A Whole New World
02-27-2008, 10:35 AM
I am so excited to be able to write about my first trip to Disneyland with my oldest son (3 years old). I decided to keep the little one home, he is only one, and I didn't think he would benifit much from this trip. My sister and nephew( 1 year old) accomponied us as well! She decided to bring along her one year old. That was her choice!
We flew out on Delta airlines from Phoenix on the 22nd. Things started out a little rough. After parking and taking a shuttle, then finally making it to the check in counter, I realized "Where's my carseat?" So there goes my sister. Away from the check in counter, back on the shuttle, back to the car to retrieve the carseat. She finally returns, and we get our bags checked in. Phew, things are feeling much better. We make it through security and decide we better get something to eat before loading the plane in order to prevent any meltdowns. We grabbed a quick bite to eat from Wendy's and proceeded to the gate. We waitied about 20 minutes and finally it was time load. My son was so excited. it was great to see him this happy! We get on the plane, and my son let me know that he was going to be good. "Thank God". We take off and have a pretty smooth flight. Arrive in LA around 5:30 pm and catch the Avis shuttle to pick up the rental car. Everything went smooth and we were on our way to Anaheim. We were terrified because we had no idea how to get there, but we made it. Finally we reach the exit ( DISNEYLAND DR) WOW! What a reief. I finally feel like the trip has begun. As we drive by Downtown Disney and Disneyland, I feel overwhelmed with excitement! We arrive at Travelodge International Inn, and get checked in. By now my son is sleeping hard. We get to our room and change clothes, and back out to check out Downtown Disney. We walked around Downtown Disney for about 45 minutes and decided we were way to tired, so we decide to head back to the hotel. On our way out, my son is extremely upset because he didn't get to go on any rides. he thought that was it. that was all there was to Disneyland. Poor thing. I explain to him that we have to get some sleep so we can go on all the rides the next day! He threw a little tantrum, but hey... I probablly would have to. We make it to the hotel and finally get to sleep around midnight.
February 23rd.
I had the alram set for 5:00 am. I wanted us to all be ready so we could head down for breakfast at 7:00 and be on our way to Disneyland by 7:30. Hahaha. We must have been sleeping to good. At 6:15am, I jump out of bed and jump in the shower while yelling at my sister to get out of bed:) We all mage to get ready and be out of the hotel by 7:25am. We head down to the lobby, grab some quick pastries and juice, and jump in the car. Get parked and we are on the Disney parking tram by 8:00am. Disneyland opened at 8:00 and we were through security check and in the park by about 8:25 am. I have to admit as I walked into the park, i felt tears build up in my eyes. It was the greatest feeling to be able to take my son to Disneyland and show him this amazing place I had gone as a child. This was my first time back in twelve years, so it was a great thing to share with him. At this time I wished I had my youngest son with us as well, but I knew he was still too little. We walked down mainstreet and as we approached the castle, my son realized we were finally here. this is what he had seen on T.V, and this is what he couldn't wait for! The first ride we saw was the rockets (orbitor) so of course my son wanted to ride it. No line... sure why not. We jumped on. As we were up in the air and I felt the breeze on my face... it felt so good to be able to hold on to my son and see the HUGE smile on his face. Next we jumped on the Buzz ride. There wasn't much of a line, so we rode it twice. My son loved it. We stopped at the end and emailed our picture to grandma! Next my sister wanted to take my son on Star Tours. i wasn't sure if he was tall enough, but BARELY... he was just at 40', so this meant he could ride just about anything, but Indiana Jones. Me and my nephew walked around while they rode star tours and we managed to find Buzz Lightyear. he was signing autographs and taking pics. So we waited in line and had our picture taken. When we were done, they were just coming off the ride, and we headed toward Matterhorn. I took my son on the ride, while my sis and nephew rested a bit. We waited about 15 or 20 minutes and then we were on. Surprisingly, my 3 year old son loved it! Next we headed towards Peter Pan, but the wait was pretty long, and because we hadn't been there long, I didn't want to make my son wait yet, so we went on Pinnochio. No wait at all, and he loved it. We got off, and then my sister took him on again, as I watched my nephew ( he was now sleeping in the stroller). We finished up and decided to head over to Pirates. This is the ride I had been waiting for1 We all went on pirates and my son was a little unsure about it, but he did fine! He said he would go on again later. Next we headed over to Haunted Mansion. Another short wait and we were on. My son was doing great. he still wasn't scared. By now, I was STARVING. As we walked we noticed the whinnie the pooh