(Gabi) Today was a great day because it was a Disney day!! I know the Disney parks aren’t everybody’s cup of tea but we adore them. Just a nice bit of escapism.

Disneyland in Anaheim is particularly exciting because it’s the only park Walt Disney himself got to plan, walk and open. He died before Walt Disney World was finished. Disneyland is 60 years old this year and has many charming original attractions like the Matterhorn pictured here.

The food in US Disney parks (and here in Anaheim in particular, we found) is outstanding and often really fun. Like this cute and delicious coconut macaroon in the shape of the Matterhorn. A perfect late-morning snack.

Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland is surprisingly tiny. It’s obvious that they went bigger for each subsequent park and the castle in Paris blows them all out of the water. Still, this one is very cute.

The first attraction we visited was the Enchanted Tiki Room. It opened in 1963 and is pretty much just a room full of singing animatronic birds and plants. But it is beyond charming with a very catchy soundtrack and a lot of humor.

Next we went on the Indiana Jones ride which was a lot bumpier than we had expected. We did get thrown around and screamed quite a bit but it was fun. Disneyland is incredibly accommodating when it comes to disabled guests, so as long as I was willing to transfer out of the wheelchair I could ride pretty much anything. They had slightly adapted vehicles on every single ride and I could even take my wheelchair on some of them. Very impressive and I saw a lot of wheelchair users get on and off rides.

A good portion of the park was closed off because they’re building the new Star Wars land extension. A bit of a shame but I can’t wait to come back in 2018 to see what that land will look like.

Up next was the Haunted Mansion, a real must do for me! I love horror movies and anything scary and this is one of the most incredible haunted house rides out there. I really enjoyed this version because it’s set in the New Orleans part of the park and New Orleans and ghosts are a match made in heaven,

Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters is one of those rides where you get to shoot targets with a laser gun while driving by in a buggy. I always suck at rides like that but Thomie was blasting away like a madman.

Next we decided that I needed this BB-8 hat. I felt like a tit wearing it for the first hour or so. But this is Disneyland, where everyone wears silly hats with mouse ears. I got a lot of compliments for my droid mouse ears.

The Star Wars merchandise was out of this world and truly original. Disney really knows to turn a franchise into money. I’m not complaining if their efforts result in pieces like this cute Vader dress.

Or an Ewok hoodie.

Still feeling a bit silly.

To continue the Star Wars theme, they had a lot of props from all the movies on display.

Adorable theming.

Thomie had fallen in love with this insane churro funnel cake (essentially swirls of churro drenched in cinnamon, sugar and caramel sauce). May I point out the adorable whipped cream Mickey?

Mickey and Minnie Mouse apples, because why not?

Thomie went off to ride Pirate’s of the Caribbean, one of his absolute favorites. The boats are below floor level, so too tricky for me to get in and out of.

Last but not least we enjoyed the spectacular evening parade. I’ve never seen so many LEDs in my life and the floats were really ingenious. They also wowed us with a massive fireworks display. My favorite moment was when they played ‘Let it Go’ from Frozen and as the fireworks continued it suddenly started to snow! Fake snow of course but what a way to set the mood.

Our late night dinner consisted of this naughty little mac and cheese hot dog. Because when can you eat stuff like that if not in a theme park?