The Happiest Place on Earth

The week before Thanksgiving we went on our third trip to Disneyland in the space of twelve months. My faith and love has been restored. It was the Disneyland I know and love. The crowds weren’t there, the temperature was great and the new Christmas decorations would have even the Grinch singing Fa La La La La. It was magical.

We flew into Long Beach airport (Bwahahaha! I’ not sure you can really call it an airport, but I digress…) very early Tuesday morning. We had our breakfast, got changed and found a Wal Mart where we bought deodorant and still got into the park by 11:00 am.

It was Mickey’s 80^th Birthday (we were also there on his 75^th Birthday!) and Emma and I were able to see him ride off with his best friends after being wished a Happy Birthday in a very fancy, very Disney style car. Notice the hood ornament and tires!

We were able to zoom onto every ride we wanted, meet Tinkerbell (here is Emma in Pixie Hallow)

and have our Dole Whips and clam chowder with time to spare.

Our friends arrived that night and the next morning we started our first official day of vacation out right with a continental breakfast of waffles, donuts and hot chocolate. The kids were so excited to get into Disneyland with their friends and to show them all around.

Their first priority was to ride on Indiana Jones. After we tackled Adventure Land, we then made our way to New Orleans Square. We found out that A Small World was having a soft opening after 10 months of renovations and got to enjoy all the lights that evening. It was beautiful and relaxing.

We got to do and ride just about everything we wanted to that day.

Thursday we ate at Goofy’s kitchen, which was great (Paul is even talking about “the next time we go” GASP!!!)

and then we went into California Adventure. We rode everything there, often more than once and left feeling satisfied that we had done all there was to do. I even managed to get Paul on the Hollywood Tower of Terror one last time. I have never laughed so hard. His eyes were squeezed shut so tight and I couldn’t help but claw at Maggie’s arm each time we dropped.
Friday was different. It was the first “official” day of Christmas in Disneyland. There was media set up everywhere and the crowds were back. We still managed to revisit our favorite rides and have a good day. Nothing beats soaring around the corner in a Matterhorn Bobsled and catching a glimpse the Small World all aglow below you.

It was also the first time, since we had arrived, that they turned on all the Castle Lights. It was amazing!

Saturday Robb, Maggie, Chandler and Olivia had an early flight home but we were able to go into the park for a few hours. We kept it easy and only rode one ride, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We took the train around the park, saw all the princess’s

on our way out and got a nice dinner before driving back to Long Beach. We got home late that night where our fluffy Monsieur Marius greeted us. It was good to be home, especially in a dry house!