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Disneyland -- The Happiest Place on Earth

I went to Disneyland today.

I was expecting the worst. It's a Saturday. Great weather, the place would be packed.

I drive up and see parking is $12. Lame. But then, at a Charger game a few weeks ago, parking was $25. Yikes.

My girlfriend and I had both been to California Adventure previously, but neither of us went on that Hollywood Hotel elevator ride. We loved it. And, loved that there was only a 15 minute wait. The one time I was there previously, we were told it was a three hour wait.

When we hopped over to Disneyland, we were surprised it was only a 20 minute wait for the Matterhorn. She mentioned she had never been on that before, which blew me away. I wondered what she ever did when she went to the park previously.

I remember being a 3-year-old, and at Disneyland for the first time. My only two memories were being on the rockets with my dad (who left when I was 4, and I never really saw again). I kept thinking I was going to slide out of them.

I remember being on his shoulders, and always feeling like I'd lose balance. When I'd grab his head he'd yell that I was pulling out his hair.

I also remember being on the Matterhorn and my mom pointed to the bobsled behind us, saying "There's your dad." I didn't see the car, but the Abominable Snowman. I thought he had changed into that outfit to try and scare us, and when we got off the ride, he had changed back. It wasn't until years later, I realized how impossible that was, and what my mom must've meant when she pointed him out. Child logic, or lack of it, is funny sometimes.

And I love listening to the kids at Disneyland. You're eating somewhere, and they're just bugging their parents to hurry up so they can go on the rides. It reminds me of kids on Christmas morning, buggin the parents to scarf down their breakfast so they can get to the presents.

My girlfriend had never been in the Haunted House. Which, reminded me a lot of the Hollywood Hotel. That attraction was closed down. Somebody speculated that they were doing something different to it for Halloween.

It's a Small World was also closed, but we didn't care.

Pirates of the Carribean had an hour wait. Now, that was more like a Saturday crowd.

The sun finally came out. And, I was wishing I had brought a baseball cap. I started thinking about forking over some cash for Mickey ears or a Disney cap. Luckily, a lot of the lines had shade or were indoors.

We got in line for Space Mountain, a rollercoaster we both think is highly overrated. But, you still have to hit it when you're there.

The sign said the line would only be a 30 minute wait. After about 15 minutes in it, the rollercoaster broke down. They told us that would probably be 15 minutes. We waited 10, before splitting to grab a Coke.

I couldn't bring my digital camera, since it's no longer showing pictures, but a variety of colorful lines.

I don't know if that's what made me less patient for those around me snapping photos.

I'm somebody that will often volunteer to take a photo for someone. But, I've noticed at places like amusement parks, someone will find the perfect spot for a picture. I'm not talking about with some teenager working in a giant Mickey costume. But, a pretty bed of flowers. Or in front of an old-fashioned train. Then, they get mad as people walk in front of them.

Well, why is the photographer standing 100 feet back? And, why are they expecting to stand there, to get everything just right, and that the crowd of 50 should all just stop and wait? We wouldn't mind, except that 10 feet further down Main Street, there will be another group doing the same thing.

Either snap your photo quickly, don't stand so far away, or just realize you're going to get people strolling around you or in front of you.

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Flowering pear trees in Kensington not that nice

Empty dirt plots in front of Ken Cinema

I went to Disneyland today.

I was expecting the worst. It's a Saturday. Great weather, the place would be packed.

I drive up and see parking is $12. Lame. But then, at a Charger game a few weeks ago, parking was $25. Yikes.

My girlfriend and I had both been to California Adventure previously, but neither of us went on that Hollywood Hotel elevator ride. We loved it. And, loved that there was only a 15 minute wait. The one time I was there previously, we were told it was a three hour wait.

When we hopped over to Disneyland, we were surprised it was only a 20 minute wait for the Matterhorn. She mentioned she had never been on that before, which blew me away. I wondered what she ever did when she went to the park previously.

I remember being a 3-year-old, and at Disneyland for the first time. My only two memories were being on the rockets with my dad (who left when I was 4, and I never really saw again). I kept thinking I was going to slide out of them.

I remember being on his shoulders, and always feeling like I'd lose balance. When I'd grab his head he'd yell that I was pulling out his hair.

I also remember being on the Matterhorn and my mom pointed to the bobsled behind us, saying "There's your dad." I didn't see the car, but the Abominable Snowman. I thought he had changed into that outfit to try and scare us, and when we got off the ride, he had changed back. It wasn't until years later, I realized how impossible that was, and what my mom must've meant when she pointed him out. Child logic, or lack of it, is funny sometimes.

And I love listening to the kids at Disneyland. You're eating somewhere, and they're just bugging their parents to hurry up so they can go on the rides. It reminds me of kids on Christmas morning, buggin the parents to scarf down their breakfast so they can get to the presents.

My girlfriend had never been in the Haunted House. Which, reminded me a lot of the Hollywood Hotel. That attraction was closed down. Somebody speculated that they were doing something different to it for Halloween.

It's a Small World was also closed, but we didn't care.

Pirates of the Carribean had an hour wait. Now, that was more like a Saturday crowd.

The sun finally came out. And, I was wishing I had brought a baseball cap. I started thinking about forking over some cash for Mickey ears or a Disney cap. Luckily, a lot of the lines had shade or were indoors.

We got in line for Space Mountain, a rollercoaster we both think is highly overrated. But, you still have to hit it when you're there.

The sign said the line would only be a 30 minute wait. After about 15 minutes in it, the rollercoaster broke down. They told us that would probably be 15 minutes. We waited 10, before splitting to grab a Coke.

I couldn't bring my digital camera, since it's no longer showing pictures, but a variety of colorful lines.

I don't know if that's what made me less patient for those around me snapping photos.

I'm somebody that will often volunteer to take a photo for someone. But, I've noticed at places like amusement parks, someone will find the perfect spot for a picture. I'm not talking about with some teenager working in a giant Mickey costume. But, a pretty bed of flowers. Or in front of an old-fashioned train. Then, they get mad as people walk in front of them.

Well, why is the photographer standing 100 feet back? And, why are they expecting to stand there, to get everything just right, and that the crowd of 50 should all just stop and wait? We wouldn't mind, except that 10 feet further down Main Street, there will be another group doing the same thing.

Either snap your photo quickly, don't stand so far away, or just realize you're going to get people strolling around you or in front of you.

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