THE CANADA/USA TRIP - Chapter Three: L.A. - 2

Day 16 (April 13) - DISNEYLAND

YAHOOOO!!!!

DISNEYLAND!!!


Here's how MAIN Street USA looks at 8am.We made sure to get in right when it opened.


The first ride we hopped on was Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlasters over at Tomorrowland.
We rode this like 10 times when we were in Hong Kong Disneyland in 2007

Unfortunately, Toy Story Midway Mania (from California Adventure) overshadowed it now.
Maybe they should add 3D glasses?

It was still fun though. We all enjoyed shooting the targets.

The last time I visited Disneyland L.A. was when I was like 13 years old.
And STAR TOURS was one of my fave rides.
So this was an absolute nostalgia trip with Zachy in tow.

Am happy to say that even after sooooo long (You do the Math) -- STAR TOURS still rocks!

The climbs, falls and turns on the STAR TOURS flight simulator are still exciting and stomach-churning. :)

Even Zachy enjoyed it.



Next on the list was Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.

We made sure to line up for this one before the lines got super long later in the day.
Thanks Aldo and Pia for the advice!

It was only 9am and the line was already snaking around the corner.

We all live in the Yellow Submarine.
The Yellow Submarine.
The Yellow Submarine.

Just being in a real submarine and underwater is real cool :)

Here's some vid.






ZACHY THE JEDI MASTER

We checked out the Disneyland Map and saw that there was some sort of Jedi Training Academy at 10am.

We really didn't know what to expect.
And it turned out to be one of the ABSOLUTE HIGHLIGHTS of our Canada/USA Adventure!!


First, the Jedi Masters appeared....




Check out those cool Jedi Light saber Moves.



Afterwards, Zachy got chosen to be one of the padawans!!
YAY!!
We were so excited for him.

"It's an elegant weapon for a more civilized age."



Light Sabers on!


"This is so the light will not affect your young eyes.... and it looks real cool."




"Alright deactivate everyone..Once again, if this was a real lightsaber... you will not do this"

"Does anyone know what happens when you cut off an opponent's arms?"
"You DIS-ARM them"



"Remember the words of Master Yoda.. Do or Do Not.. there is no try."


And then from out of nowhere....
OMG!!!
STORMTROOPERS???

IT'S DARTH VADER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and

DARTH MAUL!!!!!!!

Holy CowJedi!!





THE BATTLE BEGINS!!!!
The Padawans battle Darth Vader and Darth Maul.


Wooohooo!
ZACHY - WAN VS. DARTH VADER!!!



ZACHY WINS!



The Jedi Master offers his congratulations to the new Jedi Knights.

THE NEW JEDI KNIGHTS!

Complete with a JEDI DIPLOMA/CERTIFICATE.
Hehehehehehe!

What an awesome show!
Who would have expected Darth Vader and Darth Maul to appear like that?
Straight out of a rising stage??

Well -- that's the Disney Magic for ya!

And Zachy got to kick Darth Vader's Butt!!

What better way to celebrate than to have a nice early lunch over at Redd Rockett's Pizza Port.

YUMMERS!




We moseyed on to AUTOPIA after our lunch.

AUTOPIA's one of the original Disney Rides. It first opened in 1955!

Cara's somewhere in there.

Drive Zo Drive!

Of course, no DISNEY trip would be complete without IT'S A SMALL WORLD.
This would be the kids' first time to experience it.

We were really excited for them

And so were we!

Psychedelic...... sweeeet




Huge!!

Here's the HUNGRY HIPPO Small World Version.

And here's the only Filipino Doll.


When are they coming out with the MANNY PACQUIAO doll for It's A Small World?
Bwehehehehehe!

Here are some ideas.


PACMAN doll info here.

We then walked back to the hotel to get some rest and siesta and avoid some of the mid-day heat.

It's so convenient to have our hotel nearby!


After a restful short sleep, we headed back down to Disneyland and New Orleans Square to ride

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN.

Pirates was ok.
The Roller Coaster Falls were still pretty fun.
And they added some new characters from the films...

Captain Barbossa

and of course...

Cap'n Jack Sparrow

Here's Cap'n Jack Sparrow Jr.


And Cap'n REGGAE Sparrow the First

Ya Mon!

We then rode on the JUNGLE CRUISE before getting street seats the Disney Parade.
It's exactly like the one in Hong Kong Disneyland.

The Underwater HUNGRY HIPPO

Picture Picture with Sleeping Beauty's Castle!

The Hong Kong Disneyland Parade was one of our fave attractions when were there last 2007.
Unfortunately, the Disneyland LA parade wasn't as great.

It wasn't as magnificent and complete with all the characters. It was more like one of those razzle dazzle theme shows that play in the Disney theaters. The floats weren't as grand. and it was a lot shorter in duration than the HK one.

It was pretty colorful though!

We cheked out the Haunted Mansion after tha parade.
Twas' pretty cool!
Scary!

CUTiEs!!



And then moved on to Fantasyland where we rode on Snow White's Scary Adventure.

Of course, we made sure not to miss
the Mad Tea Party.

YEYEY Ringring!




By that time we were already rushing to visit Mickey's Toontown coz' it was already closing. We managed to ride Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. And take some pictures with the cute toon sets and props.

The whole park was also about to close which meant one thing left.
Fireworks!

We got some good "seats on the street" to watch the show.
But unfortunately, they had to cancel it after a few minutes due to high winds.

GRRRRR!!!


Oh well.

Didn't really matter.

We saw the fireworks the night before (after California Adventure) with the Castillos.
We watched from the IHOP across the street where we were having dinner.

Besides, we had such an AWESOME 2 DAYS traversing Disneyland and California Adventure!!

An additional day would have helped though to check out some of the other cool rides we missed out on like the Indiana Jones Adventure. (The ride was under maintenance in the morning and then the line was too long in the afternoon) and Soarin' Over California over at California Adventure.

THANKS DISNEYLAND FOR THE MEM'RIES!!!
TWAS' D BEST yet again!!





Capped off the day with a few beers and nice stories with my cuz Margery "Tuchi" Cui.
I haven't seen her since she migrated to the USA/Canada a long, long time ago.
She's doin' really well.

Visit the Philippines soon Tuch!

Check out more pics here:

Complete Disneyland Photo Album 1

Complete Disneyland Photo Album 2