Rollercoaster . . .

The whole family got together this past week for some relaxation and adventure which included a trip to Disneyland and California Adventure.

Above Sean and Amy eagerly wait for the Monorail to take the family into the Magic Kingdom. In a few short minutes we would be dropped off right in the middle of the park.

Both Megan and Grandma rocked their Gap Sunglasses. Insert shameless plug here (Available at 224 Gap stores across the nation for just $24.50)

Sean took in all the underwater sights on the Finding Nemo Submarine ride.

How cool is Grandma? She kept her sunglasses on while riding Space Mountain in the dark!

Megan and I just before riding Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Now, in what I shall call "therapy" I will tell you Loyal Readers a story that has become a Casey Family Legend.

Shortly after the roller coaster Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened in 1979 at Disneyland my parents took my brother and I on the ride.

My six year old self had what I can only describe as a major melt down panic attack in the middle of the ride. I vividly remember trying to climb off the moving train.

As an adult riding on this roller coaster I slid back and forth on the seat as the train rounded each curve even with the lap bar firmly in place. I fully realize it was a miracle that I did not succeed in climbing out of the train as a child.

To permanently document the horror of my childhood I decided to film our ride on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in its entirety. Be sure to check out the 1:20 mark for some familiar faces.

The Song Of The Day - Rollercoaster by Janet Jackson

The Force . . .

Help me Obi-Sean Casey, you're my only hope!  

Obi-Sean, I was at the Jedi Training Academy where I got to see Mace Windu teach the Young Ones how to fight like a Jedi.

Suddenly, the Jedi Academy came under the attack of the Imperial Forces led by Darth Vader, Darth Maul and some Storm Troopers.

The Young Ones were able to use their new skills in the Force to make Vader retreat!  I wish you could have been there with me.

The Song Of The Day -  Main Title Theme From Star Wars by John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra

Everybody Loves A Laughing Place . . .

Over Labor Day Weekend I went home to LA.   On Sunday my parents and I went to Disneyland.  My parents had not been to Disneyland in 19 years!  (We are not counting the trip to Disney World I made them go on four years ago, because that is an experience in and of itself that can not be compared to the original in Anaheim.)

I opted to be the driver on the trip partially because I knew it had changed a lot in the area around the park and partially because I don't get to drive much anymore.  This may have been a good thing because we encountered two minor detours along the way.  First, there was an accident on the freeway that blocked all lanes of traffic and we were re-routed into East LA.  Not the greatest of areas to be re-routed.  My keen sense of direction (more like blind luck) got us back on the freeway and heading toward Disneyland in what was probably less than ten minutes.  Our second detour occurred when we got off the freeway at Disneyland and some of the streets were closed for a marathon.  Fortunately it all worked out and we eventually arrived at the parking structure.

Here is Dad, Mom and myself at the park entrance.  It was a coin toss as to whether we would go to California Adventure or Disneyland.  At the last minute I chose Disneyland.

Despite being a holiday weekend it turned out to be a great day to go.  The park was not very crowded.  The longest we waited for a ride was a little over an hour.  And that was for the "New" Finding Nemo Submarine ride.  All the other rides averaged about twenty minutes which is really good!  We did all the major rides and didn't even stay past 9 pm.

Here's Mom and I on Splash Mountain.   We got pretty wet on that one!

Thanks to the kind stranger who offered to take our picture in front of Big Thunder Mountain.  Unfortunately, I guess she didn't hear me when I asked, "Can you please be sure to get the Mountain in the background?"

The Song Of The Day - Walt Disney Medley by The Walt Disney World Band