Disney Memories-Pre Vacation Excitement Memories With my Kids

     It is a week before our annual Disney vacation. I remember when this time arrived my kids and I would be so excited and we would say each day "this time next week we will be on the road heading to California." We will be about to Victorville or wherever we would be at the time we were talking about it.

     It was so much fun as we would talk about what we would be doing every moment of the day when we arrived in California. We would say things like "in 8 days we will be walking into the parks. We will be throwing our cares away as we enter and listening to the music as we walk to the check point." Or we would think ahead to what else we might be doing at the moment.

     Our pre vacation times were almost as fun as the actual trip. We had so much fun just talking about what we were going to do. Of course we never really had any plans, we always took each moment as it came.

     Now my kids have grown and no longer go with us every year. It is sad to not have those fun time together, it is sad that we can't talk about how it will be in a week when we are at our favorite place. Our happy place. Now I just think of it on m own and have my memories  but still sad that they are just memories.

Winter Disney Vacation

    We have taken an annual trip to Disney Resort in Anaheim since  the summer of 2004. When we started going it was my mom, my two sons and myself on the trip. As time went on the vacation included my grandma until she passed away in 2006, my aunts and sometimes cousin and his family.

    Once my kids reached adulthood they were no longer able to go. My oldest had not been in 4 years and the youngest 2 years. My mom, aunts and I still make the trip every summer.

     This past winter however we decided it was time to take a winter trip to Disneyland. Both of my kids were able to come along with my grandson and his mom. It was nice having both of my kids there again and also having my grandson and his mom. It was special sharing the winter beauty of Disney Resort.

     Disneyland and Disney's California Adventures are much different in the winter months. We went Jan 3-6 so thought we would miss the Christmas and New Year busy season but yet be able to see the holiday decorations. We were wrong about missing the busy season. It was busier then than it is during the summer months.

     The busy parks did not stop us from having a fantastic time. The decorations were beautiful, from the huge Christmas trees to Nightmare Before Christmas and the artificial snow after the fireworks.

    We love Nightmare Before Christmas so that was one of our favorite scenes! My little grandson was amazed.

     My grandson who is 5 years old was not excited about the drops on Pirates of the Caribbean and scared on Soarin but I think Radiator Springs Racers might have upset him most of all. His mom and dad told him that it did not have drops however once the race began he was mad at them. He said "you told me there were no drops!" So he was not fond of the race portion of that attraction. He loved Dumbo though so go figure.

     Our winter trip to Disney Resort was amazing. It brought back special memories of going to the parks when my own kids were young adding new family members to our special time!

     It is busier that time of year than the summer months. It was worth the crowds and busy season.

Carousel Inn and Suites: Still Standing

     Last year we had to find a new place to stay in Anaheim because our beloved Carousel Inn closed down. It was supposed to be demolished but it still stands.

     We did not look at the building last year because it was so sad to think of this place we had called home in California for the past 13 years was boarded up and abandoned.

     During out January trip to California however we drove by The Carousel and I looked. It was sad seeing such a beautiful building boarded up and vacated. It is also sad that every night the lights are on like she is waiting for someone to visit her lonely rooms.

     I wonder why The Carousel Inn is still standing. I hoped that it might mean they decided to open her up again to those who miss visiting but, that is highly doubtful.

     I am not sure what is harder though, seeing the building there all sad and lonely or the thought of looking over and it is no longer there.

Wizard Acrobats Tomorrowland Disneyland

     In July of 2003 my mom and I took my sons to Disneyland for the first time. They loved it and so did we. It was the first time we spent more than two days in a row at the park. There was also a new park, Disney's California Adventure Park. But this is not about that park.

     We love pizza so decided to eat at Pizza Port in Disneyland. While there some entertainment because to take place. We decided to see what was going on and discovered the Wizard Acrobats. Talk about an amazing show. They could dance, entertain and were excellent acrobats! Not bad to look at either!

     We were able to see them twice and actually meet some of them one of the visits. We visited for  while with Jemma and found him to be a sweet man.

