Susan's 2016 Reading Blog: The Happiest Place on Earth Quarterly Challenge

The Happiest Place on Earth Quarterly Challenge

September 15 through December 14, 2016

"To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."

— Walter E. Disney, July 17, 1955

Disneyland first opened in July 1955. Over the years, it has undergone many expansions and renovations, with more in the works, to become the park you can visit today and again tomorrow. As Disneyland concludes the Diamond Celebration for it's 60th Anniversary, we can only dream about what will be waiting for us in the future!

But let's be honest, while the sights and history are nice, when we go to Disneyland it's all about the rides! For this challenge, we will start at the beginning and grow like Disneyland grew. =)

Disney Beginner: Level One - Opening Day Rides (11 books)

Disney Fan: Level Two - All '50s Rides (19 books)

Disney Lover: Level Three - Add the '60s and '70s (26 books)

Extreme Disney Addict: Level Four - Add the next decade - or two, even three! (29, 33 or 36 books)

Micky Mouse Forever! - Bonus Level - Add in another park! Can be added to any level. (1 to 5 additional books)

Opening Day Rides:

1. Autopia - The original road trip ride! Read a road trip romance or a book with any mode of transport on cover.

2. Disneyland Railroad - Travel throughout Disneyland on this railroad! Read a book where travel is part of the story or one that has a long distance romance.

3. Jungle Cruise - Wild river adventure! Read a book with an outdoorsy MC or one with wildlife on the cover.

4. King Arthur Carousel - Ride a regal steed as inspired by the Knights of the Round Table! Read a historical romance or a book featuring nobility.

5. Mad Tea Party - Round and round you go, how fast - only you know! Read a silly or funny story.

6. Main Street Cinema - Enter a classic movie palace and see some early Disney animation! Read a book with an artist or star as a prominent character.

7. Mark Twain Riverboat - Cruise the Rivers of America on a steam powered paddle wheeler! Read a book set in US.

8. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Take a manic drive over the English countryside creating mayhem in your wake! Read a book with a bad boy hero or a character who has a troubled past.

9. Peter Pan's Flight - Take a flight over London with Peter Pan! Read a book set in England or a fantasy of any sort.

10. Snow White's Scary Adventures - Follow Snow White as she flees the Evil Queen! Read a book with a kind character or one where the characters find true love.

11. Storybook Land Canal Boats - Take a 'mini' boat tour of fairytale lands! Read an anthology or a book with a character who is bigger than life.

'50s:

12. Casey Jr. Circus Train - "I think I can, I think I can..." Read a book where a character has to overcome some sort of issue/struggle.

13. Dumbo the Flying Elephant - "If you believe in yourself, anything is possible!" Read a book with a character who has to believe in themselves.

14. Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island - On an island in the Rivers of America is a secret hideaway where any adventure can happen! Read a book set on an island or any tropical setting or on cover.

15. Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes - Paddle your way around Tom Sawyer's Island! Read a book with a body of water as setting or in story or one with water on the cover.

16. Alice in Wonderland - Journey down the Rabbit Hole on a Disneyland exclusive, this ride is not found in any other Disney park! Read a stand alone romance, one not in a series.

17. Sailing Ship Columbia - This ship is based on ship that discovered the Columbia River and was first American ship to circumnavigate the globe. Read a book takes place in two countries or one with something round on the cover.

18. Disneyland Monorail - The first transportation of its kind in America and styled with the popular space age look of the time! Read a futuristic romance or one with a geek/nerd character.

19. Matterhorn Bobsleds - Ride an Alpine Sled around the famous Matterhorn. Read a book set in Europe.

'60s and '70s:

'60s

20. Enchanted Tiki Room - Enjoy a musical celebration where topical birds and flowers come to life! Read a book with flowers or birds on the cover, or one with a singer as a character.

21. The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln - See Abraham Lincoln come to life! Read a book featuring a politician or any other public servant.

22. It's a Small World - You know the song, sing along! Read a book with children in the story.

23. Pirates of the Caribbean - "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Pirate's Life for Me!" Read a book set in the Caribbean, on an island or pirates, thieves or a crime in story.

