The Return of the Dragon:

So here I am, 5 months after returning from my grande adventure and despite the hideously rocky road I’ve travelled since then, I have not been deterred from my overwhelming desire to see the world.As I have always been wont to do, I have various ‘maybe’ trips in pre planning. There are many variables that will influence, the where, what and how, but there is one constant… I will be heading off into the wide world for another peek sometime during the next year.This trip was the most amazing thing I have ever done. Such a monumental undertaking for a single mum who’s never travelled alone overseas. My first time in America, my first experience of having to fend for myself and I did an amazing job. The photos for me are not just a permanent reminder of where I’ve been but another of my obsessions in their own right. The pursuit of the perfect shot is something that drives me to some ridiculous lengths but it’s a passion that I cheerfully indulge …. And in case your wondering, yep… I did finally get some shots of the castle that I love and intend to add to the collection of my favourite shots on my office wall.I’d also like to make special mention of my most fabulous Southern friends, Steve, Sherri, Evelyn and Bill. Had it not been for this wonderful family, I doubt my tour experience would have been quite as rich as it was. I was welcomed into their family space with that famous Southern hospitality without a moments hesitation and I learned so much about life in the South and perfecting the art of that glorious accent that I emulated so frequently while on the tour and also for weeks after my return to the land down under was such a treat. My next visit to the US will definitely include a trip to the Southern States to visit my friends and to see their beloved Razorbacks play.

I can’t begin to express how much this trip changed my life.Not only did I see what I was capable of, but I suspect that the simple act of just experiencing life on other parts of the planet is something that will continue to be an addiction I can‘t shake.Thanks for sharing my journey, these gypsy feet will be no doubt be dancing their way through more of the world before too much longer - feel free to join me again for more of my exploits. I’ll post a link so you can join team Mushu again.
I'll also add some more of my favourite photos when time permits...

Keep smiling… it makes them wonder what you’ve been up to. ;)

Love Lisa. Xxx

The Last Days:

This entry has been a long time coming. It has taken me months to recover sufficiently to finish this blog but there is good reason for that.Two days before I was due to fly home, my beloved mum passed away from complications with her heart surgery.I have never felt such desolation and isolation in my life.The last days of what has been my biggest adventure to date were so scarred by such an enormous loss. My blood relatives now reduced to two sisters and my own two precious children.I was due to fly home 48 hours later. As mums condition existed prior to my departure, her death didn’t qualify for an insurance funded alteration to my flights so I had to fill in another day an a half before checking out and heading back to the land down under.I went through the motions of saying farewell to a place I’d dreamed of visiting as long as I can remember. I imagine every Disney fan feels a wrench leaving hallowed ground but for me it effected me deeply.More life altering than anyone should have to bear.I did what I imagine are all the usual things… last minute shopping, last rides on the favourites, last churro, last castle photo, last character hug.Although, I can remember barely eating those last days, I was running on auto, so I did miss some opportunities to partake of distinctively Disney fare. I also lost the taste for the wild rides, and my last ride was on my favourite… the Tea Cups.Then it was back to my room at the Menage for what was to be a truly Herculean effort of organising my luggage so that every little thing was packed and ready to go. I was the most worried about the huge bottle of Strawberry magarita mix that was nestled amongst my favourite clothes and leather boots but it made it home unscathed. It cost me a pretty penny to get that extra bag home but so very worth it.The flight home was interesting. I got a bulkhead seat so I had so much room to stretch out it was ridiculous. Trouble was, I was on the window seat and then had to crawl over two men to get out when the need arose. The one on the end wasn’t such a worry. A spiffily dressed, chatty and surprisingly cute miner from WA, only a fraction younger than me, who I wished was the one in the centre seat rather than the old smelly man who actually got centre stage.None the less, I again slept the majority of the way home and then the blur of travel included being back on home turf, unpacking ( read - upending my suitcase on the bed and hurling in clothes for a chilly Victorian winter funeral, which under any circumstances would have been dreadful) and then returning to the airport early the next morning heading for Melbourne.So in 24 hours, I had been in LA, New Zealand, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne and finally after a series of handoffs between cousins and a seemingly endless car journey, a tiny dot on the map in the middle of Victoria.The sadness was so overwhelming, made worse by the backlash from some of my mums closest friends due to my being overseas at the time. Being snubbed at my mothers funeral by a few families was something I could never had envisaged coming from the people I grew up amongst. But grief has some strange side effects and some people need someone to blame. Despite the ill feeling, I managed to hold it together at her funeral to read a letter I’d written her earlier in the year, telling her how much she meant to us all.I’m sure both mum and dad will still keep a seat warm for me in heaven, and I’m sure she’s surrounded by flowers more beautiful than any of us could ever imagine. I love you mum.In my work, I have constant contact with many women my age, helping their growing-elderly mothers to shop. I see many frustrated daughters trying to grasp the changes in their parent as they age and require more patience. To those women I simply want to remind you how fortunate you are to see your parent at that stage of their life. Cherish it. Ask the questions you’ve been meaning to. Solidify your knowledge of your family’s roots. The opportunity to do so can be taken from you without a moments notice.The last words I said to my mother were, ‘I love you mum’ said before I departed on my trip.Her last words to anyone were ‘just love each other’.Can there be any better advice?

Bee Stings and Toony things....

I woke early, determined to do both Toon Town and Critter Country today.
Now that is a mouthful because I think I've only made it to the park at the 'recommended hour' a couple of times :) ... I'm on holidays after all.
So I arrived probably the earliest I had done the whole trip and was rewarded by being second in line when the duck himself emerged with a handler ready for happy snaps. So with Donald under my belt ( so as to speak) I decided to try my luck at a castle photo without a thousand people and strollers in it.

Well, I'm not sure what time one has to arrive in front of the castle to get a shot without bodies but I sure wasn't there at that time. I stood there for an age waiting for the ambling stroller driven hoards to clear the shot so I could have half a chance at getting the one I wanted. Alas, I am yet to get that shot, because despite my patience, I still had bodies in every shot.

One of the cast members asked if I wanted a shot of myself there, and while they are not my favourite shots, I relinquished the camera and smiled dutifully for a photo that I knew, even before she pressed the shutter, would be missing feet and a little too far to the right.
Oh well, I'll try again another day.
I did get some nice shots of PIECES of the castle, I'd just like one... just one... without bodies. It doesn't seem to worry the majority of the population that they are taking those happy snaps with another 4 families in the frame. But it irks me.

Anyway, I cut my losses and headed for Toontown, only to discover that it doesn't open when the park does. It only opens at 9am so I leaned against the railing and talked to the other people waiting for those gates to open wide.
I spoke to one family in particular - the little one in the ubiquitous stroller was a bit fractious so I delved into my backpack and pulled out one of the little clip-on koala's that I'd taken to give to cast members and random people that might have shared magic with. That did the trick and after that we chatted for the duration of the wait.
It turned out that the mom had worked for a couple of years on the Disney Cruise line as an officer and she was a wonderland of interesting stories. Insider info is always fascinating. I could have stood there and talked to her for another hour.

But before long, the wait was over and we charged into Toontown and there were only a handful of people there - clearly it takes a while for the bulk of the tourists to filter through that far into the park. I went straight for Roger Rabbits ride and got the first FP of the day, then lined up and walked straight onto the ride. I rode it several times in quick succession so didn't bother coming back to use the FP because I'd had my fill early.
One disappointment was that Donalds Boat was all closed up and covered up and I wondered if it were having some kind of reno that I'd not heard was happening.
I wandered around, taking copious photos, all the bright primary colours of that land standing out starkly against the brilliant blue Californian summer sky. It was picture perfect.... and then the worst thing happened. My camera battery died. Which would not have been an issue if the back up one that I had in my backpack was charged like I'd assumed.
Oh well... I'd taken almost all the photos that i'd intended, only I hadn't been to visit Mickey and there was no way on Gods Green Earth I was doing that without a camera !
So I turned reluctantly for the entrance of Toontown and decided to just ride some random rides for a while and then make up my mind on the next plan.

