We made it to California last night, and after a bit of a search (ie. husband got the wrong directions from someone, then wouldn't stop to put the right address into the GPS) we found the hotel. We found the room and dropped the bags off and then John, Steph, and Krystan went to get us some groceries. As they were leaving the fireworks were going off over at Disneyland. I was glad Caleb got to check them out from a distance to get a bit used to them. The noise sometimes scares him a bit. Finally got settled in-Caleb decided to be a big boy and sleep in the room with the girls on the top bunk! I was a bit scared about that, but he made it through the night without falling.
We woke up bright and early this morning. We got our bus passes and finally got to Disney's California Adventure Park about 9:45 or so. They were supposed to open at 10, but we got in right away. After a slight delay with 2 of the tickets printing wrong we headed over to ride Soaring. On the way we saw Lightning McQeen and Mater and Caleb went to have a chat with them. He was very interested in checking them out and not real interested in posing. He would have been content to hang out there for quite a while.
We woke up bright and early this morning. We got our bus passes and finally got to Disney's California Adventure Park about 9:45 or so. They were supposed to open at 10, but we got in right away. After a slight delay with 2 of the tickets printing wrong we headed over to ride Soaring. On the way we saw Lightning McQeen and Mater and Caleb went to have a chat with them. He was very interested in checking them out and not real interested in posing. He would have been content to hang out there for quite a while.
Then we headed over to Soaring and had just a very short wait. Very cool ride. It's a flight simulation ride and it's supposed to feel like you are on a hang glider. It's a bit of a shock when you start out. I lost my stomach and Caleb was a bit worried. I told him to close his eyes if he got scared and he did keep his eyes closed a good bit of the ride. You see this big screen and the wind blows over you and it does feel a bit like you are flying through the air. You go through clouds, a stream in the mountains, Disneyland at night, an orchard, over the ocean and a big cargo carrier, and several others I'm forgetting. When we asked Caleb when we got off the ride if he wanted to go again, he said NO! After that we headed over to ride the Toy Story Mania ride. We got over there and it was broken down, so John and Steph rode California Screaming and Krystan took Caleb on King Triton's carousel. After we rode the carousel we headed over to the ferris wheel and saw Jessie from Toy Story posing for pics. We got in line for that and when it was Caleb's turn he turned shy. Krystan took him up there so we did get a pic.
Then we headed for the ferris wheel and got in line. John and Steph joined us and we got on. It was pretty lame. It took forever to load and then we went one circuit around and that was it. It was fun to see everything from so high up though.
After that ride for some reason I thought the Mailboomer would be interesting to try. Steph, of course, agreed so off we went. There was little wait or I probably would have backed out. THis ride resembles the games at fairs where people hit the thing with a hammer and see if they can ring the bell, however on this ride, you are the device that goes up. You get in and you immediately are catapulted through the air to the top of this thing and then immediately fall down. I'm surprised I didn't pee my pants. Then you just kind of casually go up and down. It's not bad after that initial rise and fall.
Krys and Caleb went over to ride the Jumping Jellyfish. It's a kiddie ride that takes you up in the air and kind of floats you back down. Caleb looked nervous but seemed to like it.
We decided to try to get on Mulholland Madness again-they said Caleb was too short a bit earlier but just by a hair so we tried it again and were able to get him on. It's a small little rollercoaster and Caleb loved it and wanted to do it again. We tried but this time they wouldn't let him on. We didn't get any pics of that ride dang it because I didn't realize that John wasn't riding until it was too late. Oh well. We heard at this time that the Toy Story mania ride was back up and running so we got in line for it. It was about a 20 minute wait, but was a ton of fun. You have to put on 3D glasses and you ride a little car and go through different shooting galleries. It keeps score and was so much fun. John creamed me, but I'll get him next time. I think we all enjoyed that ride.
After that we decided to get some lunch and had pizza at Pizz Om Mow Wow. It was tasty and it was nice to rest for a bit.
We headed over to the Hollywood Studios portion of the park and saw Snow White and Dopey and the kiddos got their pics taken with them.
