We spent two days at Disneyland over Valentine's weekend, and the whole family had a great time. We've never been there before, though my husband and I have been to Disney World's Magic Kingdom several times. Disneyland is indeed a little smaller, but that was just fine with me, we walked enough miles as it was. In fact, at the end of each day, our feet hurt so badly we bribed the kids with marshmallow Peeps to rub them. Is that terrible? I think my feet are just feeling back to normal today, three days later.
I had no idea that the castle in Disneyland, the original castle, was so different! It's Sleeping Beauty's castle, and it is much smaller than Cinderella's, but so very pretty. Pink, with a greenish roof. It definitely looks like the castle in the movie.
I am sad that characters don't really walk around anymore. The most popular characters, like Mickey, Minnie, Tinkerbelle, and the Princesses, have their own attractions to meet them and take a picture. I suppose because they would be mobbed otherwise.
We did stumble across Mary Poppins and Burt, and waited in a brief line to meet them and take a picture. Mary Poppins had a wonderful conversation with my Mary, about being a big sister, and playing games, all very nanny-ish topics. She was lovely. (Practically perfect in every way?)
But to meet the princesses, we had to get in line for the Princess Faire. A line that took well over an hour. To briefly say hello and take pictures with 4 princesses. When we finally got in, Ariel was not there, and she is Mary's favorite, the one she wanted to meet the most. When we were halfway through, 4 new princesses came in to relieve the previous 4, and Ariel took over the first spot from Snow White. Mary was so excited, she stopped halfway between Belle and Jasmine to turn around, but a park employee in royal robes stopped us and said we could not go backwards, we could not go ten steps back so Mary could give Ariel a hug. I can only imagine the withered faces my husband and I turned on the "cast member" after waiting 80 minutes for our daughter to have a chance to meet her Princesses. Poor Mary. Ariel heard Mary begging to go see her, and waved to Mary and blew her a kiss. So nice, that mermaid.
I can't help but wonder why, if Disney insists on marketing the Princesses so heavily as to whip up a frenzy among girls age 3 to 12, ok, maybe 34, they can't create more than one Princess attraction. Then you could pick your favorite, and the line would be cut down a bit. Pixie Hollow, the local for Tinkerbelle, had a good 45 minute wait. You know, as I type this all now, I wonder, who would wait in those lines? I can't imagine my husband agreeing to that. Yet, wait we did. Because when you are there, and your child knows Tinkerbelle is just on the other side of those giant tulips, you can't tell her no.
We also did lots and lots of rides, and got to see the newly renovated Small World ride, which Katy loved. Almost as much as the neon zany Pooh ride. Jimmy's favorites were the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, of course.
We still have one day left on our 3 day passes, and plan to return to check out Disney's California Adventure. I'll be sure to bring more Peeps.
