California - Here we come - Day 6

[Guest]

Day 6

So today we are back in Disneyland. The weather is not on our side as we will later discover in the evening and also the following day. Tim & Jimmie join us again and we have quite a few laughs along the way. Rather than list all the rides we do today I’ll mention the ones we don’t normally get to do at WDW.

On our way in we see the best place for a stroller!



We did decide to visit Toontown. Rather than being the couple of houses that existed at Magic Kingdom before Mickey & Minnie got evicted this is an entire town. It also features the unique Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin. You board the taxi from the film (Lenny) and are taken on a mad ride through the world of “toons”.





Whilst we are in this land we decide we should all go visit Mickey. To do this you go through his home and then out the back to his “Movie Barn”. The line area is reminiscent of the queuing area at the Great Movie Ride at DHS as you watch his cartoons from down the years. Eventually you are summoned to a room and – voila – there he is. We suss that there are several rooms and that rather like Macy’s “Meet Santa”……..figure out the rest! Anyhow, we do get to meet the Big Cheese!



We spend the day dodging rainfalls as we pass from ride to ride. We do get the chance to take the “Alice in Wonderland” ride where you ride a caterpillar through the various adventures of the girl with the blue dress and white pinafore. Tim is astonished when I tell him there is a duplication of this ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in the UK. For some reason the Thompson family of Blackpool were able to persuade Disney to let them reproduce the ride at their famous park. If you don’t believe me – Google it!

In the afternoon there is a Mardi Gras performance by the Princess and the Frog characters:





Jimmie sits out on Space Mountain whilst we 3 are thrown around outer space:



We manage to have a fun day despite the ever threatening weather but at 4p.m. we decides we could all do with some down time so we head off to our respective hotels. Along the way we call in at “World of Disney” in Downtown Disney and buy various items including some gifts for friends. This space gives Darrin and I a chance to pack ready for our departure tomorrow rather than doing it later in the evening.

The plan for tonight (a la Master Tim) is to visit DCA as there is an ElecTRONica show which he insists we must not miss. Then we will go on to Disneyland to see the fireworks and Fantasmic after we have eaten. When we get to the designated area for this presentation of “Laser man” we feel we have rewound the clock by about 30 years. Young teenagers are bopping to the music all over the place. It’s centres around the area where the Monsters Inc. ride is located. We watch the kids body pop (or whatever they call it these days) and some of them are mighty good! Then the show starts. It was an astonishing ten minutes as this guy plays with laser beams and literally bends them to his will. It’s a bit smoke and mirrors in its approach but combines with careful choreography he gives us an outstanding performance as you can see from these pictures:





When the show finishes we head over into the Disneyland park. The weather has worsened and we are not only getting rain but some hail as well. It is bitterly cold and whilst we Brits are glad we put on layers the locals are positively shivering.

We head for the Plaza Inn for a chicken dinner: Mash, French beans and roasted chicken with gravy. It’s actually very good for the price and I wash mine down with a grape soda. By now the wind has really got up and its lashing the rain around. Needless to say both the fireworks and Fantasmic are cancelled. People are leaving the park in droves. Not a pleasant end to what was mostly an enjoyable day. Earlier in the evening I managed to get a fairly decent shot of the Sleeping Beauty castle:



And it is with great sorrow that we have to say goodbye to two VERY special friends. We spend a few moments hugging but I hate tearful goodbyes. We have been privileged to share the last couple of days with the most extraordinary and loving couple. Guys – that invitation to come to the UK remains open until you do!

Tomorrow, we start heading south towards San Diego.

Index

[Eeyore rocks]

Another great day, except the heavy rain at the end.

Wow, there are loads of different rides over there than WDW.

Love the picture of the stroller in the bin.

Awww, Tim and Jimmie sound like lovely guys.

[Guest]

A great trip with great company - what more could you ask for?

[Disney_Diva]

Great report and piccies x

[Guest]

Heavy rain - that sounds too much like the UK to me!

Glad you had another successful day though.

[Guest]

I remember the Alice In Wonderland ride at Blackpool from when I was small. We didn't get a chance to do it at California as it was closed for rehab. Amazed that it's the same ride but very impressed!

[Guest]

Amazing report! I see Jimmie is missing on Space Mountain! Isn't he a fan?

I am printing the one of the 4 of you with Mickey. That is adorable. I feel like I'm there...and... wishing I was there!

On to the next day's report. I am loving this!

[joandwayne]

Another great day Geoff - and how lovely that you get to spend it with such great company.

Is the Disneyland Alice ride the same as the ride in Blackpool? Can't believe it! Wait till I tell DD.

[fudgesky]

Just playing catch up with your reports. Another fab day, shame about the weather.

[Alyson]

Shame about the weather, but otherwise a wonderful day with wonderful friends, a great report with lovely photos especially the stroller in the bin!