Who doesn't love the Happiest Place on Earth??? Disneyland!!! It was time to head to California for some fun with Mickey & Friends this past week. My parents talked us into driving to save money, we took it a step further and carpooled with my brother Brett and his wife Melanie. Let's just say...we won't do that again!!! 12 hours of riding in a car through the desert is torturous! The extra cost of flying is so worth the price. Our ride picked us up at 6:30 am to start the long trek to Anaheim. Brett and Melanie also convinced us to stay an extra 2 days with the bonus of super low hotel prices through Melanie's sister.
Poor Melanie was starting to get over the cold and bronchitis she had for the past week but she was still coughing up a lung! Not a great situation for 2 germ-a-phobes! I think both Steve and I were secretly hoping that she doesn't get us sick. We stopped in Las Vegas for an amazing lunch at----Del Taco! Yes, I know, you are all jealous of such a wonderful lunch. I brought my kindle to listen to my audio books I had downloaded and one of them just happened to be Bossypants by Tina Fey. I offered it up for everyone and we decided to plug it into the stereo to listen to. It took 5 hours for the Tina Fey to narrate her book. It was quite funny and definitely worth the read or listen. I just wish I had downloaded more comedy books to last the whole drive. We made it to Anaheim around 7:30 and had dinner and passed out. Unfortunately we still had to be up early due to the hotel having a power outage planned for 6:30 am. All of us wanted to be able to shower in the light. And the power didn't even go out before we left at 7:30!!!
Woo hoo!! Disneyland! Our first ride was Star Tours which we walked on to since it was so early in the morning. Usually there is at least a 30-60 minute wait for this ride. The boys loved the ride, Melanie didn't feel good still and that ride made me ill! It was one of those where you sit and it moves on a platform. That kind of action does not do well with me. Since I wasn't feeling great, why not go on Space Mountain and ride in a car in the darkness where you can't see 5 inches in front of your face. Let's just say I won't ride them more than once a trip. I barely could keep my head the right way as we were taken on a crazy ride.
We had the first half of the day just us 2 couples before my parents showed up. The Matterhorn Bobsleds were our next choice for a ride. As a child this ride scared the crap out of my cousin and me with the abominable snowman coming after you. We were standing in line and the lady asked if there were any groups of 2. Steve and I raised our hand before we realized that meant we left Melanie and Brett in line. Off we went on our ride but it gave us the opportunity to take photos of them on the ride!
As much as this song may get stuck in your head I still like going on It's a Small World. There is so much to look at inside and you will always know the words. Melanie cringed as we went on the ride.
We met up my parents and played in Disneyland a little longer. One of our favorite places for drinks, that is adult drinks, is in Downtown Disney at the Uva Bar. It's a great place right in the middle of the shops and is outdoors. We absolutely love this place. And they have some of the best mixed drinks ever! As you can see the crazy guy in the picture is my dad.
Steve saw someone wearing this hat on Main Street and just had to have one. Good thing we got him one since it started raining...protected his head from the cold rain! He loved it. I had my own pirate.
Not our usual choice of ride but to get out of the rain we decided to take a turn on the carousel. Our shoulders were so wet.
Time to play a little Buzz Lightyear and kill the evil Zorro. As usual Steve kicked all of our butts with it...must have something to do with he liking to shoot guns and knowing how to aim. I can't ever tell which laser is mine on the wall so I am just randomly shooting hoping I hit something.
Mickey Mouse Cactus!
Brett and Melanie were behind us again in the line for Thunder Mountain Railroad so we waited for them to come and took pics. If you look close they are at the tip of the cactus in a red shirt with a camera to his face and Melanie's in a white jacket. Perfect timing!
Haunted Mansion was the same as it was last year when I came...I thought they would dress it up differently for Halloween but since Jack and Sally come from Halloween town there isn't much to change.
I love the Little Mermaid! It's my favorite Disney movie and has always been my favorite. They made a ride in California Adventures called Ariel's Under Sea Adventure. You sit in clam shells and take a ride past all the events in the movie. It's cute but not much of a ride.
Monster's Inc. coming down the road for a little parade.
We decided to try to be bugs at It's Tough to be a Bug. I think this show is so cute although the stinger in the back does sort of hurt (so don't lean back hard on the benches).
For once, Steve actually PUT himself in a picture I was taking. I love it! It shows his crazy side of him.
We made it to World of Color on Wednesday night. Incredible show and water works. I loved it a lot. I wish we could have watched it each night and when it's a bit warmer. It finally stopped raining at 5pm and gave it some time to dry up before the show.
Our favorite little robot- WALL-E with his girlfriend Eva
Half of the group decided to go ride Splash Mountain again and the other half went to Pirates Cove Island. While we were in line, my mom, Steve and I had an idea of going in the single riders line. What a great idea! We got on much faster than waiting forever in the line. We each rode separately but check my picture out. The family I was with didn't let go at all. :)
Autopia! I was trying to get pics of us driving but kept slowing down so Steve had to slow down. Brett kept bumping Melanie because she would slow down for Steve. Chain effect! It was fun and we were laughing our butts off.
Earlier that evening we went to the Uva Bar in Downtown Disney and had a bunch of drinks. We discussed life and children and Disney Annual Passes. Everyone wants us to get an annual pass but I don't want to get that yet. I asked my parents would they rather us get annual passes or have a baby. Hands down they want another grandchild! My dad told us kids whoever has the next baby will receive $500! It's going to be a race that I am determined to win! We danced around the Downtown Disney area waiting for my Dad and Steve to buy my mom and me jewelry from Simply Silver. My mom and I went to her favorite store Little MisMatched and bought some socks. We had a great time that evening! We stayed as late as we could convince the rest of them to stay. We finally left the park at 10:30 to get back to the hotel and crash. Early morning the next day to drive back to SLC.
