Disneyland!

 

The happiest place on earth!  I haven't been there in over 20 years so Sandi and I were thrilled to join her family on vacation this September. 

If you don't go with the Reimer's to Disneyland, there is a good chance you are missing out.  They know both Disneyland and California Adventure like the back of their hand.  Before we arrived, they asked me what I wanted to do first and then created a primary plan with a few contingency plans.  Good thing too because the Haunted Mansion was being redecorated for Halloween AND Indiana Jones had a temporary closure.  The Jungle Cruise is close by and the Splash Mountain lines are short (plus, its hot enough to get wet).

Main Street heading for the castle

Believe it or not, this was a highlight

I loved walking around and seeing all the Star Wars t-shirts - my favorite was 9 storm-trooper heads in a matrix each describing their unique emotion.  Oh, I laughed.  I should have made my own light-saber but I didn't want to pass through the airport security line with such a powerful weapon.

Gabe (Joy's boyfriend), Joy, Gerald, Scott

Thunder Mountain - one of my favorite rides

 

As magical as Disneyland is, Cars Land (in California Adventure) is just plain cool.

 




Grizzly Mountain was a great inner tube ride through a California River.

Mr. Potato Head at the Midway

Scott guiding us through the Bay Area

Notice the net repair sign in the background

What a catch!

Downtown Hollywood

The Tower of Terror!



Sandi went to an animation studio to learn how to draw a cartoon character. I asked to bring back Olaf, the snowman.  Sure enough, she came with his head. 

Downtown San Francisco

We park-hopped for 3 days.  Sandi and her family showed me their favorite rides (and guided me past the ones to avoid).  Gerald treated us to an amazing dinner at the Blue Bayou Thursday evening.  We rode Pirates as many times as practical and even saw Mickey's house. 

We saw an amazing laser-light show in California Adventure (using water fountains as the screen) on Thursday night.  The fireworks over the castle on Friday night gave a memorable close to a fantastic theme park.  When can we go again!!!???