Trip report, day 5 (yes, it's late)
Monday morning I wanted to get up and get to Disneyland earlier than we had on Friday. We were out the door by about 8:30am, armed with information on how to get to the better parking lots. This time we had packed more snacks, since I'd seen everyone with them on Friday. We brought a sandwich for the girls, goldfish crackers, more beef jerky (dh and Ada like it), Capri Suns, some chips, frozen GoGurts, and some peanut M&Ms. He also filled his Camelback with water again. I was figuring we'd hopefully be able to get by with one snack and one meal, so we didn't spend as much on food.
Unfortunately, when we got to Disneyland, shortly before 10am, we discovered they weren't letting anyone park in the closer lots. So much for preparation. Instead, we had to wait in a huge, long line of cars that were directed to the back of the park, where the parking garage was. It was the same parking garage we'd parked in on Friday. I wish we'd known the other lots were closed; it would have saved us time to go to the garage the back way, like we'd done before. Oh, well. We got into the park at about 10:30 and used the stroller ticket we'd bought on Friday to get a stroller without having to wait to pay. Our plan was to hit a couple rides early and then go to California Adventure for most of the rest of the day. We checked the Nemo ride, and it was already an hour wait, so that was a no go. Space Mountain was 20 minutes, so we decided to go on that again (after Ada convinced Brenna to go back on it - lol). This time when we rode, both of the girls really enjoyed it, so that was good. After Space Mountain, we got in line for the Matterhorn, which was probably another 20 minute wait. We fed the girls some snacks in line, so it was really nice to have those packed. Ada LOVES the Matterhorn, and we all liked the ride. Unfortunately, the whole time we were there, they were only running one side of the mountain, so the line was fairly slow.
After the Matterhorn, we put Ada into the stroller and walked over to California Adventure. When you first walk in, you see the Candy Corn Acres they have set up, with a huge candy corn in the middle. There was a bite out of the side, and Heimlich would pop out and say things every now and then. We first headed to Bug's Land. I thought dh would like the 3D "It's Tough to Be a Bug" movie. He did enjoy it, and so did the girls. The last time we were at DCA, Ada was 4 months old, and Brenna was only 4.5, so neither of them remembered it. We didn't do anything else at Bug's land, because most of the rides there are for little ones. It's a great place to take toddlers. We went over toward the midway, and Brenna and I rode Mulholland Madness, a coaster named after a street in LA. Dh and Ada went on the jellyfish ride that takes you up into the air in jellyfish and drops down (the coaster was a 42" ride, so Ada wasn't tall enough - it wasn't that great of a ride anyway). From there, we headed over to the boardwalk and rode the carousel, which was a walk on all day pretty much. We decided to let the girls get their faces painted. $26 for face painting (for both), so it's very expensive. While the girls were getting their faces done, dh went and grabbed fast passes for California Screamin', which we were desperately trying to convince Brenna to go on with us. lol Afterward, we had some pizza at Pizza Oom Mow Mow. We got a couple slices and drinks, so we were able to keep the cost down (about $20). The slices were cheaper than the kids' meals, and I'm betting they're bigger. The boardwalk games are ridiculously expensive (like $3 apiece). I wanted to go on the new Toy Story mania 3D ride, but dh didn't want to, and the line was fairly long. I think if/when we go back, I'd like to check out that ride.
After our pizza, it was almost time for the fast passes for California Screamin'. We went over to watch where it takes off a few times. We had convinced Brenna that we were going to ride a smaller coaster instead of that one (I know, we're bad, just a little white lie - lol). So, dh and Brenna took 2 fast passes and went on the ride, while Ada and I headed over to the Sun wheel. The sun wheel is a ferris wheel, except that some of the gondolas swing. I thought I would be adventurous and go on the swinging gondola, but I have to admit it freaked me out. They swing back and forth, and you just have this sensation that you're going to fall. Ada thought it was great, though. Here's a picture: http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/toppicturegallery/ig/DCA-Rides-Paradise-Pier/Sun-Wheel.htm The worst was when it swung out on the side where you're sitting. You just have the sensation that you're up in the air dangling, about to fall. There's motion sickness bags inside the gondola. lol
Toward the end of the ride, we saw Brenna and dh waving to us, as they'd already finished with California Screamin'. After we got off Sun Wheel, I had to convince Brenna to go on it again (with our other 2 fast passes). She *almost* refused, but I managed to convince her. I warned dh NOT to go on the Sun wheel, because, while I was mostly OK, he's freaked out on ferris wheels with stationary gondolas before). He has a fear of heights. Brenna and I went on California Screamin', and I really liked it. After her 2nd trip, she said she wouldn't mind going again (Yes! I think we may have overcome her ride fear). It was interesting, because I've never been on a coaster like that before, with a linear induction motor instead of the traditional lift hill chain. There's definitely some serious acceleration, and there isn't the same buildup that you get when you go up a hill with a traditional coaster. From there, we had to go search out Dramamine for dh, who was queasy from eating lunch and going on the coaster. I fed the kids snacks while he took his medicine. We stopped by Candy Corn Acres again, because we saw Mickey there taking pics. Unfortunately, they stopped at the people who were in line right before us. We hadn't waited in line that long, but it was still annoying. However, I turned the stroller around to leave, and as I was doing that, Mickey leaned over and gave Ada a kiss before he left. We didn't get a picture (dh had the camera and of course we weren't expecting it), but she was starstruck and happy nonetheless. She's always had a thing for Mickey (not Minnie, just Mickey).
