Disneyland 2011

Last week we headed down to California, for a much needed vacation. Although it was a quick one, we all had a great time. The weather was amazing!

Tuesday April 26th
We arrived at the airport around 7:30am. Got through security, and sat down for breakfast. After we were done eating we were headed to our gate when we found the rest of our group coming through security themselves (Oma, Papa, Lindsay, and Matthew). We sat with them while they had breakfast and then headed to the gate.

The kids did great on the plane, the flight was just under 3 hours long. Bryce napped pretty much the whole way, and Danika played with her toys and coloring!

When we arrived at LAX we got our luggage and waited for our bus to take us to Anaheim. After a fairly quick bus ride, we arrived in the disneyland area. We stopped at a couple of the disneyland hotels before reaching ours. Checked into the Super 8, and headed for our rooms. They were regular hotel rooms, clean, and everything we expected (we highly recommend staying here). After settling in for a bit, we headed to downtown Disney!

On our way to Downtown Disney, we stopped at 7-11 and got a snack and slurpee. The walk to Downtown was only about 10 minutes- if that! It was great to be there! We did some shopping, played in some bubbles, and then headed for dinner at Rainforest Cafe. We picked there so the kids would be entertained, and they were. We all had a good dinner, and a great time! After we walked back to the hotel, we were all ready for bed. Yep- we were in bed at about 9!






Wednesday April 27 2011
This day, we headed into Disneyland. After taking the customary picture of us with Walt, Mickey and the castle, we headed for Dumbo! After spending some time in that area, we headed for Toontown- stopping at its a small world first. We weren't able to do its a small world last time we were there, we went on this trip and LOVED it! It is great. In Toontown we played with all the animated items, met with Minnie, Mickey, and Goofy. Bryce has a small crush on Minnie, and is still talking about her. When we met Mickey, we were in the room with him alone, just our family and him. It was great! After lunch in Toontown, we headed back to meet with Rapunzel.

Meeting Rapunzel was one thing Danika really wanted to do, so we found ourselves standing in the sun, waiting in the longest line we waited in for our whole trip- 40 minutes. This was mainly because they were switching (or combing her hair as they told all the little girls waiting!). Oma and Papa kept Bryce with them, so thankfully he wasn't stuck in the sun too!

After that we headed for Big Thunder Mountain. We did the ranch, and made reservations to eat there for dinner. Matthew rode the railway with us, and loved it. We were a little unsure for a few minutes, but he had a great time- so brave! Then we headed for Pirates- Danika is NOT a fan, and Bryce could have taken it or left it. Thankfully we walked right on to the ride, so we didn't spend much time waiting! We then tried to get into the haunted mansion, but it had broken down. So we did the Winnie the pooh ride, three times! Then Met with Winnie the Pooh and Tigger (Too!). On our way back to ride the train, the haunted Mansion was open, so we did that- again, walked right on. It was great. We all loved that! After the train ride around the park we went back for Dinner at the Big Thunder Mountain Ranch. It was a buffet, and it was great food. They had entertainment too, Bryce and Danika got up on stage to Dance! (things I would never do).

After dinner Brett, Lindsay and Matthew went on Indiana Jones, then we all did the jungle cruise, and the Tiki Tiki room- which everyone enjoyed! Heading into Tomorrowland, we rode the Finding Nemo ride, and then while Oma, Papa and the kids watched the fireworks, Brett, Lindsay and I rode Space Mountain! Then we all headed home for a much needed good night sleep!






Thursday April 28 2011
Thursday we woke up and headed to IHOP for breakfast. And then headed into California Adventure. We started the day on Soarin over California- Danika asked us to NOT do that one again! She was a bit freaked out! Oma, and I took Danika to Ariel's Grotto for lunch. It was a character lunch and well worth the money. We had amazing food, and tons of it. And Danika got to meet Ariel, Cinderella, Snow White, Mulan and Aurora! After lunch we met up with everyone else in a Bugs World. The kids stayed with Oma and Papa and played at Dots puddle park, had some snacks and rode some rides while Brett, Lindsay and I headed for California Screamin'. We did that twice and then the ferris Wheel- which I went on for them- I don't like that thing!

After meeting up again, we headed into the Hollywood pictures backlot. We went to turtle talk with crush, and Danika got to ask him a question. Although she got shy, and didn't say anything but her name! We did monsters inc, and then split up again so we could go meet Mater and McQueen, and they did Muppets 3-D. When we met back up it was time to get our picnic dinners, which were great! Then we did Grizzly River Run, while Oma and Papa took Danika and Bryce back to Bugs Life.

Once we met up again, we found our spot for World of Color. What an amazing show. We all couldn't even blink, it was so good! I would go back, just for that show. If you are going down there- make sure you see it!

After that, the park was closed, so it was time to head back to the hotel. Oma, Papa, Lindsay and Matthew stopped at a restaurant for some food, we stopped by Burgerland for a burger and Fries. The kids were passed out in the stroller, so we took it back to the hotel!

(Friday and Saturday in the next post, along with pictures from Thursday)
to be continued...