So it's approximately 11am & we're hopping over to DCA. DL has officially been open for 2 hours (but we were there for MM) & we have 3 FPs in our pockets for evening use.
I really enjoy entering the DCA at this time. There is a very small line to get in & we quickly take a right & nab a FP at one of Disney's finest rides.....
Soarin' Over California.....not to be confused with Orlando's version of Soarin', which takes you over the mountains, the rivers, the rolling wine country hills & the desert landscapes of.... Florida???
And since it was already past the
check out time of 11am we figured it might be a good time to head back to the Paradise Pier Hotel to
check out & maybe put our feet up for a few minutes. I'm aware that most people would likely
check out prior to the check out time.....but the hound family tends to push the envelope a little & even on a one day visit, we like to have a 30 - 45 minute rest.
But of course.....if one is going back to their hotel.....& has taken a right turn upon entering DCA.....& has the ability to
change clothes in the next few minutes....then there is absolutely one ride that
must be ridden prior to exiting DCA (via the super secret GCA side entrance). You got that right......
Griz Rapids Baybee!!!! 
Actually we had originally planned to FP Griz & go immediately to the new Toy Story ride, but cool dis'ers here had informed us that Griz was not spitting out FPs these days, so we figured that this would be the proper time to enjoy it. So onto the round raft ride thru the Northern California wilderness we hopped. (not to be confused with the round raft ride thru the hot & steamy jungle at WDW/AK on the River Kali....a ride located in greater Orlando.....which is of course far more
hot & steamy than any African rain forest jungle raft trip)
. The wait for Griz was about ten minutes & Sir Alec & I got a little wet, but really not too bad. It actually felt good, as the temps were in the high 70s at that point.
After Griz we entered the side entrance for the rich folk's choice of lodging....
.....aka the Grand Californian Hotel. Alec & I pretended to belong....even grabbed a quick hot dog & chips from Whitewater (as i mentioned, this kid gets hungry every 90 minutes) & we strolled thru the glorious GCH lobby on our way over to the hotel for
Wallmart shoppers across the street.
Arriving to our (thankfully not cleaned) room..... which overlooked the parking lot, Alec hopped on his bed, munched on his dog & took his shoes off (& watched one of the 6 disney channels on TV)....as I packed up our stuff (there wasn't much
) & rolled our one piece of luggage out to our impalamobile in the garage. Heading back to the room, I smiled at the nice maid who was a couple of doors down from our room (& left a little tip for her in the room), hoping that good karma would outweigh the fact that we were exiting our room a good 80 min.
past checkout. (The recently received credit card bill confirmed that good karma indeed won out.
)
This wasn't much of a "mid day break", but it was definitely a good idea after touring DLR hard for four hours:
- 45 minutes with our feet up. check.
- fuel (aka disney dog) for our young padewan. check.
- fresh shirts. check.
- fresh & dry socks. check.
- one rolling suitcase in the impalamobile (which doesn't have to be picked up until 11:59 tonite). check.
So we said goodbye to Surfing Goofy & exited the
good ol' Paradise Pier.....crossed the street, & headed back thru the hotel where the beautiful people stay. We strolled by the Napa Rose (where only the TRULY rich & famous people.....like
Avalon....dine) & back thru the super secret entrance into DCA. Because young Alec & his dad are now on a mission.....we must ride Toy Story.....& we must find a churro.
Disappointedly, we pass the empty churro stand (where we nabbed one last time) next to the
Grizzily Trail romper area & plugged onward across the pier & over to Toy Story. But first (of course) we snagged a FP for Screamin' (because we can
). The wait for Toy Story was about 35 min. at 1pm (not bad) & as we were making our first pass around the line, my sleuthing padewan spotted a food cart not 30 feet away next to the water. And not just any food cart.....a
churro food cart. So I asked the nice lady behind me, if my starving mal-nourished son could hop out of line, purchase an item from the churro food group, return & hop back in line? It being Disney.....she said "sure....if you get me one too"
She was just joking & stated that young Alec should definitely have one, but should be quick about it (before the line snakes around the wrong way). So Alec snagged a five'er from Dad, hopped over the shrubs & quickly made his churro purchase & returned with the magical food item.....which we both enjoyed in the fast moving toy story line. (yum)
I know some of my favorite people here love the new Toy Story ride.....& I like it too.....but only a little more than Buzz. Alec liked it as well, but we both prefer Screamin'.....& Soarin'.....cause we both like rides that begin with an
S & drop the
"g"s. (Kind of like Tina Fey - or is it Sarah Palin?? - does.
)
Alec in front of our favorite potato head (whose voice is the politically incorrect & terribly funny....Don Rickles...& if you don't believe me, you tube some of Dean Martin Roasts from the 70s
).
Next up.....Is it better to eat a corny dog
before or
after riding California Screamin'??....& would the
mickey's ear loop affect our decision??
.
. (but not his dad)
My DH could use a lesson or two from you in suppression. In his defense, I guess it's not uncommon to parent the way you were raised. Heck, I recently overheard a mother tell her 2 year old daughter to "buck up".
So does Colt McCoy... I think it's QBs? QBs from UT? Anyways! I bet you're one happy camper UT is STILL at numero UNO! Yeeehhhawww!! 
