2nd day at California Adventure

Well, we managed to squeeze another day out of California Adventure.  When you take away all the window dressing, there are really only four rides worth the Disney name: Soaring over California (a hang-glider simulation with IMAX movie), California Screaming (roller coaster), Tower of Terror (drop ride), and Grizzly River Run (water ride).  The rest of the attractions are exactly what you'd find at the local fair.  And the rest of the park?  Stores (all selling the same thing) alternating with restaurants.

Our first ride of the day was the Grizzly River Run, a white water rafting ride.  Elizabeth was really hesitant to ride it.  She's watched us riding it a few days before and thought it was too extreme.  Well, she decided she'd do it if I'd buy her cotton candy if she hated it.  Guess what?  At the end of the ride she was quite disappointed that she would not be receiving that treat.  She loved the ride and ended up going on it over and over again during the day.  She probably made 10 trips before going home that night. 

we're drenched after 3 trips

Once we were soaked from the river ride, we headed over to Paradise Pier where the county fair rides are.  Elizabeth went on the Mulholland Madness coaster and loved it.  There was a 15 minute wait so she used the singles line to get immediate boarding and went around again and again while William and Miriam (and Jacob) road the Jumping Jellyfish. 

jumping jellyfish

We'd seen the other Paradise Pier attractions on our first day, so we decided to do the sourdough baking tour and the tortilla tour (both tours of factories where you could see the machines make the products).  And while there, we actually got something for free from Disneyland!  Amazing!  A cast member was walking around with a large basket and each of the girls was given a loaf of bread in the shape of Mickey Mouse.

We watched the Pixar Play Parade which is 10 times better than the parade currently being offered over at Disneyland. 

Then, we took two more trips in the Tower of Terror before Jacob, Willliam, Miriam and I wandered back to the hotel while Dode stayed to play some more with the other children. 

Loading area of river ride at night

Mullholland Madness: around and around again, no waiting

There where so few visitors on the river ride at the end of the day that the kids rode round and round without even getting off.  The employees finally kicked them off at park closing.  They went back to the hotel literally dripping wet!