Disneyland!

Thanks to our friend John, we got another day of fun at Disneyland! This time it was John and our friends Chapman, Dani and Greg. We had been excited to go ever since Benner learned that there was a recreation of the Muppet Theater in Adventureland. We didn't go to Adventureland on our first trip - this was our second time at Disney so we were excited to go.

This being our second visit, we are slowly discovering our favorites spots at the park. Here's what's on our "don't miss" list:
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Space Mountain
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- A restaurant with a fantastic pulled pork sandwich and a side of fresh fruit

There was a bit of a heat wave that day but, we never had to wait too long for any rides thanks to the fast past system. Thankfully it was cooler in Anaheim than in LA, so it was actually a great day to go!

Here are a few highlights from the day:


Here we are, en route via Rufus, the Jong's van.


We dropped off Ivy June at her Grandparents house for the day, and she and I got in a little snuggle on the way there.


In line for our first ride: The Matterhorn! The Yetti in the mountain scared me for a second!


Benner driving solo and pretty excited.


Benner with the affable John Bayer sharing a laugh.


Benner and I, about to board.


Chapman and Benner, gettng excited for the tea cups.


Never too cool for a tea cup ride.


Well aren't we just precious?


Me and Greg, all ready to go!


Group Shot!

Among the many topics discussed that day, Disney secrets were one of them. After our visit I did some light research on the subject. You may be interested to learn the following:

- Walt Disney had a private Apartment at Disneyland. When Disneyland was being constructed, Walt Disney wanted to stay nearby to supervise. He had an apartment built above the fire station on Main Street where he could spend the night. Everyone knew when Walt was there because of the light left on in the window of the apartment. After Disney died a light has been left on in the apartment window in his memory. The apartment has been left the same way it was when he died but it isn't open for public viewing.

- Club 33 at Disneyland is a private members only club at Disneyland. It is located in New Orleans Square on the second floor near the Bayou Restaurant. Walt Disney wanted to provide a private place to entertain his guests, but he died before it was completed. When it was completed, it was instead opened as a private club with limited membership. There are about 400 members and the annual membership is about $1,000. There is a long waiting list to join that usually takes more than 5 years for an opening to become available. Recently the cost of joining was between $7,500 to 20,000 depending on the type of membership. Members who have reservations for Club 33 are given free passes to enjoy Disneyland for the day of their reservation. They also have a special parking area and are treated as VIPs.

- If you're already over in New Orleans Square, take a listen next time you're near the train station. That tap-tap-tapping you hear is actually a portion of Walt Disney's speech from the opening day of Disneyland in Morse Code. The full messsage, an abbreviated version of Walt's opening day remarks which loops endlessly, reads: "TO ALL WHO COME TO DISNEYLAND, WELCOME. HERE AGE RELIVES FOND MEMORIES OF THE PAST, AND HERE YOUTH MAY SAVOR THE CHALLENGE AND PROMISE OF THE FUTURE."