Done with the conference, now off to Disneyland!

After a very successful conference, a few of us (that’s Allie, Kyle, Belinda, and me) hopped on a shuttle and headed to Disney land for the evening.

When I worked for Disney in the early to mid 80’s, I had a Silver Pass and went to Disneyland at least once a month (it was, to Elisabeth, what a neighborhood park is to most kids!), but it’s been a while since I’ve been there, and everything had changed!

Well, everything except the good ol’ Disneyland Railroad Station at the front gate.

And Main Street.

The crowds were huge! Like I’d never seen!

Crowds or no crowds, some of us were downright giddy!

   We played like a bunch of school girls at The Mad Hatter…

(Kyle does “Goofy” so well!)

 

Of course, we had to pose in all the usual places…

But we went on a good number of rides and walked most of the park, too.  Problem was, it was already dark, so I couldn’t get any good distance shots, try as I might!

Once we found a place to settle in front of Cinderella’s Castle for the big fireworks show, I was able to get a few shots…

But only video does any justice to the show, which was the BEST fireworks show I’ve ever seen (and just as good, though completely different, from my hotel room)!

The theme of the show was “dreams do come true,” and somehow they were able to include sound tracks and dialogue and sound effects from Disneyland rides over the past 30+ years.  It was awesome, and even sentimental… for me, at least!

The Star Wars segment was a bit bizarre.  Combining Cinderella's Castle with Star Wars was a bit of a stretch – but the lasers were pretty cool (and even more amazing from my hotel room)!

It was well after midnight when we headed back down Main Street.

By the time we got back on the bus, we were all just about spent!  I loved watching Allie enjoy her first trip to Disneyland as much as the most enthusiastic 5-year-old!

It plum tuckered that girl OUT!