Disney Trip 2011 - Day 3

Last night I went to bed watching the monorail go by our balcony and staring at the top of the Matterhorn. Tonight I’m going to bed while looking at the back of the building that houses Indiana Jones. (It’s painted what Walt Disney called “Go Away Green” if you’re interested in a bit of Disney trivia.) Below us (we’re on the 4th floor) are kiosks selling funnel cakes, kettle corn, cotton candy and the smells are incredible. We’ve got the perfect balcony for people watching. Except for tonight. Tonight everybody looks the same. Like giant white plastic poncho’d people trying to escape the rain. Some people act like it’s acid falling from the sky. I love being a Northwesterner. And I'm thankful I have a family that loves the rain as much as I do.

This morning was sunny and beautiful and actually quite warm. We spent the first half of the day in Disneyland. We started off by riding the Disney Railroad to Tomorrowland for some Autopia Awesomeness. You know, it’s actually more like Autopia Averageness because let’s face it – it is not the funnest ride in the world. But it is old school and you still gotta do it. Then it was off to Space Mountain where we told Kenny, as we were walking in, that we were going to watch a nice quiet little movie about space (ha ha.) I was then rejected when I casually mentioned Captain EO was right next door.

We were able to hit most of Tomorrowland (where Kenny became a “Cosmic Commander” on Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blaster and then talked about it for the rest of the day), Tom Sawyer’s Island (where Chad scared the bujeezus out of Ashley in the caves, probably instilling in her a life-long terror of all dark spaces), some of Fantasyland (where we stood in line for Pinnochio sandwiched between parents who were forcing their screaming kids to go on the ride against their wills) and New Orleans Square (where we just can’t get enough of Pirates of the Caribbean) before we rode the monorail to Downtown Disney. It was late afternoon and we knew the rain was coming soon so we decided to go swimming.

Our hotel has a number of different pools and a couple water slides. We spent a long time in the hot tub as it started to rain and it was so relaxing. There were about 12 of us there. It was like a delicious human stew. Then Leah and the kids forced me to go into the pool that, although it was heated, was definitely no hot tub. And I’d just like to say that I don’t care how much chlorine is in a pool, when every kid you see comes up for air with giant snot trails coming out of their noses, you don’t so much want to stay in the water. We went back to our rooms, showered and headed back out.

We stopped at Tortilla Jo’s Taqueria for some tacos and burritos and then put on our ponchos because the rain was picking up. Kenny and I walked into a shop to buy some coffee. We darn-near got into a wrestling match at the counter because I wanted to pay for our coffees and he was trying to get there first. I told the young man at the register (while pointing my finger at him – I hear pointing at people is an effective way to boss them around) “do NOT take his money, I’m buying this.” And you know what that kid said to me? He said, “when a man offers to pay we are required to let him pay, it’s a long standing rule here. Sorry.” I was kind of stunned. And I thought that was very very cool. In fact, I’m going back for coffee tomorrow morning. And I’m taking Kenny with me. And I think I’ll order a large this time. And maybe some coffee beans to take home as well. And perhaps some souvenirs. And dinner for my family. Okay, Kenny?

California Adventure was pretty empty and we stopped by A Bug’s Land to see It’s Tough to be a Bug. Then back to Tower of Terror for another leg numbing-adrenaline rush. Why do my butt cheeks go numb from the anticipation of that ride, alone? Is that too much info? By the time we got off that ride, the rain was hammering on us. We rode Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train (why? You ask? I’m not entirely sure) then realized it was probably time to leave. The rain was starting to blow sideways and it was getting pretty cold. So Chad, Leah and I took the kids on Grizzly River Run because we figured since it’s 40 feet from our hotel entrance, and we’re wet anyway, we might as well… We got drenched to the bone! After the first ride, Chad hopped off and the rest of us stayed on. For 3 more rides. At the height of the noise, while we’re in the white water rapids, going through the mountain, and the wind is howling and thunder is cracking and water is splashing everywhere, Ashley is chatting away: “Leah, what if we were really going white water rafting? Have you ever been white water rafting? My right shoe is actually my left shoe. Do you know that when you go backwards you get more wet? One time I went on this and got so wet. What if I couldn’t move my arms? Wouldn’t that be funny?”

By the time we got off, none of us had a dry spot on our bodies. Even WITH our ponchos on. We walked back through our hotel and I was actually kind of embarrassed about the sloshing noises we were making with our wet shoes. But it was so much fun. We’re getting up early tomorrow for the Magic Morning where we get early entrance into the park an hour before it opens. Sounds like a good start to the day.

It be too late to alter course, mateys,

The Niemeyers