Only two rides in, I just could take it no more... not having a camera in my hand proving too traumatic, and headed for the exit and onto a bus bound for Target which was only about 4 blocks away.

Sitting at the bus stop seems to be something I do a lot these days.... I'm loving discovering all the places that the buses take me on the one ticket. Unfortunately todays time sitting waiting wasn't so pleasant. I could feel a bug on my toes and wriggled them so it would fly away but it kept coming back. Eventually I thought it had gone away - but I didn't bother to take a look seeing as I couldn't feel it there, I just assumed it had - and only moments later, I could feel something crawling up my leg on the inside of my jeans.
Then it happened.
It stung me. Yep.... I had a bee crawling up the inside of my jeans. .... and I had to move fast to get it out and remove the stinger without pumping more of the venom into my system. I'm allergic to bee stings. But evidently - not terribly so with the kind that stung me.
Oh yes... my leg swelled up monumentally and it hurt like you would imagine a bee sting does but when I didn't experience the expected shortness of breath that generally accompanies bee stings for me, I felt confident that while my leg was throbbing, I could continue on my shopping sojourn.
The things we do...

Wow... Target US style.
What a fantastic place that is.
I had a full basket within a short time and with no concern for how i was going to get it all home, I gleefully headed for the checkout about an hour or two later.
One of the things I bought was a cell phone. One that the attendant assured me would be able to make calls outside the US ( NOPE.... it didn't :( ) And I bought the dear one on the shelf... $14.95 ... seriously... when they told me that they were sold out of the $9.99 one I was flabbergasted that there even was such a marvel... I had to check that I hadn't inadvertently wandered into the toy aisle. Still, I used it a surprising amount for the duration of the trip and can do so if I return in the future as its a prepaid and I just have to buy a recharge card to reactivate it.

Evenatually, I braved the really hot day outside again and walked in the direction of Disneyland, knowing there were the ART bus stops not all that far along.

IT was then that I discovered the shoe warehouse. No... relax.... not girly shoes... sports shoes.
This place was fantastic too, and I was delighted to find it considering I'd been told by NO.1 son not to come home without Nikes.
The problem was, there wasn't a pair of Nikes that came within cooee of what I thought the boy would like.
After just wandering around in this store for another 3/4 hour, I finally settled on a pair of Air Jordans ( also Nikes he later informed me) that I thought would pass muster for the 17 year old. I was very very tempted to also get the tiny baby converses' for my baby nephew butt resisted - knowing the lack of room I was suffering from in the suitcase department.

Outside, the sun was so nice, that I made the decision to walk back to Disneyland ( it didn't seem as far as it actually was when I had travelled there on the bus) and arrived exhausted and ... shall we say.... sun kissed ( if the sun had pink lipstick on at the time) and really keen to be back in my hotel and cool.
I spent the afternoon, at the hotel, in the pool, checking emails, updating the blog and generally taking it easy. By this time the camera battery was charged again and it was time to head back to Disneyland for the evening.

I wandered around, taking night shots which without a tripod was proving frustrating. But persevere I did and ended up with a few really good ones. I finally got a photo or two of the castle that I half liked and some of Main Street with all the lights sparkling away.

I'd opted for the late showing of Fantasmic and found myself a spot where I had an unobstructed view and more importantly - a rail to support the camera so I had half a chance of getting a few clear shots of the show.
Fantasmic is just amazing. Part of the show is projected onto hight pressure water 'curtains' that shoot into the sky, and the effect is spectacular. Everything from Pink elephants from the Dumbo movie to various villains to Mickey in scenes from Fantasia.
Along with elaborately lit floats carrying various princesses and their beaus, the Columbia sailed around with a blazing battle between Peter Pan and Captain Hook taking place in the rigging of the tall ship.
The finale began with fireworks off the side of the Mark Twain that sailed past with Steamboat Mickey at the helm and dozens of other Disney personalities waving from many vantage points.
The first time I saw this show, I had such a bad spot and could see so little that i wasn't all that sure it was worth staying at the park that late for but on seeing it for the second time, and with an unobstructed view, I loved it.
From there I ambled back along Main St. Its become a habit that on the way out of the park I check the shops and wander to my hearts content, almost always buying yet more pins and by now, starting to finalise gifts for friends and family.

On my way to the exit, I stood in fromt of the Mickey garden wanting to get a shot of Tink all lit up.

This compulsion soon became the need to get all the shots...

Tink lighting up.
Tink throwing her pixie dust light oer the Mickey head garden.
And then the mickey Head bursting into sparkling lights all lit with pixie dust.

That process took me almost an hour to get ones I was half happy with thanks to blurry shots and bodies littering the frame. Eventually, I was satisfied with my efforts and wandered over to try my luck at the California Letters lit up.

Even at midnight there were lits of bodies to contend with and I had to wait for a loooong time for the people to clear out of sitting on, in, and around the individual letters. And because I was standing there waiting, I ended up taking lots of photos for other people who wanted themselves in the shot with the lit up letters.

But the last shot of the night was my reward.

A clear shot of all the letters sans bodies.
Happy girl. :)

Day 8: (The Block On Orange) shopping in the OC...Clueless....

Anyone seen the movie Clueless? You must have a million times like me.

I love love love that movie and if you can picture the scene where the girls hit the shopping mall and come out laden with all those lovely crisp cardboard carry bags and boxes... then superimpose my persona right there holding said bags and boxes in both arms, then you would have an accurate picture of what I looked like returning to the hotel tonight.

Exhausted but on a shoppers high like only the OC can muster.
Yep folks... I was shopping in Orange County today and what an amazing place the Block on Orange is.

Its the size of a shopping centre ( not satellite city sized but still huge) but its all outside rather than bound together by a roof, and outlet shops mingle with regular ones and all pretty much without exception were having a 'summer sale' and the bargains were just mind boggling.

Oh.... Girls.... The clothes.... the SHOES ...... (that needs saying again ) the SHOES..... and handbags and.....

OMG the lingerie....

You just know I wasn't leaving Victoria Secret without one of those gorgeous pink stripy carry bags with each delicate piece wrapped in pink tissue. Or Fredericks of Hollywood for that matter... (google it..... what can I say... some girls can't pass a handbags shop... I can't pass one with exquisite lingerie in it - thats my cross to bear)
And then there was the Guess store.... and Hollister.... and Old Navy.... and Papaya.... and Oh my giddy aunt... the list is just endless.

What a wonderland this place was.
I think I'm looking at an extra suitcase when I return home... and yep, while I was there, I popped into Flight Centre and asked about how much it was going to cost me (gulp)

I really enjoyed hopping buses (I had to change a couple of times) and seeing some of Anaheim and then the OC. What an eye opener. the shopping here in the States is wicked.

I really wished I'd had a shopping buddy ( or a sherpa ) but I still had a very satisfying day.
I had decided that I was having a bad hair day so I emerged from the hairdressing supply store with peroxide, tint brush, scissors and comb and gloves ( I'd brought my colour with me - can't take chances on having a colour disaster now can we girls) and had a complete makeover back in my room that night - the works.... colour, trim and blowdry... all for the princely sum of about $27... sometimes it pays to be an ex-hairdresser.

I was so exhausted when I got back that dinner was a Krispy Kreme (or two... oh ok... or three).

