Holiness to the Lord

November 5th, 2016 is a date that will go down in the memory books. 

I've been preparing to go to the temple since the day I knew about the temple. "I'll go inside someday" are words that echoed through my head as the day approached. 

Just like everyone else, I had to get a temple interview. I was able to ask the bishop (my dad) and the stake president any questions I had about what was going to happen. They couldn't tell me everything because there are sacred things that I was going to take part of in the temple. It was like a "treat" not to know everything about the temple. I've taken the next step to be able to partake of wonderful ordinances in the temple. 

It was a wonderful experience to have both my parents and my grandparents there. Also some people I looked up to were able to be there. My mother and grandmother were both able to be my escort. I also had a wonderful temple sister help me out. My favorite part was seeing everyone in white! Everyone looked so beautiful. There were a few tears shed, but happy tears of course. There was so much that happened, but I'm grateful that I can go back and learn more. The Spirit was so strong, that I knew what I was doing was what Heavenly Father wanted me to do. I couldn't stop smiling:) 

After our session, we took pictures and enjoyed the Marietta Diner. 

Right before we left for the temple.

The Lord's House

What a blessing to know my family is sealed together forever.

The family with Nana

The family with Papa

So grateful that Nana & Papa could share this beatiful day with me.

Three generations of Elys. 

I was able to go to the temple because someone shared the glorious message of the gospel with my grandfather and his family.

"The blessings of the Temple are available to us all, young and old and everybody in between. 

It is in the Temple that we remember who we really are and see with clarity who we really can become."

-Jean A. Stevens

Called to Serve

The day finally came! I waited and stalked the mail lady till she brought the mail. I totally freaked out! It was a last minute thing to invite everyone over, but I was grateful to all that could be there. I recorded my opening live on facebook, so others could experience it (I tried to upload the video on here). 

Are you ready to know where I'm going?! I have been called to the Idaho Boise Mission!!! I leave December 28th to the Provo MTC. No worries on learning a language. All that was going through my head was that scene from 'The Singles Ward' when Kirby Heybourne receives his mission call to Boise. I totally flipped out! I'm so excited! My cousin Amber is serving in the Pocatello mission which borders my mission. My cousin Rylie is actually in Rexburg right now attending college. All three of us will be there, not together though. 

B-squared

Deejjj & I

Peyton & I

Arianna & I

Sis. Nace & I

Lauren is always bae

Momma Dos & I

This spud can't wait!

Which Disney park is better?

[Disclaimer: These opinions are my own. I have nothing against the Disney Company or their employees. All of these reviews were taken from my experiences at each of the parks.]

Disneyland or Disney World? Both are operated under the Disney Company with over 189,000 employees combined. Disneyland is located in Orange County, California receiving 16.2 million eager vistitors a year. Nestled in a long ago cow pasture, 2,501.8 miles away, stands Disney World in Osceola County, Florida.  Can you experience the magic differently at each of the parks? Will one park rule them all? Hear I share my reviews on 5 different important aspects the parks withhold to. But first, let's look at the facts.

Disneyland was orginally overseen by Walt Disney himself. Disney World began with Walt's creativity and his open mind to building a theme park in a cow pasture. Disneyland and Disney California Adventures are right across  from each other, which makes the parks easily accessible. Disney World is made up of four different themed parks plus two water parks. The different parks are spread out among the Lake Buena Vista area. Disneyland Resort homes three hotels that are on property (on property means owned by the Disney Company). Disney World Resort has 31 hotels on property plus one that isn't owned by the company. Both parks have many other great hotels to choose from that are near the parks. Now onto the reviews.

