Feb 2007 - Pirates Throughout

As usual, we went on a one day notice although we had been thinking about it for a while. Our stay at the Anaheim Plaza Inn and Suites was great as usual.

Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Traveled from Ogden to Mesquite where we stayed at the Virgin River Casino. They are as crooked as the Utah landscape and falsely advertise room rates for many miles before one arrives, we paid $39.99 for the night and the room was adequate. The signs advertised $19.99.

Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Got up this morning and drove from Mesquite to Anaheim then checked in to the Anaheim Plaza Hotel and Suites. The place is old but clean, inexpensive and very, very close to the west gate of Disneyland.

We arrived at the front gate at 4:45pm after a 748 mile/11hr (driving time only) trip to the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland. Stops added 2.5 more hours.

We walked through the front gate of Disneyland at 4:45pm. Every time we do this we have a dizzy feeling of “I can’t believe we are here again!”

Our first stop was the Jungle Cruise. We exited then picked up Indy FASTPass and headed to Pirates, our most frequently visited attraction in all of Disneyland. The Jack Sparrow cameos in Pirates are excellent.

After Pirates we stopped in at the Blue Bayou and made reservations for Thursday, then we east on Royal Street to the Royal Street Veranda where we bought bread bowl soups. Clam chowder is good, the Cajun soup is not. We ate in the River Belle Terrace so the kids could get something else. Our kids really don’t like Disneyland food. They are tired of eating chicken strips, nasty little hamburgers, grilled cheese, etc. So, we brought a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter, and individual cups of applesauce and mandarin oranges. They couldn't have been happier and did eat small things from the Disneyland restaurants now and again.

Then to Indiana Jones. Then we cruised over to Fantasyland for Pinocchio, Snow White and King Arthur’s Carousel. The Park closed at 8pm so we headed back to the hotel.

Thursday, February 8, 2007
Our first stop was the traditional Carnation Cafe. We all has waffles except my wife who had the Benedict Arnold. Disneyland’s Benedict Arnold is the best anywhere. Their hollandaise is light and very good. While the family was in line for Carnation I went to get 4 Buzz FASTPass'.

After a great breakfast we headed to Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. There was virtually no line so we walked right on. The ride stopped at an opportune place and I scored the best I have ever since I could shoot a high point target several times.

After Buzz we checked out Star Trader then couldn't resist another cruise on Pirates.

Unfortunately, Splash Mountain was closed so we went on Winnie the Pooh twice and then browsed Pooh Corner. On our way out of Critter Country we went on the Haunted Mansion.

Continuing through New Orleans Square we stopped at listened to the Bootleggers, the new Pirates musical show on the south end of the Rivers of America but south of the water’s edge. They were so good.

We then went on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Then back to the Tarzan Treehouse and on Pirates again after that.

Then it was time for the Blue Bayou. They raised the price of prime rib from $18.99 last year to $29.99 this year. Overall we has a nice time there but we certainly don’t go for the food. The atmosphere is great. It is quiet and peaceful, cool, and very fun to watch the Pirate boats go by. As always, the kids each got a pirate hat with a menu on it. I also was given the new menu to take home. Very cool.

While the family made their way to Small World I ran and picked up some Space Mountain FastPasses. After Small World we went on Space Mountain.

As luck would have it the Parade of Dreams started not long after we were crossing from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland. We sat on Small World Way on the east side fairly close to Small World. We had a front row seat.

After the parade we went on Snow White’s Scary Adventures, The Adventures of Pinocchio and Peter Pan’s Flight.

On the way out of the Park we stopped at the Candy Palace and loaded up. While the family waited I hurried to the Blue Bayou for Friday reservations. Couldn't resist one more visit even though it is expensive.

Friday, February 9, 2007
We arrived at the Main Street fire station at 11:40am.

We started in Fantasyland with Alice and then to the White Rabbit’s house for photos but mainly, to knock on his door and see if here was there (he never has been but we try every year).

Then on the Storybookland Canal Boats. My kids were able to sit on the front of the boat so they could see better. Since our late lunch at the Blue Bayou was approaching we headed down Big Thunder Trail and stopped at the petting zoo where the kids met Goofy. That was fun.

Our second meal at the Blue Bayou was just as fun as the first. We love to wave at the boats going by. The food was marginal again but I didn't mind. After our meal and great adventure, we went to the Mint Julep bar for two Mint Juleps. The kids finally talked me into buying pirate paraphernalia in Pieces of Eight. Since the kids were decked out in pirate swag, we had to ride Pirates again, which was our fifth time.

As we exited Pirates we decided to go on the Mark Twain River Boat. After sitting down Woody joined us at the front of the boat. The kids has a huge smile on their faces for the entire excursion. Very fun although Disneyland needs to do something with the Rivers of America. That area has not had attention in many years. They need something new and fun there!

Then we went and visited Goofy’s Playhouse, Donald’s boat, Mickey’s house and Minnie’s house. We never spend a lot of time there but it is always worth it once a trip.

Our final attraction of the day was Aladdin’s Oasis. They tell the same story year after year, but the kids still like it. They all sit on a large rug in front by the stage, while adults sit towards the back on chairs (thank goodness).

On the way across the esplanade, with a destination of the hotel for a nap, I ran into DCA and bought a bucket of caramel corn. Disneyland’s caramel corn is the best! I wrote and asked for the recipe but they refused to share it.

After a short but much-needed rest we came back to the Park and bought corn dogs at the Little Red Wagon. This was in preparation for the fireworks which we watched in front of the carnation plaza gardens. For the first time ever, the corn dogs were not good. They had prepared several in advance so they tasted like oil and the fried batter had become soggy.

The fireworks were good although the tables and chair out and away from Coke Corner is not a great place to sit. The trees obstruct quite a lot of the view.

Saturday, February 10, 2007
We ate breakfast at the hotel this day then went straight to Playhouse Disney. The show is the same and needs to be updated.

For the first time, we went to the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail area to play before watching the Brother Bear Totem Ceremony, which we also had never seen. The trail really was fun. We hiked, climbed, my daughter road a zip line swing, my son jumped in the “creek” part of the trail, then they both went down fun slides and we ended up at the ceremony. It was quite cool. Afterwards the kids met the characters. The two moose from the movie, who were both in a totem pole, were very funny.

We then left the Redwood Creek area and headed for the Boardwalk. We rode the Jumpin’ Jellyfish, then played on the SS Rustworthy boat. Then off to King Triton’s Carousel for three rides. Very fun.

We decided we were hungry so in the Bay Area we ate in the Mexican restaurant. The food was mediocre. Afterward we took the bakery tour and had shakes at San Andreas Shakers. Utah really does have the best ice cream!

We then turned east and went into a Bug’s Land where we saw the It’s Tough to Be a Bug movie. Then we got Soarin’ FASTPass’ and headed to the Backlot. We went into the Disney Animation building and saw all of the things we never had before: Talk With Crush (out of this world), Animation Academy and the Sorcerer’s Workshop which included the Beast’s Library. Good, good times. All of those things were very fun and worth the time.

Then we went on Soarin’ twice. On the way back to the Backlot we stopped at the Candy Shoppe to get our energy up, then rode Monsters Inc. three times. And it was great every time. That is a great attraction. After Monsters we saw Muppets 3D and ended the day at Engine Ear Toys.

Sunday, February 11, 2007
Our 11am breakfast at the River Belle Terrace was fantastic. I got the fruit plate and we also had Mickey Mouse pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, orange juice and some great views of the Rivers of America. We love to just sit and watch.

After breakfast we waddled to the Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. Then we walked through the Briar Patch and onto the Haunted Mansion.

Then on to the Enchanted Tiki Room.

My wife and daughter went on Star Tours while my son and I got Space Mountain FASTPass and were able to see Buzz Lightyear in front of Star Trader.

Then we watched the First 50 Years movie in the Opera House.

We rode the Matterhorn next followed by Buzz again.

We had lunch at the Bengal BBQ then browsed in the Frontierland shops, then watched Billy Hill and the Hillbillies in the Golden Horseshoe.

Afterward we went on Indy and finally, it was time for Space Mountain.

It was that time of day so we headed to Fantasyland where we road Mr. Toad, Dumbo, Casey Jr. King Arthur twice, then ate churros on our way to Pirates. Just before heading over to the fireworks we picked up a Mint Julep at the Mint Julep Bar. We watched the fireworks from a table near Coke Corner.

We caught the late Fantasmic show while eating skewers from the Bengal BBQ.

Always somber, our traditional ride on Pirates as the last attraction is fun, yet sad. This trip we just simply did not have enough time. We needed another day for Sea World, another day for the beach and sea food, and another day in the Happiest Place on Earth. Five days at the Magic Kingdom is no longer enough.

As we made our way out of the Magic Kingdom we went through practically every Main Street east-side shop then emporium walked through the emporium for a couple last minute purchases and out the gate for the last time in 2007.

Feb 2006 -

Coming soon...

May 2005 - Opening weekend: 50th Anniversary Celebration

Coming...

October 2004 - Weekend for Mom & Dad

Three times in one year is a little embarrassing, but it is a new record for us!

Friday October 22, 2004
Flew Delta to LA (much cheaper than going to John Wayne for some reason) and rented from Hertz right in the airport. Got a convertible mustang for $30/day.

Jumped in the Mustang and freakin' cruised to Universal Studios. Spent the day with Front of the Line passes ($79.99 each on the net). Not sure that they [front of the line passes] were worth it since it was not extremely busy on this day.

Attractions we went on:

• Jurassic Park (twice)
• Back to the Future, never again-don't like motion simulators
• Waterworld, very cool
• Revenge of the Mummy, twice and never again- going backwards in a roller coaster put my stomach over the edge
• Backlot Tour, always good
• Shrek 4-D, very cool
• Terminator 3-D, cool but too noisy
• Van Helsing haunted house, VERY cool
  

Finished off the long and fun day with Sushi in a small café at the City Walk. First time we had vacationed without our kids since 1998.