You know how just before Christmas you lay the present out and do an even up? Well, I do... anyway. I did this (and gulped for the second time today at the thought of having to get it all home) and made a list of the gifts I still needed to buy and then tried to write up the day but fell asleep at the keyboard again, so gave up and went to bed....
There's always tomorrow right?

Shots from Innoventions

A few more photos.

The first one is of the Xbox consoles that were just wicked. Not that I was all that good, but they were fun.
The second one is what I will look like in 60 years... (The 'old' me is on the left by the way :) )

The next one is of the circuit board tree which was amazing and went from the bottom floor, through the centre and up into the ceiling of the top floor. Its branches were kind of see through from what I remember.

The fouth one was a new section they are still developing from what I could see... lots of roped off/covered bits and entrances. Lots of touch screen stuff about choosing your future dream lifestyle.

Some photos from the new House of Tomorrow exhibit

Some shots from the new House of Tomorrow exhibit. The first one is of the front door, no key required, its programmed to your touch with a hand panel on the right. Also the doggy door is automated to work on a signal from the pets id.
Second shot is of the house's entertainment menu (currently on the music selection of one of the parentd) When, say, the mother enters, she presses the screen on 'moms preferences' and all her albums come up and she just presses the album/track/playlist she wishes to play. This was really cool, its linked all over the house.
The third shot is a small corner of the office... I want it... enough said.

Toy Story Mania photos... Part 4

The first one is of the end scene that you walk through to exit the ride... Its the scene where the Midway game that you were just playing (as a toy) is laid out on the floor of Andy's house.
Last one... the lights. I lined up at 6pm and exited the ride at 9:15pm - a looooong wait indeed. Just to give you an idea of the crowds... the majority of the day, the line was between 5 and 6 hour wait (that was for one ride), and it began not all that far from the bridge as you enter the park and snaked its way through A Bugs land, zig zagged its way all over the boardwalk beside Ariels Grotto ( it was at least 3 hours from there) and then zig zagged its way for endless roped off areas all around the entrance of the ride. There was media set up all over the place (in the prime positions naturally) and you couldn't get near the talking Mr Potato Head because of the media circus. The first day pins were good, I'll post pictures tomorrow, but were on the upper end of the scale of price. I thought the regular Toy Story Mania pins that were available when I first arrived were much nicer though and am pleased I bought one then because they all but sold out today I understand.
It was quite an experience to be there on the opening day of a new ride. The waiting was interminable but in the end, the ride spoke for itself... its going to be very popular. I was cornered to do a survey when I exited the ride ( might have had something to do with the Jessie T-shirt I had on ) and I noted that there were mostly 'Excellents' given as responses. Not all that impressed with most of the merchandise though....

Toy Story Mania photos... Part 3

Ok, another fuzzy screen ( this one is a hold screen - that is displayed while you wait to move on to the next screen) but it gives you an idea.

The second is of my score... and don't be too critical... I was taking photos for you to see...

And the third reveals just how far off the pace I was for my first go... rest assured,next ride will be 'camera down' and I will be endeavouring to better my first effort by a long shot tomorrow.

Toy Story Mania photos... Part 2

The first one is of the entrance that takes you into the midway games parlour - and to the first of the screens that you fire at.
The second and third are of the set between the screens which are quite elaborate but its really all about the screens and the score you get. The sets are very colourful and not quite as dark inside as some rides.

Toy Story Mania photos... Part 1

The first couple are of the cart that you ride. They are back to back and each carrys 4. The guns ( and I'm sure thats what you want to know about) are cool and you just pull the string at the back and it fires off salvos at a rate of knots ( or as fast as you can pull the string). The next one is one of the screens that you fire at... keeping in mind that I had to put the 3D glasses over the lense to try and make it human and its still a little fuzzy. These were really cool. Taking photos of the screen just doesn't work unless you turn the flash off and use the 3D glasses over the lense - that took trial and error to even get a half decent shot. The screens were just amazing. Each cart had the same one and there are about 4 carts lined up in a row and you can see at the end how you did compared to the others in your row. Not good for those of us with a competative streak... it will mean repeat (and repeat) rides so that you can be the top of the row.

Its just so much fun though, that repeat rides is going to happen anyway. I just don't understand why this doens't have a fast pass system..... its sure going to need it as its a relatively long ride and loads slowly. hence the 3 hour wait...

And it is truly 3D because when you fire darts at the balloons screen some of them blow air at you, and when you pop other stuff sometimes you get a spray of water ( or more like a mist), there was other stuff but I can't remember all of it...

Day 7: (Disneyland) When Fantasy becomes reality.

