Wish I could be part of your world

Mood: full  Music: Part of Your World - The Little Mermaid  Reading: Morning is a Long Time Coming

Day 01 -> Your favourite song
Day 02 -> Your favourite movie
Day 03 -> Your favourite television program
Day 04 -> Your favourite book
Day 05 -> Your favourite quote
Day 06 -> Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 07 -> A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 -> A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 -> A photo you took
Day 10 -> A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 -> A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 -> Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 -> A fictional book
Day 14 -> A non-fictional book
Day 15 -> A fanfic
Day 16 -> A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 -> An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 -> Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 -> A talent of yours
Day 20 -> A hobby of yours
Day 21 -> A recipe
Day 22 -> A website
Day 23 -> A YouTube video
Day 24 -> Whatever tickles your fancy

Fuck Yeah Disneyland!

As you can see, I missed a few days. I’m going to extend the meme into August because if I did the meme as stated, this entry would be 300 pages long, haha. So where was I? In case you aren’t a friend on Facebook, or don’t stalk me on Twitter, I was off having the time of my life in my happy place, Disneyland.

I had planned to go as part of the “Star Tours Final Flight” event because I’m a member of D23. But I missed out on tickets because there was too many people angling for 160 spots. That’s the only downside to being a member, sometimes you have to fight to participate in events. Actually, now that I’m home, I’m kinda glad I didn’t go, because the event didn’t start until midnight and I was dead on my feet by that time.

The drive up was pretty bad. I got stuck in the going home on Sunday traffic. My dad laughed at me when I told him. :/ What a jerk. lol. But it was get stuck in traffic, or drive there in the dark, and I wasn’t about to do that! I booked a room in the ghettoest Howard Johnson’s ever. It was down the street from the park, about 15 minutes or so. I’m surprised I didn’t get bitten by bed bugs. I’m not saying it was as bad as all that. But you get what you pay for, I suppose. That’s the last time I’ll be staying there. Stupid cheapskate genes! Yeesh.

I went to Downtown Disney as soon as I was settled into the hotel. I was starving! I used a coupon I found online for La Brea Bakery. I had a tuna sandwich, fries, and a soda. Good stuff. I also got there early enough to catch the fireworks at the park.

I was a little dizzy from the drive up, but I went to the theaters there at DD and watched “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” I even got a free poster! I’m gonna hang it up, as soon as I can get it to stay open. I rolled it up funny. I’m making it a point to go to the movies in every city I visit. And they’re always Disney movies! lolz. I saw “Toy Story 3″ in NC.

Monday was my first full day at the park, and I wanted to start it well. I passed by a Denny’s on the way back to the hotel after the movie, so I stopped there for breakfast. I had chocolate chip pancakes. I decided I needed all the starches I could get for energy. Oh my god, I love chocolate chip pancakes. It’s making me hungry just talking about them!

What makes this trip unique is that I went by myself. I also did everything I had mentally planned to do, and I did it in a shorter amount of time than usual. Well, I was there from open to close on Monday so maybe I didn’t do everything in a shorter amount of time. It just felt that way.

On top of all that, there was a problem with the printer for my 2-day park hopper, so they gave me 2 free ride readmissions for any ride I wanted! Basically Fastpasses without the time restrictions. I wasn’t even gonna complain abt the wait. I work in customer service, shit happens all the time. But they gave it to me. Who am I to deny something awesome like that? haha.

I went to DCA (Disney’s California Adventure) first, because I wanted to get my Fastpass for “World of Color.” I got the best view, the yellow seating area. It’s basically the sexy lovechild of the Bellagio Fountain Show and Fantasmic! lol. In no particular order, I went on/visited:

• Monsters, Inc Mike & Sulley to the Rescue
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Muppet Vision 3D
• California Screamin’
• Mulholland Madness
• Silly Symphony Swings

I went to City Hall and got this groovy button as soon as I crossed over from DCA. I had heard that you could get one but I wasn’t really sure:

I got congratulated a few times. I loved the attention. I’m so proud of this milestone that I want to share it with the world! Or beat it over the head with it, it doesn’t really matter which. haha.

I went to the Golden Horseshoe for lunch, where I had the chicken tenders. I was so thirsty, I got a large soda (which I almost never get) and sucked it down so fast. I was dumb and left the water bottles I specifically brought for the trip in the fridge at the hotel. FAIL. lol.

