threadwalker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
threadwalker) wrote2007-10-29 06:54 pm
threadwalker) wrote2007-10-29 06:54 pm
D-land highlights
My memorable moments:
In random order:
Seeing the fires raging in the hills along I-5 and watching the brave helicopters zip around dumping water.
Seeing the Breast Enhancement bill board in the LA area... $3k for a pair. Gotta roll my eyes.
Seeing mothers that looked like living models for the Bratz line of dolls. Totally gross!
The place smelled like smoke up through Thursday and there was an orangey-cast to the light - when I looked at the pavement, it was kind of yellowy-orange; the way the light fell on the ground did not look right.
Going into the park for a few hours Tuesday eve right after checking in. Scoping it out was fun. The kids were so excited and we squeezed in a few rides.
Nicholas did Indiana Jones for the first time and he did it with each of us; someone had to wait with Evie. N's response: Totally radical! (pumping arms in air and making Victory sign with both hands. Then switching and doing air guitar motions.... do I have a 6 yr old or a 16 yr old?)
N on his first roller coasters: Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, California Screaming. He can't get enough. I have a coaster buddy!!!
E on her first big-person rides: Soaring over California (laughed with glee the whole way), Star Tours (I convinced her we were in real outer space and she is very critical of how androids pilot), Splash Mountain, and Rip Roaring Rapids. She loves them all and wanted to do them over and over. There were other "fun" rides, but these were 'firsts' for E because she's finally tall enough to ride them.
She held her hands up in the air on Pirates this time and by the 3rd time through was brave enough to NOT clutch our legs with a death grip. She is also convinced the Pirates "Woman in red" is a princess. She toldd_salie that the woman in red was a princess and the rest were "her service". Hystertical. E was very brave on Haunted House, which can be overwhelming for someone her size. She was pretty patient when one of us would do a ride with her brother, forcing us to kick it or find something else to do.
Friday night we went to the Tiki Room after dinner at the Blue Bayou. F had never been there. I think he was underwhelmed, but E was still chattering about the "girlfriend" birds for days. After the Tiki room we did the Story Book ride, where E and N laughed as the ride host explained how giant ducks were taking over London park. I love that ride at night. Then E and daddy were heading home so N and I could do the Matterhorn. .. but as we found out, they really didn't. N and I hit the Matterhorn, which took about 30 minutes between the line and the ride, and we then raced over to Pirates hoping to get one more ride in before the park closed. And that was where, drum roll, Daddy and E were getting off right as we were getting on (absolutely NO line). So they back-pedaled into the front seat with us and the four of us closed our evening in the park on the ride together. Turns out that in the time it took us to ride the Matterhorn and get to Pirates was the time it took them to get to Pirates at E's pace. So we got to walk home together, everyone satisfied with the evening.
Best line from Hawk Girl: The Disney employees have drunk the Mouse's coolaide. (In reference to happy Disney employees).
I was very self-conscious at first that I didn't own "vacation" clothes; I crave cute clothing and the only time my wardrobe was ever "cute" is when I was pregnant. All I could pack as far as stuff that fits are fitness clothes (shorts, tank tops), a pair of jeans, and a pair of capris. I felt kind of weird wearing fitness clothes in "public" because they show my legs and arms, but after the 90 degree heat or whatever it was on Tuesday and Wednesday, I got over that and enjoyed the fact that high-tech cotton wicks away moisture. And I think the air pollution kept the kids and I from getting sun-burned since I skipped sunscreen after Thursday. Umm.. yay? Anyway, woot woot for comfy clothing.
ermine_rat started us singing the Gilligan Isle Theme song when we were finally freed from a half-hour break-down in Pirates of the Carribean. All the riders in our boat, including the strangers, joined in. I think it put everyone in a good mood following being trapped by the drowning mayor for 30 or so minutes.
Dinner at the Blue Bayou was lovely.
Dinner at Club 33 was okay, but the food (IMO) did not live up to its press. I've had better fare at local places with less build-up. Though kudos to the flourless chocolate bomb, which I tasted off F's plate, and the wine. And Curt the waiter had definitely "drunk the Mouse's coolaide". I also contend that despite dinner table commentary, I am not high maintenance; this does not mean that I don't have high standards when I'm planning stuff, but when it comes to making sure I have my more self-maintenancy-needs met, I'm self sufficient and I don't think I impose my needs on the comfort of those around me. And if that judgement was based on my ability to sweep people along in my wake, well.... that's the danger of hanging out too closely with me. It's not like it's a big secret that I have infectious enthusiasm. So... still muttering to myself about that. humph.
