post-3-days of disney

It’s sat. night… about 9PM and me and the girls are back in the hotel room, while the boys are going out to finish the last batch of ‘fast passes’ for calif. Screamin’… LOL… and I am HAPPY to be back in the room.
Ok, my personal experience in the past is that you come to Disneyland while you are on vacation over here, and spend like one day… do it opening to close… you totally beat the pavement, acting like every moment is GOLDEN… only last year did we come over specifically to do Disney… and we got the 2 day park hopper pass… and we thought we were hard core… once again… we made every moment count. Rode the rides, took in the shows… the works. This time has been totally different than any other time.
We are staying on site at the ‘grand californian’. The hotel is way nice and is located right inside ‘california adventure’… which is across from Disneyland. We got a room that has, in addition to a queen bed, a set of bunk beds, with a pull out bed underneath… as well as a crib for the baby! I am feeling like the highlight of the trip for the boys has been that we let them each have their own room key. (chuckle)… surprisingly, neither has lost it even once (which is MUCH more than I can say for myself) and they certainly feel important… so funny.
It’s quite convenient to not deal with cars and parking during all of this! But there has been a lot of walking.
I think that the highlight for ME was yesterday. I calculated what the mid-point of our 3 days would be a scheduled myself a mother-to-be-massage at the spa here. It was wonderful… well, what I can remember was wonderful! I HATE IT WHEN I FALL ASLEEP during a massage… but I was SO exhausted, and so comfortable and relaxed. The therapist woke me up at the end… and I was SO MAD that I missed the ‘conditioning foot rub’!!!! I am sure that I had some physiological benefits to the massage, but I feel like I missed out on some of the phycological! LOL. It was a little easier to face the evening back at Disneyland, post-massage!
This morning was another great perk of staying here on-site… we were able to have ‘early entry’ into the park. That means 7am, as the park opens officially at 8am on sat. we were scheduled for a character breakfast at 8:10am, so we went over early and rode more rides in that hour than we could all day! (the lines have been HOLY COW long). Let me tell you, it’s a lot easier to get the kids out of bed for Disneyland than 8am church! They were bounding out of bed.
Capri has been amazing. She has been drinking this place in. I think that despite the fact she has NO IDEA what is going on here… she can feel the energy and enthusiasm from the kids, and is feeding off that! She loves all the activity and colors…it’s been very pleasant actually! She has had no prob eating and sleeping on the go.
As I said earlier… the lines are a bit obnoxious. I guess it’s the spring break curse of, well- spring! But the weather has been so absolutely perfect, that you just simply can’t complain! We have had a great time.
Is 3 days too long?
I think you definitely need to learn to pace yourself. And I didn’t really have that one figured out. But was glad to have today! We’ll sleep good tonight, in preparation for the ride home tomorrow.
The sad story of the trip… is, well, very sad.
My camera batteries died and I didn’t bring a charger.
I am so dumb. How dumb do you have to be?
So I don’t have high hopes for my scrapbooking… but we’ll hit on the highlights!!
For now… that means sleep~!

A few observations:
*for an every night fireworks show.. that is amazing
*never quite can get over the branding genius that is this park, every character, ride tied in with merchandising, food and promotion. Scary good.
*the floats may be few in the parade.. but they are stunning. I mean, just the chandeliers on the beauty and the beast float… fantastic
*as an adult, it’s still a thrill to see the characters in real life. (is that normal?)
*it’s amazing how sweet and cute a skull and cross bones is when it’s tied to Disney… the “pirate princess” take is pretty dang cute…
*I didn’t think that red hot chili peppers seemed like an obvious tie-in to Disney and Space Mountain… but frankly, I am still hearing that song in my head. Very nice addition! I liked it a lot – cory’s first words off the ride: “I want that song on my ipod”.
*it’s best not to add up your receipts. (I did get suckered into a mickey t-shirt for a family photo)
*I don’t think that quincy will forgive me for making her go on the ‘tower of terror’ again. That is pretty intense…
*there is nothing worse that being less than 1” too short to ride a ride.
*peter pan is still my favorite ride…cause I like to fly over England. (why is that line always so horrendously long? Guess I am not the only one)
*it really is pretty magical... good messages, good memories, good traditions...

good night.

Comments

[Karla in So Cal]

Happy Monday! So glad you had a great time and a wonderful massage. I was there Friday too and boy was it crowded. We didn't get to ride too much, but still had a great time.

[Katie Bartlett]

We are headed there ourselves next week and my kids think I am a teen ager I am so excited. I Never get tired of all the Disney fun. What is this Pirate girl thing? you must tell me. Thanks for the recap. I am excited!!!

[Tammy]

hi heidi!

you've put into words exactly how i feel about disney. as a little girl i too can remember the "magic",and now passing it down to my kids, gets me all teary-eyed seeing it through their eyes. funny how you mentioned about not looking at the receipts--so true, as it does add up, but hey, what vacation doesn't? and what better way to spend money than on memories that will last forever. disney isn't just for the kids--it's also for the parents who don't want to grow up either!! :)

welcome home!