From there we decided to go catch the Playhouse Disney show. Ada loves some of the Playhouse Disney shows, so it was mostly for her. We caught the last show of the day, and I wasn't that impressed. The puppets were hard to see, and the stage was a little too tall. Ada was so tired that she wasn't interested in dancing around like the other kids (or maybe that's just her personality). Brenna was obviously too old, but she enjoyed the show. There were Disney people outside interviewing people as they left, to get their opinion. They did have some cool effects and streamers, but I don't know if I'd bother with it again. I had wanted to go since way back when they used to advertise it all the time on Playhouse Disney on TV, so at least we did get to go see it finally.
After the show, we stopped in Candy Corn acres, because we were just in time to watch the parade. The parade was cool. There were a lot of characters you don't see at Disneyland (Cars, Nemo, Buzz and Woody, the Incredibles, etc.). Also, they had people attached to the floats doing acrobatics, which was fun to watch. I made the girls eat the GoGurts, because they were defrosted, and I wanted them to eat something decent. After the parade, we bought some candy at the candy store, paying WAY too much for candy corn, but obviously it was the thing to do (there were candy corn plants everywhere). I will say it was the best candy corn I've ever had. Dh made me try it, because he thought it was so good (I'm not that big of a candy corn fan but it was exceptional). I bought some lollipops, mostly to appease Ada, who was getting cranky. We also had some yummy Tiger butter fudge. From there, we went and grabbed fast passes for Soarin' over California. I thought that was funny, because last time we went to DCA (January 2005), that ride was DEAD. Brenna and I went on it a few times in a row, because there was no line at all.
Brenna said she wanted to see the Muppets 3D show, so we did. I liked it, though now that I've seen it twice, I don't know that I'd want to go again. We also went on Monsters, Inc. in order to kill time before our fast pass time. It was a pretty ho hum ride, but they do have a black light room that is cool. After Monsters, Inc., I broke out the glow necklaces that I had brought (I bought them at Walmart for a dollar).
We then headed over to Soarin' over California. I like this ride, though for some reason the scents didn't work right for me. I kept smelling mostly pine. Dh said it was great for him, though, so maybe I'm just nuts.
From there, we decided to head back over to Disneyland. It was about 7pm. We walked back over and went on Big Thunder again. The line was only a 15 minute wait. After Big Thunder, we stopped in Frontierland. Brenna bought a leather bracelet that they carve your name into. She was paying with her own money, and the woman was very patient with her counting out a lot of change. lol She got her bracelet, and woman working there gave us 3 sheets of Disney tattoos for all of the kids (I had told her we left Grant at home). While we were at the leather place, dh was buying Mickey pretzels and cheese for us to snack on. We ate the pretzels and decided to go check out how long the line for Nemo was. The line for Nemo was 30 minutes, which is the shortest I'd ever seen it. So, we decided to go for it and that it would be our last. The line seemed to take forever, though from the time we got in line to when we got into the submarine it was only 26 minutes. Dh bought (expensive!) churros to eat in line, because he'd been craving them all day. It kept the kids happy during the wait, at least.
We got off the ride at about 10 after 9pm, just a few minutes before the fireworks were due to start. Our plan was to escape during the fireworks, but just as we were getting to Main street, they announced that they'd been canceled due to high winds. The Santa Ana winds were horrendous that day, though more so earlier in the morning. So, it meant we were not as far ahead of everyone else as we thought we'd be. We were still able to catch a tram back to the parking garage pretty easily. It wasn't as bad as I'd feared when I heard the announcement. I'm glad we had stayed for the fireworks on Friday, or we'd have missed them entirely.
