Disneyland, 2018 - Day 5

My Happy Place

Here's a taste of what today was like.

Spring break is never the ideal time to go to Disneyland; everyone knows that. But when the line to go through security just to get inside the main entry plaza between the parks is 30 minutes long, you need to immediately lower your expectations, muster every ounce of patience you have, and just accept that you'll be in the middle of an irritating human sandwich all the live long day.

Our first ride was Radiator Springs Racers. Waiting in the hour-long line wasn't bad because the sun was out and the atmosphere was perfect. I spent most of my time in line trying to take a picture of Ali, and every time I did, she'd stick her hand in front of the camera. I eventually got lucky and was able to sneak one, though. 

I felt like a paparazzi taking this photo

The main photo: Ali in California Adventure, age 19.
The inset photo: Ali in California Adventure, age 10.
Some things never change.

Ashley wasn't with us because she had run off to do as many single-rider rides as she could. She surprised us on this trip, spending most of her time going on rides alone. Being a single rider significantly cuts down on wait times. For example, Ashley rode Guardians of the Galaxy and Space Mountain 6 times each. With an average wait time of 60-90 minutes per ride, she saved herself (hang on, I'm bad at math) like... 18,000 hours waiting in line. No, that can't be right. Anyway, you get the point. She met lots of interesting people and basically became friends with anyone standing in line near her.

Ashley: Single Rider Extraordianaire

By the time we got off Radiator Springs Racers, the line had grown to over 2-hours long. We shuffled around the park at roughly the same pace as a 90-year-old woman in open-heel slippers before heading to Disneyland at noon to meet Jackson for lunch.

The wonder twins together again. For a minute.

Jackson wanted to eat at Rancho del Zocalo, and he only had 30 minutes with us until the band had to check in with their teacher. Ashley momentarily tore herself away from her ride marathon to meet us in Frontierland. Once the 5 of us were together, we sat in the sun eating our burritos and chile verde and enchiladas, listening to Jackson tell us about his trip. He was exhausted but having the time of his life with his friends. And then, just like that, he had to go. He thanked us for lunch, said he loved us, and walked away. As we watched him go, he'd stop and look at us over his shoulder with a sad expression on his face, and then take a few more steps, stop, look over his shoulder again and blink big sad eyes, and then go a little farther. We were cracking up as he disappeared into the crowd.

A short time later, we met the RRHS band on Main Street where they took their final group photo before heading to their bus for their next stop. Their band teacher, Mr. Theine, organized this entire trip and he, along with a large number of exhausted chaperones, ensured the safety of over 45 teenagers and they all left in one piece. And they all left with giant smiles plastered on their faces and a skip in their step. Disneyland will do that to you.

The RRHS Band

Ashley, the single-rider addict, took off once again, so Chad, Ali, and I went on a couple rides carefully chosen by how short their wait times were, shopped a little, and snacked on Mickey beignets in the shade. As 4:30 approached, we began to shift our thoughts toward real-life garbage like getting to the airport on time and returning our rental car. Ashley re-joined us and we perused all the the Main Street shops wanting to give Disneyland as much of our money as we possibly could, but restraining ourselves because all that Disney-themed merchandise just doesn't have the same effect outside the park.

On our way toward the exit, we stopped and sat on a bench for awhile in Town Square surrounded by my favorite gorgeous spring flowers and fat, churro-fed ducks waddling around at our feet. Just as I told Chad I didn't think it could get much better, the Disneyland Band appeared and performed a medley of Disney movie songs. It was like they heard what I said to Chad and were like, "Oh yeah? Watch this!" And, like everything else in Disney, that band is as close to perfect as you can get. As they performed "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" from The Lion King, we watched children dancing, laughing, and clapping because they were so full of joy. My throat tightened a little as I thought about how our family is entering a new phase of life with our nearly-grown kids, remembering when they were the ones dancing and clapping and running around. And I took a breath, and we left the park, bringing a lifetime of memories with us.  

"Can you feel the love tonight?
The peace the evening brings
The world, for once, in perfect harmony
With all its living things."

-Rachel