Disney Part 4 ~ Nighttime

You'll notice these last two Disney posts are just kinda thrown up there. That's because it's starting to be a while since Disney happened and life is continuing! I don't want to get frozen here. So!

As wonderful as Disneyland is during the day, let's be honest, nighttime is when it really shines.

Especially for Starbuck

The last selfie of the day ~ back in the car, tired,
but oh so happy. 

 

Disney Part 3 ~ Galaxy's Edge

The latest Disney land is the Star Wars-themed Galaxy's Edge. For sci-fi geeks, it's Utopia.

BIL reeeeeeeallllly wanted to be with us for this part. My Favorite took
pictures and texted the entire time, so BIL could "be here."

 

Disney Part 2

We hear the phrase “Disney Magic” batted around a lot, but the place really does seem to have some. When you’re not there to rush madly from ride to ride, there’s time for people watching. I’ve decided Disney comes closer to fulfilling the promise of American inclusivity and acceptance than anywhere else.

People were kind to each other. No one was screaming at their kids. No one was cutting into any lines. No one was pushing or getting agitated. 

In line for the Haunted Mansion, a woman behind us saw us trying to get a selfie and suggested we set a timer. We tried it and I told her she waa a genius. Then she scooted out of line super quick to get a good picture of the front of the house. I did the same, once again telling her she was a genius. When I scurried back from getting my picture, she said “you just don’t know me well.” To which I replied “well, you’re faking it beautifully today.” We all had a great laugh.

At one point, a woman in a large group announced “does anyone have any Tylenol?” As the group was starting to move away, I went to her and asked, “do you have Tylenol?” She said, “Yes! Do you need some?” To which I replied, “No, I was making sure you did. I have excedrin in my pocket.” She was so touched. I was so touched. It was Disney Magic. 

And of course, there were pictures…

The Emchanted Tiki Room, specifically for GNightGirl, who remembered it from 1972 (it hasn’t changed).

And the Dumbo ride, which I remember from 1972!

One of the awesome thibgs about living in New Orleans was that you’d be going to the bank or something mundane and would end up at a parade. Disney is much the same…

You know you’re grown when cheese and fruit sounds better than churros or french fries. 

A random woman asked if we wanted our picture taken just as we arrived on Main Street. Yes, yes please!

After that, we were on our own. So there were selfies and pictures or each other and pictures of each other taking pictures… You get the idea.

And a turkey leg. He’s been craving a turkey leg since we lived in NOLA. I’ve been telling him the best turkey legs were at Disney, since we lived in NOLA. He finally had one—and it was the turkey leg he’s been craving. For nine years.

And we’re not done yet…

Disney Part One (so many pictures)

For the last 15 years, My Favorite and I have been talking about going to Disney. Now, for me, that's a no brainer because I come from a Disney family. 

The Dumbo ride is literally one of my earliest memories,
not just of Disney but of life

He has been more skeptical about the point of grown-ups going without kids. I have assured him it was fun; DisneyWorld is better, but Disneyland is great too.

This year, we finally realized we are in southern California a lot. We also realized, thanks to Grasshopper, that we really could just go for a day. So, we got permission from the chief pilot to go on September 28th, bought out tickets, and made our park reservation! Even My Favorite was getting excited, looking at food, reading about rides…

When later that same afternoon, the chief pilot called and My Favorite wasn’t cut loose; we weren't going home at the end of the week. We were heading to American Canyon. We had to cancel Disney. I admit; there were tears.

Until! We realized we could reschedule. Which we did. And yesterday, after talking about it for 15 years, we made it to Disneyland.

It's October, which means Halloween time at the Disney parks.

My Favorite doesn't do roller coasters, but that's okay by me. While yes, I love me a good roller coaster or drop ride, the only must-do ride for me is the Haunted Mansion. Since it is Halloween, the mansion was decked out with Jack Skellington and 'Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas (a movie about when the Skeleton King of Halloween takes over Christmas from Santa Claus for  a year). I'll be honest; I like the original Haunted Mansion better. Also, it was really cool to realize we have lived around these houses the mansion is fashioned after.

It was the only must ride, but it wasn't the only ride.

It's not Disney without It's A Small World:

And I realized this is the first time I've been to Disney since cell phones made nighttime/darkness pictures possible. So Cool!

Canadian Mountie, because, Canada 

Alice in Wonderland, for Sister

Did you know the plural of platypus is platipodes, not platypi or
even platypuses? It's true.

Then, in case you don't know this, I'm a Winnie the Pooh person. Not as much as I once was, but definitely still a Pooh person. My yellow shirt and red hat were the unplanned-see-what-I-have-in-my-suitcase attempt at Disneybounding Pooh. (Disneybounding ~ using clothing to represent or emulate a favorite Disney character) Although based on what we saw yesterday, adults in costume are more acceptable than they once were. Just make sure nothing drags the ground. 

All of which made the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride inevitable.

And, of course, being us means the Indiana Jones ride. Duh.

There's more to Disney than just rides, though ~ but that's for another post.