Back from Cali: Much to say but since I've hit the ugh, tarmac running, no time right now to do it. So here's some random pictures to fill in for a bit. I did keep a bit of a journal on the laptop and I'll copy some of it here later.
In a nutshell. Really glad we went. Had more highs than lows. Disneyland's 50th fireworks are almost too spectacular to be called just fireworks--just awesome-smile-on-your face beauty with a huge dose of tripping down memory lane. Saved them for our last night where we viewed them from in front of the Main Street train station.
Spouse took almost all the fireworks photos--which I must give him kudos for as taking good pictures of moving light is not easy.
I still very much love Disneyland and beachside Orange County and San Diego. Very unpleasant dealings with the people running the Disneyland Californian Resort Hotel. More details later. Suffice now that the Park Vue Hotel directly across the street from the Main entrance where we also stayed was one-fourth the price and four times better than the Disneyland Californian. Bad, bad customer service at the Californian and chintzy or extra-pricey amenities. Learnt a huge expensive lesson there.
Now for a few photos:
Buzz Lightyears's Astro Blasters~ This is a new ride and currently my favourite Disneyland ride. It's just way fun--like being inside an arcade game.
California Screamin' in California Adventure--A photo of the photo they sell for $13.
My son & me on his 14th birthday at California Adventure
And him w/ his dad...
Several photos from the 50th Anniversary show follow...

The castle looked pretty cool as it changed colours throughout the presentation. In addition to the firework there was music and audio bits from many Disney movies and attractions. Very nostalgic but technlogically the mulitmedia show/fireworks were anything but dated.
We had a nice sight line for the castle, though due to squeezing out the very last ride on the Grizzly Bear Rapids next door instead of venturing further into the park with wall-to-wall people getting spots for the show we hopped in front to the Main Street USA train station near the park entrance/exit in order to see the castle and it's pretty colours.

We did a lot of this after the show: