Disneyland 5K

(First off, I have to apologize for my very limited posting. I got caught in that place where you want to say so much but don't have the time/focus so you don't say anything but then you find more that you want to say but still don't have time. Circle of life. So my solution is going to be to get some quick, simple updates out there. I may go a little out of order. "People assume that time is a strict progression of cause and effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint - it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly time-y wimey stuff.")

So I ran a Disneyland 5K last weekend that was Cars Land themed. Okay, by ran, I mean mostly walked. There were a lot of people and the route wasn't the widest (think Main Street, USA). But it was a fun run and everyone was in a good mood. They had a lot of fun things on the side like cars characters to take pictures with and cast members dressed as mechanics cheering us on. We started at Mickey and Friends parking structure, ran the tram route, went behind the scenes a little, entered the park by Pooh Mountain, ran around the Rivers of America, backwards through the castle, around the Matterhorn, through Tomorrowland, took a stroll down Main Street, crossed over into California Adventure, around Grizzly Peak, circled Paradise Pier, and ended in Cars Land. Now that you are thoroughly impressed by my Disney knowledge, here are some Instagrams.

Mickey and Minnie above the start

Splash Mountain

Back of the castle

The (fake) Matterhorn

California Adventure

Ferris Wheel

Mile 3 marker

Entering Cars Land: Fillmore's snacks

The end!

Store at the new entrance to California Adventure

So there's that,
Jessie

Real Life is for March

How awesome was the leap day episode of 30 Rock? But I have to say, much like Liz Lemon (a character with whom I have too much in common), I do not remember leap day ever being a big deal. But as an ESFJ, I love an excuse for tradition and celebration. What did I do for my extra day where nothing counts? I dawned my yellow and blue and went to One More Disney Day!

Disneyland was open for 24 hours to celebrate Leap Day. I thought it would be awesome to check out Disneyland in the wee hours of the morning, if nothing else, to say that I did. They had a 1am showing of Fantasmic! so I left at midnight, giving myself plenty of time to get to the park (I live 13 minutes away). Well, it turns out everyone had the same thought. The only parking open was the garage so the traffic was terrible. It took me 45 minutes from the freeway to parking. And I talked to someone who said it took them an hour and a half (they obviously are not as skilled at Disneyland as I am). Here's a picture my friend Darren took of the garage entrance as he was leaving and I was arriving.

As I drove in, the cars around me were full of drunk people and there was a sign that said Disneyland was full. The man taking money assured me that the sign had not been updated and people were allowed to enter but then when I finally got on the tram, the conductor said that only people with hand stamps were getting in. Everyone still seemed determined to get in. The line to get your bag checked to get into the space between the two lands was more of a mob of people. This is where I was really able to recognize that everyone there was a twenty-something reliving their grad night. A nice couple even offered me some vodka. Don't worry mom's out there, I politely declined. 

Turned out I could get in since I have an annual pass and once all was said and done, I entered into Disneyland at 2am. The place was totally crowded. The wait for Indiana Jones was 110 minutes and 115 for Space Mountain. I didn't think it was worth it so I just walked around and got a feel for Disneyland at 2am. Here's some instagram fun.

 

 

I then started my accidental night of rides where you sit in a boat and go around on a track. 

"The funniest cruise that ever sailed round the Nile."

"The happiest cruise that ever sailed round the world."

"The pirateyest cruise that ever sailed round the Caribbean."

Things started slowing down around 3:30am but I didn't leave until 5am. After all, "real life is for March...nothing on leap day counts." 

Day 2 off: Not Spent on the Couch

So as I mentioned yesterday, I have a five day weekend. Yesterday was spent on the couch and today I spent no time on the couch (until now, Thursday night NBC comedies on my DVR aren't gonna watch themselves). So what did I do today, you ask? I went to Disneyland/California Adventure. By myself. It was awesome!

So the whole goal was to see World of Color in California Adventure. So I didn't know this until recently but you have to get a fast pass to be able to sit in the World of Color viewing area. I wonder if this will still be the case in 10 years or if it will be more like Fantasmic. Anyway, I went after lunch to get my fast pass. While I was there, I walked on a few rides and enjoyed a dole whip float (it was a very nice day in SoCal).

After going home and doing some school work, I went back to see the show. Did you ever wonder why they took the Mickey down from the loop of California Screamin? Well my hypothesis is that it was because of World of Color. During the show, in addition to colorful water streams and video projections on the water mist, there is also video in the center of the loop. Sometimes it's the same as what is being projected and sometimes it's something else, like a moon for the Pirates of the Caribbean part. I really enjoyed how they used lasers on the water. It was a cool effect that I wasn't expecting. I would say my favorite part of the 30 minute show was when they did the balloons from Up. It looked awesome. Two bad parts were they used fire in some parts but it was so bright I couldn't look and my eyes were watering and they did the sad scene from The Lion King where Mufasa dies. Really? Do you have to play JTT saying "Dad" over and over? Other than those two things, it was perfect.

Here's the finale...come visit me and we can see the whole thing!