Environment

Environment is my first review because I leave the world behind when I go into the parks. I'll begin with the outside environment. Walt Disney chose to build Disneyland in an orange grove. The environment has gone from an orange grove, to a park with parking right outside the park, now to bus drop off, two parks, a shopping disctrict, and a parking garage. Disneyland also offers sidewalks for near by hotels. Of course these changes had to be made as the park expanded and so did the rate of visitors. I have only walked to Disneyland from my hotel. It sounds kind of tiring, especially since you will be walking all over the parks. But I personally don't mind it. I can enjoy talking to family, look at my surroundings, and enjoy the sun. I know I'll be doing the same thing inside the park, but I don't have to worry about remembering where I parked, take a train to the park, or keep track of keys. If I stayed further away from the park, I would most likely drive, but thankfully I haven't had to experience that with the Disneyland park. The sidewalks are safe; they accomodate a lot of people. There are crosswalks and stop lights to keep people safe (it's your choice to follow traffic laws or not). It's really a hustle and bustle street in front of the park entrance (park entrance leads to both parks and Downtown Disney). There are cars and buses passing by all the time. Also out side the park are some homeless people. It was a little intimadating at first, but I kept my distance from them and they did the same. I didn't feel unsafe, but I definetly stayed close to my group. Now Disney World is entirely different. The Imagineers took in consideration the environment of Disneyland and changed it for Disney World. Walt Disney didn't want visitors to be able to see or hear the world beyond the park. They accomplished that very well with every single park. For example, Magic Kingdom doesn't have a parking lot. You are transported to the park by bus, monorail, or boat. If you are staying at the Contemporary Hotel or Bay Lake Towers, you are within walking distance. The other parks (including water parks) have parking lots right outside the park. The Disney World environment is encircled by forests, different hotels and attractions. The Walt Disney World resort is the size of San Francisco! The Disney Company took the Disneyland concept and improved it in specific areas, so they could improve and build.

Okay, the inside environment makes me a little queazy. And when I say inside environment, I mean the visitors, cleanliness of the park, and how the park is treated. Let's begin with Disneyland. I know fashion has changed A LOT since opening day in 1955. And I understand you have the right to wear what ever you want because I want that same right. But I don't like seeing bums hanging out of shorts and your chest falling all over the place. I know it's hot, but honestly I gag a little when I see it walking in front of me. I do have standards that I with hold to, but I wouldn't be flaunting my stuff if I didn't. And what the heck are with muscle tees. Just stop, no one needs to see the ewok your hiding in your armpit. It can get over 90 degrees in both parks, and one park has more humidity then the other! I honestly haven't seen that many people in Disney World wear clothing like that, but in Disneyland it's every where I look. The Disney Company has come out with a dress code, but they don't enforce it. I know, I know, it could offend someone if they couldn't come in because their shorts were too short. But, I came to this magical park to get away from the outside world, and your bringing it in by wearing booty shorts and a top that your grandma thinks shrunk in the dryer. Now cleanliness is one of my top reasons I go to the parks. Other theme parks don't excel on cleanliness like the Disney parks. Walt Disney noticed himeself noticed that people would drop trash about 27 steps. The parks have placed a trash can every 27 steps to achieve a cleaner park. Now, your are just down right lazy if you can't throw your trash away. The parks have also withheld from selling shelled items (i.e. sunflower seeds, nuts, etc.) and chewing gum. When I went to Disneyland, that was my first time seeing gum stuck somewhere by someone who took the time to do it. Again, the trash can is 27 steps away, or just swallow it. That leads me into how the parks are treated. There are certain people who see the parks as a hang out spot. People like me, see the Disney parks as an oasis. I don't appreciate when you come in, and mess up my zen of magical tranquility. Laughing obnoxiously, sticking gum in places it doesn't belong, and not paying attention in line, messes with not only me, but the people around you. I love to have a good time, but I'm aware of my surroundings and how I am going to act in public. Both parks struggle with this, but the parks aren't perfect. Some people get annoyed and complain that the park doesn't withhold a sense of responsibility to all of it's guests. If you have an issue, you can report it. I just remember that I'm here with my family to have a good time. And you are too, but please be responsible.

Cast Members

The Disney Company is made up of old and young minds that love the magical world of Disney. Cast Members are taught to be responsive, helpful, and curtious. All cast members have a nametag that says where they are from. It's fun to meet people and hear their stories about moving away to be apart of the Disney company. I noticed at Disneyland that many of the cast members were from California, many being from the Anaheim area. Disney World is full of cast members from around the world (especially in Epcot). Some of the Disneyland cast members that I came in contact with didn't have a great attitude. They had the attitude of "it's just another work day". Which is fine, but I don't feel the excitement when I needed their help. I did meet some cast members that were really helpful in Disneyland. Not many were from even out of the state. In Disney World, I have had some good and bad experiences also. It will happen, as the cast member isn't having good day with difficulty of family or work life. I'm not saying it's all the cast members fault. All visitors can do their part by listening and being responsible.

