What Happens When Disneyland is Closed

For six years or so, it was a post-Christmas tradition of ours to go to Disneyland the week after Christmas. For a few different reasons, we didn't get down there the last two years, but this year, we were able to get back.

As we got off the 5 after a 2 1/2 hour drive to Anaheim -- a drive that should take just a little over an hour -- we were greeted by highway signs saying Disneyland was closed. Neat.

Even so, we tried to get tickets... which was hugely unsuccessful. "You can buy a ticket to California Adventure if you'd like," said the ticket attendant. But no, that's not what we came down for. 

Instead, we went to the movie theater at Downtown Disney and saw a showing of the latest "Chronicles of Narnia" feature -- which was really good -- C.S. Lewis is an amazing storyteller.

And still after we got out of the movie, Disneyland wasn't letting anybody in the park.

We spent the night about a mile away from the Park and woke up to pouring rain. We made the decision the night before that if it was raining, we'd just embrace it instead of getting pissy and fighting it.

So we got up, had some breakfast, grabbed our umbrellas and headed to the park, we we quickly bought our tickets before there was any chance of the park closing again.

Once in the park, we made our way to the first shop and picked up two ponchos... which ended up costing a good $15. But it was worth it -- it made the umbrella less of a must-have for the day. 

Between 8:30 and 9:00 we actually went on three rides -- Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain (we figured we were wet already, so we might as well) -- something we never would have though could happen on a normal day. But the park was pretty light on traffic, and we were able to make our way quickly through the park.

By 11:30ish, we ducked in to a dry building for some lunch, and by the time we were done, the sun was starting to peak through the clouds -- where it stayed the rest of the day.

The rest of the day was a bit busier with the sun out. But we still enjoyed an early parade and a few Rose Bowl Parade marching bands -- including the University of Wisconsin marching band, who really seems to enjoy the Chicken Dance.

Overall, it was one of our more memorable trips -- a good story anyway. 

But, as I write this, I'm in bed, with a fever, sick, with chills, watching it try to snow in Valencia. So... maybe walking around in the rain with wet feet for hours probably wasn't the best of ideas...