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I found them in line for a contraption that Nat wanted to ride on but Charlotte was too small for. I don't recall what it's called, but it's a rope-and-pulley with handles you can hang from as you careen from one end to the other. Once I arrived Andie took Charlotte to a more small kid friendly area while I watched Nat ride this thing twice. She loved it and it looked like fun, though a little too similar to a playground apparatus that Nat broke her arm on a few years back. Anyway, RCCT is very likely the coolest kid play area anywhere, with an amazing array of slides (I though the "rock slide" was particularly cure), climbing apparatus, bridges, water streams, and lots of other stuff. There is even a rock-climbing wall that Nat and Andie both tried. One really cute thing in the smaller kid area was a cave where, upon entering, you hear a bear growl. We were there for over an hour and had a blast.

It was our FP time for GRR, so we went there. GRR is a water ride that is very similar to Kali River Rapids (KRR) at Disney's Animal Kingdom (AK). Both rides have been criticized by Disney park fans on the net for being too short and shy on themeing. As to their being short, well roller coasters are usually shorter and are among my favorite rides. As to themeing, well neither is in a park that uses traditional Disney themeing - inspired by Disney characters and movies, in other words - and I really didn't feel a lack of themeing in either one. Bottom line, I rode both KRR and GRR and really enjoyed them both. Would I wait 2 hours on line for either? Well, no, but that 's what FP is for!

The... uh... carousel...

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After GRR we headed up to PP. After riding the Carousel again, we headed over to another play area called SS Rustworthy (SSR), themed as a rusty old fireboat. This area has lots of water activities, which we didn't mind the kids using as it was finally getting warmer... Again, while the kids played and Andie watched, I went to get FP - this time for California Soarin' (CS). CS is easily DCA's biggest hit attraction, and it's not unusual for the FP to "sell out" early in the day (as we discovered the hard way).

We don't have railings like this at home!

Surfin' USA

One of my favorite shots ever of Charlotte

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I returned, and after the kids played on SSR for about 45 minutes we decided to head for the other side of the park. We wanted to check out "Bountiful Valley Farm" (BVF), the one section we had not yet visited. On the way over we passed by Avalon Cove (AC), a restaurant run by Wolfgang Puck that is right on the water as you enter PP. We decided to make Priority Seating (PS) reservations for lunch.

We continued on to BVF where we were confronted with yet another play area, this one themed with agricultural equipment. It's really got some pretty neat stuff. BFV, once again, has been the target of much wrath on the net. There is speculation that it will be the first to go when room is needed for future expansion. If this is true, and it wouldn't surprise me if it is, It would be a shame in a way. BVF is a quite area, and I think every theme park need quiet areas - places where you can go and be pretty sure you will not meet a lot of crowds. Still, there isn't a whole lot there, except the It's Tough To Be a Bug attraction (which we skipped having seen it at AK), although we found it to be a pleasant respite.

As you can imagine, with the agricultural themeing, that the BVF play area is another opportunity for kids to get wet. I admonished Nat and Charlotte to not get too wet, although it was warmer it still wasn't "hot", but Nat didn't listen. She got soaked. Well, I told her that she had no one but herself to blame if she got cold.

We then headed to the Monterey area. This is a very small section - only one block really - but it exemplifies, for me at least, the mastery that Disney displays at designing theme parks in such a way that all the sub-components come together to create a cohesive whole. Each surrounding area - BVF to one side, PP to the other with Grizzly peak in the background - seems to blend very well into the Monterey area, when each might look disjointed if you went straight from one to another. While there we went to the Mission Tortilla Factory - another much maligned "attraction". It's just a tortilla factory. But you know what? It was kind of interesting (for the 2 minutes or so it takes), it smelled wonderful and the fresh tortillas were delicious.

Well, the tortillas were just an appetizer and it was time for lunch at Avalon Cove (AC). AC is run located right on the water across from PP, and is decorated in a whimsical seaside motif. We requested, and received, a table right on the water. If you go back and read previous Disney park reports I have written, you'll learn that Andie and I, while often enjoying the whole dining experience, find the cuisine at Disney park restaurants to be sorely lacking. This is definitely NOT the case with AC. The food, by any standard, was absolutely fantastic. Andie had a past seafood dish, I had ravioli and the kids had plain pasta. Even the kid's plain pasta was fantastic. It's amazing how much better past is when it's made fresh by people who know what they're doing. Absolutely delicious.

I know. The picture of tension.

Enjoying the location.

So anyway, Momma, as I was saying...

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If AC has anything going for it over and above the exceptional food, it's the fantastic ambience. I don't know what it's like at night, but I'll bet it's quite lovely with the lights from PP twinkling on the water. During the day, it's simply a feast for the eyes and ears. The whole experience of sitting on the water, listening to the waves lapping on the shore whirl all the activity across the lake on PP makes for a totally immersive experience that completely transports you from the everyday. If you go to DCA, do yourself a favor and eat at AC. It's a bit pricey, but more than worth it.

After the meal we were all feeling pretty warn out, so we decided to head back to the hotel for a swim. We swam in the Redwood pool for quite a while. Actually, the kids did most of the swimming while Andie and I sat out and enjoyed the sunshine. As usual, Nat amazed me at how quickly she'll make friends with other kids and start playing with them. Shy she is not.

Nat coming down the Redwood slide.

Making new friends...

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After our swim we went back to the room. Andie and the kids took naps while I went back to DCA to take pictures for a website I work on (http://www.virtualescape.com). On my way back I made the obligatory T shirt run, buying an aqua colored DCA T with little logos from each "land" on it, as well as a long sleeve dark blue T with the DGC logo. When I got back to the room I rested up myself a bit, and before we knew it, it was time for dinner. We had wanted to try out Napa Rose, but we decided to go back to Storyteller's Cafe instead. After having another pleasant meal there, we debated between going back to DCA, heading over to DL, or walking around DD. DD one out, and we spent a very pleasant early Spring evening walking around the outdoor mall.

When we got back to the room I opened the curtains so we could all have a clear view of DCA. The kids spent our last lying together on the top bunk looking out at the lights of PP before dropping off to sleep. As usual, Andie and I went out and sat on the terrace, enjoying our last evening before heading home. All in all, it was a wonderful trip that we'll always have fond memories of.

Say good-night..

DCA at night.

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