Once again, I only got to Disneyland late… I got a middle of the night phone call from home ( which I was genuinely delighted about) from my Sister telling me that my mum had made it through her surgery and was starting the recovery process on a heart/lung machine.
While not out of the woods yet, its looking promising so that was wonderful news.
It was also a treat to have quick word to my DD who I miss a whole heap.
But I just couldn’t settle back to sleep for hours, there was too much information swimming in my headspace… so when I finally did, I told the alarm to ‘hush’ ( yep, I’m still thinking with that Southern accent) when it went off and I slept a little longer than I’d intended.
But once I did arrive, I made the decision to do Fantasyland today… despite it being nearly lunchtime and its likely to be overrun with strollers and infants in varying stages of tantrums… I braved it and went with it.
I decided to ease into the ride campaign, starting with the less populated ones and then put on the ankle armour and head for the headliners.
So it was Pinocchios Daring Journey that called my name first, and the line was so short, that I virtually walked straight onto a cart and with the overly enthusiastic attendants assurances that it is ‘one of the best rides’ still ringing in my ears, I was going through the first set of doors on this apparently brilliant ride. I hadn’t done this one before so from that standpoint, it was interesting. And as a long time Disney fan, I appreciated the retelling of the story in a 3D form. I did actually ride this twice because it was really quick .
From there I decided that the carousel being one of my all time favourite things (anywhere - I can’t go past one) was the next thing.
I stood and watched for a short time… mostly checking out the horses and choosing which one I’d most like to ride should it be possible ( yep… like all the other 4 year olds in the line) And then I saw it…. The horse I’d been reading about on the internet before leaving home….
Jingles….
And in that instant, I had to have that horse. So I lined up and watched that horse go around and around and made note of its exact whereabouts so that when it was my turn to ride, I could make a concerted effort to be the first one beside that horse.
And wouldn’t you know it… I was.
And I beamed long after I’d dismounted, taken a dozen quick photos and then got shooed out of the way so the next punter could try their luck with this beautiful steed.
Jingles by the way, is the lead horse on the carousel and has in recent times been given a makeover - as a dedication to the work that Julie Andrews had contributed to Disney over the years. It has lots of hand painted elements that symbolise aspects of Julies life, including her role as Mary Poppins and that of a Disney Ambassador.
And is the most beautiful horse on the ride.
Ok, so the ride that always seems to have a long endless line was surprisingly quiet today and with only an expected 15 minutes wait, I joined the line for Dumbo… another ride that is way way up there as far as my favourite rides go. Not even sure why… its slow to load, the ride only goes for a few minutes and every kid in the line is determined to have the pink elephant it seemed. Lucky for me, I wanted the yellow one.
The line really did only take about 15 minutes before I was to be on the next round, and with feather in hand (the attendants hand you a wooden feather to indicate that you get to ride in the next round) I boarded that Dumbo in the yellow ensemble that will be easiest colour to scrap the photos of and after getting the attendant to take my photo, I was up up and away in a pachyderm paradox.
And loved every last second of it.
From there, I decided that a trip to the Mad Hatters was in order… I was in need of some ears… and I emerged with silver ears and on a blue hat that has a hidden button in the ears that makes the beads sewn onto the front of it sparkle like the garden at the entrance of the park…
Well,…. Come on people… like I’d pick a pair of non-glitzy ears….
And of course, it now has a lovely cursive Lisa stitched on the back.
And… are the first pair I’ve ever owned.
I wore them all day and only took them off when I rode Indy and then when I went to bed.
Then it was onto Mr Toads Wild Ride… another one I’ve not ridded before. A lot like the Pinocchio and Snow White rides… a little car that propels itself around a track that takes you through on a ‘wild journey’ with Toady. As luck would have it, my car was the little red Toady one and off I tootled through the doors after a very long hot wait. I was just pleased to be out of the sun.
Something I have noticed about Fantasyland is the weather vanes on all the rooves… I’d not read about them before and so I went around photographing all of the ones I could find. I wonder how many people going through this land actually bother to look up… Mostly they are looking down to do something with or for a child no taller than their knees, so I guess its something that might be overlooked a lot.
From Toady it was on to Peter Pans flight. Another one that was closed for maintenance in TDL so I was looking forward to this one. Boy what along wait it was though - some of these older slower to load rides could use a fast pass line. But there is no room for that to be built on so there is nothing for it but to line up and bake in the sun. There were a lot of fractious littlies in that line by the time they were getting close.
I got a black pirate ship and it was a really cute ride. But I’d do it early in the morning if I were to do it again.
Ok… I was chewing through the available rides and I was really surprised considering there were heaps in the park today. So far, Peter Pan and Toady were the longest waits but the others were really quick.
As was Snow Whites Scary Adventure. I suppose its not really a headliner but I was able to literally walk into the waiting area and hope straight onto a cute little cart that propelled me through doors and into the dark of this ride. It was over as quick as a wink and so I rode it again a couple more times seeing as it was practically empty.
By then my Indy FP was up for grabs so I went and lined up and it still took me 20 minutes to get there. The staging areas are amazing. Such detail that it took me ages to walk to the end of the line cos I was taking so many photos. There was no rush thankfully as everyone knew that the FP line was pretty chockers too so everyone was just kind of wandering along till they got to the stopped line. By the time I had gotten back for my FP time, all the FP’s for the day were gone and you could hear the disappointed crowds trying to decide whether to wait 2 hours in line for one ride or perhaps have time to do 3 or 4. Not a decision I was willing to make.. I have just walked away when the line was that long. I have the luxury of being able to try again another day. it’s a first thing in the morning or FP ride - otherwise be prepared for a long long wait.
Ok, well, this ride deserves all its popularity. Its just like being in a scene from the movie with grand sets and stunning detailing. And that ride on the jeep is not for the faint hearted. It really throws you around and thankfully they give you a place to put your stuff cos you would be hard pressed hanging onto your things when you are being hurled from one side of the set to the other in the jeep.
What a hoot though.
Lots in that jeep are sighing, some are crying and then most are buying in the Indy shop conveniently situated across from the exit.
Loved it. Going to do it again.
So I headed back to Fantasyland and caught the Sword in the Stone show which was also cute. Seems to be what Fantasyland is mostly about - cute. Which I like.
Then, because of the blazing Californian sun, I felt the need for a Mickey Sandwich - which is not a sandwich but an ice cream. Well, it has icecream sandwiched between two biscuits so they call it a sandwich. Which confusingly ,can and mostly does, also mean a burger of any description.
Sheesh…. If only they spoke English.
Well, it was time…. I had been saving it for the day I did Fantasyland and I lined up eagerly in the Tea Cups line - which again was pretty sparse and it took only two rounds of the ride until I was sitting in a lovely blue cup excited to be finally sitting there.
As usual, I got the attendant to take my photo ( not game to hand my camera to randoms - well, I’ve done it a few times but they have without exception taken dreadful photos so I don’t bother anymore - and the attendants always take a couple so you have a better chance of getting a decent one).
And all too soon, it was over and I was exiting through the nearest gate - and wanting to do it all over again but by the time my ride was over, there was an almighty line up and so I just moved on, resolving to ride it again the next time I was in the park.
I’ve taken castle shots every day, but I’m still not happy with them. Its impossible to get shots without people in them… even when you get there at the crack of dawn. I still haven’t managed a shot sans tourists but am still trying. I have gotten some nice shots of it but not ‘the shot’ yet I fear.
I caught the parade again and also some grumpy attendants that were firing off salvos at the people that were refusing to sit down despite having gotten there way before the people that were behind them - because of knee issues I think, but in the end, they were made to move on and I thought that was mean, the people that had arrived behind them ( not me in case you were wondering - I was over on the very edge of the standing area so I could see and take photos) were only there a short time and were insisting that everyone in front of them crouch down. It was right near the start of the standing section and I thought they were so close they should have been allowed to stay. Some attendants are really nice and some really need a ‘Disney magic’ pill. It seems to fluctuate greatly throughout the park.
I’ve seen some wonderfully helpful staff and then some really officious ones, who really are missing the ‘have a nice day’ gene.
After that I shopped briefly and went back to the hotel to take a break and make some arrangements for Monday, when I will be going to Seaworld.
I arrived back at the park just on dark and wandered around different lands, taking night shots ( which without a tripod is not giving me the quality of shots I want - I’m still trying though - and have a couple I like but has taken probably 100:1 to get them. ( The delete button is getting a real workout at night)
I wandered around to the rivers of America to find a spot to watch Fantasmic and was blown away by the seething mass of humanity waiting where I wanted to be. Just unbelievable quantities of people. Needless to say, it was more about finding ‘a’ spot than finding ‘the right’ spot. I just wanted to see it in the end… and it took a while to find a place where I could squeeze myself under the roped viewing area.
And as soon as the show started I found out why there was a gap there…. I couldn’t see the stage on the island for a massive tree… I could see the stuff happening on the water, but mostly, it was centred on the island so I just had to enjoy the bit I could see and then vow to catch the late show when there were less really young families there and I might have half a chance of finding a place where
A) I can see and
B) where I am not having to bend like a pretzel to get around all the gazillions of strollers that decorate the park.
It really takes some doing to get a photo without a stroller in it. And it doesn’t seem to worry the local but it has started to bug me.
The minute that it was evident that the show was over, I sprinted off and surprisingly beat the majority of the crowd ( gathering their sleeping children I guess) and I got a spot under the ropes for the start of the fireworks way way in the back and with a squillion heads in the way - but it was lovely to see them for the first time with the music and the castle colours to go with them.
I am going to endeavour to get a great spot (EARLY) at the park on Sunday night to try my hand at those castle at night shots. Wish me luck.
From there, I slowly wandered along Main street and bought a few little things ( yes, one of which was chocolate) and then headed back to the hotel.
I have block out day tomorrow so will be heading shopping to a shopping centre that is on the tourist Transit route and I can get there on the same ticket I use to get to DL .
Lets hope it is anyway.

A couple more I liked....

Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust.....

they're not all that sharp because I did them all without a tripod.

