It felt like we did walk that many miles during our three day adventure in Disneyland and California Adventure. Aunt 'Nisey set her pedometer on her new iPhone and it said we walked over 6 miles on our slowest day from late afternoon on. I'm sure we doubled that easily on each of the other two days, and the chillies were troopers with all that walking. They didn't complain about sore feet or blisters like us wimpy adults. We learned that if you do three or more days at Disney it would be ideal to take a rest day in between two of those days. We were really dragging that second day after being in the park until midnight (date night!), and didn't get to explore California Adventure as much as we would have liked. The kids were also burning the candle at both ends with staying up late each night to see the cool shows and fireworks. We got our Disney feet wet with the kids first trip there and know how to do it better the next time.
Notice how fried we all look in this picture? This was our last night and everyone had just woken up from a nap that was way too short. Disneyland in October was amazing. Since fall is my favorite season and Halloween one of our family's best loved holidays, I really enjoyed all the harvest decorations and jack-o-lanterns all over the park. The rides they converted for Halloween were well done and a fun change for us Disney veterans.
It was almost a perfect first trip. I woke up our last day there to the realization that I hadn't seen our little camera come back with us the night before. It had all of the pictures from the first two days on it. I'm trying not to beat myself up too much about it, and I was almost sure someone would turn it in being that we were in Disneyland with so many other families who would realize the sadness of a lost camera. I struck out at Lost and Found and still do not know how I lost track of that blasted camera after it ran out of batteries and I put it back in it's case. It kinda stings that I don't have a folder full of pictures from the kids first trip to the Magic Kingdom. All the rational men around me keep putting things in perspective though. "Bah, it's just a camera! You all have the memories and it's the experience that's important," my Dad said when I told him. For me the photographs are part of the experience. :(
Each kid came home with their top favorites list, and for the sake of documentation here they are;
J-bird was a trooper with trying all the big kid rides that she'd never experienced before. She went on everything Mom and Dad did except California Screamin' (her junk food-filled tummy wasn't up for the loop at that point) and the Tower of Terror (same reason and too tired). She loved Star Tours, Jedi training, Space Mountain (Ghost Galaxy during October), Sourin' over CA, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder, Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, the Grizzly water ride, and making her own light saber. She spent the longest at this light saber station working and reworking the perfect double-edged light saber. Jessie is such the Tomboy....
Sweet Toby is a chicken when it comes to rides. Apparently that comes from his Dad when he was a little guy. He's too careful and tentative at amusement parks which I find odd considering his outgoing personality is completely opposite. We tried to break him in slowly, but going on Indiana Jones (kinda intense and very bumpy/jerky) ruined any chance we had of getting him or Logan on any other bigger kid rides. Toby's favs included Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Star Tours, making his own light saber, swimming at the hotel, and getting picked for Jedi Training to fight Darth Maul.
Logan did better than I expected with all the walking. His all-time favorites were Buzz's Astro Blasters and Star Tours. He also liked the rocket ride in Tomorrowland, all the delicious junk food he consumed all weekend, the Teacups, Sourin' over CA, seeing ducks everywhere, swimming at the hotel, and the Bugs Life ride. Logan was also a little apprehensive about trying rides after taking cues from his brother, but he loosened up and became a little more adventurous. I was surprised that he was adamantly opposed to seeing the characters. Most the kids got pictures with various movie characters that they liked, but there was not a one that could bring Logan out of his shell. My Man and I were in line to take pics with all the villians and had to laugh that none of our kids wanted to come anywhere near them. Logan was across the sidewalk hiding behind a garbage can while we waited to see Cruella, the Queen of Hearts and Jafar. He is still a shy little guy even though he was more willing to try new things.
Sydney had the best deal of the weekend with the stroller hook-up. It was a little hard to balance the big kid rides with the ridiculous long lines in Fantasyland that Sydney wanted to explore. Our early Magic Morning entrance saved the day in that regard. We headed straight for Star Tours and Fantasyland and walked onto every ride for one blessed hour. It really was magical. Aunt 'Nisey took all the Littles on their first ride on the Teacups, and I was shocked that Sydney loved that ride like it was the only thing she wanted to do in life. Little Maddie is not crying either, as she loved it as much as Syd. Since there was seriously NO line we walked back onto a different color teacup at least five times in a row. Syd would put her arms up on the top of the cup and silly scream with wide, excited eyes the entire ride. It was hilarious to watch her and I felt bad we didn't have time to go again later in the afternoon every time she asked to go back. She also liked the rocket ride, seeing Cinderella and all the princesses, and the Jungle Tour.
Did you notice the princess pose Syd is rockin' with Sleeping Beauty up there? Where did she learn that one? She loved every second of meeting the princesses. Now pretend you see the most adorable picture of Syd with her favorite princess, Cinderella, in the shade of a huge tree by Sleeping Beauty's castle. She has a beaming smile similar to this on her face. The next picture is Syd giving Cinderella a huge hug before saying goodbye. Those are the few pictures I am really sad are lost with our little Nikon. Over the three days Syd got to meet Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, Snow White, Tinkerbell and another fairy, and Mary Poppins without too much effort on our part. She was in princess heaven.
The family favorites were Buzz Astro Blasters (except Syd), Star Tours, and the Teacups. Three year-old Syd even did great on Star Tours although she didn't want to go again. I'm sure the kids could have spent an entire morning riding those three rides over and over and over again and been perfectly content. I think Pirates of the Caribbean would have been a family fav too, but it was closed. One of the things on my to-do list was a dinner date with my Man at the Blue Bayou which was closed with Pirates. Next time...