It still cracks me up that as we were heading into the park for dinner at Club 33, we started talking about getting Mickey hats. I got so excited, I heardermine_rat behind me tell folks that he liked going places with me because it made him look mature. (snicker) Kind of bummed we never got the hats. Next time!
The Trick-or-treat party in Ca Adventure on Thursday eve was great. A big chunk of the group went as Pirates. It was totally embarassing to get compliments on my outfit, which was a polyester thing I bought from Halloween store... I had to force myelf to stop apologizing for not making it. Also at this party, E ditched me to hold hands with G-ma Muriel. (Not one of our G-ma's, but one of our party who was happy to be shared around).
Running around with the kids on Pirate Island (formerly Tom Sawyer's Island) was lots of fun. And I'm still scared of enclosed places and did not enjoy my 30 second dodge into one of the caves to chase Evie out - she'd dodged back in after Daddy told them it was time to head out. ugh. too tight.
Goofy's Kitchen was fun. It's also interesting to note that when Cinderella left just before reaching our table and didn't come back after 30 minutes (despite reassurance she'd be back in 5-10), I was frank about my disappointment when a host rolled through to check on things. They had Cindy out 10 minutes later and she spent at least another 10 just with our table. And then I they funneled each of the other characters towards our isolated end of the world because before that we had hardly any visitors and then after Cindy it was like a non-stop parade AND they took their time. The Mad Hatter spent several minutes hanging out withermine_rat's boy under a table. That was awesome and the cameras were flashing like mad.
It was fun. Future D-land trips will be planned around doing the park during the week because it was waaaay too crowded on Friday and Saturday. I think going down on Sunday and returning on Thursday will probably be the future game plan. Which, to be honest, won't be for a few more years. A trip like this is not an annual event for us and by then Evie will be tall enough to ride on all the rides, which will be a relief for everyone.
In random order:
Seeing the fires raging in the hills along I-5 and watching the brave helicopters zip around dumping water.
Seeing the Breast Enhancement bill board in the LA area... $3k for a pair. Gotta roll my eyes.
Seeing mothers that looked like living models for the Bratz line of dolls. Totally gross!
The place smelled like smoke up through Thursday and there was an orangey-cast to the light - when I looked at the pavement, it was kind of yellowy-orange; the way the light fell on the ground did not look right.
Going into the park for a few hours Tuesday eve right after checking in. Scoping it out was fun. The kids were so excited and we squeezed in a few rides.
Nicholas did Indiana Jones for the first time and he did it with each of us; someone had to wait with Evie. N's response: Totally radical! (pumping arms in air and making Victory sign with both hands. Then switching and doing air guitar motions.... do I have a 6 yr old or a 16 yr old?)
N on his first roller coasters: Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, California Screaming. He can't get enough. I have a coaster buddy!!!
E on her first big-person rides: Soaring over California (laughed with glee the whole way), Star Tours (I convinced her we were in real outer space and she is very critical of how androids pilot), Splash Mountain, and Rip Roaring Rapids. She loves them all and wanted to do them over and over. There were other "fun" rides, but these were 'firsts' for E because she's finally tall enough to ride them.
She held her hands up in the air on Pirates this time and by the 3rd time through was brave enough to NOT clutch our legs with a death grip. She is also convinced the Pirates "Woman in red" is a princess. She told
d_salie that the woman in red was a princess and the rest were "her service". Hystertical. E was very brave on Haunted House, which can be overwhelming for someone her size. She was pretty patient when one of us would do a ride with her brother, forcing us to kick it or find something else to do. Friday night we went to the Tiki Room after dinner at the Blue Bayou. F had never been there. I think he was underwhelmed, but E was still chattering about the "girlfriend" birds for days. After the Tiki room we did the Story Book ride, where E and N laughed as the ride host explained how giant ducks were taking over London park. I love that ride at night. Then E and daddy were heading home so N and I could do the Matterhorn. .. but as we found out, they really didn't. N and I hit the Matterhorn, which took about 30 minutes between the line and the ride, and we then raced over to Pirates hoping to get one more ride in before the park closed. And that was where, drum roll, Daddy and E were getting off right as we were getting on (absolutely NO line). So they back-pedaled into the front seat with us and the four of us closed our evening in the park on the ride together. Turns out that in the time it took us to ride the Matterhorn and get to Pirates was the time it took them to get to Pirates at E's pace. So we got to walk home together, everyone satisfied with the evening.
