Just Another Day in Paradise!: February 2013

DISNEYLAND

February 4th-9th 2013

After anxiously waiting since Christmas the time had finally arrived for our much anticipated trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.

All packed ready to go!

While we were making plans about going this year my family decided to join in on the fun again. (The last time we went was with my entire family as well) Everyone came again except one brother and his family. All 23 of us loaded up in three vehicles and were off. My mom and dad and a cousin Kassi rode with us. My girls are such great travelers (especially when going to Disneyland) but I like to pack lots of fun things for them to do anyway.

Our map to Disneyland that the girls cross off as we pass certain landmarks along the way.

Travel games: Bingo, Scavenger hunt, magnetic puzzles and

these adorable Disney dress-ups that I made with my cricut. I loved how they turned out. I also made up a Disneyland quiz we took on the way down as well. We had the ultimate "Party Vehicle"

Sadie also got into the spirit of things and painted her nails Disney Style before we left...so cute!

Okay, on to our trip...(I love everything about Disneyland. The sights, the smells, the sounds and just the magic of it all. No matter how many times we go I still take a hundred pictures. Since this is my journal as well I just decided to put in all the pictures and write about each day..soo beware of picture OVERLOAD!!)

Monday, February 4, 2013

Woke up bright and early, picked up my mom and dad and were on the road by 6:30 am. Our first stop was the Barstow train station for a quick bite at the McDonalds. The girls are all still in their pajamas. After Barstow we drove straight to Huntington Beach.

Disneyland 2013

Adam and the girls

Sadie doing cartwheels in the sand

Gentry having fun building sand castles.

Calli, Sadie and Gentry

Adam and Gentry walking up and down the beach looking for sea shells. It was a cold morning so we only stayed for about an hour and then headed to Anaheim.

All the cousins enjoying a dip in the pool.

Ashlynn and Calli relaxing in the hot tub.

The crew

After a swim, we all walked over to Downtown Disney and then to dinner.

We always stay at the Fairfield which is across the street from the park so we can just walk...so nice!

All of us crammed in the elevator heading back to our rooms.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Day 1

Peterson Family

Calli 15 years old, Sadie 12 years old and Gentry 9 years old.

We spent our first day all in Disneyland. We take full advantage when we go...we go an hour before the parks open and stay an hour after the parks close.

We have a family tradition that our first ride of any trip is always the Matterhorn.

Calli, Ashlynn and Sadie.

Next up Fantasyland...

Which way?

Sadie and Maddie on Dumbo

Me (in heaven) and Gentry on Dumbo.

Sword in the stone.

We also hit Peter Pan, Snow White, Pinocchio and Wild Toad.

Gentry and Adam walking through Sleeping Beauty's castle.

This is a little known fact that you can actually walk up and all through the castle. They have different scenes from the movie sleeping beauty throughout. We hit most of the rides here and then headed to

Tomorrow land...

Along the way, I had to get a picture of Walt's family crest above the castle. Just before we came my mom was doing genealogy and found out that Walt is my 10th cousin....that explains so much:)

And also, a stop by the Snow White Fountain by the Castle.

Adam and Gentry on Buzz Lightyear. Gentry was so much fun. While all the other kids wanted to be with cousins she was content hanging out with Adam and I. She would take turns picking me or Adam to ride with.

Grandma and Grandpa on Buzz.

Sadie taking her shooting skills seriously.

All of us getting on Star Tours.

And then Space Mountain.

This is one of our favorites so we spent a lot of time here going over and over again.

Gentry, me, Adam and Ben on Space Mountain.

And then to slow things down a bit...Autopia. As we waited in line for each ride we would decide who was going to ride with who. Gentry chose Adam for this one and then said "Since I'm riding with my dad, you can ride with your dad"

So I did. Me and my dad on Autopia.

I don't know why, but this ride always gets me laughing so hard.

We kept having to stop because of a car in front of us. After a while we realized it was Sadie. She said her foot kept getting tired so she would take a rest form pushing on the pedal.

Next we hopped on the railroad and rode it around to New Orleans Square.

Ashlynn, Calli and Talen huddled on the elevator of the Haunted Mansion.

After which we hit up Pirates, (several times)

(A Disney Staple)

And found the hidden entrance to Club 33.

