Disneyland - Sunday, June 5, 2011

Back in the Park today.
But first, met up with some friends over at California Adventure and took in Tower of Terror and the new Little Mermaid attractions.
The Little Mermaid is well done, but I doubt anything is worth a wait of over an hour and a half.  Fortunately, we had a little "pixie dust" with us and were able to bypass the line.  Sorry, but some Disney secrets will go with me to my grave!
The theme is well executed and the scenes are very close to the animated feature's iconic moments.  The audio-animatronics are top notch as well.  Overall, two thumbs up for Ariel and her crew.  Oh, and way to go all you folks at Disney.
We left DCA (I hate the acronym, but, what the heck, it saves space and extra keystrokes) and over to Disneyland.  Quite a crowd awaited us inside.
We took in Indiana Jones and stared at Big Thunder (still down for rehab).  Dinner at Rancho del Zocalo and then over to the new Star Tours.  A posted 165-minute wait.  Um.  No.  We'll try that one later, thanks.  Besides, I was fresh out of "pixie dust," and had no angle for a bypass of this monstrous queue.  Rats.
I did not have the opportunity to quiz any fellow guests as to their opinions of the new Star Tours.
Rode the old Matterhorn, however, down the Subs side, and had a great time.

Modern Disneyland Touring Note No. 73: the Blue Ribbon Bakery is a pretty good call if you need a coffee fix and simply cannot tolerate the 20-minute wait across the street at Market House.

Modern Disneyland Touring Note No. 29: they've changed the Village Haus menu to one that is a lot more limited.  Still a very nice atmosphere and one of the shortest food location wait times.

Modern Disneyland Touring Note No. 23: the French Market is still a great place for lunch or dinner!  The crowd is usually quite light, so you are in and out of the buffet line without much delay.

Modern Disneyland Touring Note ("MDLTN") No. 15: the new parade is actually well done.  Take the time to see it and get there early to scope out seats along the curb on Main Street (we prefer the west side, between Penny Arcade and Coke Corner).

Last "MDLTN" of the day, No. 38: if you have a family member with any type of learning or behavioral condition, you qualify to obtain a special assistance pass that may be presented at the entrance of most attractions to permit a more direct access and bypass the Stand-By queue.  Check in with Guest Services at either Disneyland (City Hall) or California Adventure (follow the signs---the new construction over there has made getting about a bit confusing).

Thanks to all who have checked in with me during my on-again, off-again hiatus from the blog.  I am fine, and my father-in-law is progressing.  He is still in rehab and is getting stronger slowly but surely.  We hum a merry tune and cheerfully, together, we whistle while we work.
I tried the Snow White approach and he looked at me in a manner reminiscent of the wicked queen, Ursula and Cinderella's Stepmother all wrapped up into one.
Okay.
No whistling during physical therapy.
Got it.
How about "Step in Time?"
Kick your knees up!!


Okay.
Okay.
Putting down the chimney broom.
Sorry, governor...

---Mike