I can't find a way to start.
I wonder if this is writer's block?
But then how can I be writing this?
My hope is that if I just... start...
the words will start to flow.
That's how it works! The way I heard it expressed was that inspiration strikes while you're in the process of creating, not before.
You know... stop for a bit,
(at which time it resembled
a parking lot)
and then shuffle forward
a bit before stopping again.
Good practice for the DC Beltway, then.
And before you mention or comment
on how those terrible bikers
shouldn't get away with that...
It's legal to lane split in California.
So you were wishing you had brought your Harley? Is it legal for the people in cars to suddenly open their doors?
Disneyland, here we come!
(Because that's what one
does with a backpack...
you pack it.
Pity the British who have
rucksacks. Do they sack it?)
And do they wear it on their rucks?
(Well... movie stars, perhaps.
It's California. Don't they litter the
streets with celebrities there?
)
Of course! See that homeless guy over there? That's Pauly Shore!
It wasn't a movie star,
but she's a star in her own right.
I thought I recognized... I did!
It was
@Steppesister !
Hmmm... odd.
No castle.
Wait... Is that it??
It's so... tiny!
We all have the same reaction when we're used to the Florida park.
Obligatory castle photo.
I once heard of a guy
who didn't stop for a castle photo,
he even had a camera in full view
on a strap around his neck!
He was beaten and thrown
out of the park.
Lifetime ban.
Even had his Mickey ears confiscated.
Very sad.
Don't worry. They still apparently let
@afwdwfan into the Florida parks.
90 minute wait.
Nope!
I can live with not knowing!
Very few rides are worth that!
I was a tourist here.
I didn't want to be constantly
in Trip Report mode, you know?
Totally justified.
I was willing to try this,
since it's completely new...
But I wasn't going to wait
more than five minutes for it!
I remember trying hard to experience things at DL that were new or different from what was in Florida...but still didn't really go out of my way for this one.
Liesa blithely hopped over the rope,
elbowed her way past some
angry parents and joined us.
I studiously avoided the glares
of the people behind us.
If she were Canadian, she would have at least politely apologized while she elbowed people in the head.
I consoled myself with the thought
that really, they hated Liesa
and not me.
Or not as much.
Until you crop-dusted them. That swung the opinion polls.
Here! Uh... Liesa!
Why don't you sit in the front!
Better pictures from there.
It's really a defense mechanism.
You do that to fend of boredom.
RNRC, it ain't.
Yeah...I'm kinda getting that.
I was ready to fight Kay on this,
but... she plays dirty.
"Dad. It's my birthday celebration.
You have to."
And when Liesa rejoined us,
(apparently she came out fine in the end)
she insisted I ride it as well.
Just plain dirty. Cruel and unusual punishment, if you ask me.
Hah! Joke's on them.
I'm married.
I'm
used to women
yelling at me.
Yeah! Take that!
Some people ask me why
I go back to Disney so often?
"You must like rides."
Well, duh. Who doesn't?
But there's just something magical
about the place isn't there?
Do you see the magic?
(Why yes. Tell me. For bonus points.)
Of course I do. It's right there.
We arrived back at city hall,
and I had to take a photo
of the lamp burning in Walt's window.
Glad you remembered to look for that. I'm glad my wife remembered to take a photo, too.
It turned out I didn't need to get
a locker as Alison had a large bag
on the back of her
scooter.
I gratefully accepted her offer
of being my personal pack mule.
Wow, she's starting her fairy godmother work early.
If you were to actually go to Africa
(Liesa, back me up here.)
you would see baby elephants
spraying water into crocodiles' mouths.
It's very common.
Happens in every nature movie I watch with crocodiles. So cliche at this point.
Does that look like water?
Because it'snot.
That's my favorite one.
And of course, the ride ended with:
"If you had a great time, my name is John,
if you didn't my name is pkondz."
Awesome.
A whole ride dedicated to Dad jokes. What's not to like?
We rode a few more rides,
Indy and POTC,
where both Alison and Liesa
got wet bums
while Kay and I stayed dry.
Indiana Jones...
(Apologies for the above photo.
From left to right, it's:
"Aww, cute! Aww, cute! Aww, cute!... EW! <spew>"
Yep, that's how I saw it too.
I enjoyed the Mint Julep and would have another,
but I wouldn't stand in line for another beignet.
They were fine, but... Not overly special or unique.
