Flossbolna
Sea days are just so relaxing!
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2006
I appreciate your optimistic believe in strangers' ability of photo taking!!! I am not a fan of selfies either!
The Dry Heat Expedition (Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Disneyland)--UPDATE 6/12 (KSC and DTD)
- Thread starter Captain_Oblivious
- Start date
I appreciate your optimistic believe in strangers' ability of photo taking!!! I am not a fan of selfies either!
Cinderella's Fella
DIS Dad #215 Maryland, The Land Of Merry!
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2008
Steppesister
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2013
They are. It was one of the last meals she could eat and taste.
I was glad I could share it with her. Why thanks! I have a VERY limited photo editing reperatoire (sp?), so that's about the best I can muster, right there.
Glad to oblige. The Imagineers Guides are a fun resource too! I noticed you have them as well.
Truth. Beats a poke in the eye.
We were trying our best! Looking back, it was pretty insane with a baby tagging along.
At least you had nice weather and a great tour guide. And who can resist a fat, cute baby? Even if he does stay up all night.
Flossbolna
Sea days are just so relaxing!
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2006
Oh, no!! You are being mean! Now you are ruining it for poor Mark, just like Amy did for Sheldon! I wonder what is beloved to you that Mark will now feel obliged to ruin for you!
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
That's one of the funniest restaurant names I've ever seen! I think Julie might force me to go here.I just figure nobody wants a huge picture of my forehead or nose hairs.
Hilarious! I will submit that without Indiana Jones, you wouldn't have had one of the great car chase scenes in history, though.Oh, no!! You are being mean! Now you are ruining it for poor Mark, just like Amy did for Sheldon! I wonder what is beloved to you that Mark will now feel obliged to ruin for you!
That's ok, I already ruined Avatar for him. Have you seen the original script for that movie?
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
They are. It was one of the last meals she could eat and taste.
And you have more skillz than I do!
Those books are so cool! Julie gave me this big one for Christmas and it's been really fun to read.
And a kick in the--never mind.
It's a good thing he's cute, that's for sure.
Flossbolna
Sea days are just so relaxing!
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2006
Well, since California is one of the states where all of your kids have visited already, I guess it will be some time until you are able to return there any time soon. Thanks to Drew you need to visit a lot of other places first. Any news yet as to where you are going to be this summer? I am always looking forward to new Captain Oblivious Adventures!
That's ok, I already ruined Avatar for him. Have you seen the original script for that movie?
that's nice
DIS Dad #330
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2008
Breakfast of Champions!
Nice list.... god luck with that!
Quite frankly, I am too.
There is a Dole Whip ride there? I have to get out to Cali!
Next time.....
Hurray!
Awesome Shot! I hope to see that with my own eyes someday.
That is late... Wishes is at 10pm for our trip in August. That is sure to turn out bad for us.
Look, he sleeps just fine.
The area is just amazing! Love all the pictures/
YUP YUP!!!!
It does leave much to be desired. You can barely see it from the front of Main St.
AAAAaaawwwwww......
Nooooooooooooooo!
that's nice
DIS Dad #330
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2008
I'm still struggling with it.
Good idea.
Thanks for the links!
Don't worry, he'll hate you for it when he's older.
Oh yea!!!
Wow, you aren't holding back now.... no PP&J?!?!?!?!?!?
It would of been interesting... immmm... never mind.
LOLOL That is great!
WTG SCOTTY!!!!!!!
I went back and checked... not on the list.
I'd chalk it up as a WIN-WIN but you did have to sit though the Tiki birds.
Be back at some point to read the rest (up to this point anyway)
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
We'll have to explore San Francisco sometime. It's supposed to be a very beautiful city.
This year's adventure is in the midst of being planned. For a while we weren't sure if we would be able to afford to do much of anything, but Julie got hired for a 6-week long-term substitute teaching job beginning in April, and we think that should cover the costs. I was going to wait and reveal where we're going at the end of the TR, but you geyser free to make any guesses you want. Who knows, maybe there will be a poorly-hidden hint dropped to help you.
We didn't have any cold pizza and beer around.
How are we doing so far?
You can ride it for us and let us know how it was.
Kind of, with the way they run the Enchanted Tiki Room.
The Grand Californian looks pretty awesome. I just wish I could afford it.
Thanks! You'll get there. I mean, you bought DVC for that reason, right?