The girls were both sound asleep by the time we pulled out of the parking garage, and we got back to my parents' house around 11:30pm.
Unfortunately, when we got to Disneyland, shortly before 10am, we discovered they weren't letting anyone park in the closer lots. So much for preparation. Instead, we had to wait in a huge, long line of cars that were directed to the back of the park, where the parking garage was. It was the same parking garage we'd parked in on Friday. I wish we'd known the other lots were closed; it would have saved us time to go to the garage the back way, like we'd done before. Oh, well. We got into the park at about 10:30 and used the stroller ticket we'd bought on Friday to get a stroller without having to wait to pay. Our plan was to hit a couple rides early and then go to California Adventure for most of the rest of the day. We checked the Nemo ride, and it was already an hour wait, so that was a no go. Space Mountain was 20 minutes, so we decided to go on that again (after Ada convinced Brenna to go back on it - lol). This time when we rode, both of the girls really enjoyed it, so that was good. After Space Mountain, we got in line for the Matterhorn, which was probably another 20 minute wait. We fed the girls some snacks in line, so it was really nice to have those packed. Ada LOVES the Matterhorn, and we all liked the ride. Unfortunately, the whole time we were there, they were only running one side of the mountain, so the line was fairly slow.
After the Matterhorn, we put Ada into the stroller and walked over to California Adventure. When you first walk in, you see the Candy Corn Acres they have set up, with a huge candy corn in the middle. There was a bite out of the side, and Heimlich would pop out and say things every now and then. We first headed to Bug's Land. I thought dh would like the 3D "It's Tough to Be a Bug" movie. He did enjoy it, and so did the girls. The last time we were at DCA, Ada was 4 months old, and Brenna was only 4.5, so neither of them remembered it. We didn't do anything else at Bug's land, because most of the rides there are for little ones. It's a great place to take toddlers. We went over toward the midway, and Brenna and I rode Mulholland Madness, a coaster named after a street in LA. Dh and Ada went on the jellyfish ride that takes you up into the air in jellyfish and drops down (the coaster was a 42" ride, so Ada wasn't tall enough - it wasn't that great of a ride anyway). From there, we headed over to the boardwalk and rode the carousel, which was a walk on all day pretty much. We decided to let the girls get their faces painted. $26 for face painting (for both), so it's very expensive. While the girls were getting their faces done, dh went and grabbed fast passes for California Screamin', which we were desperately trying to convince Brenna to go on with us. lol Afterward, we had some pizza at Pizza Oom Mow Mow. We got a couple slices and drinks, so we were able to keep the cost down (about $20). The slices were cheaper than the kids' meals, and I'm betting they're bigger. The boardwalk games are ridiculously expensive (like $3 apiece). I wanted to go on the new Toy Story mania 3D ride, but dh didn't want to, and the line was fairly long. I think if/when we go back, I'd like to check out that ride.
After our pizza, it was almost time for the fast passes for California Screamin'. We went over to watch where it takes off a few times. We had convinced Brenna that we were going to ride a smaller coaster instead of that one (I know, we're bad, just a little white lie - lol). So, dh and Brenna took 2 fast passes and went on the ride, while Ada and I headed over to the Sun wheel. The sun wheel is a ferris wheel, except that some of the gondolas swing. I thought I would be adventurous and go on the swinging gondola, but I have to admit it freaked me out. They swing back and forth, and you just have this sensation that you're going to fall. Ada thought it was great, though. Here's a picture: http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/toppicturegallery/ig/DCA-Rides-Paradise-Pier/Sun-Wheel.htm The worst was when it swung out on the side where you're sitting. You just have the sensation that you're up in the air dangling, about to fall. There's motion sickness bags inside the gondola. lol
Toward the end of the ride, we saw Brenna and dh waving to us, as they'd already finished with California Screamin'. After we got off Sun Wheel, I had to convince Brenna to go on it again (with our other 2 fast passes). She *almost* refused, but I managed to convince her. I warned dh NOT to go on the Sun wheel, because, while I was mostly OK, he's freaked out on ferris wheels with stationary gondolas before). He has a fear of heights. Brenna and I went on California Screamin', and I really liked it. After her 2nd trip, she said she wouldn't mind going again (Yes! I think we may have overcome her ride fear). It was interesting, because I've never been on a coaster like that before, with a linear induction motor instead of the traditional lift hill chain. There's definitely some serious acceleration, and there isn't the same buildup that you get when you go up a hill with a traditional coaster. From there, we had to go search out Dramamine for dh, who was queasy from eating lunch and going on the coaster. I fed the kids snacks while he took his medicine. We stopped by Candy Corn Acres again, because we saw Mickey there taking pics. Unfortunately, they stopped at the people who were in line right before us. We hadn't waited in line that long, but it was still annoying. However, I turned the stroller around to leave, and as I was doing that, Mickey leaned over and gave Ada a kiss before he left. We didn't get a picture (dh had the camera and of course we weren't expecting it), but she was starstruck and happy nonetheless. She's always had a thing for Mickey (not Minnie, just Mickey).
