Our Californian Adventure

We have passes to the Big D (Disneyland) and we NEVER go in August. We don't go in August because it's crowded, HOT and crowded! But this year as we sit at home trying to think of things to do for "free" I was so happy to see our "paid for" passes were open for the last two weeks of summer.

So we went today! And boy was it an adventure. Just getting the kids out of bed and ready to leave in an hour was amazing. We have really embraced the lazy days of summer this year and sleep in until 8 or 9am. I KNOW! Sad but true. All of this about to end in a few short weeks when the drudgery of school life starts again. I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not (another post).

Okay so we arrive in fifteen minutes (I know don't hate me).. I guess the one bonus I can find in living where I do now (okay, maybe more then one but not many). Well the Big D has moved their "parking check-in booths" (not sure what else to call them) and they re-route you through the "old parking lot" (soon to be the new attractions at California Adventure) and into another parking lot BEHIND Downtown Disney.

Okay some background. We go to the Big D about 7-9 times a year, never at night and only until about 3pm on WEEKDAYS. We have never NEVER been to Downtown Disney (FREE). Well even though Downtown Disney is FREE it requires that you spend money since it is an outdoor shopping mall. I think we will be giving the ol' Downtown D a try soon.

So I ask the NICE Disney employee how do we get to the park form here? Is there a tram? She said NO and that you can walk to the right and through Downtown Disney and that there was an option to use the monorail. The monorail is ANOTHER thing we have never used. Okay I said and then we park. And we start walking with the mass herds of people (hoping that someone knows where we are going). We walked and walked and walked and walked...... I saw the monorail (or I think I did) but there was a huge line (to honor things to come) and that wasn't until we had been walking a long time. So I thought it can't be much further. And so we walked and walked and walked.

Finally we get there! And I see the DARN tram pull up in the regular spot. So now I'm mad and wondering if I could have parked in the same parking lot I always did anyway.... so was Disney playing a sick joke on us and only a few had to "hike" to the Big D. Now my pass includes parking (which cost money) but I can only image people that paid $20 or something to park and had to do that trek. Then it hits me... maybe they want people to be sucked into the shops down Downtown Disney and it must be a marketing ploy! I don't know but I wasn't happy and the kids were already complaining that their feet hurt (NICE). You should have seen me dragging them out there!

So we started off doing our usual rides (again, we do not come in AUG). And the lines weren't that bad but it was hard to walk due to the crowds of people.. and I'm not sure why they weren't on the rides. I'm all no nonsense... its one ride to the next in an orderly proximity manner and only take a breather for the bathroom. We even eat in line or walking. I'm very efficient and probably the reason I like going with just the kids. I'm in charge and I can "control" our next move. Funny but true.

Because walked 2 1/2 miles to the park I splurged and enjoyed the following. Things we ate:

Banana

Pickle

Cheetos

Doritos

Churros

Pineapple

Pickle

Pirates Booty

Frozen Banana

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich

Mickey Mouse Cookies and Cream Sandwich (I didn't get a bite of this one though)

YUM. But I figured when I walked the 2 1/2 miles back to the car that I might have burned off one of those items above.

We recently started going on the "wet" rides. They talk about the "bonding" that takes place when strangers are placed in high stress or catastrophic events. Well, lets just say I "bonded" with the other adults on the Bear Grizzly Ride while we were praying that the boat wouldn't turn down river on our next drop so that we wouldn't "get wet". Though we all knowing went on the ride knowing we would "get wet". There were four adults on our boat and we were all "oh no, please turn" praying. Too funny.

What an amazing day! I've very grateful!