Here I am back for over a week already and the novelty of my own bed and routine has worn off! That means I have itchy feet again already and zero annual leave or funds to make it happen 
So in order to hang on to my holiday for a little bit longer I thought I would do a quick round up of my Disney based adventures.
I will start with how I got there in the 1st place as this bit proves that pixie dust is alive and well in the world.....
It started with My mum and I booking a 17 day tour of the West Coast - A Full on trip featuring 5 National Parks, 4 States and several large cities. This trip started and finished in LA and the hotel was scheduled to be the Crowne Plaza LAX. We had 1 day at the start of our tour as a 'free day' to explore. I looked into it and Disneyland was a trek so I resigned myself to a day in LA - Great I thought I still get to go to El Capitan.....
Then 8 weeks (ish) before the trip I got an email.... 'We are very sorry for any inconvenience but we need to change your hotel in LA to the Majestic Garden ANAHEIM' (Cue a lap of honour or 6 around the flat squealing all the way!) I then needed to break the news to my Mum - she is one of those people who does not do Disney (I suppose they need to exist somewhere). Thankfully she does love a good ride, and she loves Indiana Jones. AWESOME 
that means free day is Disney Day! There was only 1 small condition...... No meet and greets.
The plans were set - after a bit of good old planning (and thanks for the advice 
)
Fly in to LA - Transfer to Hotel - Get free bus to Downtown Disney - Explore and Eat at Ralph Brennans, Get Birthday Badge
Disney Day (we needed to pop back to the hotel in the afternoon to meet our tour guide and sort final arrangements to start our tour) I also messaged some friends that my son and I met on our Disney Cruise last year. I was delighted when then they all arranged to meet up for the evening!
(Go on tour for 2 weeks ish)
LA day before going home - Visit El Capitan and the Soda fountain , as it was my birthday that day I asked for Birthday money so I could buy PINS!
Finally I was here ! In Anaheim ! Ready to GO! The only issue was that by Dinner time we had been awake for 24 hours!
I was also trying to convince Mum that Selfies can be fun..
Ralph's was amazing, I had the Shrimp and Grits. But we were both so tired that the thought of desserts made us feel ill 
We also managed a quick trip around World of Disney to buy DS and I some bits (including pins)
Onto the day itself! I was so excited !!! I was up and alive nice and early. The Majestic is a great hotel to visit Disney, the free bus runs often and is really close to the park. I would gladly stay here when I go back.
As usual I got a little emotional as I walked in but all was good... As we came through the tunnel we spotted Goofy coming out for a meet and greet (remember my 1 condition) well I must have resembled a toddler needing to pee because Mum turns to me and says 'Do you want to go and say Hi?' - Goofy with no Queue?? Hell YA!
We then headed to the Indy Ride - How Cool is that ride! Mum enjoyed it and we did a bit of singing.
After that was Jungle Cruise - The BACKSIDE of WATER! Gets me every time!
We also rode Winnie the Pooh and Splash (Mum loves a flume ride). Pirates was down but Haunted Mansion was open. So far everything had been pretty much a walk on (<5-10 mins)
I took Mum to small World - Bless - lets just say it was not for her... In fact she was about ready to be committed by the end of the ride and was complaining that her ears were bleeding! HAHAHA I love this ride so much!
We then walked all the way around the Matterhorn to find the end of the queue... Oh god the queue was ENORMOUS! But amazingly it took us longer to join the queue that to get to the front of it 
We then took our break to head back to the hotel - which was so close we were gone a grand total of an hour!
When we got back our luck for ride wait times had run out - an hour for Space Mountain grrr. I was a shame as it was a very boring, very hot queue and I think it made for not such a great experience for Mum as I am sure it would have been her favourite ride (She voted Matterhorn as ride of the day)
It was then time to meet the Cruise gang 
We sat in the Plaza for a few hours chatting and catching up. Mum had the cob salad and I had the Fried Chicken (mmmmmmmm)
Before long it was time for them to leave and time for us to pitch a spot for the parade. Some lovely people moved aside and let Mum sit on the kerb and I was in a great spot behind a stroller so it was as good as the kerb
Paint the night was awesome - and seemed long compared to other parades. I loved it, and Mum enjoyed it too. Then the fireworks! OMG!!! I know this may be a bit controversial but I think they are better than both Dreams at DLP and Wishes at WDW. I loved the way that I felt included as I was stood on Main Street. (I am also pleased that I had no ipads or Children on shoulders in front of me)
After a long day it was time to say goodbye to Disneyland.... I WILL be back!
Two Weeks later - on the walk of fame - I got to go to El Capitan and the Soda Fountain, I also found Walt's Star. Again a place I need to revisit.
