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.