Attractions

The attractions make up the structural part of the parks. From fun kiddy rides to the big ones that make your heart drop, it's hard to pick favorites. I never liked roller coasters. They were fast, and I was scared I would fall out. Which is weird cause I would do Big Thunder Mountain, but there was no way I would go on any of the other rides. I didn't get over that fear till I was 9; I faced my fear by going on Expedition Everest. Not only did that ride go fast, but also backwards. Now I love them!
Both parks share rides the same rides, but have different characteristics. So I'll begin with Tower of Terror. ToT is well known at both parks (neither are actually located in the main park). Sadly, the Disney Company has decided to replace ToT in DCA with a new attraction. It's a really fun ride, that gets my heart racing with all the drops. ToT was first built at Disney World, so they couldn't take it out there. I am indifferent on the ride.
Next is Pirates of the Carribean. Hands down better at Disneyland. It is the original, but it also has more thematic elements (not to mention being stuck on the ride also). Disney World showcases the movie more with different scenes in the films, while Disneyland has a real pirate feel to it.
You can not go to a Disney park without riding It's a Small World. I love it in Disneyland! From the clock telling time, to the beautiful animal topiaries, the element of happiness is there. You do have to wait in line outside which some people find annoying. I don't want to stand in that line when it rains. Disney World is all under cover, so even on those rainy or hot days you are protected. It's a Small World in Disneyland has many characteristics, one being that there are Disney characters represented in the different countries.
Now, I'm not a big fan of Peter Pan's Flight. Many people stand in line for over an hour to get on the ride. In Disney World, they offer fast passes, but even then you are standing in line for at least thirty minutes. I will ride it when I go, but it's not at the top of my list. Both of the parks represent the idea of flying with Peter Pan to Neverland in a magical way. You fly on a boat that brings you through the nursery, to Skull Rock, and to the infamous Cap. Hook's pirate ship. It's really cute, but in my opinion not worth waiting for an hour in line.
In both Tomorrowlands, Buzz Lightyear needs your help to defeat the evil, emperor Zurg. Disney World's is called Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin where you literally do a lot of spinning. Disneyland's is called Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and you have a better chance and defeating Emperor Zurg this way. The ride provides laser blasters to shoot at targets that earn you points. Astro Blasters let's you extend the gun, giving you better
range and making it easier to earn points. Astro Blasters is better.
My last ride is Splash Mountain. It is the best ride ever! I actually never rode this till I was 15! I didn't want to get wet, or the ride was closed. I honestly can't decide which one is better! Disneyland's has more drops, so you get wet more. But I felt Disney World's ride lasted longer. So which one comes out on top?? Disney World is the winner!
Now both parks have rides that neither parks share. I think those rides really help the parks stand out from eachother. My top 3 rides at Disneyland Resort are Matterhorn Bobsleds,  Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters, and Radiator Springs Racers. My top 3 rides at Walt Disney World Resort are Expedition Everest, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Test Track.
The rides are the only attractions at the parks. Other attractions, such as, the different themed lands offer a lot to the people and the parks. Disneyland has a Toontown, but Disney World took out TownTown entirely to expand Fantasyland. The new Fantasyland includes the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Be Our Guest Restaurant, and Journey of the Little Mermaid. They also added another Dumbo ride and made Storybook Carnival. I really like the expansion, and I don't miss Toontown. I never would hang out in Toontown for very long, and it was just to see some characters or get on the train.
Come 2018 (crossies), Disneyland and Hollywood Studios will both have Star Wars Land. There are a lot of mixed feelings on this. In Disneyland, they are taking out Critter Country and expanding it to a galaxy far far away. I'm really eager to see how this turns out. In Disneyland's Tomorrowland, there is Seasons of the Force. They have the Jedi Knight training, Star Tours, and restaurants and stores that are Star Wars themed. In Hollywood Studios, there is already a Star Wars set up at Echo Lake. They took out Lights, Camera, Action, and Muppets backlot to expand for Star Wars land. I heard that they will have an ewok village to walk through, and maybe another ride. Like I said, I'm eager to see how it turns out and if it will be done in 2018.

