I Went to Disneyland???

When I was in college I made plans with my sister, when she graduated high school I would take her to the Disney Park of her choosing for however long she wanted. We went to Disney World for 10 days, all on my dime. That trip changed my life, I took her for Spring Break the following year, bought an Annual Pass, and then took both of my siblings for New Years. The following year my extended family went to Disney World and I took my first solo trip that December, then I went to Disney World solo again for my birthday. All of these trips led me to Disneyland with my brother.

When my brother was 13 I asked him "What do you want to do for your 16th birthday?" He said, in true middle school boy fashion "I want to go to Cars Land." I thought to myself, that's in DisneyLAND, but I'll make it happen. And I did. And we went to Disneyland to celebrate my baby brother's 16th birthday.

We stayed at Disney's Pixar Place Hotel and every morning we got coffee and a bagel at the coffee shop in the lobby and then we rode roller coasters and experienced two whole new Disney Parks together. We spent 4 days in The Happiest Place On Earth and I only cried a handful of times. A

As the days went on I realized how badly this would affect my relationship with Walt Disney World because I LOVED Disneyland. There is something so special about that itty bitty castle, and that chiropractic Matterhorn. There is a true magic in the park that Walt built. Walking down Main Street U.S.A I was struck with the realization that I was walking where Walt Disney once walked, I was the park he built, I was part of a decades long story spanning multiple generations and countries, I was standing in a piece of history. I was standing in my new happy place, and I was with my favorite person in the world. I knew immediately upon entering ToonTown that I would be coming back here earlier than I anticipated.

Now, I'll tell you about my favorite ride in Disneyland, a ride that is so unhinged I truly hope it never gets replaced and don't understand why it hasn't been replaced. That's right kids! I'm talking about Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

The story goes that Mr. Toad loves to drive, but he's not very good. He drives fast and scares everyone who drives with him (much like yours truly). On this particular day we are the unwitting guests of Mr. Toad's motorized escapades, and Mr. Toad is HAMMERED. So Mr. Toad is driving drunk, gets hit by a train, is sentenced by a judge and goes to hell. And then the ride ends and you're right back in Fantasyland. Every minute of that ride was a delight for me. I will go back to Disneyland in the next two years just to visit Toad Hall again, it was that fun for me.

My brother will tell you his favorite ride was either Mission Breakout or The Incredicoaster. And I'd agree with him. Those two attractions were so good we rode them both multiple times a day. And we did get to Cars Land. During the day it's one thing, but Cars Land was designed for dusk and after dark. The neon lights go on to the tune of Shaboom and my god is it magical. Standing at The Cozy Cone Motel at Lightning McQueen drives by and watching the lights of Flo's V8 Cafe turn on? Indescribable truly.