It's that time again, the weekend is here, and you know what that means!
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Tell us what you're passionate about...Excluded is religion, crypto and gaming so don't write about them. Use photos you took yourself, not stock images, and the post must be 300 words long or more.
Ahhh. this is absolutely a no-brainer for me! hehehe And that's the kind of prompts that I LOVE - because I can just start writing! I don't have to think or plan - I can just go RIGHT to what I know and start sharing!
So here we go!!!
I love my family - and we can truly be anywhere together - home, or out to eat - or walking in the woods and have a fabulous time, but there is something so special about traveling the world together! I was going to either talk about our trip to Russia, or talk about our trip to Fiji for this post - but then I came across some pictures for the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH! hahaha and I decided to focus there!
My husband is actually NOT so fond of amusement parks because he occasionally gets motion sickness - so for this trip, I snuck my son and daughter away for trip to ride until we get sick! (which never happens, we have guts of steel! hahaha)
Luggage packed and ready to head out early in the morning!
And of course... LOL
I had to drive and no one stayed awake for the drive!
Both of them - sawing wood and out like a light! hehehe I didn't mind though, I knew that we would have a very long day - two days in a row!
Before we enter - you can see how well they maintain the grounds down to every last detail! It was Christmas time when we went (one of the benefits of living in so-cal - you can go any time) so the crowds weren't too bad - and... Christmas tree!!!
Heading down Main Street, Disney - and the scent of this place is just unmistakable! Popcorn and candy floss and roasted turkey legs, and caramel apples. It's like a dream for the senses! Everything is made up to look just like a beautifully manicured, decorated street from turn of the century - and as you can see, it truly does just fill you with joy! (Take a look at that happy girl right there!)
This shot is looking over at Disney's California Adventure - and I love the detail that they have in everything they do! They have this "mountain" carved into the shape of our California bear!!! See it??
Below, on the next pictures, I love this section of the park too - it's made to look like the boardwalk on the east coast - old timey - and very nostalgic! If you see that rollercoaster to the left behind the Ferris Wheel - the LAST time we came with the hubs - there were no lines. So we all got off the ride, and immediately went back on! Got off again, and immediately went back on. I never saw someone change from healthy skin, to green skin, to red skin so fast LOL Poor guy! But it was just us this time - so RIDE ON, RIDERS!!! lol
Gotta love that Ferris wheel too - If you look closely - the baskets are actually floating on bars! So as the wheel moves, you actually sliiiiiiiiiiiide all the way to the edge and then swing back and forth outside of the wheel! Then as it moves again - you SLIIIIIIIIIIDE all the way back! Terrifying? sure, a little bit! hehehe but that's what makes this Ferris wheel such a MUST to ride!
You ONLY want to go on these rides when its WARM OR HOT outside, and EARLY in the day! Because you... will.. get... WET! hahahaha and I mean - SOAKED. lol I think we ended up taking pictures of other riders on this day because it was NOT warm enough, and that is a surefire way to end up absolutely drenched and miserable for the day! So be sure that you plan accordingly! If it's a hot day though? OOOOH so fun - and so refreshing! hahahaha But be sure to ONLY wear things on that ride that you actually DO NOT mind being soaked lol
My kids didn't have their driver's licenses at this time - so you know the ONE thing they definitely wanted to do - was drive some cars! hahaha Of course, I was happy to sit in the passenger seat and be chaffeured around! (but no, I wouldn't be sleeping on this ride hahaha) Don't worry, these cars are on rails, they give you the feeling of moving around on the road, but you can only go so far - so no accidents were waiting to happen! hehehe
Another super iconic ride is Space Mountain (in the distance there!) It is a rollercoaster - but really just kinda feels like you're spiraling faster faster and faster into an abyss! hahaha You better be ok with G forces with this ride!
Getting ready to get onto Space Mountain!
My favorite ride of all time- the Tower of Terror
This was the FINAL time that I would ever be able to ride this ride. Every once in a while, they retire rides. I'm not sure WHY they thought to retire this one because it was seriously so many people's absolute favorite! But they upgraded it to feature "Guardians of the Galaxy". I haven't actually had a chance to ride THAT version yet, and I'm not sure if I ever can! haha This ride is meant to be a haunted hotel, with the 13th floor haunted by ghosts of people who rode the service elevator and then got transported to the Twilight Zone - and turned into ghosts! hehe The whole experience is SO dedicated to making you feel like you're really in an old, classic hotel - with cobwebs and old decor and everything! I absolutely loved it. My kids bought me a shirt that day - to commemorate the final days of the ride! I still have it and love it. You can see just how happy I am - getting to ride this ride for the last time!
hehehe- free-falling dowwwwwwwwwn! Here we are in the "service elevator" LOL and in a complete free fall! It is the MOST FUN ride of all! hahahaha The first time my daughter every rode it - she was so teeny tiny, and sitting beside me. She completely levitated about 5 inches off the seat and clung to me as we freefell! LOL Of course, she couldn't go anywhere but it took her YEARS before she would dare to ride it again! LOL
And here are just a few action shots of us on various rides - laughing hysterically- making faces LOL
Absolutely gorgeous panoramic view of the night sky boardwalk scene! I love every detail - love the light fixtures, love the magical scene, love even the night sky. I know they can't take credit for that - but... I do think that the architects probably had it planned that way to get that gorgeous sunset into the view! so - maybe they get a little credit! hehehe
When you had to Disney - there are a few rides that you MUST jump on!
No matter how long the line is, it's just not a trip to Disney without getting on "It's a small world" hehehe.
Here is the beauty of the OUTSIDE of the ride!
Beautiful isn't it? I love how it lights up the whole night - feels like a carnival! hehe
And getting closer!
For the ENTIRE time that you're on this slow moving boat ride - little children sing "It's a small world after all... It's a small world after all" OVER AND OVER AND OVER for the entirety of the ride.
It's a little bit annoying, a whole lot of fun, and pretty much iconic!
You'll see some of the shots that we took inside the ride!
It's beautiful, extravagant and happy!
Can't help but ride the Carousel too! What is a visit to an amusement park without the classic sounds of the calliope!!
This is probably the most well known image of Disney. They use it in almost every logo and trademark - and I would almost venture to say that it is MORE well known than Mickey! What do you think? This is Cinderella's Castle! And - no one is allowed up in there except VERY SPECIAL requests. I actually have a friend who got invited to stay up in the Cinderella suite for the night! It's one of the very special things that you have to be specially chosen to enjoy! hehehe They do have places where you can reserve to have dinner in a specialty restaurant up there - and my niece was able to enjoy that with my sister and my mother! hehehe These are usually expensive - but once in a lifetime experiences if you can manage it!
Happy mom and kids - hehehe the lighting isn't so great on our faces here, but I just loved this picture anyway because it doesn't need to be bright to see our giddy joy!
As the trip started, so it ends... hehehe sleepy babies!
It's really hard to give you more than a taste of what Disney has to offer - and actually Disney World, Disneyland, California Adventure, Epcot, and more - they all have different feels!!! (As a matter of fact, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is STILL at Disney World - so I hear. hehehe I might have to take a vacation over to Florida to get back on it hehehe) But wherever you go, you can really be sure to relax, enjoy, eat, ride, and be among some very happy people! hehehe
(not all - some are just grumpy no matter what you try to do... so be sure to steer clear of them and keep your happy going!)
All images are mine! hehehe
