There's more to Anaheim than Disneyland

Alyce walks through a palm tree forest on the way to the local Peet's Coffee shop.

There is more to Anaheim than Disneyland.  After the Tinkerbell 10K and a rest, we headed out to Anaheim Hills to see some big oaks and cacti at the Oaks Canyon Nature Walk.  On a mission to find the oldest oak in the park, we took a leisurely walk along the ridge of the canyon and circled some massive cactus.  My sisters Alyce and Cindy were duly impressed.

Cindy takes in Oaks Canyon Nature Park

Not only were the cactus in bloom, some were shaped like hearts.  And most were huge.

Heart-shaped cactus

Alyce and Cindy are overwhelmed with the size of this cactus.

Tinkerbell 10K at Disneyland

Cindy half heartedly does the Instagram thing at the Tinkerbell expo.
Yes, a whole exhibit hall for Tinkerbell runners! 

There is no such thing as Disneyland without crowds. But if you run the Tinkerbell 5K, 10K or half marathon, you get to view the parks with just a few thousand other runners.  My sister Cindy participated in the 10K this year, the fifth annual. To get started, she had to pick up her runner's bib in a cavernous parking garage beneath Disneyland Hotel, then go to the cavernous exhibit hall to pick up her t-shirt.  Yep, that's right.  An entire exhibit hall was devoted to the Tinkerbell run, chock-a-block with vendors and "official merchandise."  The Tinkerbell races are not just a chance to get some exercise in the predawn hour, they are a money making machine.  Cindy's efforts to find a visor for cheap were fruitless, though we did find visors with sequins, tiaras, and Minnie Mouse ears.

The Tinkerbell 10K runs through the streets of Anaheim,
then Disneyland and California Adventure, before finishing at Disneyland Hotel.

The course starts near Disneyland Hotel at the uncivilized hour of 5:30 a.m.  It ends about 7:30 a.m., just before early birds start infiltrating Disney parks.  Being the supportive sisters that we are, Alyce and I woke up bleary eyed at 4:15 a.m. and dropped Cindy off as close to the starting line as we could. We then wandered nearby Disney Town in search of coffee and a view of the starting line. The races are a big deal because many local businesses opened at 4 a.m. for the event.  You will be pleased to note Alyce and I got some excellent Peet's coffee and three large Wetzel Pretzels while we wandered to an overpass that let us view thousands of runners clumped up at the start line, in the dusky minutes before dawn.  Cindy started in the third set (Corral C, which the announcer told us stood for "courageous" and "crafty costumes" and "coast-to-coast" and " 'c' you at the finish line").

Cindy post race with medal. Note cute tutu.

The first runner rocketed in 35 minutes later, while it was still dark.  Cindy was all finished by 6:45 (or was it sooner?).  A very quick finish indeed! Cindy had been training diligently for this race and it showed. Cindy joined us in the spectator section after her finish, as Alyce and I continued to cheer on the rest of the runners.  Costumes are big at Tinkerbell, and many racers stopped for photo ops with Disney characters along the way.  All were trying to finish before the race closed.  (Stragglers were to be picked up by the "Pinochio truck".)  As for Cindy, she wants to run the course again next year.  No sweat!
 


*There is no such thing as Disneyland or California Adventure without crowds unless you work the night shift cleaning up the parks!

Disneyland 2016 - The rain on our parade

Sisters Cindy (l) and Alyce (r) wait the rain out

Sometimes even in the happiest place on earth, a little rain must fall.  I was visiting Disneyland with my sisters on May 6th, and the predicted rain materialized as we waited in line for Peter Pan's Flight over London.  We joked that it was just like home (Seattle, that is), and that is was just like London (like in Peter Pan). No one seemed too upset.  We were in Fantasyland after all.

After Fantasyland, things cleared up and all those hastily purchased rain ponchos were folded up and stowed.  We ventured on to headliner rides, trying to avoid lines.  But sometimes there are lines to avoid lines.  I'm talking FastPass distribution lines here, for my Disneyland aficianados.  But we were good sheep (or "sheepels" as my sister Alyce says) and stood in line like the good Disneyland citizens we were.

We also stopped at Disneyland City Hall so Alyce could get a map of the penny token machines.  We got that map, but Alyce also got a birthday pin.  It wasn't her birthday, but never mind.  All through the park, everyone was wishing her a happy birthday.  You gotta love that.

At Disneyland, you have to keep your eyes out for princesses AND outlaws.  

Many rides were closed for refurbishment and to make way for construction of a new Star Wars land. We got a taste of Star Wars on "Hyperspace Mountain." Not to be a buzzkill, but I preferred the old Space Mountain.  But we agreed Space Tours still has that Star Wars magic. Jungle Cruise had just reopened, and the old comedy routine felt new again.  Our river tour guide was hysterical.  Just what we needed after a long wait to ride Haunted Mansion.

L-R: Alyce, Betsy and Cindy in front of Small World

We also included an oldie on our tour.  It's a Small World boat ride takes you through the 1960s version of inclusiveness, with several rooms devoted to major European nations (Bosnia and Leichenstein didn't make the cut), and a half room devoted to Africa.  The U.S. is represented by cornstalks, farmers and cowboys.  There was an interesting interlude devoted to Ariel, the mermaid.  I guess that was to include all people on earth, even those with fish tails. This ride continues to look like a backyard fair project, but the nostalgia count is so high that it apparently cannot be altered, at least not too much.  

Disneyland is always celebrating.  This year it's the 60th anniversary of the park.  

We finished our day with the classic Tiki Room, enjoying a Dole Whip frozen custard cup while watching animatronic parrots sing.  We couldn't stay late for the Paint the Town parade, because we had to get some sleep for the Tinkerbell 10K, scheduled for the crack of dawn May 7th.  But that's another post.