Blake and Marla in Disneyland 2012 pt 2

Sunday February 12, 2012

I started my day by getting up early and going for a walk. It was daylight and I had a better idea of where I was going. We needed a few of life's necessities so it was off to find a grocery story. About a mile away I found one so it was a nice distance for a walk. After getting some milk, yogurt and other supplies I headed back to the Paradise Pier and got Marla up for a walk about the park.

It didn't seem right to make our first stop returning to Disneyland by going through the back of California Adventure. Instead we walked through the Californian to Downtown Disney and shortly we were at the front gates to the Happiest Place On Earth. There is something magical about crossing under the berm which supports the Disneyland Railroad. Main Street square was alive with colour, children and characters. We saw Geppetto, Pinocchio, Minnie and a few others being mobbed by children. A quick stop into the City Hall to get a Guest Assistance Pass and we met the second dumbest Disney employee. It took her forever to figure out what we needed despite us giving her a letter from our physician asking for a Guest Assistance Pass and then she told us it wouldn't be any good anyways. So we took it and said “what the hell? We have a good time wherever we are.”

We then strolled down main street and stopped at the Jolly Holiday Bakery. It is a Mary Poppin's Themed Bakery/Restaurant. We share a little baking – Marla has a Chocolate Croissant and I had a fruit cup. It was good for a little breakfast. Then we went through Adventureland and picked up FastPasses for Indiana Jones Adventure. Finally we made it to our first mandatory stop – the Pirates of The Caribbean. I love that ride. It is one of those rides that I can do over and over again. The other ride like that was our next ride the Haunted Mansion. They are like old friends. Little changes happen like the inclusion of the bride's story in the Haunted Mansion. But really it is still the same.

We went back to ride Indy but the ride broke down so we changed our plan and headed for Big Thunder Mountain. Along the way we saw the Sheriff attempt to apprehend two clueless bad guys on the balcony of the Golden Horseshoe Saloon. It was a pretty long wait but that didn't really matter too much. 45 minutes later we were rollicking around the mountain on a runaway train. We went around Frontierland heading to Fantasyland when we came across some cutsie farm animals and the country's luckiest Turkey. He was given a pardon at Thanksgiving by President Obama.

We crossed into Fantasyland and found ourselves hungry so we stopped to eat at a little Bavarian place called the Village Haus. We shared a hamburger which was really good. I even snuck some of Marla's coke just because it felt so right. Marla's favourite ride in Fantasyland is King Arthur's Carousel. A parade of white horses. Her favourite horse is one of the ones on the outside. So we mounted up and rode with the kids. It was a hoot.

We did a little hat shopping at the Mad Hatter store – people don't wear hats enough any more. Not counting baseball caps. Then we walked towards Tomorrowland. There was a brief stop to check out the seagulls from Finding Nemo sitting on a beacon buoy all shouting “Mine, Mine, Mine.” We then realized we were quite tuckered out so we jumped onto the Monorail and headed back to Downtown Disney. Then we found a much better sidewalk path back to the Paradise Pier hotel and a much needed nap.

After a short nap we returned to the park. We picked up a Fast Pass to World of Color and then took a voyage with Ariel The Little Mermaid. It was a pretty “Disney Dark Ride” featuring the characters of the movie but they all looked very rubbery and balloon like. So it had a feeling of being like many of the 2D rides of Fantasyland updated using plastic characters. We then continued into the Paradise Pier area and take a shot a Midway Mania – it was an hour line up. Finally we twigged into the notion that despite this was a sunday in February; the park is really full. But waiting in line is no big deal so we hung in there. After an hour, this really rude guy storms out of the line up; unlinking each of the chains as he goes out. Sure enough the ride had broken down and nobody knows when it will be fixed. So there was 45 minutes we won't get back. We were getting tired and wanted to get over to Disneyland to see the evening's fireworks show.

We got into the Magic Kingdom just in time to see the last half of the Disney Parade. It was filled with characters and was pretty to watch. We strolled down main street and back into adventureland to use our Indiana Jones fastpass. What a fun ride! Marla did very well at getting bounced around on the jeep and it was like passing a physical test that she is okay to do rides again in Disneyland. That made me feel really good too. We watched the evening fireworks from under a tree near the Mickey and Walt statue. Next time we will move a little further away from the trees and closer to the centerline of mainstreet.

We went over into tomorrowland and got in line for Star Tours. This was my biggest mistake of the trip so far. We have a super fast pass in our pockets to get us to the front of the line and I forgot to use them. I blame the front desk girl and avoid my own sillyness. So we waited about an hour to get through the line up but had a great ride on Star Tours. It was a hoot.

We were tuckered out by 10pm even though the park was open until midnight and so decided to go back to the Paradise Pier through Downtown Disney. We once again went through the Grand Californian and nearly immediately fell asleep as our heads hit the pillows.

To see more pictures from our day at Disneyland go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/56705607@N00/sets/72157629184615890/