had one large, round table for a large party each.

I ordered scallops for the appetizer, braised duck for the entree, and triple chocolate for desert (of course).  The food came quickly, as did the characters...

During the scallop course, it was Prince Mickey, who gave me a birthday kiss...

I was served my entree, which was beautiful and delicious...

Which was a delicious duck with potatoes, apples, and cabbage.  It was cooked to perfection.   But, I had a bad feeling about what was coming next....

I hope Prince Donald didn't notice what I was having for dinner.  Things only got worse...

I think it's cultural differences that keep kids from realizing that their parents could be dining on Donald and Daisy's cousin?

I had fun watching the kids with the characters.  When it was time for desert to come out, I had several of the waitstaff serenade me, along with Donald.

I can't tell you how long it's been since I had to blow out a candle... Olaf was made out of marshmallow, in case you are wondering.  The only complaint I had was that the dining room was very warm, as evidenced by my quickly melting ice cream.

I then paid, and my lovely server personally escorted me around (she carried my backpack too) to show me all of the different rooms.  She then brought me to the exit and admonished me to be back at 7:45 for the VIP seating I had purchased for the show.

I had a bit of time to wander the park (not enough time for any more rides unfortunately...) so I got some shots of Disneyland Shanghai at night.

This is the waterfall that looms over Adventureland...

This is the new Toy Story Land that will be opening in 6 days.  There are some specially invited guests in there now, but it was not open to the public.

This is the hunnypot ride at night.  It's so cool with the beehives that flicker and look like there are actual bees buzzing around in there...

After a quick run to the restrooms, and I was ready for my VIP experience.  We were given stickers (for our hands) after showing our dinner receipt showing proof of purchase.  Then, we had to follow the leader after a sign holding cast member through the thronging, pushing, shoving crowd.  That was fun.

We got to our front rows and everyone plopped down on the ground.  I ended up next to a group of college aged young ladies who thanked me in English after I scooted down to make room for them all.  The young woman sitting next to me asked where I was from and I found out that she had been to Texas (Dallas and Houston) I got to explain that Austin is right between them.

I was quite comfortable on the ground and settled in taking a few quick photos...

Then the show began...

It was a light, laser, water, and fireworks show with stories projected right on the castle.  Of course, it was all in Chinese, but I didn't even notice...

It was a little difficult to capture the characters projected on the castle, but I managed to grab Simba!

I mentioned water show and fireworks, right?

One good shot of it all...and it was over.  Then...the crazy mass exodus to the exits.   Urgh.

This led to the jam packed Metro station, the jam packed subway car...

I was glad to get back to the apartment.  No rides today, a bit of shopping and some stress, but it all worked out for the best.  If I had spent the entire day in the park, I would have been fried even worse than I am now.  I have a mild sunburn on my arms and face (just a little pink and was not even sore in the morning) and a rather ouchie one across the back of my neck where my shirt didn't cover my skin.

I may go back to Mickey Town, which is the shopping area outside of the park, to get a couple of Christmas presents I didn't get while in the park...if I get really bored (HA!) I may try the park again for some rides.

If you're ever thinking of going to an overseas Disney, I highly recommend Shanghai.  You know the Peter Pan ride that is no longer in Disney World?  Shanghai has it.  Tron was amazing and I thought it was better than Space Mountain. And there is NO "It's a Small World" (although some kind of truck or something keeps driving by my apartment building blasting that damn song all day).

The crowds can be a little crazier, but not in a more numerous way...but in the way that nobody makes any apologies or excuses for pushing through to get where they want to go.  It's kind of freeing actually once you join in...LOL.