Our family made the wise choice of using Disneyland's Magic Morning Hours to enter the park an hour before it opened to those with general admission tickets. At dusk we set off with hopes of being able to ride our favorite E-Ticket rides and any dark ride we had missed before.
After riding Star Tours twice, and taking Dallin on Space Mountain, we traveled into Fantasyland. We rode the Matterhorn again, Alice in Wonderland, the Teacups, and at Maddy's request we returned to the Storybookland Canal.
However we were aware time was running short. We rushed onto Big Thunder Mountain, and then made it to Splash Mountain just as the park started to fill up. I learned the power of weight in a Splash Mountain log, when I was chosen to sit up front in a log full of adults. I quickly got wet on even the smallest drops!
After our Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah bath we made our way out to lunch. We found ourselves caught in Adventureland, trying to ride Indiana Jones a few more times and take a tour on The Jungle Cruise. After I humorously acquired several fastpass tickets for Indy (I nearly lost our tickets) we explored the land, increasingly aware of the growing crowds.
After some glasses of Disney's famed virgin mint julep we found ourselves with little left to do. With most of the park explored (except Toontown which we consciously decided to skip) we set of to Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island in hope of entertaining the kids and escaping the growing crowds. Dallin and Mike briefly took a trip on the canoes but soon joined us on the island. I soon found my self crouching through 3 feet high tunnels, being guided by Dallin around a wrecked pirate ship. Tom Sawyer Island was not built for those who are 6' 3"!
Once the kids had their fill we returned to the busy mainland. We tried to regroup, but I was momentarily distracted by a highly inconvenient bloody nose. By the time we reassembled Maddy had rode Splash Mountain with my Sister. We ate candy in Critter Country and then began heading out.
With the crowds and time a factor we soon boarded the train at New Orleans Square to set of towards Main Street. Not before my dad, sister, and I tried to eat giant turkey legs.
My mom, dad, and I briefly made one last trip into Tomorrowland to acquire t-shirts. However before we leaved the Star Trader we used our camera as a digital mirror to convince mom into buying herself a jacket.
Our time was running out! The rest of the family watched the parade which several of us had seen already while they had rode Dumbo the first day. My Dad and I quickly viewed Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln only to come outside with the realization, time was up! As the last moments of the parade disappeared backstage we sorrowfully said goodbye to our extended family. Then mom, dad, Brianna, and I left the park. As we returned to our hotel we could hear the last strains of an instrumental version of You Got a Friend in Me playing over the speakers. We composed ourselves, packed our luggage one last time, and then rode the Nissan back to Long Beach.At Long Beach we tried to make the moment last, myself repeating the TSA parody jokes from Star Tours. However we soon accepted the truth, it was over. We watched as other families wearing Mickey Mouse T-Shirts shuffled into the Jet Blue terminal. At least we were not the only ones suffering! We passed through boarding and found ourselves on the loaded plane. After several episodes of Gold Rush Alaska I found ourselves landing in Salt Lake International. With our fellow tourists we shuffled out of the terminal, boarded a shuttle, and then arrived at our Toyota; alone in a lonely parking lot. We made our last vacation expenses in the last hours of the day as we stopped by Albertsons to buy milk. We went to bed, sad our wonderful trip was over.
Then again, I will be back at Disneyland with Cross Country in about a month...
