Elizabeth and I went to L.A. for Coral’s second birthday and a trip to Disneyland. Here is an enthralling, attention grabbing photo essay of the trip:

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Tuesday we rode Space Mountain, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Teacups, Mark Twain and did the ride around the park. After a dole whip and lots of water, we headed for my parents about quarter to 1.

Hung out at the folks, had lunch, headed to the airport for our 7:05 flight, which left around 10:15 due to a radar outage in Palmdale, shutting down all of So Cal flights. We were fortunate that our flight was a hop through with no transfers. Others ended up cancelled and had to find hotels on their own dime.

We have a great time despite the heat, pain and long days of exhaustion. I can’t wait to go back!

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Today is Disneyland’s 51st birthday and it is much cooler. It was warm at the mouseplanet.com meet n greet. Met Newell (sp?) and Promoman, along with Adrienne and Andrew. I didn’t see Jo, so hopefully she was sleeping peacefully.

We started the morning on the monorail, then autopia, then over to DCA where we learned Soarin’ Over Calif is open 30 mins before park opening, so we rode that, then ToT. Calif Screamin’ was shutdown for an unknown length of time. By the time we found water, etc, it was time for the meet n greet, so back over to DL, then to pirates, then we left to have lunch at mimi’s. Now its 4 hours of resting the feets (which I still don’t know why they hurt so much this trip, I bought “the best walking shoes” but I don’t think they have any give whatsoever) and then my brother is coming out to meet us around 6 to finish off DCA in style.

Its very very windy now and cloudy, so the thunderstorm predictions may come true and change our evening plans, but no matter, its been a really fun trip. We’ve seen all we came to see, ridden just about everything and have had a lot of fun!

Today we hit Target at 8am for socks and goodies. Then to the park and ran into my brother who was finishing planning my 40th birthday surprise! He lives down here and put together a treasure hunt where we had to go around and find clues to prizes. Was very fun, a lot of work on his part! I got the pirates dice game from dead man’s chest, the dmc version of pirates Life, a framed map of my treasure hunt, a piece of cursed pirate treasure and some dvds on pirate lore. Oh and a book I won’t mention

It was really awesome! I have a super brother.

It is cooler today, this morning was great. we went on space mountain twice, buzz twice (as part of the treasure hunt) , haunted mansion and had lunch. We did the 50th anniversary show then headed back to the hotel as the clouds burned off and it was getting very hot again. I think the small crowds today were thanks to the heat. Its quite unbearable with the humidity. It sprinkled a little even. Tomorrow it says thunderstorms.

Its so humid my legs are chaffing where they rub (I need to work out!) I went to target and picked up some generic gold bond medicated powder. Let me tell you - The commercials were right! This stuff is awesome. I also tossed out my crappy boxers and bought “boxer briefs” of which I am a new fan of. The combination of those two devices took me from a very hurting, red, wobbling person right back to normal. Amazing!

I also picked up water for tomorrow am (half price) and some stuff for the room. We then went back to Disneyland at 5 (took the car this time vs walking from the hojo) and I went to sign in 20 mins early at 5:10 only to realize the reservations were for 5:10! Whew! We asked for waterfront seating and got that in all of 2 mins.

The Blue Bayou was refurbished along with the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and along with the food, the prices were also updated. Prime Rib? $30. Pork Chops? $25. However before you keel over, the food was amazing. Much better than I have ever had at the Bayou. Much less potatoes now, and au-gratin to boot, but much more meat. The prime rib was 5 pepper rubbed and medium was perfect. The pork chops were a double chop and topped in apples. Really, really good.

We finished the meal off with the Flying Dutchman dessert boat which while entire edible, the sail and mast are not very tasty. The cookie hull and ice cream topping were delicious though!

The menus are commemorative Jack Sparrow menus, laminated and we got to keep those as souvenirs. They are only giving them away for 3 months, so this is a really nice catch.

We next saw the parade of dreams. Main Street was really empty for the parade compared to most days. We walked up with 5 mins to go and got a spot right behind the front row.

We then went to Fantasyland and caught a bunch of rides there. It was now 8:30 so we headed to the main street side of the hub, sat on the curb and waited for the show. The fireworks were great! We didn’t see every effect but the audio is much better back there and we got to be in the middle of the hub fireworks.

