Christmas 2013

Duffy and I had a great Christmas. We saw family and friends and had a lot of sweet treats. I got a lot of presents, mostly books, which I love. Reading is my very favorite thing and I am always happy when someone gives me a book. I also got a couple jigsaw puzzles which are fun, and a few Doctor Who items. It was a geeky holiday. I didn't get to Christmas in the Park this year, it is not easy to get to but enjoyable when I can make it. But, I did get to go to Disneyland and that is the best place ina ll of the world at Christmas and any time of year. I watched 'It's A Wonderful Life' which is one of my favorites. I only watch it once a year. I watch 'White Christmas' a lot as I love the music and story. 'Elf' was another regular movie this year, too. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season! XO, Califia

Believe... in Holiday Magic!

Once again I found myself in Disneyland. I didn't have plans to go at all in 2013, and I ended up going three times! I am blessed and lucky.

I arrived on a Friday night and just had to squeeze in as much Disney time as possible. I entered Main Street and was greeted by their beautiful tree on Main Street.

I wanted to check out the Jingle Cruise. This was the holiday overlay. I was underwhelmed. I was hoping there would be more lights on the trees and that some of the animals would be wearing Santa hats. It was mostly just holiday jokes told by the skippers, and a few decorations in the queue. It felt like they didn't need to advertise it as a theme, and just put what decorations they did.

Pastries!

Fancy toiletries in the hotel. I like to collect the bottles of lotion because they are a good size to fit in my purse.

Festive decorations on Main Street

Christmas tree inside the Market House (Starbucks)

The checker board is still inside the Market House.

There was a Weeping Angel in New Orleans Square. Don't blink!

it's a small world

Happy Holidays!

I am Iron Mickey

Cars Land is especially festive in California Adventure. There are a lot of themed trees.

This is a 'hidden Mickey' ornament on a tree inside California Adventure

The main room in our Disney Vacation Club Villa in the Grand Californian Hotel

Mickey's Halloween Party

In October I found myself back in Disneyland. What a surprise! When I learned that all ages can dress up in costume, and that Captain Jack Sparrow would make a rare appearance, I had to take it! We started our day with a morning visit to Disneyland. We went on some of our favorite rides like Star Tours and Pirates of the Caribbean. Before long, it was time to meet friends and family at Goofy's Kitchen for a birthday party. After lunch, we went to our hotel room to get dressed in our costumes. I went as the Queen of Hearts. We went back into Disneyland all dressed up. It was so fun getting to run around Disneyland, wearing costumes and looking at all of the people and the costumes they were wearing. Trick-or-treating was fun. The Cast Members will give you as much as you ask for. But that can come at a price in the form of having to carry around a 25 pound bag. That gets heavy by the end of the night! This was more of a casual weekend, taking time to take pictures of the Halloween decor and just enjoying the scenery. I was thinking forward to my next planned vacation in January. Little did I know, there would be another Disneyland weekend in there!

This is the main entrance, all decorated with Jack O'Lanterns carved into Disney characters.

Me with Dumbo

Me with Minnie

The Haunted Mansion gets a Halloween and Christmas overlay with Nightmare Before Christmas.

At the Disneyland Hotel in one of the lobbies is a small theater that shows classic Disney cartoons on a loop.

Coming soon: Starbucks! A full store in Downtown Disney. I am super excited!

Posters for Disney/ABC Studios shows 'Once Upon a Time' and 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' on the outsid e of a Hollywoodland building

The Tiki Room garden

Enjoying my daily Starbucks drink

Candy corn!

Pastries!

On this particular weekend was Disneyland's Gay Days. They sold rainbow themed merchandise and food throughout the parks. I had to taste a rainbow sugar cookie.

Driving a car in Autopia

Going for a spin at the Mad Tea Party

The Emporium, and all the buildings on Main Street, were decorated with pumpkins, gourds, and leaves

Giant Mickey Mouse on Main Street

Several pounds of candy and treats collected at the Haloween party.

I'm Going to Disneyland! Part 2

One of the many great things about Critter Country is the abundance of 'hunny'.

Fowler's Harbor

I love my Alice in Wonderland dress

Lafitte's Anchor

I found treasure on Pirate Lair Island

Frappuccino time!

Fountain in California Adventure

Waiting for Fantasmic

Duffy dressed as Mickey

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail

Whee!!!

Duffy in his PJs

Relaxing at the hotel

I'm Going to Disneyland! Part 1

My August trip to Disneyland was incredible! I met a lot of characters, had some good meals, bought some fun souvenirs, and really made a lot of awesome memories. It started on Friday, August 2nd at 5:00 in the morning! I started at California Adventure because I wanted dinner at Taste Pilot's Grill. This is where there is a toppings bar, and you can pick all your toppings and sauce. I love it because I can put on tons of pickles. Yummy! I went on the Little Mermaid ride twice and once on the Monsters Inc ride. Since I had a long drive that day, I wanted to get to my hotel room to rest since I had a Magic Morning on Saturday. On Saturday we got to go on all of the big rides and never waited more than twenty minutes. I could "bear"ly believe it. On Monday we had breakfast with Mickey and Friends in our hotel. We met Daisy Duck, Stitch, and some other characters. I like that rice was one of the foods in the buffet. Yummy! On Wednesday we had breakfast with Minnie and friends. That was so much fun! And I got to play with Captain Hook. We watched Fantasmicthat night. I love that show. Our last day was Friday, August 9th. We got to go on all of the rides we wanted and as many times. And I was happy to have my Starbucks drinks each day. The weather was perfect. Going from not planning a trip for 2013 to having the vacation of a lifetime, it was truly amazing and I am so grateful.

We stayed at the Paradise Pier Hotel.

This was where I would meet my special friend.

Topiary bear at it's a small world

This is a Goofy statue!

The rooms are themed to California beach side. This was one of the lamps in the room.

A welcome basket full of chocolates!

Riding on Dumbo

it's a small world!

A Bug's Land in California Adventure

In the submarine of the Finding Nemo ride

Inside of it's a small world

Winnie the Pooh ride

Fowler's Harbor where the Sailing Ship Columbia is docked

Iron Man exhibit at Innoventions

Pinocchio's Daring Journey

Fruit salad

I want this Mickey Mouse pirate shirt in my size!

Rivers of America

My new friend, Duffy

While at the breakfast with Minnie in Disneyland, Captain Hook took me from my table and went around, showing me off to the other diners and characters. He liked that I was in a Captain Hook costume, but wanted me to chop off my paw and put on a hook. Well that would take cosplay a bit too far.

Pirates of the Caribbean queue

Hooray for Duffy!