Disneyland 2018, Party of 7

A handful of months ago we realized it had been five years since we went to Disneyland, which is basically like 17 years in Regular People Time, so we decided to finally follow through with our sixth or seventh blue-skied trip and take the kids at last (the fact that our off-season scheduling coincided with a big student loans milestone and tax refund time made it all the more appealing).

SO WE DID!!!

We did it!

We took the kids to Disneyland!!!

We invited Grandma Sue to come along, so after picking her up at the airport and another day of final preparations, we loaded up our new wheels (thanks to last year's refund, ha) and in the dark of the next morning popped the kids in their car seats still in their jammies and made our way south and west.  The drive was pretty amazing, with only two stops for gas and potty and nursing (hello St. George Temple sisters and shady Baker gas stations) and had no whining whatsoever, and we didn't even do the big on-board DVD player reveal until the last couple hours!  We took a wrong turn or two in LA but we didn't have to deal with much traffic and we were so happy to see these:

We breathed in the air and checked in to our usual favorite Del Sol, literally across the street from the Disneyland entrance, opting for a family room complete with bunk beds, which were apparently the best thing that's ever happened in the history of ever.

He was happy to take the top bunk.

 A dip in the pool and the great hot tub and some pizza takeout and then to bed with everyone after a long day of traveling (though I was itching to get over to that esplanade and just see it...).

Did I mention that we didn't tell the kids we were going to Disneyland?

WE DIDN'T TELL THE KIDS WE WERE GOING TO DISNEYLAND.

We told them JUST the night before that we were going on a long drive in the morning when it was still dark and going to the beach, all of which was true.  So the morning of Day 1, we just were like, let's take a walk and see if there's a park around here or something...

And then we waited to see how long it would take for them to realize where we were.  We've listened to the albums and looked at a lot of our books so we thought the sights and sounds of the entryway would clue them in before too long, and I actually think Baby Girl figured it out first (though she kept calling it Wonderland -- works for me).  Then the Monorail went by and The Boy was like... whaaaaat.

Not even inside the gates and dreams already coming true.

We were prepared for the many closures and construction walls (and numerous locals) and other such things that come with going during the "off"-seasons, but even so it was wonderful.  We had also made sure to manage our expectations, since the last time we came we didn't have ANY kids of our own whatsoever and knew this trip would be a lot different, but we really made it work.  We met The Wife's aunt Carol who was so fun and join us for every day in the parks and offered many services, including coupons and a willing wait-outside-with-the-baby volunteer!  It was also great that she and Grandma had a chance to get lunch together and talk and catch up like sisters do.

Charlie meeting Charles, catching sight of the castle, my kids recreating old family photos, me happily sitting on the teacup sidelines, getting a churro despite all my intentions not to, eating Dole Whips due to all intentions to, everyone enjoying the submarines and dinner at French Market!

Date Night at Disneyland!  This particular menu item was top priority on Julie's list.  Next time I am getting that same sundae but with cookie dough ice cream om nom nom.

One of the perks of having Grandma with us is that she was ever so nice to stay with the kids while we gallivanted about for the extra hour after bedtime and before park closing like we were honeymooners again.  Enough time to catch a ride or two and a treat on the way out!

Day 2!

Top of list and mind was to immediately go to Radiator Springs.  Let it be realized that Julie and I hadn't even been here yet, as it was days away from opening the last time we were there, which was fine for us at the time, and really it worked out because first of all, crowds and lines were quite manageable and secondly, if we went there before kids we would have been like, cool, Cars, looks like the movie, now let's go do something else.  But when your kid is clearly the biggest Lightning McQueen fan in the world... it's like the best thing that's ever happened to anyone in the history of ever.  Yes, Cars Land was created for my son (in part by his own great-aunt's husband!  Amazing!!!).

It's impossible to describe the joy and amazement as it slowly dawned on him where we were and what everything was, and then the absolute glee as he recognized each and every element of the street and atmosphere, and then the tears-inducing moment when he saw his BFF live and in the... flesh?  When he saw Mickey he was like, wow, Mickey! But when he saw Lightning it was like his world was complete.

We spent most of this day in DCA, which was fun to gradually remember is quite different from last time we went.  The Little Mermaid is always great, a bug's land has taken on a whole new meaning, I should have taken my Dramamine, I had ribs at Flo's, Adelaide was TOTALLY into Turtle Talk with Crush, Thor and I acknowledged each other, Guardians of the Galaxy gets a big MEH from me, and Frozen on stage gets a smaller one.

But nothing else matters because Cars was a big win.

Date Night again!  Thanks, Ma!

