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Published: October 26th 2007
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Let's face it: Disneyland IS pretty much the happiest place on earth. Sure there are lines for the rides, sure the prices aren't exactly cheap, but I'll quote Bindy while in one of the gift shops: "This place makes me smile". And she's right, because even though I don't exactly get excited about birthdays anymore, or spend the night before Christmas waiting for Santa Claus, it only took Disneyland a matter of minutes to 'magically' transform my decidedly apathetic look to that of a beaming smile. It was mere nanoseconds after that that I was volunteering for ridiculous photos outside the Disney castle, or excitedly looking at the map to see what adventures lay ahead. Yes I even sang along to the Disney songs that were playing on the speakers. I've always been a bit of a Disney fan: not exactly the schmultzy Disneys, but the cool one's like Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. Because, as I see it, whatever originality is lacking in the plot is well and truly made up in the music.
So first we walked through Main Street USA, stopping at a gift shop and then
The Disney Castle
Image and icon of so many childhoods... the haunted house only to find out it wasn't open. Even these rather mundane sounding activities were fun- but only because they were performed in Disneyland. Next off we headed to Adventureland. After a quick look around Bindy and I decided to (after locating the source of a wonderful smell and eating the caramel popcorn our search produced) go watch the Lion King show. It was pretty cool. The giraffe was incredibly evil looking, but they had all the best songs in there, and some pretty cool dancing, not to mention fire effects at the end. What I think I loved most though, other than perhaps the two guys in monkey costumes who kept translating everything into Chinese, was the fact that no one who wasn't familiar with the movie would have been able to follow the plot of the show. Scar and a young Simba would just be standing around talking, then Scar would announce "it's your fault your father is dead, run away and never return". We never even saw his father, let alone his death. Wouldn't you think that could be potentially confusing? Actually, scrap that, my favourite part of this, and perhaps the whole Disneyland experience
Using my octopus card
On the way out of Disneyland... was that most of the people there were adults, and not ones accompanying children. Not that I can talk really.
Anyway, the boatride we were planning to take to Tarzan's treehouse was totally swamped by everyone else who had watched the Lion King show and had the same idea, so we decided to skip over to Tomorrowland, and come back later if we felt like it. Tomorrowland was pretty cool, but I think it should probably be called Spaceland or something because there wasn't much that was tomorrow-esque about it, except for a lot galaxy themed rides and Buzz Lightyear's face popping every now and then. But whatevs, it was Disneyland, it was fun.
But then it was time for the coolest land of all (and I am totally showing my childish side here): Fantasyland. Home of Mickey, Minnie, Donald and all the Disney princesses. I had spent a lot of the day getting excited about all the cool Alice in Wonderland gear I was going to buy, (as well as getting to go on the Mad Hatter's teacup ride which I'd heard about since early childhood) so was rather disappointed not to see a single Alice doll
Bindy enjoying the best day of her life
And sporting the birthday badge acquired by false means. or teacup which didn't have Mickey Mouse on it anywhere.
My sorrows were soon forgotten with a totally cheesy photo with Minnie Mouse (get it? cheesy, mouse). Then we met up with Jess and Lou who had come after Jess had finished school. We went for a ride on the carousel, then over to the teacups ride. Next up was the Disney parade, which was ultra-cool, then grabbed Mickey Mouse shaped ice creams. At some point in all this, Bindy and I saw a 3D show with Donald Duck and Mickie: it was really good, they sprayed water on the crowd when water was splashing around on the screen, and blew air when Donald was falling. Plus being surrounded by a few hundred people who were trying to grab at the 3D effects, well it's always pretty amusing.
We were going to see another show called the Golden Mickeys (a take-off of the golden globes), but the thing was packed out, so instead we went to get a photo with Donald Duck (shortest line, but he's still pretty cool), and Jessie got to wave and say hello to Mickey, Minnie, and got to hug Pooh Bear. Then around
Me and Jess on the teacup rides
Which being Alice in Wonderland related, is obviously an incredibly cool ride. the Disney castle we bumped into Cinderella, and Snow White. Jessie even got to walk with Snow White to the gates where only princesses are allowed. Ooooh.
Then Merlin came by, and got a picture with me and Bindy. Next up we went to the wishing well and taught Jessie what a wish was. She wished for two things: an echo, and to be able to see the Golden Mickey show (Lou quashed her wish for another icecream before it was made). And thus, magically, her wish came true and we went to see the next session of the Golden Mickeys. It was also pretty darn cool, with song and dance routines involving most of the Disney characters. They were sorted into 'awards' such as best adventure, hero or romance.
After that we went back to Main Street USA, and as it started raining, took refuge in the nearby gift shop. Then it was time for Jess and Lou to go home, while Bindy and I stayed around to make our purchases of the day: probably the best was seeing a stuffed Cheshire cat... Alice in Wonderland fantasies here I come! He'll go very well with my tea
The fountain at the entrance
The Mickie surfed up and down the fountain. Pretty magical really. set. And I'll say about the gift shops of Disneyland, while a lot of it cheesy stuff, there is a lot of temptation: I was very close to buying a Cinderella style wig, until Bindy pointed out that it was made for child sized heads. Or photo frames. Very easy to talk yourself into buying those- for all the lovely photos of Disneyland you will inevitably come out with.
Anyway, after making our purchases, it was just a matter of seeing whether our photos with Minnie were worth buying (they weren't, besides we had a copy on Bindy's camera), then waiting around for the Halloween parade. We filled in a lot of that time taking pictures of the Disney castle off set by the clouds and the sunset, and checking out the cake shop (what's a day at Disneyland without a sugar overload?... somewhat like a fairy without it's wand). The Halloween parade was pretty cool, especially with all the lights turned off so that the jack-o-lanterns and 'Nightmare Before Christmas' characters seemed more menacing. Just before leaving I remembered that apparently you can get a special badge if you go to Disneyland on your birthday, it was 2
Me with the Cheshire Cat
Looking excessively evil... days until Bindy's so we thought it was worth a shot. They didn't even ask for proof. What a jip, anyone could just walk in and get a special birthday badge. Dodge.
Then it was time to catch the train (which had mickey mouse shaped windows) and bus back to bed. So, despite the lack of magic my words seem to be inspiring, be assured that it really was a wonderful, happy and magical day.
P.S. This blog is currently devoid of pictures. Bindy, if you're reading this, answer my emails and send me the photos!
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