My body told me it was time to wake up. I didn't look at the clock, I just got in the shower and then dressed. When I got out, I realized it was 6:00am. My body thought it was 8:00. I went down to the Contintental breakfast in the lobby. Not much to speak of, coffe and donuts. I skipped on the donuts. I needed the coffee. I woke up the angels at 7:00. They were both ready to go to Disneyland. I did not realize how fast my children could dress themselves. I decided to drive as I was unsure how the shuttle worked. It was worth the $11.00 parking charge. Then we waited for the tram, and waited, and waited. With only one tram running, it took a little while. To Gabe and Molly, this was the first ride of the day. Yipee!!!!
Once through security, which I have decided is a bit of a joke since they really don't look at anything, I had to fix my ticket problem. I had 2fers and wanted park hoppers. I had really been worried about doing this. Yea, it took about 2 minutes and only cost $120.00. Not a big deal at all. Sweet!
At this point it was 8:15, since we weren't doing the early admission and the kids were hungary, we went to La Brea for breakfast. It was way pricey, but way good. The waiter, Jorge, was very nice and terribly impressed when Gabriel ordered panqueques y huevos y jugo de naranja (pancakes, eggs and Orange juice). Molly had the same with the OJ. I had the best omlet with italian sausage onions and peppers. I also had a fine cup of coffee. we met some folks from Iowa. They were very nice. Coinsidently, he was from Mountain Home, Arkansas. It is about three hours away from here. Small World (the saying not the ride).
Finally it was time to enter the magical land of Disney. So we went and waited in line and waited and waited. At last we enter, magic is all around us and about 200 other people. We had our picture taken bythe Disney Photo person and got the card. I also had her take our picture with my camera. I opted not to get a stoller (I think I must have hit my head earlier as I would regret this decision later). As went leave the bridge, we see Goofy! So we stood in line and waited to meet him, and waited, and waited. Finally we meet him and Gabe is all about the questions and telling him about the plane ride and his school and his worries on life and explaining his views of the creation of man. I'm pretty sure the people behind us were not thrilled. Molly stood back from all this. She wasn't quite sure she liked Goofy. Finally we are able to leave. Then we see Mickey. Molly instantly is over her shyness and is barely able to wait in the line to meet Mickey. After we waited, and waited, the kids hug and talk to Mickey. I got a little teary eyed. This is what it was all about. Molly and Gabe were in Heaven. A few other characters were there, but the all had to leave so we went on further into our adventure.
On a side note here, were met some Canadians while waiting. The son was 13 and having the time of his life. He should me all the autographs he had so far and then made his mom show me his pictures on their digital camera. we would run into them several times during our visit and he always had to show me any new ones he had collected.
As we walked onto Main street gabriel saw the Castle. he then points out to his sister. At this point Molly begins to scream. Not an Oh-my-God-a-monster-is-going-to-eat-me scream, but a I-just-saw-the-real-castle-that-Tinkerbel-flies-over-and-I-might-die-right-now kind of scream.
I decided we would go to Buzz Lightyear to see about Fastpasses. Upon turing the corner into Tommowland, we ran right into Buzz Lightyear. Gabe was completely star struck. The picture I took has Buzz looking right at me and the kids cann ot take their eyes off him. We left him and went on the his ride. When we got there the was almost no line, so I decided to forgo the fast passes and get on. Gabe loved this ride. I drove, Molly and Gabe shot. I don't think they knew waht to shot at, but they shot a lot.
Once off this ride we went to Fantasyland. Of course we stopped for many pictures along the way. Gabe wanted to ride Dumbo, Molly wanted the Carosual. Molly won. As we were getting off the ride, Goofy, Pluto, Pinocchio, and Gepetto were getting on the ride. How cool!
Now for Dumbo, so waited, and waited, and waited. While waiting, Molly began to become more and more whinny and disrespectful. When we got on the ride I realized that the sitting was going to be tight. i am a plus size gal and Disneyland was not created with me in mind. So Molly got squished between Gabe and I. Also, did I mention, Molly began to scream. This time it was a Oh-my-God-a-monster-is-going-to-eat-me kind of scream. I thought it OK once the ride begins she'll be fine. Not so much. She just screamed louder and louder! Once the ride ended she bolted out of the ride area. Gabe loves Dumbo. Molly hates it.