At least, I didn't find them to be.
Fried dough and sugar is a pretty simple pleasure.
HM of course!
I mean... what else could it be?
(Bonus points. What's your favourite ride?)
Just pure ride experience--Expedition Everest. When you take into account memories and nostalgia and general Disney-ness, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
It's a petrified tree.
It's believed to be between
55 - 70 million years old.
Walt purchased it back in 1956.
His wife gifted it to the park in '57.
I thought it was interesting enough
to deserve at least a mention.
Absolutely. I didn't know that was there!
Yup. That's right.
Alison pinched Cinderella's royal bottom.
I caught the mischievous grin on Alison's face
just as she was in the act.
That's awfully forward!
How much time do you spend planning these?
Unfortunately, I couldn't pick a date
with my soon to be mate.
While she is a princess,
she is also on the clock
and needs to bring home the royal bacon.
I had to take my leave.
But fear not! We'll set a date,
and you're all invited!
Great! I'll wait by the mailbox for the invitation.
I didn't take any photos,
but I do know that Alison and I
split the fried chicken.
Dang! That was some good chicken!
I'd go back.
Do you know how they say "fried chicken"
in France?
(No. Not Royale with poulet.)
(Get the reference(ish)? Bonus points, yes or no.)
I'll put it in inviso-text:
Pulp Fiction.
Of course, there's no need to worry about the metric system with chicken.
Kay had some Penne pasta while Liesa had a salad.
I have no idea what is wrong with those two!
Buncha weirdos.
While it's not quite
(nor ever was)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,
it's as close as I'm ever likely to get.
I loved that ride.
Me too. Something about stepping onto a submarine.
Fun fact: every movie about a submarine is inherently awesome.
Someone was a very happy girl.
(And no hover hand. Good girl.
Wait... that's my
kid I'm talking about...)
Whoa, he put her head right in his armpit! Ew....
Of course it's always Dole Whip Float time.
Is it a day that ends in Y? Time for a Dole Whip Float.
Yup. We walked a few dozen steps
from the exit of one park
to the entrance of another.
I really can't express how... foreign
that was to me.
I mean... going from park to park
should involve a bus or monorail ride
shouldn't it?
Maybe the best thing about the California parks! Best argument for a park hopper ever.
And I'm happy to say
that out of the four of us,
I kicked some serious heinie!
Nice work!
Alison took us in by a different
route so we would get
a better view.
She knows what she's doing.
They really went all out with the
scenery here!
I was pretty gobsmacked
by it all!
The details! Everywhere!
Look at that old highway
guard rail in the above photo.
Agreed. They really knocked it out of the park with Cars Land.
It's an excellent ride!
That's one that I really
wouldn't mind waiting for again.
There aren't that many rides
that I'll wait in line for.
But that's one of them.
Thanks to the child swap, my kids got four rides in one day there. Not a bad deal if you can get it.
I love the TV antennae
on the tops of the cones.
On the way, Kay tallied up her score.
She had been keeping track
of every time she heard a kid having
a meltdown.
Today's tally stood at eleven.
I strongly suspect she missed... a lot.
What about parent meltdowns? Not that I'd know anything about that.
We also got some mini hot dogs,
which Kay proceeded to devour
since she wouldn't touch anything else.
Teenagers.
Oh, I don't know. I'd probably lean in that direction as well.
I must have said something
that insulted Liesa.
We were just sitting,
chatting, when...
All of a sudden,
Liesa throws her drink at me!!
More likely she just noticed you there. "Oh, it's pkondz. I should probably throw this drink at him."
Error number two for the night.
Apparently, Liesa was hoarding
the napkins to keep as an
impromptu souvenir of the place.
And I went and ruined them all.
Sorry, Liesa.
(I still feel badly about that,
by the way.
)
D'oh! She'll probably throw a drink at you next time she sees you for that.
We headed back to California Screamin'
(I suspect it's screaming about its lost 'g')
Makes perfect sense.
I didn't take a single photo of WOC.
Sometimes you just need to sit back
and take it all in, you know?
Yep. Or not sit, and stand packed like sardines while trying to see through people with their kids on their shoulders and take it all in.
It was one of the best nights of my life.
Disney is.. well... magic. You know?
I fell in love. Well, more in love.
There's that magic again.
No questions.
I'm not even all that sure
what we did yet!
Now I know there will be exploding helicopters.