     I wish I had my video camera with me back then but I did not however I was able to take some still shots which I used to create a fun video. Some of the sots are a bit grainy but that is due to the scans. This was before digital photography.

     Wizard Acrobats Photo Video

Disney Resort Anaheim Flowers, Foliage and Feathered Friends

     I love taking pictures of flowers so when I go to Disneyland I focus on the abundance of flowers and foliage available. So many great photo ops. I also love the little ducks that live in the parks and try to capture them from time to time.

     The video I created is of those things I focused on over the years while visiting Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.

     The last shots are of a duck family everyone stopped to watch walk by. Many of us made comments on how we were all at Disneyland and were so focused on this little family of feathered friends.

     Enjoy the video creation of my shots. I hope you enjoy the music too. My son wrote it and plays it with his band. Granted some of it is a bit "wild" for the shots but it is fun.

    Flowers, Foliage and Feathered Friends Video

    I am also adding a tribute I created last summer of the last summer of Main Street Electrical Parade.

     Electrical Parade

Wondering What Walt Would Think:Yet another Hotel Elite Only Can Afford

    I was saddened to hear that Disneyland is adding yet another five star hotel only the elite can afford.  Well I guess others can too but it will require a small fortune that many families do not have.

     I am also sad that some of the places we love to visit will be leaving the Downtown Disney area for this new hotel. Rainforest Cafe, AMC theater are the two we love. So now there will be no reason for us to venture down that far. It is not just the fact that they are removing places that we love, it is that they are adding a new place most families cannot afford to visit. It is the fact that Disneyland is becoming a place for only the elite.

     Tickets have become so expensive that many families are unable to visit unless they take out  a loan or max out credit cards.   Disneyland Resort is slowly becoming a place where many families are no longer able to visit together. It requires a small fortune for a family of five to visit the parks. That is sad because many of  those people are the ones who feel the magic, feel the love that Walt had for his dream.

      When Walt created Disneyland it was meant to be a place "where children and parents could have fun together." He did not want businesses around the park gouging customers. Now Disney is creating places that do just that. Granted it would be nice to stay in one of those five star hotels but realistically most families cannot afford it. One elite hotel was enough.

     Disney has the right to do what they want, they will do what they want regardless of who gets upset and who can no longer afford to visit. They will still have the elite, those who can afford the small fortune but I wonder what Walt would think of the fact that most families can no longer come to his magical place and have fun together without maxing out their credit cards. I wonder if that is truly what Walt had in mind or if somehow along the way his dream has gotten lost.

Guardians of the Galaxy is Intense and Even Better than Tower

      I was one of the many people who were extremely upset when Disney decided to get rid of Tower of Terror ttheme at California Adventure Park. I was sad and I was livid. I mean come on, Guardians o the Galaxy...yuck! I had never watched the entire movie because I found it boring so assumed theming the ride Guardians would ruin it.

     Before heading to California I assumed my friend who lives there what he thought about it. He told me I would love it even if I had never watched or likes the movie. He said it was more intense and extremely fun. I really had my doubts but decided it was time to have an open mind.

     As our vacation time drew closer I found myself excited to ride Guardians. I was still sad over the loss of the fun Tower theme but my friend kept say8ing how much I would love it...

     We arrived in Anaheim, checked into our room and I was informed by Steve, my friend, that we were not allowed to ride Guardians without him and could not even look at it. We couldn't help but look  however waited until we met up with him to ride.
   

     It was an hour wait which isn't bad for a new attraction. It also did not seem that long since we hadn't seen Steve in a year so had lots of catching up to do. He gave us little tidbits of information about the ride while we waited. He didn't tell us much but did say it is so much more intense. I asked how many time he had been on it and he said two was all his stomach could handle. That had us concerned but we were still excited.

     We were finally there, in the entrance room. It is so fun! Then we left and headed to our "doom" we got on and all I can say is WOW! It was amazing! The attraction is much more intense than Tower. It is longer and well as much as I loved Tower I must say it is more fun. The theme is cute and fits the attraction.

     That is all I am going to tell. I do not want to ruin it for the first time traveler. I was one of the biggest whiners and I am sold! Be sure to give it a chance, you will be pleasantly surprised!