Time for a potty break. While going to the potty Molly spotted the fresh fruit cart. She decided she had to have an apple. So, an apple she did have. A $1.75 apple! Personally, I was a little nervious about buying an apple so close to where the Evil Queen lives, however my fears where put to rest by Gabriel. he explained that she only posioned Snow Whites aplles and as I was not as pretty as Snow White, I had nothing to worry about. I thank him for clearing that up for me. The apple seemed to work. Molly was ready to go on more rides.
The next ride was Pinocchio. Gabe liked it, Molly cried. next ride Mr. Toad's Wild ride. I always hated this ride as a child. When we took Gabriel when he was 3, he hated this ride. Now he loved it. Molly cried. Gabriel explained thathe likes it now because he is 5 and assured Molly that she also will like this ride when she is 5.
We left Fantasyland as it was becomming crowded. Off we went to Frontierland. Gabe and Molly found a fountain. Both kids love water so we had to stay and look at the fountain for a good ten minutes. Then, we watched the ducks and ate a churro. When I ordered the Churros (3 of them) the castmember said, "That will be 9 dollars." Gabe then replied with, "Hey, good math skills."
The Haunted Mansion had no line so we walked right onto it. During the ride we stopped at least 5 times due to mechanical problems. Molly cried on this ride.
Time for lunch. We left the park in search of a McDonalds. After wandering through Anaheim, I finally found one. By then, the kids were asleep. I drove back to the hotel and put them in bed for a little bit. When the woke up, everybody ate and was ready to go. Molly was a little reluctant, but I told we were going to my birthday party. Once we went back outside I realized the weather had changed. Now it was really windy and rainy and cold. Awesome! Less lines!
At the park we headed right to the Plaze Inn for the birthday celebration. By now the weather was great. However, the party had already been postponed until 3:00 and was now going to be at the Golden Horseshoe. Once again, off to Frontierland. And we waited, and we waited, and we waited. Finally PARTY TIME!!!
It was so much fun. My kids kept telling me Happy Birthday. they were so impressed that Mickey and Minnie came to my party. We loved decorating the cakes. Molly loves the toodles shaped sprinkles. I am not a fan of the red icing. The blue and yellow were great. Gabe begain mixing his colors to make new shades for his decorating. He was pretty upset when everyone won the cake decorating contest. He leaned over and told me that because there are so many babies here, that is why everyone has to win.
Earlier gabe has spotted the Colombia and wanted to go aboard. After the party, that is what we did. Gabe said it was his pirate ship and he gave us a tour of it. he had no idea what the purpose of most thing were but he explained what he thought it was for. he would spread his arms out like a showman. It was a hoot watching him.
We left the ship and walked over the Pirates of the Carribean. While we were waiting the New Orleans jazz band was playing Molly loved the music. Then we rode the ride. Gabe loved it. Molly cried.
I had made reservations at Goofy's Kitchen for dinner so it was time to head over there. We walked to Tommarowland to catch the Monorail. It was closed due to high winds. that meant we now had to walk to the Disneyland Hotel. Forward HO! By the time we arrived we had worked up an appitite. We were seated very quickly. By the way, the dinner cost for 1 adult and 2 children? $63.00. I'm sure the buffett was wonderful but all the kids got to was the mac and cheese, pizza, popcorn shrimp, and corn on the cob. The character interaction was very brief. We saw Goofy, Max, Belle, Pluto, and Donald. mulan was walking around, but never made it to our table. Our waiter was rather inattentive. His name was Chase and unlike the Chase from the night before was not fabulous. The desserts were great.
So far the hardest part of having the two kids without another parents was going to the bathroom. If one has to go, we all have to go.
it was very cold when we left dinner. We walked back to Disneyland. As we were comming into the park the Parade was stating. I figured since we didn't have good seats, we would just use this time to go on rides. Well, while trying to walk around the crowds, Molly walked on to some stairs by the Main Strret Train Depot. She was just pausing being a kid when a castmember felt the need the expalin that wasn't a viewing area. Nothing about what we were doing at that moment looked like we were trying to view the parade. I was a bit annoyed. I realize that is probably her job, but have some common sense.
We walked down to Tommorowland. No line for Buzz so we rode it again. This time Molly steered, Gabe and I shot. Molly was a great driver. We walked to Fantasyland and went to the Teacups. The line was very small so we got right on. Both Molly and Gabe loved this ride.
At this point my back was killing me from carry Molly quite a bit. We then went home. I don't think the kids have ever fallen asleep so fast.
I will post the day 2 later.
For the next page of this trip report click this link: http://www.disneymouselinks.com/Forums/Topic64887-4-1.aspx
Cat