Day 6: (DL & DCA) Mix and Match parks

Arriving really early at the park (or so I thought - earliest I’ve gotten here anyway) I decided on a quick trip into Disneyland to do a couple of rides before heading over and joining the queue to be amongst the first in DCA.
The beauty of having an annual pass is that I can park hop to my hearts content and as it turned out, I went backwards and forwards several times catching shows and rides and then switching parks for a while during the course of the day.
So in I went and true to form, I couldn’t go past the characters mostly because I was first in line to see Mickey and then couldn’t resist a couple more for good measure.
I got Chip and Dale again - this time getting autographs and also Cruella De Ville. She was funny. She warned me about the danger of rodent worship ( seeing as I had on a Mickey T shirt.) I told her I’d take it under consideration.
By that time it was time to scoot back to DCA and line up to be amongst the first in the park as they actually let you in half hour before its scheduled opening, only certain areas are roped off until opening. And I lucked out and headed the right way and Soaring Over California was open and I caught the first flight of the day.
Wow….
What an amazing ride.
I love love loved it. I smelled the orange groves and the pine trees and the ocean as I flew over the top of them …. This is just an amazing piece of entertainment.
No wonder the fast passes go by about mid morning and the lines remain over two hours long ( well, so far that I’ve seen) for the remainder of the day. I had intended to return and ride it again but that was another plan that went by the wayside.
So I better explain why.
After Soaring, I headed for Paradise Pier and was amongst the first at the rope drop and power walked my way to Screaming, where I caught the first round of that ride as well… seeing as I am a single rider, I often get on way before others in the line that are in groups.
Ok,…. Well, I loved this ride until right near the end and the coaster does these little hills and, despite my having a pretty cast iron stomach… I felt a little yuck when I stepped off. So I resolved to do a quite sedate ride till I felt quite alright again.
And that is where I made an almost catastrophic mistake.
I chose the Sun wheel… thinking a nice sedate Ferris wheel would be just the thing to sit quietly and take in the view while I recovered.
Hmmm…. Someone should have ( and in hindsight - probably did but I didn’t take as much notice as I should have) mentioned that these gondolas rock.
Quite violently - enough to have me doing panting like I was about to give birth in an effort to keep down the breakfast that I didn‘t actually have.
When it came around to the bottom I was thinking “oh thank the Lord” I can get off now… little did I know, that it goes around twice… and by the time I could actually get off, I had that motion sickness bag in my hand and was a probably as white a ghost.
I can’t remember feeling that sick in many many years.
I could hardly walk I was shaking so much and I found a shady spot and fell into the seat there, nodding off leaning against a pole several times…
It was an hour before I felt confident enough to move without hurling.

Can you believe that… A Ferris wheel.!
I was ready to go back to the room at that point but decided to just wander a bit and see what happens.
I felt a bit better when I had a churro…
Checking the time, I realised that the other reason I was in the park today was probably getting a pretty long line by now. So I headed around to the Theatre for the Aladdin stage show.
And the baking in the sun ( yep, I got a bit sunburned) was worth it.
This show was spectacular. All thoughts of having felt so hideous only a short time ago were gone as the razzle dazzle of the Aladdin show wowed the audience.
The guy who plays Genie was absolutely hilarious and really, I’d have paid actual money to go see this show, such was the professionalism and spectacle.
I’m so glad I stayed.. It is only shown on Wed/Thurs and had I missed it today the last chance I’d have gotten would be next Wed - my last day.
I caught up with Snow White for a photo and signature ( yes Keith, I was probably still feeling the effects of the Sun Wheel considering my feelings about princesses… but Snow White is one I kind of like so I made an exception) on my way out of the park and into Disneyland again, I headed back to the Adventureland areas to see if the rides I missed out on were going today. And Yay… they were … but Boo…. The fast passes were gone already for Indy and the line was two hours long… that one is going to have to wait… I’m not lining up for two hours for anyone…. Not even Indy.
So I headed up to Pirates and hoped it wasn’t as packed as Indy… and to my amazement, there was only a 5 minute wait… yep… 5 minute… I virtually walked straight onto a boat.
I got the back seat ( the only one to have - it doesn’t get wet) and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the changes with Jack Sparrow there.
Its really well done and doesn’t detract from the original in anyway I don’t think.
And because it was such a fast line, I rode it 2 more times in quick succession. Loved it when that happens.
I seemed to zig zag all over the place after that. I had lunch in tomorrow land and then another churro. Then shopped for pins - one of the best shops is the pin shop in Frontierland. I have found ones there that no one else has. As I do rides - and the proviso is that I enjoy them - I then buy a pin of that attraction to remind me.
I’ve bought lots of pins… actually I’m on my second lanyard… I probably won’t buy too many more.. Perhaps an opening day one for the new Toy Story ride (for which all sorts of signage is starting to appear) . About that ride… It irks me watching other AP holders enjoying that ride because they got some coupon off the internet a month ago… the ride is almost always full and its only those people with the special tickets/AP that are allowed on.
Plenty of people are wishing they could ride it now .. Including me.
I also did follow through on my Dole whip float thought and tried it, but really, the whip is the best.
After what seemed like a hundred mile trek from shop to shop on a wild goose chase for stamps for my postcards, I finally found the vending machine in the locker area which proceeded to dislike my $1 bills… it didn’t like the new ones… only the old crumpled ‘too hard to get in the machine’ ones but eventually it had to play and I sent off the first of the cards.. .better late than never guys.
I watched the lowering of the flag ceremony as suggested by Anthony… Interesting, but I couldn’t stick it out to the end… it got a little serious for me when everyone was standing hand on hearts and singing the national anthem. Only my own national anthem gives me that lump in my throat feeling…so I sidled away and resumed my Disney holiday.
I counted up last night that I had taken almost 2000 photos since I left Australia and I still have a week to go…and that doesn’t count the photo pass photos either…. that is going to take some scrapping.