The drive back to our motel in Anaheim wasbrutall due to Friday night traffic.

Saturday October 23, 2004
All day at Disneyland on E-Ticket attractions. We bought annual passports with the idea of returning and using them again. Did so in May 2005 which made it worth it.

Started day at Carnation Café as usual and had waffles.

Attractions:

• Splash
• California Screamin'
• Grizzly Rapids, twice and I got soaked!, not wet soaked
• Mulholland Madness (wild mouse)
• Pirates
• Haunted Mansion Holiday, lame
• Jungle Cruise
• Tarzan Treehouse, why without the kids?
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, oh yeah!
• Soarin' Over California, always good
• Blue Bayou for prime rib, had waitress take our photo

Had dinner at the Plaza Inn then pretty much shopped all of Main Street USA on our way out.

Sunday October 24, 2004
Newport Beach for crab and shrimp from Crab Cooker. Walked up and down the beach and the pier. Personally, I think the beach is lame but the wife and kids like it.

Flight home was a little depressing but it was fun to see the kids again. They both liked the surprises we bought them.

April 2004 - Two Times the Charm - LOW Crowds

Lodging (Red Roof Inn, 5 nights): $329.49
Passports: $357.00
Food: In Park: $160.77
Food: Treats in Park: $57.38
Merchandise: $215.68
Gas: $13.13
Airfare: $725.00
Parking: Airport: $25.50
Parking: Disneyland: $36.00
Rental Car: $261.46
Groceries: $56.04

TOTAL: $2,237.45

This was a great time to go with low crowds and low temperatures. Even when it seemed like there were too many people at the front gate, inside there parks the lines were low and most everything was open.

Very disappointed in Delta though, they were over one hour late and we nearly missed our return flight. Handled very poorly by Delta.

Tuesday April 27, 2004
WOW! Back only 2 months later. Only third time we have visited more than once in a year (1995 and 1998). Flew Delta to John Wayne and rented from Hertz right in airport. Very cool. Didn’t like the Ford Crown Victoria but only paid $214 after upgrading from a full size (the only way to get a so-called luxury car).

Red Roof Inn was $55 a night for a deluxe room. We bought passports at Red Roof, 4-day for $129/adult and $99/child.

Wednesday April 28, 2004
Well, parking changed to $9; it was only $8 in February when we were here. RIP-OFF.

As usual we started this day with waffles at Carnation and were served by a long timer at Disneyland: Carrick.

We started with Pirates and then on to the new Snow White stage show in Fantasyland. That was very cool.

Then I experienced the Tea Cups with my daughter which was my first time riding them ever.

On the way to Dumbo I bought a straw wide-brimmed hat that helped much with the sun. Then Dumbo and to DCA for the Aladdin show. After picking up some caramel corn we went to the Jumpin’ Jellyfish, Sun Wheel, King Triton and California Soarin'.

The park closed early so we headed back to Disneyland for Parade of the Stars, Alice, Dumbo and Pinocchio.

Thursday April 29, 2004
Started the day with waffles then to Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (me only), Alice (again), Tea Cups, King Arthur Carousel, Pinocchio and then landed in the Blue Bayou for prime rib. Just as good as the last time.

Then to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Mom), Patch of Heaven (the new petting zoo in the Big Thunder Ranch area), and on to Toontown for Goofy’s Bounce House, Donald’s boat the Miss Daisy), the Gag Factory (very cool shop) and Goofy’s Fountains.

From there we went to Tomorrowland for Star Tours (I got sick, last time on that one for sure and I really mean it this time), then to Alice (again), Mr. Toad, Snow White’s wishing well, couch on main street, Candy Palace and the Emporium. Another early closing.

Friday April 30, 2004
We started late at the Bengal BBQ. The skewer of the month: the whitefish which was excellent. Then Candy Palace, Candy shop in DCA( sweettooth or what?), FASTPASS for California Soarin’, all rides in Flik’s Fun Fair, Jumpin’ Jellyfish, shops on boardwalk, Soarin’ over California and to Engine Ears Supply for the Mr. Potato Head. For $15 you could get a potato head body and all the accessories you could fit into one box, and be able to close the lid.

Then back to Star Tours, Alice (again, my wife and daughter). While they were on Alice I went over to the old motor boat spot to check it out. I have read about it several times but have never really been over there, I don’t think. Then twice in Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Pinocchio, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Casey Jr. Train and Pirates.

We then made our way out of the park by shopping the east side of Main Street. It was midnight and we had heard Downtown Disney stays open ‘till 2am. Not so. We tried to find something to eat at several places but eventually turned around and headed toward the tram to return us.

Saturday May 1, 2004
This day was to be our Newport Beach day. Upon arrival we were met by huge crowds. So, my daughter and I walked into the Crab Cooker and bought the same meals we normally do, but this time at the counter. Got soup, crab/shrimp cocktails, and king crab. No tip to pay for. Spent $50, instead of the normal $90 to eat in the restaurant. Only difference for $40 is no mashed potatoes, drinks or tip. Okay!

Sunday May 2, 2004
The temperatures were good all of this week except for today. We were hit by a heat wave and were "kind of" glad we were leaving.

Our day started at the River Belle Terrace. I knew I should have got the fruit plate but chose the Mark Twain. NEXT TIME FRUIT PLATE!!

Since my straw hat was ripped off from me on the California Soarin’ ride I bought a pretty nice hat for $35 in the Indy shop. Then I ran for FASTPASS to Splash. We rode Winnie the Pooh, Haunted Mansion, Train, Tea Cups, Alice (again), twice on Pinocchio and Snow White.
My daughter and I went on Splash Mountain but she still does not really get into it, maybe next year.

My wife wanted another Mr. Potato Head so we went back to Engine Ear Toys in DCA and got one more. We crammed that things so full of accessories! A very cool CM showed us the way to maximize the number of accessories.

Then on to our late flight on Delta. Returning the car to John Wayne was very easy and convenient.

This was a wonderful trip!

February 2004 - Happiest Birthday on Earth

Lodging (Red Roof Inn, 8 nights)
$485.81
Passports
$367.00
Food: In Park
$293.45
Food: Treats in Park
$110.83
Food: Other
$302.14
Merchandise
$335.36
Gas
$23.78
Airfare (Delta x 3)
$471.60
Parking
$79.13
Rental Car
$268.18
Groceries
$77.91
TOTAL $2,823.19


My son’s first year…

Trip cost $2800 which we considered to be too much. But we flew and felt better physically upon arriving. Stayed at Red Roof on Disney Way, $51.99 a night “Red Hot” internet price. Room 354 was excellent. Had micro-fridge.

Friday February 13, 2004
Left in mid afternoon and paid $150 for each of the 3 tickets on Southwest. Parked at Thrifty as usual. Plane was ½ hour late. We took 3 suitcases, 2 childs car seats and a double stroller. Had great seats on the plane due to pre-boarding.

Rented from Dollar which was awesome since we made reservation on Southwest.com. $250 got us a Chrysler Concord, upgraded from the Taurus I reserved. This is the only way to get a luxury car.

As usual we headed straight to the Anaheim Red Lobster after settling in at Red Roof. This restaurant was not as good as time previous but we still got the lobster necklace so that was fun.

Saturday February 14, 2004 Valentines Day
We arose note to early on sweethearts day and headed for the Mickey and Friends parking structure ($8 to park).

This vacation was started off right by having breakfast at the Carnation Café. We all had the Mickey Mouse waffles, this time I had strawberries on top in addition to the syrup.

We couldn’t even make it out of Carnation and down Main Street USA without a treat so we bought chocolate dipped strawberries at the Candy Palace for $3 each.Jungle Cruise was our first attraction followed by the Adventureland shops. After looking around a minute we saw the show at Aladdin’s Oasis. My daughter likes that. Then we checked out Tarzan’s tree house and the Tiki Room.

Although hardly lunch time we filled our stomachs with Bengal BBQ. They have a new skewer with Cajun shrimp and sausage. Not good. But the chicken, beef and asparagus skewers were grand as usual.

My daughter wanted to go to Goofy’s Bounce House so away we went. She had a nice time and wanted to go again but she and I toured Donald’s Boat instead while my wife and son waited below.

We then headed to the Mark Twain by way of the Big Thunder Trail. There was a wonderful all female mariachi band playing in front of the Rancho Del Zocalo so we stopped and watched for a few minutes, then boarded the Mark Twain. Our effort to hurry and get a seat was well rewarded. We had the first chairs on the front of the deck. The ride was SO comfortable.

From the Mark Twain we went back to Main Street USA for some corn dogs ($5.50 for corn dog and chips, $2.39 for drinks) at the Little Red Wagon. We ate them at Coke Corner while listening to Rod Miller play. After that, and we were hardly hungry to begin with, we went to the Candy Palace for truffles but they are no more. Bummer.

After spending some time at the Candy Palace and Emporium, we headed out since we were part of the largest crowd I have ever witnessed at Disneyland. Too many people with not enough to do.

We went and bought $70 worth of groceries (at least half were wasted) at the Food 4 Less on Katella, west of Harbor Blvd.

The double stroller ended up working out really well in the park. It was well worth hauling it to California.

My daughter said her favorite ride of the day was Goofy’s Bounce House.

Sunday February 15, 2004
This morning we slept long and hard. After the sun came up my daughter and I swam for a while. The pool was surprisingly warm.

We had lunch at a place on Harbor, south of Disneyland on the West side of the street called Joe’s Crab Shack. The two shrimp dishes were good, which we are while both kids slept, but we would not return due to the $68 price tag.

Monday February 16, 2004 Presidents Day
At 11:00am we walked into the River Belle Terrace. We spent $25 for all three of us. Nice breakfast.