From there we decided to go catch the Playhouse Disney show. Ada loves some of the Playhouse Disney shows, so it was mostly for her. We caught the last show of the day, and I wasn't that impressed. The puppets were hard to see, and the stage was a little too tall. Ada was so tired that she wasn't interested in dancing around like the other kids (or maybe that's just her personality). Brenna was obviously too old, but she enjoyed the show. There were Disney people outside interviewing people as they left, to get their opinion. They did have some cool effects and streamers, but I don't know if I'd bother with it again. I had wanted to go since way back when they used to advertise it all the time on Playhouse Disney on TV, so at least we did get to go see it finally.
After the show, we stopped in Candy Corn acres, because we were just in time to watch the parade. The parade was cool. There were a lot of characters you don't see at Disneyland (Cars, Nemo, Buzz and Woody, the Incredibles, etc.). Also, they had people attached to the floats doing acrobatics, which was fun to watch. I made the girls eat the GoGurts, because they were defrosted, and I wanted them to eat something decent. After the parade, we bought some candy at the candy store, paying WAY too much for candy corn, but obviously it was the thing to do (there were candy corn plants everywhere). I will say it was the best candy corn I've ever had. Dh made me try it, because he thought it was so good (I'm not that big of a candy corn fan but it was exceptional). I bought some lollipops, mostly to appease Ada, who was getting cranky. We also had some yummy Tiger butter fudge. From there, we went and grabbed fast passes for Soarin' over California. I thought that was funny, because last time we went to DCA (January 2005), that ride was DEAD. Brenna and I went on it a few times in a row, because there was no line at all.
Brenna said she wanted to see the Muppets 3D show, so we did. I liked it, though now that I've seen it twice, I don't know that I'd want to go again. We also went on Monsters, Inc. in order to kill time before our fast pass time. It was a pretty ho hum ride, but they do have a black light room that is cool. After Monsters, Inc., I broke out the glow necklaces that I had brought (I bought them at Walmart for a dollar).
We then headed over to Soarin' over California. I like this ride, though for some reason the scents didn't work right for me. I kept smelling mostly pine. Dh said it was great for him, though, so maybe I'm just nuts.
From there, we decided to head back over to Disneyland. It was about 7pm. We walked back over and went on Big Thunder again. The line was only a 15 minute wait. After Big Thunder, we stopped in Frontierland. Brenna bought a leather bracelet that they carve your name into. She was paying with her own money, and the woman was very patient with her counting out a lot of change. lol She got her bracelet, and woman working there gave us 3 sheets of Disney tattoos for all of the kids (I had told her we left Grant at home). While we were at the leather place, dh was buying Mickey pretzels and cheese for us to snack on. We ate the pretzels and decided to go check out how long the line for Nemo was. The line for Nemo was 30 minutes, which is the shortest I'd ever seen it. So, we decided to go for it and that it would be our last. The line seemed to take forever, though from the time we got in line to when we got into the submarine it was only 26 minutes. Dh bought (expensive!) churros to eat in line, because he'd been craving them all day. It kept the kids happy during the wait, at least.
We got off the ride at about 10 after 9pm, just a few minutes before the fireworks were due to start. Our plan was to escape during the fireworks, but just as we were getting to Main street, they announced that they'd been canceled due to high winds. The Santa Ana winds were horrendous that day, though more so earlier in the morning. So, it meant we were not as far ahead of everyone else as we thought we'd be. We were still able to catch a tram back to the parking garage pretty easily. It wasn't as bad as I'd feared when I heard the announcement. I'm glad we had stayed for the fireworks on Friday, or we'd have missed them entirely.
The girls were both sound asleep by the time we pulled out of the parking garage, and we got back to my parents' house around 11:30pm.