Last Official Day at Disney :(

The last official day of Disney was such a busy day. But after 7 days of vacation where we were going, going, going, it was starting to get to us. Nevertheless, we crammed everything in that we could.
We started the day at Disneyland, my favorite :)
Because we stayed on property we were invited to a special Town Hall Meeting in Toontown, that was shut off to general admission people.
Before it started I toured Minnie's house :)
Then went to the meeting, where Mayor Mickey spoke to all us Toon Town Citizens :) After a little bit of dancing we got our Honorary Citizen pin for our lanyards and headed back to the rides. I really wanted Minnie's autograph but I couldn't find her and it was a 30 minute wait at her house. I had so much I wanted to do though, so I left :(
Then we got to ride the iconic Tea Cups!!!
Duh, I rode a pink one...
Then we rode the Storybook Canals. Super cute but those little boats freak me out, always feel like I'm going to tip over.
Ah!!!!!!! Eaten by the whale....just like Pinocchio
Sleeping Beauty's castle through the storybook canal ride.
Aladdin's (miniature) palace. So cute...
Then we drove down the Disney highway at Autotopia. (Not really my favorite because the pedals are short and it takes a LOT of push them but on a positive note, I got a great leg work out :)
Loading the cars...
Then Kathy and I rode the Astro Orbiter. Just like Dumbo but much more Tomorrowland-ish.
Weeeeee!
Then we went to see the Enchanted Tiki Room show with everyone...
Watching (essentially) the same show that was performed since 1963! That was really neat. Me and my historical stuff :)
Then we all went on a safari on the Jungle Cruise! Lol (again, with the boats? yikes)
I saw some elephants! And we saw some other animals and even some scary savages but we survived. :)
Then Brandon had made us reservations at Cafe Orleans and we had a yummy monte cristo sandwich and some great parmesan fries.
Yummy french fries! And the orange onion ring sauce stuff was amaazingggg
Then we went to ride Winnie the Pooh but I found all the characters in line signing autographs so I HAD to go!
Kathy joined the line soon after and we ended up on our own. Got a Tigger Tail desert that was pretty interesting. Marshmallows on a stick, dipped caramel and then COVERED with orange and black sprinkles to make it look like a REAL Tigger's tail. IT was ok .... to me it was just kinda weird. But very unique and very much worth the experience. I love trying new things...
Then we BOOKED it to Aladdin's show in Adventure Land. Kathy and I totally forgot so we almost missed it. Some women in line thought we were William and Brandon's wives so she let us cut her line. So sweet!
The genie was the star of the show, for real!
Really an amazing production, probably better than Broadway.
Aladdin and Jasmine are literally FLYING while singing "A Whole New World." You can hardly see them here but there's a blue light in the top right hand corner, that's them! They come out of the ceiling and fly over the crowd. Because we were on the second level we were eye-to-eye with them and loved it.
Then I talked everyone into going to the Monsters Inc ride. LOVE this movie!!!
My favorite character... :) "Mike Wizowsky" her best line.
Then everyone else went back to the room but I decided to stay out and see what was happening...Did some souvenir shopping and got a pretzel. (SO not worth it!)
Then we met back to ride Sourin California. HOLY COW!! AWESOME!!!!!!
Didn't really get Electronia Nights...
So with the loud dance music I went into this store... "Off the Page?" Does it sound like a book store perhaps?!? Duh.... I was hooked. Found some GREAT books but only got one on inspiring writers (for my students).
Then we rode Tower of Terror in the DARK. Amazing even more the second time!
We ran around riding more rides a second time, like Indiana Jones and Space Mountain, with all the fast passes William had gotten us. Think we rode Haunted Mansion again too. It was so much fun, wish the park stayed open even later than midnight. But eventually it was time to go and I got a hot dog and headed out of the park.

And to sum up my trip to Disneyland.......My Mickey signature. <3 you, Mickey.....I always have. I always will.

Day 6: California Adventures

Day 6 of our vacation was really fun because we did the other park at Disney: California Adventures. <3 Brandon and Kathy woke up and did "early mornings" at 7am but I met up with everyone at 9am when Cali Ad opened at the "on property" entrance :p Perks of staying on property are worth it! The view of the set-up when you walk into the park from the Main Entrance.

