In the Kingdom of the Mouse

Yesterday we set out on our trip to the Kingdom of the Mouse with my In-laws.

It took less than an hour for me to realize that I had forgotten something. 3 hours into the trip the list was growing exponentially and the replacement costs for necessary items was threatening to make this trip MUCH more expensive than I had originally intended. (Leaving Disneyland tickets at home = an expensive kind of bad)

By hour 6 we had achieved nap failure and hit enough traffic to ensure bedtime would not be maintained. Things were not looking good for us around here.

When this morning dawned, bleak and sprinkle filled, I was hoping for some redemption. Instead I got a kid begging for Disney 4 hours before the park opens. Luckily, the day turned around a bit from there. Some TV shows kept us going until we could savor our 1st breakfast. (Necessity, since Character breakfasts don't start until 9:40 and can you imagine trying not to feed your kid who wakes at 6AM until then?) Then came the hour of running up and down the hotel corridors, threatening the life and limb of other weary looking parents pushing much more compliant children in strollers. But sunshine was achieved in spirit if not in reality when we got to meet the princesses at our second breakfast.

A throughly enjoyed the few rides we went on, and mostly enjoyed running as fast as she could around the park, particularly when her second cousin showed up to chase with her. Despite the serious over-tired nature of a kid who didn't get enough sleep the day before, she (sort of) behaved, needing only a handful of half-hearted threats of dire consequences from her mother.

However, I do think that Disney could benefit from some parental input. When you cater to the under 10 crowd, opening at 10AM is ridiculous. In fact, it would be SO much better if they opened at 8AM and closed down the little kids rides between 1 and 3. Parents would breathe a sigh of relief that nap time (or quiet time, or down time, or whatever you want to call your version of an afternoon calm) could be achieved without being the MEANEST. PARENT. IN. THE. WORLD. Just, "Sorry Johnny, Mickey takes a nap at this time. So maybe we should go back to the room and watch a video."

Although, I have to say that Disney has mastered the art of exiting a ride DIRECTLY into a souvenir shop. For maximum begging and serious parent fleecing.

All in all, Disneyland is much more fun with a kid than I remember it being the last time I was here. (Um, 16 years ago.) Watching A light up at the "Magic" of it and have a great time is wonderful. But, I can't say I will be sad if she turns 10 and decides (like her mother) that Six Flags parks have more, better rides with shorter lines.