We went in the Animation Studio and checked out the exhibits in there and saw the show with the turtle from Nemo named Crush. It's an interactive show. You are watching it on a movie type screen, but he interacts with the crowd. He points people out and the CM (cast member) goes over with the microphone so that the people can talk to him. I was hoping that caleb would get to talk, but he didn't. It was a cute show.
After that we caught the Playhouse Disney show that features the gangs from The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, and Handy Manny. Caleb was glued to it, but by the end you could tell he was whipped so we headed back to the hotel for a nap and that's where we stand as of now. More later!
Then we headed for the ferris wheel and got in line. John and Steph joined us and we got on. It was pretty lame. It took forever to load and then we went one circuit around and that was it. It was fun to see everything from so high up though.
After that ride for some reason I thought the Mailboomer would be interesting to try. Steph, of course, agreed so off we went. There was little wait or I probably would have backed out. THis ride resembles the games at fairs where people hit the thing with a hammer and see if they can ring the bell, however on this ride, you are the device that goes up. You get in and you immediately are catapulted through the air to the top of this thing and then immediately fall down. I'm surprised I didn't pee my pants. Then you just kind of casually go up and down. It's not bad after that initial rise and fall.
Krys and Caleb went over to ride the Jumping Jellyfish. It's a kiddie ride that takes you up in the air and kind of floats you back down. Caleb looked nervous but seemed to like it.
We decided to try to get on Mulholland Madness again-they said Caleb was too short a bit earlier but just by a hair so we tried it again and were able to get him on. It's a small little rollercoaster and Caleb loved it and wanted to do it again. We tried but this time they wouldn't let him on. We didn't get any pics of that ride dang it because I didn't realize that John wasn't riding until it was too late. Oh well. We heard at this time that the Toy Story mania ride was back up and running so we got in line for it. It was about a 20 minute wait, but was a ton of fun. You have to put on 3D glasses and you ride a little car and go through different shooting galleries. It keeps score and was so much fun. John creamed me, but I'll get him next time. I think we all enjoyed that ride.
After that we decided to get some lunch and had pizza at Pizz Om Mow Wow. It was tasty and it was nice to rest for a bit.
We headed over to the Hollywood Studios portion of the park and saw Snow White and Dopey and the kiddos got their pics taken with them.
We went in the Animation Studio and checked out the exhibits in there and saw the show with the turtle from Nemo named Crush. It's an interactive show. You are watching it on a movie type screen, but he interacts with the crowd. He points people out and the CM (cast member) goes over with the microphone so that the people can talk to him. I was hoping that caleb would get to talk, but he didn't. It was a cute show.
After that we caught the Playhouse Disney show that features the gangs from The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, and Handy Manny. Caleb was glued to it, but by the end you could tell he was whipped so we headed back to the hotel for a nap and that's where we stand as of now. More later!
After Caleb's nap we headed out for Disneyland again. We had planned on going back to DCA but we didn't head out til after 6 and DCA closed at 6 so we went over to Disneyland. The crowds were substantially heavier at DL. People were already staking out their spots for the fireworks that started at 8pm. We had planned to go to Fantasyland but detoured to Tomorrowland instead because of the crowds. The kids rode The Astro-Orbiter first. This was one of Caleb's favorite rides last year and he really enjoyed it again.
Our next stop was Star Tours. It's a flight simulation ride that has you racing through space. Caleb and I hated it, but the girls loved it. It was loud and rough and messed with my equilibrium. Wish rides didn't effect me so. After that we headed over and rode Buzz Lightyear and that was a lot of fun. You ride through and shoot targets and fight Zurg. The only problem with that ride is that you end up in a store that sales all kinds of Toy Story stuff and Caleb wants it all.
It was a battle getting him out of there and at that point we decided to leave. It was around 8 so we headed for the exit, but stopped to watch a bit of the fireworks at the castle. The fireworks have a Halloween theme right now and are actually based on Jack Skellington from the Nightmare Before christmas. The little bit that we could see of the show was awesome and I hope we get to see more of it before the trip is finished. It's just so hard to get a good seat unless you stake it out hours before and it gets extremely crowded in front of the castle and all the way down Main Street.
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