After breakfast we raced to Splash Mountain. My daughter and I got in line w/ no fast pass. Big mistake. We waited too long. This was My daughter’s first time on Splash since she was barely 40” tall this year. She cried as we went down the large and final drop. But she said she wanted to go back since I told her the second time may be better (it wasn’t, it worse actually worse!).

We then tried the new Winnie the Pooh attraction with fast pass tickets. This was quite fun even though it is a bit short. I filmed the whole thing.

After Pooh we got FASTPASS to the Haunted Mansion and went to see Billy Hill while waiting. The show was very funny. We have not seen it for some time. While my wife and the kids were waiting for Billy Hill to start, I ran over to New Orleans Square for some mint juleps and a small bag of plastic jewels ($6) at the Pieces of Eight shop. My daughter didn’t leave those jewels out of her sight for the whole rest of the trip and even afterward.

Although my daughter was still a bit nervous, we enjoyed the Haunted Mansion.

After Haunted Mansion we decided to eat dinner at Rancho Del Zocalo. This place gets worse every year we eat here. We ate pork ribs and a BBQ sandwich. Next year we will not go here, or ever again. Only a few restaurants, like the Plaza Inn, Blue Bayou seem to maintain a high level of quality.

Then to Adventureland for bathrooms, Jungle Imports for a necklace and a light sword. Too bad Indiana Jones was closed.

After traveling to Main Street we watched the Parade of the Stars.

While on the way to the Princess Toy Shoppe (the old Tinker Bell toy shop), my daughter was able to get Snow White’s autograph. The actress really liked My daughter and talked to her for quite a while even though there was a long line.

Then we went to get FASTPASS for Star Tours. While waiting to use them we saw Honey I Shrunk the Audience and looked around in Star Trader. Then my wife and daughter went on Star Tours while my son and I hung out on the benches near the exit of the attraction in Star Trader. My wife and daughter had a great time on Star Tours.

It was now time for the California Electrical Parade in DCA. On the way there we passed through King Triton’s Gardens. Once inside DCA we had our picture taken, then found absolutely the best seat we have ever had for the parade. We asked the advise of at least three cast members to find this out.

This spot is located across the street from and a little North of the Bug’s Land entrance. There are two benches very near the line on the ground where people can sit on the ground and watch the parade. Therefore, not a lot of people can sit in front of you. Last night we bought a rollup blanket at Target that made this parade warm and comfortable. We also used it for the parades and FANTASMIC!. Very cool. Although some very obnoxious people sat on the ground in front of us and annoyed everyone around them, we still really enjoyed the parade.

After the parade we made a very cool discovery, the baby center at the North East end of Main Street, right next to the Plaza Inn. Once inside, you must wait to be admitted. The place was very clean and had a microwave to heat bottles. There are also kid-sized toilets and children’s products that can be purchased. It would be nice if there were more of them around the park.

We left the Baby Care Center right before 9pm, and readied ourselves for when the first showing of FANTASMIC! was to finish at 9:30. We got a wonderful spot at a table at the River Belle Terrace on the West side of the outdoor seating areas. The view was perfect.

Of course we had to celebrate the moment in food, so I ran to the Royal Street Veranda and bought two hot chocolates and 2 bread bowls with clam chowder. My wife scored major points as a genius by buying a thermos last night for keeping water warm all day and making bottles. It worked very well and my son ate better today since his bottles were warm.

Tuesday February 17, 2004
By staying out late last night for FANTASMIC!, and our kids slept through it anyway, we made my son’s cough worse. So we decided that he and My wife should stay in today.

My daughter and I started the day at Tom Sawyer Island. She jumped and climbed and ran and explored. I caught much of it on film. We then went on Winnie the Pooh with FASTPASS and then headed to DCA. Of course we had to stop at the Little Red Wagon for a corn dog to eat en route.

AT DCA we stopped to get some candy then went on King Triton’s Carousel, the Sun Wheel then saw the Muppets. This was actually a pretty full afternoon and late morning so we went back to the hotel to be with My son and mom.

Wednesday February 18, 2004 (My daughter’s birthday)
This was the first rainy day we have spent in Disneyland since March 1991, and only the second of two. The big occasion of course was celebrating my daughter’s 5th birthday party. As per usual we started the day at Carnation Café for waffles, then to Hollywood Pictures Backlot for the new Playhouse Disney attraction. It was a large room with a huge stage at the front; most of the seating was on the floor but there were a few benches in the back so we secured one.

The show was quite good as it has Bear in the Big Blue House, Winnie the Pooh and a couple of other cartoons. I would do this again.

After this we made the long hike back the Splash Mountain since My daughter was still fascinated with it even though it scared her to death. It was closed so we went to King Arthur’s Carousel and then for a treat at the Bengal BBQ.

The Happiest Birthday on Earth celebration happens every day at the Plaza Inn but the rain forced it into the Opera House. The MC of the show sang songs and gave us all a small cake to decorate. Mickey and Minnie made a surprise cameo and danced around the room with all of the kids. Very fun and cost about $15/person.

Then to Pirates. Afterwards we went to Village Haus. I think the last time we stopped here was in the early 90s. Although I don’t care for the food so much, the atmosphere is unbeatable with the many murals of the Pinocchio story. For my daughter I bought a little lunch box with Mickey Mouse shaped chicken nuggets and some other treats inside.

We then went to the Casey Jr. Train, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Peter Pan, Snow White and finally the Princess Shop. We told her she could pick out any toy here she wanted for her birthday. She chose a Jasmine costume, complete with accessories.

Enough of the rain! We headed for the front gate but were sidetracked by the Parade of the Stars on Main Street USA. The 7:00pm parade started at 7:20 since we saw two marching bands perform at 7. We parked ourselves in front of the Crystal Arcade and stayed warm and dry with our roll-up blanket. Then the tram back to the Mickey & Friends parking where we were actually on ground level. No elevator!!

Now that we were Sushi experienced we went to Yamabuki at the Paradise Pier Hotel. The parking was free since we were validated in the restaurant. We had a crunch roll, California roll and 4 shrimp tempuras. What a fabulous sushi bar.

Today was an interesting day at Disneyland since they started doing something new. Since 9/11 Disneyland has had security checks at the entrances of both parks. So, even when you “hopped” from Disneyland to DCA, you went through another check. This time, they had security tables outside the entrances to the plaza between the parks so once you were checked, you could hop back and forth without any more checks.

Thursday February 19, 2004
This was our Newport Beach day. We of course ate at the Crab Cooker then went and played on the beach. The meal cost of $90 but we figured out a way to do it for nearly half when we returned here in April (2004).

My daughter had a nice time collecting sea shells on the beach and I had a nice time eating those yummy doughnuts.

Friday February 20, 2004
Parked in Mickey & Friends then ran to make the 11:15 cutoff time for waffles at Carnation. While My wife and the kids were ordering I ran to get Blue Bayou reservations for 3:30 and Splash Mountain FASTPASS.

After breakfast we went to Alice, Small World (which is looking pretty haggard) and Splash. My daughter didn’t like it as much as the first time. We then finally made it to the train and went all around the park twice, from Frontierland. We don’t use the train as much since we started bringing strollers.

After getting off the train we went to the Princess Shoppe to exchange my daughter’s Jasmine costume, then to Pinocchio and Jungle Cruise.

The lunch at Blue Bayou was the best I have had in Disneyland and that says a lot.

We had a very delicious slice of prime rib, thin-sliced potatoes and steamed vegetables. Although it cost $17.99/plate, it was money well spent. My daughter even had a little Mickey Mouse chicken nugget plate with applesauce, Jell-O and mashed potatoes. We left the Blue Bayou with a crème brulle to go. I sat and ate it on the Adventureland bridge and had several people started gawking at me so I put to away. Probably the worst crème brulle I have had, which was a surprise compared to the rest of the meal.

Then to DCA where we rode Heimlick’s Chew Chew Train in Flik’s Fun Fair. I was pleasantly surprised to remember that the bathrooms there have bug sounds in them. Then to Golden Dreams and the Jumpin’ Jellyfish. Sun Wheel was broken so we rode King Triton’s Carousel and then to Fantasyland.

We rode Dumbo, Mr. Toad and saw the parade again and Alice.

It was then FANTASMIC time so we rushed to Frontierland. An amazing thing happened there. The West side seating (outdoor) of the River Belle Terrace was being cleared away and no one was allowed to sit there. A long line had even formed inside the restaurant. My wife and I buddied up to a CM outside and asked if we could sit there when they finished. He said sure. When they finished my wife hurried and got the best seat in the whole place. It was actually until then that we realized people had been waiting a long time and they angry when my wife rushed ahead. Another funny thing was after my wife rushed in I was trying to push out double stroller in and a couple of snotty, angry people crowded me so they could get in first. I just let them do it because I knew my sweetheart had already got the best table in the place, which was on the very edge and in the middle of the area. For the first time ever we had an unobstructed view of FANTASMIC!. Thanks to the CM who let us do that. Ha!!

No show is complete without dinner so I cruised over the Bengal BBQ for skewers and hot chocolate as it was still quite chilly out.

My daughter was totally absorbed in the show since it was her first time to see it. The last three time we were here we missed it for some reason.

After the show we got the couch on the east side of main street and watched the crowd dwindle. Then the Candy Palace and Disney Clothiers where I bought my wife slippers, my daughter a Piglet and my son a Donald Duck. They were all the expensive kind that are of excellent quality.

Saturday February 21, 2004
Sad day! We all had such a nice time. But we were glad to get our kids home and on to better health. It was obvious they were not going to get better tripping to Disneyland everyday in the cold, wet weather.

