We recently took (yes, another) trip down to the happiest place on Earth.
We'd spent most of the previous weekend and week packing, so going into Thursday night, we felt very prepared. Yet somehow it was still a very late night. The flight down on Friday morning was uneventful...and it was the first time that E brought and pulled his own suitcase. It was just about worth the trip seeing him stroll through the terminal checking back every few seconds at his Mickey Mouse roller -- that and all the grins from the other airport patrons.
In Orange County, E came with me to get the rental car (which he still refers to as a 'vacation car') and he picked out the color (black with leather interior...he thought it was 'fancy'). We drove to the hotel which was a step down from the Grand Californian, although I pointed out to Lisa that the conditioning shampoo is much more efficient than having to use each separately. It also had the bathtub with a pre-installed no-slip mat which E thought was considerate. And it was literally behind the Carsland Racers...as in, directly on the backside of the pretend mountain. We were planning to spend much of our time there anyway. Honestly, it was decent and clean, if not nice. And we had an adjoining room with Oma, Opa, and Uncle Brian.
On the quick 20 minute walk to the park, we grabbed a quick Mexican lunch before heading into Disneyland. We rode the rockets first and then the Astro Blasters. J and I strolled while she napped and E hit up his favorites with Mommy: Autotopia and the Monorail. Later, we watched the parade, though we've seen this one a few times, and Oma/Opa/Bri arrived in time for the end.
Next up was Small World which both kids loved, E sang and J clapped. As we walked out, we lightly made fun of the groups lining up for the new PAINT THE NIGHT parade 2+ hours early. Then we found an awesome bench right at the circle in Main Street and we snagged it. For the next couple hours we went and grabbed food, rode rides (Lisa and I got a 'mini- date' on Star Tours), while somebody sat on the bench watching the napping kids. yep, we became those people. And you know what? It was totally worth it -- ok, I did't have to do much waiting myself, but I supported the cause. I'm glad we did -- it was a fantastic parade and we easily walked to the center of Main Street to watch the even more fantastic fireworks. They gave me chills. It is something I will wrap my heart around forever: holding my three-year-old son on Disneyland's Main Street watching the best fireworks show I've seen. E didn't say a thing and stared wide-eyed. The awe was palpable. And the feeling entirely echoed my own. That moment made the late nights of packing and getting ready, and all the cost, worth it.
Back at the hotel, J fell asleep pretty easily. E on the other hand, having had a 6-8pm nap, plus the fact that we were at Disneyland, had a very, very hard time falling asleep (and thus, so did the rest of us). By 11:30pm (?) we all finally crashed. Hard.
Didn't matter what the beds felt like or how many fibers the sheets possessed. I didn't feel a thing.
We'd spent most of the previous weekend and week packing, so going into Thursday night, we felt very prepared. Yet somehow it was still a very late night. The flight down on Friday morning was uneventful...and it was the first time that E brought and pulled his own suitcase. It was just about worth the trip seeing him stroll through the terminal checking back every few seconds at his Mickey Mouse roller -- that and all the grins from the other airport patrons.
In Orange County, E came with me to get the rental car (which he still refers to as a 'vacation car') and he picked out the color (black with leather interior...he thought it was 'fancy'). We drove to the hotel which was a step down from the Grand Californian, although I pointed out to Lisa that the conditioning shampoo is much more efficient than having to use each separately. It also had the bathtub with a pre-installed no-slip mat which E thought was considerate. And it was literally behind the Carsland Racers...as in, directly on the backside of the pretend mountain. We were planning to spend much of our time there anyway. Honestly, it was decent and clean, if not nice. And we had an adjoining room with Oma, Opa, and Uncle Brian.
On the quick 20 minute walk to the park, we grabbed a quick Mexican lunch before heading into Disneyland. We rode the rockets first and then the Astro Blasters. J and I strolled while she napped and E hit up his favorites with Mommy: Autotopia and the Monorail. Later, we watched the parade, though we've seen this one a few times, and Oma/Opa/Bri arrived in time for the end.
Next up was Small World which both kids loved, E sang and J clapped. As we walked out, we lightly made fun of the groups lining up for the new PAINT THE NIGHT parade 2+ hours early. Then we found an awesome bench right at the circle in Main Street and we snagged it. For the next couple hours we went and grabbed food, rode rides (Lisa and I got a 'mini- date' on Star Tours), while somebody sat on the bench watching the napping kids. yep, we became those people. And you know what? It was totally worth it -- ok, I did't have to do much waiting myself, but I supported the cause. I'm glad we did -- it was a fantastic parade and we easily walked to the center of Main Street to watch the even more fantastic fireworks. They gave me chills. It is something I will wrap my heart around forever: holding my three-year-old son on Disneyland's Main Street watching the best fireworks show I've seen. E didn't say a thing and stared wide-eyed. The awe was palpable. And the feeling entirely echoed my own. That moment made the late nights of packing and getting ready, and all the cost, worth it.
Back at the hotel, J fell asleep pretty easily. E on the other hand, having had a 6-8pm nap, plus the fact that we were at Disneyland, had a very, very hard time falling asleep (and thus, so did the rest of us). By 11:30pm (?) we all finally crashed. Hard.
Didn't matter what the beds felt like or how many fibers the sheets possessed. I didn't feel a thing.
Saturday, we wanted to hit the parks by 8, but we were there at 9, which is good in my book. Spent the whole day in California Adventure. It was reasonably crowded, but manageable and we rode Screamin' and Tower of Terror. We saw the Disney Jr. show -- which was really cool, especially watching E boogie down. And we went to the Aladdin show -- which would've been better if we didn't haul the two kids up 19 or 20 flights of stairs in 90 degree heat. In the end, E liked the singing and dancing (except for the cave of wonders or "tiger cave").
