Monday, January 2, 2012

Disneyland Trip 2011

One of my biggest wants for my kiddos always has been for them to go to Disneyland. And in December, they got to do just that!

We feel very lucky that we got to go and it was a trip of a lifetime! Four days of tearin' up D-Land!

One of my favorite moments was how we told them we were going. So glad I took a video of it:


Love the momentary stunned look on their faces!

And I snapped a pic of the "Mickey Pancakes" they had. Kinda a ghetto Mickey but my kids thought they were cool.
IMG_3247.jpg

Our hotel was super fun. My kids loved the see through elevator. You could look down into the lobby or out over Disneyland.
IMG_3258.jpg

Here is the very excited bunch about to go to bed. Disneyland for the first time ever tomorrow! They don't know what they are in for!
IMG_3259.jpg

You may notice that Gunner and Race are missing from the pics. We left them with some very kind and generous family members. They were just a little to young to really enjoy Disneyland. Sorry boys, maybe in a few years!

At the entrance to Main Street. Aw yeah! It's about to get crazy!
IMG_3261.jpg

More Main Street and the bridge to the castle:
IMG_3264.jpg
IMG_3265.jpg
IMG_3343.jpg

First ride was Peter Pan of course!
IMG_3266.jpg

A very excited girly about to go on Teacups.
IMG_3267.jpg

We learned a very long time ago that Daddy can't do the spinny rides so he was the photographer for this one. It's okay, mom got that cup GOING!
IMG_3270.jpg
IMG_3274.jpg

Fired up about Dumbo:
IMG_3275.jpg
IMG_3276.jpg

Try your hardest!!!
IMG_3280.jpg

IMG_3284.jpg

Ella HATED Space Mountain and all the other roller coasters at first. By the end of the trip, they were all she wanted to go on. This a pic of the first time we went on it. You can't even see Ella in this pic. She is sitting by Dale with her head down covering her eyes. Rex didn't like it the first time either. He cried when the ride was over. I think he was embarrassed by that though because the next day this was the first ride he wanted to go on. He sought retribution. He had a score to settle and settle it he did.
IMG_3285.jpg

Rocket Ships!
IMG_3287.jpg

We went to the Main Street bakery and let the kids pick whatever they wanted.
IMG_3288.jpg

Rex's fave ride ended up being Autopia. Imagine being a 6 year old boy and you get to drive a car by your very own self. Except for your legs are a little short so your mom has to push the gas pedal. =)
IMG_3290.jpg
IMG_3292.jpg
IMG_3293.jpg

I could do without it's a small world but I wanted the girls to see it. Especially at Christmastime where it looks like Christmas threw up. Their mouths hung open the entire time.
IMG_3297.jpg

Love the Haunted Mansion. Wish my house could look like this for Halloween!
IMG_3301.jpg

Just like her first time on Space Mountain, Ella's first time on Splash Mountain didn't go over very well. She has fear face! Sweet girl. I promise you though, she was loving it by the end of the trip!
IMG_3305.jpg

Jungle Cruise!
IMG_3307.jpg

Rex was too short by thiiiiiiiis much for Indiana Jones so he and I and Ella hung out at Tarzan's Tree house while Dale went with Tabby.
IMG_3308.jpg

I took Ella to Bug's World while Dale took the big kids to Tower of Terror. I thought it would be too much for her and I REALLY hate that ride so we enjoyed our kiddie rides.
IMG_3311.jpg
IMG_3313.jpg
One of my favorite pics of the whole trip:
IMG_3316.jpg

You know what you get when you kick it with Mom??? Churros!
IMG_3314.jpg

By the time we got to the bumper cars the big kids and Dale joined us again. They were more like "very lightly brush by you cars" rather than bumper cars. Can't have people violently smacking in to each other at the Happiest Place on Earth.
IMG_3319.jpg

I absolutely loved World of Color! Especially with the grown man in front of me who knew all the words to the princess songs that were played.
IMG_3335.jpg
IMG_3336.jpg

Took the big kids on the river ride and left Dale and Ella on a bench. Came back to find this:
IMG_3339.jpg
We wore out our Ella!

