Friday, August 8, 2008

How to Have a Perfect Trip to Disneyland

First, bring some cute twins who packed matching shirts.

Add one silly, dramatic pre-teen to sing along with Snow White at her wishing well.


Hold hands.


Get excited about finding the Wall*e nickel press machine.

Play with characters.

Get autographs from your favorites.

Ask very politely if you may pilot the Mark Twain riverboat.

Sign your name on the ship's log.

Ride Jingles, the lead horse on the Carousel, who is Julie Andrews' official horse. See the little umbrella with a parrot head just behind the saddle?

Lose a tooth at Storyteller's Cafe just before the waiter surprises you with birthday cake. Find a Disney dollar under your pillow the next morning.

This is Ken. Ask Ken very politely and very quietly and he just might let you ride here in the "Lilly Belle," the private car at the end of the train. Walt Disney had this created for visiting dignitaries, and the first to ride were the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

Goof around posing with the big letters in front of Disney's California Adventure.

Scream when you get caught by the "Dream Squad," and get fastpasses for every fastpass attraction at Disneyland and DCA.

Go see Oscar at Carnation Cafe and wish him happy birthday. Oscar started working at Disneyland in 1955, the year it opened. He's a great guy and the warmest most wonderful person you might ever meet. He just turned 73 and is a little vague about when he's going to retire.

For me, Oscar embodies the spirit of joy and love and family that permeates Disneyland. Seeing him and giving him birthday wishes was a wonderful way to end our trip.

Tomorrow: A little Disneyland miracle.

22 people stopped folding laundry to write:

Beth said...

It looks like you guys had an amazing trip! Hurry back so I can meet up with you this time!

~Beth

Cheryl Lage said...

This WASN'T the miracle story? I love this post....and can hardly wait to pack matching shirts for our duo someday soon.

Looks like the definition of vacation perfection. :)

Unknown said...

Awww, that looks like an amazing trip! :)

Liz Jimenez said...

How fun!! I can't wait until my kids are older so we can take them to Disney...

Nancy said...

OMGosh - it sounds like you guys had a wonderful time!! Can you believe that my husband has never been? I can't wait until our 3 are older so I can take all 4 kids for the first time :)

Des said...

wow, you are quite the DLand affeciando. I had no idea about the special train car....and the Julie Andrews horse.....and the chef's birthday! Looks like a wonderful memory!

Jeff Schinkel said...

Great report! The kids are getting so big... (sniff!)...

Blakely said...

Looks like so much fun. We are planning to go to Disney World in December. I would love to go to Disney Land.

Trisa said...

Your day at Disneyland sounds just like a day with our family there. We are the authors of a travel guide for Disneyland so we visit there several times a year with our 6 kids, yes 6 including our 9 month old twins. We have many times lost a tooth there and of course only Disney dollars are left, by the one and only Tinkerbelle (the only toothfairy at Disneyland) Love your blog and can't wait to hear your Disneyland miracle.
Trisa

Carissa(GoodnCrazy) said...

Okay. That's some serious Disney fanatacism! Sounds like so much fun. One question? Does the Dad enjoy it as much?

In our world it's the Dad who's the one most excited about a trip to Disneyland...NOT the mom!

Jaime said...

AHH! I take it you're back!!


I loved the pics, and YAY on getting Dreamed! Looks like a FAB trip..and isn't the Lilly Belle wonderful?? I got to ride it with LPers last July!

I'm glad you had a great time! I miss it. :)

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful trip! How awesome. We've heard of people getting those fast passes--so cool!

But for me the highlight would have been the private train car. :)

owlfan said...

We had a lost tooth when we went to Disney world last year - and yep, the tooth fairy left a Disney dollar. My son saved it as a souvenir - one of the cheapest Disney souvenirs around!

Cheryl said...

What a wonderful time and a great post!! What wonderful and happy kids! ps.. gave Luke a hug from you!

Burbank Babe said...

YAY!! I am just so glad you guys got Dreamed! Finally!!!!

I'm still waiting...

Patty said...

What fun pictures! It looks like you guys had a great time! Did you say nickle press? In my day, it was a penny press.

Anonymous said...

I wish I was there with you! I practically grew up at the park- and am a Disney freak...looks like a perfect trip!

Heather - Hopelessly Flawed said...

I LOVE IT!!! Awesome post, and huge congrats on meeting the DREAM SQUAD!

We are off to WDW in 7 days (and 6 hours) and I am soooo jonesing after seeing your pictures!

Anonymous said...

Okay, what is the Dream Squad...is that new? I've never heard of it?

Scary Mommy said...

Awwwww! Looks like an amazing trip!! Great pictures!

Gerb said...

Last time we went to Disneyland we had only 6 kids and got asked in almost every line "Are those all yours?!!" Plus the youngest was 8 months old and screaming most of the day. When people would stare I'd smile and say "Maybe it's not the happiest place on earth for everyone..." I vowed to stay away until the youngest was at least 5... but now, after reading your post, I would consider taking our family of 11 tomorrow. I miss that place!

Anonymous said...

Hi... just happen to cross your site... I see that you also love Disney... me too...

Im planning to go to Tokyo or Hong Kong Disney this Christmas. Hoho and I found some stuffs from Hong Kong Disneyland here as well:
disneycloth.cwahi.net

I will definitely take tones of photos there!!!

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