Then off to Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise and the Columbia Ship

all the cousins on the Columbia

Sadie down below looking at how the settlers would have traveled while sailing around the World.

After Columbia we headed to Critter Country for Winnie the Pooh.

The cousins taking it easy in their honeypot.

Some of the younger cousins wanted to see the characters so we all did. My girls are kinda beyond wanting to see the characters now, so I was glad for the little ones so I could still get a few pictures of my girls with them.

Tigger

Eeyore

And Winnie himself.

The crew hanging out at the bottom of Tarzan's Tree house.

After hitting as many rides as we could Adam, myself, the girls and grandma and grandpa headed to the Blue Bayou where we had dinner reservations for 6:30 p.m.

Calli and Sadie eating as the boats for Pirates go by.

I have always wanted to eat here but could never bring myself to spend that much money on dinner. But we decided this year to finally do it and we invited my mom and dad to come with us as their Christmas Present.

It was so much fun and the food was really good. The best part was when all the other's jumped in a pirates boat and came by while we were eating. They all cooed and cawed as they came by. We were laughing so hard. Not sure if we'll do it again but it was tons of fun and now I can cross that off my bucket list. We finished eating just in time to jump on Pirates one more time before closing time.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Day 2

We headed straight to California Adventure and spent most of the day here.

I don't know how Sadie did it, but she always managed to find someone to push her in the stroller.

First thing, we hit Soarin' (a favorite among the family)

Apparently while in line my dad chained me to the wall. I didn't even notice until I went to walk off. I also didn't know that a picture was taken of it until it showed up on facebook...thanks Lacey.

And then to Tower of Terror, where we hung out for a while going on this ride over and over again.

Gentry is so funny. Tower of Terror is not one of her favorite rides but she never wants to be left out so she still gets on it. This is how she was during the entire ride.

The second time everyone got creative with their picture taking skills. Adam is asleep on Gentry's shoulder. I'm trying to be brave and holding my arms up, and Calli is fixing her hair and checking her watch for the time. Haha. After Tower we headed to bugs land to slow things down a bit.

Love this scene.

Grandma and Grandpa watching the kids run from ride to ride.

Calli and Gentry on the bumper bugs.

Grandma, Emily, and Gentry on the Ladybug Boogie

Uncle Brandon and Trasen on the train.

The kids running through the water trying to not get wet.

Sadie got caught.

Lunch time.

We took a minute in bugs land to eat and re fuel before we were off again.

Next we headed to Screamin'

Last time we were here Gentry was just a hair too small to get on. The cast member gave her a fast pass that she could use the next time she came and was tall enough. We held on to it this whole time. She has been so excited to use it.

Gentry getting ready to get on Screamin' for the first time.

She loved it and wanted to go again and again.

Adam, Gentry, myself and Brandon.

Adam and Gentry ready for round 2.

Sadie and Kassi

Gentry, Ashlynn, Talen, Calli, Tavin, Brandon, Jen and Austin ready for take-off.

No idea who these people are but I had to snap of picture of the guy in front wearing googles...too funny!

Sadie and Kassi posing for the camera

Adam, Gentry, Grandma and Ashlynn

Talen, Calli, Tavin and Brandon "Peace out"

After spending hours here we headed to Toy Story Mania.

Sadie and Gentry meditating in line.

All the cousins with their 3-D glasses on getting ready to get on the ride.

Talen and Trasen

Boo-yah! Adam and I kicked everyone's trash.

Sun Wheel fun! Gentry was feeling brave and decided to jump into a swinging car with some of the cousins while Adam and I got in another car. She did not like it at all. She was crying and we kept trying to talk to her and calm her down. Needless to say, after this she stuck with us more than ever. After Goofy's sky school, Zephyr and jelly fish we got on the new Little Mermaid ride.

This was so adorable we turned around and hopped on it again.

Then we headed to another little-known area...animations studio's. This is one of my favorite places in California Adventure. This is where you can talk to Crush (a must) play around sit and relax.. They have a whole section down stairs where you can take quizzes to see which Disney character your personality is most like, sing and act with clips out of Disney movies and watch how animation works.

Just outside Animation Studios. This was a everyday occurance with everyone...photo bombing. Everyone was always trying to pop into each others photo's. This time it was my turn. I love how Lacey is trying to shove me away from her hubby (my nephew)

Adam and I cuddling in front of Beast's fire place at animation Studios

Then to end the night we spent the rest of the time at the new Car's Land...soo fun!