We checked out at 11am and ate lunch at Red Lobster. As seen in April, we have sworn off Red Lobster since the quality gets worse every time we go there. Our flight home was one hour late. We decided that an earlier flight is better, something like three or so.

March 2003 - Near Perfect

Lodging (Red Roof Inn 9 nights): $543.06
Oasis hotel in Mesquite (included)
Passports: $333.00
Restaurant Food: $431.25
Treats Food: $168.57
Merchandise: $123.90
Gas: $115.64
Disneyland Parking: $32.00
Groceries: $52.59
TOTAL $1,809.01

This year we printed schedules from the Disneyland site to bring with. They were helpful in planning since the information was real time. Took our new Sony digital 8 camcorder that performed very, very well.

WE WISH WE WOULD NOT HAVE DRIVEN!

Friday March 7, 2003
Left around 3pm and gassed up in Cedar City, UT around 6:30pm. Spent the night at the Oasis in Mesquite, but weekends are $59.99 plus tax (and for a terrible bed!). Ate an awesome meal at the Virgin River, crab legs and a lot of them. Only on Friday evenings.

Saturday March 8, 2003
Had breakfast at a little café on the main drag in Mesquite with excellent pancakes. We gassed up in Baker, and ate at the Mad Greek. We had pork souvlaki with cucumber/dill sauce. It wasn't as good as sometimes but still okay. After stopping at Wal-Mart in Victorville, CA for some groceries, we made a very long drive to Anaheim and got a nice room at the Red Roof Inn. We got set up and ate at Cocos on Katella. Red Lobster on Harbor was too crowded. Cocos serves average food with high prices, but we were able to watch the Disneyland fireworks from our table. Haven't been back since though.

Sunday March 9, 2003
Today was my wife's birthday. We started off at the Carnation Café with Mickey Mouse waffles. Went on Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Tarzan Tree house, Haunted Mansion, Mr. Toad, Dumbo, Snow White, Pinocchio, and ate at Rancho Del Zocalo (marginal chicken and ribs, have not been back). At the Candy Palace on Main Street we bought chocolate covered strawberries and a pecan roll. We had two or three mint juleps which are now called "Ghostly Mints" (later changed back to Mint Julep).

Watched the Electrical Parade on the back side of Grizzly Peak. Crowds were low and we had a great seat.

Monday March 10, 2003
Spent the day at Newport Beach. Ate at the Crab Cooker as usual, then played in the ocean. The family loves the beach, can't say I care for it.

Tuesday March 11, 2003
Got here late today and headed right over to California Adventure to eat. We went to the Pacific Wharf Café for clam chowder bread bowls. Went on the Sun Wheel (the "swingy" part as my daughter says), and did a few other things there. Went into the Hyperion theatre to see the new Aladdin show but they had technical difficulties and cancelled it. We drowned our sorrow with ice cream at the Catch-A-Flav stand near California Screamin'. I had a root beer float. Also went to Aladdin's Oasis and saw the Aladdin storytelling show. My daughter was able to get signatures from both Aladdin and Jasmine. Watched the Parade of the Stars parade in front of the fire station, while eating corn dogs from the little red wagon by the Plaza Inn. The corn dogs (hand dipped) were FABULOUS!!!! We met some great LDS people who were sitting by us, they were BYU graduates and going to dental school in LA.

Wednesday March 12, 2003
Ate breakfast once again at Carnation. Not a great day at the park since I was exhausted. We did a few things then went to the hotel to rest. Of course, truffles at the candy palace were on the list before exiting. We did get to Toontown and Fantasyland, but it was hot and crowded. We rode Dumbo, the Casey Jr. Train and the King Arthur Carousel.

My daughter was able to get Ariel's autograph and even gave her a hug and kiss. When she approached her she said, "I know what those are." Ariel didn't know what she meant but said, "what are they?" My daughter said, "those are SEA SHELLS! Referring of course to her top! For dinner we ended up at the Red Lobster. I had a dish with crayfish, shrimp and lobster. Very good.

Thursday March 13, 2003
Spent most of the day at the hotel. We watched Treasure Planet in our room and did some swimming. Very fun and made it possible to go our with a bang on Friday (lots of energy).

**While watching TV in the motel, it was broadcast that Elizabeth Smart was found in Salt Lake City. This is the girl who was abducted from her home in Utah and kept for several weeks.

The only Disney activity we had was dinner at Yamabuki. We had the usual sushi assortment but the tempura shrimp roll was the best we had had. They called it crunch because they fried the bottom of the outside of it in tempura batter.

Friday March 14, 2003
This really was the day of days, maybe OUR BEST day in Disneyland ever!

We had already seen many things and didn't feel rushed. We had breakfast at the River Belle Terrace. The only thing missing was the river since it was drained. But we ate outside and had a WONDERFUL breakfast. We then hurried over the DCA for Aladdin tickets. Then we rode King Triton's Carousel, the Sun Wheel (not the swingy part), California Screamin' (not my daughter) which was great, saw Golden Dreams on the other side of the boardwalk, and finally saw the new Aladdin show. Well worth the wait. We checked out the new Flik's Fun Fair in the Bugs Land. Very charming and fun; we rode the Heimlich train. We had lunch at the Bengal BBQ. We had chicken and bacon wrapped asparagus skewers with bread sticks. We LOVE that place. We also had more strawberries, a mint julep and bought my daughter a set of dolls of Ariel and Eric.

Back to Fantasyland for the Casey Jr. Train, Alice and Storybook Land Boats. Then to Pirates, Indiana Jones (FASTPass is the truth, the way and the life).

Finished the evening watching the fireworks while eating at an outside table at the Plaza Inn. It was chilly so they had the infra-red heaters working. We sat right below one. The roast beef was awesome as usual. For desert we had apple pie with caramel on top.

After the fireworks we literally ran to ride Peter Pan for our last moment in the park. It was one of those times when you go into the ride while the park in somewhat full, then as you exit the park in near empty, except for Main Street U.S.A. And what a moment it was. While Disney vacations are quite commercial, the main point is that our family is together and that we love each other. We create bonds that will last a lifetime and beyond. God is good to us.

Saturday March 15, 2003
Headed home and stayed at the Super 8 in Cedar City. We gassed up in Hesperia, Baker and Cedar City. While in Hesperia we managed to eat at In-n-Out Burger. It was awesome. The burgers and fries are to die for.

Sunday March 16, 2003
Breakfast at Showney's in Cedar Cit, UT, then three and a half hours to home.

May 2002 - Big Crowds Again, Still Fun! DCA Getting Better

Thursday May 23, 2002
After repeatedly listening to the looped intro music on Disneyland.com this morning, we decided to go. This is not the first time that music has put a spell on us.

We stayed in Mesquite for $27.99; arriving at about 10:30pm California time. This was another one of those trips where we decided to go on a whim, and then were gone within a few hours of the decision.

Friday May 24, 2002
Our breakfast was served at a little place on the main drag in Mesquite. They have the best pancakes I have eaten. The service was slow but the food compensated. For lunch we stopped in Baker, California for a lamb shish kabob with dill sauce at the Mad Greek. Absolutely the best Greek food anywhere.

We stayed at the Red Rood Inn again for $71.99/night which included a microwave and fridge.

I wish we had brought the large cooler in the car as the small one was not large enough.

This night we saw the Fantasy Waters show at the Disney hotel. My daughter had a great time climbing on a rock where we sat although, she missed much of the show.

Saturday May 25, 2002
We spent practically the entire day in California Adventure, after waffles at the Carnation Café. My daughter wanted to ride King Triton Carousel several times so we did. We also rode the Sun Wheel, saw the Muppets, Bug’s Life and a few characters. In the evening we saw the electrical parade (now in DCA) which was short but very good.

The crowds were not bad in DCA but in Disneyland they were outrageous.

We explored the entire park beyond the rides. We did not eat at the Avalon Cove restaurant as they have cheapened and ruined the menu. We looked at the vine room restaurant, $56 a plate, but decided that much of the cost was for wine so we passed. We settled on clam chowder in a bread bowl which was pretty good.

We had a great dinner at Rancho del Zocalo (the old casa Méxicana) that now serves Mexican and Big Thunder BBQ food. We had ribs ($15.99) and prime rib ($17.99). Very good food, although in 2004 and 2005 we thought the quality had regressed and stopped going.

Sunday May 26, 2002
Today we headed back to Disneyland at about 4:30pm. We had breakfast at Coco’s on Katella. We first saw the character parade (Parade of the Stars) which is pretty lame, but over time grew on me. We saw several things like the Tiki Room, Dumbo, Pirates, Casey Jr. Train, Mr. Toad. Alice broke down near closing time while we were in line.

This night we ate the Hook’s Pointe in the old Shipyard Inn location at the Disneyland Hotel. It was very expensive and not at all worth it. We will not be back. The Shipyard Inn was much better.

Monday May 27, 2002
Today we went to the Mark Twain, Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Plaza Inn, mint julep bar, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Snow White, Tom Sawyer Island (half of it was closed) and had several truffles and other treats all over the park.

Tuesday May 28, 2002
This morning we headed to Newport Beach and ate at the crab cooker ($89 w/ tip). The best place in California to eat. Then we played on the beach and ate doughnuts for a while. The water was cold but the sand was warm.
Then we drove all the way home. But we had a great meal en route at the Virgin River in Mesquite.

April 2001 - California Adventure Opens

My daughter’s first year…

Thursday August 30, 2001
On this morning I opened our insurance office at 9am, then my wife came in at 11. My mother-in-law picked up my daughter at the office to watch her for the day. After working for a while one of use asked the other what we were going to with our weekend since Monday was Labor Day. One of us mentioned Disneyland, recalling the fact that we had not been there since 1998. The funny thing is we decided at 3:30pm we were going and were on the road by 6:00pm. We spent the night in Mesquite, NV at the Oasis. I think we paid about $28 for the room.