I have no idea why they schedule the fireworks/shows so late. It's brutal for young kids.
Thanks! They really did a great job.
I think they learned their lesson afterwards.
By the time we're done with him, that'll probably be number 863 on the list.
Well, Alison is a bit of a gourmet. I don't think our PB&J would have been up to her standards. It's barely up to ours.
Sorry. I'd help, but the well is dry.
No it's not. Stop laughing.
Except for the Dole Whip thing.
The important thing is that I had a delicious treat to distract me the whole time.
Thanks for making the effort!
Flossbolna
Sea days are just so relaxing!
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2006
And this is the appropriate use of the spoiler tag:
Yellowstone??
Great that Julie got that job. She gets to work and all of you get to go on vacation! What a nice deal!
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
And this is the appropriate use of the spoiler tag:
Yellowstone??
Great that Julie got that job. She gets to work and all of you get to go on vacation! What a nice deal!
Excellent use of the spoiler tag.
That will be one stop of many!
And yes, we're very happy that Julie got the job. We were able to work out child care for the 6 weeks, so I think it will work perfectly--it brings in extra cash for vacation while not requiring long-term day care arrangements.
franandaj
I'm so happy, I could BOUNCE!
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2009
I found this funny. You've read my TRs, you should know that Chicken Salad sandwiches are our version of PB&J! And at home I regularly fix Fran "peanut butter foldovers" as a snack.
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
Cinderella's Fella
DIS Dad #215 Maryland, The Land Of Merry!
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2008
Ditto.
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
Julie got asked to be a long-term substitute teacher for 6 weeks starting in April. My parents will watch Drew 2 days a week and a friend will take the other 3 days. Should be good enough to cover our vacation costs, and then she'll probably just go back to regular subbing next fall.
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
Captain’s Log: Monday, 28 July 2014.
I currently have 2 Fastpasses in my pocket:
Radiator Springs Racers: Return Time 6:50 p.m.
Indiana Jones: Return Time 7:20 p.m.
6:27 p.m.—We set off for California Adventure. On the way, we pass through Adventureland once more, and I check the current return times for Indiana Jones. They’re well into the World Of Color timeframe now, so I’m glad I grabbed them earlier when I could. I just hope I can make it in time.
6:33 p.m.—Uh oh. Main Street USA is jammed up. The roads are closed to make way for the Be Happy For Vague Reasons Parade, or whatever it’s called. Sidewalks are jam-packed, slowing our progress. There’s a clear area behind the crowds for people to walk by, but it’s slow going. Now I’m worried about getting to RSR before the FP expires.
6:35 p.m.—I have to give credit to Julie. Walt Disney had an apartment built over the fire house on Main Street and would often spend the night there. They leave a light permanently lit in his honor in the apartment window, and I completely forget to look for it. Fortunately, Julie is on the ball and gets a shot of it:
6:39 p.m.—We’re back in California Adventure, making a beeline for the back of the park. We’re basically speed-walking, pushing the stroller as fast as we can, and I have to give the older kids a lot of credit for keeping up. After years of crazy vacations like this, I think they’re used to it at this point. I don’t know how many miles we’ve walked at this point throughout the day, but my legs are tired and my feet are really starting to hurt.
6:46 p.m.—We make it to Radiator Springs Racers with four minutes to spare. So, doing the rough math it took about 20 minutes to walk from the Adventureland area in Disneyland to Cars Land in California Adventure. Julie lets me go first this time, so the three big kids and I jump in the FP line. We wind our way through the queue until we reach the masses of humanity ahead of us, and now I’m worried. We’re farther back than we were in the same line during the morning. The line is moving, but I can feel the clock ticking on those Indiana Jones FP’s.
6:52 p.m.—The kids and I climb aboard our race car. Once again, they jump into the front and force me to ride in the back. I think they’re trying to tell me something.
Once again, we get the Ramone scene.
Once again, we win the race.
Once again, the ride is awesome.
6:56 p.m.—We’re making our way through the exit, and I grab the baby from Julie. She and the kids jump in line for the child swap, and Baby Drew and I busy ourselves by taking photos of the area. Or at least, I take some photos. Baby Drew gnaws on his seatbelt.
6:59 p.m.—I find a little picnic area overlooking the ride. They have a display set up to look like a National Park viewpoint, which amuses me to no end. Another A+ for Imagineering. I have no idea how much time and energy they spent putting all of this detail on one sign, or even how many visitors actually notice it, but details like these are exactly why we love Disney parks.
