What are your "mini joys?"

[DisneyMommy403]

Title sounds weird, I know...


We all love the rides and shows, those are the big draws for DL and DCA park goers...But, I'm interested in everyone's ideas and personal mini-wins, or mini joys.

Example: Our thing is to say goodbye on our last night at DL by taking a train ride full circle. SUPER bummed it will be shut down on our next trip. We will have to find a new way to say goodbye.

My personal mini joy is to get a hot cocoa and admire the store windows on Main Street at night.

My best friend loves to get a Matterhorn Macaroon, and sit on a particular bench (oh, she will wait if she has to) in front of the Matterhorn on the walkway from the hub and people watch.

Little mini-joys that are our own while we are there. What are yours?

 

[Angrose]

I love how a lot of joys are centered around food Mine are dole whips and Mickey beignets. I had a whirlwind weekend in the parks this past weekend, but I am so glad I took the time to grab my favorite dole whip and enjoy it while waiting in the Jingle Cruise line. I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, Sunday mornings in DL. I rode some favorite rides in Adventureland, NOS and Critter Country with no wait and then by 9am I was enjoying my Mickey Beignets in the still quiet of the park. Perfect morning!

 

[Winnowill]

The Carrousel is our traditional last ride. I try to get my daughter on Jingles, but that doesn't always work out. She's just such a connection to the heart of the park.

And I wave good-bye to Walt's apartment as we leave.

 

[Disney127]

One of our mini joys is getting a little snack like a churro or popcorn and finding a bench to people watch. We love seeing the faces of first time visitors and how excited they get. And we always say 'thank you and see you soon' to Walt as we walk pass his apartment on the way out on our last day.

 

[Chrisfilm]

1. Outdoor rides at dusk/night. Specifically I always like Storybookland Canals, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain (I know, not all of it is outdoors), and Matterhorn
2. Going into the shops that are kind of tucked away and don't have large crowds. Used to be better when some shops were full of specialty items, but still fun even now.
3. Looking at the Fantasyland architecture.

I like this topic. I need to think of others.

 

[alvernon90]

That feeling I have when I walk out of Trader Sam's after about four amazing tiki drinks and some poke. Crowds never matter at that point!

 

[NMDisneyMom]

Walking through the tunnel for the first time that trip, reading Walt's words, and the sense of homecoming that I feel. This is my mini-joy. I know nothing else matters at that point.

 

[DisneyMommy403]

LOVE ALL OF THESE!!! Keep em coming! They are giving me the warm and fuzzies!

 

[buttercup14]

Just sitting at the side of the Fantasyland walkway first thing in the morning and watching all the guests/characters/ducks walk by.
Waving to people from the mark twain
Watching people's cars get stalled on Autopia
Walking through fantasyland just after official close time
Getting stuck on a ride and having to be walked off

 

[Astylla]

That feeling I have when I walk out of Trader Sam's after about four amazing tiki drinks and some poke. Crowds never matter at that point!

My husband would be thrilled if I could get out of there with only 4 drinks..

So many great moments here including my own favorites :

Walking through the castle for the first and last time - specifically at night when the rush has died down
Looking for all the hidden mickeys
Having a red trolley ale and relaxing at the Mad T party area before the party starts
Just walking around taking in the sights , smells and enjoyment of just BEING there - going nowhere in particular
Taking a break in the GCH lobby

 

[Cholula]

I love getting into the line for PP right before it's closing. It's still a long line, so by the time I get through and finish the ride, the Fantasyland area is almost deserted. Even though I have plenty of castle pics, I usually have to take one more picture of the castle lit up at night.

 

[nikkislaght]

Aside from getting Mickey beignets and taking them across to Tom Sawyers Island and pigging out on them.. just the look of joy on my sons face as he goes on Screaming.. or RSR..
just being there as a family and truly engaging with each other..
and then each year letting my son a little more freedom each trip.

 

[LALA8971]

Mine is definitely getting a Tigger Tail and watching the rafts come down the big drop on Splash Mtn. I could probably do that all day!

 

[lalasmama]

I'll try to keep my list short, but there's backstories to them

I come from Portland, and fly in. I was a single, foster/adoptive mom for many years. I brought DD home when she was 3 years old, and always felt like I was "catching up" and just never quite "good enough" for her; like I just couldn't measure up to two parents. After some major saving/planning, with a sister (new foster) baby's arrival date bearing down on us, and a whole lot of working at overcoming anxiety, I decided I needed to show her what a strong, confident mom looked like, so we flew to Disneyland. Her first flight, my first flight as an adult, my first flight after 9/11 (ie, first TSA experience), my first flight and trip planning being a mom. I mean, I hadn't even taken her the 60 miles to the beach for a night!... I remember being in the DLRE, coming into the blocks around DL at night, and seeing all the lights of Disneyland, and thinking, "Holy cow, we did it. DD didn't need 2 parents to go to Disneyland. We're doing this, just her and I! I CAN DO THIS!" I just about bawled, and still tear up thinking about it. So, as the years have gone on, I often fly into the area at night after work, and as I get into the resort area, I can always see some ride or other, and just feel that warm, fuzzy, "We got this, we can do this" feeling that I had that first time.

