Good morning everyone! Greetings from
Disneyland. Here's our report on yesterday:
We really wanted to do Goofy's kitchen but when we went the other day they said the wait was 90 minutes long!

Except for our Blue Bayou lunch we really hadn't made any priority seatings. Well we went over yesterday right as they opened at 7 am and got right in! We love the character breakfasts. We saw Goofy (of course) and Chip and Donald and Pluto. Oh and the food was very very good as well. Since they call this a brunch they have much more food than just a breakfast buffet including desserts. The one our server recommended was
French Toast Creme Brulee! It was wonderful!
After that it was off to the parks. The line to get into Disneyland was long, but moved pretty quick. We got to listen to the band as we were waiting which was a nice touch. First up was the Indiana Jones ride. This is a great ride. For those of you who have never done Disneyland the vehicles are like those on Dinosaur at AK. After that we went to Tomorrowland and did Buzz Lightyear. This is new out here and I like it better than at WDW. For one thing the guns are on a teather so you have more freedome (think of the guns from MIB in Universal if you have ever been there). Another nice touch is that at the end you can see your picture with your score on it. Best thing - you don't have to pay for it! You can e-mail to yourself for free! Nice!
Next up was the Autopia. I've never done it at WDW and it has been years and years since I've done it here but we did it. They even give you a cute little drivers liscense. There must have also been some major pin release yesterday as we passed a long line of people waiting outside one of the gift shops.

I'm sure if I check eBay this morning I could find out what it was!
By now it was close to mid-day and it was getting to be wall to wall people and long lines everywhere. I had read over on the Disneyland board that they had closed the park on Saturday and I was afraid they would do the same today. We took this time to do our shopping on Main Street and then went over and viewed the 50 years of Disneyland display and movie on Main Steet. Sadly this was very easy to get into and about only 15 people in the movie. I say sadly because here is all this history (photos, copies of the e-tickets, mock-ups of what the rides were to be, etc.) and no one really coming to look at it. Their loss.
After that we made a stop at City Hall to ask about getting back in if we leave and also about where to see the parade tonight (we have tickets for a preferred viewing spot). Basically told if we leave we may or may not get back in. However we know that if we try to stay we'll be beat long before the parade so we chance it.
We stop at ESPN club in Downtown Disney for a late lunch and then back to our hotel for a nice rest. We headed back to Disneyland via the monorail about 5:00. Got to see some of the 5:15 parade from the monorail. We made our way over to Small World which is where the viewing location is. Found the area and basically just settled in there. There were still massive crowds especially the line for Small World. So we staked out our spot for the parade and waited. Funny this is we were right behind these ropes and mark was staing up (I was sitting a show ways away). Tons of people kept coming up and asking him questions (what time is the parade, how do they get to Small World, etc.). We had on our DVC jackets, our lanyards (from Epocot's Candlelight Processional), and our GOH badges. People thought he worked there!
Small World at night is amazing. Hard to describe to anyone who hasn't been here but the outside facade is all gold and white but lit up in colors at night. On the quarter hour it does the routine where the dolls come out and do thier little march and then clock opens up to tell the time. Well now after that happens the whole thing goes dark and then a light show begins where they put images on the front of the facade. Marching soldiers, candy, etc. all themed to music. This lasts about 2 minutes and then the lights come back on again. The first time I saw it my jaw just hung open. We love Lights of Winter at Epcot and this is just as amazing!
Next up is the parade. Very few people in our special area so we didn't have to sit or anything. One side note - there was an area next to us that was even more special. They got seats, hot chocolate in mugs and rice krispie stars. We found out they are from the holiday tour and also got to ride Small World and Haunted Mansion without a wait. Something to remember for next time. Back to the parade - my favorites the wooden soldiers were right up front. Love them! Then all the usuals: Mickey, Minnie, the Princsses, Chip and Dale, Buzz and Woody, and of course Santa Claus!
All too soon it over and we start heading for Main Steet to watch the fireworks. OMG it is wall to wall people! We decide to not spend another hour standing around so we head for the exit. Then we see that no one is sitting up in the train station. When we get to the top we find out why - the benchs are marked off as reserved. We are about to leave and one of the conductors asked if we were waiting for the parade. We tell him yes. He said the view is better in front of the tree (very true the tree is huge and blocks most of the castle view) however are feet are tired and we just wanted to sit. He says wait a minute and let me check on something. I guess they put up the reserved signs every night but don't need them every night. Sure enough he takes them down and we spend a nice hour on the bench people watching. The fireworks are even more amazing then when we saw them the other nice from the balcony at Fantasmic. Lots of lighting on the castle (we can see about 1/4 of it past the tree).
After this it is back to the room. We never did have dinner and it is too late now (it is past 10 pm) but we are chilled so order soup and tea from room service. After that is off for a good nights sleep.
This morning we are meeting Todd and Cheryl for breakfast and then out to enjoy our last day here at the resort!
Have a great day everyone!