Day 5: (Disneyland) The best laid plans ... and Pickles & Pineapples

For a change, I arrived at Disneyland in good time and with a plan….
And then straight out the window it went…
As soon as I got inside those magic gates, I noticed the characters in Main St and I just couldn’t resist getting autographs and photos. Now there are usually about 5 characters there in the morning but you can only bank on getting one or maybe two if they are part of the fab 5 ( Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto) if you are lucky because unless you see them arrive you will be in a queue that stretches all the way to Australia and back. And when their time out is up, they just leave… despite you maybe just having reached the front of the line ( that happened 3 times today when I was trying to get a photo with Woody).
So Todays haul was Minnie and Chip and Dale. I was happy with that.
From there, I had decided to do as much as I could get done of Frontier Land, Adventureland and New Orleans Square. My intention was to go straight to Indy and get a fast pass then ride Pirates while I was waiting a couple of times then ride Indy followed by Big Thunder…
And that’s about where my plans went pear shaped.
As luck would have it, the day I decide to do that area, both Pirates of the Caribbean AND the Indiana Jones rides were down. But the assurance was that ‘it was being fixed and check back later as it was sure to be operational again‘.
Pfffft…. Yeah right.
I spent the next 5 hours going back and forth to those two rides from wherever I was in the rest of those 3 lands and every time they would say.. ’just keep checking back’…. By about 3pm it was closed definitely for the day and with the possibility of it being closed tomorrow as well…
Not happy Jan.
So what else did I do? Pretty much everything else there was to do in those three lands…
I started by backtracking to the start of Adventureland and just working my way around. First off was the Jungle Cruise. I didn’t get to ride this one in Japan cos it was down for maintenance so this was my first time on this ride.
And I loved it.
Its really quite hot here ( not unpleasantly so … although, I prefer hot weather) and cruising through jungle with the blazing sun making dappled light through the canopy was fitting. The animatronic animals were fabulous and the captain of our ship a hoot. I really was expecting lame generic jokes, but this guy was a scream, his ability to involve the passengers was really skilled. I’m so glad Disney put so much effort into picking cast members with that level of pizzaz… it makes it all so much more special. So after a series of blurry photos… might have to have another attempt yet… I wandered along, checking the shops as I went so I didn’t have to backtrack again if I didn’t have to.
I bypassed the Indy ride but I need not have worried about missing out on seeing Indy… the whole of Disneyland was full of pint sized Indy’s thanks to the wonderland of merchandise available. I suspect that he has surpassed Jack Sparrow as the hero du jour.
I saw countless little boys in their ( rather expensive) authentic Indy hats. Its all about the hat people.
While I was in the shops, who should appear on a rooftop fighting a ‘scoundrel’ but Indy himself ( well, a character actor… not Harrison unfortunately) and that was a treat because this little mini show spread from that rooftop to the middle of us visitors and back up onto another roof top and on and on it went… It was truly immersive.
From there I climbed Tarzans Tree House ( got to get some exercise somewhere I guess…) and I was surprised how well this was done for a walk in/walk out attraction. The one in Tokyo Disneyland was still the Swiss Family Robinson when I was in Japan. I really enjoyed the cool of the shade and the brilliant themeing of this attraction. It really felt like those monkeys were going to emerge and start playing the pots and pans.
Ok.. Well, after walking around the Rivers of America I found myself in front of the one place I had reservations about going inside.
The Haunted Mansion….
So I stalled a little, taking advantage of the photo pass photographer out the front and taking photos around the edges to fill in the time.
I commented on how long the line was and how I didn’t really a believe the 8 minute wait time that was displayed. But unfortunately the photographer said that it was a very short line and that it loaded and unloaded quickly and that I’d be in and out in under 20 minutes( and he was spot on) so there was nothing for it… I could stall no longer.
I lined up.
Still dubious, but I was there.
This really isn’t my bag. I don’t like that kind of stuff at the best of times so this was more so I could show my face back in the Disney Club meetings than the need to go on the ride.
So there I was, boarding the doom buggy all alone and wishing I wasn’t. There was an icy feel to the place that kind of made the hairs on the back of my neck rise and I couldn’t shake this ‘we’re not alone’ feeling… I guess if I were a mischievous spirit, a building like this one where there is an abundance of fear and trepidation to feed on, would be a interesting place to hang out.
So, like I said… there I was… riding along, unnerved but not too disturbed by the chill that had kind of settled around me. I videoed lots of sections in the ride… intending to put one of the best ones - the last apparition before you get off the ride, on here as a little taster for all of you that might have doubted I’d do it.
But here’s the catch… all the other video footage that I took worked out as you’d expect… Picture, sound, rather dark…
The last one, that I’d intended to use… well…
There was picture… rather bright picture considering… but…..
No sound.
Not a skerrick. And anyone that has been in a Disney park will tell you just how noisy even the quiet places are.
No sound people… whatsoever.
Dare I say it…
Deathly silence.
I tested it outside to see if my camera had something wrong with it.
Nope… worked perfectly.
Sorry people, the feelings I got while I was in that ride, combined with the ’no sound’ on the perfectly visible video, will mean that it would take a team of wild horses to get me back inside a Haunted Mansion this side of the pearly gates. At least I can say I did it.
Anyhoo…
Today was a day of following all the culinary advice from the good folk in the DUD. Firstly I took Anthony’s advice and had ‘that stuff in the bread bowl’ or gumbo for lunch. Now this stuff in many different varieties, is all over the park. I had mine in New Orleans Square and it was wonderful just like you said Anthony. It was enormous though. Gumbo ( for those who are curious) is a type of a cross between a soup and a stew, having rice and chunks of veges and meat/seafood mixed in, and its served in a sourdough bowl that is scooped out and filled with the gumbo. I’m presuming it’s a southern dish and was spicy ( mine was steak and had chunks of choko and meat and chillies all the way through it) and absolutely delicious… again the creole food is really appealing to me.
The Blue Bayou restaurant looked wonderful ( like the swamp scene in Pirates of the Caribbean movie - and just as dark) but nothing on the menu even enticed me.
Wandering around I found myself in front of the Big Thunder Mountain ride and the wait time was only 20 minutes so I grabbed a fast pass and lined up.
This ride is seriously one of my favourites… now joined by Space Mountain. I was beaming long before I sat my butt in that little runaway train seat. I could barely contain my glee…. The adrenalin junkie in me is getting well fed these days and I couldn‘t wait to get on this ride after a 9 year gap.
So off we went… hurtling around those bends and dips and me doing my usual weird mix of screaming and giggling.
You can’t help the screaming and the laughing is also involuntary because you survived being thrown around a mountain in a runaway train.
Whats not to love?
I took the liberty of filming it for those who might like to
A) experience the ride and
B) hear how insane I sound when I scream and laugh at the same time.
( and by the way… yes that loudest screaming/laughing combo is, embarrassingly, me.)
As soon as I got off, I still had about 40 minutes till I could ride again with the FP so I headed for the second of my culinary pointers… the Dole Whip stand.
Oh boy… no wonder you and Della love these Keith… they are just yummy.
I might have to live dangerously and have a Dole Whip floater tomorrow…
Anyway, seeing as I was right beside it and the next show was about to start, I took one for the team and went inside the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room….. With my dole whip.
At least it was lovely and cool and I was pleasantly surprised how much better it sounded in English as opposed to in Japanese. Made so much more sense.
I did actually enjoy it, but won’t consider it a must see if I am pressed for time on subsequent visits.
Another thing I find amusing is not so much that there are whole stalls devoted to fresh fruit and carrot sticks, more the hideous fat pickles that are there beside the pineapple spears and strawberries with chocolate dipping sauce.
Great big fat oversized gherkins.
And the amount of people that I saw eating them like hotdogs stunned me.
Ewwww…..
Of all the things to eat in a Disney park, a pickle?
What are they thinking?
After riding Big Thunder again, I was sitting in the shade out behind the ride in the comparative quiet and who should wander along but Woody and Jessie.
I was stoked, and lined up like the big kid that I am for a photo op and autograph.
But Woody kept bumping his head on a branch so they moved… and the line got mixed up and I ended up nearer the back again … not really happy but still ok.
Then there was another problem with that location so he moved again… and again the line got mixed up as people who were near the back charged up near the front… ( where are their manners ?- and these were the grown ups with pint sized woody’s in tow) .. So I was rather annoyed by this point but took a deep breath and sucked it up.
Then the handler came along and said the usual spiel about Bullseye needing them and just like that they were gone….
Once I recovered I said a bad word under my breath and went and watched the Indy show to recover my Disney magic… at least I didn’t have the crying disappointed toddlers to deal with like others there did.
But essentially I am a lucky soul and when I was walking that way again an hour later, out came Woody and Jessie and guess who was first in line? You guessed it pardner…. Me…
So after a huge day, I managed to do most of the things in those areas with the disappointing exception of Indy and Pirates.
Tonight the park closed early for Grad night and by 3pm the park was filling up with humungous quantities of teenagers and by the time I left, I was please to do so.
I caught the Dapper Dans ( Barber shop quartet) on the way out of the park and it was a wonderful way to finish the day.
The park closes at 9pm to the general public and then the teens are let loose in the park till 6am the next morning. The cast members have only a few hours to put the park back together and it all begins again.
Tomorrow is also another Grad night so I’ll be getting out of there by 7 at the latest, and truthfully, I can barely walk by then anyway.

