TwitterDisney Diary Two
Tuesday was a 10 hour day. We started a little late, about 10am, but that’s when the California Adventure Park opens so we were right on time. I’m still reeling from the roller coaster (more on that later) but all and all, it was a good LONG day at the park.
First off in the morning, I ran around the park collecting as many fast passes as my little heart could handle. This way I could recover as we strolled through the park instead of us all running.
We started at the roller coasters, with “Mulholland Madness” starting off the day. Mulholland is a small compact roller coaster with tight 180 degree turns and rolling dips. We all rode it, with Autumn getting to go twice in the morning and then again with Mommy later in the evening.
Next up was a big coaster, “California Screamin’”. Autumn did not want to ride, although earlier in the morning she did. But once we got there and she saw just how big and fast this thing goes, she decided against it. Wise. Mommy on the other hand really wanted to ride so she went solo. After she got back (about 15 minutes with fast pass), she told me I HAD to ride, “Don’t be a chicken.” Being one to never back down from a challenge, I accepted and made my way into the “shorter” line. Now, I use to ride roller coasters like this all the time, mainly when I worked at Great America in high school. However, in the last few years, things of this nature normally would make me a little ill. Oops, too late, I’m already on the ride. Vvrrrroooooooooooom! The ride starts out by jettisoning you across a short runway before slamming you up a hill and down the first dip…. ok, I can’t go on. I was fine during the first half of the ride, even going upside down through the Mickey Mouse ear loop, but it was the last part of flying sideways, turning faster and faster that caused me to lose it. Now, I didn’t “lose” it in that sense, but I sure lost my marbles. Man, that thing really whacked me out badly. So badly that I didn’t ride a single ride the rest of the day. I became the dedicated camera man for Autumn & Mommy. Joy.
Autumn’s 4th River Run
Grizzly River Run, the only true water ride in the park, happens to be Autumn’s favorite ride. She’s been able to ride it 3 times now, all of them just as fun as the first in her mind.
Autumn meets Flik
After lunch (which took FOREVER to get due to crashed registers), we took Autumn over to the “A Bug’s Land” which is a very cutely themed area based on “A Bug’s Life”. Autumn got to ride all the rides which included bumper cars, spinning lady bugs, flying raisin boxes, and a caterpillar train.
We later had dinner at the Grand California Hotel which is just outside the park even with it’s own private entrance. Since the hotel happens to be right next to the Grizzly River Run and I had another fast pass for the ride, Autumn got to go again! Afterwards we headed back down to Paradise Pier and played some of the carnival games. I have to say that these games are just the same as those you’d find at the local county fair but minus the toothless carney or the less than stellar prizes. After blowing $40, we walked away with 3 plush toys and an empty wallet.
Autumn got to ride the Mulholland Madness roller coaster a 3rd time before we headed back to the hotel. Yikes, what a long day. We saw about 75% of the park with only a few rides left to due. Autumn and Mommy stood in a few lines for rides today before Autumn decided she didn’t want to ride them after all so the could have even done more. So of them may look a little scary but after pretty harmless except for that damn roller coaster of course.
End of a long day
Programming note: We will be staying an extra day down here as with only two full days left and the need to take a rest day, we wouldn’t be able to spend enough time at Disneyland. So, we’re just going to chill out today, do some shopping and just move as slow as possible. Tomorrow we’ll be back at the park from dawn to dusk.
August 6th, 2003
