The Happiest Place on Earth

So, finally, after Jemima waiting patiently for nearly three months, the day was finally here: we were off to Disneyland! After an early start we arrived at The Happiest Place on Earth - and it was already heaving. Queues for the tickets, queues for security, queues to get through the gates - Jemima was fractious, "I don't like waiting!" - oh, dear, this did not bode well...

But when we finally got into the park and saw actual Mickey Mouse, the mood changed - we were here! We rendezvoused with Matthew, Elizabeth, Marie-Claire, Ava and Luke in the main square, and then the fun began.

It was brilliant. Not only because it was Disneyland, but because we got to spend a fantastic day with our American family - and as they are Disneyland regulars, Kevin and I turned our brains off, threw the map away, and just followed as were led - to the shortest queue, the most efficient route, the best rides for Jemima. 

We did a flying Peter Pan, a loud Wind in the Willows, a psychedelic Winnie the Pooh, an enormous carousel and the thankfully not-too-scary Haunted House; then the grown-ups has a go on Indiana Jones (brilliant). And after a jolly lunch (Jemima was taught Rock-Paper-Scissors by Luke and Ava, and joined in with, "one, two, three, shoot!" in an American accent), off to the amazing Pirates of the Caribbean (a float through detailed animatronic pirate scenes, my favourite), the Finding Nemo submarine, and, of course, "It's a Small World", the Disneyland classic, whose soundtrack creates an everlasting ear worm (the only "cast members", ie staff, who looked less than happy were the ones at this ride, and I don't blame them for being miserable - they deserve danger money for putting up with that tune all day).

Then at 7.30pm, having been at the park since 9am - Jemima miraculously still cheerful and energetic - we did our biggest ride of the day, Big Thunder Mountain, aka the runaway mine train. Jemima made it over the height requirement by a squeak, so we used the fast passes we'd collected earlier (thanks to our leaders), bypassed the hour long queue, and filed on, Jemima sandwiched between Kevin and I. I have to admit I was nervous - was this where, after a great day, it was all going to go horribly wrong and she'd end up terrified...? It turned out, no. Not only did she enjoy the speed and turns, she even got brave enough to put her hands in the air like her big cousins towards the end. Amazing.

It's fair to say that Kevin is not a fan of a theme park; and it was very busy; but I loved the Happiest Place on Earth, Jemima was in heaven, and we all had such fun with family Siddall. We said fond goodbyes after Big Thunder Mountain, and some obligatory souvenir purchases, and went to find dinner in the Main Street just outside the park.

We found a decent Italian (seafood pasta for Kevin, aubergine and mozzarella for me), and Jemima lasted long enough to be made a balloon Cinderella doll (impressive) and eat half her chicken before her excitement-generated adrenalin ran out. We left sharpish, called an Uber, and she was asleep before we'd left the car park. We were all knackered, but what an amazing day. Thank you Team Siddall!