The Magic Kingdom

Forever one of my favorite things to do. My first trip there was with my Mom and Dad when the park first opened. I was about 3 years old and remember nothing about it. I remember going in high school with Tracy, Mom and Dad, then again my senior year with the Mesa High School ACapella Choir (and Grumpy, since he was a member of the choir too). I went once or twice while in college and then once when en route back to Okinawa, Japan with Tawna, Taya (4 yrs old), Summer (3 yrs old) and RB (a newborn). Papa and Nana were there with me for that trip. I remember how Nana loved the gardens of flowers, the bushes at It's a Small World that were trimmed into animal shapes, and the wonderful detail Disney goes to in their rides and their park overall. We went many times during our years of residence in sunny California and have wonderful memories of those trips. I have been back with Tracy's family since then, as well as Tawna and Taya for Maddie and Faith's birthday a couple of years ago. Our most recent trip was with RB and Stacies' family, and we had so much fun. I had never been to California Adventure's, so that was a totally new experience. Grumpy was having as much fun on all the rides as the kids were. Me too. We had 3 day, Park Hopper tickets, and oh my. Shin splints, the sorest feet I have ever experienced, sunburned and a tired that only Disneyland can produce. The walking wasn't as bad as all the standing, standing, standing. The fast passes worked great, I wish we could have gotten them for everything. I wouldn't trade this excursion for anything. I can say that now since my feet have recovered and the sunburn is gone. I have a lot of pics to post, more that I am not posting to help us remember all the fun things we did, saw and experienced. Thanks Crazy Harmons for the invitation to go and have a great time at one of our most favorite places ever.




Main Street, Disneyland, USA. I love this place.



Sleeping Beauty's Castle. My all time favorite Princess.



Our first ride was Star Tours. Carson's favorite. We then went on to Space Mountain, one of my favorites. I am a roller coaster junkie. My new all time favorite is California Screamin in the CA Adventure park. So far my Ultimate!



I kept seeing different characters during the one afternoon RB and Stacie had the kids up in Toon Town. I snapped pics anyway, but not as fun as if the kids had been there to see them.






We did get a pic with Woody and Jess on our way to ride Pirates of the Caribbean. The kids loved it. They did get some pics with Mickey and few others in Toon Town that day.




The Jungle Cruise ride, The Matterhorn, and the Mad Tea Party.







One of the many gardens - this one in the Main Street area. The Unicorn of "It's a Small World”. I couldn't help but think of Nana and her love for pansies and the unique animal bushes in this beautiful park. I tried to remember all the rides we went on in Disneyland: Star Tours (twice), Space Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland Railroad, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones Adventure, Jungle Cruise, Tarzan's Treehouse, Autopia, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (not one of the kids favs), It's a Small World, Mad Tea Party, Matterhorn, and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. We tried to ride the Monorail, twice, but both times it was down. Same with Splash Mountain. Technical difficulties I guess.

On to California Adventures. As this park is supposed to represent a little piece of the California beach, etc, some of the ambiance is lost as the “harbor/beach area is drained of water. Disney is adding a water/light show that I'm sure will be spectacular, but in the meantime leaves a little to be desired. I hope we can go back and visit again when the water is back with it's new attraction.



Bear Peak. It crowns the park and is by the river/rapid ride that we went on first and got totally soaked. We did that ride twice since we like getting wet so much. Below, we are waiting in line to get wet.





Here we are on a street in “Hollywood”. Can you tell where the street stops and the paint starts?



The Maliboomer. Straight up and then drops you. Waaaaay fun.



California Screamin. The most fun ever. Wow. I love this ride. We went twice, some of us four times.



California Soaring. We all had to do this one twice. It was a great experience. This is one of the pics from the walls going in. It is a shot of an F86 like Papa flew in the Thunderbirds. I loved this ride and the history displayed in the building. An era of time that is gone now, and I hope we don't forget.

Now for the Toy Parade. If you go, especially with small children, a must. It was fun to see the imagination at work with the characters from the pixar movies. The kids loved it. Me too. I also love the detail in everything and am amazed at the costumes, etc. that we saw. Below, the kids are waiting as the parade starts.




A little side note about our clean up man here. He was about mid fifties, and really was cleaning up. Along the way he was dancing and had some great moves. Fun to watch.










Hope the kids had as much fun as we did. We loved every minute. Even when Carson and Rylan were sick. They were troopers and did really well for being little and living on Motrin and Triaminic Thin Strips. Grumpy got it after we got home and needed a Z-pac to start his recovery. He is still fighting off the tail-end of it.

All in all, a treasured memory. Can't wait to go again.