Disneyland and California Adventure

Hey everyone!

I got a fairly good night's sleep and woke half an hour before my alarm which was set for 7am. A quick look at google maps showed me traffic to Anaheim was a mess already, so I got up, packed up and got in an uber to my accommodation in Anaheim. My uber driver's name was Tiffany and she was lovely. We chatted the entire way which took just over an hour! Only cost me $40 so not too bad and much better than hours of public transport. 

I got to my hotel and the owner let me check in at 8am and upgraded me to a two bedroom apartment - everything was coming up Claire!! At the ripe old age of 24, I've decided I am starting to get too old for hostel dorms. Locking all your valuables and being woken by people coming and going is so tiring. I think I'm going to alter my accommodation for China next year to a hostel single room :)

I took advantage of the beautiful sunny day and the fact that I was early, and decided to use my 'Magic Morning' pass at Disneyland. If you book a three day ticket you can enter the park an hour early one day. The lovely lady on the gate saw I was by myself and whispered under her breath that she hadn't marked off my Magic Morning, and told me to use it again on Thursday. How nice!!

You know that rush of childhood excitement you only experience a handful of times in life? That hit me like a bus as I walked in, as well as nostalgia due to having been here before with my family. I couldn't stop smiling, I pretty much haven't all day!! Only Tomorrowland and Fantasyland were open at this point so I rushed straight to Space Mountain and got on fairly quickly, then did a Finding Nemo submarine ride which was really cool! Next was the Matterhorn Bobsleds. There was already a 40 minute line but thanks to the single rider queue I literally walked up and got on. It was a very bumpy ride, but I enjoyed it!

I got to Thunder Mountain as it opened so didn't wait long, then walked through the New Orleans area to find out the Haunted Mansion is closed. But I went instead to Pirates of the Caribbean, one of my favourites as a kid. There was absolutely no queue, and it was even better than I remembered! There was so much to look at and they've added Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Depp in since 2005. As I came out, there was a huge queue forming. And this trend seemed to follow me around. I got to Splash Mountain and went on twice in a row (was in front the first time and got soaked!!) due to no queue, then when I left the queue was huge. The big drop at the end was just as awesome as I remembered. 

Then I walked to Adventureland and went on the Indiana Jones ride. Back in '05 we lost Dad outside this one, and due to none of us having phones with us I'm pretty sure we didn't find him for an hour or so! Back then there was a 2-3 hour wait for the ride. Again, I got straight on!! And again, huuuuuge queue when I exited! I don't know what was going on!

I climbed up Tarzan's Treehouse for a nice view and then went and saw the bird show at the Tiki Room, one of the oldest attractions here. It's so clever! I enjoyed a pineapple soft serve while I watched. 

By this time it was sunny and warm and there were a heap of people around, so I decided to have a bit of a walk around. I went and saw the Walt Disney and Mickey statue and the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Then I got my photo taken with Goofy and headed over to Disney's California Adventure Park. 

The sun was shining over the best part of this park - Paradise Pier. I got my picture taken in the same spot that we as a family did last time (I've attached both) and then headed over to one of the best rides, California Screamin. There was a one hour line, but I got on in 5-10 minutes in the single rider queue. This ride is awesome! You start off in the water and accelerate so fast. I loved it! Went on it twice and met a really nice local lady in the single queue who is an annual pass holder. 

Next I went on the Ferris wheel which had a track the car swings along, it was just as scary as when I was a kid! Nice view though. I went on a Goofy roller coaster which was really rough and then had a corn dog to eat. Figured I should try it because I leave soon. It was pretty good!

I then went to one of our favourites from our family trip, Soarin'. At the time it was called 'Soarin' Over California'. Now it's 'Soarin' Around the World'. It's a really realistic flight simulator. We flew over the Matterhorn, Sydney harbour, Iguassu Falls, Neuschwanstein Castle, the Taj Mahal, Africa and more. I loved it!! I had gotten a fastpass for this one so I didn't have to queue, and I got another one as soon as I left. The attention to detail was great as there was also a different smell for each landscape (eg the sea for Fiji). 

Then was Ariel's Underwater Adventure, I sang along to 'Under the Sea' so loudly that people looked at me haha!

Next I walked through Cars Land. This wasn't here last time we were; but I went on the racers ride and it was lots of fun! You zoomed around a mock Monument Valley racing a car of other tourists. My car won ;)

I walked towards the Hollywood area and by this time was feeling pretty tired, so decided to join an animation session. We learned how to draw Eeyore and considering I usually just draw stick figures, I was pretty impressed with mine! 

My final two rides of the day were the Monsters Inc taxi ride which was really good, and then Soarin' again. 

Finally I did some shopping at the Disney shops and bought myself a t-shirt and a jumper, as well as a magnet and a couple of pins. Merchandise here is so expensive, but I want some souvenirs I can actually use so all ok!!

Now I'm back at the hotel relaxing and getting organised. It's amazing what a difference getting some washing done while singing to your favourite music does. I'm feeling much more at ease than I have the last couple of nights in the hostel!!

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox