Disneyland and California Adventures

Been over 10 years since I've stepped into the "Happiest Place on Earth."  Last time I was here... I was a new college grad.  Boatload of debt.  Single.  Young.  Energetic.  Naive.  My how things have changed...

This was a new experience.  We decided to go all outs and stay at the Disney Resort right in the heart of Disneyland and California Adventures.  Didn't pay premium price...but it certainly wasn't cheap either.  The main thing was...we wanted some place close that didn't require us to drive back to the hotel for nap time.  As it turned out... that was the 2nd wisest decision we made.  The first was....to bring a friggin' rice cooker.  More on that later.

Disneyland has gotten smaller than I remember.  Joyce and I literally got done with California Adventures in half a day.  And likewise, we got done with Disneyland within 2 hours - since we had early admission prior to the general public.  A lot of things we decided to skip...or didn't bother waiting in line for.  The rest of the time...we either spent in line with Nui-nui (the kiddie rides) or we spent in the hotel pool.

As for the kiddie rides.... at Nui-nui's age...   it's more torture than enjoyment.  First of all... she has no concept of waiting in lines.  So to be in line for 30 minutes, and seeing people get on and off rides is a unfair...and unfathomable.  And after 30 minutes of tortuous waiting... they finally get to enjoy the 2 minute ride.  Oh boy!! As the ride comes to an end, they scream in terror...cuz they want it to continue or want to "do it again!" 
Torture for the kids?? Or torture for the parent who has to pull their crying child off the ride...only to reveal to them the truth about life.... it's UNFAIR.  Sigh...

As always.. and as expected... "It's A Small World" was the favorite ride.  But the favorite moment (or moments) have got to be seeing the princesses.  "AHHH!!!"  Forget any tiredness...any slumber... any hunger.  Once she saw Snow White walk out.... Nui-nui was more awake than a child who just inhaled an espresso at a Toys r Us.   Course...that excitement took it's toll.  We had reservations at Aerial's Grotto for Lunch with the Princesses.  And due to some miscommunication (or no communication), we almost missed it.  Have never seen Joyce so peeved....she was so angry she was on the verge of tears.  And all that....so her precious daughter (our precious daughter) can have those "AHHHH!" moments.  Sigh...to be a parent.  To be a loving mother.

Back to the rice cooker.  When that first idea was brought up...it was nothing more than a joke. Who brings a rice cooker to vacation? To Disneyland!?!  But nonetheless...we had it.  And boy...it was invaluable.  We needed to heat up (or almost had to cook) porridge for Bebe who still only eats one thing and one thing only.  None of the hotels we lived at had personal microwaves and there's no way they'll let us use the staff kitchen.  So each day...we fired up the rice cooker before we left the hotel room.  Furthermore... the ricecooker allowed us to make some simple breakfast and snack - macaroni, spam, chicken soup.  After 2-3 days of bacon and eggs... one really has to go to something else.  Embarrassing?? Sure. But practical.  Definitely!! 

I'd be remissed if I didn't mention Star Tours.  The one ride that made this trip worthwhile.  And in fact, I got to go on it twice.  With the average wait time being 60 minutes despite having 5 screens.  And with the fastpass times being 4-5 hours beyond the time it was available... I was lucky enough to have early park admission where the wait time was 5 minutes.  The ride itself was nothing compared to the very very first time (circa 1988?) that I rode this ride.  But was still an experience of experiences.

There's still a million and one things to write about.  The fact that Nui-nui hated the ugly characters and loved the cute characters..... how Bebe loved all kinds of characters, with no fear.... the outpouring of memories of the previous trips with my family.... the food excursions we took while in SoCal.... the fact that I'm a planner and I hate when things go unplanned or awry..... but most of all.... I will cherish those few moments where Joyce and I were able to spend time alone, embracing one another.  Regardless of where we are...that is truly the happiest place on earth.