A Week of Adventures & More – Day 4: Anaheim
There’s room for a thousand. Any volunteers?
After visiting the Studio in Burbank, on the fourth day of our adventures, we headed south to Anaheim and the Southern California Disney theme parks. While Leo had not visited in since 2019, this was unusual for me in that this was my third one-day visit in 2026. And with a complimentary one-day park hopper ticket, it was my first visit to Disney California Adventure since the park fully reopened post COVID.
After recent foot troubles, I am limited in the number of steps I can take. Leo likewise is limited in his mobility. This offered a different perspective to visiting the theme parks, as we both made use of electric convenience vehicles (a.k.a ECV’s or scooters). I have done so off and on over the years, but have to admit having someone along doing the same was something new.
A busy Disneyland day in the Hub for a Tuesday in late June? Looks can be deceiving.
Once again, my long time Disneyland compatriot, Michael Riley, was joining us for what would become a full extended day at both parks. Michael is a former Disney Store cast member, as well as having performed the role of the Emergency Retail Hologram (ERH) at Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. These days he is retired and enjoys using his Disneyland Magic Key, mostly on mid-week off-season days. He also enjoys regular visits to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, amongst others.
Michael, enjoying a Mai Tai, during a visit to Emeryville and the Trader Vic’s Speakeasy.
I never seem to know what to expect when it comes to crowds at Disneyland any more. Where there used to be specific off season periods once upon a time, that definitely is no longer the case. As busy as it was at bag check and tram loading from the Mickey & Friends parking garage, once inside Disneyland proper, there just were not the numbers of people you might expect.
I have been visiting Disneyland since 1965. In all that time, I have never experienced so many literal walk-on attractions. Luck is the only thing I can explain it by. We came from The Country Bear Jamboree BBQ to Rise of the Resistance to find absolutely no one in the outdoor queue. Mrs. Colton didn’t make all those park visits for nothing. We immediately investigated and found the attraction ready for guests. We walked/motored right through the corridors leading to the pre-show and away we went on our adventure. As I recap this, Thursday, July 23 at 2:45 p.m., the Disneyland app on my iPhone shows a 45-minute wait for the stand-by line for Rise of the Resistance. That is more a usual experience.
Michael is hard to miss in his very colorful shirt from last year’s Oogie Boogie Bash as we board the Resistance transport.
Our good fortune did not end there. After a short shopping excursion through Galaxy’s Edge, we noted the walk on availability for Smugglers Run. So we did! Michael and I joined a family of four who were first-time pilots and gunners aboard the Millennium Falcon with the new Mandalorian and Grogu missions. We took up the mechanics positions. Things were actually going rather well overall until about two minutes into the flight when everything went completely dark. No screens, and no cockpit panels illuminated, just emergency lights overhead. Not what you would call a good sign.
Cast members were right there and escorted us out and to another cockpit for a brand new mission. The family opted to take a less active role this time, asking Michael and myself to handle the pilot roles. So, off we went on another mission for Hondo. We actually managed to keep damage to a minimum and successfully retrieved the cargo as well, in what was one of the best missions we have had. So much so, that we decided to celebrate with a visit to Oga’s Cantina. Recently, the required reservations were dropped and our standby time was less than ten minutes. So much for long wait times here.
Is this really true? Where are the crowds of guests? Not here!
Finishing our beverages, we decided to try and keep our lucky streak of low wait times intact. Heading for Mickey’s Toontown, a ride on Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway was the goal. Hopefully, the odds were in our favor. On previous attempts to ride, the score was Attraction 5, Guests 1, with the attraction unavailable more often than up and running.
Yet again, the fates smiled upon us and we breezed through the queue at a pace which allowed plenty of time to enjoy the gags along the way. Which with both Leo and Michael having movie theater experience in their careers offered more than a few laughs. This one is my new favorite.
It’s always something…
Time for a literal change of pace. And one not connected to an intellectual property as well. Frontierland and the Mark Twain Steamboat for a journey down the Rivers of America. Seats on the prow to take in all the scenic wonders.
A voyage down the Rivers of America aboard the Mark Twain is always welcomed.
After lunch, we headed down Main Street to the Opera House. Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln was the show playing in the theater. We enjoyed the various items on display including some of the original furnishings from Walt’s apartment above the Firehouse as well as some examples of Audio-Animatronics. Worth a visit if you haven’t had a chance to see this yet.
Audio-Animatronics certainly have come a long way.
After a bit of window shopping, Michael bid us farewell and headed home. Leo and I headed across the Esplanade into Disney California Adventure. While I have always enjoyed this park, I have to be honest and say that it really is a lesser experience than Disneyland. Rather than list my issues with it, let me says that there is entertainment value here, but there are also opportunities which could make for a more family oriented experience here.
Badly needed transportation to and from the entrance of DCA, now reduced to a photo prop.
We were too early to experience the new version of Soarin’, but did take in some of the rest of the park. Radiator Springs still remains one of the best realized additions to a Disney park, recreating the town incredibly well, so that guests truly feel they have entered the setting of the Cars films.
Happier than a tornado in a trailer park!
Neon and Route 66 are synonymous with a good time!
We did cross the Esplanade to take in the evening fireworks. Regrettably, I chose a spot which ended up with a very obstructed view and some less than respectful guests. I made up for it closing out the night with a visit to the Haunted Mansion. And miracle of miracles, not one single guest quoted the ghost host in the stretching room. It made for a very enjoyable close to a long day in Walt’s park.
While it lasts, a great memorial to many wonderful days at Disneyland.
Coming next? Would you believe something new…