MommyTo3Boys1Girl
12-12-2006, 10:04 PM
The boys and I arrived in SNA about 2:30pm on Tuesday December 5th. We were pleased to see all 4 of our bags made it, including my oldest son's carseat, which ended up in Kansas City last time we flew in to SNA, and our stroller. Gathered things up and headed out to catch Super Shuttler. We were directed to Royal Shuttle, driven by a sweet Grandpa type, named Jack. There were already 4 other people in the shuttler, so we filled it, and were on our way. Of course, last ones on, last ones out, but that was ok, since my 3yo had fallen asleep and I was happy for him to have a bit of a nap. Arrived at HoJos and was greeted by a friendly bellman, who loaded all our bags on the cart and waited while we checked in to our favorite room. He took our bags to our room, found out he is from Cheney, WA, which is not far from where we live in Spokane. Great guy. We unpacked and headed to DL for a couple rides and fireworks. Only had about an hour in the park, as it was closing early for the CM party, but we were able to see the fireworks and snow, from along side ROA, which wasn't crowded at all. We stopped at McDonald's on our way back to the room, then had dinner in the room and to bed early.
Weds. December 6th, the boys were up at 6, and raring to go. I had stayed up getting our bags ready, so we were at the park before rope drop. Both the boys loved singing along as the music played as we marched in at the rope dropped. We hit about 2/3 of the rides in the park, that the boys could go on. My 5yo requested a ride on HMH, they had never been on HM at all, and they loved it. My 3yo missed the 40 inch mark by 1 inch, he was trying hard, standing on his toes, etc. He was SO upset. He wanted to go on Splance and BTMRR. It helped that he wasn't tall enough, in getting him to eat, he eats like a bird. We enjoyed our sandwiches near the Carnation stage on both Weds. and Thurs., watching the bands play was a nice relaxing change. We spent the day at DL, it was nice and quiet, lines were short, longest was Peter Pan, about 10 mins. We ended up staying later than I had planned, they go to bed at 6:30pm Pacific time normally, to watch the parade, which was nice. Both boys fell asleep in the stroller on the way back to the hotel, SO glad I brought the double stroller.
Thursday December 7th, was about like Weds. Crowds were light, we finised all but about 4 rides and spent the afternoon at DCA. We left at 6pm as I knew we would be having a long day on Friday. The boys loved being able to meet Mater and Lightning.
Friday December 8th, my dad and DH met us at the hotel in the morning and we headed to the park for breakfast at River Belle. My dad hadn't been to DLR in 25 years, so he was shocked at all the changes. My oldest, 5yo, was tall enough for Indy so we fast passed it and took him on it. He rode with his head down and eyes closed the entire time. hehe We did some rides there until about 2pm, then headed over to DCA, he had obviously never been there. We stayed there until closing, 8pm, I took him on TOT, and then headed back to DL to get a spot for the fireworks. Both boys fell asleep in the stroller on the way from DCA to DL, so DH took them to the hotel to put them to bed. Fireworks were spectacular, as expected.
Saturday morning, December 9th, we had breakfast at Denny's. DH woke up feeling sick, so he stayed in the room. We immediately road Autopia when we arrived at the park, and then it was shocking how busy it was. It seemed like a summer day to me. So crowded. Lines were getting so long, and it was miserable to walk around. We only went to TSI and then did the canoes before my DH had enough, he had only been at the park for an hour, and left to go back to the hotel. We shopped and left DLR at about 3pm. It was a huge disappointment to my kids, they love to ride POTC as our last ride, but I couldn't see standing in line that long, we had already ridden it 5+ times. We took my dad through DTD and over to the Disneyland to walk around. We were back at the room by 5pm, and had dinnner at Mimi's.
Sunday December 10th, it was up at 5:30am for Jack to pick us up for our ride back to the airport.
All in all a great trip. Here is a link to the photos, if anyone is interested.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZuGbds3YtWwG
Does anyone know why Saturday was SO crowded? I have always sworn off DLR on weekends, but this just seemed SO extreme to me!
Weds. December 6th, the boys were up at 6, and raring to go. I had stayed up getting our bags ready, so we were at the park before rope drop. Both the boys loved singing along as the music played as we marched in at the rope dropped. We hit about 2/3 of the rides in the park, that the boys could go on. My 5yo requested a ride on HMH, they had never been on HM at all, and they loved it. My 3yo missed the 40 inch mark by 1 inch, he was trying hard, standing on his toes, etc. He was SO upset. He wanted to go on Splance and BTMRR. It helped that he wasn't tall enough, in getting him to eat, he eats like a bird. We enjoyed our sandwiches near the Carnation stage on both Weds. and Thurs., watching the bands play was a nice relaxing change. We spent the day at DL, it was nice and quiet, lines were short, longest was Peter Pan, about 10 mins. We ended up staying later than I had planned, they go to bed at 6:30pm Pacific time normally, to watch the parade, which was nice. Both boys fell asleep in the stroller on the way back to the hotel, SO glad I brought the double stroller.
Thursday December 7th, was about like Weds. Crowds were light, we finised all but about 4 rides and spent the afternoon at DCA. We left at 6pm as I knew we would be having a long day on Friday. The boys loved being able to meet Mater and Lightning.
Friday December 8th, my dad and DH met us at the hotel in the morning and we headed to the park for breakfast at River Belle. My dad hadn't been to DLR in 25 years, so he was shocked at all the changes. My oldest, 5yo, was tall enough for Indy so we fast passed it and took him on it. He rode with his head down and eyes closed the entire time. hehe We did some rides there until about 2pm, then headed over to DCA, he had obviously never been there. We stayed there until closing, 8pm, I took him on TOT, and then headed back to DL to get a spot for the fireworks. Both boys fell asleep in the stroller on the way from DCA to DL, so DH took them to the hotel to put them to bed. Fireworks were spectacular, as expected.
Saturday morning, December 9th, we had breakfast at Denny's. DH woke up feeling sick, so he stayed in the room. We immediately road Autopia when we arrived at the park, and then it was shocking how busy it was. It seemed like a summer day to me. So crowded. Lines were getting so long, and it was miserable to walk around. We only went to TSI and then did the canoes before my DH had enough, he had only been at the park for an hour, and left to go back to the hotel. We shopped and left DLR at about 3pm. It was a huge disappointment to my kids, they love to ride POTC as our last ride, but I couldn't see standing in line that long, we had already ridden it 5+ times. We took my dad through DTD and over to the Disneyland to walk around. We were back at the room by 5pm, and had dinnner at Mimi's.
Sunday December 10th, it was up at 5:30am for Jack to pick us up for our ride back to the airport.
All in all a great trip. Here is a link to the photos, if anyone is interested.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZuGbds3YtWwG
Does anyone know why Saturday was SO crowded? I have always sworn off DLR on weekends, but this just seemed SO extreme to me!