Disneyland: First Installment

I wanted to post at least a few family vacation photos before scooting out for a three-day weekend. A few of us are heading back to Yosemite. This will be my third trip this year. So far it has been all Half Dome. To change things up a bit, we'll be hiking to the top of El Capitan this time. For those keeping track at home, that makes it Half Dome, Half Dome, El Cap. It's a Yosemite twist on the whole Duck Duck Goose game.

While at the resort, we stayed at the Grand Californian Hotel. The grounds are adjacent to California Adventure and hotel guests have their own private entrance to the park. The hotel also has easy access to Downtown Disney, where there are a number of restaurants and shops.

While the entire hotel is beautiful, the atrium lobby is the most impressive part. The building stands about seven stories high and the lobby opens all the way up to the roof. During the day, sunlight filters through from high above. Off to one side, a magnificent fireplace provides a cozy spot for late night gatherings

One of my family's favorite restaurants was Storytellers Cafe. Because they loved it so much, we ended up having breakfast there three of the five days. The menu included omelettes, french toast and Mickey Mouse waffles. They also offered a buffet. I especially liked the interior decorating that paid tribute to the tales of California's ealry pioneers.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (ToT), located in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, seemed like the most popular ride in the new park. It also seemed to be the one most susceptible to breakdowns. I believe it opened this May, so the mechanics must be still working out the bugs. Better than a roller coaster, ToT seamlessly blends the story and feel of a Twilight Zone episode with the ride. I found myself so caught up in the story that the drop caught me by surprise twice. I think we took this ride six times.

Rereading this entry, I'm afraid all of my Disney-related posts are going to sound like commercials. I apologize if they do, but I'm only trying to relate how I felt. Apparently, I'm an exuberant fan.