24. Haunted Mansion - Ride your Doom Buggie though a mansion haunted by 999 spirits! Read a PNR or a book with a mansion on the cover.

'70s

25. Hyperspace Mountain - Fly through space fighting evil! Read a sci-fi romance or good vs evil story.

26. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - The wildest ride in the west! Read a western romance or a book set in the west.

'80s:

27. Pinocchio's Daring Journey - Will Pinocchio find his way home to Gepetto? Read a book that has redemption of a character as part of story.

28. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue - Take a ride through space with some of your favorite droids! Read a book that features technology in it.

29. Splash Mountain - Remember Br'er Rabbit? Ride a log through scenes from Songs of the South before taking a big plunge! Read a book set in the south.

'90s:

30. Astro Orbitor - Pilot your own rocket ship over Tomorrowland! Read a book with a pilot or plane in the story, or one with a planet on the cover.

31. Gadget's Go Coaster - Ride a roller coaster created by an inventive mouse! Read a book with a clever character.

32. Indiana Jones Adventure - Careen through the Temple of Forbidden Eye with Indiana Jones! Read a book that is an adventure or one where the MCs go on an adventure.

33. Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin - Follow Roger Rabbit through the wacky streets of Toontown and he tries to get a kidnapped Jessica Rabbit back! Read a Romantic Suspense.

2000s:

34. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - Visit Hundred Acre Wood with Winnie and friends! Read a book that has good friends as characters.

35. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters - Battle for the highest score as you help Buzz Lightyear defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg! Read a book with a competitive character, or one with green, blue or toys on the cover.

36. Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage - Take an underwater journey featuring characters from Finding Nemo while the seagulls perched on a buoy make their familiar call of "Mine! Mine! Mine!" Read a book about family or one with a possessive hero.

Micky Mouse Forever! - Bonus Level

Disney California Adventure: Disney added a second park to the California resort in 2001, for the bonus read a book for any or all of California Adventure 'E ticket' rides. (Up to 5 bonus books)

If you are too young to know what an 'E ticket' is, google it! California Adventure may be too new to have ever had 'E tickets', but these rides would have had them if they had been around back in the day!

1. California Screamin' - It's your classic rollercoaster - one of the smoothest I've ever ridden! Read a story that turns you upside down or leaves you feeling that way.

2. Grizzly River Run - Whitewater raft down a California river! Read a book with animals or shifters in the story or on the cover.

3. Radiator Springs Racers - Race, literally, through the deserts of Cars Land! Read a book featuring sports or an athlete.

4. Soarin' Around the World - Take an airborne flight over the wonders of the world! Read a beautiful or epic story.

5. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Travel through the Hollywood Tower Hotel where five unlucky souls disappeared on Halloween many years ago! Read a scary story or one with scary characters. Or read a book that takes place in a hotel.

**There is no minimum page requirement for this challenge. Audiobooks and rereads are allowed.**

1. A Cowboy's Claim - Marin Thomas (HAR #1591 - Apr 2016) (rodeos all over US) - Sept 28

2. Triple Threat - Jennifer LaBrecque (HB - Mar 2009) (TN/NC) - Sept 19

3. Plains of Passage - Jean Auel (Crown - Sept 1990) - Sept 15

4. Stolen Encounters with the Duchess - Julia Justiss (HH #1296 - Sept 2016) (nobility) - Sept 27

5. Something Sweeter - Candis Terry (Avon - June 2014) (fun story) - Nov 21

6. Ms. Bravo and the Boss - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2503 - Oct 2016) (writer) - Sept 26

7. Cassandra - Marie Ferrarella (Pinnacle - Aug 1998) (Virginia) - Nov 1

8. Rescuing the Cowboy - Cathy McDavid (HWR #1615 - Oct 2016) (ex-con) - Sept 22

9. What to Do With a Duke - Sally MacKenzie (Zebra - Aug 2015) (England) - Oct 26

10. Her Summer with the Marine - Susan Meier (Entangled - Aug 2014) - Nov 22

11. Western Christmas Proposals - Carla Kelly, Kelly Boyce, Carol Arens (HH #1299 - Oct 2016) (anthology) - Nov 5