Ever since Paisley and Stacey got home, we've been planning on going to Disneyland. It finally happened, and what a day.
We met early in the morning at Paisley's house and excitedly got in the car, while Taylor slept in the front seat with her pillow against the window. Really Taylor? You'd think we were driving all day. Paisley finished her pint of Golden Spoon, popped in the cd's I made for the ride, slapped on her 5 year old bracelets and we were off. We met our dear friend Mike Mevs at the mall parking lot and Mike, Stace and I squished in the back seat which was pretty great actually. The 3 of us were basically sitting on each other's laps, surrounded and packed in by our backpacks filled with money, snacks, drinks, cameras, chapsticks, sunglasses, gum, and flip cameras, but we were together, so we weren't complaining. Only downfall was that we had no way of slamming the cd player off, or breaking it, when Paisley refused to change the Ke$ha music. By some mighty miracle, Stace and I got a burst of energy and were able to dance and scream our way through the entire cd. Mike was secretly impressed. And after that, I made a new goal to keep myself busier, because once you realize you know all the lyrics to Ke$ha's cd, you take a good long look at your life.
Anyways, we got our tickets (that story doesn't leave the 5 of us, sorry...) and finally arrived!
We were so excited to just be there.
We immediately headed over to California Adventure for our fastpass to the new World of Color show. All day all we heard was stacey talk about this freaking show. And read us the texts from her best friend Scotty who is obsessed with all things Disney. We're like okayyyy we get it. But after we saw the show, we ran around the park screaming "fhrueihfh**@efumhrkue$#hfiuem%fuehuf&khukfhukre!!!!!" It was hands down the best thing I've ever experienced in my life besides Wicked. Get a park hopper pass just to see this show. Grown men were crying because it's so amazing. Thank you stacey, thank you scotty. You win.
So, we got the fast passes and hit Disneyland running. No ride was off limits. We wanted it all. The parks were so crowded, the best parts were usually when we were waiting in line.
We rode all our favorite rides and then took a quick break for lunch and shopping. We found a corn dog stand that changed our life.
Then we just walked around going through the shops, enjoying the ambiance. The older I get, my favorite part of being at disneyland is just sitting, eating a yummy treat, watching people, talking with my friends, buying souvenirs and enjoying the scenery. Stace and I found this cute little rare gifts shop that house collector paintings and art, and cute little Precious Moments special Disney edition. I know I'm 24, but I really want to start collecting these. My mom started a Precious Moments collection for me when I was a baby, and giving them to me throughout my life one special occasions, and as cheesy as the Disney ones may sound, I don't care, because they put a smile on my face. We stopped to watch the Disneyland Parade, or the parade of gays as we like to call it.
Obviously it was great, and the guys were so good and hilarious, but oh my they were so dramatic. Stace and I just kept looking at each other saying "oh no...oh gosh...no don't..." The dancer closest to us had the most ridiculous hair we've ever seen. The singer's voice was hysterical, the dancers looked like they were rehearsing more than dancing, and the way they handled themselves you could tell they just thought they were the coolest people this world has ever seen. But at least they love their job. Mike was oblivious. He just sat there eating his ice cream, dancing with a smile on his face. Seeing as how the sun was prctically in my backpack, we were dying of heat. The poor dancers had on jeans, stretch leather, wait no, pleather, long velvet jackets, button down shirts, nylons, etc. Then there were the Disney characters in the parade. Hate baby on the streets of Disneyland. Worst job ever. I loved when Pinocchio did the dance from "All the Single Ladies". The best was watching the Disney animals dancing with the girl dancers and the girls are all flirty and laughing hysterically like they're best friends. And I'm like okay, I'm sure the person under the suit is your best friend or boyfriend, but do you see how stupid you look from our eyes flirting with a chipmunk?
[stace and taylor got called up to dance in the parade]
[the four of them did the conga line while i video taped. it was hilarious]
After the parade, we searched high and low for these bracelets called Silly Bandz for Paisley.
She is obsessed and we tried so hard to be understandable, but we just couldn't. Finally she found the "wall of heaven" and got to pick some out. All I wanted all day was a stuffed animal. So after a search a rescue mission for the right Eeyore, we finally found him. Whatever, I love myself and I hate myself. The shopping was amazing.
We took a break from Disneyland and headed over to California Adventure. By that time, the sun was going down, the breeze was out, the crowds were gone, and it felt like a california summer night.
We ride California Screamin' twice in a row because it's the best ride ever made.
Stacey and I rode together both times, and held hands while she screamed and I laughed at her hysterically. After, we went over to get dinner on the boardwalk. Stace and I got amazing Mexican. We're california girls, we get mexican at every opportunity. Mike got his soup bowl that he'd been talking about and waiting for all day.
Paisley ate our scraps. After dinner, Pais and I put our sweaters on, put our feet up, and had fun just relaxing on the boardwalk while Stace, Mike and Taylor rode some of the other rides.
We went over and waited in line for the World of Color show.
[their disneyland engagement picture]
[our disneyland engagement picture]
Disney, I love you and you can do no wrong. But the system you created for this fast pass and waiting for the show is literally the stupidest thing I've ever seen. You stand in line with your show group. I think we were the yellow group, idk. Then they line you up like cattle. Then they sit and talk to you, telling you to not crowd or run once they open the velvet ropes. Then you have to follow the man with the flashlight in the dark in "an orderly fashion" for like a mile around the park to another gate where you wait. Meanwhile, the angry black woman has already told me off and pushed her family to the front of the line. Then another man with a flashlight guides you around to the other side to another stop. By this time it's probably been 60 minutes of walking and waiting. Then all hell breaks loose and they open the gates and you have to squish and push your way to an open spot. Luckily we found a spot for all 5 of us. Well, Mike, Stace and I got to the little Disney fence and Pais and Taylor had to stand behind us. Luckily the show goes really high into the sky, so every view is a good one. After all that said, it is still worth everything and is the best thing we've ever experienced. The most amazing part, besides the music performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, is the LED lights, the 1200 fountains that shoot water 200 ft. into the air, the fire nozzles that shoot flames 50 ft. into the air, the 380 foot long mist screen which the images are projected onto, and the fog and lasers. It's incredible. It goes through all the Disney movies. Little Mermaid, Nemo, Wall-E, Toy Story, Up, Aladdin, Pocahontas, A Bug's Life, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lion King, Enchanted, Bambi, Dumbo, Tarzan, Lady and the Tramp, Tinker Bell, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Lilo and Stitch, and many others. Go see it.
After the show, Stace and I took the bus back to the car, while the other 3 went to ride Splash Mountain.
Stace and I went to 7-11 and got some snacks and drinks for the ride home, parked in a random hotel parking lot, changed in the bathroom, put the seats down, the music up and talked for the hour until they came back. The three fell asleep in the back, and I sat upfront to keep Pais awake while she drove home. It was nice to get some time with my best friend while we drove home, so we could just talk and be together.
All in all, it was a wonderful day filled with pictures, memories, laughter, hugs, dancing, singing, and lots of love at the happiest place on earth.
