This trip, it was a dream. I mean, as much as a dream it can be with 3 tiny children and all. There were normal stresses, but the kids were absolutely fantastic: well-behaved, Oscar hung out in the stroller for 10 hours straight, the girls lit up with each ride or character sighting, better than I dreamed. And the girls did some major bonding or something, because ever since we've been home, they've been playing pretend and always coming up with new ideas and rarely fighting. Miracles happen.
So are you ready for 80 pictures? Sure, why not.
Juan dressed all suave because we stopped in at church once we got to Anaheim.
Maya- her first time flying with her own seat.
No squirms that licorice doesn't solve.
Snuggles with brother. On the flight home Maya said to me when I sat Oscar by her, "Mo-om, I'm not the mom yet." As in, stop trying to get me to take care of him for you.
Sweaty, sleeping baby. It was H O T. Really hot. But it didn't stop us.
Oh you know, when he poops all up his back and I'm not a prepared mom so we have to wash out the shirt on-the-go and let it dry in the sun.
We started the trip with Ariel's Grotto where they had breakfast and met Ariel, Belle, Tiana, Rapunzel, and Cinderella. It was the greatest start to the trip!
Oscar and my crazy eyes were there too.
Toy Story Mania! This was one of 4 rides that we waited about 30-40 minutes for. That was it, otherwise the lines were short or we did fast passes.
I love Amelia's face in this one. And my mom in the background with Maya (not pictured). Juan doesn't love to go on these teacup-like rides. He gets queasy.
"Okay I'll smile now mom" After the rest of the family has moved on.
Inside THE castle. Sleeping Beauty's castle so a lot of Maleficent and scary images. But they did love actually being inside a castle. And Amelia, she's fearless.
Dumbo! Oscar is thrilled.
Waiting for the parade.
My mom and dad got scooters that they were on and off all day. We didn't get to cut lines because my parents could park and come and stand in the lines. So we were honest :) Besides, we really didn't do much waiting.
Sweaty people at the parade.
Our first Mickey sighting! They were so thrilled. I wish I got video of Maya's big wide-stretched arms as she ran in for a hug with each character. This was so much fun for her.
Oscar was out for the night.
Train
Winnie the Pooh
Oscar got to go on a lot of rides, at least a dozen. And I always wondered if he was sad or scared, because I couldn't see him or hear really! So I snapped this picture with a flash to check out his face.
This happened. We waited 50 min just to get the reservation for later in the day, and then came back and waited 15 more min until we got in to see them. Not so bad. I wouldn't have done it, but Amelia just kept talking about how she was going to meet Elsa so we just had to put in the time. And it was all worth it.
Milk face.
We used the parent pass on a few rides so I was singing Slippery Fish to them as we waited outside Radiator Springs Racing. Let me just say, they were troopers. They were so good. I am amazed.
Classic picture with the grandparents.
On Pirates all together!
Minnie's House. I loved Minnie's house, and Mickey's. It is the cutest thing to walk through.
I love Minnie Mouse cuteness.
Oscar waving hi from Mickey's window!
And Mickey again, who doesn't love Mickey? Today we watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Amelia and Maya were talking about the characters like they were old friends. They've met them now afterall.
Goofy was the most fun character to meet. He was tickling them and they were just delighted by him.
I snuck in to meet Woody. They cut off the line and so we just waited until he was done meeting everyone in line and then the girls ambushed him! And of course he was so happy (the smile is painted on, can't lose there).
Mike!
Oscar clapped through the whole parade.
Buzz Lightyear!!!
Woody and Jessie!
Amelia was fearless. She did Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain (twice), Matterhorn, Thunder Mountain Railroad. She was game for anything. I looked over at her during Tower of Terror and there was 100% terror in her eyes, but afterward she would always say, that was fun! She'd tell us her stomach was doing flips and after each ride she'd show us how her legs were still shaking.
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Maya was our sensitive one. She didn't like the darkness in the rides. While we were waiting in line for Peter Pan, she begged for us to leave, in fact she tried to escape from us and leave the line by herself! Once we got on, she loved it, and just hid her face into my shoulder on the dark parts.
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What wonderful memories. It was worth putting off a van and not painting our house and Juan working 2 jobs for a bit and every other sacrifice we made to get there.
Disney, you were good to us.