7:01 p.m.—Still waiting for Julie and the kids.
7:02 p.m.—Furiously doing the math in my head. It took 20 minutes to walk over here. Now I have 18. But if I go by myself, or if it’s just me and Sarah, and if we don’t have the stroller, and if there’s no parade on Main Street…yeah, we could still make it.
7:04 p.m.—We can still…make it?
7:07 p.m.—How fast am I allowed to run in a Disney Park?
7:10 p.m.—Julie and the kids are making their way out through the exit. And I’m looking at my watch, knowing I only have 10 minutes to sprint across two theme parks to make it to Indiana Jones, and my heart sinks. I know I’m not going to make it.
Julie offers to watch everyone while Sarah and I run, but I tell her that there’s just no way we’ll get there in time. My Indiana Jones experience will have to wait for another day.
But let’s look on the bright side here. My kids just got a fourth ride on Radiator Springs Racers in one day. And they had a blast. That’s the whole reason we’re here.
And missing out on Indiana Jones gives me an excuse to plan to come back. I just hope the ride is still there when we do!
7:15 p.m.—Well, now we suddenly have some time to kill. Might as well hastily arrange a photo of the kids.
And who remembers the days of $0.63 gas?
7:20 p.m.—The Indiana Jones FastPass quietly expires in my pocket, and I die a little inside.
7:21 p.m.—We decide to hang out in Cars Land for a bit. I’d remembered Magdalene mentioning a small ceremony that takes place here at dusk every night, so we wander the shops for a bit hoping to catch it.
7:42 p.m.—There’s no fanfare, announcement, or any hint of a show. The speakers simply start playing “Sh-Boom” by The Chords, which you may remember from the movie when the residents decide to light up Radiator Springs for the evening. At the same time, all of the neon starts to flicker to life up and down the street. It’s understated and magical at the same time.
7:46 p.m.—I’m glad we got the chance to see that. We have about an hour to kill before we’re supposed to be in line for World Of Color, so we start wandering a bit. Maybe there’s some other attraction we can squeeze in before heading to the show.
7:52 p.m.—Looks like we have a winner. Grizzly River Run has a 20-minute wait posted. I’m hoping it’s one of those conservative wait times where the line is actually shorter, but in any case, the kids can at least get one ride out of it. Because I am a kind, good-hearted, caring husband, I volunteer to take Baby Drew while Julie rides with the kids. Also, I’m kind of hoping she gets soaked. Because that would be funny.
7:54 p.m.—Once again, Baby Drew and I wander and take some photos in the last light of dusk.
8:22 p.m.—Seems like the line moved a little slower than I was hoping, so there’s no chance for a second ride. But that’s ok. Julie and the kids really enjoyed the rapids, although none of them are dripping wet. Maybe that’s why they’re still happy. We gather our stuff, head for a pit stop, and then go to the line-up area for World Of Color.
8:37 p.m.—The line formed well before the 8:45 p.m. time shown on the WOC ticket. We try to find the end of it, and then jump into the queue.
8:45 p.m.—The Cast Members pull the ropes and allow us to file into the Blue viewing area. Because I am a) an obsessive vacation planner, and b) a DISboard member (wait, I guess those are pretty much the same thing), I had researched this thread about the World Of Color viewing area and process. It had this handy-dandy map showing where I could expect to stand for the Blue viewing area:
I’d hoped to angle for one of those upper-central sections while everyone else filed down along the water. So imagine my surprise when I find that all of those upper-central areas are roped off, and everyone with a Blue ticket is forced into the narrow walkway space along the water.
Here are those nice viewing areas along the gardens:
And here is the area where we are sent:
I guess this is as good a time as any to say it: the viewing experience for World of Color is awful. I don’t mean the show itself—the show is an enjoyable spectacle. But in order to see it (without paying the freight for an expensive dining package with reserved viewing areas), we are forced to stand for an hour in this cramped space with approximately a 1’ x 1’ area of personal space you can call your own. We try to sit down a few times and can barely carve out a spot to do so.
Worse, the Cast Members come along and tell people not to press on the ropes—those are reserved areas!—in fact, could everyone squeeze in towards the water, please?
I look back incredulously. Just where the %#$@ are we supposed to go, exactly?? Heaven forbid I push the ropes into these completely empty spaces reserved for no one.