ride, so we jumped on! It was cute! I though"ok, as soon as this ride is over, I need food) But sure enough as we get off, we spot Whinnie the Pooh, Tigger, and Eyore taking pics so we wait in line. Just as it is our turn, they need a water break. So we waitabout 5 minutes while the characters take a break. After we have all of our pics taken we head back towards the center of the park in search of food. We spot a pretzel stand so we each get a pretzel with cheese and sit on a bench to eat. Everyone olved them, but me. I wasn't satisfied, so I decided it was time to try the all so famouse Dole Whip that everyone talks about. We head over to the Dole stand and we all get a Dole Whip. As we are sitting on the bench with Dole Whips in hand I notice the clouds starting to role in. I knew this was coming so I was prepared. i wasn't going to let it ruin our day. I get out the rain coats, as it begins to sprinkle. It was now around 2pm. We head over for a quick bathroom break and we are off to more rides. We head to Toontown, and ride Roger rabbit, anf the Go coaster. Back to Pirates, then head to shop to purchase some Mickey ears! We decide to head back to the hotel for about an hour and rest. As we are headed back to Disneyland the sprinkles are still off and on, but the park was still fairley busy. We head over to Autopia, and grab a fast pass. in the mean time we go back to pirates, and head over to splash mountain. We were able to ride three times. There was no wait at all, and my son, again... LOVED IT! By now, it was almost 9:45pm and time to use our fast pass for Autopia. me and my son run from Splash Mountain to Autopia, while my sis purchases the picture from Splask mountain. At this point all I can think of is the fact I HAVE to make sure my son is able to ride everything he wanted to ride in the next two hours. I had to make sure he got in Autopia, Dumbo and the Casey Junior train. We make to autopia and even with the fast pass, we wait about 25 minutes. We take our ride and meet up with my sister around 10:15pm. As we were headed towards Dumbo, she decides she wanted to take my son on matterhorn one more time so she could ride. they wait in line as I head over to Dumbo to see how long the line is. it isn't too bad. they come off the ride around 11:00pm and we head over to Dumbo, and fianally the Casey Jr Train. Phew.... my son got to ride EVERYTHING he wanted to ride. I was satisfied, and we were all exhausted. We head through the castle and back down towards mainstreet. On the way we stopped so my son could get a churro. We leave the park and take one look back and think about how we have to come back soon. We were sad to leave, but we had been there about 16 hours so i think we were ready! We got back to the car around midnight and headed back to the hotel.
The next morning we wake up around 9:00 am, got everyone ready and headed down to checkout. We decided to visit Downtown Diseny on last time before we caugh the plane home. We did a little shopping and ate at Tortilla Joe's, and then headed to LAX. The flight home was pretty eventless, and here we are now, back in Arizona ready to plan my next trip to Disneyland with Both the kids and my boyfriend..... I hope you enjoyed my first report. Sorry it was so LONNNNNNNNNNG!:D
We flew out on Delta airlines from Phoenix on the 22nd. Things started out a little rough. After parking and taking a shuttle, then finally making it to the check in counter, I realized "Where's my carseat?" So there goes my sister. Away from the check in counter, back on the shuttle, back to the car to retrieve the carseat. She finally returns, and we get our bags checked in. Phew, things are feeling much better. We make it through security and decide we better get something to eat before loading the plane in order to prevent any meltdowns. We grabbed a quick bite to eat from Wendy's and proceeded to the gate. We waitied about 20 minutes and finally it was time load. My son was so excited. it was great to see him this happy! We get on the plane, and my son let me know that he was going to be good. "Thank God". We take off and have a pretty smooth flight. Arrive in LA around 5:30 pm and catch the Avis shuttle to pick up the rental car. Everything went smooth and we were on our way to Anaheim. We were terrified because we had no idea how to get there, but we made it. Finally we reach the exit ( DISNEYLAND DR) WOW! What a reief. I finally feel like the trip has begun. As we drive by Downtown Disney and Disneyland, I feel overwhelmed with excitement! We arrive at Travelodge International Inn, and get checked in. By now my son is sleeping hard. We get to our room and change clothes, and back out to check out Downtown Disney. We walked around Downtown Disney for about 45 minutes and decided we were way to tired, so we decide to head back to the hotel. On our way out, my son is extremely upset because he didn't get to go on any rides. he thought that was it. that was all there was to Disneyland. Poor thing. I explain to him that we have to get some sleep so we can go on all the rides the next day! He threw a little tantrum, but hey... I probablly would have to. We make it to the hotel and finally get to sleep around midnight.
February 23rd.
