Three Years of Disneyland

Disneyland, and all things Disney related, play a big part in our lives. On our third date, which was a lovely picnic in Barnsdall Park, I asked James if he liked theme parks. His response was, ‘I consider theme parks to be a serious art form.’ I don’t know what our lives would be like if it were any other way. As annual passholders, we get to enjoy unlimited trips to the parks, allowing us to follow the Imagineers’ brush strokes at a leisurely pace, and cultivate endless memories. Motivated by our upcoming trip to Walt Disney World to visit James’ parents, we decided to share some of the memories from our past three years of adventures at Disneyland Resort here in California.

Here is one of James’ favorite photos of Emily’s fun day at Disneyland. The whimsical shapes and vibrant colors of Mad Tea Party form the perfect backdrop for this smile.

This is James’ favorite model (in the whole world). I’m pointing at Peter Pan’s Flight, which is my favorite attraction in the park.

This photo was taken on the one occasion so far that we have ridden in the nose cone of the Monorail. The view going into Disneyland was spectacular.

A relaxing breakfast at Carnation Café is always the best way to start the day. The Mickey Mouse waffle is a must.

Even though it only opened a couple of years ago, Jolly Holiday Bakery Café has quickly become one of my favorite eateries at Disneyland Resort. The penguins are always eager to prepare and serve with flair.

We were sitting on a bench outside of Big Thunder Ranch, resting our weary feet during our trek across Frontierland, when we saw Woody walking by. We were able to quickly sneak a photo before all of his admirers showed up.

James was able to capture the thrill of my first flight on Dumbo the Flying Elephant, as we soared past the Matterhorn.

It’s not often that we have the chance to take photos of both of us together during our adventures in the parks. It’s also not often that one gets to be an honorary bug.

What is to be done about ‘The Tomorrowland Question?’ That’s something that has sparked hours of discussion among our friends. Recent rumors have circulated that the entrance to Tomorrowland may look vastly different in the near future.

The abandoned Fantasyland Skyway Station beckons us to travel deeper into this enchanted forest, but a gate stands in our way. There’s no telling how much longer the structure will be around.

The small Red Car Trolley logo adds to the richly detailed setting of Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure. It is a Los Angeles that never was, and always will be.

Here we are riding Casey Jr. Circus Train overlooking the Storybook Land Canal Boats. The low sun gives Fantasyland a golden glow.

This photo was taken purely by chance, as I am sure that if we ever tried to recreate this fleeting moment of magic while riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, we wouldn’t be able to.

Over the holidays Jungle Cruise was rechristened Jingle Cruise, which meant that the lines were even longer than expected. The queue looped around through so much of the building that for the first time, we had the opportunity to walk along this little terrace and admire the rooftops of Adventureland poking out from the treetops.

I get popcorn almost every time we go to Disneyland. It is hands down my favorite snack of all time. All of the carts feature a character spinning the glass tube, but Yetis certainly make the best popcorn.

We don’t fancy fried chicken very much, but we do love the ambiance of Plaza Inn. There is a softness and warmth to this interior that cannot be equaled.

It always surprises me that King Arthur Carousel never has a long line. Although it may not be the epitome of Imagineering, it is in my opinion the ride with the most significance. As many may not know, Walt Disney came up with the idea of Disneyland while taking his daughters to the carousel at Griffith Park.

Shortly after James proposed in June 2013 we celebrated our engagement at Disneyland. We took that as an opportunity to have fun photographing my ring in the park.

Storybook Land creates some of the best sight sight lines in the park. Here the majestic view is combined with the kinetics of the Casey Jr. Circus Train travelling past.

We always make it a point to fully appreciate the exhibits happening inside The Disney Gallery. Last summer, the gallery had a few items commemorating the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. This was a menu that was used on United Airlines flights for children to promote the attraction in its opening days.

Of course there are so many more wonderful places in the parks that we love. We are glad to live so close to the Disneyland Resort and plan to continue making many more years of happy memories.