August 14, 2026
There are a couple of advantages to staying at a Disney property. One, which we never actually used this trip, is early entry to the parks. The other is hotel specific character interactions. In the past, when we stayed at the Santa Fe, we often saw Pluto against a Route 66 background. Here, the background was wilderness and that first morning, our character was Donald Duck.
We’d discovered earlier in the trip that the autograph book Monki had bought specifically for this trip had been left at home. Therefore, while Rasa waited in line, Monki and I went into the nearby giftshop to find a new autograph book and a special pen for signings. We made it back in time for Monki to get her first autograph and some great pictures with Donald. We also started our Photopass. Doing research, we’d been told to get a temporary Photopass card and at the end, if there were enough photos to make it worthwhile, then upgrade. So that’s what we did.
It seems like I haven’t written anything here in a while. Part of me wants to say that’s because not much has been happening, that we’ve been trapped in the house due to the pandemic and life has just sort of…stopped. But that’s not true. Not in any sense, really. 
Friday morning we again made it to Disneyland and were all about meeting characters. Our first stop, just inside the gates, was Daisy Duck. Since it was early in the morning, Monki was asleep by the time we made it to the front of the line, but we’ll tell her she had a great time and all will be right in her world. 
Well… since yesterday was Monki’s birthday, it only follows that today was mine. The big 5-0. Half a century. Not a bad life so far.
Finally it was here! One year since our little Monki joined us. It was her birthday and she… well, she couldn’t care less. Pretty sure she had no idea but that didn’t stop us from getting ready to celebrate it. 
Getting the Hang of Thursdays 