Day two began with another beautiful, all you can eat, American style, buffet breakfast. Yum! We were organized, up early and ready at the gate when the park opened. The girls and I had spent ages last night pouring over a map of the park deciding, in advance, exactly where we wanted to go and what we were planning to do because we are hoping to save tomorrow to visit the California Adventure Park next door.We began at Fantasyland. The girls were determined to meet some princesses and try Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
Alas, the Toad Ride was closed for repairs and there were no princesses to be found but we did get an intimate tour of Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
We also saw Snow White's house and joined her for a "scary" adventure.
While we were in the area we went on Peter Pan's Flight (that was awesome- flying in a boat through the air) and Pinocchio's Daring Journey (less awesome, but still fun.)
As Fantasyland began to fill up, the kids spotted a mammoth carousel and decided they'd like a turn on this. Can you blame them?
After a couple of rides on the Carousel it was time to visit Dumbo. You were in charge of the altitude and could make your elephant go higher or lower depending on how fast and how far you raised a little lever. Mehran and I left this attraction feeling slightly nauseated but the kids were thrilled and wanted to do it again.
We thought not, especially after Bayan spotted this:
a circus train!
Bayan chose the last compartment (which was perfect for a family of five) but he wasn't worried about that- he simply wanted something to steer.
And steer he did. We chugged past tiny manicured gardens full of sun dappled patchwork flower beds, past a river boat giving guided tours of Fantasy destinations, (guess where we are headed next?) through tunnels, over bridges
and past castles. 
To get a guided tour through storyland you must take a canal boat through the mouth of a whale and be swallowed up much like Gipetto and Pinocchio were. 
It is, most assuredly, a little intimidating -especially if you are under eight.
But you are truly rewarded when you make it to the other side with snippets of stories and legends of true loves and beautiful sights like: towering castles on hilltops,
sleepy little towns and hamlets tucked away from the world on the banks of shimmering rivers,
unassuming villages where tales of heroes and magic and folklore are born, 
hamlets boasting: historic churches and quaint cottages where honor, courage and determination conquer all,
rustic mills and rowboats moored in shadowy bends in a creek,
all nestled in a valley overshadowed by snow capped mountain peaks.
Rounding a corner we were greeted by the enchanted palace of Agraba with it's dazzling golden domes,
and miniature, Middle Eastern, bazaar.
The story telling tour ended after the sea side palace of Ariel's dreams.
where Prince Eric's sailing ship is docked and where many adventures were had and many more stories took place.
Our next stop was the Mad Hatter's tea party. At last this was one ride that we could all go on together. Normally Mehran, Anisa and the backpack went in one vessel, while Ruhi, Bayan and I travelled in another. This time we all smushed into a single tea cup for a wonderful, twirling, time.
Dizzy and nauseated, we made our way through Frontierland and Critter Country and headed back to Adventureland where we had begun our journey the day before. Instead of Tarzan's Tree house we were off to experience a Jungle Safari.
Our next stop was the Mad Hatter's tea party. At last this was one ride that we could all go on together. Normally Mehran, Anisa and the backpack went in one vessel, while Ruhi, Bayan and I travelled in another. This time we all smushed into a single tea cup for a wonderful, twirling, time.
Dizzy and nauseated, we made our way through Frontierland and Critter Country and headed back to Adventureland where we had begun our journey the day before. Instead of Tarzan's Tree house we were off to experience a Jungle Safari. We saw herds of elephants bathing at the water's edge, 
baby elephants splashing beneath waterfalls,
(sorry about the quality of some of the photos the children insisted that they be included, no matter how fuzzy or blurry)
snack time in an African cave,
renegade hippos headed right for our boat and
more African animals visiting the water's edge. 
We passed under and around waterfalls and
narrowly missed an impending attack from a head hunting tribe...Yikes!
We ate dinner (overpriced pizza) in a futuristic space station,
experienced the Astro- Orbitor, took a star tour and met Buzz Lightyear.
baby elephants splashing beneath waterfalls, (sorry about the quality of some of the photos the children insisted that they be included, no matter how fuzzy or blurry)
snack time in an African cave,
renegade hippos headed right for our boat and
more African animals visiting the water's edge. 
We passed under and around waterfalls and narrowly missed an impending attack from a head hunting tribe...Yikes!We ate dinner (overpriced pizza) in a futuristic space station,
experienced the Astro- Orbitor, took a star tour and met Buzz Lightyear. We stayed long enough to watch the castles light up the evening sky
and headed back down Main Street, enjoying the lights and the sights and the sounds. Bayan dozed in the stroller, Anisa enjoyed a piggy back and Ruhi patiently walked along side even though she was just as tired as the rest of us. It had been a brilliant day, except for Mehran's aching shoulders (courtesy of the carry-on fiasco) and we're all pretty happy that we'll get to do it all again tomorrow.
and headed back down Main Street, enjoying the lights and the sights and the sounds. Bayan dozed in the stroller, Anisa enjoyed a piggy back and Ruhi patiently walked along side even though she was just as tired as the rest of us. It had been a brilliant day, except for Mehran's aching shoulders (courtesy of the carry-on fiasco) and we're all pretty happy that we'll get to do it all again tomorrow. 
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