After the show we did some shopping for more clothes and called it a night.

Tomorrow AM we’re going to DCA for ToT and Calif Screaming, then to the hub at noon for the meet n greet, then back to DCA.

Our feet are pretty worn out, thanks to the heat and sweat and all. Makes those shoes quite warm But we’ll make it through because its the happiest place on earth, even in the middle of summer!

Ahoy Mates from ‘he happiest seas on earth! Let me tell ye, me and me wench be wishing we be on ‘he seas! We be wakin’ up at 5am to take that flying dutchman to ‘he park. Check into our cabin and get into ‘he park around 12:45pm. It be hot! 6 bottles of water later, we still be thirsty. Fine out me weagther buddy say it be 101 today! I believe it too, and humid like the high seas.

We be ridin’ plenty of rides, includin’ seein’ Capn’ Jack who be mighty fine!

We be sittin’ fer 2 hours ter be watchin’ ‘he fireworks from ‘he prime location and den dey be cancellin’ ‘he show der ter ‘he winds! Arrrrrrrrrrgh!

We be watchin’ fantasmic and endin’ ‘he day on ‘he Splash Mountain, where me hook slipped and me stepped on me wench’s foot gettin’ into ‘he log. Ye’d thinks a sea worthy pirate would have better footin’ on ‘he wet bench but alas, me just be hopin’ it not swell ‘r nothin’.

I be tinkin’ me be gettin’ a little sunburned on me shoulder, even tho’ we applied much good sunscreen, so me be more careful termorrow.

We be havin a fun time, more reportin’ later!

Boing Boing reports on a cool new Haunted Mansion papercraft model!

Read

A quite nice, not too spoiling review of the movification of our beloved attraction can be read here.

Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Room turns 43 today!

My mom bought Chef Mayhem’s “The Secrets of Disney’s Haunted Mansion” from Doombuggies.com. How cool is this to find the fan section and see myself!

Can you spot me? (I gave a huge clue in the comments hehe)

A very cool Haunted Mansion Blog

The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland has a new bride. Her name is Constance and Chef Mayhem has a blog post about her and the actress here!

Forgot to mention - on Wednesday we all beta tested the new Monsters, Inc attraction in DCA.

It was pretty good! They used the same limo vehicles as superstar limo, but repainted as cabs.

The color and story were very good!

On Thursday Sara and I went back to Disneyland and I bought a killer Wittnauer watch!

We rode Pirates (check out the lines!), Jungle Boat and Tiki Room, then headed over to DCA to do Soaring over California. It was already 2:30 by the time we got out of DCA and headed home!

So much to write about!

On Wednesday Matt joined us for a fun day in the park!

Sara and I were so exhausted! First off, how much does Jo rock?! She gave Sara a pass for tomorrow! We met her at the parking lot today and had a nice chat. Poor Jo had to go back to work 9 hours after her shift and they added a THIRD Fantasmic at 11:30! (Jo works at Disneyland and hangs out at mouseplanet.com

Jo and Steve (Sara follows)

Guess what?!!? We fast passed Space Mountain and went to ride at 11:20. By then the attraction was fast passed out! Yow! So we get on the ride and Sara is screamin’ and hollerin’ and then it STOPS in the pitch black, on the next to last set of turns! A voice comes over the speaker to remain seated and then they TURN ON THE LIGHTS! I had left my SLR in the locker (Darn!) but Sara got some cool pics with her cell phone! How rocking is that?

After 10 mins of my brother and I geeking out they started to push the trains one by one, starting at the bottom of course hehe. We were the third train to be pushed and had the rest of the ride with the lights on! They said we could ride again which we did of course! I’ve been riding Space Mountain for 26 years and this was a first for me.

Space Mountain Lights On Pics

Speaking of firsts, the other day we were on Matterhorn and they pulled our sled out to add more sleds on. So we go to go around a second time on that also!

Another first, I rode the carousel!

Yet another first, we rode in the front of the monorail!

All new pics start here!

Stories later, pictures for now!

Pictures

Pictures of the most adorable baby in the park!

There are just 15 days till I’m in the park, taking my niece around, be still my heart, there’s so much for me to share, though its kinda sad that at 7 months she has more hair, I’m a happy geek after all……

This is a sweet site of DIY Disney crafts?