The Polite Traveler

Fun, Fun, Fun in SoCal Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, Since I’ve visited Universal Studios Orlando several times, it was difficult not to compare the two sites.  Both have a few similar rides and activities.  Both have a Hogsmeade with a Hogwarts Castle.  And, both have a vibrant City Walk.  Nevertheless, these similarities just make the comparison unfair to USH , since this is a much smaller park that houses an active studio (movies and television).    Note : Follow CDC and park guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.   Also, during the pandemic, some amenities may not be available.  Please remember, this is only temporary. How about the rides? I rode just about all the rides in  Orlando  and enjoyed most very much.   Here, it seemed that rides were limited and lackluster in comparison.   Both parks have the Harry ...

What to Know Before You Go Revised 4/2021 As mentioned in my “Disneyland Overview” post , my husband and I visited Disneyland recently to celebrate my sister’s birthday.  Silly lady: she wanted to celebrate her sixtieth with thousands of strangers.  It all good though.  Use any excuse to revisit childhood, I always say.  Note : Follow CDC and park guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.   However, this revisit to childhood wasn’t quite the exciting time I had envision.  There were definite highs, lows, and disappointments as well.  Here, I share with you my impressions of just one of the seven lands of Disneyland: Adventureland. Note : Due to Covid, things change daily.  To stay up to date with ride closures, etc., download the official Disneyland App.  As of now, many rides are closed. Indiana Jones Adventure By far, my favorite ride in Adventureland is Indiana Jones Adventure....

Overall Impression of Disneyland as a 60 + Year-Old Revised 4/2021 Because my dear sis wanted to celebrate her 60th  b’day at Disneyland, my husband and I drove the 400+ miles from our Davis CA hamlet to Anaheim.  I must love my sis immensely to drive in the LA area.  Traffic jams are legendary, proved once again as we spent our last two hours on I-5 creeping a mere 20 miles.  Yep, two long wasted hours sitting on a smoggy—cough, cough—stretch of highway.  Nevertheless, I love my sis, so we drove and ventured into the park the next day.  Note : Follow CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public. It had been well over twenty years since my last visit , so I was anxious to revisit my favorite Disney classics.  Having visited the ultra-modern and ever-changing Universal Orlando recently, I expected Disneyland (the happiest place in the world) to have updated those classics.  If not, I hoped that the park was...

Comparison of Disney’s FastPass & Disability Access Service Revised 4/2021 Craving a break from adulthood, my husband and I visited Disneyland recently.  In addition, my baby sis wanted to celebrate her 60th in the land of make-believe and I’d never skip an opportunity to spend time with her.  Still, I was concerned about standing in long lines, which is a nagging issue due to my Multiple Sclerosis.  Luckily, Disney offers two types of passes to help guests shorten the length of time spent in those ridiculously long lines.  Note : Follow CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public. FastPass The FastPass, is available for use by all guests but isn’t available for all rides.  FastPass Distribution signs are near the entrance of attractions/rides offering passes. (These are marked on your Disneyland map.  Ask for a map as you enter the park.)  If the return time listed on the sign suits your sched...