Fantasyland and California Adventures

Day 4, if you're keeping track.

Tuesday was our Magic Morning so we left even earlier so we could get into Disneyland at 9:00. We spent our early hour in Fantasyland.  I loved Fantasyland. I loved that even my big boys enjoyed Fantasyland. This was where it all started for Walt and I think I loved the nostalgia of this land more than aything.

After a few hours in Fantasyland, we were ready to head across the way to California Adventures.

This place was just fun. We rode Soarin' over California three times. We went to animation school (and now there is always a Mickey on my dusty car).  My dad rode California Screaming three or four times and would have gone again but nobody would go with him. (Mom - let this be your reminder that you don't like roller coasters, or roller coasters don't like you.) Grizzly River Run was fun for those who like to get wet. McKay got to see his favorite: Lightning McQueen and Mater. Mostly, we enjoyed being together.

We made it a point to get a good seat for the parade. I don't really like parades, but Disney doesn't put on parades that remind you of home. These are real parades. Huge, energetic, no horses. Simply put, this parade was fun.



Waiting for the Parade.

After the parade, we went to Bug's Land, which was my favorite part of California Adventures. You really do end up feeling like a bug. And Bug's Land was cool and shady. We sang Happy Birthday to my sister from Bug's Land. The 3-D show is not to be misssed, unless you have an arachnophob in your midst. We'll call my arachnophob Tanner. And I'll tell you that when the black widows made an appearance, I literally had to grab Tanner (who was two people away) and hold him to me. He was hysterical. It was terrifying for him, hilarious for the rest of us.

Then we grabbed seats for the World of Color show. Phenomenal doesn't even begin to describe the show. 45 minutes of water, music, color, fire, bubbles. This is what makes Disney great. If you ever get there, you simply cannot miss the World of Color.

Final day to come....



The Happiest Place On Earth

I should start off by telling you that Randy took most of the pictures on this vacation. There were over 700 pictures and videos that I was priviledged to sort through. Anyway....

Monday morning could not come soon enough. I was so excited. I was worse than my kids! We knew that the gates opened at 9:30 so we were determined to be down there by 9:00. It was a fabulous time of year to be at Disneyland.

Anytime of year is probably great to be at Disneyland, but I loved the Halloween decorations. I loved that all the flowers were fall colors. I loved that everything that could be decorated was decked out for Halloween.

Now it must be noted that I had never been to Disneyland. Randy had never been to Disneyland. My mom and dad had never been to Disneyland. Of course, it was also a first for my four kids. I can imagine what it would feel like to spontaneously combust because that's how I felt while the crowd is counting down 10, 9, 8...until the gates opened, and I was in the Happiest Place on Earth.

Then I cried. (So did my mom.)

I had been reading books about Disneyland and it was so exciting to actually see these places and tell my kids little factoids that I had gleaned from my reading.

Like this one, for example. Did you know that when Walt Disney was alive, he would occassionally stay in the room above the fire department so he could watch what was going on? There's a light in the window that never gets turned off.

We got to hang out on Main Street for 30 minutes. I loved Main Street and probably could have spent half the day there.

My dad, ever the comedian. My dad was so easy to find at Disneyland in this shirt. I wished that he would have had three of them.

One thing about our first day at Disneyland must be noted. It was hot. Not just approaching-100-degrees hot, it was sweating-in-the-shade hot. We just happened to be spending Los Angeles' hottest day on record at Disneyland. It was 113 degrees.  

We had a great time our first day and went to as many rides and saw as many things as we could. There were a few rides McKay couldn't ride, but we just took turns waiting with him. We spent 8 hours inside Disneyland on that first day and only saw half the park. There was just so much to see and do. I was amazed at the "stuff" to entertain a person.

We had reservations at Goofy's Kitchen for Monday night. When you are at Finding Nemo and the monorail isn't working, Goofy's Kitchen is a LONG ways away. The best thing about Goofy' Kitchen was the air-conditioning. My kids probably wouldn't say that, but it's my blog so you get my opinion. Randy had the camera so I have no pictures of Goofy. Goofy was very tall. We did get to see lots of characters in the kitchen, though.

We waited at our table for Cinderella's Fairy Godmother. She spent a good five minutes talking to Kilee and making Kilee feel very special. I love the Fairy Godmother. She is now my favorite character.

Then we went back to our hotel and fell into bed, completely exhausted.

A Mouse for Raegan

Are you happy now?

Wait! Maybe that wasn't the mouse you meant. What about this one?

I'm betting that's the mouse you meant. This mouse was EVERYWHERE, by the way.

More to come....