That's when we knew it was time to pack it in for the first day. I tried to get my kids to make it to when the park closed at midnight but it was a no go. Nine was about their limit every night.

Here's some more pics from the rest of our time there.

IMG_3340.jpg
IMG_3344.jpg
IMG_3345.jpg
IMG_3346.jpg
IMG_3347.jpg
IMG_3353.jpg
Waiving at the masses:
IMG_3356.jpg
IMG_3360.jpg
IMG_3361.jpg
IMG_3363.jpg
IMG_3368.jpg
IMG_3371.jpg

Meeting Mickey!
IMG_3372.jpg
Tabby showed Mickey her "mouse ears" hair do. Mickey approved.
IMG_3374.jpg

IMG_3376.jpg
IMG_3382.jpg
IMG_3384.jpg
IMG_3385.jpg

Tabby is my little thrill seeker. She loved Splash Mountain!
IMG_3387.jpg

IMG_3389.jpg

The D-Land fire works show at night. My favorite were the "shooting stars" I was touched that they played "Silent Night" during the show. Good to know that Disneyland keeps Christ in Christmas.
IMG_3400.jpg
IMG_3402.jpg

The "snow" after the fireworks. Check out crazy guy looking right at my camera. Freaky.
IMG_3404.jpg
IMG_3405.jpg

On the third day we walked in and right there at the front of the park with no line was Mickey!
IMG_3406.jpg
IMG_3407.jpg

IMG_3409.jpg
IMG_3411.jpg

Tabby and Ella asked over and over to go to Pixie Hollow. Finally they got their wish. It was a highlight for them for sure.
IMG_3414.jpg
The way it was set up was so cute. First you meet Rosetta and then she takes you to meet Tinkerbell. Yes I know who Rosetta is. If you have daughters ages 8 and 5, I'm sure you do too.
IMG_3416.jpg
IMG_3417.jpg
IMG_3421.jpg
IMG_3426.jpg
IMG_3428.jpg
IMG_3430.jpg

IMG_3431.jpg

Another fave pic. After this shot, Rex demonstrated to Mr. Incredible how fast he was.
IMG_3432.jpg

Okay let me explain this one. Ella and I decided to try to attempt Tower of Terror the third day. It wasn't a very successful attempt. I will go on any roller coaster in the world and not be afraid. But I hate free-fall rides. HATE them! I did this ride on our honeymoon and Dale still makes fun of me to this day about how I acted on it. I tried to redeem myself on this trip but it was a fail. Still terrified. And look at poor Ella. She is mad at the world.
IMG_3433.jpg
And there's Dale. Still laughing at me. He watched me the whole ride. Laughing. I am loving dude in the jean jacket though. Except for the fact that he is covering my son's face.

One of my favorite memories from the whole trip was when we got some ice cream and sat down on the curb of Main Street and enjoyed our treats as a family. It was a fun moment for us.
IMG_3448.jpg

Waiting for the park to open on our 4th and last day in the park.
IMG_3450.jpg

Ella loving Space Mountain now.
IMG_3452.jpg

IMG_3460.jpg
IMG_3463.jpg
Tabby LOVED Minnie's house. We had a hard time getting her to want to leave.
IMG_3467.jpg
IMG_3473.jpg

Tabby was the only one of our kids tall enough to ride California Screamin. We rode it lots and lots.
IMG_3486.jpg

Meeting Pluto while waiting for the parade to start. Another one of my favorite moments was when Ella and I were driving in Autopia and we looked up and saw Pluto on a bridge waving at us. Then he chased after our car! Ella and I of course thought it was hilarious. My only regret is that I didn't have the camera ready. Thanks for the memory, Pluto!
IMG_3500.jpg
IMG_3502.jpg

Leaving Disneland. Sad moment for me.
IMG_3513.jpg

I turned around and snapped this as we were leaving. So beautiful all decorated for Christmas!
IMG_3520.jpg

The trip was amazing and I will always remember it. I know my kiddos will to!

2 comments:

Brooke Romney said...

Alys, how fun! Great idea to keep the littles home. So glad you had a great time!

Sean & Julia Johnson.... said...

how awesome! I can't wait til our kids are old enough to appreciate disneyland!