Magical Land

Our winter break has come and gone, we are now back in the Japan. We were able to take a two week vacation in SLC and LA.

It was wonderful to see family and friends, but strangely everything in Utah was so familiar and comfortable it felt as if we had only left last month. Oh how we had missed grocery stores that cater to us vegetarians, thank you Target and Morningstar veggie burgers! We were quite disappointed with the lack of snow, it felt the same as Japan cold but no snow. I was especially looking forward to go snowboarding, yet many friends told me it’s not worth it with the outrageous price for half the resort and fake snow. Despite this lack of Utah tradition we still enjoyed spending time at our old hangout and date spots.

After a week or so we left Utah and went with Samantha’s parents down to LA. Oh boy, this made Utah look like the North Pole! It was so hot! I don’t know if this is common for the SoCal area, but seeing people in shorts, sandals, tank tops, etc. on New Years Eve was quite the shock. Now you may be asking where did you celebrate the end of 2011???
In the magical kingdom of Disneyland!

This was my first time to Disneyland, yes that’s right, I’m 26 and have never been. I have never ever realized there was a difference between a “theme park” and an “amusement park”, until now. The amount of money that is put into this place is truly ridiculous and amazing. Let alone thinking about the money going into Florida, Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong Disney’s too!!!
Some parts of my Disney experience were a let down, maybe because I kept expecting thrill rides and wild coasters. But again “theme” park; this means rides that go in one big circle and you witness animatronic puppets of all shapes and sizes sing and dance. Extremely bizarre and I’d say a bit eery. Peter Pan, Snow White, and Pinocchio ended on quite perculiar notes. The story built up with the puppets fighting puppets, then suddenly the ride is over with a quick “and they all lived happily ever after…” sign, HUH?! It didn’t really make sense of the climatic fight scenes.

I couldn’t believe how huge the park was, and Downtown Disney and California Adventure made this even bigger. I enjoyed that there were different “lands”. Tomorrowland was an instant favorite, especially with its Michael Jackson Captain EO movie and the rides with holograms on them. But I will admit that Space Mountain is one of the scariest things I’ve been on. Not because of the movement, or speed, or rollercoaster aspect; but because the fear of not being able to see and worried that my head could hit some lose object. Yeah, I’ve definitely watched too many scary movies where freak accidents happen; but seriously this is all I kept thinking about on all the old rides.
I also found it strange on how many “movie” rides there were, and by that I mean the motion simulator rides where you watch a 3D movie, like Star Tours, Toy Story Mania or Soarin’ Over California.

I also was quite surprised at how small the castle was. It must be the magic of trick photography that makes the castle look so big, or maybe I’m just imaging the Florida one. Another thing I always imagined growing up was Mickey and all the Disney Princesses walking all around the park just waiting for a photo opportunity. Yet I think I saw Mickey just a few times, and there were no Princesses in sight. I’m thinking things must have changed with the growing crowds and all. It also was extremely packed considering it was New Years.

One interesting thing was that I’ve always envisioned Disneyland as the kiddie of all kiddie places; yet there are definitely way more kiddie rides at Lagoon. Though Samantha kept saying I could go on the Dumbo ride, every time I screamed on Space Mountain.

Well all in all, I enjoyed this magical mystery adventure. I am very excited to go see Tokyo Disney this upcoming spring. To see the wildness of the Disney money monopoly combined with Japanese animation and colorfulness.