Brandon and Kathy bought us coffee and breakfast sweets while walking from Disneyland Park. The black thing on the left was the fork...so, if you can try to picture imagine, it was HUGE!

We headed to the Disney Backdrop at the end of Cali Adventures to...

...go ride Tower or Terror!! Holy crap, that ride was scary!!! But probably ended up being one of my favorite rides. We got a Fast Pass to ride it later that night and rode it at that time too. Definitely a little more fun at night but that ride is fun at anytime of day, really.

Then we headed to the Animation Studios. I loved being in this huge room because Disney music was playing really loud and I was singing along to all the songs while a lot of their artwork was flashing slowly on the big screens.

All the different rooms had different animation games/interactive exhibits. My favorite was this library set up with about 4-6 different chairs set up at computer screens. You answer all these questions about yourself then they tell you which character you are most like. I...was most like Lady from Lady and the Tramp.

And my second favorite attraction was the karaoke studio where you practice singing one of four disney songs, and as you do it records your voice then plays the video back with YOUR voice in it. Now, I've ALWAYS had a dream of being the voice of a Disney princess so this was so fun for me...Just wish they had had Disney princess songs... I ended up being the voice of a dang warthog!

Then I met Sully!!!!! We got the best group picture of him, too. Pricesless :) (Excuse the random beer gut in the picture)

Then the Brandon, William and Kathy went to the drawing class while I did Turtle Talk with Crush from Finding Nemo. It was cute and very cool what they can do with technology today.

And while the others smoked (again...) I went to meet Mr. Incredible. Totally sweet :)

Then we headed to A Bug's Land from......A Bug's Life. Probably my favorite Theme sections of the park. Even the bathrooms had symbols of men and women bugs.

We rode Heimlich's Chew Chew Train (because Brandon and William hadn't read it yet). Why? You ask... Because each of the food products you pass by .... smells like the actual item!

" The snauseberries taste like snauseberries" Lol, no it was watermelon. The animal crackers were cute, too. I wish you could walk around the food rather than take the ride, though.

Then we (FINALLY) went to ride the NEW Little Mermaid ride that had opened like a week prior to our visit.

It was AMAZING!!!! (Didn't get good pictures, but the ride was so good.)

Paradise Pier is so picturesque...even on a dreary morning :)

And again...they smoked, I rode a ride by myself. Love carousels!

Then Brandon, Kathy and I rode the Mickey's Wheel of .... Fun? No...

Mickey's Wheel of TERROR. We got in the rocking carousels that go in the middle of the carousel. Wow....really felt like I was dying and almost had to use the barf bags. It took a LOT to get through it...I'm such a wimp. But, technically, not REALLY, I just had been to Six Flags a couple days before then.

Then (the worst part of the day) we stood in line for like an hour-hour and a half to go play Toy Story Midway Games. I've played this game on Wii so I kind of had an advantage. The games change over and over.....and it's SO much fun!!

Then Brandon, Kathy and William went to the hotel to rest up (since they'd been up early) and get ready for Napa Rose. I stayed and did some rides on my own. :)

Got a corn dog to hold over til dinner. Good stuff....

Rode the big swings and I'm pretty sure this was the 2nd scariest ride...I don't know why the baby rides are scarier to me than the huge ones.

Went back to A Bug's Land and rode Flik's Flyer. Cute, really. Much more fun than the death swings. :)

And, finally, it was time for our reservation at Napa Rose. Amazing food, very nice.

I had scallops for an appetizer and salmon for the main course. So good. Brandon, William and Kathy got the tasting menu with the wine courses, too. I didn't feel like paying the price. But, the desert wine (made ONLY at Disneyland) was so good, I had to get a bottle (for only $45). One splurge a trip, you know... ;) I wish...

The vino...

Then we went to see the (amazing production) called World of Color. While waiting the ferris wheel makes these beautiful colors. I got this shot right in time. Love it, very proud!

The colorful lazer show is one of the best (the night shows really are worth every minute it takes to get a good spot). The Disney movies and music make it over the top. Another great day of Disney. I miss it...