D'land d'land d'land!!

Thanks to friends with free passes, I ventured to Disneyland today for the first time in years. We were only there half the day, but managed to hit all the big rides (Tower of Terror, Space Mountian, The Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountian, Pirates, Splash Mountian, Indiana Jones, I think that's it?). Space Mountian had been closed for a long time while they revamped it and they were previewing it before the grand opening. Even though we stood in line for over an hour, it was well worth it. The Matterhorn and Big Thunder also stood up well, although perhaps I was in a fast mood, since Pirates and Splash Mountian, usually my favorites, seemed a bit slow. The Tower of Terror was cool until the big drop part, which was too up-and-downy for me and anti-climactic. Strange that all the Disneyland rides are so old now. Tower of Terror was just built in California Adventure, but they've had it in Florida for over ten years. I think of Indiana Jones as a "newer" ride, but I guess it's been there over a decade as well.
Maybe it's because I'm older, or maybe it's because I've been out of the country, but I was also struck by how American Disneyland really is. Aside from the nostalgic recreation of an idealized America, complete with riverboats, open-air railroads, town halls, southern belles and shootin' galleries, which had been long-gone or on its way out the door even when the park opened 50 years ago, there is an element of the Frontier in nearly every ride in the park. Pirates and Thunder Mountian are set in idealized historical frontiers. In Splash Moutian Be'er Rabbit is venturing out from his home for supposedly greener pastures. Space Mountian imagines a thrilling exploration of the future.
All of Tomorrowland tends to invoke a shiny, safe and exciting future, but many of the other rides are about the dangers of pushing the boundries too far, resulting the narrow escapes (Splash Mountian, Indiana Jones), and sometimes complete destruction(Pirates, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride).
I suppose there's a longer, much better essay in there somewhere, but I am far too tired right now.
My sister left for New Zealand yesterday, and tomorrow I will have pictures of her visit to California before jetsetting away from LAX.