When we went to Disneyland three years ago, we kept it a secret from the boys. It wasn’t until we were pulling in the parking lot and Ricky read a sign that said “Disney” that they figured it out. This time I wanted to get the boys excited about the trip first. I pulled out the scrapbook from 3 years ago and Rusty devoured it. We talked about characters and rides and things we’d see and do … the three older boys were ready.
We got to the Disneyland Hotel just before noon.
The hotel had been majorly remodeled since we were there last and some of our favorite picture spots were gone. We found other places to pose.
Our room wasn’t ready, so we stashed our luggage and headed to Downtown Disney, planning to catch the Monorail and ride into Tomorrowland. We were so excited to be there and so caught up looking at things, that we missed the Monorail station! But look how cool the Lego store was …
That is the dragon and prince from “Sleeping Beauty” made completely out of legos! The walk isn’t far and was very pleasant, we were just surprised when we were suddenly at the front gates of Disneyland!
Our plan was still to start in Tomorrowland with the Finding Nemo Submarines. I knew the line for that was almost always long and I figured the boys wouldn’t mind the long wait for their very first ride. I was correct. It was only about a 35-40 minute wait and may have been our longest wait the whole visit.
Here they are waiting and waiting …
Tommy and that darn pacifier. At home, he really only uses it when he goes to sleep, but he wanted it in his mouth almost the entire trip! I guess it is because it is a comfort to him and we were among all these strange people and places, but I’m not really thrilled to have it in every picture! We did forget it in the hotel room one morning – that was a mistake we did NOT make again.
While we waited for Nemo, some Jedi training took place on a nearby stage. When Billy saw Darth Vader come walking out, I nearly cried. He was so shocked to see a real Darth Vader and couldn’t take his eyes off of him. Billy’s mouth was hanging open and it was almost reverent the way he quietly said, “That’s Darth Vader!”
When we finally got on Nemo, the boys were all anxious to see what would happen. However, Ricky is at a great age, and intelligence level, to try and figure things out. He kept looking around and noticing that he could still see the top of the water, so we weren’t really down deep. Then he would notice that they weren’t really fish, but just movies of fish. Kevin and I had to take him aside and explain that he was welcomed to tell Kevin and I his discoveries, but he needed to keep the magic alive for his little brothers. He did a pretty good job.
After riding Nemo, we got some lunch and found a table with a great view of the stage so we would be ready for the next Jedi Training session. I got us some lunch and the boys chased birds and waited. What we didn’t realize was that in order to be chosen for the training, you had to be sitting in a certain section on the floor. It was very sad to explain that to the boys, especially since Billy was so patient and hopeful like this …
He sat that way for quite a while, even after all the kids were chosen. We were there plenty early for the boys to sit on the ground – bad mom moment!
After the initial disappointment at not being chosen, the boys attentively watched the other kids being trained to be Jedi’s. I told them that since they had watched so closely, they could practice training at home … and they have. It is light-saber this and light-saber that lately.
Grandmama showed up soon after the training and we did a few more rides in Tomorrowland, including watching the 3-D experience “Captain EO.” This is a Michael Jackson movie that first opened in 1985 or 1986, I forget which. They just brought it back. I do remember seeing it when I was a kid and thinking it was really cool. This time, I wasn’t so impressed, but the 3 older boys liked it. Tommy fell asleep.
Groovin’ on the 3-D glasses!
Tommy had missed his nap and was a bit wired and, yet, cranky. He liked holding Grandmama’s hand and spinning around. While we were waiting for “Captain EO,” he spun and spun … until he smacked his head into the railing. He had a lovely goose-egg. I was glad he fell asleep during the movie!
After getting our fill of Tomorrowland for the day, we went to Adventureland. We started in the Enchanted Tiki Room. The little boys were … enchanted by the the singing birds and flowers. As we left, Ricky assured me that those were just robot birds and they weren’t really singing. I told him maybe so, but the flowers were real. For a brief moment, I think he wanted to believe me!
We did some of the other rides and attractions in Adventureland, like the Tarzan Treehouse and, of course, the Jungle Cruise ride…
Since Ricky was being such a stinker and non-believer, I told him about the coolest thing ever that you can only see on the Jungle Cruise ride … the backside of water! As we went under the waterfall and the “cruise guide” showed us the backside of water, Ricky gave me a look. I think he wanted to think it really was cool, but he was realizing that there is no backside of water. How I love messing with that boy! It is good for him, right?
It was almost time for the Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, so we hunkered down on the Main Street curb and waited for it to start.
The boys were being so wonderful. They weren’t fighting or whining or wandering off. They were just perfect. And, even with Ricky’s looking for the reality instead of enjoying the imaginary, they all were caught up in the magic that is Disneyland.
It was everything I was hoping it would be … and then some! Rusty kept letting us know that he wanted to ride a roller coaster. When were we going to ride a roller coaster? Where are the roller coasters? I assured him that he would get to ride one … eventually. Sadly, the Matterhorn roller coaster was closed that whole week. He would have been tall enough to ride it. That just left the small one in Toon Town for Rusty to look forward to.
The parade was fun. There was a lot of music and dancing and Tommy was mesmerized!
This was his face for the entire parade … Really, the whole time …
When I was 18, I was informed by a Disneyland cast member (employee) that “there is no running in the Magic Kingdom!” This time I learned, “If you are sitting down and you are not on the curb, you need to stand up!” Mom, Kevin, and I just looked at each other on that one. I was sitting behind the kids, who were on the curb, and this lady came by twice telling me that I had to stand up. Instead, I just put one of the boys on my lap and scooted onto the curb, but I still don’t understand that particular “rule.”
After the parade, we headed to our hotel room. I had taught Ricky about all the hidden Mickeys that are lurking around Disneyland and he spent the first few minutes in our room looking for them. He found some on the shower tiles, the carpet, and on the bedspread. We even found a tricky one in the firework light display on our headboard…
(insert headboard picture here when I find it … I think Mom has one)
The boys were getting tired and ready for bed by this point. Rusty had a brief, but loud meltdown, to which Billy stopped him and said, “Rusty! Stop screaming! They are going to kick us out of Disneyland!” Apparently, there is also no screaming allowed in the Magic Kingdom.
It was a nearly perfect beginning to our adventure …