Mission Disneyland: California Adventure Edition

April 5, 2013 1600 hours
Anaheim, California

Our first destination in California Adventure was Hollywood Land.  Monster's Inc. is one of our favorite Disney-Pixar movies and we were super excited about the ride.  After our previous day of fun at Disneyland Samuel had the whole line thing figured out, and he knew the place to be was at the FRONT of the line.  So he kept attempting to cut through the bars to get to the ride. Thankfully, we were only in line for about 5 minutes before we were boarding.  We all thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and just before the last turn to where you get off, is Roz.  And Roz talks to you.  She surprised us all by saying, “Have a good day boyz… if she (Lily) doesn't behave, you let me know.”  AJ and I were both so surprised we muttered a wimpy, “Ok.” and then our cart moved forward and we got off.

A bug's land was pretty much right around the corner from Hollywood Land so we hurried over and the first line we saw was for Flik's Flyers, so we jumped in line.  This was by far the longest line we stood in all day, and we still only stood there for 20 minutes.  The ladies in front of us were super nice and we talked with them the whole time about potty training and getting kids to walk.  Unfortunately, because we were chatting, we didn't notice until we were getting onto the ride that we had forgotten the camera in the stroller.  Luckily, I had my handy-dandy phone, so we snapped a couple pictures with it.  Samuel chose the Homespun Applesauce box for us to ride in, I think because it was the closest one to us- I like the way he thinks.

Francis' Ladybug Boogie was right across the way from Flik’s Flyers, so we practically walked out the exit and straight into the line.  This ride is basically the tea cup ride except you are sitting in a ladybug instead.  And I LOVE the tea cup ride so I was not going to pass up riding the Ladybug Boogie.  And I am glad we didn't because we only stood in line for maybe 3 minutes and then we were spinning and spinning and SPINNING!!  So fun.  I even took a video while we were spinning to share with you.

Next we rode Heimlich's Chew Chew Train because there wasn't a line.  We walked up and boarded the train.  And this ride was adorable and Samuel was truly adorable riding it.  Just watch the video and you will understand.  Can you see the wonder in his little eyes?!  I love it!  Anyway, as we were riding through the slice of watermelon there was a little squirt of water and some hit me.  I had a little freak out moment because I hate the stickiness of sticky things.  It cracked me up that Samuel didn’t really react.  Then right after the watermelon we ride through a box of animal crackers and IT SMELLS JUST LIKE ANIMAL CRACKERS!!  AJ and I were both like, “Did you SMELL that?!”

The last ride we did in a bug’s land was, Tuck and Roll Drive 'Em Buggies.  Because Lily isn't anywhere near 36” she and I couldn't ride, but Samuel is a big boy so he could ride.  Lily was a little crazy during the 10 minute wait, but I am glad they went. Daddy and Samuel had a great time.  AJ ended up pushing the pedals, Samuel couldn't reach, and Samuel was steering the buggy.  They were crashing into people and laughing and having a great time.  I really enjoyed watching my boys play together.

Our last stop in bug’s land was the 3D, It's Tough to be a Bug Show.  Just as we walked in they closed the doors so we had to wait 9 minutes for the next showing, but it gave us time to look around.  There was funniness everywhere.  AJ took a picture of me with the “Beauty and the Bees” because Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie.  But there was “Little Shop of Hoppers”, “My Fair Ladybug”, “Web Side Story”, “Barefoot in the Bark.” and many more.  This was Samuel least favorite experience of the whole trip, right up there with the Nemo submarine.  At first there was a little butterfly, Samuel loves butterflies, and he was trying to get a really close look at it.  Then, there is a part where it seriously seems like spikes are being thrown at your face, Samuel started yelling and sobbing, “No! no! no!”  Then you get hit in the face with poison, and stung in the back.  After that some huge spiders fall from the roof and by that point Samuel had had more than enough!  He was off his chair and ready to bolt at the next sign of danger.  He was grateful when it was over.

Car's Land.  The place AJ and I were most excited for!  After a bug’s land we were right at the entrance of Car’s Land, and it was … a masterpiece!  It looked just like Radiator Springs, just like it.  The only ride we rode in Car’s Land was Mater's Junkyard Jamboree because Samuel was too short to ride Radiator Springs Racers (which AJ and I both REALLY wanted to ride) and the line was way, way to long for Luigi’s Flying Tires.  But there still was a height limit on Mater’s ride so Lily and I stood outside and watched while Daddy and Samuel rode together.  Then we switched and Samuel and I rode together.  Even though mater’s Junkyard Jamboree was really, really busy AJ was only in line for 15 minutes and I was only in line for 5.  This was my favorite ride, hands down, of the whole trip.

