Disneyland 2012 Day Three

WARNING: way too many photos.
Friday was the third day of the reunion and the second day at Disneyland Resort. We chose September because the crowds are predicted to be smaller and we thought the weather would be soooo much better. Well, so much for trying to be clever: the temperatures reached over 100 degrees (some said as high as 107). Nevertheless, we had a splendid time, hydrating at every turn.

 We concentrated on California Adventure, which has been recently reinvented. The garish entry has been rethemed and rebuilt as Los Angeles when Walt Disney arrived in California as a young man. Cars Land has filled in the space of a former parking lot. Both of these additions are wonderful. Attention to detail and clever theming are most impressive! We made our way back to Disneyland for supper at Big Thunder Ranch where the binkers became part of the entertainment. We finished the day back in California Adventure where we attended the highly-acclaimed World of Color. Possibly it was over-hyped, because many of us were very disappointed: the viewing areas are useless, unless you are in front, and the show has way too much Disney-cartoon blather. Some of us felt they would have done better with great soaring music, spectacular water effects, and some lighting effects. For me, the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas are better. Oh well. Still a great day.

 What a way to start the day: California Screamin'

 Cars Land is fabulous!

 Fastpasses let us walk straight on

 Waiting for the other riders to arrive

 The trail to the racers -- the landscape feels like it 

has been there for years, not months

 Stanley's Oasis with its radiator spring

 Ready to enter the caverns and get in the racers

 The Colvers

 Waterfall in the Cadillac Range

 Grizzly Rapids was great on a HOT day

 Getting splashed is a bonus

 Katy and Daniel

 Kris didn't "mind getting a little wet," but she got a lot

wet, drenched in fact -- had to go home and change

 Lunch in the Golden State forest

 A second group ready to get on California Screamin'

 Another run down Grizzly Rapids: I was the winner

 Hollywood Land on the way to Tower of Terror

 The lobby

 The view from the top before the 103 foot drop

 An encounter with the Young boys in Bugs Land

 The Carthay Circle Theater reproduction

on Buena Vista Street

 The Hyperion Bridge replaced the Golden Gate Bridge

in the entrance area of California Adventure

 Oswald's gas station on Buena Vista Street

 Ollie Hydrating back in Disneyland by Big Thunder Mountain

 The Binkers performing with Tex Tumbleweed at

the Big Thunder Ranch Barbeque

 Dancing with Miss Chris

 Cars Land at night is ablaze in neon

 Flo's V8 Diner

 Luigi's Flying Tires

World of Color 

Saturday was our day to go back and ride whatever we wanted to again. The next post will be Saturday's adventures. This, however, is all for now.

OXO

D.

Disneyland 2012 Day Two

Today, after breakfast and a bit of lunch making, we boarded the shuttle and hit Disneyland. I rented a wheel chair, which was great. I just can't walk as fast as the young folks, so with lots of pushing help from various and sundry, we zoomed from ride to ride and then I hobbled along in the lines on foot. And the best part is the knee pain was minimal.

 Kris and I beat the crowds to breakfast

 Joined by Pippy and family

 Waiting for departure time

 The good ol' number three shuttle

 The backpacks made by Grammy and Auntie Em

were a huge hit with the binkers and moms across the park

 

 We went first to Splash Mountain

 Madi, Gavin, et al.

 Frontierland is my favorite

 Fearsome pirates all

 Big Thunder Mountain is the best

 Katy and Daniel 

 Tea Cups might make you dizzy

 So let's go again

The girlies are ready for another Royal Wedding

in these fantastic fascinators

 Waiting for everyone to gather

 The newly redone Star Tours is great fun

 Since I was a lad at Disneyland in 1955, Autopia has

matured into a beautiful park-like forest

 Sleeping Beauty Castle at dusk

 Supper time

The evening finished with the thrilling

Soundsational Parade

Tomorrow we will likely focus on California Adventure, but we will see what the day brings.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Disneyland 2012 Day One

Tuesday we met Stephen and Ann in St. George for supper and then traveled as far as Henderson, NV for the night. Wednesday everyone met in Burbank at the Disney Studios for a tour led by nephew, Brigham, who is a senior vice president there. It was my first outing in a wheelchair -- I can still walk, but if I overdo, my knee speaks to me. Prior to the tour, we met Katy and Daniel for lunch at a great little Mexican restaurant in Burbank. The studio tour was extremely interesting and Brigham was very kind to let us come.

After the tour, we headed south down the Santa Ana Freeway to the Hampton Inn for check in and swimming. We all had supper together at Buca di Beppo next to the hotel.

 Henderson from our Comfort Inn window

 Lunch at Poquito Mas in Burbank

 Disney Studio from Google Maps

 Waiting for the tour in the Legends Plaza

at Disney Studios

 Maria Magdalena and Katy Kathryn

 The wheel-chair brigade forms up

 Admiring one of Walt's Oscars in the archives

 A working set in one of the studios

  Iconic water tower

 A theater from the early years

 One of the screening rooms where we saw some

impressive previews of Brigham's projects

 Our host at the original Animation Building

 Taylor-style "shade bathing"

 Ready, steady, go!

 Beckham Gavin Young looks fine

 Philly launching Ollie

A great Italian supper

Today it will be on to the Parks in unseasonably hot weather: they predict 18 degrees above normal: ouch!

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Labor Day 2012

In celebration of Labor Day, Hank and Colette invited the family to their cabin for a pot-luck lunch. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time eating and visiting. Hank pulled out a Stetson hat that had belonged to Grandpa Taylor and had been part of the distribution of his stuff after Aunt Ethelyn died

 HTD, Jr. and SKT

 Visiting while the fire burns down for roasting

Emily regales the troops while Max enjoys the chips and salsa

 HDT, Steve, Katy Kathleen, Zoe, and Tiffany

 Katy Kathryn and Meagan

 Daniel at the grill

 An obligatory "brothers" shot

 Pippy with the fine Stetson

Millie, Bea, Zoe, and Brandon

This adventure made a nice change from our usual uneventful Labor Days. It was so pleasant and relaxing in the canyon, and it is always nice to be with family.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

First-Day-of-Retirement Fête

Today, September 1, was the official first day of retirement for Rod and me. The official day is always the first day of the month following your final semester or term. Tonight we got together with Rod and Vic and went for a burger at Firehouse Burgers in Springville. After supper, Rod took us for a drive up Hobble Creek Canyon in their new Highlander. The canyon was full of campers -- there for the Labor Day weekend -- and the air smelled beautiful: fresh and crisp because of recent rain, but tinged with campfire smoke.

 KBT, DAT, RBB, and VJGB

 The buns are from Provo Bakery or a reasonable facsimile 

 The top of Hobble Creek Canyon

The burgers were great, the company was splendid, and the fresh air and scenery were heavenly. We look forward to many more outings like this: we're retired after all and are free to roam.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.