Entertainment

There is so much to do at the parks, entertainment wise. Both parks put on parades, firework shows, and stage shows. I usually don't do the parades because it's really crowded and you can't really see much if your not in the front. But, my favorite parades are Main Street Electric Parade and Paint the Night. Well, they were, both have been retired. The Main Street Electric Parade began at Disneyland and moved over to Disney World. With Disneyland's 60th anniversary, they wanted to modernize the MSEP, by changing it to Paint the Night Parade. The Paint the Night Parade is high energy, but still brings the lights and music. The MSEP just retired at Disney World. I'm bummed about that, but I have the soundtrack that will make it live on in my heart. Both parks also do Fantastmic, but Disneyand's is on hold because of Star Wars Land. I love this spetacular show because it show cases that we all have fears, but we can all overcome those fears by standing for what we believe in. It's kind of cheesy, but I love it. The music, water, lights, and fireworks, make the beloved stories come to life. Epcot also does a fantastic show called Illuminations. I love the music so much! It takes place at the World Showcase, which each country is represented in a show-stopping spectcle! There is a globe that floates on water! And it showcases different countries on it too! I highly reccomend to see Illuminations. Magic Kingdom's main firework show is called Wishes. Jiminy Cricket does the commentary on the show that takes place on and at the Cinderella Castle. It's similar to Fantasmic, by wishing for something, but you will go through some trials to get that wish. It's beautiful; sometimes I get teary-eyed with it. I always watch that show. Going back to Disneyland, I have only seen the Disneyland Forever firework show for the 60th anniversary. It was a great show, but from where I was sstanding I couldn't see much (don't recomend standing by the flag pole). In DCA, they project scenes on water, in color, and on the Fun Wheel in The World of Color show. One thing that I have noticed about the different shows, is that in Disneyland they dedicate a lot to Walt Disney himself. He is showcased in the shows really well, by highlighting what he has accomplished. In Disney World, it's really about the charcters. That may be because Walt oversaw all of Disneyland, and only a part of Disney World. Maybe I'm the only one that thinks that, but that's my two cents on the differences.

The stage shows are fun too! I wanted to see Mickey and the Magical Map at the Fantasyland Theatre in Dinsyeland, but didn't get the chance. I actually didn't watch the shows in Disneyland. Both parks have street performers that perform through out the day. I really like the the street performers in Hollywood Studios. I have seen the Live Beauty and the Beast, which is really cool. They do a lot of fun shows for the holidays, but I have not had the opportunity to see one (bucket list: go to the parks for a holiday party).

Quickly, I'm going to mention characters. I highly suggest taking time to meet characters. I have met over 50 different characters, and still want to meet more. My favorite experience of meeting characters was when my sister and I met Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. We were dancing and playing with them. Also we were palying tag with different characters that day too. Everyone knows that there are characters who do talk and don't. Fuzzy characters (such as Eeyore, Pluto, etc.) don't talk. Most of them will sign autographs. You have every right to ask them questions, but make it easy on them. For example, you can ask there mood. But don't ask them a math problem or something like that. Now the other characters interact really well. They will answer any question you have and do fun photos too. But don't quiz them about there character, or ask them to sing. Okay, that's it for characters.

Accomadations

I have stayed on and off property at Disney World. The accomadations for staying off property, is that you can park at the parks (recommend buying a parking pass the whole time you are there) and take a train to the front of the park (exception being Magic Kingdom) Or if you are there first one there, you'll probably be near the entrance of the park. If you are staying on property, the hotel you are staying at does offer shuttle transportation. But you will be on a shuttle with other people, may be squishy, and there are many stops. Some shuttles stop at two or three different hotels, but others go to the hotel your staying at, but stop at the different stations. If traveling with other guidy travelers isn't for you, you can drive to the parks also. As I said before, Disneyland does offer buses and sidewalks so you can get to the parks. Also the parking garage is for DCA, Disneyland, and Downtown Disney. If your staying on property, you literally are right next to the park so you can walk.

Both parks offer apps that have helpful tools. The Disneyland App has a map of the park (both DCA Disneyland) and wait times for rides. They also have a list of characters and their meet time and also a list of stores and eateries. Disney World (for how big it is) has the My Disney Experience. You connect your Disney account to the app and you can plan your whole trip from your phone. You can reserve up to 3 fastpasses a day, and it shows your restaurant reservations. You also have access to the map, wait times, and character meet ups. Disney World also has the magic band. If you are staying on property you wear a colored bracelet that is your park pass and also hotel room key. You can also pay for things with your magic band that will be charged to your room. They are water proof. They did a  trial run at Disneyland with the magic bands, but chose against it. Visitors were not in Disneyland and DCA long enough to use them, unlike the visitors in Disney World who usually spent a week there.

