Tomorrowland

Welcome to Tomorrowland. It was a futuristic place where even Goofy gets a chance of being shot into space. Awesome. Having deigned all Disney-provided transport in favour of legging it around the park, we did not go on the Monorail or the Disneyland Railroad which goes all the way around the park to get there. When you are entering Tomorrowland you are confronted by a huge rotating sculpture of the rotating planets and stars in bronze, which was pretty impressive.

Now you might be disappointed in me, but we didn't go on "Rockin' Space Mountain". The lineup for some of the rides was so big and the express pass opportunities had closed by the time we got there that we decided our time was better spent seeing more than waiting.

Which gave me the perfect opportunity for some driver's education. In North America they drive on the other side of the road with left side controls. I have finally become used to being a pedestrian sufficiently to cross the road without looking so many ways that I look like a Mama Mia filmclip. However, driving is another matter.

I am proud to announce that I now have my very own Disneyland driver's licence, for ages 5 and up. You need to be 132 cm tall to drive the cars in Autopia, a futuristic car race around a circuit and I did pretty well, a few near misses but no serious scrapes.

The highlight of Tomorrowland for me was the Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters Ride based on Toy Story. You get into a capsule that can be rotated almost 360 degrees using a joystick and the ride takes you to a giant Buzz Lightyear, who presents you with his mission, to help him defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg.

Bec and I looked at each other and in the same moment dumped our Coca Colas. Oh yes. We were ready to become Space Rangers.

Each capsule has a two rayguns and as the ride moves on, your objective is to zap as many targets as possible, including Zurg. Your capsule lights up with your point score. One of the best bits was being allowed to shoot those little three-eyed Aliens, y'know, "Yooou have saved us, weee are eternally grateful." Zap ! Down they went. Bec beat me hands down on points, and at the end when we got our scores I was designated only a "Space Cadet" and she was a "Super Star Space Ranger" or something similar. My story (and I'm sticking to it) is that even though she was handling a ray gun in one hand and using a camera to take photos of me being silly with the other, I was the one 'piloting' our capsule.

Emperor Zurg was defeated. No doubt he will be back.