Friday August 31, 2001
Today we checked into the Red Roof Inn, that used to be the Motel 6 where we have stayed for so many years. Although hardly luxurious, Red Roof is much better than Motel 6. The freeways had also changed and Freedman Way is now called Disney Way, which is of course the street Red Roof is on.

Saturday September 1, 2001
The crowds were pretty big this day but we didn’t mind at all. Since we were limited on what we could do with a 2 year old, it didn’t matter anyway. We were just happy to be there.

The highlight of this trip was undoubtedly my daughter’s reaction to seeing Goofy. We parked in the multi-level parking structure (Mickey and Friends), which is quite nice, then headed right to Main Street U.S.A. by means of the tram. After walking under the train bridge we headed over towards the Emporium on our way to waffles in the Carnation Café. Just as we were stepping from the street onto the sidewalk, we noticed that Goofy was right in the middle of Town Square. We immediately pointed him out to my daughter who was amazed beyond description. We talked all the way to Anaheim (in the car) about how Mickey and company lived at Disneyland, and that she would be able to meet them. But this did not prepare her for the first encounter.

We began strolling toward him and asked if she wanted to shake his hand. She resolutely said no since while she was amazed, her curiosity was not as strong as her caution. After all, he is a pretty big guy.

We did the usually things here. We went through all of the lands, riding whatever we could with a little girl. Later in the evening we took turns watching my daughter while the other was in the Haunted Mansion. She put her blanket over her eyes in Pirates for much of the ride, but took a peek now and again.

We caught the early FANTASMIC! show on the east side of the river in front of the opera house.

Sunday September 2, 2001
This day we entered California Adventure for the first time ever; this is the year it opened. It was so hot that we walked around for a few short hours, then rode a shuttle bus back to the parking lot on Disney Way by the Red Roof and then spent the rest of the time in the motel.

We rode the Sun Wheel, Saorin' over California, Muppets 3D, etc.

Monday September 3, 2001 Labor Day
Today we checked out of the Red Rood Inn and ate lunch at the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach. After spending a few minutes at the beach we drove all the way to Utah which took 12.5 hours drive time not including stops. The drive actually wasn’t that bad. But, flying is better!

December 1998 - Christmas in Disneyland, First Time

Lodging (Motel 6)
$475.72
Number of nights
9
Airfare
$466
Passports
$146.00
Meals
$525
Spending
$200.00
Gas
$115.64
Rental Car
$275
Universal Studios
$75.00
TOTAL
$2,091.72

On this trip we spent 8 days in Anaheim over the Christmas holiday. We flew into Orange County for the first time and would not use LA again! We spent a lot of time shopping at the Mervyn’s and Ross Dress For Less shopping center on the north side of town.

Saturday December 19, 1998
Flew to Orange County for the first time and discovered what we were missing: a short drive to Anaheim. We rented a convertible Mustang from Alamo.

After checking into the Motel 6 on Freedman Way (now Disney Way), we ate at the Shipyard Inn at the Disneyland Hotel. The meal was to die for. As an appetizer we ate teriyaki shrimp.

Sunday December 20, 1998
For the first time we visited Universal Studios in Hollywood. We rode the back lot tour (awesome), the new Jurassic Park water ride (got SOAKED and froze the rest of the day), ET, Back to the Future and saw the Water World show. That was very cool and I videotaped the whole thing.

We had a really nice time here. The only bummer of the day was getting soaked on Jurassic Park early in the morning, then being chilled by December weather the rest of the day. The Back lot Tour was a blast.

One strange thing though was the food. We had “ribs” at the restaurant by Jurassic Park and they were the creepiest thing I have eaten.

The park looked fabulous with all of the holiday decorations and lights.

Monday December 21, 1998
This was our first day in the park and we had a blast. We did many things and ate many things!

Tuesday December 22, 1998
Today we went to Newport Beach and ate at the Crab Cooker. The weather was very nice so we rented bikes and rode up and down the boardwalk. That was SO fun!! We also played on the beach. We also ate plenty of delicious doughnuts.

We topped of the day by eating at the Lawry’s Steak House in Hollywood. While the food was average, we couldn’t resist the experience. We even used the valet parking. Also, they had a group singing Christmas carols that did a great job.


Wednesday December 23, 1998
This was another fun day at the park.

Thursday December 24, 1998
We had such a nice time at Newport on Tuesday that we decided to return. We drove all the way with the car’s top down. Once again we had a meal at the Crab Cooker. Afterwards we rented some roller blades and cruised the boardwalk again. This was our first time on inline skates so there was a small learning curve at first. But we were soon flying up and down the sidewalk. Good exercise, so we had to eat more doughnuts.

After a great afternoon at Newport we went back to the grocery store on Harbor and bought TONS of goodies to eat. We watched one of the classic Christmas movies on TV and were very grateful that we knew a child was coming to our home soon. We had already received a letter from LDS adoption and expected a baby. But, we didn’t know it would be such a wonderful little girl who we love so much! Once settled back in at the motel we went straight to the hot tub. Our room for this trip was at the back of the hotel on the bottom floor. Lousy place to be!

Friday December 25, 1998 Christmas Day
We entered the park at a pretty good time and were surprised to see so many people so early. I expected most of the crowd to come later in the day after opening presents, but this was not the case.

We were able to see the Dapper Dans for the first time at Disneyland. They sang beautiful carols.

We played around for a while then went back to the motel because the crowds were too big. After a nap we returned to the park and spent the rest of the day.

Saturday December 26, 1998
Today we hung around the hotel all day watching TV and relaxing in the hot tub. We did venture out to eat and shop a bit.

Sunday December 27, 1998
We didn’t want our final day in Anaheim to be spent in melancholy so we found a fun place to go. We found a Mariachi restaurant in Anaheim and went. I think we arrived at 11am and the band started playing at noon. The carnitas were excellent! There were many other good eats as well. While it was quite expensive, around $25 per person, it was well worth it all things considered.

April 1998 - From Donner Pass to the Magic Kingdom

My wife and I cruised in an old 1974 Ford pickup that my family owned for nearly 20 years. We drove from San Jose to Anaheim, then to Utah. Although traveling from San Jose to Utah via Donner Pass would have been a much shorter trip, it was snowing there and we were concerned for our safety.

After a small amount of scheming we decided to stop at Disneyland.

Saturday March 28, 1998
Today we drove from San Jose to Anaheim in the old truck and found a motel. We stayed at the sleaziest motel in existence (since has been demolished). It was near the new parking lot entrance just off of Katella Ave. But it was only $30. We took a small nap there after arriving then headed to the park.

We got there pretty late on an early closing night since it was a little rainy. But we didn’t mind. Our two-day passports were $68.00 each. We basically saw everything we wanted except Splash Mountain. We started the evening by eating at Cafe Orleans for the first time ever. We had a beef Cajun dish served over noodles. Very good!

We also did a lot of shopping this trip and bought some soap dispensers for our bathrooms, shaped like Mickey Mouse. We saw a little bit of FANTASMIC! but were unable to get a good seat.

Sunday March 29, 1998
The next day we got there pretty early and ate at the Carnation Café, waffles of course. Wonderful as always.

We saw the Hercules parade and thought it was boring and uncreative. Oh well, can’t win them all. One show that wasn’t a disappointment was the Festival of Fools in Frontierland. What a production! Unfortunately, this is one I was never able to film.

We ate well throughout the entire day. The Bengal BBQ was closed so we ate the Big Thunder BBQ for lunch.

Tomorrowland was under construction for its retro-looking rehab so there wasn’t much to do there.

We were very sad to leave so early but exited the park at 6pm and headed for Utah. We learned to count to 100 in Spanish on the way back.

May 1997 - Memorial Day

This was basically a long weekend since it was Memorial Day on Monday. We went with my mother-in-law on a one day’s notice. We flew to LA and stayed at the Comfort Inn on Harbor Blvd near the north east corner of the Disneyland property. This is when the Lion King Celebration was still running. The Park was quite hot and crowded, but we had a nice time anyway.

I remember eating at the Blue Bayou and thinking what I think about most meals there up to that point: YUCK. Our first good meal there was in 1991. Then when we shelled out the big bucks in 2004 for prime rib, which was our second good meal there although now one of many. Everything in between 1991 and 2004 left something to desire. Now the prime rib from the lunch menu is eaten by us at least once when we visit. And yes, we always sit water-side no matter how long the wait.

March 1996 - Spring Break, Never Again

Not many details on this year, but there were too many people.

Wednesday March 20, 1996
Flew to LAX at about 9am on Delta with my father and step-mother. The flight was about 30-50 minutes late cutting much time from our day. The weather was nice, a little overcast and in the 60s.

We drove straight to the park and went in. The trip was nearly ruined by the choice of time to go. It was spring break time and the park was busier than we have ever seen it.

Thursday March 21, 1996
2nd day at park.

Friday March 22, 1996
3rd day at park.

Saturday March 23, 1996
Shopping, hung out.

Sunday March 24, 1996
Flew home.

June 1995 - First Time with Extended Family

Saturday June 3, 1995
My wife and I flew out with father and step-mother to LAX (Orange County airport was still too much money). We rented and fell in love with a Dodge Intrepid. We met my brother and his family for Dim Sum in LA's Chinatown. Interesting meal but maybe not again. The boiledchickenss foot was freakin' nasty! But hey, life without new experiences is nothing but dull.

Once again we stayed at the Motel 6 on Freedman Way (now Disney Way). After settling in we all ate at the Coco's on Katella and West (now Disneyland Drive). We saw the park's fireworks while sitting on the steps of the Disneyland Hotel. What a moment! This was the first Disneyland experience for most of them (my family).

Sunday June 4, 1995
Today we had a talent show in the motel room and later a poolside potluck dinner.

