This morning we did not want to wake up. After three days of more than 12 hours in the Disney parks we were just tired. We woke up late and at about 11:00 a.m. We left the hotel for some shopping. First destination: The Beverly Center.

The Beverly Center is a high-end shopping mall in Hollywood. After a 30-minute drive we arrived and parked the car in the parking garage. We visited a couple of stores like Michael Kors, Victoria’s Secret, Apple Store and Macy’s. we had something to drink and eat at Starbucks and bought the finale Starbucks City Mug of Los Angeles.

We left the Beverly Center and drove to the Citadel Outlets. Here it was very crowded because of the Columbus Day sale. We saved a lot of money while buying clothes at the Tommy Hilfiger Store. They had some amazing stuff almost for free.

After this is was time to drive to Newport Beach, because we were invited by Sully to join on a booze cruise. A booze cruise is the local name for cruising through the harbor on a Duffy boat. Typically there is always alcohol on board which is allowed since the Duffy’s are low-speed electrical boats.  Sully we met on Gina & Glenn’s wedding in March this year. We arrived here at about 15:30h and after the guys bought some drinks and snacks at the grocery store t was time to leave to the harbor with everything including our Red Solo Cups. Red Solo Cups are known by everyone in the USA who went to college, there is even a well-known song about the cups:

Red solo cup, I fill you up
Let’s have a party, let’s have a party
I love you red solo cup, I lift you up,
Proceed to party, proceed to party

Sully rented the Duffy for 2 hours from 6 till 8. Some other friends of Sully were joining us at the boat. Glenn offered to be the captain of the both and we all had a lot of fun and the 2 hours went by very quickly.

While we were driving back to the hotel we saw a little bit of the Disneyland Park fireworks from the Freeway. You just can not imagine that it is all so close.

After today, which was kind of a relaxing day, tomorrow we are going back to Disney with Gina & Glenn and visit Disney’s California Adventure.

Today we woke up a litter later, because after 2 days of more than 12 hours in the parks everything just hurts. After the morning ritual we took the car and drove towards the Disneyland Resort. We spoke with Gina & Glenn on Whatsapp and they would also be in the park today.

As we arrived at the parking garage of the Resort it was way more busy as the last 2 days but after a short while we arrived at our parking space and went to the parks with the tram. As soon as we arrived at Downtown Disney we noticed that a lot of people were wearing red t-shirts today. Reason for this…… Today was Gay Day at Disneyland Resort!!!

We met Gina & Glenn at the partner statue and it was good to see each other again after their wedding in March this year. Because we did most of the attractions on Thursday we decided to do the attractions with Gina & Glenn which they have not in Orlando or are different since it is their first time in Los Angeles to. We started with the Enchanted Tiki Room and then Pirates of the Caribbean. Because Gina is deaf she got a “disability pass” at City Hall for “a party of 4”. This means we were allowed to enter all the attraction through the Fastpass Lane or exit. That was really great on this day, because most of the waiting times were over 75 minutes. So we did Haunted Mansion Holiday (120 minutes waiting and we had 5 minutes), Splash Mountain (85 minutes waiting and for us 10 minutes). Not to bad if I say so myself. We also did Space Mountain, Star Tours and Submarine Voyage. And all with just a minimum waiting line, but we saw that the park was really full today.

Unfortunately Gina & Glenn had to leave at 04:00h because they had dinner reservations outside the Resort. As we walked to the exit we did a Photopass Photo with the 4 of us.

As Gina & Glenn left, we watched the Soundsational Parade at Town Square and visited Mr. Lincoln at Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

At was getting later and we went looking for a place to have dinner tonight. Because it was so busy we ended up at Hungry Bear restaurant where it was quit and we sat here for a while. After dinner we bought a sweater for Sander because it was getting pretty chilly outside and tonight we wanted both Fantasmic! and the Fireworks, a long night ahead of us. We also discovered the shop where you can buy the Photopass-packages and we bought the Photopass+ package which also contains on-ride photos. We went to Space Mountain and Splash Mountain to get our on-ride photos from today.

And the. The big waiting and searching for a good spot was going to begin. We had decides to see the firework at 09:30h and Fantasmic! at 10:30h. As we arrived in front of the castle every spot had been filled so it was difficult to find a spot with a good view at the castle, but we found one. The advantage of such a small castle is that the firework as all above the castle. After 30 minutes waiting the show began. It started with the Wished music and it ended with the Wishes music. And everything in between……… was just great with the comments of Julie Andrews.

Then the big challenge began. Moving the whole crowd from the hub in front of the castle to Frontierland for the 10:30h show of Fantasmic! A little chaotic it was, but after a short time we had a spot on the bridge in front of Pirates of the Caribbean. In front of us were some people from San Francisco and they had Vinylmations. As soon as Sander noticed they had a Dumbo Vinylmation which they had double, and he asked if he could buy it from him because I am a Dumbo-fan. And as a surprise the guy just gave it to me, really nice.

We waited for the show to begin and I must say, I like the Orlando-version of Fantasmic! better. But it was as usual in Disney a great show.

Then there was only one thing left for today. Leave the park, get with the tram to de car and drive to the hotel.