Dave loved taking the kids on all the rides for their first time. We were so thankful that Denise and Arnold came with us so we could both take Jessie on the big kid rides together. Dave and I really liked spooky Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, and Jessie put on a brave face to go with us. We were proud of her brave resolve to go even though she was worried about it, being her first big ride and all. My Man took his Sydney princess on the Ariel's Grotto ride in CA Adventure and it turned out to be a highlight for both of them. Logan was so excited every time Daddy said yes to his request to go on Buzz and Star Tours again and again. They both loved it! We made the mistake of taking the boys on Indiana Jones too early thinking that they would like the bumper car feel. I didn't know that another boy they met in the pool the night before told our boys that if you looked in the eyes of the temple guy at the beginning of the ride that you would have a BAD ride. That's all Logan could say after we got off that ride was that "Daddy looked into his eyes because that was a bad ride!" I'm guessing that even an adult would not have fun in that ride if they experienced the bumps, jerks and hills with eyes closed the entire time. Ironically, Toby couldn't stop whistling the Indiana Jones theme song the rest of the trip, and he actually listed the ride as one of his favorites. His eyes really were closed the entire ride, so I'm not sure what he liked about it. Dave was also instrumental in getting the kids to Jedi Training early enough that they would be front and center with the best chance to get picked to wield a light saber. Logan was picked to participate and fight Darth Vader the first day we were there, and we had to go back our last day so Toby and Jessie could have a chance. Thankfully, they were both picked first thing in the morning and had a great time fighting Darth Maul. Daddy loved watching each kid learn the moves and fight the dark side at the end. Dave was uber-disappointed in how they changed the Haunted Mansion for Halloween. Everything was Nightmare Before Christmas in the Haunted Mansion, which I loved, but it was a major downer for my Man as nothing was the same as the classic ride.
Dave's other favs included monster corn dogs, an adults-only ice cream cone every night (oh yes!), and meeting the Evil Queen. She came sauntering through Fantasyland early morning our last day there and Dave couldn't pass up that Kodak moment. The Evil Queen doesn't stop to sign autographs. She doesn't stand there and wait for everyone to line up for her. The Evil Queen keeps walking and bids you to follow her if you dare. Dave and I caught up to her and I asked "Her Highness" for a picture if she pleased. She said something like, "if I must, but hurry up. We wouldn't want to waste your time, or more importantly, mine." She was fun.
My favs were sharing the Fantasmic show with the kids, the yummy food (corn dogs and ice cream!), California Screamin' and Tower of Terror with my Man, and witnessing the kids experience such a fun weekend at Disney. While Dave and I were on our date Saturday night we walked by the Fantasmic show (I'd never seen it before), and my heart sank at the fact the our kiddos were missing such a cool show. I thought it was the last show of the weekend, so being able to share it with them the next night was awesome! I have a few vivid memories of Disney as a young kid, and I loved taking our chillies there to have the same unforgettable fun!
It was no-holds-barred as far as food was concerned for four entire days. At home, we only eat sweets one day a week with the exception of the kids getting something special for lunch every day (chocolate milk, granola bar, goldfish, etc.). Since it was much cheaper to take in a bunch of packaged food, (and some token bagged veggies) instead of buying all our food in the parks, that is what we did. My Man and Aunt 'Nisey did a Target run early our first morning there and we were set for the remainder of the trip. We all found it a treat to reach into the magic backpack of snack mania when hunger reminded us we were indeed still on Earth. There were PopTarts, special cereals, Gogurt, fruit snacks, trail mix, beef jerkey, granola bars, Fruit by the Foot, crackers, and cookies.
I hear what ya'll are thinking. How can one have enough nourishment to hike through Disneyland whilst eating so much processed junk food? Not to worry, we balanced it out with proper proteins; turkey legs, corn dogs and chicken strips, and fruits/veggies; lemonade, pineapple wedges, and those token carrots and snap peas that were packed back home. What about dairy you ask? Well we don't eat much dairy at home, but we didn't hold that against the food group in Disneyland. The dairy there was delicious! In fact, I blame the amazing single scoop in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone with whipped cream on top for my excited hurriedness that I think led to the disappearance of our camera. Boo.
Our family and Aunt 'Nisey (Maddie snoozing in the stroller) enjoyed a memorable meal in the Golden Horseshoe while we watched these characters play some tunes. Check out the size of those corn dogs! I would have had one every day they were so delicious. We all enjoyed being entertained by the songs, instruments and punny jokes of Billy Hill and the Hillbillies as we rested our tired feet. It was a great recharge for our last push to check off the must-do items our last day in the parks.
I thought three days in the parks would be plenty of time to get everything done that we wanted. It almost was. We were so tired the second day that our efficiency in checking off everyone's must-do list was pathetic. Next time we go we will take a rest day in the middle to recharge and sleep. That's what vacations are for anyway, right?
Even though this weekend was not what I
originally planned, it turned out to be an unforgettable weekend with my family. At one point during the Fantasmic show Sunday night I glanced right to see my Man with Syd on his shoulders. Their faces lit up as fireworks went off behind the river boat that was floating by. The kids and I were soaking in every second of the amazing show. I smiiled at my Man as a huge wave of happiness and gratitude swept over me. I am a lucky girl to have a husband and father who provides so well for us, and who took the time, effort, and means necessary to surprise our family with a weekend at Disney to experience moments like we were having just then. It was, dare I say,....... magical.
