OK. I'm still slightly brain-dead, have been up since 3:30am and a time zone away, but I can start.
I had a good time at DLR. I learned, however, that the magic is so much stronger when the rest of the group feels it.
I'm not sure how to write this trip report without it sounding like a total downer. It wasn't. But I promise to myself that my next trip in how ever many years will be with the gang that I KNOW feels the magic and floats on it.
At DCA......Grizzly River Run

. I went twice with my son (25). It was on this ride that I saw him light up and feel the magic. I will cherish that memory.
Soarin'. I love that ride, but we had to talk our way through it, telling the young 'uns (4 and 6) that it was just a movie and no, we can't get off right now. They weren't scared, but I think the sensation was too strange for them.
DS's girlfriend made him go on the coaster.....what's it called? He did it for her, most likely will never do it again. True love, I think.
Monster's Inc was another that was fun with a caveat. The kids know the movie, they've watched it many times, but they weren't real thrilled with the ride. It seemed almost scarey, they both needed a lot of talking to/about the different characters in the ride.
We also did Bug's Life and Toy Story Mania. That one was a hit for all, but one adult member of our party couldn't stand the wait in line part, so we only did it once. I know I'll be back.
At DLR, we did Splash Mountain (DS wasn't thrilled, he's not a fan of drops...)
I went on Splash twice.
Winnie The Pooh ride, we also got to meet him and Tigger, got some good pix.
Autopia, 6yo loved driving! Small World.....DS and I took 6yo, she lit up for that one. All those dolls!
Finding Nemo submarine ride was good for the 4yo, he wasn't sure about the small submarine, but he did good with the whole "we're underwater" theme, and then when Nemo showed up, it was all good.
We also Talked With Crush, that was good although 4 was mad that Crush didn't talk to him.
I sat out with the baby while DS, GF, 4 and 6 went on the Roger Rabbit ride in Toon town. They seemed to like that one.
We rode the Railroad all the way around the park, it was good for taking a break.
Lol, oh yeah. I took DS on Indiana Jones. I'm not sure I'll be forgiven for that. I had fun, and that's what I was there for.
We walked up and over Tarzan's Tree house, took the raft to Tom Sawyer's Island (a good one for the antsy kids), I took 6 on Pinocchio, we all went on Peter Pan. 4 got scared, so we had to limit any rides that went into dark places. There are a lot of them, ya know?
Astro Blasters was another good one for the kids, we grownups had fun, too. I think 4 got a kick out of it because it's a shooting game.
We spent 4 days at the parks, and went to the San Diego zoo for one day, that was really cool. Pandas, giraffes, rhinos, a hippopotamus.....Oh, the kids got to pet a camel!
I am already starting the savings account for my next trip. It's probably a good 3-5 years away, but I will go again.
And I will feel the magic.