A Tale of Two Californias - Parks, Professionals, and a Packed Adventure

Every good trip tells a story, and my recent two-week journey to California was a tale of two very different, yet equally memorable chapters. It was an adventure that began with the pure, unadulterated magic of Disneyland and concluded with the focused, professional energy of the Esri User Conference in San Diego: a marathon of theme parks, insightful sessions, fantastic food, and classic travel quirks.

Chapter 1: Arrival at the Happiest Place on Earth

The adventure began with a prelude—a quick overnight stay near the Philly airport before a long travel day west. After a smooth flight (and spotting a cool robotic coffee maker during a layover in DFW), I finally arrived in Southern California. The 30-minute Lyft ride to the Disneyland Hotel brought the first surreal moment of the trip: looking up at a regular city intersection and seeing the Guardians of the Galaxy tower looming nearby. It’s a strange and wonderful thing to see the park so close to everyday city life.

After checking into my cozy DVC studio room, I spent the first evening exploring Downtown Disney. The entire district was decorated for the resort’s 70th anniversary, creating a festive atmosphere. The night was a whirlwind of new experiences: a much-needed massage at the Grand Californian’s Tenaya Stone Spa (where I was politely informed I was stressed and dehydrated—a sure sign a vacation was overdue), a fantastic dinner at Din Tai Fung where a chocolate and mochi dumpling stole the show, and a final nightcap at the gorgeous Hearthstone Lounge.

Chapter 2: A Disneyland Marathon

My first full day was a race to experience as many Disneyland classics as possible. It started with a ride on the wonderfully chaotic Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, a nostalgic treat you can’t find in Florida. I made a point to appreciate the unique California versions of iconic attractions—the longer, more atmospheric Pirates of the Caribbean, and the grand, southern plantation style facade of the Haunted Mansion. After a full morning of rides, I had lunch inside the Pirates attraction at the Blue Bayou, a truly unique dining experience (I’ll be doing a separte blog post about that later).

The day continued with more classics like the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and Space Mountain before I took advantage of the Monorail for a much needed afternoon rest at the hotel. I returned for an evening of more rides, a delicious Buffalo Chicken Beignet Slider for dinner, and a spectacular viewing of Fantasmic!, before capping off my day with a snack and drinks at Oga’s Cantina, and additional rides on the classics: Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean on my way out of the park. I didn’t quite make it till park close at midnight like I had hoped, but still packed a ton into the day and made the most of it.

Chapter 3: California Adventure and the Failed Escape

The next day was all about Disney California Adventure. Starting with back-to-back rides on Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission breakout, I worked my way through Radiator Springs Racers and the thrilling Incredicoaster. One of the highlights was the Golden Zephyr, a ride with a unique, oldschool vibe that feels like a piece of classic amusement park history.

The day’s most memorable moment, however, came in the afternoon. I had planned to take a break back at the hotel, but after seeing the massive security lines to get back into the park, I made a game time decision to abandon the break and stay put. To make up for my missed rest, I treated myself to a frozen hot chocolate from Ghirardelli and did some souvenir shopping, including a sweatshirt I really didn’t need, but the alternative was to wait in security, and that was way too much peopleing for me.

The evening was a blur of more rides—including the infamous swinging gondolas on the Pixar Pal-A-Round (aka the “Ferris Wheel of Death”) before settling in for the World of Color dessert party, a perfect and peaceful end to the day.

Chapter 4: A Frantic Farewell to the Parks

My final morning at the resort was a race against a 2:00 PM deadline to pick up a rental car. After checking out, I launched into a “greatest hits” tour, including one last ride on the Haunted Mansion and Mr. Toad’s. The morning’s main drama came when Rise of the Resistance broke down and we were evacuated, but the resulting Lightning Lane pass allowed me to come back and ride it successfully later. It also allowed me to see the mechanism behind the Transport ship was was SUPER cool.

After a final fantastic meal — pulled pork mac and cheese in a bread bowl — and some last minute shopping, I had to say goodbye. Of course, my departure wasn’t without a hitch; a mixup with the rental car company meant they had no record of my pickup request, kicking off the next leg of my journey with a classic travel problem. Luckily it was all resolved quickly and I was on my way down I-5.

Chapter 5: San Diego and the Conference Grind

From Anaheim, I drove down to San Diego for the annual Esri User Conference. The city greeted me with perfect weather all week: cool, overcast mornings that bloomed into warm, comfortable afternoons. The days themselves were long and intense, filled with sessions and networking. It’s a famously exhausting conference, a fact best illustrated by the sight of a fellow attendee fast asleep on a convention center bench.

But the week was full of perks. I had some incredible food, from halibut at The Fish Market to the amazing butterfish at Roy’s. The final night featured a huge party at Petco Park, which was crowded and loud but a great time, with an endless supply of food (including a strange but tasty “pressed burger,” which was like a burger in a hot pocket). After the party, I took one last walk along the harbor, passing through Seaport Village and the USS Midway, and watched a final, beautiful sunset over the bay.

Chapter 6: The Journey Home

The final day was all about the journey home. After a calm morning of packing, I headed to the San Diego airport. The travel day came with its own set of quirks: a flight with a “window seat” that had no window, and a moment of panic at baggage claim when my bag arrived with its original tag broken off - reattached, but hanging on by a thread. Finally, after a smooth drive on the PA turnpike, I walked through my own door at 1:20 a.m., exhausted but fulfilled.

This trip was the best of both worlds. It was the freedom and pure fun of exploring a magical place on my own, followed by the focus and community of a professional conference. It was a journey that proved to be the perfect mix of personal adventure and professional purpose, and I wouldn’t have traded a single, chaotic moment of it!