Trip 39: January 8
Times: DLP 8:40am to 1:40pm
[DCA 7:40pm to 10:00] [DLP 10:00 to midnight]
Cast/crew: Walt(8 months), Nancy(4), Roy(7), Kim(33), and myself(35)
For his birthday Roy asked for a nights stay at Disneyland. Sheraton Anaheim it was. Although we often take 4 to 6 hour jaunts to DLR, a full day and night at the resort is an exciting and different experience for us. The trip was packed with memories and magic. Ill forego a detailed minute-by-minute play-by-play and provide the first days highlights below after a quick ride list:
Roy and Nancy rode all the following with some variation of DW and/or baby Walt and/or me: Buzz Lightyears Astro Blasters, Gadgets Go Coaster, Roger Rabbits Car-Toon Spin, Mr. Toads Wild Ride, King Arthurs Carousel, Snow White, Star Tours, Jungle Cruise (actually Walt and I rode this unaccompanied while older kids/mom did Star Tours), Indiana Jones Adventure (Nancy missed out, shes still barely too short), Mark Twain Riverboat, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, and Space Mountain. Then on to the hotel for naps or, in Roys and Walts cases, pretend naps.
When we returned to the resort in the evening, the older kids and baby and I spent a half-hour at Redwood Creek, Roy rode Tuck & Rolls Drive em Buggies while sister rode Ariels Undersea, then we (the two older kids and I) rode Francis Ladybug Boogie twice. Around 10:00pm Kim and the two boys were winding down so Nancy and I finished up alone on a late night ultra stealth mission see the last highlight below.
Highlights: 1. The facepaint: Nancy is forever asking about facepaint but since we usually leave within a few hours of arriving, we cant justify the expense. Weve been telling her for a while Wait til brothers birthday trip. The night before the trip she asked Dad, do you super super promise I can get my face painted tomorrow? It was one of the days first stops. 2. Late Breakfast at River Belle Terrace: We heart this place. For breakfast, that is. 3. The Mark Twain Riverboat Wheelhouse: not our first time, but the skipper really made Roy feel like an honored guest for his birthday celebration. 4. Billy Hill and the Hillbillies @ Golden Horseshoe: we were in the right place at the right time as a family there to see the pianist got up to leave about 25 minutes before the Billy Hill show, so we got the private box to the left of the stage. What a treat. The musicians were all very gracious to Roy and wished him a Happy Birthday, serenaded him Happy Birthday, and Billy made him part of the show at one point by coming over to make faces at him and ham it up I cant easily put into words what happened but there are pictures and if youre familiar with the show it was the standard Billy Hill rompin stompin hillbilly rotten teeth humor. On a side note this was their final day of Christmas performances and the music was really cool. 5. Dinner and World of Color: We had Roys birthday dinner at Rainforest Caf in DTD. Dear-mother- and father-in-law joined us. The meal was nice, service was great, and the kids loved the atmosphere. Earlier in the day I ducked into DCA to get WoC passes, and convinced in-laws to head over for the show after dinner. They had yet to see it, hard to believe. Kids werent interested in WoC and were anxious instead to get to Redwood Creek, so Kim took her parents to the show; I went with the three kids. Everybody wins. 6. Hes 7 years old, hallelujah: There arent any rides at DLR Ill hesitate to go on. Well, theres one and it just so happens to be one of Roys favorites and it also just so happens that a child has to ride with a responsible person until hes 7, at which point he may ride alone. Tonight Roy ran through the Tuck & Rolls Drive em Buggies queue alone and past the CM declaring Dont worry, Im 7! before she could get in a word. He was bounding with all the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning. He marked the occasion by riding not once but four times. In a row. 7. An impromptu 10 to midnight daddy daughter date: I knew Kim and the baby wouldnt make it til midnight but was a little surprised Roy waved the white flag. Without a nap I shouldve known he didnt stand a chance. Nancy and I made an unforgettable two-hour 8-ride run: Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Winnie the Poohs Adventure, Splash Mountain, Star Tours, Space Mountain, and its a small world Holiday. With the exceptions of Star Tours and Space Mountain (whose rider switch passes were burning a hole in my pocket) she chose all the rides. When we decided at 11:45 the Matterhorn line was too long I turned to head to the hotel and she pleaded for one more ride. It didnt take much arm-twisting.
He only turns seven once so we snapped a lot of pictures
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