Sunday, September 25, 2011

Disneyland Trip 2011

We went to Disneyland last week. We took all four kids (Carter 5, August 3, Luella 1.5, and Magnolia 3 months) and Quadsie (our four seater stroller).  We stayed for a week and it was a blast.  We tried all the character dining and absorbed at much 80 degree California sunshine as possible.

First day we started with character dining with Minnie's Breakfast at Plaza Inn right in the park.  So much fun.












I love this shot... Luella checking herself out in the mirror as we waited for Mickey.












Second day we ate breakfast at Surf's Up with Mickey at Paradise Pier Hotel and it was our favorite.  Great food, not the most selection but the best quality of food, and by far the most characters. Our babes had a blast.





Then we headed to California Adventures for a bit, then back to Disneyland for the parade and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (Carter's favorite ride)








Third day we went to the princess breakfast at Ariel's Grotto.  Honestly, it was quite awful.  Very rude staff, crappy food, and the princesses were not very nice and only spent about 1 minute at our table.  Maybe we'll go again when Lue is a little older, in a few years, but would much rather head back to Surf's Up with Mickey.








Then we walked around a bit, did Tarzan's treehouse (one of my favorite parts of Disneyland) and watched the fireworks from our newfound favorite spot, at the beginning of Main Street.  It was great.







(Love the picture above... I hate people staring at me... and people just gawked at the stroller all day long.  It made me really uncomfortable but so worth it.  That stroller made the trip so much easier)


Fourth day we at the Chip and Dales Storytellers Cafe.  It had good food but definitely not child friendly.  They had a few bear characters, pretty good food but nothing outstanding... but I'm definitely not complaining.

Then we met Jessie (from Toy Story), went on Toy Story Mania (super fun) and did the splash park.







 We went to World of Color but it was so crowded, I could hardly reach in my purse to get my camera out.  But here's me and my sleeping infant after the show on the pier.  The show was great and we sat next to this nice family with tween girls who held the boys during the whole show so they got to see everything. It was great.

Fifth day we used our "Morning Madness" and got into the park and our early and rode "Finding Nemo" with barely any wait, and then Stephen took both boy on the Matterhorn and they loved it. Then we went for brunch at Minnie's Breakfast, so convenient and always great characters.





We rode a few rides, went to lunch at our favorite Mexican place, Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante.  So quiet and gorgeous... and amazing fish tacos.




And our sixth and final day, we started with Goofy's Kitchen in Disneyland Hotel.  They had a great spread of food, great service but not quite as many characters as Surf's Up Mickey... so I'd say it was a tie for best places to eat. 






Then we went to Wilderness Explorer Camp where the boys met Dug and Russell and became SENIOR Wilderness Explorers.  This place was a blast, so much climbing, sliding, and swinging. The boys loved it.




 Then we headed back to Disneyland to get Nolie her first pair of Mickey Ears (that don't quite fit), meet Tinkerbelle (and Vidia) and one last stroll down Main Street.





It was such a great trip.  We had a blast.  We stayed right across the street at Best Western Park Place Inn- Mini Suite and the service was great.  I just feel so blessed that I get to let my children enjoy this.  I have the most amazing husband in the world and he pretty much read my mind the entire trip, not to mention sponsored the entire thing.  We can't wait to go back next year, I'm hoping with just a double stroller, but we'll see.