The Mansion All Decked Out

The Haunted Mansion is changed in October to be the Nightmare Before Christmas. The pictures are not in order - I currently don't have a mouse to help move things around but wanted to get these posted :) This is also one of my favorite rides in Disneyland. My most favorite is Indiana Jones in Disneyland but this is in my top 5 :)

The Tower

The Tower of Terror is one of my most favorite rides. I remember the first time I was to ride it and I was so scared because I hate things that drop. It just took once to ride it and I couldn't wait to ride it again. This was Angies first trip where she was going to ride the Tower of Terror. She was not looking forward to it as she didn't know what to expect and hating things that drop. Look at her face - she loved it too. We rode this one at least 9 times this trip :)

Video Clips During the Car Ride

The Car Ride

Kim, Dave, Angie, Emma and I took a trip to Disneyland the week before Thanksgiving. This would be Emma's first trip to the parks and our first trip in a long car ride with her. She was easily entertained. She is very busy in the car. Opening a bottle and closing a bottle, opening a bottle and closing a bottle... When that game was finished it was putting the lid on the nose game. And then hiding the lid game. She is learning to talk and seeing her pictures - I can hear her now - "Where'd it gooooo? It was amazing on long a lid would entertain her.

































At one point during the car ride I thought I would put on my headphones and watch a movie. Well - Emma got the headphones instead. Another game that kept her busy. You would think a long car ride would put her to sleep. No - it really put me to sleep. I would fall asleep and wake up to her rubbing my arm to make me up. She wanted to play and sleep was not part of the game :) She was fun to travel with.

The Architecture

I have always loved the architechure of NYC. There are so many different styles and all so eye catching.












This is the NBC Building at Rockerfeller Center. And close to the NBC Building is Radio City Music Hall.














Heading downtown towards 34th street here is Macy's with the Empire State Building in the background.















We didn't stop at Macy's. We were actually on our way to check out the new JCPenney at the Manhattan Mall.

Traveling Does Have It's Perks

We stated at the Crown Plaza in Times Square. The hotel was beautiful. I was able to stay free due to a promotion of IHG. I was given a key to the concierge room. We were able to get breakfast and snacks every day. It was a nice perk.

The Shows

The main thing I wanted to do on this trip was to see as many shows as I could. Regina came in later than me so the first night I went to see Mary Poppins at the New Amsterdam theater. I know this one was not high on Regina's list. We would go the day of the show and buy our tickets for that night for 1/2 price. Not my favorite Disney Show. That would be the Lion King. But it was still fun to see.

The next show we saw was Shrek the Musical. This one was kind of a let down for me. Out of everything we saw - this was my least favorite. I am glad we went - but don't need to see it again.

This last summer I watched So You Think You Can Dance. I loved the show. So when I saw Burn the Floor was playing across from the hotel and it starred Anya and Pacha from a previous season I know this is one that I wanted to see. It had several couples from different countries dancing. It was amazing and my most favoritie. Even through Anya ad Pacha were the stars that drew the people in - they did not carry the show. They were in limited dance number. There was a second couple from the United States that was my favorite. The girl has so much energy and was amazing.

The last show we saw was the Toxic Advenger. It was an off Broadway musical starring Diana DeGarmo from American Idol. It was a politically incorrect show that was bound to offend. It was the show that we laughed the most.

It was a great week of shows and look forward to going back to see more. Next on the list - Rock of Ages - hopefully in the spring.

New York Trip

I am having a hard tiime formating this the way I want. Words are not lining up with the pictures.

I had the opportunity to spend a week in New York back in September I stayed at the Crown Plaza right on Broadway. It was a beautiful hotel in a great and convienent location. The pictues below are taken during a quick walk around the are.

I was staying up on 48th street. I love all the billboard advertisements.

Broadway has changed a lot siince I Iwas last there. They are making it more pedestrian friendly. This was an added chair to the street. That is Regina sitting in the hand :)

One night I was walking back to the hotel from a show and saw all these people sitting in the street. They were all there to watch an Opera on the big screen in the square. It was cool to see this.

One thing I always loved about broadway was the flashing signs. The hotel I stayed at was right across the street from M%M World and on the same corner as the Hershey store.