The park offers a wi-fi connection and an online game you can play to pass the time. If you win the game, you get to control the lights on the Mickey Wheel of Death for 30 seconds or so. We never won, but it helped to pass the time for a spell.
9:22 p.m.—We’re bored, cramped, and irritable. And we’ve found another problem with the viewing area while staring at the lights on the Wheel of Death. The walkway we’re standing on is flat. So unless you’re 6’4” tall, you will not get a clear view of the show.
I am not 6’4”. I’m 5’11”. So I can do reasonably well. But my kids are not 6’4”. Not even close. They’ll be lucky to even see half of the show. And I’d love to put them on my shoulders, but they’ve long grown past the size where that’s possible (and I forgot to take my steroids that morning). But even if I could, then I’d be blocking the view of everyone behind me, and I like to be considerate of others.
I will find later that some other parents don’t worry about that whole “being considerate” thing.
9:45 p.m.—At last, the show starts, much to our relief. As I mentioned, the show itself is a fine spectacle. The dancing water, lights, music, lasers, and movie projections keep us captivated throughout. At least, what I could see through the other heads and kids sitting on parents’ shoulders. We all agree that the best part was when they utilized Pirates of the Caribbean in the show. This is because 1) the Pirates movie score is some of the best movie music written in the last several years, and 2) pyrotechnics.
10:16 p.m.—The show ends, and they broadcast a helpful announcement that the park is closed. Please make your way towards the exit, and drop a few hundred dollars in the gift shops on the way out. Thank you.
10:28 p.m.—Our Disneyland day is drawing to a close. We’re tired, extremely sore, thirsty, exhausted from going hard since 6:00 a.m. California Adventure is closed, but Disneyland is still open until midnight. We reach the plaza between the parks and have a decision to make: head to the hotel? Or back into Disneyland for more rides?
Looking at our list of rides we had wanted to hit, we realize that there are two rides in Disneyland that aren’t in Florida: the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Indiana Jones. And we haven’t ridden either one yet!
The kids look at us with pleading, yet tired eyes. Yes, they’re exhausted. But…
“I really wanted to ride the Matterhorn,” says Sarah. The boys agree.
Julie and I make eye contact. She grips the handle of the stroller tightly. I roll my head and crack my neck muscles. Then I reach for our park hoppers.
Start walking, kids. We’re riding the Matterhorn.
10:42 p.m.—Disneyland is still going strong, judging by the crowds. We head straight for the mountain. Thankfully, it appears to be operational. On the downside: it’s a 30-minute wait.
10:43 p.m.—No matter. We’re sticking it out. Julie feels bad for me having missed out on both Indiana Jones and Grizzly River Run. Because she is a caring, generous, selfless and kind wife, she offers to take the baby and let me have the ride this time.
10:57 p.m.—Getting closer.
11:03 p.m.—We’ve reached the last few switchbacks before the loading area. And Dave is starting to crash and burn.
He's practically in tears. I ask him what's wrong, and he seems afraid of the ride. "I'm afraid I'm too tired, and I'm going to have nightmares," he says. This is surprisingly clear thinking for a kid who's up way past his bedtime. I see Julie hanging out near the gates and get her attention. She signals for me to send Dave over. I flag down a Cast Member who graciously helps Dave weave his way through the line and over to Julie.
11:07 p.m.--Sarah, Scotty and I climb aboard! I had read reports saying the Matterhorn was very rickety and jerky, not smooth at all. And they were right.
But that makes it fun!
I don't know what the ride is like during the day, but it was pretty cool at night. Spooky caves mixed with occasional glimpses of the park, lit up for the night. Oh, and a yeti.
We all had a great time with it. And I'm glad we finally got the chance to ride.
11:14 p.m.--Given Dave's meltdown, we agree it's time to pack it in for the night. By the time we reach the gate to leave Disneyland, it's...
11:30 p.m.--We've been in the parks since 8:00 a.m. We're all beat. My feet are still killing me.
But I'd say it was totally worth it!
The kids had a great time. We packed in as much as we possibly could. We didn't hit everything on our list, but we got quite a bit of it done. And threw in a few other experiences, too. I'd say we maxed it out, especially given the heat and crowds.
I'm really proud of the kids. We pushed them really, really hard. And they stuck with us through the whole day. No complaints, either, up until Dave's breakdown at the very end. These guys really travel well.
