Disneyland Part 2

We stayed at the Desert Inn and Suites right across from the park.  There we are entering Disneyland, and there's our hotel right behind us.  It was great.  Last year we tried to save a couple hundred dollars and stay at one that had like a 12 minute walk.  With 4 kids who are tired by the end of the day and want to be pushed in the stroller or carried... this was the way to go.

So here we go!  Day One...

We always do Peter Pan first.

I'm pretty sure Brynnlee didn't remember much about Disneyland last year, so this was kind of like her first time.

She was nervous.

Then we went to Toon Town.  I don't think we came to Disneyland at a good time. It was hot, and super crowded.  We weren't sure if it was so much more crowded this year because of the new Cars Land that opened up, or if we were too close to the Spring-breakers... but either way... the lines were longer this time.

Brynnlee spent a lot of time playing in the water fountain while the brothers rode the roller coaster.

When we got to Splash Mountain we split up.  I took Jaden...

...then Charles took Bradley and Jaden.  It was supposed to be Kaleb's turn, but he opted for Winnie the Pooh with Brynnlee and me.  We were a little surprised because he loved Splash Mountain last year.  Bradley took his very first ride and was a champ. His face might show fear, but he was begging to ride again and again.

Last year we tried to make sandwiches to bring in, or buy food from the outside to eat inside the park... but this year we just bought the food there.  And these kids eat a lot.  Charles had to keep going back for more.  $40 per meal.  Ouch.  Maybe next time we will plan better.

Then it was time for Brynnlee's nap, so we rode Pirates.

Another First, was the Haunted Mansion.  None of the kids had ever wanted to ride it in the past.  The only part I thought might freak them out was when the ghost appears to be riding with you when you look in the mirror.  And guess which point we were on the ride when it broke down?

Then we spent some time over in Tomorrowland hitting Buzz, Star Tours, Buzz, the Orbitor, Buzz and... Oh right. Buzz. I usually am busy trying to take pictures of the kids on all the rides, but this year I played more.

This is the Orbitor, or as the kids call it, the "Rocket Ride."  I hate this one.  It scares me to death.  I always feel like I am going to fall out.  But I went with them anyway.

When we only had a couple hours left, we asked the kids to choose their favorite ones.  Splash Mountain for Jaden and Bradley, and Mr. Toad/Carousel/Tea Cups and parade for Kaleb and Brynn.

The last hour of Disneyland was when we had the most fun.  Guess no one wanted to get wet that late in the evening and so there was no line.  We rode Splash Mountain 4 more times.

Charles had fun walking onto all the rides with Kaleb and Brynnlee too.  The parade was going on, so they didn't have lines either.

Brynnlee thought she was so cool and so brave riding the tea cups with her hands in the air.

Now she does it in the car too.

We rode and rode till the park closed and they wouldn't let us ride anymore.  My cell phone battery died and I hadn't made plans with where to meet back up with Charles.  Luckily just about every other person has a cell phone nowadays, so after scanning the park looking for just the right stranger to approach, I found a young mother of 2 and borrowed hers.

We made it back to the hotel, and I bathed the kids while Charles waited an hour in line at McDonalds for dinner.  Everyone crashed.

We booked 2 adjoining rooms this time.  We put Brynnlee to bed in one room and the rest of us watched TV in the other while we waited for her to fall asleep.   Then Charles and I crept back into that room, leaving the boys in the other, and everyone slept well.