So, at Disneyland, I went on/visited (in no particular order):

• Disneyland Railroad
• The Disney Gallery
• Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
• Haunted Mansion (twice)
• Pirates of the Caribbean (wanted to go twice, but the crowds were insane!)
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Splash Mountain
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye
• Jungle Cruise (had to wait until closing, it was so busy)
• Captain EO
• Space Mountain
• Starcade
• Star Tours

I also had my double-scoop cookies ‘n’ cream at Gibson Girl, like I always do. Love that place! I make it a point to stop there every time I visit. I mean, ice cream is ice cream, no matter where you get it. But it’s always extra special to me to get it at the Gibson Girl ice cream parlor.

Princess Tiana is quickly becoming my favorite Disney princess. Her story was adorable, and her dress is to die for. I am sooo gonna ask my tita to make this dress for me when (and if) I get married. She’s the family seamstress, so I know if I ask politely (AKA offer money), she’ll do it for me. Tiana has a live show at New Orleans Square, and that’s where I got this picture.

I had dinner at the Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue. Kinda expensive and the lemonade, the cornbread and “cole slaw” (if you could call it that) sucked. But again, it’s park food. You get what you pay for! I smelled the barbecue chicken and that’s it, that’s what I wanted to eat. The chicken and ribs were pretty good.

The live music was fun too. I was drawn in by the country version of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” I think they played the theme song to Woody’s Roundup too. I prolly imagined that because I love “Toy Story” so much, haha. That’s what I love about Disneyland too, all the fun live entertainment. You can sing along because you know all the words to the songs and no one will judge you.

On Tuesday morning, I had breakfast at the Carnation Cafe. The food was kinda ghetto but what do you expect? At least I got to sit down. I was such a zombie then. I got lost on the way back to the hotel and by the time I took a shower, packed, and got to bed it was almost 2am. I got up at 7am. Why? IDK. But I can’t seem to sleep past 7am. I’ll wake up, go back to sleep and wait for the alarm. FML.

I hit up Fantasyland and Toon Town that day since I didn’t want to deal with the crowds on Monday. I went on/visited (in no particular order):

• it’s a small world
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
• Snow White’s Scary Adventures
• Storybook Land Canal Boats
• Main Street Cinema
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin

I went to Soarin’ Over California as my last ride at DCA, and had lunch at Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill. No real complaints about the meal.

I also did all my shopping before I left that day. I got a Mickey necklace (red with white spots, so it looks like a strawberry thus its name has become the Strawberry Mickey necklace) and a 2010 globe from Toon Town, to commemorate my graduation. I got a plush Sorcerer’s Apprentice doll from it’s a small world’s gift shop. His hand and hat light up when you squeeze his hand. On Main Street USA, I bought the park’s official soundtrack in the music shop and a Disney coffee cup for my ma. At DCA, I bought some shirts for my family and a pressed coin book for myself.

I know what you’re probably thinking: you went to Disneyland by yourself? Yes, I did. Why? Because “normal” people work on my days off. I don’t have any vacation time left this year (used it up on NC), so if I want to do stuff, I either have to make special arrangements, or do things on my days off. It’s much easier to do it on my days off. I also don’t want life to pass me by anymore. There’s so many places I want to travel to. I don’t have kids, I don’t have a boyfriend, I’m done with school, etc. My dad is housetrained, so I don’t have to worry about him when I’m gone. LOL.

If I wait for other people, I’m just going to waste away like a hermit in my house, or waste away at work, depending on the day, haha. Besides, I’m never going to meet the man of my dreams unless I do stuff on my own, am I right?

I look to these solo trips as paths to self-enlightenment. Going at it alone isn’t so bad. You can’t miss what you’ve never had. That’s a cold, hard fact of my life. But I’ll be honest. I am enjoying being alone. You know I hate drama, so I avoid it at all costs, even at the point of going at it alone. Sure, I’m well on my way to being the spinster aunt to my nieces and nephews, but I’m okay with that. I also think there’s still so much in me that I need to discover. I’ve discovered parts of myself at home; the rest, I’m gonna find it out there in this big wide world of ours.

So here’s to more safe trips across America, and hopefully, someday soon, adventures abroad. *crosses fingers*