J was just tall enough to ride the Tractors...so close that there were a couple height checks that she didn't pass, but mostly since she refused to stand straight and was whining about getting on the ride instead. The (several) times she did get in, she loved it. And E...oh man, he's still dreaming about the tractor ride. The moment the thing stopped, both wanted to go again. They also loved the Zephyrs and Little Mermaid.
Oma, Opa, and Uncle Brian snagged a nice table very early so that we could watch the Pixar Parade...this time the waiting was a little more by choice, since the table was in the wine bar. After the parade, we had a nice pasta dinner and watched the spectacular re-done WORLD OF COLOR light and water show. Both kids zonked out on the walk home, so it was much easier to drink a beer and get ready for our early morning.
J was just tall enough to ride the Tractors...so close that there were a couple height checks that she didn't pass, but mostly since she refused to stand straight and was whining about getting on the ride instead. The (several) times she did get in, she loved it. And E...oh man, he's still dreaming about the tractor ride. The moment the thing stopped, both wanted to go again. They also loved the Zephyrs and Little Mermaid.
Oma, Opa, and Uncle Brian snagged a nice table very early so that we could watch the Pixar Parade...this time the waiting was a little more by choice, since the table was in the wine bar. After the parade, we had a nice pasta dinner and watched the spectacular re-done WORLD OF COLOR light and water show. Both kids zonked out on the walk home, so it was much easier to drink a beer and get ready for our early morning.
Sunday found us at our character breakfast inside Plaza Inn. Yes, those meals are absurdly expensive...but wait before you pass judgment. We saw Minnie, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Chip, Dale, and a slew of minor characters -- translating into HOURS of time spent standing in other lines. Of all breakfasts that we've done, I like the Mickey Surf or Goofy's Kitchen, but they're all worth every hard earned dime. And, let's be serious, you don't go to Disneyland to save $$, do ya?
We rode Dumbo, Tea Cups, the Carousel, Space Mountain, and Pirates. After lunch, we headed back to the Tractors and the kids had a ball beating the heat in Bugs Land's splash garden. When we finally peeled them away it was only with promises of more Bugs Land rides. We ate burgers for dinner and then went back to the Tractors. While I ran around the park looking for the elusive Princess Anna doll that J had picked out for her a future Christmas present, the rest of the family rode Toy Story Mania and the Zephyrs. I had a hand-dipped frozen treat in honor of finally securing the frozen doll and watched the Disneyland fireworks from just inside the California Adventure gates. The kids zonked out on the walk to the hotel, which made packing for home achievable.
We rode Dumbo, Tea Cups, the Carousel, Space Mountain, and Pirates. After lunch, we headed back to the Tractors and the kids had a ball beating the heat in Bugs Land's splash garden. When we finally peeled them away it was only with promises of more Bugs Land rides. We ate burgers for dinner and then went back to the Tractors. While I ran around the park looking for the elusive Princess Anna doll that J had picked out for her a future Christmas present, the rest of the family rode Toy Story Mania and the Zephyrs. I had a hand-dipped frozen treat in honor of finally securing the frozen doll and watched the Disneyland fireworks from just inside the California Adventure gates. The kids zonked out on the walk to the hotel, which made packing for home achievable.
Monday, we aimed to have the cars packed by 8 and be walking to the parks for our last day. Luckily, I goofed and the park opened at 9...which is exactly when we hit the gates. After a quick pic at the iconic / mandatory train station (this time with the 60th anniversary flair), we raced to the refurbished Peter Pan -- thinking we'd beat the system and get on the normally hour+ line. Ha! Everyone had the exact same plan and the line was, yes, an hour long.
We aborted and took the Storybook boats, Alice in Wonderland, Jungle Cruise and the Tiki room in the time we would've been in that Peter Pan line. While some of us ate, some of us rode the Casey Jr. Train. Moments before Oma/Opa/Bri had to leave for their long drive, Lisa, Opa, and I rode Big Thunder Mountain. We parted ways, but not too sadly, since we'd see them in Santa Clara soon (they hauled all of our bags :).
Our last ride was -- you guessed it: the Tractors.
E and I spent the whole 20 minute walk back to the car saying as many goodbyes as we could, as in, "Goodbye Mickey!" "See ya next time, Tractors." "Adios, Toy Story buses." As exhausted as we all were, we managed to drive to the airport, get the rental car dropped off, hustle through security, eat dinner and get on the plane without too many or too severe toddler or parent tantrums. Aunt Jenny picked us up and told us how perfect the dogs were while we were gone (no broken toes this time...yeah!).
We aborted and took the Storybook boats, Alice in Wonderland, Jungle Cruise and the Tiki room in the time we would've been in that Peter Pan line. While some of us ate, some of us rode the Casey Jr. Train. Moments before Oma/Opa/Bri had to leave for their long drive, Lisa, Opa, and I rode Big Thunder Mountain. We parted ways, but not too sadly, since we'd see them in Santa Clara soon (they hauled all of our bags :).
Our last ride was -- you guessed it: the Tractors.
E and I spent the whole 20 minute walk back to the car saying as many goodbyes as we could, as in, "Goodbye Mickey!" "See ya next time, Tractors." "Adios, Toy Story buses." As exhausted as we all were, we managed to drive to the airport, get the rental car dropped off, hustle through security, eat dinner and get on the plane without too many or too severe toddler or parent tantrums. Aunt Jenny picked us up and told us how perfect the dogs were while we were gone (no broken toes this time...yeah!).
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