Amusement Park Fun!

Theme Parks/Zoos

2007

2006

2005: Had the baby, didn't go to any

1998-2004 below:

Jelly Belly Factory & Six Flags Marine World Fairfield & Vallejo, CA
See the separate page here.

Cast (2003): Nobody, Just us
Plot: Amy & Manny's Day Off
Scenes: Downing exorbitant amounts of candy, having the Jelly Belly smell in our hair all day, watching all Marine World employees moving in super slow-motion, getting shot by the squirters (soakers) on the White Water rapids ride, animals smiling (or bearing teeth) right at us, butterflies fluttering all around, a comic book ride with the misnomer "Dinosphere," and of course, funnel cake.

San Diego Wild Animal Park Escondido, CA
See the separate page here.

Cast (2003): Mona, Dolly
Plot: Day-trip during Christmas vacation.
Scenes: Cute monkeys and irritated gorillas, baby animals, Amy laying eggs, Christmas caroling and lights.

Cast (2004): Manny's parents, aunt, uncle, and cousin.
Plot: Parents visiting for the weekend, just announced we were expecting.
Scenes: Big Manny and Uncle Gerard learning to steer the paddle boats, bumping into a couple friends, losing Gerard in the Pinnacles Maze, Francesca and the birds. Click here for photos from the weekend.
Cast (2002): Chris
Plot: Chris looking for something fun to do.
Scenes: Running under waterfalls, getting a little dizzy on the Garlic Twist, pedaling the duck Paddle Boats, riding Quicksilver Express multiple times, wandering through the Pinnacles rock maze, noticing all the safety deficiencies, the beautiful greenhouse (Monarch Gardens), and the cool circus trees. Manny made us all go down the slide in the playground.

Cast (2002): Cecille, Manny's sister Dahlia
Plot: Memorial Day Weekend with family and friends.
Scenes: The knights of medieval Spain battle it out while we dine with our hands. Huge feast, sarcastic humor of some cast members, horse tricks, hawk flying over our heads. Would've been better if we had kids with us.

Palace Park Irvine, CA

Cast (2000 & 2001): Our friend Rommel
Plot: We pay our annual Thanksgiving visit to Rommel.
Scenes: Arcade, 2 miniature golfing courses. No one else besides me was up for bumper boats and laser tag because of the rain, so we went to Rommel's place and watched his favorite movie, Shaolin Warriors. His mom also continuously stuffed us like turkeys.

Cast (2001): Mom & Dad Lu and Amy's brother John
Plot: A fun July 4th! Mom wants to go on the fast rides, but John is not feeling well.
Scenes: Dad enjoys the winery and bakery, and Mom likes Hollywood. We all enjoy Soarin' Over California.
Act II (2001): Chris, Mona and Jessica
Plot: Manny has it all planned and we just follow him around.
Outtakes: Amy convinces Mona to get on the gigantic Sun Wheel. First a blackout, then the Ferris wheel slams to a halt, and then we start rotating backwards. Chris videotapes us women shaking in fear while he and Manny nonchalantly discuss jumping into the lake below.
Scenes: Grizzly Rapids has an unexpected twist to it, It's Tough to be a Bug startles some, and we receive free tickets because of the blackout and our Ferris wheel fiasco. We fear a riot as the police come in to calm (and quarantine) the angry patrons.

Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
See the separate page here.

Cast (2001): Cecille (for Walt Disney World portion only)
Plot: Our first anniversary. We asked Cecille to come because it wouldn't be the same without her.
Scenes: Central Florida was Crazy Happy, Crazy Fun.

Knott's Berry Farm Buena Park, CA

Cast (1999): Just us two
Plot: Knott's Merry Farm -- Christmastime is here again!
Scenes: Snoopy on Ice, the Ferris wheel is scarier than the roller coasters, Amy plays at the petting zoo while Manny smells it from a distance, the cast-less stunt show is forgettable, and Amy gets soaked from the rapids.

Disneyland Anaheim, CA

Cast (1999): Just us
Plot: Manny plans to propose. Amy, as usual, is clueless.
Scenes: New rides and dinner at Blue Bayou. As the clock strikes midnight Valentine's Day, Manny gets down on one knee by Snow White's Wishing Well, then Amy screams, jumps and beats Manny with the camera. After that night, we never see the camera again.
Act II (2001): Our friend Cecille, Mona (Mom), cousins Jessica & Li'l Adrian, Baby Doll, Gerard and Francesca
Plot: Christmastime at Disneyland and Li'l Adrian's first amusement park visit.
Scenes: "Jingle Bells" in the redecorated It's a Small World, fake snow, Haunted Mansion becomes Nightmare Before Christmas, and all the characters are decked out in their holiday best.

Beach Boardwalk Santa Cruz, CA

Cast (1998): Aunt Baby Doll, Uncle Gerard and their daughter Francesca
Plot: Amy and Francesca become inseparable during their weekend of fun. Makes up for Mystery Spot.
Scenes: Corn dogs, funnel cake, bumper cars, the Big Dipper and little rides for Francesca.
Act II (2001): Our friend Tedd
Plot: It's the first sunny day of the year, and Tedd loves to explore when he visits.
Scenes: Dots, arcade fun, a pompous penguin that knows no fear, sea lions basking in the sun, and a father tells his young son about life as we walk by them on the pier.

Cast (1998): Friends J.P. and Chris
Plot: J.P. flies in to stay with Chris and Manny for the week.
Scenes: First amusement park outing, 007 replaces Days of Thunder, Amy enjoys Top Gun, and Manny and Chris feel the Drop Zone.
Act II (2000): Amy's cousins Frances and Gil
Plot: It's our company's Family Day.
Scenes: Goo Goo Dolls and Sinbad in Concert, Stealth breaking down, and lots of free goodies.

*Cast = who went with us, Plot = the occasion, Scenes = some highlights, Outtakes = surprises.

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