-- BEACH BREAK!!! ---

I kind of wanted to immediately drive along the ocean the first day we arrived but it would have to wait... until this day.  We took our time in the morning and made our way to Huntington Beach.  I confess the entire day didn't quite live up to what I had expected, though I don't know what I was expecting since it was largely like any other time we go to the beach.  I think it was just different with little kids and we didn't quite have the supplies we needed (no beach toys?!?  Rookie mistake!) and the water was kind of cold (it is February after all).  Anyway, they were shooting some kind of fitness advertisement nearby and the bathrooms were gross and the weather was perfect so it was just great.  Also, BIG NEWS:  The Costco there has an outdoor walk-up food place.  Yes, food place.

Taking a break with sleepy and fretful Baby after two days of vacation while everyone gets ready for the day back at our room.  So lovely that we can just walk across the street and hear the telltale music.

Good for the soul.

Why even go into the Parks?!? They were amazed beyond amazed by this fountain at Downtown Disney.

We rounded out the day by shopping at Downtown Disney and eating at last and the famous and infamous Earl of Sandwich and getting very expensive and delicious ice cream and then prepping for our last Day.

Day 3!

Filling in the gaps on all the things we didn't catch the first two days and already sad we would be leaving the next day.

Adelaide overcomes her Carrousel fears, the kids test their strength, Charlie looooves the roller coasters, stern at the helm, funny faces as the Royal Theatre (huzzah!  Also new since last time), my recent favorite, Charlie enjoying what was always my favorite Main Street attraction, MEETING RED, Julie Gets That Turkey Leg, and enjoying the great new Soarin', which just amazed Charlie.

Party of seven!

By the way, there haven't been many pictures of this poopsie, but that's because mostly he was sleeping or snuggling or being generally happy but not going on too many rides.  I mean just look at that face.

<3 td="">

Something else I did this time around that was new and different was a series of art drops.  It was hard to decide which ones of the prints I made so I just picked several, ha ha.

As far as I know all were discovered!  Though no one followed the instructions and posted as such, wups.

I wish I could take credit for the idea but I had seen other artists do this so I thought I would try.  I placed a 2-3 prints each day we were in the parks along with a few shots of clues as to their location and just walked away!  A few people reached out and let me know they found them, others I witnessed incognito and others I presume were found because they were no longer there when I (or others) checked.  So even if they were picked up by Cast Members brushing up popcorn or doing their nightly sweep they all found a home which is fun.  It was like a reverse treasure hunt or something.

We caught dinner all together where I had ribs again (Korean this time, and some too-loud live music at the Lunar New Year).  Then one last Date Night and trying to get some sleep for the inevitable drive...

A new addition to our farewell hotel photo tradition.

Then, alas, it was time to go home.  It's funny, not long after our first Disney day started The Boy was like, can we go home now? (Possibly he meant the motel, which of course is the best place ever on vacation), but I knew that it wouldn't be long after leaving that they would be asking to go back, and they have, though not ad nauseam, ha ha.

Who needs audio-animatronics?!?  Note his "squishy" Cars (bath toys). We didn't buy many souvenirs, but we did buy those, and almost left them at this gas station, ha.

The drive home was [almost] as great as the way there (though I will never again take any crap from California drivers complaining about Utah drivers... don't get me started), though of course it seemed to take twice as long.  We didn't leave in the dark of morning, but we did arrive in the dark of evening, and though the two younger kids only had a few moments of... distress (understandable, we were all pretty much over it after five days of vacation and 8 hours in the car), they were able to recoup, after a potty break and with a little help from Nemo and Lightning, and we pulled into our garage in pretty good time and very safe and the car did great.

She earned her ears.

So it was as good a trip as we could have hoped, the weather was perfect, the crowds were manageable, construction notwithstanding, the app was very handy, the kids had a great time, Mom and Dad kind of needed another vacation after, but WE DID IT.  WE TOOK THE KIDS TO DISNEYLAND.  There were some boxes that need to be checked off next time we go, but at least they've been.  Now they have context for their beloved Disneyland music and some memories are firmly in place, and we had some great Grandma/Aunt time and overall we just loved it and felt kind of unjustly jealous when some family went just a few weeks later.  Disneyland is definitely different with kids, but its own kind of magical.  It's not like we can up and go there twice a year like we used to, but I'm so glad a lot of my childhood memories' seeds have been planted.  I can definitely understand by Charlie costs and Adelaide (and younger) doesn't, as his enjoyment was exponentially higher, and Aunt Carol even remarked that she's never seen a kid more excited about Disneyland, which is gratifying and even inspiring.  Ah, youth.  Ah, magic.

Until next time, Land.