California Vacation - Day 3

We're going to Disneyland!

Now, I am a little concerned about going to Disneyland today since we are so close to the 4th of July weekend.  Historical attendance numbers show that the summer, Christmas, and 4th of July weekend are the busiest times of the year.  I am not a fan of the theme park goers that choose to use their strollers as ankle killers because the crowds aren't moving fast enough.  So I had trepidation in committing to a two day ticket.  The gal at the ticket counter said if we purchased a one-day ticket we could always add another day to the ticket before leaving for the evening.  I liked her non-committal answer.

By the time we got through the gates, the park had been open for an hour.  That's pretty good for us because we usually blow it on the first day and sleep until 10.  We first wanted to see about getting a Fast Pass for Star Wars, but at 9AM the Fast Pass return time was already for 9:30PM.  Yes, in the evening.  The stand by line was also obnoxious at 90 minutes.  M was disappointed but she was OK with it remembering how long we had to wait for the Finding Nemo Submarine ride back in 2008.  Maybe next year the line will be manageable.

Right across from Star Wars was the family favorite - Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (a.k.a. Buzz Light Year Space Ranger Spin to you Disney World fans). Buzz is one more of G's BFFs.  They are on a first name basis.

Dad, Look It!  Look It, Dad!  Buzz!

I rode with G while Matt & M rode together.  They get pretty competitive so I was happy to let them duke it out in the car behind us.

Knowing the kids are at different heights and stages the decision was made to split up for a bit.  G and I got in line for the Storybook Boats while M and Matt rode Space Mountain.  We met back up to ride Casey's Circus Train and the Carousel.  Then things got crazy.  The plan was to do a kid swap at the top of the Matterhorn, but when we got to the front of the line we saw that G was tall enough to ride it.  Without hesitation, all four of us jumped into Bobsleds and were off!  G didn't say much when he got off the ride other than, "Whoa."

Well over the height requirement

We had lunch on Main Street then M and I rode the Davey Crockett Canoes, another family favorite, while Matt tried to get G to nap in the stroller.

Not that we are expert canoers at all, but man some people are not good canoers.  Inevitably the kid in front of me thought the paddle was a spoon and deposited a hefty amount of water on my lap.  Thankfully the warm Cali sun dried my shorts in no time.  Around 4:00 we zipped back to our hotel for G's nap.

That evening we returned to enjoy California Adventure.  This park is the best of both worlds for our kids.  Roller coasters for those tall enough and a kids' area for those who are height challenged.  The rides in the Bug's Life area were perfect for G and still appropriate for M.

Francis' Ladybug Boogie

We discovered a new area to open in 2012 that has has to do with Cars.  There was not anything to see today other than a doorway.

What's behind the door?

M was feeling quite brave tonight and told Matt she wanted to ride the California Screamin' roller coaster.  Clearly G was too short for this, and I was thankful because there's no way I would ride it.  While they rode the roller coaster, G and I waited in line for Mickey's Fun Wheel Ferris Wheel (the non-swinging line).  Apparently this line moves much slower than the swinging line so Matt & M joined us after their ride.  M was exhilarated after riding California Screamin', and she could not stop talking how she wanted to ride again.

Matt and M rode California Screamin' one more time while I took G on the King Triton Carousel.  The sun was going down, and we had yet to eat dinner.  We ran into some obstacles because California Adventure was getting ready for their night show.  People were lining up on the street and certain pathways were closed.  Once we made it near the park entrance, we found a place for a quick bite and then planned to go back to Disneyland for fireworks.  On our walk back we decided to stop at the ticket window to add another day to our ticket.  It took a bit longer than we hoped, so we watched the fireworks outside the park gates on our way back to the car.

G made sure our shoes were ready for tomorrow.