Think of a wonderful thought...

You just sang that didn't you? Don't worry I did too:) What was the wonderful thought that I was thinking about? Well, I do have an obsession with the Disney fandom. It all began with the movies and going to the parks. As I got older, I realized how expensive visiting Walt Disney's theme parks are. I dreamed of going to Disneyland as a more mature person so I could experience the park differently. I wanted to go so bad, I tried to win tickets on a radio show (no luck). In my family, a lot of us are into the Disney fandom, but no one says "yes" to a trip to Disneyland like Joe (my uncle). He will make it THE best experience of your life. He knows Disneyland inside and out! He was so generous and invited me to attend the magical land with him and his family. I was quite hesitant as I saw the prices of everything racked up. But, I financially saved and worked hard to earn this trip. [FYI, you can get discounted tickets at mousesavers.com  ] So, my tickets were purchased, my Pinterest board was overflowing with Disneyland facts and tips, and the countdown was set.

*Disclaimer* I added reviews and comments on my experiences.


          

I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!
My trip began at 3:30am to make it to the airport for my 6am flight to the Sunshine State. I had my autograph book, my diy Minnie ears, so I was set. My flight arrived at 8:45am at John Wayne Airport, and I was on my way to transportation. I rode a shuttle van to my hotel (Super Shuttle, has great service); there was a whole family also on the shuttle, lol. I was jealous as they were staying at the Grand Californian, but I was ready to drop off my bag and begin my long day at Downtown Disney. Joe and his kids were driving up from Utah, so they were going to meet me there.

It was about a 10 minute walk to get to Downtown Disney from the Howard-Johnson. Security was probably longer, but I had a lot of time to spare, so I wasn't rushed. I had a wish list of things I wanted to purchase at the World of Disney store. *Downtown Disney is relatively small compared to Disney Springs (Walt Disney World), but still quaint.* I probably went into the stores about 2-3 times. I walked all over and even to the Disneyland Hotel. I also checked out the Grand Californian and the Paradise Pier hotel. The Grand Californian is beautiful (well the lobby anyways). My phone died, so I camped out at both hotels to bring my phone back to life.

                                                           
                               Me being me, can only read this in the monorail announcer's voice.

                                          

                                                          
                                      "When will my reflection show, who I am inside?"

                                                          
                                      Downtown Disney had some cool Snapchat filters for the 60th

                  
^Fact The Disneyland Hotel opened in 1955 (the same year as Disneyland Park), but was not owned by the Disney Company till the late 1980s.

Joe's family arrived in the late afternoon, and we headed straight to the pool. *The Howard-Johnson has a water playground for all ages. I didn't care much for it as I am older and a bit too big for the playground. But they do provide a pool at a different location near the playground.*

                                                      
That evening, we ate dinner at Goofy's Kitchen which is located at the Disneyland Hotel. It's a buffet/character dining. We met quite a few of Goofy's friends (such as Chip, Pluto, etc.) and ate a lot of food. *Definitely fun for the kids. I did enjoy, but not as much because I was so tired.* After dinner we stopped at the Lego store and looked for pins. Joe is an avid collector, but usually doesn't do the trading. I don't collect, I just find pins that I like (such as ride or character) and hoard them. We made it back in time to watch the Disneyland 60th Forever Firework show from our hotel balcony. We couldn't hear the music and there was a tree blocking the view, but other then that it was fun. I was too tired to notice much though. Oh, our balcony faced the Matterhorn.

DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURES
                                     
                                                    
                               These signs are posted all over the place in California

                                    
       You may not be able to tell from our faces how excited we were, but we were really excited!!

I don't remember what time the park opened, but we were that right when it opened. Overall, it wasn't super crowded, but I did rub shoulders with a few people.

      

1.Me with Walt & Mickey statue (as you can tell I Disneybound as Minnie)
2.Hyperion Theater 3.Bear Mountain at Grizzly River Run

The first ride of the day was Midway Mania. *Make sure this is your first ride when you arrive. It fills up fast, and there is no fast pass. We got there right when it opened and got to do it twice.* *While your waiting in line, look for hidden Mickeys. We found this one on the wall*
                                                          

We began the morning at Paradise Pier. Home to California Screamin' Midway Mania, and Corndog Castle. After Midway Mania, Tiffy, Caleb, and I went to California Screamin'. The line was about 15 minutes long, but I needed that much time to anticipate everything and let the adrenaline rush in. *They do have a single passenger line if you don't mind being split up from your group.* I screamed the whole time! It was exhilarating!

