Anaheim, California
We were stationed at
the Super 8 hotel on the Southeast side of California Adventure, and at 1533 (3:33 PM) we deployed Mission Disneyland. At 1611 (4:11 PM) we walked excitedly through
the Disneyland gates. Our first stop was
in Tomorrowland, the new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. Our wait in line was somewhat of a nightmare
because Samuel didn't know what was coming, so he kept trying to run out of the
line. After 30 minutes of waiting we
boarded our submarine, the Mariner, we were the first to board and the kids
thought it was awesome. Awesome, that is, til we started “diving”, then Samuel started to freak, he wanted out of
there! Unfortunately, our sub was having
technical difficulties and so we weren't hearing any of the awesome narration
to go with the ride, and Samuel was shaking because it was scary, but we still
managed to have a good time.
Our second ride was
in Mickey’s Toontown, the Gadget’s Go Coaster, so it was a little bit of a trek
to get there. The minimum height was
35”, so Lily and I sat down next to the fountain and splashed in the water for
45 minutes while we waited. While Samuel
and Daddy were standing in line waiting to board, Samuel told AJ, “I NEED to
ride it!” They were in the very last
seat on the roller coaster. Afterward AJ told me, Samuel was super nervous and unsure at first, but after he told him it was
just like a buggy (translation: quad, four wheeler, ATV), Samuel laughed and
LOVED it. He even wanted to
do it again.
I was bound and
determined we were going to ride the tea cups while we were there, so I steered
our troops toward Fantasyland and the Mad Tea Party. Thankfully, there was only a 20 minute wait
and the line moved quickly. The only
thing that was difficult about standing in the line was Samuel trying to cut in
front of everyone else; at first he
wanted out of the line and now he wanted to the front of the line! Anyway, during our wait, before we were going
to board the ride, I let Samuel pick which tea cup we would ride in. He choose the solid orange tea cup, so when
they opened the gait, we dashed for the orange cup! Samuel and Lily both loved, loved, loved the
tea cups. It was truly adorable!
After the tea cups
we weren't sure where to go, so we were just kind of going with the flow of
traffic. And traffic took us past the
Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride. AJ and I
saw the wait was only 30 minutes long and thought about stopping but traffic
was pushing us ahead, so we were just going to forget about riding the Dumbo
ride. But then Samuel exploded with excitement,
“I want to ride the elephant!! Can
Samuel ride the elephant?” ADORABLE!! He asked so nice and was so thrilled we couldn't refuse him, so we went back. The wait
was a little longer than advertised but it gave us time to eat our dinner, which
was peanut butter and honey sandwiches. When our turn came Samuel wanted to ride an orange Dumbo,
apparently he has a thing for orange, but we were too slow so we got a yellow
one instead. Daddy and Lily rode the
pink Dumbo right in front of us! Samuel
flew Dumbo up and down and up and down- he had a great time!
New Orleans Square
was our next stop so we could ride Pirates of the Caribbean (20 minute wait)
and the Haunted Mansion. We were lucky to catch the Pirates of the Caribbean ride while it had a short line, so we didn't have to do much standing, thankfully. We sat in the very front of the boat on the Pirates ride. Samuel was shaking again because it was dark,
like on the Nemo submarine, but I held his hand and he didn't cry. He was being brave. Since AJ and I have been to Disneyland they
added some Johnny-Depp-Jack-Sparrows to the Pirates ride- it was so great! After Pirates we ran over to The Haunted
Mansion, we only stood outside the house for about a minute before they brought
us all in, it was fabulous! My kind of line I tell you. Samuel's concern started while we were in the “elevator” and during the rest of the ride, Samuel was on
the edge of hysterics. I had to say stuff like, “ Isn't that silly. That is so goofy.” to keep him calm. I understand his feelings though, I don’t
really enjoy the Haunted Mansion myself. The moment AJ set Lily in the stroller after
the ride she fell fast asleep.
 |
| Haunted Mansion ride. Our scary, "We forgot to take a picture faces." |
The traffic was crazy
because of the Fansazmic show, so we couldn't get back over to Fantasyland,
instead we went back over to Tomorrowland hoping to ride the new Star Tours but
Samuel is not yet 40” tall. Buzz
Lightyear Astro Blasters was right there so we rode it instead. The wait was only supposed to be 20 minutes
but it was more like 30 or 40! With two
sleepy kids that was almost a disaster. If you
remember, Samuel LOVES Toy Story, so you can imagine he was stoked about this
ride! We squoze all four of us into one
ship, me holding the sleeping Lily and Samuel sitting on Daddy’s lap. AJ and Samuel shot the evil Emperor Zurg
while I drove the ship. The ride was SO
loud it woke Lily after about 5 seconds- I was so angry. Samuel was thrilled with the ride but had a
little difficulty figuring out the gun.
AJ was like a little boy on Christmas morning- I love my husband! AJ made it to a Level 3 Planetary Pilot with 87,000-ish
points, and Samuel made it to a Level 2 Space Ace with 6,600-ish points. After Astro Blasters, we were all pooped, seven
rides in five hours; we had a fantastic time!
At 2120 (9:20 PM) we started making our way out of the park and back to base.
Mission Disneyland was a success!!