[grace.in.anaheim]

wonderful observations :) we live just down the street and sometimes take this place for granted, but glad you & the fam had a blast!! dh & the kiddies adore the chili peppers/space mtn. ride too, but i'm like you...peter pan is STILL my all-time fave ride and i'm almost ancient, lol!

[Anne Thompson]

Peter Pan is my favorite ride also! It has been since the first time I went to Disneyland. We took our girls there last Nov. age 2 and 3. And I tried to get them to love Peter Pan as much as me, but I just don't think they did! Maybe next time. Glad you guys had a great time. Anne

[Veronica]

Peter Pan is my favourite too, it's the first ride we did with our kids the first time we went, they were 2 1/2 and 4 and it was truly MAGICAL! I never did Disney as a kid, our kids are all so lucky to experience it. And for those who have thought about it but never done it, go do the cruise, heaven for everyone! As they always tell us in the magazines you don't necessarily need a picture for a page, you could just scrap your list Heidi! Could be a good AYTR challenge!

Happy Easter!
Veronica

[Erin]

I left Disneyland the day before your family arrived and experienced those dreaded lines for spring break first hand! This was my first trip to Disney as an adult and it was an adults only trip, kind of a new Disney experience. Love the pirate pricess and my dear friend Jessie wore her pirate princess ears for 2 days straight! Glad you had as much fun as we did!

[DeVonne]

Oh Heidi we love The Grand Californian. For the past 3 years my husband and I have treated our families for New Years Eve. We stay two nights in a 3 bedroom suite and it is fabulous. I hope you signed up for the concierge room. It is the best. We also love that our kids can access Cal Adv through the hotel and not have to go through downtown disney. Even my teenagers can't wait to go back this year. We make reservations the same day we come home so we are sure to have our same rooms. I hope your kids had a wonderful time.

[Vickie]

Okay, I thought I was the only adult in the world who absolutely loved the Peter Pan ride -- glad to know I have a kindred spirit out there.

Vickie in Seattle

[Susi]

Heidi, I am so glad you and your family have had such an awesome trip. It was always my dream to take my boys. Call me crazy, but even though they are now 22 and 18 I still want to do it. Have a safe trip home.

[KJ Miller]

Some of us, like Peter Pan, love being a kid, being a parent (& grandparent not there yet) and being just sweethearts in Disneyland. I never tire of the Happiest Place on Earth. You notice on the original Fantasyland rides, the lines are mostly filled with grown-ups reliving their childhood Disney fantasies. One time when the kids were young, we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and being able to Monorail back and forth was perfect. I am so excited for our big family to revisit the places we have loved for since our first 1957 trip (our family's 50 year anniversary). love, kj

[Alicia]

You just revamped our entire experience to Disney World! Wasn't that just amazing... even at OUR age! I think my husband and I were more excited than the kids! Our daughter wasn't all that thrileed with the tower either, and little man was a half inch too short for so many rides... HIS HAIR touched!

[Heather]

Heidi (or anyone, really!), this pink quartz clock that I keep seeing in the ads: is there a pink HS clock or did you just spray paint the black one? Because if there IS a pink one, that's the one I've got to have!!! LOL Thanks! Enjoy your blog! :)

[heidi]

Happy to hear you had a great time. I am leaving for disneyland next week. Now I have some inside info...thanks..

[Michelle Bostinelos]

Heidi - sounds like a great trip to Disneyland! I can't wait until my kids are old enough to go and enjoy it! Also wanted to say I love your blog, love your products. I especially love the Ghost Wings! I have some layouts up on my blog where I use them! SO much fun. check it out a www.songofstorms.com/blog.
Michelle B

[mickey]

what a fun adventure. Bummer about the camera, but as others mentioned, that gives you a good excuse to go again soon. :o)

Just wanted to let you know that my kits arrived today (I got both the girl and the boy kits) and they are FABULOUS. I'm planning to start playing with them the minute the children are in bed tonight. Thanks for the great offer. You made my day (and week!). Hope you make more kits again..... I especially want to get my hands on some of those ghost wings!! Please?! :O)

Glad you all had a great trip to Disney.

[Erre54]

hi from Italy Iwould kike to go to Disneyland word.. In Italy we have gardaland and Mirabilandia,they are not so large and beautifull as Disneyland but they are wonderfull and I like to go there with My friends and my son ,also if he is 22 years old.
Have you a good holiday on Disneyland and excuse for m English
a kiss for your babies
Rita

[erin yamabe]

i still love seeing the characters, too!

[Martha]

Sounds like you had so much funnage!! Were off to Disney Monday and Tuesday wooohooo, and thanks for reminding me to bring my charger for my camera ;O)

[Nicole Bryant]

Oh we are a total Disney family! Haven't been to the California one yet, but used to go to Orlando 2x a year when we lived stateside. Love, love, love staying in the Disney hotels, they're all great and not having to drive or worry about parking is the best. Glad you have a great time!

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