July 7th was our first official day in Disneyland and we decided to hit it up with an early morning pass. We always mean to get there early for that early hour admission but we suck at waking up and getting everyone ready in the morning. Not today though, we made it!
We had this brilliant idea that if we made it for Magic Morning and rushed to Peter Pan ride then maybe we wouldn't have to wait in such a long line, we were so wrong! Peter Pan ride is always going to be a mile long and there is no getting around that, gah. The kids all enjoyed the ride so we think, of course it will take some warming up for them but overall it was a hit. The line actually went fairly quickly too because they were so entertained by watching the Evil Queen up in the window across the way open and close.
We decided to hit up Mr. Toads wild ride next since it was the shortest line and right beside Peter Pan but once we got to the front of the line both Brooklyn and Jake freaked out and refused to get on. So I left the line with them and Daddy went on with Andie. Andie decided after that we weren't going on that ride again. Plus Andie remembers from last time how she broke it (the ride broke down when we were on it and Andie was driving when she was younger). So that ride is a no go this trip haha.
We took the rest of the morning to ride all the rides in Fantasyland and the kids eventually warmed up to all the rides and had the time of their lives. I was so surprised how we were able to hit all the Fantasy rides before noon it was definitely the slowest day of the trip today and I am so glad because it knocked out so much. It was perfect! Carousel, Dumbo, Casey Jr. Train, Storybook Canal, Teacups, Alice in Wonderland, It's a Small World.
It was now about lunch time so we went on the train that takes us around the park. I am so happy that is back up and running as it has been closed the past couple times and we use that train ALOT with kids. We had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, flavored water (to try and cover the taste of nasty Disneyland water) and some other snacks we brought with us. Bringing food into the parks is so much cheaper and a lot more fun because you can eat on the train instead of in a restaurant, win, win!
When we were done eating we got off and rode Winnie the Pooh. Andie and Jake got to ride on a bench by themselves for the first time and even though I was in the same beehive as them it still freaked me out a little bit but I was also so proud and realized how grown up my kids are getting. My goodness!
We got fast pass tickets for Splash Mountain but while we waited for our time we decided to show the kids the Tom Sawyer Island we went to on our couples trip. We have never made it over to the Island before on our family trips because we didn't know what was over there and hated the idea of dragging tiny kids over. Now they are getting older and Jake and Andie loved it, Brooklyn not so much haha sorry girl. The kids loved exploring the caves and were obsessed with trying to find a key so they could get all the treasures. It was fun watching their imaginations at play and we actually spent quite a bit of time at the island.
Once back on land we decided a bathroom break and finally asking for some of this free cold water at restaurants we have always known about but are to chicken to ask for was in store. It was nice to be able to get ice we could munch on and some cold water we could drink but I did feel guilty getting it for free, because that is just who I am haha, so I had to buy a large sprite as well.
Andie decided she didn't want to go on Splash Mountain this year but Jake was tall enough so he went on with Daddy. This time we were smart about it and he was able to sit in the very back of the log beside Dad. Jake loved Splash Mountain until the final last huge drop which then scared him the rest of the trip for any drops that might come our way, yes even driving down mountains in the van was now scary for this kid haha. The girls and I while waiting went on Winnie the Pooh then watched for Jake to come down the big waterfall.
We decided to make our way back towards Main Street so we could watch the parade that would be happening. We of course had to stop at Tarzans Treehouse, Jungle Cruise and the Tiki Room on our way over. Do you see how much we hit in one day with three kids, I would say it was complete success of a day already. Tiki Room was a favorite of Brooklyns as she could let out some sweet dance moves, I love my happy dancing loving girl.
We watched the Parade and the girls absolutely loved it. Jake wasn't too much of a fan and would of rather kept on riding some of his favorite rides. We promised after the parade we would head on over to Tomorrowland as there would be lots of rides he would enjoy over in that area. I am pretty sure we have some future Disneyland workers in our family. Andie and Brooklyn loved all the dancing and floats from the parade and wanted more even when the parade ended.
In Tomorrowland we rode on the Astro Orbitor and I thought the kids would enjoy it because they did last year. NOPE! Daddy took Brooklyn and Mommy had Andie and Jake on one rocket. Well you have to sit smallest to biggest, therefore Jake was in the front. Andie did NOT want Jake to sit on her lap! It was a sad disaster that the kids didn't enjoy as they were so scared they would fall out. Darn! It was a favorite last time kids, come on haha.
We decided to go on a ride we knew they would enjoy next so we were off to Buzz Lightyear. They all seemed to enjoy that one especially because shooting lasers distracted them from the darkness they are afraid of. Plus when you leave the ride it enters straight into a store and Jake loved that store. I am pretty sure all the kids had their souvenirs picked out from that one shop but they would have to wait until their last day to make sure that is for sure what they wanted. Jake rediscovered Baymax and was loving all the toys.
Autopia was another great ride the kids loved. Andie and Jake loved to drive their own cars so it was easy to split up and then one of us then took Brooklyn too. It was fun to have the kids think they were driving their own cars but they did say they were terrible drivers as it was so bumpy. Oh the joys of having kids at Disneyland, unstoppable fun!
Something new they were doing when we were there was a dance party each night with some of the characters out you could dance with. All the kids were in heaven because they got to dance with Woody, Jessie and Bullseye, what more do you need as a kid? At this point my phone was dying so we were only down to one phone and didn't capture as many photos as we had wanted too, darn!
Finding Nemo Submarine always gives us some memories to look back on and is definitely one of our favorites. With Mom recently discovering on the couples trip that I don't do well with 3D movie type screen things Nemo has kinda turned into that so at certain times I do have to look away. The joys of growing old!
We ended the night by doing some kid choices on what they enjoyed most and wanted to do that day. We went over to the dance party a little bit more because I wanted pictures of Brooklyn dancing with Jessie but it didn't work out. Brooklyn loved dancing with Jessie! We then went over to Its a Small World once again as that is obviously any kids favorite ride when it comes to Disneyland. Andie and Jake I think are enjoying playing with the water more then paying attention to the ride itself now though.
We were so tired and had such a long day for our first day at Disneyland. We managed to hit most everything we wanted in Disneyland though and still have two days coming. We walked back on home to the hotel because this time around our hotel was within walking distance so we didn't have to drive. It had a bonus of not having to get on the tram back to the parking garage at night when the kids are falling asleep in strollers, that is a STRUGGLE, but we had to walk more and that was hard on Mom and Dads feet haha! McDonalds was our goto dinner that night because we wanted the kids to eat on the walk home and it was on the way to the hotel. No worries though the hotel was actually cooler that night so we could sleep without boiling to death, good thing after such a long hard day.
