Friday, August 05, 2011
Thursday, August 04, 2011
so we went to disneyland.
before i forget all the little things...
we didn't try to go early and there was no rush to our day. we were staying at the park and knew we'd have time to do whatever we wanted to do. the "plan" was to go to the park when we got there and do the pool the next day. the pool with 3 water slides that we didn't tell the kids about. we didn't tell the kids about anything, actually.
we checked in and were surprised by an upgraded room. a one bedroom suite overlooking the pool and from which we could see fireworks at night. in the bedroom the headboard was one big thing over both beds with the park and fireworks done up in led lights set into wood. you could press a button to play "when you wish upon a star". amazing. we stared at the pool. and decided to skip the park that day. we spent the next few hours in the pool and hot tub. on the slides over and over. heaven. when we made it back to the room with our DVDs checked out from the lounge the kids crawled into bed and watched the 3 Caballeros until the boys passed out. Mia got her giggle on and we watched the fireworks and ate brownies Kate brought back from the lounge. And lemon bars. So. Many. Lemon bars. Then Fantasia and sleep. Followed by kids falling out of bed and switching beds and snoring and wiggling.
The "plan" to get up early and hit the park before general admission began was quickly abandoned. We slept in and barely made the check out time. We ate and lazed on over to the park around noon. Gideon hit a wall and we got a stroller right away. Mia was a champ. And ready to ride.
First we hit It's a Small World. Magic. Mia sang and we all sat in wonder (cheeeeeeesy!!) and enjoyed the AC. Then we made the mistake of doing the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Fail. After a longer than promised wait Gideon, 4.5, had the same reaction I had at that age. Terror. Screaming. Hated every second except the giant floating head of Blackbeard. And that ride? Is really long. Mia was clutching her chest and saying "I've been shot again!" And while funny...it wasn't helpful. Ha.
After the breakdown and escape from the pirate cave we found Kate and Elliott in the restaurant where they had claimed a booth and scoped the menu. Kate is amazing. A good reset button pusher.
We rode the flying rockets - even Gideon! There were no tears or freak outs. We went up and down without incident. Elliott fell asleep as soon as we were back in the strollers and on the go. We headed straight for Space Mountain with our Fast Passes. And that's when Gideon lost his shit. So tired, that one. He didn't want me to leave because he "wouldn't have anyone to snuggle!" Um..we weren't snuggling while he was in the stroller. Only so much a little man can take. But Kate is, as I've said, amazing. Mia and I ran off while Gideon stayed with Kate and her magical phone of wonder. Holy, did Mia ever have a good time. I couldn't hear or see her until the end of the ride and honestly? I have never seen her smile so big - her eyes so wide. Unfortunately you couldn't see her head at all in the photo. We ran back to Gideon and then Kate took her on one more time. Such goodness.
Off to Toon Town! Elliott was still asleep so Kate rested in Goofy's Garden and the kids and I explored all the houses. And then? Then we got to meet Mickey. Or as Gideon calls him, Mick. Oh man. That boy was so excited. You could feel it coming off of him. Mia tried not to be as excited as she was but she was in wonder, too. Pictures will be ordered. Mia and I rode the Roger Rabbit roller coaster and then we were all done. Hard to believe that's all we really did but that's it. We wandered and snacked and bought some souvenirs and were in the car (valet at the hotel) by 8:30. Easy Peasy Perfect.
we didn't try to go early and there was no rush to our day. we were staying at the park and knew we'd have time to do whatever we wanted to do. the "plan" was to go to the park when we got there and do the pool the next day. the pool with 3 water slides that we didn't tell the kids about. we didn't tell the kids about anything, actually.
we checked in and were surprised by an upgraded room. a one bedroom suite overlooking the pool and from which we could see fireworks at night. in the bedroom the headboard was one big thing over both beds with the park and fireworks done up in led lights set into wood. you could press a button to play "when you wish upon a star". amazing. we stared at the pool. and decided to skip the park that day. we spent the next few hours in the pool and hot tub. on the slides over and over. heaven. when we made it back to the room with our DVDs checked out from the lounge the kids crawled into bed and watched the 3 Caballeros until the boys passed out. Mia got her giggle on and we watched the fireworks and ate brownies Kate brought back from the lounge. And lemon bars. So. Many. Lemon bars. Then Fantasia and sleep. Followed by kids falling out of bed and switching beds and snoring and wiggling.
The "plan" to get up early and hit the park before general admission began was quickly abandoned. We slept in and barely made the check out time. We ate and lazed on over to the park around noon. Gideon hit a wall and we got a stroller right away. Mia was a champ. And ready to ride.
First we hit It's a Small World. Magic. Mia sang and we all sat in wonder (cheeeeeeesy!!) and enjoyed the AC. Then we made the mistake of doing the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Fail. After a longer than promised wait Gideon, 4.5, had the same reaction I had at that age. Terror. Screaming. Hated every second except the giant floating head of Blackbeard. And that ride? Is really long. Mia was clutching her chest and saying "I've been shot again!" And while funny...it wasn't helpful. Ha.
After the breakdown and escape from the pirate cave we found Kate and Elliott in the restaurant where they had claimed a booth and scoped the menu. Kate is amazing. A good reset button pusher.
We rode the flying rockets - even Gideon! There were no tears or freak outs. We went up and down without incident. Elliott fell asleep as soon as we were back in the strollers and on the go. We headed straight for Space Mountain with our Fast Passes. And that's when Gideon lost his shit. So tired, that one. He didn't want me to leave because he "wouldn't have anyone to snuggle!" Um..we weren't snuggling while he was in the stroller. Only so much a little man can take. But Kate is, as I've said, amazing. Mia and I ran off while Gideon stayed with Kate and her magical phone of wonder. Holy, did Mia ever have a good time. I couldn't hear or see her until the end of the ride and honestly? I have never seen her smile so big - her eyes so wide. Unfortunately you couldn't see her head at all in the photo. We ran back to Gideon and then Kate took her on one more time. Such goodness.
Off to Toon Town! Elliott was still asleep so Kate rested in Goofy's Garden and the kids and I explored all the houses. And then? Then we got to meet Mickey. Or as Gideon calls him, Mick. Oh man. That boy was so excited. You could feel it coming off of him. Mia tried not to be as excited as she was but she was in wonder, too. Pictures will be ordered. Mia and I rode the Roger Rabbit roller coaster and then we were all done. Hard to believe that's all we really did but that's it. We wandered and snacked and bought some souvenirs and were in the car (valet at the hotel) by 8:30. Easy Peasy Perfect.
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