Oh, no you don’t! Let me drive!
Well, it was nice! While folks like Jim were enjoying the full effect of Winter (a.k.a. It’s Snowing Again?) the past week saw Southern California enjoying the kind of weather that reminds people why they moved there to begin with. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday had temperatures in the mid Seventies and there was plenty of bright sunshine. If there was a downside, it was a bit breezy with winds from all the different directions of the compass. Even a stiff (and very un-seasonal) wind from the east had us looking for Mary Poppins to be dropping in for a visit. (And yes, Mary and Bert were out in their “Jolly Holiday” finery greeting guests at the Plaza Inn one morning.) Why even the mythical San Gabriel Mountains were in view complete with a healthy covering of snow on the peaks!)
The sun is shining bright on Disney’s California Adventure.
This was just a fine four days at Disneyland. And with all of the projects getting the finishing touches applied to spruce up “The Happiest Place on Earth”, it was great to take it all in at a very leisurely pace. That didn’t mean we would be taking it easy, however. Up at Oh-dark thirty in the morning is bad enough on a work day, but this was vacation! Yet with a departure from Oakland on Jet Blue at 0645, that’s what we have to do. We managed to get to the airport in plenty of time to be rushed to the gate and walk right onto the plane.
A short time later, it’s out the door and on the road with a rental car, on that most dangerous portion of our journey, the Southern California freeway. Zip down Lakewood Blvd to the 91 then east to the 5 and south the to Disneyland Drive exit and into the Happiest Parking Structure on Earth. From there it’s a short ride to the main gate and we’re all set to enjoy our day. All before 9 o’clock!
From that moment on it was four days of fun at the Disneyland Resort, just as it should be. But rather than give you a “step-by-step” trip report, let me concentrate on few highlights for today’s effort…
The Tiki Room is back! It looks great, inside and out! The Garden with all of the Tiki gods and goddesses is back in action, complete with Pele’s flame!
And you can once again enjoy Dole Pineapple Whip. Yumola! The birds and tiki’s inside all looked fantastic, and the show was a treat to enjoy as usual. Some of the cast members got into the spirit by wearing flower leis to adorn their khaki costumes. I was also glad to see the return of padded benches to the garden (something I recall from visits when I was young).
Sales at both side of the counter were brisk every time I was in the area. At one point there were five cast members working the expanded counter! Lot’s of happy guests enjoyed all of the selections available.
On the opposite side of the Hub, it was a quiet but busy, “Sneak Preview”!
“Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blaster” is a solid hit with guests. I’ve enjoyed the Florida version and found this one to be just as much fun. Many guests I overheard afterward said, “We HAVE to do that again!” Here are a few images from the attraction and exit.
And yes, there is a photo taken during the journey. But unlike others, it is free and can be sent home via e-mail. Printed copies are not for sale. The Store Command (once the Premiere Shop) has a good mix of items as well as still offering some pins.
Yes, that’s me on the left. My co-pilot on the right came up a bit short…
That’s all for now! But there is plenty more to share and I’ll have that during the coming week in a series of Ruminations Extra’s. It’s worth the wait! Trust me…