Last Day at Disneyland

We've finished our last day at Disneyland. The passes we bought were buy a three day pass, play for five.  We used all five. We could have experienced everything the parks had to offer in three days, but having the other two allowed us to enjoy our days relatively stress free and ride our favorite rides again and again. We also didn't feel the need to be at the park every minute it was open to maximize our investment.

Goofing off on Tom Sawyer's Island

Pirate loot at Tom Sawyer Island

We enjoyed exploring the island, going through the caves and playing on the structures.

Jasmine came out just as we walked by so we found her with no line.  Hooray!

 

Miriam was dying for this pillow pal of Pluto.  She used up the rest of her spending money to buy it.  It made a nice wedge between her and the safety bars on roller coasters.

We fill the whole sled at the Matterhorn.  We were too large a family for lots of rides. I felt a bit proud of our ability to max out a ride.  (Miriam with her pillow pal!)  Miriam thought the Matterhorn was a real snore, not enough up and down.

Miriam was desperate for Cinderella and we ran into her walking next to Sleeping Beauty's Castle, no line!

Fairy Godmother wouldn't let Isaac escape without a photo

Elizabeth got much braver on the coasters, here at the Big Thunder Railroad

waiting for our 2nd viewing of Captain EO

We learned quite a bit about the parks in our five days.

1.  Pirates of the Caribbean is a thing of beauty.  It can handle huge crowds with grace.  It's a sight to behold to see large numbers of guests exiting out one side of the boat en mass while an equal amount of guests are loading from the other side.  Once on the ride, it feels very unhurried and you are really able to enjoy the adventure.  You can ride again and again and see something new each time.

2.  The rides in Fantasyland are always crowded, while you can practically walk on the more exciting rides in other areas of the park.  The rides in Fantasyland are geared for a young audience.  Some are the type you'd find at the county fair.  The dark rides are a step up from county fair rides but are not the best of Disney.  Disney does best when there is a suspension of disbelief and you could almost believe what you are seeing in real.  A lot of the dark rides in Fantasyland use 2D painted effects.   Peter Pan is the best ride back there (and the only one I think is worth the wait, it's magical).  The Big Thunder Railroad and Splash Mountain often had less than five minute waits, while Fantasyland was filled with at least 20 minute waits.  We tried to avoid going through Fantasyland at all costs because the youngers would start clamoring to go on the rides there.  Parents don't enjoy waiting in long lines when they could be riding other rides, even when they really love their children.

3.  Disneyland is addicted to black light.  It's used on most of the rides.  It gives everything a cartoony feel.   It makes your teeth glow in the dark.

4.  Bring a fanny pack filled with snacks and a water bottle.  We had to pass through an inspection station each time we went in to the park and they had absolutely no problem with us bringing in snacks.  Having some food on board kept the kids going.  Each of the older children carried their own and it was part of the morning routine to fill if up for the day.  Waiting in line is much more pleasant when you can munch on something.  The water bottles were essential because drinking fountains are not easy to find.

5.  Kids are willing to wait in line for over 30 minutes to get an autograph and photo from a character.  Parents can't wait more than 2.   Parents don't see the point!  There are rides to go on kids, come on!

6.  Shuttles from the hotel to the resort are wonderful.  Our hotel offered one every 30 minutes.  We could be at the park in under 10 minutes.  It sure beat paying for Disney's off site parking, parking and riding the Disney shuttle in.

7.  Disney equates loud with great.  If you can not make a great ride then just make it loud.  I often wished I had a pair of ear plugs to temper the noise. 

8. If you walk by a restroom, use it.  They are often tucked away far from where you want to be.  It's a long walk when it's an emergency.

9.  We never lost anyone, but it was peace of mind to have our phone numbers on the backs of each of the children.  I also had the children wear the same color shirt each day.  Light Green worked much better than grey or white.  We were one of many families trying to color coordinate.  Having everyone in the same color ball cap would have worked as well.  I'd planned to have them wear a couple shirts twice but hadn't realize how they'd smell after sweating all day, getting drenched on rides, and drying on their bodies.  Stinky!  I wore a distinctive teal baseball cap which made it easy for the kids, and Dode, to spot me in the crowd.

10.  If the ride offers a "singles" line, use it!  It's the fastest way to get on a ride.  You walk up the exit and almost always get on the next ride.  It's way faster than using a fast pass.  It feels like cheating to walk by everyone waiting.  Even timid Elizabeth preferred riding as a single with strangers over waiting in a line in order to ride with someone she knew.

11.  We'll have to do it again in 5-6 years so Miriam and William can experience it as older children. 10-12 seems like the perfect age.  They're still excited by the magic of the place.  They are big enough to go on all the rides.  They have the stamina to make it through the day.  They understand when lunch is granola bars and peanut butter crackers in order to save money and give us more time to play.  They are still enchanted by the characters.  (Maybe that's not such a plus) They'll be old enough to remember it and desire to take their children some day, completing the cycle and insuring the future success of Disney.  Maybe we'll be rested up by then!  It's hard to believe by then three of our children will be adults.