Best line from Hawk Girl: The Disney employees have drunk the Mouse's coolaide. (In reference to happy Disney employees).
I was very self-conscious at first that I didn't own "vacation" clothes; I crave cute clothing and the only time my wardrobe was ever "cute" is when I was pregnant. All I could pack as far as stuff that fits are fitness clothes (shorts, tank tops), a pair of jeans, and a pair of capris. I felt kind of weird wearing fitness clothes in "public" because they show my legs and arms, but after the 90 degree heat or whatever it was on Tuesday and Wednesday, I got over that and enjoyed the fact that high-tech cotton wicks away moisture. And I think the air pollution kept the kids and I from getting sun-burned since I skipped sunscreen after Thursday. Umm.. yay? Anyway, woot woot for comfy clothing.
ermine_rat started us singing the Gilligan Isle Theme song when we were finally freed from a half-hour break-down in Pirates of the Carribean. All the riders in our boat, including the strangers, joined in. I think it put everyone in a good mood following being trapped by the drowning mayor for 30 or so minutes. Dinner at the Blue Bayou was lovely.
Dinner at Club 33 was okay, but the food (IMO) did not live up to its press. I've had better fare at local places with less build-up. Though kudos to the flourless chocolate bomb, which I tasted off F's plate, and the wine. And Curt the waiter had definitely "drunk the Mouse's coolaide". I also contend that despite dinner table commentary, I am not high maintenance; this does not mean that I don't have high standards when I'm planning stuff, but when it comes to making sure I have my more self-maintenancy-needs met, I'm self sufficient and I don't think I impose my needs on the comfort of those around me. And if that judgement was based on my ability to sweep people along in my wake, well.... that's the danger of hanging out too closely with me. It's not like it's a big secret that I have infectious enthusiasm. So... still muttering to myself about that. humph.
It still cracks me up that as we were heading into the park for dinner at Club 33, we started talking about getting Mickey hats. I got so excited, I heard
ermine_rat behind me tell folks that he liked going places with me because it made him look mature. (snicker) Kind of bummed we never got the hats. Next time!The Trick-or-treat party in Ca Adventure on Thursday eve was great. A big chunk of the group went as Pirates. It was totally embarassing to get compliments on my outfit, which was a polyester thing I bought from Halloween store... I had to force myelf to stop apologizing for not making it. Also at this party, E ditched me to hold hands with G-ma Muriel. (Not one of our G-ma's, but one of our party who was happy to be shared around).
Running around with the kids on Pirate Island (formerly Tom Sawyer's Island) was lots of fun. And I'm still scared of enclosed places and did not enjoy my 30 second dodge into one of the caves to chase Evie out - she'd dodged back in after Daddy told them it was time to head out. ugh. too tight.
Goofy's Kitchen was fun. It's also interesting to note that when Cinderella left just before reaching our table and didn't come back after 30 minutes (despite reassurance she'd be back in 5-10), I was frank about my disappointment when a host rolled through to check on things. They had Cindy out 10 minutes later and she spent at least another 10 just with our table. And then I they funneled each of the other characters towards our isolated end of the world because before that we had hardly any visitors and then after Cindy it was like a non-stop parade AND they took their time. The Mad Hatter spent several minutes hanging out with
ermine_rat's boy under a table. That was awesome and the cameras were flashing like mad. It was fun. Future D-land trips will be planned around doing the park during the week because it was waaaay too crowded on Friday and Saturday. I think going down on Sunday and returning on Thursday will probably be the future game plan. Which, to be honest, won't be for a few more years. A trip like this is not an annual event for us and by then Evie will be tall enough to ride on all the rides, which will be a relief for everyone.
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OK, now *that's* funny. :-)