Disney Days

Its been awhile since our family ventured to Disneyland all by ourselves without friends or family with us. So we decided it was time!! On the drive to Disneyland in early November, I asked everyone what they were most excited about doing, this is what they said:
Carter- Seeing Mickey and riding Space Mountain
Hanna- Visiting Belle and riding; Peter Pan ride, California Screamin', Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, and Madderhorn
Jake- Seeing Goofy, and riding Its a Small World and Madderhorn
Josh- Seeing Goofy and Donald, and then riding Pooh Bear Ride, Pirates of the Carribean, and seeing a parade
Cole- We decided we were most excited about meeting Mickey Mouse and Lightening McQueen, and riding Pooh Bear Ride, and Buzz and Woody rides with him!
Mommy- Meeting Mickey and Minnie and riding Soarin' Over California and Space Mountain.
Daddy- Meeting Woody and Buzz and riding Tower of Terror

When we got to our hotel, we were so thrilled. It was located right across the street from the entrance to Disneyland. We stayed at the recently remodeled Park Vue Inn. They were so accomidating and the rooms were perfect for our family. The best part of the next morning was waking up to continental breakfast and then walking right across the street to the park!!! No more shuttle, long walks or anything. I don't think I can go back to that. I think I will always stay that close from here on out.

We were so excited for Cole to meet all the characters.....but he was scared to death when it came right down to it

It was the very beginning of November when we got there so throughout the three days we  were there, the park kept converting from Halloween to Christmas right before our eyes.  This pumpkin was gone by the third day!

These two cuties and I rode the caresoul.  Aren't they so cute??

I'm so grateful that Hanna still wants to meet the princess characters

The kids woke up to new Disney T-shirts the first morning!

When we went over to California Adventure, we were happy to meet Mater and Lightening who now reside permanantly right across from The Soaring Over California ride.  Since Cole is too short to ride that one, he met his favorite characters with mom or dad over and over throughout the three days while the rest of the family rode that ride together

"C" kids day two!

We met up with our Las Vegas friends the Hathaways for a lot of this day.  They have cute girls that were a lot of fun to ride with.  Little Evan their youngest was a hoot too! 

Hanna is riding with the Hathaways here

Pluto doing what he does best!

Sully was hilarious covering Hanna's face at the last second when I took the picture!  (side note:  Hanna wanted one of the pin collecting lanyards for a souvenier this time.  She picked a really cute one and got here first pin which was a Tower of Terror one)

Josh took his turn at Jedi training.  We brought the Yoda costume and ears and had him wear it to ensure he would get up on stage.  Worked like a charm!  The Master who Narates said: Wow this one is so fast you couldn't even see him do his moves!  We were so proud of Joshy 

Cole always has at least one character car from the Cars movie to entertain himself....he can name them all!

Ridding Madderhorn with Audrey, Kirsten, Ava, and Evan!

We started the Third day at the Tikki room which none of us had ever done before.  Wow.  I don't think we'll go back.....that was weird. 

The man with the vision. 

We had three perfect weather days while there

We were standing in Tomorrow Land when I turned to Jared and said " I really wanted Cole to meet Buzz and we haven't seen him yet"....Right then literally Buzz walked out and we were one of the first groups to meet him. 

I really wanted to get a picture of Hanna with Belle this trip since she played Belle in June in Beauty and the Beast Jr. at Hollywood Kids Academy

The trip was a success!  The military was running a special so we decided to stay the third day and let the kids miss one day of school.  It was worth it so we could take it easier and ride some of our favorites one more time. 

Trip summary:

Josh and Cole had a great time this trip playing at Toon Town Running from thing to thing

Cole was scared of every ride because they were dark until the third day when he finally started getting used to them and realizing they were a lot of fun! 

The kids got soaking wet on the Grizzly River Rapids at California Adventure and on Splash Mountain

Carter road Space Mountain over and over

Madderhorn really whips you around (what a neck ache)

The New World of Color show at California Adventure was super cool, but they need to figure out a better seating arrangement!

The parades sure are amazing

Joshy wanted to ride Pirates of the Caribbean just so he could buy a sword at the shop at the end!

We saw a cute western show in Frontierland that we had never seen before

Jared is the master of the fast pass and has us here and there and everywhere to make the best use of our time

We love this Happiest Place on Earth together!!