  I live a mere 34 miles from the urlLink Magic Kingdom . nbsp; I have never visited Disneyland ( nor its sister site urlLink Disney World )  as a child,  adolescent,  young adult,  or ever,
 until now.  My dearest friend Jill,  her family,  and her brother- n- law's family were visiting for the day,  and given that I haven't seen her or her family in a year's time ( they live in Rochester,  NY)  and given that I have never been to one of the " magic kingdoms"  I decided to join them for the day.  &
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 I'm back home from spending about&
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5 1/ 2 hours there.  &
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 I'm urlLink numb .  &
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 Temperatures were at least 80 degrees under a boiling,  bright&
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 southern- CA summer sun;
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hundreds of adults with even more&
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children running around under foot;
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waiting in long,  circuitous lines that took&
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four times as long to wade through than&
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the actual ride took to entertain the guests;  happy,  shiny " helpers"
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periodically checking&
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to make sure that " everything's OK"  faux hillbilly bands&
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playing Disney- related music&
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while sitting in a faux saloon&
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eating cheeseburgers;
 some of the adults acting&
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more childish than the kids.  For the love of God,  what were&
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we thinking?
 &
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 No wonder there are European countries that have resisted or rebuked the invasion of the Mouse on their valiant shores!
 &
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 Actually,  despite and including all of the above&
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I&
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had a very nice & amp;  fun time ( yes,  I know,  urlLink Teresa ,  you were right again)
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It was great to&
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visit with&
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Jill and her family and friends.  And the kids were real troopers despite the heat,  the lines,  and the little disappointments that can easily mare a day like&
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today.
 &
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 Favorite ride of the day:  urlLink Indiana Jones Adventure .
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Plus,  I was entirely impressed with&
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the staff&
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getting&
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hundreds of cars&
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efficiently parked in neat little rows.  I parked in urlLink Goofy ,  section H,  row 7.
 &
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 And&
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all for a mere for $ 49. 75!  Trauma has never been so cheap!