In the evening my wife and I took my nephew (from North Dakota) to the Disneyland Hotel for ice cream and the Fantasy Waters Show. It was very fun!

Monday June 5, 1995
Monday morning finally came. My family met and ate breakfast at the Carnation Ice Cream Shop on Main Street U.S.A. Most ordered the Mickey Mouse waffles. Carnation is a beautiful place to eat, filled with Disney atmosphere.

I took the group on the usual path: Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Splash, etc. We ate lunch at the Big Thunder BBQ then watched Billy Hill and the Hillbillies at the Golden Horseshoe. We continued with attractions throughout the day and dined at the Plaza Inn on Main Street U.S.A. And that was fabulous. The kids could watch the Main Street Electrical Parade from their seats at the restaurant.

The evening ended with the FANTASMIC! followed by one more adventure on Indiana Jones.

Tuesday June 6, 1995
This morning we slept late and then had breakfast at the River Belle Terrace around 10:30. This restaurant proves that Disneyland really is The Happiest Place on Earth. The new morning sun shimmering over The Rivers of America assures you that today will be a great day. We sat outside to eat our Mickey Mouse pancakes, eggs and sausage. Some of us even through caution to the wind by drinking a coke for breakfast.

Then our group split up as some went to Toontown and others to Tomorrowland. We all met again on Main Street U.S.A. for The Lion King Parade. From then on it was every shopper for himself as we stormed the Emporium for keepsakes.

Later many of us couldn't resist experiencing FANTASMIC! again. During the show we had clam chowder from a sourdough bread bowl while sipping a mint julep.

Afterwards we rode nearly every attraction in Fantasyland in one hour and then shopped the Emporium again until 12:30am.

Wednesday June 7, 1995
Our original plans were to visit Universal Studios today, but they fell through. I think we were all tired. Some of us went to a local breakfast for chocolate chip pancakes and a coke. What a rush that was!

We swam and hung out at the hotel for most of the day. In the early afternoon My wife dropped me off 2 miles from the motel on Harbor Blvd so I could job back to the motel.

Later in the afternoon I took Mike and his family to LAX.

In the evening my wife and I took my parents and brother-in-law to Coco's for dinner. Then to see Fantasy Waters one more time.

Thursday June 8, 1995
Ended our trip by flying home today. This was not easy!

April 1995 - 40 Years of Adventures & Indiana Jones!!!

This was the first year we visited the Park twice. Later as you will see, we have nearly made a habit of this. Not so easy doing this and living in Utah...

Thursday April 7, 1995
On this day we flew to LAX and rented a Buick Century. This trip was memorable in many ways. First of all the Buick would screech its tires with the greatest of ease. I took full advantage of this turning corners sharply at every opportunity. Also, Disneyland was celebrating its 40th Anniversary. What made this even more magical is that we didn’t know about it until we arrived. That hardly seems possible now in the information age. You can imagine the overwhelming joy we experienced upon walking up to the front gate. Now THAT, was a moment.

We stayed at the Motel 6 on Freedman Way (now Disney Way). We went and watched the Fantasy Waters show at the Disneyland Hotel and ate at the Shipyard Inn (later ruined and changed to Hook’s Cellar). FUN FUN FUN!.

Friday April 8, 1995
We spent this entire day at the park. For a Friday it wasn’t very crowded. We practically saw everything. Perhaps the biggest fun of all was the opening of the Indiana Jones attraction. The lines were long but we didn’t mind.

At night we ate at Goofy’s Kitchen. Good food but we felt it was a bit over priced.

Saturday April 9, 1995
This was another full day at the park. We had such a great time. The crowds were reasonable and practically everything was open. We had lunch at the Big Thunder Ranch where we ordered ribs for me and the BBQ sandwich for My wife.

Sunday April 10, 2005
This morning we ate a trendy café at the Disneyland Hotel where we ordered a pesto and shrimp pizza. Not bad but not great. Nothing memorable about the flight home but we were pleased to know we were returning in two months.

June 1994 - Tired, But Life Was Good

Gas
$55 ($1.30/gallon)
Hotel - Anaheim
$203.35
Hotel Mesquite
$21.59
Meals - other
$68.15
Meals - Disneyland
$230.87
Passports (2, for 3 days each)
$138
Shopping in Park
$200
Parking ($6 a day)
$18
Grand Total
$934.96

Saturday June 11, 1994
We left Logan, Utah at 6am and basically drove straight through. We ate at Big Bun in Baker, CA and gassed up in Nevada. We arrived in Anaheim at 8pm. Actual driving time was 12.5 hours, 70 mph most of the way. The speed limit was still 55 back then.

This evening we ate at the Shipyard Inn located on the Disneyland Hotel complex ($60). Parking was free with validation. The meal was very, very delicious, most entrees cost $18+.

Sunday June 12, 1994
We arrived in the park at 8:15am. First thing we made reservations for Aladdin's Oasis and the Golden Horseshoe Revue at Main Street's Reservation Center, located next to Mr. Lincoln. Then we ate breakfast at the Carnation Ice Cream shop. We both had Mickey Mouse Belgium waffles.

The park was quiet with a small crowd. We visited most of the major attractions in Tomorrowland first because we didn't spend much time here last year. Then we shopped Main Street. We bought a $20 photograph on Main Street picturing us and Disney characters. We spent quite a bit of time on Main Street and purchasing merchandise.

The Candy Palace had chocolate and walnut covered caramel bars that were fantastic. We waited all year for these.

We had lunch at the new "Aladdin's Oasis" restaurant located in Adventureland. Cost was $41.06/both if us, for magic kingdom club members, this included our meal, tax, and gratuity. The food was pretty good but the show was fun. We both had New York steaks at the advice of our server. The restaurant itself was amazing. I think we will go next time also.

The Jungle Cruise was closed for reconstruction and the construction of the new attraction: "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Lost Eye." But were able to hear a kettle drum band that I have wanted to see for the last three years. They were great.

Most attraction lines were about 10-20 minutes long all day, some were less.

The Golden Horseshoe Revue was a riot. The guy who does the opening act was truly the most funny man I have ever seen (or one of them). I was VERY sad when they closed this and that part of the park has not since been the same.

We saw all of the attractions in New Orleans Square and many in Fantasyland because the lines were so short.

We made the mistake of getting in line for the new Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin attraction just before closing at 10:45. We ended up waiting about 1 1/2 hours. The attraction was neat but not worth the time.

Monday June 13, 1994
Today we slept late and swam for a while. We mainly ate from our cooler and skipped lunch. Crowd wise this would have been a great day for going in the park.

This evening we went to the Disneyland Hotel again. We ate at Goofy's Kitchen which is a buffet. We spent $17.50 a person. The buffet had prime rib and the other usual sides. Disney characters walked around to greet guests while they ate. We had a lot of fun here and our meal was fantastic.

After dinner we watched the Fantasy Waters Show at the Disneyland Hotel. Disney music was played to dancing fountains and lights that have to be seen to be believed. This is a must see.

This was our first trip that we spent very much time at the Disneyland Hotel. The attractions are not the best but the entertainment and shops are excellent. And the restaurants are in a class of their own.

Tuesday June 14, 1994
The River Belle Terrace served our breakfast this morning. We both had Mickey mouse waffles (the regular kind which are the best). Delicious as always.

Today we started in Critter Country. We love Splash Mountain more than any other attraction at Disneyland. We then explored the Critter Country shops.

We went out on the Mark Twain and had deck seats in the front. I was able to get some great film footage from there.

At lunch we ate at the Big Thunder Barbecue. It was not as good as last year. This year I had the ribs and my wife had her barbecued chicken sandwich. We checked out the petting zoo afterwards. They have some very tame livestock.

Much of today turned into re-rides. On Sunday, we basically saw the whole park with the crowd so low. Today there were more people but still a reasonable crowd.

We saw much more of Fantasyland and Frontierland. Today was a big shopping day as well.

FANTASMIC! was coming soon so we went to a shop at the Disneyland Hotel which sold FANTASMIC! seat cushions and bought two. Our back sides thanked us later.

After going back to the northwest end of the park for Splash Mountain again, we waited for the first FANTASMIC! show to end and then hurried up to the front row on the edge of the Rivers of America and got front row seats. We waited for about one hour but it was so worth it (especially with our new FANTASMIC! seat cushions). We could see everything. We even got wet and a little cold because we were so close to the spraying water that the animation is projected on. What a show! We are never disappointed with this one.

Wednesday June 15, 1994
Today we entered the park at about 12:00. The park was more busy today than the other two days. This was the same situation as last year.

We ate lunch at the Carnation Ice Cream Shop on Main Street USA. We waited all year for this meal. I had a New York Steak and my wife had a sandwich. The food was excellent. We both had chocolate Cokes to boot. Did you hear me right? Yes, I said "chocolate Cokes!" And after we ate we had Ice Cream Sodas. Very good. This is a wonderful restaurant.

Today we spent a lot of time sitting and looking. We hit all of the big attractions again: Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Star Tours, etc. But we did more looking than riding.

We went to the Disneyland Hotel later in the day for one more look at their shops and a few last minute trinkets to crowd our house, with fun that is....

One of our last main stops before ending our trip was the Candy Palace on Main Street. We spent more time here than any other shop on the park. We stocked up on fudge and other treats to last a while at home.

What a sad moment when the last of the three days ended. We were more sad last year because this year we were very tired from our busy lives. But we still felt it. Another long year before coming back. Almost unbearable but I guess since we survived last year so we can do it this year.

June 1993 - Shifted to High Gear

Gas
$90 (Salt Lake City to Anaheim)
Hotel - Anaheim
$225.95
Hotel - St. George
$35.92
Meals
$345
Passports (3 days)
$130.50
Shopping in Park
$113
Total
$942.17

This was the first year we drove.