And to top it all off … we got to meet MATER!  Samuel was so surprised- he really didn't know what to think.  At first, he was a little wary of Mater, and we wanted him to get a little closer for the picture.  We said, "You can touch him Samuel.  You can touch Mater."  So he scooted over and awkwardly touched Mater's lip.  As we were leaving, Samuel gave Mater a hug and Mater laughed- it was so cute!  Then we saw Lightning McQueen, the line was far too long, so we didn't get to meet him.

Exiting Car’s Land took us straight to Paradise Pier.  We did a little wandering, because we weren't sure where to find the ride we were looking for, which was Ariel's Under the Sea Adventure.  Samuel was in awe about the water and kept pointing it out and the birds and this and that.  I love that kids do that.  After a little confusion and searching the map we found the ride we were looking for and there was only a 5 minute wait.  All four of us squished into a sea shell together.  AJ and I loved the ride.  Samuel was a little worried when we said, “We are going underwater now.”  I think he has a little PTSD from the Finding Nemo submarines.  But he soon realized we were only underwater in our imagination.

Across from Ariel’s Under the Sea Adventure was the Golden Zephyr, which was our next stop.  And we got lucky because we practically walked straight onto the ride without waiting at all- score!  Side note: I don’t really understand why they have this ride at a Disney park, I love it, but it isn’t really … Disney.  Anyway, so we were flying around and around in our rocket and Samuel kept yelling, “Hi, any people!  Hi, any people!”  What does that mean?!

After our rocket flight we walked around the pier on our way to the “Mickey’s Fun Wheel” A.K.A the Ferris wheel, but the line was a mile long.  As a result, we continued on to King Triton’s Carousel.  Again we pretty much walked right onto the ride- I don’t know if we were just lucky or what.  Samuel and Daddy rode a sleek blue tuna fish and Lily and I rode a vibrant pink sea horse.  Oh my, did we love that carousel!  We should have gone again, but we needed to find a place to watch the World of Color show quick.

               We found a nice open spot … right next to a garbage receptacle.  (No wonder it was open, right?)  Well we sat ourselves down and munched on our dinner to pass the time until the show started at 2100 hours (9 PM).  After dinner we still had 40 minutes to burn so AJ took both the kids to ride Ariel’s Under the Sea Adventure again, because it was the closest, enclosed, ride.  They all got back just in time to get comfy next to our trash can to watch the magic!  All I am going to say is … GO SEE THE WORLD OF COLOR SHOW!!!

Let me just say, if you have children and you are planning on going to Cali to visit one of the Disneyland parks, we highly recommend spending most of your time in the California Adventure Park over the Disneyland park.  The lines were WAY shorter, compared to the Disneyland lines; we did WAY more riding rides than standing in lines.  And Samuel actually knew the characters in the California Adventure park. Plus, there is Car’s Land so … it is just better.

Mission Disneyland

April 4, 2013 1500 hours

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!!

Happy Easter

On Saturday April 30th, Lily celebrated her very first Easter!  We started with coloring eggs, which was a big hit with the little kids.  Daddy was helping Lily and Uncle Brent was helping Samuel.

"The Masterpiece"!  Lily can't keep her eyes off it.

Cheesy grin!

 Grandpa and I were in charge of documenting all the festivities.  So we documented each other documenting the other, so we would be documented too.

 We have a couple crazies in our family.

Grandma wrote a secret message on an egg for grandpa.

Lily decided to ditch the egg coloring and find her own entertainment with "The Masterpiece".

 The Smith Eggs.

 Then we did our Easter Egg Hunt!  Lily had it figured out in no time at all, and Samuel was a little upset at first that Lily was allowed to pick up eggs too.

We finished up our Easter celebrations with an airplane flying contest.

Derek's plane was the reigning champion, it flew the farthest every time.

Katie's was the most beautiful.

AJ's was the "Smooth Sailer"- it could land with grace.

 And Samuel's was ... broken, but he didn't mind.