Christmas Eve

Disneyland

Michelangelo had a plan:
• First we go on the "Pirate ride"
• Then we go on the "Monsters, Inc.Ride"
• Then we go to the "Bee ride"

Isabella had her own agenda:
• Let's go see "my friends" (Mickey, Minnie, and Donald)
• Let's see the fairy's

The Haunted Mansion

Since The Haunted Mansionwas near The Pirates of the Caribbean, and Mommy and Daddy wanted a change; we thought we'd drop by it first.

Michelangelo in front of "Sandy Claws"
The Haunted Mansion remakes itself at this time of year into "The Nightmare Before Christmas"

Toon Town

We next headed for Toon Town (ala Who Framed Roger Rabbit)as it's the most likely place to see the Mouse and Duck

Toon Town girl

"He's my friend"
What Isabella has been saying about Mickey all week

Toon town girls

Beep! Beep!

Isabella's first roller-coaster ride

His coat is even a fireman's jacket.

Look! What's up in the sky?

Bella needs help steering

Pixie Hollow

This is where Tinkerbell and the other characters from the Tink, North of Never Landseries hang out, and it was on our way out of the park (on our way to California Adventure for the Monsteropolis ride). Michelangelo was mortified; but Isabella ate it up.

You want this?

On the mushroom; waiting for the fairys

Silvermistcomments on Bella's hair

It's Tinkerbell!
Note that Bella abd Tink have the same hairdo

Monstoropolis

A fairly insipid ride, that adds nothing to the original movie; but the kids like it alot.

I'd like some Blort, Ooze, and oh yea - 2 packets of "Sugar, Salt, & Fat" please
Vending machine in Monsteroplolis

Drooler Cooler
Note that it's "Taste Free"

Backstage Disney

A not so great show; but it was short, and we had time to kill before the next seating to "Playhouse Disney"

Cinderella with Bella
Now, which princess is prettier?

Playhouse Disney

Playhouse Disney is the marque of several Disney Channel shows, including:

• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
• Handy Manny
• Little Einsteins

The kids really digged it.

Playhouse Disney
This chick did an awesome one-woman many-pupet show

Michelangeol is enthralled

Doing the "Hot Diggity Dawg" Dance
The "Hot Diggity Dawg" song is played on Mickey's Clubhouse and all the characters do a dance. Isabella is joining in.

Animation Building

We went in here to see a show called "Crush Speaks" based upon the turtle from Finding Nemo. It's a museum of sorts to the animators art.

Toy Story Zoetrope
A zoetrope is a thingymabob to illustrate stop-motion animation. And it's really cool.

Downtown Disney

An area outside the 2 parks, yet still Disney.

"O" in California
There are 10ft tall letters outside California Adventure spelling out California

Hojo's

Snow in the San Gabriel Mountains
The view from our hotel. Snow in LA. Wierd.

Closing Time

To end the evening, we headed the kids wishes and went back to "The Pirate Ride and the Halloween Ride and The Tree house"
That last is Tarzan's treehouse. When I was a kid, it was The Swiss Family Robinson's treehouse. It has gotten a makeover. We were the last ones through for the evening, and because of that, we had a cast member walk us through for a private tour. Cool.

Now this snow is Disney Magic
This is real snow

Character wave
On Christmas eve, at park closing, all the characters gather at the Main St train station and wave goodbye.