Sunday June 6, 2003
Left at Salt Lake City at 11:00 am and arrived in Las Vegas at 6:00 pm. We stayed in Vegas visiting my cousin, leaving again around 8:30 pm. Arrived in Anaheim shortly after 1:00 am. Temperature was cool and traffic was thin. Excellent time to drive. However, it is best not to stop anywhere (other than for gas) because the day and drive seem too longer. Driving straight through is best.

We stayed in the Motel 6 (now Red Roof Inn) located on Freedman Way (now Disney Way) right next to the 5 freeway. The motel is exactly 3 blocks south of Disneyland. Walking to the park was a bit too far. We spent 5 nights at $39.99 per night plus $5.20 in tax for each day: $45.19. Our room was in the back so people tended to be a little noisier. We will request a room close to the office next time. Our room was large with a comfortable king sized bed. We also had a table with nice padded chairs, a dresser with six drawers, and night stands for each of us. The building has three stories with an ice machine for each. A sauna and pool are located in the middle of the complex. Excellent motel at that time if on a budget.

A private company offered a shuttle to and from the park. The Motel 6 is the second to last stop so you can get to the park fast but getting back takes about twenty five minutes. A round trip ticket cost one dollar per person. Although our bus ride was safe, some of the drivers pulled crazy stunts like making a U-turn across a four lane Street. One driver wore racing gloves. Another ran into a car in the motel parking.

Monday June 7, 2003
This day we slept late and rested from the long drive from Utah. Around noon we walked to the park and bought our 3-day passports for $69.00 each since we were Magic Kingdom Club members. We each saved $6.00. Buying tickets the day before was a great idea because there were no lines (purchased them around 1:00 p.m.) and the next morning we saved ourselves at least twenty minutes of waiting. One and two day passports could be purchased at the Disney Store with the same discount. We also bought Disney Money at the Disney Store in Salt Lake City which helped with budgeting because it can only be spent in the park. Along with passports we got the souvenir guidebook, with descriptions and directions to everything, and the "Disneyland Today" pamphlet with times of shows offered that week. We didn't know that we could have sent for these pamphlets through the mail along with park hours and ride refurbishments. On a couple of nights we were taken by surprise when the park closed early.

This evening we ate at the Black Angus in Anaheim which was good in 1992. We each ordered a top sirloin with crab legs, an appetizer and drinks. Our total came to $47.96 including tip. This experience was the only disappointment of our trip. The meal from the salad to the drinks was of poor quality.

Tuesday June 8, 2003
This day we drove to make sure we arrived early enough. Parking cost $6.00. Driving is preferred over the bus and walking, because you can leave when you want and also store things in your car for later in the day. We arrived at the park's front gate at 8:35am, the park opened at 9:00am, Main Street USA opened at 8:30am. Since we bought our tickets the day before, we waited in line about 3-4 minutes to walk in.

There is a feeling you get walking into Disneyland like no other. It is a perfect world you get to spend your day in. A world full of beautiful colors and smells, the best service, good attitudes, happiness and friendship. Like Christmas in the way that everyone treats everyone better than they normally would. Although not everyday reality, it is very good for the soul to receive a good dose of happiness to last until you come back next year.... The sound of the train, the smell of flowers and trees, and the sight of a million people told us we were walking into Disneyland again.

Our first stop was the Carnation Ice Cream Shop. This and the Plaza Inn are the only restaurants that opened before the park did. We both had Mickey Mouse Belgium waffles and a Coke (breakfast of champions). The meal was $12.00 ($4.20 for the waffle) plus tip since this was a table service restaurant. We rated the Carnation Ice Cream Shop as the overall, best eating spot in Disneyland! The waffles were good but the Belgium’s aren't as good as the regular waffles mentioned later. We fed the birds a little and listened to the calming voice of an announcer telling people on Main Street when the park would be opening.

We almost hated to leave the fresh, clean atmosphere of Main Street USA but headed towards Adventureland in search of other adventures. While walking under the large Adventureland sign we were greeted by the sound of The Enchanted Tiki Room and a large green waterfall directly in front of us. The Adventureland shops were neat to look at as we waited in line for the Jungle Cruise. This attraction is amazing and set the tone for the remainder of the trip. Everywhere we looked, everything we saw was prepared for an onlooker in some way. I love all the humor and animals of this attraction. The large elephant over the starboard side is the most realistic animal in my opinion. This attraction surprised me by not only looking like a jungle but feeling and smelling like as well. The air is damp all the way through.

We continued from the Jungle Cruise past small attractions to major ones in hope of avoiding crowds. One thing I noticed was that the Jungle Cruise was less crowded later in the day than early. This may be because most people just starting out in the park automatically go left to the Jungle Cruise at the hub, or to Star Tours in the other direction.

Pirates of the Caribbean was next. Again the smells and feeling add to the experience. The pirate's faces are amazingly convincing. They look like real people almost more than real people do. Many would call this their favorite attraction.

There is a fountain in a small courtyard in front of the Frontierland train station. This spot is one of the most peaceful and beautiful in the park. It is perfect to rest tired feet and feel Disneyland's atmosphere without going anywhere.

The Haunted Mansion is cleverly comedic and witty. From the sinking-expanding room to the singing statues, to my favorite of the attraction: the hitchhiking ghosts at the end, the experience here is unforgettable. This is a magical experience of death, floating along in a "Doom Buggy.”

We continued on to Splash Mountain, in our opinion the best attraction in the park. The details are unequaled. Walking in line is entertaining itself with the scenery provided. The homes of Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit, and Brer Bear are just as you would imagine them. The music you hear while waiting in line is fun. A problem experienced with Splash Mountain is the length of the line. Any line more than a half hour long is a waste. Disneyland costs far too much money to spend time in lines like that. Some days the waits are as much as two hours long. Good investigation and planning helps avoid times of the year when lines are longer than twenty five minutes. We bought a picture taken of us plunging down the largest waterfall. Luckily we sat in front. The cost was $8.57 for an OK quality, but priceless picture.

The Mint Julep Bar hides behind New Orleans Square on the south west side of The French Market. Mint Juleps are a wonderful mix of mild lemonade and mint extract. Cost $1.78 with tax and I drank at least 3 throughout our stay. This is where we stopped on the way to the Sailing Ship Columbia.

At the Golden Horseshoe Opera House there was a bluegrass band with four members whooping up a song about a bear called "sleepfoot." The musicians were skilled and funny. The theater was cool with air conditioning and ceiling fans.

Next, we took a ride on the Sailing Ship Columbia. We board as some of the last passengers (steerage). We should have waited until next time because we didn't have a spot on the perimeter and missed much of the scenery. The Mark Twain provides a better view for more passengers.

The Disney Art Gallery was next. This is well worth walking through. Many the displays contain rare items that are interesting too see.
The sun rose high so we toured the west side of Main Street for an hour or two. We started at the north end watching Rod Miller at Coca-Cola Corner. The Candy Palace immediately became our favorite shop in the park. We made several return visits. I bought home-made fudge that was so good it was a sin. My wife had a caramel bar on a sucker stick, coated with chocolate and nuts. The warm day softened the caramel and melted the chocolate making us think we were in heaven. We have talked about that half-melted caramel stick ever since.

The Penny Arcade was a lot fun. Throughout all three days we spent several dimes and quarters on the foot massagers. The quarter machine is best. It was sad when they removed many of the machines in their during the 1990s.

Next came the large Emporium with the bookstore, watch shop, etc. inside. This store is great and takes at least 40 minutes to tour. The bookstore section had a model train that ran around the perimeter of the ceiling, gliding past scenes from classic Disney movies.

Lunch was spent at the Big Thunder Barbecue, a must! We had barbecued beef and chicken sandwiches with side dishes. I liked the beef and my wife liked the chicken. The meal totaled $16.05 and was more than we could eat. One of the best food values in the park.

The Beauty and the Beast stage show came next in our afternoon. The actors had excellent voices and we had excellent seats. We sat on the third row of the bleachers which must surely be the best. The show lasted one half hour. Arriving one hour early is good.

Next we took a ride on the Casey Jr. Train but didn't get to ride in the monkey or lion cage cars. We may pass on this one next time. Little kids love it though.

The Aladdin parade was a riot. I video-taped the whole thing. Amidst this great spectacle were two spitting camels who would shoot water on guests lining the Street. We stood at the corner of the ropes that block traffic for the parade just a little north of Alice in Wonderland. This spot was good for filming.

Following the parade we toured the Adventureland shops looking at imported goods that few can afford but are fun to dream about. Every year the emporium displays character scenes in the form of twelve inch figures inside their south east windows. Each year displays the current animated film and this year was Aladdin. There were four or five scenes in all. One scene had princess Jasmine trapped in the hour glass with Aladdin swinging a sword back and forth at Jafar who had transformed into a snake. Another had Aladdin waiving his loaf of bread at the angry palace guards below.

Next we saw the Mr. Lincoln show. I wanted to spend more time looking at the "Life of Walt Disney" exhibits displayed as you enter Mr. Lincoln. The show was neat but I became a little bored.

The train is the only way to travel the entire park without walking. I like the cars best that face you towards the park rather than to the back of the steam engine making you look to your right to see anything. The dioramas you pass through between Tomorrowland and Main Street are very realistic. Peaking into Splash Mountain is another benefit of the train.

While watching the Main Street Electrical Parade we dined at the Plaza Inn and had our best meal in the park. I had pork loins and my wife had turkey, both with mashed potatoes and a nice salad and roll. We loved it! $21.71 and we were out the door. Since it was a buffet style meal a tip was not necessary. The seating there was great, overlooking Main Street U.S.A. The People Mover attracted fewer crowds than almost anything in the park but provided a view that nothing else can. It showed sneak previews to space mountain, Star Tours, the arcade, and the Tron attraction. It was very relaxing and fun.