I love the feeling--still butterflies after all these days, after all these trips--as I cross over Harbor, through the green gates across the sidewalk, and the green-and-orange checkerboard walkway starts. The Disney music piped in. And it takes every bit of decorum I have to not run, pushing people aside, to get to my happy place. Honestly, even walking instead of skipping is tough

I love sitting in the queue area of Tiki Room, eating a Dole Whip, knowing that Walt had a special affinity for the birdies; just basking in the sun, listening to the Dole Plantation commercial--I mean, documentary-- or the little quips about each of the tikis. And occasionally giggling when someone doesn't know about the tree that brings forth new life, and bops you in the head if you aren't paying attention.

I love sitting with an ice cream watching the kids lining up to see the Disney Junior show, or the shy little girls so excited, yet so scared, at a larger-than-life Sophia The First. Somehow, Jake never seems to scare those mini-pirates as much as the girls stare in wonder at Sophia!

As others have mentioned, too, sometimes I just find a spot to sit, and marvel at Disneyland. About the whole experience of it. It's hard to describe, but things just feel "calmer" to me the moment I walk through the gates!

 

[Congo Queen]

Good idea for a thread. Here are a few:

· Stopping to watch musical acts in the various lands. We love the Fire House Five, Dapper Dans, Royal Street Bachelors, Five and Dime, piano player at Coke Corner, Hawaiian duo at Trader Sam’s and whatever that pirate band is called in NOS that does the shanties. They are great musicians, charming, well-rehearsed, and employ lots of crowd interaction.

· Waiting for the three little spouting fish fountains at the Snow White Well to circle up and spin and spray

· Enjoying all the gods and goddess being introduced during Tiki Room pre-show

· Then singing like the birdies sing at the top of my lungs

· Seeing how much speed I can pick up on DLH Monorail slides

· Deep study of the BTMRR model in the lobby of the Frontierland Tower at DLH

· Manhattans w my DH at the Carthay Circle lounge

· Cozy cone softserve vanilla ice cream while waiting for Carsland lightening ceremony at dusk, then dancing to Life Could Be a Dream with my kids

 

[DLfan4]

taking a picture of my family with thier BIG SMILES as we enter the park, on main street with the castle in the background.

 

[dotfurio]

I always pause to read the Disneyland entrance quote...mainly to remind myself to forget about any worries and enjoy!

I love eating downstairs at Hungry Bear. It's relaxing to watch the ducks and the boats go by.

I always ride Small World when we go. I know there's a lot of haters but it seriously is one my happy places.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Riding the Monkey (or Wild Animal) car on the Casey Junior Train. I just adore it. I know, it is listing a ride, but I never have kids with me when I ride this......

I love sitting outside Clarabelles at DCA after dark, with a mint chocolate chip sundae, watching the trolley run and people stream by..... I also love to sit in Carsland, either at FLo's watching RSR cars zip by, or sitting at the Cozy Cone and just soaking in Carsland.

 

[offwithyourhead]

I LOVE the esplanade music. It gets me jazzed. And I love the ART bus voice. I wish I had recorded it! That voice tells me I'm on my way to Disneyland.

And this is really dumb but I'm from Canada and we don't have this here... the honey mustard served in the parks. It's awesome.

 

[PoohsFan1]

When we go in June it will be our second trip as a family (third with just DH and I) and the greatest joy I am getting as we are planning out our trip is knowing that we will once again be able to walk down the same Main Street that Walt himself walked down, we are WDW vets and live in the Midwest region so going to WDW is easier (and cheaper) then going to DLR for us. We are also very excited about riding the rides that are exclusive to just Disneyland (Pinocchio's Journey, the Matterhorn, and Radiator Springs Racers, plus many many more) or did have at one time and got rid of (Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Snow White's Scary Adventures, the Submarines that used to be 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, now Nemo and Friends). As for myself, I am super stoked that we are going to be able to see all of the wonderful celebrations for the 60th Anniversary, I have seen pictures and watched YouTube video of the castle and the parks itself and I cannot wait to see it sparkle in person .