Disneyland

Wary of crowds, we arrived at Disneyland when it opened. Partly thanks to their Fast Pass system (where you can be in line without standing in line), we found the queues quite manageable. Unsurprisingly, our favourite things at Disneyland were all in the new park - California Adventure. It seems aimed at an older demographic.

Paul arrives a Disneyland for the first time.

In the Hollywood Part of California Adventure.

The whole park feels like a theme park from the 50s or 60s, including the amazing old-style rollercoaster, California Screamin'.

Our other fave was the Tower of Terror, a Twilight Zone ride that takes place in an old hotel. You get shot up super high in an elevator, and when the doors open you can see outside. Then, suddenly you fall. You keep getting shot back up and then falling again about five more times. It's so cool!

On the monorail passing over the Golden Gate bridge.

The last thing we did was watch the fireworks show and Fantasmic. If you're ever at Disneyland, don't go without watching this!

By the time we got home it was 11:00pm. We were exhausted, but it was worth it. We were a bit sick of all the shameless product placement, but then, we're not really the target market, are we!


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Life Lesson #4 - My Tummy Feels Funny

Today I learned that it is not a good idea to go through the drive-thru three times on the same day that you visit three theme parks. No matter how much you crave a burrito.

On the famous teacups at Disneyland, just after Mexican and a few hours before In-N-Out Burger.

Three-in-One

I'm completely exhausted. Going to Universal Studios, Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure in one day will do that to you!

We got up early to make it to Universal Studios just after opening. We got the rides out of the way first, to beat the queues. On the Jurassic Park ride, Paul's jeans got soaked completely through. Doh!

The highlight of the park was definitely the Studio Tour, which included a trip up Wisteria Lane and a new King Kong thing that Peter Jackson designed.

When Universal closed, we headed to Disney's California Adventure to see their unbelievable new light, water and laser show: World of Color. We were lucky - when we asked the information desk where to go, the girl behind the desk gave us two fast passes from people who had just left the park, which gave us the perfect front row spots! We got soaked, but it was worth it.

It absolutely blew our socks off. Though by now it was 10pm, we got our energy back and decided to cross over to our third park of the day, Disneyland, and stay until closing.

We had enough time to do the teacups, It's a Small World, and the Finding Nemo Submarines before catching the last shuttle back to our car just after midnight.

It was 1:15 by the time we got to bed. I have no recollection of my head hitting the pillow.

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