Readers of this website might get the impression that I enjoy visiting the Disney parks. And of course, they would be right. So naturally I grabbed yet another opportunity to hang out at both Disneyland and California Adventure following my visit to the Hollywood Show in Burbank on Saturday, February 12, 2011. We had made a relatively brief visit the night before, so this brush with Disneyland represented the first time ever that I visited the park on two consecutive days.
David had picked me up at the Hollywood Show and we headed directly to the parks. We arrived at a little before 4pm, but had to wait for Jimmy and Ellen to make their way through the traffic from San Pedro. They got there soon enough and we were passing through the gates of Disney California Adventure before 4:30. I made a quick stop in front of the Golden Gate Bridge reproduction to get a photo, knowing that it would soon be coming down – another piece to the expansion and improvement plan for the park that has been going on for the last four years.
Saying farewell to the Golden Gate Bridge at California Adventure
From here, we really had absolutely no choice to head over to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot to catch the next showing of Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D. This attraction is one of the most oft quoted of any Disney attraction both by my sister and me and David and me.
This attraction has become the stuff legends are made of
With the 3eee-Deee glasses distributor at Muppet Labs
Jimmy, Ellen, and me resorting to cheap 3-D tricks
Since we had seen a couple of the bigger attractions the night before, we decided to head on over to Disneyland, but made a stop along the way to see the dark ride Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue. This was only my second time on the ride, and although cute (and unique to this park), it’s one of the lesser Disney dark rides. I snapped several pictures inside.
With the snack machine in the Monsters Inc. ride
Sully and Boo
Sully and Mike enjoy some Chinese baby for dinner
The very-charming Roz
We walked over to Disneyland and entered the park around 5:30. After Jimmy and I did our obligatory pose at the Walt and Mickey statue in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, we went over to New Orleans Square and caught the attraction we had missed the night before – The Haunted Mansion. I can never get enough of this ride. I also made good on my promise to Lauren to take a picture of me holding a “Hi Lauren” sign in front of “something cool.” Even though it only took about 15 minutes to get through the line, it was clear that this was an incredibly busy night at Disneyland.
Jimmy and I re-visit our classic pose of yore
Getting prepared for the spooky and crowded Haunted Mansion
This gentleman sat on my hand while we were in line, so I’m getting revenge by immoratlizing the back of his silly head
I’ve always felt bad and wanted to take the graveyard caretaker out for coffee
These hitchiking ghosts followed me home – in the form of a cold
The sun had nearly completely gone down by 6:30 as we walked over to Adventureland. If I had ever taken the Jungle Cruise at night before (at any of the parks), I don’t remember it. So I think that this was a unique experience for me. For the record, the boat that we boarded was the Yangtze Lotus. And also for the record, the names of the boats at Disneyland are all different from those at the Magic Kingdom. It was hard to get any good photos in the dark, but I did get one with our tour guide – and in the process, nearly made her crash into the boat in front of us!
Headhunter and elephant during our evening Jungle Cruise
Our safari guide Gabby nearly crashes our boat while posing with me
But she was all smiles after the crisis was averted
Always wanting to take every advantage and opportunity possible, I arranged to meet with my friend Stacey Lannak for dinner in Downtown Disney. She brought along her husband Jerry, daughter Chloe, and Chloe’s friend Jenoa. We met at Tortilla Jo’s – which turned out to be not the best of Disney dining. I was a bit disappointed in my Shrimp & Avacado Enchilada, but visiting with Stacey and watching her order up some balloon animals for the girls made it all worthwhile. Plans are for her to attend our next Disney day.
Mr. Jerry, David, Ellen, Jimmy, me, Stacey, Chloe, and Jenoa
Priceless kiddie smiles from Chloe and Jenoa
Stacey and I dig into our mediocre Mexican dishes
Ellen and Jimmy’s pose is eerily similar to their wedding picture
The balloon girls stops by with her penguin
David simulates an earlier pose – using penguins instead of flowers this time
It was about 8:45, by the time we finished dinner, re-entered Disneyland, and made it to Space Mountain. Unfortunately, we soon realized that the incredibly long line was not moving and it got shut down. The only good thing about this was that we were able to enjoy the fireworks display as we waited in line.
In lieu of Space Mountain, we made our way to Fantasyland for a ride-thru of it’s a small world. Somehow David and I ended up in near-hysterics during the ride, quoting lines form Laurel and Hardy’s Babes in Toyland. Master, the bride is here!
If it wasn’t the happiest cruise, it certainly was the giddiest
it’s a snarl world afterall
My favorite pink hippo ever
We learned that Space Mountain was re-opened, so this meant only one thing. It was time for Jimmy and me to have a Toll House ice cream cookie. After that, we went back to Tomorrowland and took our journey through Space Mountain. More laughter. Master, the bride is here! Not now!! In addition to the laughter was the exhilaration and the desperate desire that the Magic Kingdom will refurbish their Space Mountain to be as good as this one.
David is clearly excited to finally get on Space Mountain
The gang ready for some Space thrills
Snagging another shot during our journey. Not now!
There was only time enough for one more ride, so we picked the conveniently situated Buzz Lightyear’s AstroBlasters. Not a favorite, but pretty much a walk-on. I scored 198,100 – which was a bit higher than normal thanks to the ride stopping briefly along its path.
Buzz Lightyear welcomes us to his ride
We are clearly not afraid to use these AstroBlasters
We took the tram back to the parking lot, said our good-byes to David and then Jimmy, Ellen, and I headed back to San Pedro. It was nearly 1am before we got back home, which allowed me about four hours of sleep before I had to get up and ready to head to the airport. I got through security very quickly for once and had enough time for some airport Burger King.
I caught the 7:25 flight to Dallas, arriving at 12:20pm (losing two hours). Thankfully I had an empty seat next to me. I grabbed some McDonalds which kept me entertained during my layover. I re-boarded at 2:30pm and was seated next to a foreign gal who said not one word. I got back to Dayton at 5:40pm, noticing that my throat was getting sore as I made my way home. Dad also was sick – with the flu – so I had to get Mom to pick me up at 5:40 (losing the final hour). The only good news was that the weather wasn’t all that bad.
It had been a very fun and eventful trip, living up to the standards of adventure set by so many of my others.
Return to the beginning of the trip here (or the California section here)…
2011 will continue…
Posted some new pictures of the revised entrance to DCA.They took down the bridge in two nights.Place will look amazing when it’s done.Cars Land will be great but not a lot of shade from what I have seen while testing out there.
Raul Moreno
September 26th, 2011