Yay for CP opening!
Opening Day at CP this year was very memorable for me. It didn't include riding the big coasters, nor did it involve riding the thrill rides. It was just a time for me and Jacob to hang out and have fun and to be honest I think I've been waiting for this day for a very long time, long before closing day last year.
Jacob is now tall enough to ride Jr. Gemini & Woodstock Express. Of course I had to document the process of Jacob getting measured and then having his "36 inch" bracelet put on. I know he doesn't really have a clue what's going on but someday he will. After attending the opening day festivities for Planet Snoopy we immediately hit the new train and submarine rides at the new area but I was very eager to get Jacob over to Camp Snoopy and the Gemini Children's Area to ride the coasters. After those quick rides we headed back.
Our first ride was on Jr. Gemini in the third (of 4) car, front row so that I could fit in with him. I buckled him in and he was actually pretty excited because he knew what he was doing. I jokingly told Jacob to put his hands up (this is something I say to him to buckle him in his car seat) and sure enough he put his hands up. After a few checks we were off...
Climbing up the lift Jacob noticed the other kids in front of us putting their hands up and he decided to put his up as well. There was a "ka-chunk" at the top of the lift and he quickly grabbed back onto his lap bar. Slowly we dropped off of the lift and started picking up speed around the first curve and hit the drop. Jacob gave a slightly frightened "whee!" coming down the drop, up we went over the hill and back down, where he gave another "whee!" coming down the second drop. On the final curve he decided is was safe enough for him to put his hands up and we came to a stop in the station. He clapped his hands and said "yay!" He seemed very happy about riding and it was apparent that he wanted to do it again. Now with Jr. Gemini they send you around again after a quick check of the restraints.
Before the second ride Jacob started getting a little impatient and began yelling "Go!" "Go!" It cracked up the ride-ops and once again we were on our way. He puts his hands up going up the lift (mind you this is a two-year old!!) and keeps his hands up going around the first curve. By this time he is okay with the drop but still hung on for that part and put his hands back up for the final curve of the ride. After returning to the station once again Jacob clapped and said "yay!" However, all good things must come to an end. It was time for us to get off the ride so the next riders could go on and it broke Jacob's heart. He threw one of his famous temper tantrums which made the ride ops laugh. He actually gave them a hard time about undoing his seat belt. When I pulled him out of the train he threw himself down onto the exit platform. I picked him up and we walked down the exit and I asked him if he wanted to ride again. He said "OK." I explained to him that we have to wait in line (at this point there wasn't a line) and we can ride again.
It was after that he understood the concept of waiting in line. He was very excited about watching the train go and he jumped and cheered with the riders on the ride. It was very funny to watch for both me and the ride ops. It was our third ride that we were finally lucky enough to ride the front of the ride. It was at that time that I realized what we were doing and I have to admit that I got a little emotional about it. I'm finally getting to do the things that I've wanted to do since he was born and it's everything that I thought it would be and much more. It's just funny that I remember riding that ride as a kid and here I am riding it with my son. It just amazes me what parenthood has done to me, I couldn't imagine life without him and I cannot wait to do this with the next kid.
I will admit though, we created a monster.
We also rode Woodstock Express and he loved it. He was hoping for a second ride in a row like Jr. Gemini as he was holding his hands up and shouting "Go!" "Go!" I think we'll have to work on his manners a bit. I wasn't able to buy our on-ride photo because they didn't have their credit card machine up and running yet for the season (WTF!?), but I was able to snap a photo of it from the screen.
This is going to be an awesome summer!
Jacob is now tall enough to ride Jr. Gemini & Woodstock Express. Of course I had to document the process of Jacob getting measured and then having his "36 inch" bracelet put on. I know he doesn't really have a clue what's going on but someday he will. After attending the opening day festivities for Planet Snoopy we immediately hit the new train and submarine rides at the new area but I was very eager to get Jacob over to Camp Snoopy and the Gemini Children's Area to ride the coasters. After those quick rides we headed back.
Our first ride was on Jr. Gemini in the third (of 4) car, front row so that I could fit in with him. I buckled him in and he was actually pretty excited because he knew what he was doing. I jokingly told Jacob to put his hands up (this is something I say to him to buckle him in his car seat) and sure enough he put his hands up. After a few checks we were off...
Climbing up the lift Jacob noticed the other kids in front of us putting their hands up and he decided to put his up as well. There was a "ka-chunk" at the top of the lift and he quickly grabbed back onto his lap bar. Slowly we dropped off of the lift and started picking up speed around the first curve and hit the drop. Jacob gave a slightly frightened "whee!" coming down the drop, up we went over the hill and back down, where he gave another "whee!" coming down the second drop. On the final curve he decided is was safe enough for him to put his hands up and we came to a stop in the station. He clapped his hands and said "yay!" He seemed very happy about riding and it was apparent that he wanted to do it again. Now with Jr. Gemini they send you around again after a quick check of the restraints.
Before the second ride Jacob started getting a little impatient and began yelling "Go!" "Go!" It cracked up the ride-ops and once again we were on our way. He puts his hands up going up the lift (mind you this is a two-year old!!) and keeps his hands up going around the first curve. By this time he is okay with the drop but still hung on for that part and put his hands back up for the final curve of the ride. After returning to the station once again Jacob clapped and said "yay!" However, all good things must come to an end. It was time for us to get off the ride so the next riders could go on and it broke Jacob's heart. He threw one of his famous temper tantrums which made the ride ops laugh. He actually gave them a hard time about undoing his seat belt. When I pulled him out of the train he threw himself down onto the exit platform. I picked him up and we walked down the exit and I asked him if he wanted to ride again. He said "OK." I explained to him that we have to wait in line (at this point there wasn't a line) and we can ride again.
It was after that he understood the concept of waiting in line. He was very excited about watching the train go and he jumped and cheered with the riders on the ride. It was very funny to watch for both me and the ride ops. It was our third ride that we were finally lucky enough to ride the front of the ride. It was at that time that I realized what we were doing and I have to admit that I got a little emotional about it. I'm finally getting to do the things that I've wanted to do since he was born and it's everything that I thought it would be and much more. It's just funny that I remember riding that ride as a kid and here I am riding it with my son. It just amazes me what parenthood has done to me, I couldn't imagine life without him and I cannot wait to do this with the next kid.
I will admit though, we created a monster.
We also rode Woodstock Express and he loved it. He was hoping for a second ride in a row like Jr. Gemini as he was holding his hands up and shouting "Go!" "Go!" I think we'll have to work on his manners a bit. I wasn't able to buy our on-ride photo because they didn't have their credit card machine up and running yet for the season (WTF!?), but I was able to snap a photo of it from the screen.
This is going to be an awesome summer!