We were so lucky to receive a much needed vacation to Disneyland as a Graduation gift from my parents (We cant thank you enough!!) We decided to hurry and go before school got out so the lines wouldn't be as long and the weather wouldn't be too hot! So we left on May 18th and spent the 19th through the 21st at the Park! We had SO much fun! It was the first trip BJ and I have ever done on our own! Whenever we go somewhere we have always been with family or friends! So this was really exciting to go off on our own with just our little family!
I am a notorious over packer so this time I REALLY focused on not bringing things we didn't need! We packed food for lunches and snacks so we didn't have to buy those in the park! When we left we had 2 strollers, a bumbo chair, 1 LARGE suitcase, 2 coolers, and a bag with clothes and snacks packed to take with us into the park! whew.... it sounds like a lot but I was proud of myself for keeping it in check!
We had about a 7 hour drive (that included frequent breaks for the kids)! They did pretty well on the drive though, except for the occasional whimper from Spencer telling us " his bumb was SO sore from sitting TOO long!!!" it was pretty funny!
We also had a very funny first for us... Spencer said he HAD to go to the bathroom immediately and couldn't wait so we did what so many parent have done before and pulled over!! It was SO funny and classic that I HAD to document it! And wouldn't you know it he was to nervous to actually get it done! Oh well! Now we can say we've pulled over to go to the bathroom! :)
We made it to our hotel pretty late Monday night, got a little shut eye and woke up bright and early so we could get to Disneyland early! We were close enough that it was only a 10 minute walk, yea we didn't have to pay for parking- 14 dollars a day:(
So here we are heading out bright and early excited and anxious! It was a really nice 10 minute walk! There was a little convince store on the way and each morning we stopped for a banana and muffin!
Our first day we decided to hit up California Adventure! They were having a Pixar Parade and a Playhouse Disney LIVE show, we didn't want to miss! We got there early and we able to be one of the first to get our picture with our all time favorite CARS......
As soon as the park opened officially we went right over to bug land to see Flicks Fun Fair!
This was the section of California Adventure that is kid oriented! I am so glad we went there first because we were able to walk right onto each ride! The kids LOVED it! I couldn't pick which of these pics to add so you get to see a WHOLE LOT of them! GET READY....
These are Fliks Flyers! They were going so fast and too high to get a pic of the boys and I flying high!
Next we jumped on Francis' Ladybug Boogie, Spencer and I loved this ride! Cooper kinda slipped all over! He wasn't real sure of what the heck was going on! He came and sat with me near the end and was giggling as he got off, defiantly a favorite!!
BJ jumped at the chance to take Spencer (Coop was just a little too short) on Tuck 'n' Roll's Drive 'em Buggies (Bumper cars)! They had a great time and Cooper was such a great watcher! He had just as much fun watching, I was really proud of him for not freaking out!!! :)
We wrote the boys names and BJ's cell number on their arms so JUST IN CASE they got lost the Disney people could get a hold of us ASAP! It looke funny but it made me feel better and Spencer and Coop thought it was SO neat that Mom would color on them!! :)
There were so many rides at Fliks Fun Fair but these were our favs!
It was time to go to Playhouse Disney LIVE! We were ALL so excited to see Mickey and all the Little Einsteins in "real life!"
In the show they had characters from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einstein's, Handy Manny and My Friends Tigger and Pooh!
They really involved the kids, asking them to say the magic words to make the clubhouse appear, asking tootles to bring a mouse-ca-tools!
There were bubbles that came down and leaves that dropped from the sky and the kids helped solve all the problems so Minny could have a great surprise party! It was such a blast!
After the show we rode the Tower of Terror! Spencer was tall enough so he went with Dad while I waited with the little kids! It was the first time we used a Fast Pass and a Switch Pass! They really made all the difference! We didn't ever have to wait in a long line and after BJ was done on the ride I took the Switch Pass and got to go the the front of the line! I usually took Spencer on the ride a second time but this ride was the ONLY ride that scared him! He DIDN'T like the scary ghosts and the way the ride DROPPED HIM! On each roller coaster following this he was sure to ask if the ride was going to drop him!! He is so tough I was proud of him!
We spotted a bunch of characters as the day went on! Spencer and I found a autograph book when we first got there and I told him all about finding the characters and how they would take a picture with him and sign his special book! HE WAS SO EXCITED! And neither one of the kids were the least bit nervous! They were both so in shock to see the people in the their favorite movies "ALIVE" (as Spencer put it:)
We went on a Monsters Inc ride a roller coaster (that just Bj and I did, separately of course) a really big Mickey Ferris Wheel and a big swing set that brought you really high in the air!
We also went on a new Toy Story ride that was A LOT of fun! It was a 3d ride where you played games with a little toy that "shot" darts at different targets! The kids LOVED it! It was our LONGEST line but it was totally worth it!
At this point you might be wondering "Where is your baby? What was Graham doing this whole time?" And the answer is sleeping, eating and crying! He liked switching between laying in the stroller and being held in the pack! I would feed him while BJ was on a ride with the kids or the boys would help him drink a bottle in the stroller! He was his sweet little self, very chill!
We closed the day with the Pixar Parade! And it was SO memorable! Disney really knows how to put on a parade!
First up was the Monsters from Monsters Inc. Ross came right up to Spencer and Cooper and asked them in their little brother was dangerous?
The Incredibles Family was up next and Spencer and Cooper were captivated by their cool gliders! And the amazing guys on stilts!
Spencers face after a little sprinkle from Jack Jack (and pretty much the whole parade)
Followed by Nemo, thier float shot water all over us! It felt SOOO nice in the hot humidity!
The Bugs from a Bugs Life were all over the place, swinging and gliding!
Toy Story was really fun, the green army guys were really cool, I love watching all the dancers!
The beginning and the end of the parade had our 2 favorite characters! Can you guess who?
It was such a thrill! The kids really enjoyed seeing all the characters and I loved all the dancing and singing! It was just awesome!
By the end of this WONDERFUL day we were all VERY tired.....
We walked home got some P.F. Changs take out and fell asleep! Dreaming about the next 2 days at the happiest place on earth! Stay tuned....