I had the alram set for 5:00 am. I wanted us to all be ready so we could head down for breakfast at 7:00 and be on our way to Disneyland by 7:30. Hahaha. We must have been sleeping to good. At 6:15am, I jump out of bed and jump in the shower while yelling at my sister to get out of bed:) We all mage to get ready and be out of the hotel by 7:25am. We head down to the lobby, grab some quick pastries and juice, and jump in the car. Get parked and we are on the Disney parking tram by 8:00am. Disneyland opened at 8:00 and we were through security check and in the park by about 8:25 am. I have to admit as I walked into the park, i felt tears build up in my eyes. It was the greatest feeling to be able to take my son to Disneyland and show him this amazing place I had gone as a child. This was my first time back in twelve years, so it was a great thing to share with him. At this time I wished I had my youngest son with us as well, but I knew he was still too little. We walked down mainstreet and as we approached the castle, my son realized we were finally here. this is what he had seen on T.V, and this is what he couldn't wait for! The first ride we saw was the rockets (orbitor) so of course my son wanted to ride it. No line... sure why not. We jumped on. As we were up in the air and I felt the breeze on my face... it felt so good to be able to hold on to my son and see the HUGE smile on his face. Next we jumped on the Buzz ride. There wasn't much of a line, so we rode it twice. My son loved it. We stopped at the end and emailed our picture to grandma! Next my sister wanted to take my son on Star Tours. i wasn't sure if he was tall enough, but BARELY... he was just at 40', so this meant he could ride just about anything, but Indiana Jones. Me and my nephew walked around while they rode star tours and we managed to find Buzz Lightyear. he was signing autographs and taking pics. So we waited in line and had our picture taken. When we were done, they were just coming off the ride, and we headed toward Matterhorn. I took my son on the ride, while my sis and nephew rested a bit. We waited about 15 or 20 minutes and then we were on. Surprisingly, my 3 year old son loved it! Next we headed towards Peter Pan, but the wait was pretty long, and because we hadn't been there long, I didn't want to make my son wait yet, so we went on Pinnochio. No wait at all, and he loved it. We got off, and then my sister took him on again, as I watched my nephew ( he was now sleeping in the stroller). We finished up and decided to head over to Pirates. This is the ride I had been waiting for1 We all went on pirates and my son was a little unsure about it, but he did fine! He said he would go on again later. Next we headed over to Haunted Mansion. Another short wait and we were on. My son was doing great. he still wasn't scared. By now, I was STARVING. As we walked we noticed the whinnie the pooh ride, so we jumped on! It was cute! I though"ok, as soon as this ride is over, I need food) But sure enough as we get off, we spot Whinnie the Pooh, Tigger, and Eyore taking pics so we wait in line. Just as it is our turn, they need a water break. So we waitabout 5 minutes while the characters take a break. After we have all of our pics taken we head back towards the center of the park in search of food. We spot a pretzel stand so we each get a pretzel with cheese and sit on a bench to eat. Everyone olved them, but me. I wasn't satisfied, so I decided it was time to try the all so famouse Dole Whip that everyone talks about. We head over to the Dole stand and we all get a Dole Whip. As we are sitting on the bench with Dole Whips in hand I notice the clouds starting to role in. I knew this was coming so I was prepared. i wasn't going to let it ruin our day. I get out the rain coats, as it begins to sprinkle. It was now around 2pm. We head over for a quick bathroom break and we are off to more rides. We head to Toontown, and ride Roger rabbit, anf the Go coaster. Back to Pirates, then head to shop to purchase some Mickey ears! We decide to head back to the hotel for about an hour and rest. As we are headed back to Disneyland the sprinkles are still off and on, but the park was still fairley busy. We head over to Autopia, and grab a fast pass. in the mean time we go back to pirates, and head over to splash mountain. We were able to ride three times. There was no wait at all, and my son, again... LOVED IT! By now, it was almost 9:45pm and time to use our fast pass for Autopia. me and my son run from Splash Mountain to Autopia, while my sis purchases the picture from Splask mountain. At this point all I can think of is the fact I HAVE to make sure my son is able to ride everything he wanted to ride in the next two hours. I had to make sure he got in Autopia, Dumbo and the Casey Junior train. We make to autopia and even with the fast pass, we wait about 25 minutes. We take our ride and meet up with my sister around 10:15pm. As we were headed towards Dumbo, she decides she wanted to take my son on matterhorn one more time so she could ride. they wait in line as I head over to Dumbo to see how long the line is. it isn't too bad. they come off the ride around 11:00pm and we head over to Dumbo, and fianally the Casey Jr Train. Phew.... my son got to ride EVERYTHING he wanted to ride. I was satisfied, and we were all exhausted. We head through the castle and back down towards mainstreet. On the way we stopped so my son could get a churro. We leave the park and take one look back and think about how we have to come back soon. We were sad to leave, but we had been there about 16 hours so i think we were ready! We got back to the car around midnight and headed back to the hotel.
The next morning we wake up around 9:00 am, got everyone ready and headed down to checkout. We decided to visit Downtown Diseny on last time before we caugh the plane home. We did a little shopping and ate at Tortilla Joe's, and then headed to LAX. The flight home was pretty eventless, and here we are now, back in Arizona ready to plan my next trip to Disneyland with Both the kids and my boyfriend..... I hope you enjoyed my first report. Sorry it was so LONNNNNNNNNNG!:D