Disneyland 2015 - Day 1

Last night we spent six restless hours at the Red Lion in Sea-Tac, because everyone was too excited to sleep. We took an early morning flight to Orange County and by 9:30, we were dropping our bags off at the hotel and skipping across the street to Disneyland. Maybe it was more like shuffling along amid a crowd of hundreds of people in the same crosswalk, but the point is, we were enthusiastic. We’re here for Star Wars. Three years ago, we were in Disneyland celebrating Ashley’s 10^th birthday when Disney announced it had just purchased Lucasfilm for four billion dollars. Four billion. That’s four thousand million dollars. And I bet Disney has already made that money back from Star Wars merchandise alone. And about 37 million of it probably came from us. 

It’s also Disneyland’s 60^th anniversary and there’s a huge Diamond Celebration going on with new decorations, entertainment, a  fireworks show, and so much more, but it seems the Diamond Celebration has been completely overshadowed by Star Wars-mania. And that’s fine with us.

When we arrived at Disneyland this morning, we walked down Main Street stopping only for a moment to peek into The Candy Kitchen’s window and see the famous Rob McHargue finishing up a batch of peanut brittle. Chad's Disney app told us the Indiana Jones ride—our traditional first ride of the day—was closed, so for a few minutes none of us knew what to do, we just stood there like a bunch of fools all confused because our routine was thrown off.

We started at The Haunted Mansion and then spent the morning enjoying our favorite rides before stopping at a churro cart for some treats. It’s weird how when you’re in the moment, paying $21 for five churros doesn’t seem even a little bit excessive. But Disneyland churros are magical and you can’t really put a price on magic now, can you? (Actually, you can. It costs $4,000,000,000.)

We had Star Wars on the brain, so we made a bee-line to Tomorrowland to check out Season of the Force, Disneyland’s new Star Wars-themed everything. Basically, Tomorrowland has become a temporary Star Wars Land until the new one opens in 2017. As we made our way from one side of the park to the other, we walked past Big Thunder Ranch, which has closed to make room for the new Star Wars Land. Jackson paused as he considered the changes that are coming to the park and said, “I just got another tingle in my jewels. This is really happening.”

Ali did get to meet a Storm Trooper,

who told her to, "Move along."

We passed through Fantasyland talking about the Star Wars characters we hoped to meet. Ali said, “I want to meet Jar Jar Binks, young Anakin, and the guy who tried to sell Obi-Wan Kenobi death sticks.” It might surprise you to learn these characters are not wandering the park meeting guests, so Ali didn’t get her wish.

We ate lunch at Galactic Grill, where you can order from the Dark Side or Light Side of the menu. Jackson ordered a Cheese-3PO Burger, Chad had Wicket’s Wicked Veggie Sandwich, and Ashley ordered AT-ST Chicken Walker Nuggets, which came with apples and baby carrots (Chad said the carrots tasted like Splash Mountain water, mmmmm).

Next, we entered Launch Bay (the old Innoventions building). Completely made over, it’s now like a futuristic Star Wars museum. We looked at sculptures, artwork, and movie replicas in glass cases. We wandered around, from one exhibit to the next, looking at the detail and history of the exhibits. There was so much to take in, and so many people sharing this cool experience. I heard one little boy, maybe three or four, explaining to his grandpa who Mace Windu is and how Jango Fett's ship works. The boy reminded me so much of Jackson when he was that age. At one point during our time at Launch Bay, Jackson said, “Oh my gosh, I want to cry.”  I think he was feeling nostalgic as well.

You can buy him for $2,250.00

The only request I had was that we get a family picture with Chewbacca. We stood in line for twenty minutes, and  I was nervous the whole time. I worried about what I’d say to him, I wondered how long I could hug him before being asked to please let go. I listened to my family plan what they were going to say to Chewie. Ali decided on a formal, “Mr. Bacca, it’s a pleasure.” Chad chose, “Hiiiii, Chewbacqua.” I laughed so hard at this, but then felt bad because Chad told me he wasn’t joking, he just mispronounced Chewie’s name.

A girl in a rebel uniform approached us and asked how many people were in our party. I read her nametag; I read every cast member’s name tag, which gives the town they’re from and then I chat with them about it. I read hers out loud, “Kashyyyk?”

“Yep,” she said.

“Where is that?” and I almost started guessing Middle Eastern Countries, but Chad saved me.

“You know, Kashyyyk. The Wookiee planet," he said. 

Best moment of the day

Hello, moron. I’d never seen "Kashyyyk" written out before, and I tried to explain myself
but it was time to meet Chewbacca. We were ushered into a room and there he was. All eight feet of him. Chewie came up to us, threw his head back and made the most beautiful, perfect wookiee sound I’ve ever heard. I threw my arms around him and blurted out, “Chewie!” We hugged for a long time and then I just stared at his face and he looked back at me and nodded as he patted my arm, probably out of sympathy. Then he hugged the rest of the family. When Chewie hugged Jackson, Jackson buried his face in Chewie’s chest and I had a flashback of my little boy that made my heart ache. Maybe it was the churro, I don’t know. We got a photo with Chewie and my day was complete.

Next, we met Darth Vader. I was sort of speechless and didn’t talk to him; he’s incredibly intimidating. When Vader saw our kids he told them, “You may approach and take your place next to me,” and he pointed at the ground. They stood exactly where he told them to.

Four-year-old Jackson

I think they had a moment.

The kids ran off to meet Boba Fett while Chad and I looked at miniature model Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire ships because we didn’t feel like standing in line anymore. Boba Fett told Ali, “Stand over here,” and she said, “Yes, sir!” Then he said, “I have a good feeling about this one.” And I'm not sure I like the way they're looking at each other in this picture.

We left Tomorrowland totally content and then spent the rest of the day on rides. The wait times were about 20 – 30 minutes for most rides, so we downloaded the game, “Heads Up” and played in line. I’d put my phone on my forehead and the family would read the clue and try to get me to guess it then we would switch off. We guessed celebrities, accents and impressions, and animals. We did it charade style and with words; I have no idea what the people around us thought, but we had so much fun. Ali refused to participate because, “I don’t like looking at you people.”

A miniature Millennium Falcon

On Main Street, we watched “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” before walking back to the hotel. The best part of the parade was poor, sweet Eeyore pulling his little broken sled, stopping every so often to sigh and slump his shoulders.

Isn't he just the saddest?

Since we’d been up since 3:30, everyone was exhausted. Ashley said she felt like she had needles in her feet and her usual bubbly self was beginning to drag. We all were. Tomorrow we see The Force Awakens and no one can really think about anything else. And I know that so many of you know exactly how this feels. 

“The force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet.”

                                                          -Darth Vader

-Rachel