                                                         

Next stop, Cars Land! I was beyond over excited to enter the world of one of Pixar's films. It literally felt like I was stepping into the movie of Cars. It was not disappointing.

                                        

The first ride we enjoyed was Radiator Springs Racers *This does have a fast pass, so make sure it is the first one you get. Believe me, these fast passes will be gone quickly* We enjoyed watching a little bird taking a bath in the water fountain.

                                                       

Radiator Springs Racers is much like Test Track in Disney World. You enjoy lovely scenery of Radiator Springs and also get to race a fellow car. My car sadly did not win, but it was still fun!

                    
1.The majestic waterfall that emulates the one from Cars. 2.Lightning McQueen and Mater congratulating you one your race.

For breakfast, we ate at Flo's Cafe. Again, they got her cafe down to the gas station out in front. *There are many delicious items to choose from their breakfast menu. I wasn't really hungry, so I got the kid's meal waffles. They are also opened for lunch and dinner*
                                                       
                                                        

Okay, I don't care that you want to see all the sites in Cars Land, but you have to do Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters. It literally is the most ADORABLE ride ever! It actually is a new ride; it replaced Luigi's Flying Tires. They had so many issues with that ride, that they needed something new. Again,  you have to do it. All you do is sit in a car (one of Luigi's cousins) and all the cars are synchronized to do a two minute dance. *Perfect for all ages. And a MUST DO.* Don't believe me, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUCKF4VCSJo

   
1.The Leaning Tower of Tires in front of Luigi's shop. 2.The Rollickin' Roadsters
3.Tiffy & I on the ride.



After visiting Cars Land, we made our way to Grizzly River Run to cool down. I got soaked!! It felt amazing to be wet. We also had fast passes to Soarin' Around the World. I was actually bummed that we weren't flying over California, but this was 20 times better. *They have at least 10-12 places you fly over; you experience sight and scent while flying over the world. And you end in Disneyland.* Disney World also changed Soarin', so I wonder if you end in Disney World....

Through out the day we met many different characters. *Meeting characters is a great time waster. But make sure you know how long you are going to be waiting in line for characters (info on that below) Also, make sure you have an autograph book. Great memorabilia!*

          
Oh my giggles!! I met Captain America (no, it was not Chris Evans). He was so nice! I asked him how Bucky was doing, #bffgoals. I almost cried! My face expresses exactly how I felt when meeting him. He even gave me hug <3

    
Also met Spiderman, Olaf, Mickey Mouse, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and Nick Wilde & Judy Hopps.


                                      
The Disney Company must've heard that I love Disney so much, that they included my last name at the arcade.

The last ride of the day was Tower of Terror. ^Fact: They are replacing Tower of Terror with a Galaxy of the Guardians ride, that is going to promote the second movie. Many people disagree with the Disney Company to take out the ride. But I got to ride it for my first and last time in DCA. I have a love/hate relationship with this ride. I don't like the feeling of dropping, but I love all the adrenaline! As you can tell by my face, I only scream on this ride.

  

Joe took Adam back to the hotel to put him to bed. Tiffy, Caleb, and I stayed to watch The World of Color. *You can view it without a fast pass, but the fast pass can get you a better spot to view the show. We viewed the show to the front-left of the Fun Wheel. Make sure you stay in your spot because people will take your spot just to be in front. Cast members show you to your spot 15-20 minutes before the show begins.* ^Fact:10 minutes before the show begins, they provide an interactive memory game that you can play on your phone. You watch the colors on the Fun Wheel make a pattern and you enter those same colors on the game.

I have videos of The World of Color, but I can't rotate them to view. So enjoy the pictures that I took (1. View from where we were standing 2. After the show)! I highly recommend watching it! It really showcases all of Walt's dreams and goals he wanted and did accomplish. And the music is synchronized to water fountains and lights...it's phenomenal! I really want them to come out with a soundtrack for the show, but they haven't. Favorite song from the show is "Forever Young" by Christina Perri. It was a perfect way to end the night!

