I love Disneyland! I love the completeness of it, how every inch, every tiny little detail is designed to match a theme or an idea. There is so much to look at and appreciate there. And besides, it's just fun. They have some of the best dark rides in the world! Clockwise from top left: me in mouse ears, 1990; excited on the tram to the park, 2008; Jeff and I at the entrance, 2008; in front of the Disneyland Fire Dept., 2008; Mad Hatter hat on Main St., 1998.
I love this little photo op in Fantasyland. It is the cottage of some little creature near the Alice in Wonderland ride in Fantasyland. Perhaps the March Hare lives there? Left: me in 1990. Above: me in 1998.
Above: Space Mountain, 2008. Center: looking down on passengers about to ride Space Mountain. Right: in line for Space Mountain.
Left: in front of Cinderella's Castle... it's little (compared to the DisneyWORLD Castle), but it's home. 2008. Above: with the "Rodent Queen" (thanks Charlie Sexton), 2008.
Left: me with a statue of Mr. Toad in Toad Hall. Left: cars disappearing into the labyrinth of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. There are a lot of fun rides in Fantasyland, but I think my favorite is Peter Pan's Flight. The illusion of soaring high over London never fails to tickle me. Above right: the hanging pirate ship cars on Peter Pan's Flight that travel on on overhead track. Far right: at the entrance to Peter Pan's Flight, you see the children's bedroom right before your pirate ship flies out of the window to follow Peter over London!
Left: at the entrance to Adventureland, 2008. In front of one of the Lost Delta Archeological Expedition trucks after the Indiana Jones ride, 2008.
Above: The Enchanted Tiki Room.
Right: performing birds in the Tiki Room.
Left: lions take their kill back to their cave on The Jungle Cruise, 2008. Right: having fun listening to the
newest generationof corny jokes on The Jungle Cruise, 2008.
Above: at the entrance to Mickey's Toon Town, 2008.
Right: Welcome to Toon Town! In front of City Hall, 2008.
In Toon Town, anything can happen. Left to right: Wouldn't you know it, the one time I walk through the falling safe zone, a safe falls on my foot; bending the bars to escape jail; a twisty street light; where's the fire? 2008.
The entrance to The California Adventure (opened in 2001) next to Disneyland, on what used to be the parking lot!
Left: about to ride the Tower of Terror. Center: the entrance to Hollywood Pictures Backlot. Right: the beautiful mid-century-inspired metal sun sculpture in Sunshine Plaza. California Adventure, 2008.
Eating at the Blue Bayou Restaurant is such a treat. The illusion is that you are eating on the veranda of an antebellum plantation at night. You can hear the gentle lapping of water while lanterns, fireflies and the nighttime sky all glow around you as you look out at the cabins on the bayou in front of you. Left: at table awaiting a dish of jambalaya. Right: a view of the bayou and boats full of people starting their ride on The Pirates of the Caribbean!
