Disneyland

We stayed at a Motel 6 in Coalinga on Wednesday night, and they did not have internet access. So the previous post was delayed by about 36 hours from the time it was written until the time it was posted. When I fired up the computer to post it, it complained twice about a bad network connection, and it crashed once. When I fired up Safari to post using the online form, it also crashed, but the post did get delivered. Grrr.

We got into DL about 4 pm Thursday, but we had to eat first. Storyteller's Cafe at the Grand Californian Hotel, gluten-free pizzas (one for each of us) and grilled salmon without any seasonings. It was all wonderful. We had pretty much written off doing anything at DL because it was late in the afternoon, but it turns out DL had sold out and turned customers away, so they kept all the parks open late (California Adventure until 9 pm, Disneyland until midnight).

In California Adventure  we met up with the Bachos and went on the Tower of Terror, over an hour waiting in line. Then another hour in line at Soaring over California. Then the line at the roller coaster was short, so even though the Bachos had fast passes we waited in the short line. Then we used the fast passes to go on it a second time! Jerry let me use his fast pass since he can only stomach the ride one time.

In Disneyland  we walked right onto Pirates of the Caribbean. When we came out, we were in a prime location to view the Fantasmic (sp?) smoke-and-mirrors presentation over the water at New Orleans Square. Mary and I thought we had seen this before, but none of it was familiar. Very well done and quite different from any of the other fireworks displays we've seen, with live dancers, puppets, lasers, and movie clips being shown on a smokescreen of water vapor from the fountains. Then we walked right into Indiana Jones. I love it when Mary screams at the spiders on the wall. A treat for me was going on the Matterhorn. Mary and I have never been in condition to ride it before, so it has been at least ten years since I've been on it. Finally, we walked right into Small World, which has a long line during the day. By this time, it was almost midnight. They've redone Small World with a Christmas theme, which none of us had ever seen before. It's all red, green, and gold, with gift-wrapped boxes, reindeer, and poinsettas scattered throughout. They also changed the music to a medley of Small World, Jingle Bells, and Deck the Halls. I did notice that there were signs saying Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, Happy New Year, and Feliz Navidad, but none saying Merry Christmas. We promised ourselves to take another look around the park today to see how consistent this is.

I think today's plans call for Space Mountain, Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear, and Peter Pan. A gluten free burger at Club Buzz. Liberal use of fast passes. Another sold out day at the park. And hopefully the Electrical Parade in CA, which was rained out last night.