                       


DISNEYLAND


                       The Sleeping Beauty Castle in an array of 60th Anniversary decor.
                 ^Fact: The top-front of the castle was actually supposed to be in the back.

On Wednesday, we went to Disneyland! The first ride of the day was Peter Pan's Flight. It is one of Disneyland's most popular rides, so get in line first (you got it, no fast passes). I do like this flight better then Disney World's because it is the original. After Peter Pan's Flight we went to the neighboring ride, Mr Toad's Wild Ride. *All of the Fantasyland rides are very kid friendly. Most of the rides make you immersed in the story.*

We headed over to Tomorrowland to go on the new Hyperspace Mountain (Space Mountain with a Star Wars theme). It was so awesome!! I believe we went on it one other time. *I don't know if it is/was a seasonal thing* We also did Star Tours. It's the same in Disney World, but I always enjoy it because it's Star Wars.

                   
                 1.Entering Tomorrowland. 2.Passengers exiting/entering Hyperspace Mountain 3.C3-PO greeting you in line on Star Tours 4.New Stormtrooper uniforms (The Force Awakens) at the exit of Star Tours


We ate brunch at the Plaza Inn at Main Street U.S.A. *It's buffet/character style. It was the best character dining interaction I have ever had. We met at least 10-12 different characters. There was a wide variety of food from continental, to kid friendly, to basics.*

                                 

            Pictured with 1.Tigger 2.Rafiki 3.Dale 4.Winnie the Pooh 5.Cpt. Hook 6.Fairy Godmother
            7.Minnie Mouse 8.Chip 9.Suzy 10.Pinocchio
           
           
           
                                                             
(Outfit theme was Star Wars; my Chewbacca ears were diy. Also the lovely fashion accessory called my knee brace)

We finished the day early by going on Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. I got to ride in the front on the bobsleds; of course I screamed. As we left the park, we got a cool, refreshing pickle. Yummiest snack ever! We chose to go back to the hotel to take afternoon naps because we were going to be in the park till after midnight. Best 3 hours of my life!

We came back to the park early evening to do more rides and meet characters.

                                                                 
Story time: I didn't know you could meet Dr. Facilier/The Shadowman at Disneyland, so we had to take the opportunity. Since he is a villian, he is very sly. He asked us how our day was going and noticed Tiffy's Disney themed charm bracelet. He asked her about each of the charms. He slipped one off without her noticing (if you notice, that is what he is holding above her head in the picture). As we were leaving, Shadowman commented that he thought a charm was missing from her charm bracelet. Don't worry he gave back the charm. Like I said, very sly.

                                         
Okay, I'm not a big fan of turkey, but these turkey legs are good! *They cost about $7, but are a perfect for sharing* It is literally the size of my face. Tiffy and I shared one; only issue is that they are sticky! So don't forget to bring baby wipes.

You cannot go to a Disney Park without riding It's A Small World, and you have to sing a long the whole time! You obviously know all the words, might as well sing a long. I of course stayed in the middle of the boat because of Kingdom Keepers. This is the original small world. It's fabulous because it includes Disney characters in the different countries. And there is a purple hippopotamus with luscious lashes.

             

That evening, we spent it in Adventureland. We went on a cruise in the jungle. Guess what?! I saw the backside of the water! It is the eighth wonder of the world. Ask any Jungle Cruise skipper.

               


  
Story time: I was eager to ride POTC at Disneyland because I was told it was better then Disney World's ride. It started off great! I noticed things that weren't included in Disney World's version. It is a longer ride, and passengers pass by the Blue Bayou restaurant. At the end of the ride, you go up a steep hill in your boat. As we got to the top of this hill, everything went black. All the power went out on the ride and in the restaurant. Thank goodness it was a quick two-second power glitch, but we were stuck on the ride for 20 minutes. We got off the hill and just sat in our unstable boats, as we were 30 feet from the exit. I don't know exactly what happened, but I was happy to be on steady ground. We checked the time as we got off and noticed all the restaurants were closed. Pushing a side the feeling of a bottomless pit, we wanted to ride the Haunted Mansion. The Haunted Mansion was affected by the same power glitch (my Kingdom Keepers mind ventured off to blame the Overtakers). So we ended the night by getting McDees for dinner.

BOTH PARKS
Thursday was the last day we were going to the parks. We got a park hopper which offered a Magic Hour (you can get into the park one hour before it opens to the public). Magic Hour started at 7am, so I have a video of us standing in line.

