Disneyland!

Monday, December 30, 2013 – Anaheim

Walt Disney World opened just a year or so after Chrissy and I were born, and we both grew up with frequent trips to the Magic Kingdom. Over time, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom became part of our Disney experience. Our kids are second-generation Disney World enthusiasts, thanks to our many trips to the parks and countless camping weekends at Fort Wilderness. So when the four native Floridians planned a trip to California, Disneyland was a must.

We bought park-hopper passes to visit both Disneyland and California Adventure. We knew the parks were right in the middle of Anaheim but experiencing it in person was still striking. We were used to the miles-long drive off I-4 into the immersive “world” of Disney in Florida, where hopping between parks required a monorail or bus ride. In contrast, Disneyland had city streets on all sides, and the entrances to the two parks were barely a football field apart—a very different experience. Still, we had a fantastic day exploring both parks, comparing the similarities and differences between California and Florida’s versions of Disney magic.

One of the day’s highlights was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. This was an original attraction at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom, and a childhood favorite of mine and Chrissy’s. But in 1998, Disney closed Mr. Toad in Florida and replaced it with a Winnie the Pooh ride (which, while charming, is not Mr. Toad). Aaron never had the chance to ride Mr. Toad in Florida, and Delaney had only experienced it as a toddler. So when we all rode it together at Disneyland, the kids were good sports about humoring Mom and Dad’s nostalgia.

After 16 hours of Disney magic, we were exhausted. That’s when we happily broke our no-chain-restaurant rule. A Denny’s right next to our hotel offered simple food, served quickly, and in that moment, it was absolutely heavenly. A good meal, a great day, and a well-earned great night’s sleep.