I'm thrilled that we got to experience the original Disney park. I'm thrilled we got to see Cars Land and the rest of California Adventure. And I'm thrilled we could finish out our trip this way, rather than ending in the Mojave Desert. It's been a long, hot, exhausting day, but also a memorable one.
And thank you once again, Alison, for giving us this day.
Coming Up Next: Our final day. We explore a little bit more of the Disneyland area. And then, a new super-food. One that may either be evidence of Divine influence on earth...or may just kill me. Or quite possibly both.
I currently have 2 Fastpasses in my pocket:
Radiator Springs Racers: Return Time 6:50 p.m.
Indiana Jones: Return Time 7:20 p.m.
6:27 p.m.—We set off for California Adventure. On the way, we pass through Adventureland once more, and I check the current return times for Indiana Jones. They’re well into the World Of Color timeframe now, so I’m glad I grabbed them earlier when I could. I just hope I can make it in time.
6:33 p.m.—Uh oh. Main Street USA is jammed up. The roads are closed to make way for the Be Happy For Vague Reasons Parade, or whatever it’s called. Sidewalks are jam-packed, slowing our progress. There’s a clear area behind the crowds for people to walk by, but it’s slow going. Now I’m worried about getting to RSR before the FP expires.
6:35 p.m.—I have to give credit to Julie. Walt Disney had an apartment built over the fire house on Main Street and would often spend the night there. They leave a light permanently lit in his honor in the apartment window, and I completely forget to look for it. Fortunately, Julie is on the ball and gets a shot of it:
6:39 p.m.—We’re back in California Adventure, making a beeline for the back of the park. We’re basically speed-walking, pushing the stroller as fast as we can, and I have to give the older kids a lot of credit for keeping up. After years of crazy vacations like this, I think they’re used to it at this point. I don’t know how many miles we’ve walked at this point throughout the day, but my legs are tired and my feet are really starting to hurt.
6:46 p.m.—We make it to Radiator Springs Racers with four minutes to spare. So, doing the rough math it took about 20 minutes to walk from the Adventureland area in Disneyland to Cars Land in California Adventure. Julie lets me go first this time, so the three big kids and I jump in the FP line. We wind our way through the queue until we reach the masses of humanity ahead of us, and now I’m worried. We’re farther back than we were in the same line during the morning. The line is moving, but I can feel the clock ticking on those Indiana Jones FP’s.
6:52 p.m.—The kids and I climb aboard our race car. Once again, they jump into the front and force me to ride in the back. I think they’re trying to tell me something.
Once again, we get the Ramone scene.
Once again, we win the race.
Once again, the ride is awesome.
6:56 p.m.—We’re making our way through the exit, and I grab the baby from Julie. She and the kids jump in line for the child swap, and Baby Drew and I busy ourselves by taking photos of the area. Or at least, I take some photos. Baby Drew gnaws on his seatbelt.
6:59 p.m.—I find a little picnic area overlooking the ride. They have a display set up to look like a National Park viewpoint, which amuses me to no end. Another A+ for Imagineering. I have no idea how much time and energy they spent putting all of this detail on one sign, or even how many visitors actually notice it, but details like these are exactly why we love Disney parks.
7:01 p.m.—Still waiting for Julie and the kids.
7:02 p.m.—Furiously doing the math in my head. It took 20 minutes to walk over here. Now I have 18. But if I go by myself, or if it’s just me and Sarah, and if we don’t have the stroller, and if there’s no parade on Main Street…yeah, we could still make it.
7:04 p.m.—We can still…make it?
7:07 p.m.—How fast am I allowed to run in a Disney Park?
7:10 p.m.—Julie and the kids are making their way out through the exit. And I’m looking at my watch, knowing I only have 10 minutes to sprint across two theme parks to make it to Indiana Jones, and my heart sinks. I know I’m not going to make it.
Julie offers to watch everyone while Sarah and I run, but I tell her that there’s just no way we’ll get there in time. My Indiana Jones experience will have to wait for another day.
But let’s look on the bright side here. My kids just got a fourth ride on Radiator Springs Racers in one day. And they had a blast. That’s the whole reason we’re here.
And missing out on Indiana Jones gives me an excuse to plan to come back. I just hope the ride is still there when we do!
7:15 p.m.—Well, now we suddenly have some time to kill. Might as well hastily arrange a photo of the kids.
