Disneyland with the fam

Okay, yes, I realize that I post about Disneyland a lot. I’m sorry, I just can’t help it, I LOVE DISNEYLAND! I love that we have passes and I love that I can go whenever I want to brighten my day, to entertain the kids, and to make family memories. This post will be no exception, but I promise, I will try to diversify in the upcoming posts. ;)

SO, I just found out about this thing where they do special Magic Morning hours just for season pass holders, on certain days of the week through April 14th. I’m bummed I just found out about it this past week, but still glad I had time to use it at least once! Yesterday we got up at the crack of dawn to make sure we were down at the park by 7:00am so that we could get in early and finally, finally, FINALLY ride Radiator Springs Racers.

You see, since the new Cars Land opened last June, that ride has consistently had lines of more than 2 hours most days that we have been there. Even the line for the Fast Passes is always incredibly long and usually runs out by 10 or 11am, sometimes earlier. So, being the anti-crowd kind of person that I am, I just didn’t have the patience to sit in either line, especially with two kiddos, since I usually go to the park just with them.

Fast forward to yesterday morning, where because we were able to get in an hour earlier than normal opening, we got to OPEN Cars Land, following Mater and Lightning McQueen down Route 66 to Radiator Springs Racers. I was so super excited that I was just smiling like an idiot the whole time. Of course, both kids were starting to get scared and whiny because they’ve never been on the ride either and Eli, especially, hates trying new rides because he doesn’t know what to expect. Thankfully, though, we convinced them both to try it at least once, and if they didn’t like it, they wouldn’t have to go again. Heck yes, I’ll be going again, in case you were wondering.

I loved the ride, it was just what I thought it was going to be and more! And we had so much fun riding through the beautiful scenery that they’ve built there, I really had the best time. The kids, predictably, will not be going again, but I can’t say I’m surprised.

We went and took pictures around Cars Land, with Stanley first and then with Lightning McQueen, who looked so lonely without anyone hanging out with him! :)

After we were done with Cars Land, we headed on over to Midway Mania, which we got to walk on and ride twice in a row! That’s unheard of with that ride, which is so popular it usually has at least a 30 minute wait time, consistently. We could have gone even more, but the kids didn’t want to. Seriously, whose children are these?? Midway Mania is one of my favorite rides at the park, I love the competitive aspect of it and the fun Toy Story theme. And I’ve been known to cream Nathan with high scores in the arcade-style shooting. Not that I’m bragging or anything…

After Midway Mania we went on Mickey’s Ferris Wheel – Eli and I going on the non-swinging gondola, while Nathan and West went on the swinging one. That turned out to be a bad decision for Nathan, since it ended up making him feel queasy! Poor guy. He decided to rest a little with the kids while I headed over to California Screamin’ by myself. Another of my favorite rides, can you tell? I love roller coasters!

Once that adrenaline rush was checked off my list, I meandered over to the boys and we tackled some of the small rides, like the Silly Symphony Swings and the Jumpin’ Jellyfish. West and I love those rides, although Eli won’t join us on them.

Finally it was off to Redwood Creek Challenge Trail to dutifully go through and check off the various badges that they have to earn, and a final ride on Soarin’ Over California before we headed home. All in all, it was a really wonderful, fun trip and we were even home by lunchtime! What a great way to spend a Saturday together as a family. And I’m always up for that!