Since the crowds were somewhat small we started on Fantasyland riding a few things like King Arthur's Carousel, Snow White's Scary Adventures, and Pinocchio. The spectacles these small attractions provide are as good as anything in the park. The fireworks in Pinocchio are very realistic. Fantasyland just has its own splendor that makes it fun for adults with or without children.

We also visited the Disney Villains shop and Tinker Bell Toy Shoppe. At Disney Villains I filmed the witch chained up in the box who begged for us to let her out. Tinker Bell Toy Shop was enchanting. The Peter Pan characters were painted on the wall. We bought several treasures there. We went back to the motel a little early and tired. This was our best day in Disneyland ever. The crowds were low, we were organized and knew what we were doing, and had rested the previous day.

Wednesday June 9, 2003
We slowly started this day at the River Belle Terrace. The view from this restaurant is truly the most beautiful in the park. Sitting outside looking over The Rivers Of America was magic. This part of the park seems to stay quiet until later in the afternoon. We had a Mickey Mouse regular waffle and a Mark Twain breakfast which had biscuits and gravy. We paid $13.04 for both of our meals and were very satisfied.

Toontown was our first stop of the day. Even though we went there first it was still very crowded. One neat thing about Toontown is that once inside, no matter which direction you look you see only Toontown. There isn't a ride there for adults (this was prior to Roger Rabbit which opened in 1994). We waited in line for almost an hour to ride the Gadget's Go Coaster that lasted 60 seconds or less. Mickey and Minnie’s houses were our favorite attractions in Toontown. They were each chuck full of clever items and scenes. Mickey had a fish mounted on his wall that has swallowed his fishing pole. A radio played in his living room giving humorous news about Toontown and its citizens. In the back was a washing machine with fabric softener named "Tooney". As we left Mickey's house I filmed my wife shaking hands with the main mouse himself, dressed as the sorcerer's apprentice. The gag factory shop was also worth looking inside. We had a lot of fun seeing Toontown but won't appreciate it until we have children. One problem we experienced was that most of the land is concrete and asphalt which gets very hot even in the morning. When the sun got its hottest we headed for New Orleans Square to explore all of the shops. We started at Crystal De’ Orleans. Very expensive but very pretty. I really wanted a crystal "Sleeping Beauty Castle" with a one hundred eighty dollar price tag. The Le Gourmet shop kept us interested for quite a while. My wife found a matching set of copper cake mold pans in the shape of Mickey and Minnie heads (I later bought them for one of our anniversaries). Mickey had his own line of spices and cooking utensils titled “Gourmet Mickey.” The Pieces of Eight is the pirate shop we never miss. Masks, guns, swords, eye patches, and a very nice collection of lamps with high prices and pirate scenes as the base line the shelves. Most things are affordable for kids.

The One Of A Kind antique shop has things we have never seen anywhere else, as do most Disneyland shops. This shop was started by Lillian Disney herself. They had an old children's peddle-powered John Deer tractor that still works.

Off to Critter Country. No attraction is more Disneyland than the County Bears Playhouse. The Bears were always a good laugh year after year. I loved the overweight bear who sings through a picnic of ants: "Life's no picnic without ya." After the bears we walked through the Teddy Barra's Swingin' Arcade. This arcade had some games themed after Winnie the Pooh characters and one themed after Brer Bear and Brer Fox. Johnny Rio is a life sized gunfighter who challenges you to a gun fight. If you take your gun out of the holster too quickly, or without putting in a quarter, Johnny calls you a "cheatin' bushwhacker who better put the gun back in the holster." Following the Bears we climbed aboard the Davy Crockett Canoes. Next time we will stick to the Mark Twain. Our guide was a little grouchy and we tired of rowing the canoe, but the view from the canoes was worth seeing as it gives you more time to see the river than any other boat.

Our lunch this day was spent at the Hungry Bear Restaurant. We loved sitting at the edge of the river feeding the ducks while eating our worst meal in the park. The food was old and dry. And, the hot wings were just a bit too hot. Upon editing this journal in 2005, we still have not returned.

The enchanted Tiki Room of Adventureland came next. The songs and humor were a bust. We sing the Tiki Room song at home and listen to it on CD. The cheerfulness of this place could cure any broken heart in its twenty minute show.

Next we stopped at the Snow White Grotto located just south east of the castle. Here there is a wishing well overlooked by marble statues of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Snow White's singing echoes in the well. We watched and listened to the six member brass band, called the Side Street Strutters, in New Orleans Square that eventually played on a flat boat which floated past everyone waiting for the FANTASMIC! show.

After tying loose ends in Fantasyland we reserved our spot for FANTASMIC! on a spot of grass, pretty close to the water's edge. I saw one gentleman charging his camcorder battery in the men's room. Said he didn't want to miss the show without his camera. While waiting I slipped over to the Harbor Galley and bought a tuna fish sandwich, clam chowder in a bread bowl, bacon wrapped skewered scallops, Mickey Mouse corn chips, and a Coke. The scallops were very good but a little expensive for what I got. But I would get them next time. Spent about $17.00. FANTASMIC! was awesome! Although I wish I would have spent less time trying to film it.
We sat on a patch of grass southwest of center stage and in the middle of New Orleans Square. As the show started a lot of people got in front of us and blocked our view. However, we saw one group of people sit on the brick ledge that surrounds the grass in the rear. While waiting they had a comfortable seat and when the show started they stood on the ledge and had a very clear shot of the show. This is the plan for next time.

The Skyway to Tomorrowland attraction showed us a breathtaking view of the park. Everything glistened in the dark and was easy to see because of the lights. Night is the best time for this attraction.

Thursday June 10, 2003
Today started off a little different than the other two. We made a major search through the entire park looking for the compact disc with the FANTASMIC! soundtrack, but without any luck. The night before we couldn't decide if we wanted one and today we discovered they were all recalled due to a recording error. It took us ten months to finally get one.

Our first attraction today was the submarines in Tomorrowland. Although we have been on this one many times it is still fun. The sea dragon's head gives one of the best laughs in the park. The bubbles do make you seem like you are really diving.

The Circlevision is fun to see once but I don't think we will go again for a while. Although it is neat there aren't many thrills.

The most grouchy person in Disneyland was definitely the monorail driver who drove us to the Disneyland Hotel. We sat in the front car with him which was an experience worth waiting for. The front car has a large window that none of the others have. I even filmed the driver which I think made him even worse. The only other grouchy Disneyland person we came across was a lady at the Candy Palace. She even tried to avoid my camera but unsuccessfully.

The souvenir guide makes you think that the Disneyland Hotel is a must-see major stopping place. This mostly true. It is very pretty but the attractions they have there are not worth trying, especially after you have been to the Magic Kingdom. The landscaping is the Hotel's best attraction. Everything is just as nice as the park. We also stopped by the Japanese Koi fish. We didn't get to see them feed the fish but it was interesting watching them anyway. The fish are basically white with orange and black spots. We took a nap in the lobby of one of the towers. The day was very hot but the Hotel was cool.

September 1992 - First Trip with Others

September 1992

This trip we flew from Salt Lake City to San Jose to visit my parents again (they moved from Sand Diego).

Wednesday September 9, 1992
This morning we left San Jose in a red convertible VW Rabbit. The convertible idea was great until we got going and realized that driving with the top down was very hot, and so windy we could not hear each other.

We stayed at the Conestoga Hotel in Anaheim located at 1240 South Walnut and paid $65 a night. Due to the advice of the hotel, we ate at a restaurant on the property called the Cattleman’s Wharf. The décor was unforgettably old and tasteless. It was decorated in the 1970s gaudy colors and patterns. It also looked filthy. The waitress came to give us some bread and insisted that we each tear a piece off from the loaf while she was holding the other end. Something we talked about for years to come. The food matched the décor, horrible.

Thursday September 10, 1992
We got up and headed to the park this day by means of the hotel shuttle. The shuttle schedule was very limited so we ended up coming back sooner than desired, just so we could catch the shuttle.

Our two-day passports cost $48.50 each. We basically went left at the hub on Main Street USA and tried most everything.

One of the attractions at the time was a Goofy parade. They used the large, green bus they have with Goofy’s head on the front of it.

Friday September 11, 1992
On this day we did re-rides and tried the People Mover for the first time. I still love that ride and wish they would bring it back. This was at a time when Tomorrowland seemed quite fun.

Saturday September 12, 1992
On the way back to San José we stayed in San Simeon and ate at a very nice seafood restaurant called The Brambles. We also went through one of the four Hearst Castle tours which cost $14 per ticket. That seemed pricey in 1992. Of course we were poor college students that were lucky to even be there.

Either before or after the Disneyland trip, we all went to Fisherman’s Warf and Hard Rock Café in San Francisco. Hard Rock used to serve a killer banana split that I luckily have a recipe for.

March 1991 - It Began

March 1991

Wednesday March 20, 1991
This was my first Disneyland trip since 1975, when my mother and I traveled from Utah to LA by Greyhound bus. It even rained a little bit this day but not much. The attractions that stand out most were Pirates and Splash. No lines at all for Pirates and very little for anything else. We pretty much rode everything in the park; Haunted Mansion, Mark Twain, Space Mountain, Star Tours, Jungle Cruise, all of Fantasyland, and checked out a few things on Main Street USA.

We ate lunch at the Blue Bayou where we ordered a Monte Cristo Sandwich and a Mint Julep. Both new food experiences for me. I think my wife recommended the mint julep since her family came a couple of years ago. This was nearly too much for me. I could not believe there was a restaurant in the world that was themed like this. Although we did not sit waterside as we usually do now, it was still amazing and I knew I would be back.

The promotion taking place at the Park at this time was the Disney Afternoon cartoons. They had a parade but we did not see it. I also don’t remember seeing any shows. The park closed at 7:00pm so we felt somewhat rushed.