And who remembers the days of $0.63 gas?
7:20 p.m.—The Indiana Jones FastPass quietly expires in my pocket, and I die a little inside.
7:21 p.m.—We decide to hang out in Cars Land for a bit. I’d remembered Magdalene mentioning a small ceremony that takes place here at dusk every night, so we wander the shops for a bit hoping to catch it.
7:42 p.m.—There’s no fanfare, announcement, or any hint of a show. The speakers simply start playing “Sh-Boom” by The Chords, which you may remember from the movie when the residents decide to light up Radiator Springs for the evening. At the same time, all of the neon starts to flicker to life up and down the street. It’s understated and magical at the same time.
7:46 p.m.—I’m glad we got the chance to see that. We have about an hour to kill before we’re supposed to be in line for World Of Color, so we start wandering a bit. Maybe there’s some other attraction we can squeeze in before heading to the show.
7:52 p.m.—Looks like we have a winner. Grizzly River Run has a 20-minute wait posted. I’m hoping it’s one of those conservative wait times where the line is actually shorter, but in any case, the kids can at least get one ride out of it. Because I am a kind, good-hearted, caring husband, I volunteer to take Baby Drew while Julie rides with the kids. Also, I’m kind of hoping she gets soaked. Because that would be funny.
7:54 p.m.—Once again, Baby Drew and I wander and take some photos in the last light of dusk.
8:22 p.m.—Seems like the line moved a little slower than I was hoping, so there’s no chance for a second ride. But that’s ok. Julie and the kids really enjoyed the rapids, although none of them are dripping wet. Maybe that’s why they’re still happy. We gather our stuff, head for a pit stop, and then go to the line-up area for World Of Color.
8:37 p.m.—The line formed well before the 8:45 p.m. time shown on the WOC ticket. We try to find the end of it, and then jump into the queue.
8:45 p.m.—The Cast Members pull the ropes and allow us to file into the Blue viewing area. Because I am a) an obsessive vacation planner, and b) a DISboard member (wait, I guess those are pretty much the same thing), I had researched this thread about the World Of Color viewing area and process. It had this handy-dandy map showing where I could expect to stand for the Blue viewing area:
I’d hoped to angle for one of those upper-central sections while everyone else filed down along the water. So imagine my surprise when I find that all of those upper-central areas are roped off, and everyone with a Blue ticket is forced into the narrow walkway space along the water.
Here are those nice viewing areas along the gardens:
And here is the area where we are sent:
I guess this is as good a time as any to say it: the viewing experience for World of Color is awful. I don’t mean the show itself—the show is an enjoyable spectacle. But in order to see it (without paying the freight for an expensive dining package with reserved viewing areas), we are forced to stand for an hour in this cramped space with approximately a 1’ x 1’ area of personal space you can call your own. We try to sit down a few times and can barely carve out a spot to do so.
Worse, the Cast Members come along and tell people not to press on the ropes—those are reserved areas!—in fact, could everyone squeeze in towards the water, please?
I look back incredulously. Just where the %#$@ are we supposed to go, exactly?? Heaven forbid I push the ropes into these completely empty spaces reserved for no one.
The park offers a wi-fi connection and an online game you can play to pass the time. If you win the game, you get to control the lights on the Mickey Wheel of Death for 30 seconds or so. We never won, but it helped to pass the time for a spell.
9:22 p.m.—We’re bored, cramped, and irritable. And we’ve found another problem with the viewing area while staring at the lights on the Wheel of Death. The walkway we’re standing on is flat. So unless you’re 6’4” tall, you will not get a clear view of the show.
I am not 6’4”. I’m 5’11”. So I can do reasonably well. But my kids are not 6’4”. Not even close. They’ll be lucky to even see half of the show. And I’d love to put them on my shoulders, but they’ve long grown past the size where that’s possible (and I forgot to take my steroids that morning). But even if I could, then I’d be blocking the view of everyone behind me, and I like to be considerate of others.
I will find later that some other parents don’t worry about that whole “being considerate” thing.
9:45 p.m.—At last, the show starts, much to our relief. As I mentioned, the show itself is a fine spectacle. The dancing water, lights, music, lasers, and movie projections keep us captivated throughout. At least, what I could see through the other heads and kids sitting on parents’ shoulders. We all agree that the best part was when they utilized Pirates of the Caribbean in the show. This is because 1) the Pirates movie score is some of the best movie music written in the last several years, and 2) pyrotechnics.
