Attention: This is yet one more post that originally had but one photo and maybe 100 words that told of our day. Here in late 2022, this oversight is being repaired.
Late yesterday afternoon, Caroline and I began the 350-mile (560km) drive from Phoenix, Arizona, to Anaheim, California, so we could spend ALL DAY AND NIGHT at Disneyland on Saturday. Up at 6:00 in the morning, in line by 7:00, walked through the gate at 8:00, and didn’t leave until nearly 1:00 in the morning.
We were just here six months ago on Christmas Eve, so having that experience so near our memories, we were able to slow down the chase to experience it all again and focus on some other details that might be missed though, after more than a dozen times of visiting Disneyland together, you’d think that we’d seen it all by now.
There are some attractions that we’ll never miss, such as the Tiki Room. If I knew the words by heart and had memorized every moment, we’d still return for one more show to listen to Jose wake up with “Buenos días, señorita. My siestas are getting shorter and shorter. Oh, look at all the people. Welcome to Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. Hey, Michael, mi amigo, pay attention, it’s showtime.”
I don’t know that I’ve ever consciously seen this, which begs the question, how many other things at Disneyland have I missed and are now forever gone?
To have the imagination I did when I was but 6 or 7 years old and first saw this gate and fence and felt the crazy excitement that not only were we at Disneyland, but we were going to unimaginable places within it.
This was called Innoventions and was a showcase of tech built inside the Carousel Theater.
Asimo was relatively new to the world of robots when we saw it first perform here at Innoventions; it was astonishing.
The elevated track used to be part of the People Mover. Later, it became Rocket Rods, and now the thing sits silent, even now in 2022, as I write this.
Looking into odd corners.
Taking time to finally paddle the Rivers of America on our way around Tom Sawyer Island.
Just as Space Mountain propels us into the future, Rivers of America transported us into the past.
Nature’s Wonderland Railroad Engine that used to guide people on the Mine Ride.
The park simply looks beautiful from all angles.
And if all the fun wasn’t enough, throw in a parade for extra measure.
How long before the barber shop quartette idea no longer resonates with parkgoers?
After my family went to Disneyland, we always had a bunch of A, B, and C coupons remaining as those were kids’ rides, and we all wanted E-tickets as those were for the really exciting rides.
When we were kids, the last thing we wanted to see were the corny shows, now we’re those people that enjoy the corny shows.
No, Dad, not the stupid Dumbo ride; I’m not a little kid anymore. Now I’m older and find it cute and romantic as Caroline, and I take to the skies flying in circles in our own private Dumbo.
From Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride to the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, the formula still works.
The fireworks went off at 9:25 p.m. with a special extravaganza in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the park.
After dozens of times at Disneyland, we still find new things to do and are never bored, even for a moment – the power of imagination and romance.
The rides are all shut down; it’s now after midnight the only thing left to do is stroll down Main Street, stopping in at the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor to share a sweet.
