DISNEYLAND 2015

It was the last week of summer vacation and I’d been itching to go somewhere.  As our window of opportunity narrowed, I grasped at possibilities.  A rushed trip up the coast?  Our time was limited, so we decided on the only obvious choice - Disneyland!  

It had been a long time since we were there. Two significant memories: 

1. Waking our slumbering youngsters in an Anaheim hotel by shouting, "WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!  

Wait for it ... here comes the surprise...by the way, have you ever seen such adorable children??

2. Buying Kyle a small, clear bouncy ball with a Disney character inside.  As we walked through the Land of Enchantment, it bounced away from him and some bratty kid snatched it up.  We didn’t know about this until later when we noticed Kyle’s sad face.  Krista wanted to find the kid and punch him.

Of course, Disneyland is outrageously expensive now ($99/per).  Then there was the hotel.  In my universe, going to Disneyland requires a two night stay!! I was able to get a decent AAA rate at the Marriott Courtyard and the second night free using Marriott points.

We headed up the road around 4PM Wednesday with Kyle helpfully navigating the best traffic route from the back seat.  After getting settled in, we hoofed it to Downtown Disney and the Rainforest Cafe.  Kyle remembered it fondly and really wanted to go there.  

Have you ever seen such adorable young adults??

We had a great time, although the thunder storm wasn’t as dramatic as I remembered it. (Note to self: book a table upstairs next time where there is an animated gorilla and more thunder and lightening.)   We had a fun dinner and also enjoyed a little bit of shopping. Krista and I found a bouncy ball similar to the one that got away and presented it to my now 20 year old son with a flourish.  I'm sure he was thrilled to get it back.

This trip had health benefits too - lots of great aerobic exercise, not only in the park but walking back and forth to our hotel, 15 minutes each way.  Krista and I fantasized that we would be stick figures after all this walking.

Back in our room, the kids wanted to go to the pool but it was closed.  Damn budget hotel.

Thursday Morning

Everyone slept in really late.  By the time we got downstairs, the Bistro was closed and we had to walk to the other bigger nicer Marriott where they have a Starbucks and where I now wish we had stayed.  Pool is a lot nicer too.  Bet it doesn't close at 10 either.  

Walked through waves of summer heat and got to Disneyland at 12:30.  By the way, it was really hot.  And crowded.  Luckily we had bought our tickets at the hotel so that was one less line we had to wait in.

As you can see, my daughter is a professional selfie photographer

Here’s the lineup:  

• Jungle cruise
• Get a Fastpass ticket for Indiana Jones at 4:45
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Haunted House
• Look for Fastpass ticket to Splash Mountain and discover you can’t have more than one Fastpass at a time. Drat.
• Thunder Mountain which makes me nauseous.   
• Sit in front of Matterhorn waiting for kids because I still don't feel great.  Watch paramedics attend to a man who is passed out on the ground, probably from the heat.  Did I mention it was really HOT?
• Get in line for Star Tours only to find out after waiting almost an hour, that we are in line for Space Mountain which I really do NOT want to go on.
• Get out of line and try not to look embarrassed as my wonderful children laugh and point at me.
• Report to Indiana Jones for our scheduled time. Worth it.  Fun ride.  
• Take the little train from Tomorrowland back to Main Street, through the Grand Canyon, then back in time to when dinosaurs ruled the earth.  Oh, the places you can go in the Land of Enchantment!
• Get hungry and go to House of Blues in Downtown Disney for dinner.  Sit outside and enjoy a nice dinner with strong drinks (orange and grapefruit martini).  

Enjoying a much needed break from the crowds

If you're happy and you know it, say cheese

• Back to Tomorrowland to get in the CORRECT line for Star Tours.  (They changed the video instructing you how to get on the ride.  Now they use a robot instead of an actor.  Budget concerns?? Also the ride has changed too, different scenario, but still fun.) 
• Walk through the back of Fantasyland as the fireworks start.  They are loud, popping, sparkling, brilliant, beautiful, magnificent.  Unfortunately we can't see the corresponding light show but hear the music and enjoy a good view of the rockets bursting in air (Wait. Is that a song?). 

Rockets bursting

in air

Reminds me of something...

Everyone started to leave the park after the display and now would have been a good time to get on another ride, but the kids were tired of standing in lines, so we swelled through the wave of crowds and out into the street, walking back to our hotel along with half of Anaheim.  The kids went downstairs to got snacks and munched in front of the TV while I crashed.  I'm not old, I'm not old, I'm not old, just tired.  Really tired.

Friday morning

Got up in time to get food at the Bistro.  Yay!  French toast, muffins, coffee.  Packed up and left before noon.  Lots of traffic on the freeway.  Got home a little after 1:30.  

Another successful, fun mini trip for my adorable kids and me. 

Secretly, I still see them as my sweet babies hiding inside 20 year old bodies.  They are adults now and I enjoy their company so much, but can't help missing my little angels.  

Has anybody seen my sweet babies??

Ah yes, those were the days...