Radiator Springs

Coney Motel

Gentry and Emily on Mater's Spinning tractors

Sadie, Maddie and Kassi

Calli and Ashlynn

Emily, Gentry and Trasen on Luigi's Tires. This was really cool. It's like a giant air hockey table. You just float around and lean on the direction you want to go.

And the highlight of the land, Radiator Springs Car Race.

This was seriously so much fun.

12 out of the 23 of us racing each other.

After California Adventure closed we took our family to Downtown Disney and played around.

Gandolf and

Beauty and the Beast at the Lego Store.

Afterwards, we went and ate at the Rainforest Cafe'.

It's a tradition for us to go each time we come.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Day 3

We used our magic morning early entry and headed straight to fantasy land to do anything that we might have missed the first day. We hit Matterhorn again, Storybook Canals (one of my favorites), Alice in Wonderland, Finding Nemo and the Monorail.

Hmm, what time is it?

Cute little door by the Alice in Wonderland ride.

Playing foot tag while in line for the Nemo Ride.

After early morning ended we headed to Toon Town to get in right as it opened.

Playing with a ball right outside Toon Town waiting for it to open.

View of Toon Town

First stop, Roger Rabbit Ride.

Dog Pound

Exploring Minnie's House

I thought this was so funny. Look at what Minnie is reading.

Gentry, Minnie and Emily.

Mickey's House.

When these three were about a year old we took this exact picture of them sitting in Mickey's window, now we do it each time we come.

Adam and Sadie waiting in line to see Mickey...Love this Picture!

The mouse himself.

My dad and I playing in Donald's boat.

Inside Goofy's house. I just love all the little houses here.

Calli imitating and copying Brandon. All the teenagers had so much fun with Brandon. He just paled around with them all and would often take off with just them and hit some of the big rides for a few hours.

After spending half the day in Disneyland we decided to head back over to California Adventure.

Getting a ride up Main Street on the Fire Truck.

Walt Disney's apartment above the fire station.

Playing on the fire truck.

Back at California Adventure we decided to hit Cars Land again.

Look, our initials.

The awesome wall. These are original oil bottles from Route 66.

Adam and Emily bonding in line.

Another Photo Bomb.

Racing grandpa and his car. This was my dad's favorite ride. (Love this picture)

Yeah, we won! Check out my hair..

A close-up. No idea how that happened. It looks like I went through a whirl wind. HAHA

Ben, Stacy, Tyson, Talen, Calli and Tavin

More Racers. Kevin, Austin, Jen and Ashlynn

After Car's Land we took some of the smaller kids to Monsters inc while the older kids headed back to do Tower and Screamin' again. Then we hit Soarin' and Little Mermaid again.

We ended the night heading back over to Disneyland for the parade.

Mickey playing the drums...so cool!

And then everyone went to Tony Romas for dinner.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Day 4

We hopped back and forth between parks again hitting anything we missed and going on our favorites ones one last time. Tower, Goofy's Sky School, Little Mermaid, Monsters inc and ff Course, Screamin'.

Smooch

It was rainy this day so we did a lot of inside stuff as well like:

The Sour Dough Factory tour. Another of my favorites that's a little unknown.

Tiki Room.

Sadie and Kassi modeling their String Cheese smiles.

And Shopping!

Another Disneyland must...the red wagon on Main Street...best corn dogs ever!

Around 7 pm we all walked back to the hotel ordered pizza, ate in our rooms changed into warm, dry clothes and headed back over for the World of Color.

Gentry modeling her interactive Mickey ears. These were so cool. They interact with World of Color and change colors throughout the entire show.

Adam wanted a turn.

Waiting for it to start.

Grandpa and Grandma with the grand kids.

The whole Crew!

Our Family!

Gentry's ears glowing during the show.

It was amazing!

After World of Color we had an hour and a half before the parks closed. We ran to Cars Land to do Radiator Springs again and then ran to Disneyland for one last ride on Indiana Jones and Pirates. Teh kids were sad it was over but our memories will last a lifetime!

Also, new this year I made a list of all the hidden Mickey's in the park and we kept our eyes peeled each day to see how many we could find. We did pretty well. Here's just some of the ones we found and took pictures of: