Disneyland The Experience: What happened to the "Magic?"

Determined to start day #2 off on the "good foot," we got ourselves out of bed and into the park by 8am sharp, just in time to experience "magical morning."  From 8am to 9am, the park is reserved for guests of the three affiliated hotels.  This way, guests can enjoy the most popular rides before all of the crowds come and the lines form.

The first ride on the agenda: Magic Mountain, one of, if not THE most popular thrill ride in the park.  Off we go through Tomorrowland, only to be met with a cast member informing us that this ride is closed until July the 4th.  Crestfallen, we make our way over to Frontierland to ride the "biggest" coaster - behind Magic Mountain in the Park - Big Thunder Mountain.  We were instead met by two cast members, informing us that Frontierland was not open until 9am.

We are met by two cast members at Frontierland: re-enactment above.

Still a bit sleep-deprived from the day before and running on a cup of Starbucks instant coffee for this first leg of the morning, my analytical left brain tries to kick into gear without the proper fuel, and I begin to lecture the cast member.

"But what good is early admission if none of the good rides are open?" i ask, my face contorted in a mixture of exhaustion, frustration and disappointment.  Right.  As if the sheer logic of this statement would somehow magically cause him to change his mind and grant us entrance to whatever rides we wished.

"IT'S MAGICAL MORNING, PPL!" my inner-critic screams in my head, beyond annoyed and wanting heads at this point, "SHOW ME THE MAGIC!!!"

"Ma'am you have Adventureland, Tommorrowland, and Toontown available to you still."

"But thats the point," i insisted on continuing. "The point is to ride the rides that won't be available later, which happen to be not available now either!"

"I'm sorry ma'am."

 It was now 8:45 and with magical morning officially over in 15 minutes, I suggest we go in search of a nice breakfast.  We end up on Main Street at the Carnation Cafe, a place we had been on prior trips and had always enjoyed.  There was outdoor seating, and it was a great place to people watch, as folks were just coming into the Park, some for the first time ever.

"Yes, your here!"  said a mom to her young daughter in a princess outfit and a stroller.  "It's real!"

As Tre and friend ripped open their bags of crayons and began coloring their kids menus, i set about fulfilling my mom duties by directing their attention to the items on the menu.  When that wasn't eliciting any response, I then read aloud to the boys a description of each item.  Tre wanted the "Mickey Special" with eggs, hash browns, and sausage.  Friend ordered the "Mickey Waffles."  I ordered. Food came.  I re-arranged mine onto one plate to make it seem like more food than it actually was.

                                            

Notice how my child doesnt seem very enthusiastic about his breakfast.  That is because he saw Friend's lovely breakfast and decided that he wanted Mickey Waffles instead.


Not wanting to let a teachable moment go by - the teachable moment being "ask and you shall receive," because we all know how well that's works out later - I tried to order a single Mickey waffle to add to his breakfast.  Unfortunately, the restaurant is not equipped to handle variances of that magnitude.  In order to get one Mickey Waffle, you need to order an entire breakfast, which, despite my desire to keep my child happy, I was not prepared to do at $9 a pop.

Tre: But I wanted the Mickey waffle!

Me: Sorry, Tre, thats not what you ordered.

Tre: But why can't I order it now?

Me: Friend...why can't Tre order the Mickey Waffle now?

Freind:  Because there is a time and a place for ordering?

Me: Yes, that's right, Friend.  There is a time and a place for ordering and that time and place has come and gone.

Tre: But you didn't tell me the waffle was shaped like Mickey?!?  (Note to reader: You can imagine where my head goes with this statement, but I am no stranger to the child's "blaming others" ploy often used when he is on the verge of desperation, and I am ready!  I pause, take a breath, and respond):

Me: Tre - do you know how to read?

Silence.  Then Tre stares down at his menu.  Waits a moment.  Then picks it up and starts reading.

Tre: Ooooooooooh!  Mickey Waffle!

Me: Ooooooooooh!

Friend: Oooooooooh!

We finish up our vittles and head to Frontierland to get the coaster in.  For those of you who have not followed is from the beginning, here is the most fun I had at the park: 

TRE's MOM! PUT THE %$@!*&% CAMERA AWAY!!! 

And look!  How serendipitous!  This came in the mail today.  Its a thank-you letter from Friend:

For those of you who dont read 10-year-old too well, the last two sentences read:

"I'm so lucky to have gotten to come with you.  Only if Tre got that mickey waffle."

xo
ritz