Saturday, January 2, 2010

The Happiest Place on Earth

When we were in California over the holidays there was one thing I wanted to be sure we did, and that was stop at Disneyland. It also helped that the boy's birthday was December 23, which meant as long as we went on his birthday he got in free.

We made it to the park around 9:30, where I snapped a quick picture of Sleeping Beauty castle.
Sleeping Beauty Castle
Speaking of Sleeping Beauty castle, Disneyland has recently reopened the castle walk through for the first time since I was little.
Inside Sleeping Beauty Castle
It was exciting to be able to see the displays I hadn't seen in at least over 10 years.

Since we arrived at the park relatively early we were able ride a good amount of lines before any major lines formed. And while we had a few rides with multiple hour wait, we still made it through quite a lot. (I tend not to use fast passes, mainly because I never did growing up since they didn't exist back then.) Out of the big roller coaster type rides we rode: Big Thunder Railroad, Star Tours, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion (which was A Nightmare Before Christmas themed since it was in December), Matterhorn, Roger Rabbit, Go-Gadget Coaster and Space Mountain.
On Space Mountain
The only "big" ride we didn't ride was Splash Mountain, only because the boy was adamant that he didn't want to get wet.

We even went a quite a few of the more family friendly rides, which were: The Tiki Room (more of a show than a ride really), Peter Pan, Dumbo (which I haven't ridden since I was really little), the Disney Railroad (another one I haven't ridden in probably 20 years), Finding Nemo Submarines (first time riding since they've reopened), Winnie-The-Pooh, the Jungle Cruise, Tarzan Tree House, and Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster Scores
Yes, the boy did completely crush me on this ride.

Speaking of the boy, he even agreed to take a picture or two, at least as long as he was wearing a silly hat. (If you remember this post you know how much as an ordeal this can be!)
There once was a Wizard
We even got a picture wearing the bride and groom Minnie and Micky hat because he wanted a picture wearing a top hat.
Groom Mickey & Bride Minnie?

This was also my first time at Disneyland since I've been living in Louisiana, which means I saw New Orleans square in bit of a different light.
Mardi Gras & Christmas
Its funny because every time I've been to New Orleans it feels a bit like I'm in Disneyland! I mean is there anyone else whose been to New Orleans who thinks the French Market looks suspiciously like Cafe Du Monde?
The French Market

And while we're on the topic of restaurants, for lunch the boy and I went to the BBQ place. This is something else that used to be there when I was little, but has been gone for a while and just brought back. They've redone the way it works a little, its now served family style and all you can eat, but it was just as good as I remembered.
All you can eat BBQ
And since you can't go to Disneyland without having at least something sweet, I made sure to have a churro by the end of the day.
Eating my Churro

While we weren't there till closing, we did stay till almost 11. Which meant we got to watch part of Fantasmic as well as the fireworks, and of course got to see the park all lit up. Here's one of Its a Small World covered in lights.
It's A Small World with holiday lights
And ending this post the way it started, with a picture of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Icicles on Sleeping Beauty Castle
Overall, it was a great day. But at the happiest place on earth how could it not be? I've been to Disneyland so many times growing up, you might think I'd eventually grow out of it. But every time I go I seem to love it even more than the last!

~Shoshanah

11 comments:

  1. Yay Disneyland! Its funny, I kept thinking when we were in the French Quarter that it looked a bit like Disneys interpretation of it! Especially when street musicians were playing, it was like the background music they pipe in! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm pretty sure you NEVER grow out of disney world/land!! It looks like so much fun. :-P

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ahh! I'm incredibly jealous. I've never been to DisneyLAND..but I have been to DisneyWORLD. I love it! So much fun always :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. It looks like you've been having an EXCELLENT holiday season!!! I haven't been to disneyland for years!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've only been to Disneyland once and we only spent one day there (not nearly enough time to see it all) but I LOVED it! I can't wait to go back and take Eric. The waiting in lines thing is annoying though, it tooks us NINE hours to go on FOUR rides. Oy!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh man, I so need to go to Disneyland... I've only been to the one in Europe!!! (eurodisney - lol!).

    You look like you both had so much fun, I'm itching to go!!!

    ps: so cool to learn that you lived in Avignon for a month!!! Had I known I would've asked you for some restaurant recommendations ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've been to Disneyland twice and loved it both times! Would love to go again! :) Happiest place on Earth! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Those pictures are awesome! I have never been to Disneyland, but seeing these pics makes me want to go!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. ahhh! I have never gone to Disneyland but I will go(hopefully in the next few years because I'd like to go at least once before we have kids haha). When I do get around to going, I will be bombarding you with questions. =)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Everything looks so beautiful and magical! I have never been to Disney Land or Disney World...but have always wanted to go. It definately looks like so much fun and it would be even cooler to get in FREE on your birthday :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. How FUN! I love Disneyland but I've never been during the Holidays. Your pics are great! Glad y'all had fun.

    ReplyDelete