Hello everyone...I am glad you are enjoying my sojourn. And while I know this blog is in cyberspace and all and sundry can view it, I also know how difficult it is to track down a random blog amongst the gazillion of them out there. So it comes a huge surprise that my ex has embarked on a quest to find it with help from someone I have long considered a friend. I wonder are you aware of the damage you have caused Andy. This blog - to all intents an purposes - was put here primarily for the people who I work with, who I socialise with , most importantly my much loved family and those members of cyberspace that are interested in where I have journeyed for the sheer joy of travelling. I gave the address to those people that I thought had those motives in mind. So it irks me that it is now being used by Steve as a means to gather ammo to try and take the kids from my custody on my return... , and as shameful as it is, even trying while I am away. I hope the resistance you encountered from my wonderful family and friends shows you what true friendship is really about. So Steve these words are for you. You can stop hounding my family, and your children for my whereabout now. They have enough to deal with , seeing as mum ( a woman that has showered you with nothing but kindness and love for over 25 years) is on a heart/lung machine and your badgering them is dispicable. I'm sorry if my having a little joy in my life has irritated you. But really, none of this should be part of your world anymore anyway. Please back away and live your life, as I wish to do with mine. And while there is so much more to be said, I will leave this here with words that were written in a little girls autograph book probably 32 years ago by a man that treated you with the utmost respect and love until the day he died.... my dad." Your life lies before you like a path of untrodden snow... be careful how you tread it, for every mark will show."I am at peace with the marks behind me and I'm pressing forward trying to leave a mark I will be proud of when I look back on this place.... I wonder Steve, looking back on all those years and at how you have done and are treating me and the kids these days, can you say the same?You have taken on a whole new life now, you have a new family unit, that I hope the mistakes of the past will not be repeated on. Live your life Steve, I don't have to ask your permission to travel (it is not a hanging offence), and I am so tired of worrying what you will do to us next.

Day 4: A Womans prerogative :)

Day 4: (DCA day 1) : A woman’s prerogative.
So I woke …well… reasonably early (for me anyway) and got all organised to go to Disneyland, having read the guide book yesterday about the areas of the park I intended to visit and then got ready and headed out to catch the shuttle, which as luck would have it, was waiting just outside the door.
Now I’m not all that sure what happened in my brain in the 5 minute drive to the parks but even when I stepped off the bus I didn’t have an inkling what I was going to do next. Without another thought, I turned to my left, rather than my right and headed for California Adventure. Don’t even ask me why… I haven’t a clue. And again… I entered yet another park without having done an iota of preparation.
Oh well.. It worked out ok in Disneyland, so off I went.
It was a very busy Tuesday in the park… I had been expecting lighter crowds but it really was packed.
I suppose it might have something to do with the beginning of the US summer school holidays…
The moment I wandered into the park the colours and the vibe told me that this place was going to be different to that of its predecessor across the road.
The first thing I noticed - and continued to do for the rest of the day - was that there were more of the photo pass photographers around. I had not a problem having oodles of photos taken here, but they are as scarce as hens teeth over in DL. And they take great photos. I’ve seen some of them and I love what they’ve done so far - and I usually avoid having my picture taken like the plague.
Soon after I arrived, so did Mickey, Minnie and Pluto in the main hub… naturally I lined up for auto and photo graphs….. It took very little time and luckily because the Mouse, his main squeeze and his pooch didn’t stay very long at all. I was very lucky indeed. From there I wandered down into the Hollywood bit and did Turtle Talk, checked out the Animation stuff in that huge area ( but not the Animation Academy - that was packed) and then wandered around, taking photos and just soaking up the feel of the place.
There seems to be lots more characters around in this park. I’ve hardly seen any in DL ( less by far than I saw in Tokyo) but I stumbled across characters all morning in DCA. First was Belle… and her line almost stretched back to Australia so got some photos from the outskirts and did the same for Mr. Incredible and Sleeping Beauty for the same reason.
But as I was wandering along a few minutes later, out came Goofy and OMG I was first in line. That was fun, He was goofing around as you would expect and the line only formed really slowly so I got back in the line (having forgotten to get his autograph in my excitement) and had another thoroughly enjoyable little ‘moment’ with the Goofster.
From there , I went and got a fast pass for The Tower of Terror seeing as the wait was as long as the FP, and filled in that hour elsewhere . I wandered over to see what the line was like at Monsters Inc but they had closed it temporarily( possibly doing the stacking thing - and for you non-Disney freaks, that means allowing the line to almost disappear and then start it up again) , so even though I really had no interest in doing the Muppet 3D show, I went in and lined up.
Wow… I was pleasantly surprise… I really enjoyed this - it was a huge blast from the past and because there was no line, and no wait, it was all the more enjoyable.
By the time I came out, Monsters Inc had just been reopened and I walked straight onto it without more than 5 minutes in line. And I’m pleased that’s all that was… cos I was a bit disappointed with it.
Not sure why, I guess it was a little … meh…..
I emerged from the darkness of that ride right in front of the show about the animators… (can’t remember what its called) and that was pretty good.
By then it was time to go back and do the Tower of Terror.
Sheesh… they named that well didn’t they?
Scared the living crap out of me. This is so NOT a ride for the faint of heart. You better be ready for the most terrifying drop of your life if you deign sit in that elevator.
Very well done though.
I’m really giving the adrenalin junkie in me a serious work out that’s for sure.
And you have gotta love the Fast Pass system… that really is a godsend when the crowds are heavy. Only you have to use them early or they are all gone. Which is what happened when I tried to get on Screaming and Soaring,( and the standby line was over and hour and a half) so I’ll have to go early and do those yet.
Aladdin is still showing there but is only on two days a week and not today as it turned out.
Something I love about DCA is the detailing everywhere . I know it is wonderful in DL but this place really takes it and runs with it.
I took so many photos today that I went through two batteries for my camera and was forced to stop just before the night parade started when my second battery gave out.
Next I went across to Paradise Pier and what a beautiful place that is. I took so many many photos its scary.
I embraced the ‘peter pan’ aspects of my personality today in a really big way. I rode all the kiddie rides I thought I could get away with ( didn’t think I could cope with the Chew Chew ride in A Bugs Land though) Starting with the King Tritons Carousel.
And getting the sea creature of your choice is a bun fight let me tell you. Those little mulligrubs might be small, but rest assured, American kids know what they want and are determined to get it.
I had to sprint to get that gorgeous purple and orange seahorse crusted in crystals. And I made it… just by the skin of my teeth and largely thanks to the extra foot of legs that afforded me longer strides.
And the ride was sedate as you would imagine but kind of ‘old world serene’ as well.
I enjoyed it immensely.
I also love the Bugs Land… particularly the ‘its tough to be a bug’ show… that was amazing… until the damn humungous spiders dropped from the ceiling and scared the proverbial out of me for the second time today. …. I really had to shut my eyes… even knowing they were puppets and not going to actually get to me.
Such is my fear of the hairy and eight legged.
Ok.. Well, I just couldn’t resist the merchandise store that is set up ready for next weeks opening of the Toy Story Mania ride… which is open to Annual Pass holders that entered an online raffle to get soft opening rights to ride …. But not if you just rock up and flash your pass - unfortunately…
Still, I assuaged my disappointment in the merchandise shop next door, indulging in a Jessie t shirt and a pin.
So, by this time, I was ready for a change of scene so headed over to see if I could catch the show with Koda and Kenai - only to discover that it wasn’t on at the start of the week.
As the fast passes were all gone for the major rides, I just wandered around, taking photos, and looking around seeing as its all new to me anyway, filling in time until the Pixar parade.
Now I just loved this parade. The music is fantastic ( and unfortunately they don’t have it available on CD or I’d have bought it) and you do get kind of wet cos they squirt the guests with water from every float.
And because I was right across the road from one of the bubble machines I got covered in bubbles the whole time - and more importantly, I got those bubbles in my photos… it was all just so eye-popping colourful and for that reason alone it gets at least 9 points from me. I loved it.
I think that 2 days in this park will be enough to have done everything and then I’ll just return to do the rides I want again.
By late afternoon, I was just waking around areas that I hadn’t been to and was honest to God thinking “Now I should be having a Margarita with Steve and Sherri about now… that’s all that’s missing” and seriously, around the next corner was a Frozen Margarita stand…. Iike manna from heaven. I lined up without a second thought, marvelling that I could buy alcohol in a Disney park and settled at the dock side table and chairs to enjoy the late afternoon sun and watch the world go by in style.
The perfect antidote for tired feet.
I stayed all day till the park closed, watching ( and note I didn’t say videoing or photographing - I had worn both of them out.. So this time, it was just watching) the Electrical Parade sparkle its way down the street.
It was really beautiful and I am looking forward to seeing that again before I go… its only on two nights a week so I will have to time it right.
So a few Mr. Potato Head parts and a few Stitch things later and it was time to leave DCA . OMG the seething mass of humanity that was trying to exit the park at the same time was incredible. I’ve never seen ( or been smack in the middle of) anything quite like this… I haven’t stayed quite till the end at DL so I hadn’t experienced that yet.
I had a great first day in DCA despite not having a game plan…. I’m looking forward to the rides I missed the first time and will revisit again Thursday.

