Simone at Disneyland

Yesterday we took Simone to that fabled Shangri-la for children, Disneyland. While I have my quibbles with the quality of the displays and the rides, for kids it is the sine qua non. Simone enjoyed herself, but she was having trouble dealing with the characters. See, in Simone's world, Pooh, Micky, and Goofy are only one foot tall and are soft and cuddly. The charactes at Disneyland are six feet tall and Simone is the dwarf this time.

So little Simone did not do well with the characters. But that is OK. She loved the boat ride on the riverboat. She spent the entire ride climbing up and down a staircase, and taking her shoes on and off.

Simone loved "It's a Small World" and so did her Mom. From an adult perspective, you basically enter this large warehouse sitting in a plastic bathtub outfitted with seats and get pushed along this narrow waterway. I think it is meant so simulate a sea voyage. On either side of you there are stages with 60's era animatronics and music. To an adult (me) it is hopelessly cheesy, and the animatronics look antiquated. For little Simone, however, it was like baby crack. She was completely transfixed, and her eyes opened wide. She liked it so much she asked to go on the ride again when it ended, and we indulged.

Score: Simone 100, Ecstatic Mother 99, Disney 1, Curmedgeonly father 0.