Just got back from the "Happiest Place on Earth". Had a great time, kids finally started to ride some rides, especially our 9 year old daughter. It's been 5 years since I've been there and 10 before that, so I thought I'd put together a little report.

Caveat: I can't stand Disney, the marketing machine, etc. That being said, man, do they do this stuff very, very well. I had a great time too.

Disneyland Hotel:
Use the self park because it's up on the top of the parking garage and not any further than valet if you need something. Free coffee in lobby in morning but everybody is trying to save money, so get there early. And one day it was luke warm? Very un Disneylike. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> Hotel is nice, we had a room with a couch in it so one kid could sleep on that.

Downtown Disney: best part of the trip, besides the California Screamer. Lots and lots to see, do, buy, buy, buy, buy. 3-5 musicians out at night playing and, wait for it, selling their cd's. That's ok, they were all very good. I could do without local tween's running around after their "makeover" at Libby Lu though. Not what my 9 year old daughter needs to see with a birthday coming up. Argh! Rainforest Cafe is neat but the food is only ok. ESPN Zone has good burgers, salads, drinks, games upstairs with a bar while you wait and the kids can run around and play. Oh, they put sports on big TV's too. I almost forgot that. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Disneyland: Setting up to shoot the video for their Christmas Day show while we were there. High School Musical "selected cast members" were supposed to be there, we didn't wait to see. Neat to watch the set up, Josh Grogin (sp?) sang and my son wasn't impressed. Check out the Buzz Lightyear ride. You get to shoot laser guns at targets so it's fun for adults too. They take pictures while you ride and you can email it to yourself. With your score on it!

Matterhorn, still fun for me. Finding Nemo submarine ride was really cool, brought back memories of the old ride. But get there EARLY. That was THE ride to get on for everybody, 3 hr. wait at times. Walk to the park rather than ride the monorail if you want to get on Nemo, the monorail was late every time and they then run you around the Matterhorn to get in line.

Space Mountain still rocks. We walked on two mornings in a row and rode it twice, before the lines. Thunder Mountain is fun too, Katie rode that for her first real roller coaster this year. Haunted House was set up with the Nightmare Before Christmas stuff, really cool. This is where Disney just gets it all right, very well put together. But...guess what they were selling all over the park...yep, Nightmare Before Christmas stuff. Sorry, cynical guy just took over the keyboard. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Lunch at Bleu Bayou was outstanding. I would have killed for a glass of wine or a beer though. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> Hanging out on Adventure Island or whatever it's called now was fun. It's a Pirates of the Caribbean theme now, Jack Sparrow walking around messing with the kids was fun to watch. This guy was dead on, voice, mannerisms, etc. My son kept saying that it was "really Johnny Depp, Dad!". I loved that island as a kid and it's still fun. (Don't forget, I hate Disney, really!)

California Adventure: one word: Beer!!! Another word: Wine!!!! Ahh, sweet nectar! But at $7 per 10oz beer, I felt like I was at a 49ers/Kings/Giants game. Geez. $9 per small glass of wine, same feeling. So...not so much drinking going on.

California Screaming is a very good roller coaster. My daughter actually rode it with her friend, then went back that night for another run. She's 9 and just figured out it's fun. Watch out now! My son, not so much. He's 8 and it's not his thing. At all.

California Adventure is fun, overall. More room to move around, even when crowded. Back Lot area is neat, Hollywood Hotel ride was fun, Redwood forest play area was great for the kids. Soaring over California still is ton's of fun, just wish it was 30 min. long. Corndogs were outstanding!!!! California Dreaming movie, with Whoopie Goldberg was very interesting. From a teachers perspective, it was factually correct but it was also interesting to see how they presented some things. Funny actually. But still factually correct in the end.

I think that's it. Get the Fast Pass option, bring your own water in to the park to drink and/or food and go the week before a 3 day weekend. Friday and Saturday got crowded, Thursday was wide open. This coming week, with Thanksgiving coming on, will be very busy.

That's it, from a dedicated Disney hater. But man, that was a lot of fun. Especially with kids who are the right age. We'll be back, when we save some more dead presidents. Or Euros maybe. I wonder if I can get paid in those???? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Lastly, it was very fun to get back down to Newport/Balboa and walk around the beach, ride the ferry, etc. I needed a beach fix and it looks the same (almost) as it did 15 years ago when I lived there. Sigh. Real estate prices are waaaaay higher though. Go figure.

Pics link below, see the Disney ones obviously.