Day 2: Anaheim (Day 1 Disneyland) When you wish upon a star.....

Finally the day had come that I would be spending in the Magic Kingdom. Walts baby. And it was with no small amount of excitement that I boarded the bus earlier than I did yesterday in readiness. As I stepped off the shuttle into the music filled parking lot, I fairly skipped my way the short distance to the turnstiles. With Annual pass in hand, I was whisked through and into the magic in a matter of moments.
But then came the next decision…. Where to go first.
I hadn’t given it a thought. I always thought I’d have the whole thing mapped out, or at least have a starting point in mind, so it was a little unnerving being a little ‘fogged in’ on where to walk first, because the volume of people pouring through the gates on a sunny Sunday was too large to go against the tide and just stop and think for a minute. So I went and took a quick photo ( unfortunately filled with random bodies) of the flower bed and station, before deciding to just walk under that railway bridge and get started.
So there I stood, looking around trying to decide where to go and who saunters along the pavement but the duck himself. Donald. ‘Good start,’ I think to myself and made a quick resolve to just immerse myself in it and let it take me where it will. I hit the shops in Main St, just wandering, and organised my photo pass ( again, cheaper than what I could do online) and then headed to one of my favourite places… the penny arcade.
I had a pocket full of pennies having been here a few days so that was the first thing - squish a few.
Out came: the Cheshire Cat, Mickey of course, Pluto and put a Nickle into the machine that punched out a 2008 Disneyland one.
So I fed a few more pennies into the machines, watching the likes of Charlie Chaplin do some really chuckle-worthy stuff through the eye guards and then headed out into the sunshine again, with an idea in mind.
The castle is one of my favourite shots to get so I spent some time trying to photograph every angle that I could ever possibly wish to scrap, inside, outside, gargoyles and flags and more. All with comparatively few bodies sullying the shot.
I wandered back towards the partners and took more photos, and had the first of my fast pass photos done.
From there I wandered down to tomorrowland, having decided that as a nod to my roots, I would begin my Disney ride campaign with the Nemo Submarines.
Hmmmmm … Sundays are not a good day to pick the ‘big ticket rides’…. but anyway after about an hours wait, I was boarding a sub with Aussie accent over the PA welcoming all and sundry onboard and the ‘loader’ saying an awful rendition of ‘g’day ladies and mates’….
And while I enjoyed the ride, it irked me somewhat that the Aussie-isms are from a generation that is not the usual vernacular anymore. I even said, ‘that’s not how we speak’ out loud at the end of the ride.
I’d spent the whole hour in line (almost an hour )helping the lady in front of me not to panic and scan the crowd outside the lines for her ‘running late’ 12 year old son. Whom I’d accurately predicted got sidetracked. And in the end, it was me who spotted the boy despite him having on a white T shirt rather than the black one his mother has assured me he was wearing.
And as a thankyou, they gave me their fast passes to a couple of rides in tomorrow land , because they had to leave the park before they could use them, and that was a great treat on a day that was packed to the eyeballs with punters.
So today, I did most of the rides in Tomorrowland, I didn’t have time to do the Matterhorn but will do that one tomorrow morning really early. I very quickly figured out the benefits of the fast pass and used it to its full advantage, taking a ticket and then joining the queue so that as soon as I got off ( or close to) my ticket was valid and I rode again in quick succession. I LOVED the Buzz Lightyear ride…. I was pretty happy with my efforts the first time through with a whopping 38,000 points by the end. Until I got to the leader board and realised that I was mulitple zero’s behind and a long way off the pack. That was it… I fast passed and went in for another attempt. This time reaching over 80,000. Still not happy with that I had another go ( and was now aware of how to aim the gun with the best accuracy I could muster) and got myself over the 100,000 mark taking me into level 4...
I was happy with that and moved on. This time, stopping at the Store Command to buy a Space ranger pin to seal the deal.
From there I rode Star tours, as there was only a 15 minute wait ( yes… incredible and not repeated for the rest of the day) and having been there, done that, gathered up my resolve and joined the lengthy cue for Space Mountain. This really took ages to get to and the whole time I was alternating between wanting to ride it and not wanting to ride it. Mostly because when I was last in a Disney park, Steve got to ride it and I didn’t but he assured me that it was not worth the bother and I’d be too scared so didn’t do it.
So it was with a certain amount of trepidation that I stepped into the little space cart , stowed my gear, pulled down the guard and waited for what could be horrific or terrific.
WOOOOO HOOOOO!
That ride was seriously better than sex.
I screamed and giggled the entire ride and the sigh at the end alludes to my last statement.
I LOVE THAT RIDE and let me say, I will be doing it every day I am in that park. I rode it 3 times over the course of the day… I lucked out and got in the next few times with only a 20 minutes wait and that was sheer bliss - it was even faster than the fast passes going.
I also did Autopia today, and left it till almost dark, having done it before and not being into cars anyway… but when I got behind that left hand drive wheel and pushed down with a foot that is more accustomed to pressing the clutch than the accelorator, I was quickly caught up in the fun of trundling around in those funny little cars. We were all handed an Autopia Licence as we boarded and could take the option to get a licence photo at the end of the ride…. But I opted out knowing that I had several passport photos just wasting space back home that would suffice if I felt so inclined.
I think I had about 4 churros today, and a Chocolate covered Mickey Icecream. Tomorrow I’ll attempt to find the Dole whip and test it out.
Having a burger for lunch was also an eye opener… how huge are they?
It was just so big that I culled some of the bun and the compulsory fries that accompanied it were only picked at. I really couldn’t eat it all it was that big. As was the peperoni pizza I had for dinner. . One slice was equivalent to 1/3 of a large pizza at home. And everything seems to be cooked in too much oil…
So todays lollies were purchased from Marcellines confectionary in Downtown Disney. The haul tonight was a huge Mickey shaped rice crispy treat… like a massive LCM, a Mickey Head shaped pecan turtle, and two boxes of princess cookies for gifts.
The live music in the park was exceptional. I especially enjoyed the duel piano players playing honky tonk near the end of the evening. I have a real soft spot for such skilled tinkling of the ivories so I stood there and listened for a while longer than I’d intended. They were truly wicked and I’ll add the video I took of part of one of their songs to this entry.
The parade was wonderful, only I will choose one or the other next time…. I tried to video and take photos at the same time… with mixed results. Lots of cut off heads I suspect. I recongised some of the songs from music that Keith has on his trip CD and I am tempted to buy the CD before I come home….. Its on my maybe list.
If I look really carefully, there is an increasing amount of Mulan 10th anniversary stuff making it to the shelves. I’ve bought several things but they don’t feature Mushu - only Mulan or dragons. Either way, I’m loving having some of this stuff to choose from.
I stayed late in the park, and getting the shuttle back to my hotel was an exercise in staying awake. I might have this coming Saturday as simply a day off from being a tourist and sleep in stay by the pool for the day. I think I’m going to need it.