Not many of the rides were working that morning. So we didn't spend a lot of time in Disneyland. We jumped over to DCA to ride a few more. Most of the rides there were not working either. (It must have been an off day or something) But we ate at the *Cozy Cone in Radiator Springs. Instead of it being a place to stay, you can get food there. I got the chili cone. It was sooooo good! And the cone is edible* We also ate a lot churros. Rides that we did do at DCA was Mickey's Fun Wheel, Ariel's Undersea Adventure, Grizzly River Run, and Radiator Springs (we won that race:). We headed back to the hotel for naps again because it was going to be another late night. 

                                                                  

                                                                             Chili cone:P

                                     

                                                               

                                                                 

After the naps, Joe and the kids went swimming. I stayed behind to try to look decent for my last day in Disneyland. I didn't do a themed outfit, but I had to show off my diy floral ears. 

                                  

                              Walt Disney's words he spoke at the opening of Disneyland in 1955

                                                       

                             The light in the Disney's apartment window above the fire station

                                                   

                                         The Casting Agency located in Main Street U.S.A.

                                                     

                                                              The infamous Club 33

                                                     

                                                                New Orleans Square

Joe made my dreams come true by taking us to Blue Bayou. Story time: ShayCarl [from the Shaytards] took a trip to Disneyland with his family. They were on POTC (which goes by Blue Bayou) and told a guy in the restaurant to throw him a piece of bread. He almost got kicked out of the park. It influenced me to do the same thing, but I wasn't close enough to the water front-_- The restaurant experience was still great! I got my mint julep! *We did the Paint the Night dinner package which included a full meal, and a reserved spot for Paint the Night parade. Because it is so dark in the restaurant, they had to light up the menus. I got the filet mignon; it was absolutely delicious! I also tried Tiffy's salmon (really good) and Joe's lobster (eh). The service was pretty good, but not much elbow room.*

   

  1.Menu 2.Tiffy & I with our mint juleps 3.Dessert

After dinner, we finally did the Haunted Mansion. The theme and the execution of the Haunted Mansion is amazing! 

   

   

That evening we got to experience Paint the Night parade! We were dancing and singing a long. I took a lot of pictures, so enjoy! (Sorry for the quality of some of them, it's a parade) *Our dinner package had us next to the flag pole. Not a bad view, but that is at the end of the parade route.*

  

               

               

  

        

        

      

      

                                              

The Disneyland Forever firework show takes place above the castle. We didn't have time to move, so we turned around so we could face the castle. I wish we were closer, but the firework show was still amazing. I also want Disney to make it into a soundtrack; but I found the music on Youtube without the fireworks. 

                   

After the firework show, the park was going to be open for another two hours, so we tried doing as many rides as we could. It took us almost 20 minutes to get to Adventureland. We went on Splash Mountain, but waited forever to get on. No worries, we did the wave in line. We got it going pretty far in line. And the last ride of my Disneyland trip was Indiana Jones ride.

                                   

                                     One last glance behind as I leave this magical land.

FAREWELL DISNEYLAND

On Friday, we spent our morning at Downtown Disney (my flight left that afternoon and Joe was driving back to Utah). I got myself classic Mickey ears with my name on it! Oh and this delicious Minnie cake pop.

                                                         

This was a great trip to Disneyland! I enjoyed it better cause I didn't have chicken-pocks or was confined to a stroller and I got to experience the magic in a way I didn't know I could. Joe and his kids made it worth while! I believe everyone should go to Disneyland at least once. I will return to Disneyland, but not for awhile. A 3-day park hopper was perfect; I don't believe you need to go for more then 3 days. I hope you enjoyed reading and looking at my adventures in Disneyland!

Note:

Disneyland app (In app store)-It tells you wait times for characters and rides in both parks. Also it has a map of both parks.

The Ultimate Disney Parks Scavenger Hunt Volume 1:Disneyland by Shelby Pickett-We used this book all the time to spot different aspects in the park. 

The Hidden Secrets & Stories of Disneyland by Mike Fox-Has a lot of trivia and facts about the park. 

The Hidden Mickeys of Disneyland by Bill Scollon-We found so many hidden Mickeys; some were harder to find then others. Also we found hidden Mickeys that weren't in the book.