10:16 p.m.—The show ends, and they broadcast a helpful announcement that the park is closed. Please make your way towards the exit, and drop a few hundred dollars in the gift shops on the way out. Thank you.
10:28 p.m.—Our Disneyland day is drawing to a close. We’re tired, extremely sore, thirsty, exhausted from going hard since 6:00 a.m. California Adventure is closed, but Disneyland is still open until midnight. We reach the plaza between the parks and have a decision to make: head to the hotel? Or back into Disneyland for more rides?
Looking at our list of rides we had wanted to hit, we realize that there are two rides in Disneyland that aren’t in Florida: the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Indiana Jones. And we haven’t ridden either one yet!
The kids look at us with pleading, yet tired eyes. Yes, they’re exhausted. But…
“I really wanted to ride the Matterhorn,” says Sarah. The boys agree.
Julie and I make eye contact. She grips the handle of the stroller tightly. I roll my head and crack my neck muscles. Then I reach for our park hoppers.
Start walking, kids. We’re riding the Matterhorn.
10:42 p.m.—Disneyland is still going strong, judging by the crowds. We head straight for the mountain. Thankfully, it appears to be operational. On the downside: it’s a 30-minute wait.
10:43 p.m.—No matter. We’re sticking it out. Julie feels bad for me having missed out on both Indiana Jones and Grizzly River Run. Because she is a caring, generous, selfless and kind wife, she offers to take the baby and let me have the ride this time.
10:57 p.m.—Getting closer.
11:03 p.m.—We’ve reached the last few switchbacks before the loading area. And Dave is starting to crash and burn.
He's practically in tears. I ask him what's wrong, and he seems afraid of the ride. "I'm afraid I'm too tired, and I'm going to have nightmares," he says. This is surprisingly clear thinking for a kid who's up way past his bedtime. I see Julie hanging out near the gates and get her attention. She signals for me to send Dave over. I flag down a Cast Member who graciously helps Dave weave his way through the line and over to Julie.
11:07 p.m.--Sarah, Scotty and I climb aboard! I had read reports saying the Matterhorn was very rickety and jerky, not smooth at all. And they were right.
But that makes it fun!
I don't know what the ride is like during the day, but it was pretty cool at night. Spooky caves mixed with occasional glimpses of the park, lit up for the night. Oh, and a yeti.
We all had a great time with it. And I'm glad we finally got the chance to ride.
11:14 p.m.--Given Dave's meltdown, we agree it's time to pack it in for the night. By the time we reach the gate to leave Disneyland, it's...
11:30 p.m.--We've been in the parks since 8:00 a.m. We're all beat. My feet are still killing me.
But I'd say it was totally worth it!
The kids had a great time. We packed in as much as we possibly could. We didn't hit everything on our list, but we got quite a bit of it done. And threw in a few other experiences, too. I'd say we maxed it out, especially given the heat and crowds.
I'm really proud of the kids. We pushed them really, really hard. And they stuck with us through the whole day. No complaints, either, up until Dave's breakdown at the very end. These guys really travel well.
I'm thrilled that we got to experience the original Disney park. I'm thrilled we got to see Cars Land and the rest of California Adventure. And I'm thrilled we could finish out our trip this way, rather than ending in the Mojave Desert. It's been a long, hot, exhausting day, but also a memorable one.
And thank you once again, Alison, for giving us this day.
Coming Up Next: Our final day. We explore a little bit more of the Disneyland area. And then, a new super-food. One that may either be evidence of Divine influence on earth...or may just kill me. Or quite possibly both.
that's nice
DIS Dad #330
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2008
She took the picture 'correctly' because she was scared of you putting heron blast in the TR.
Yes, DL monorails are waaaay better than WDW ones. Where does the monorail take you anyway?
This sounds like our WDW touring.
Before you know it, you'll be blossoming into ToT junkies.
Wow. Julie is good.... maybe too good.
How nice of Alison! Glad the meet was epic!!!
You are making me dizzy.
Hummm.... Not a parade fan?
Not sure what the policy is in DL but WDW gives you a 10-15 minute buffer. You probably could of made it.
I'm sure @Cinderella's Fella does!
So what do you suggest? What is the better way going about this?
That is really cool!
You might be the dad of the year.
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