I would like to say
that when we told the kids
we got the most perfect reaction ever...
but
that was not the case.
Ellie shrieked (in a fake-ish I saw it on the movies so I am going to copy it reaction)
(although the tears were genuine)
Lucy was like,
"it's not that big of a surprise"
I feel bad for anyone who wishes to surprise her.
It will be difficult and even upon success you will be met with
a reaction not worth the planning.
(BUT I expected this reaction from her...I was just hoping I was wrong)
and Penny had really no clue what was going on.
She knew it was big.
She had heard of this place
but really
no clue.
We stayed a hotel I would totally recommend.
We stayed at the Stovall's Inn best western.
Its like a 2 block walk.
and it's pretty
(the walk).
The hotel is clean and has some heated pools and a good continental brekkie.
First day we took the camera and the last day.
I didn't want to spend the vacation behind a lens.
I also didn't want to lug around tons of stuff.
Our original plan was to walk all of Disney then let the kids decide what to do.
That plan didn't work.
The kids were dying to do or see something and when we walked past pixie hollow
I thought they
were going to die!
I cannot even count how many times we rode the train around and around.
It was the least busy ride.
My feet were tired and the kids feets were sore.
and there is something very relaxing about the train.
We ate lunch at the hotel with the exception of the first day.
We found that the best routine was get up and get to the park
then about 12-1 when the heat and crowds are peaking
we snuck back the hotel
and ate and swam and napped and then came back about 5.
Even though we were there at Easter break
it was busy
but it was always clean
and always friendly
On our way back for a swim.
We spent a good part of the first morning there walking around-
taking everything in.
Meeting a few people.
Lucy got very hungry.
very hot
very tired
and VERY grumpy.
but like I said
after a little breather she came back a new woman and
we stayed most nights until after midnight.
The first night we came back and rode ALL the rides.
I am serious.
The kids wanted to go on everything!
It was almost dead in fantasy land so it was great.
The next couple of days
we did some of the bigger rides like splash mountain and space mountain.
pirates of the Caribbean was a huge hit
Ellie rode Indiana Jones.
Lucy was a smidge too little.
(now I guess we will really have to go back)
We went into California Adventure.
We didn't do a ton of park hopping but the 3rd and 4th days
we made an earnest effort to get into cars land.
A HUGE hit with Dusty.
At night when it's all lit up it actually looks like radiator springs.
Super impressive.
The 4th day was the big day.
We had another surprise for the girls.
We had packed princess dresses for them to wear to the park
(not the surprise but it may as well of been)
They were treated like queens.
People (that didn't even work at Disney)
would bow and curtsy to them as the past.
Poor Ellie was mortified at all the attention but
Penny LAPPED it up.
The people at Disney made even a bigger deal of them.
We went and got our cars tickets first thing and then headed back over to
TOONTOWN
we hadn't spent much time there and Ellie really wanted
to see Mickey's car etc.
At Minnie's make-up table
Checking out Minnie's dishwasher
My kids haven't seen much classic Disney cartoons
BUT
Minnie captured their little hearts.
She made such a fuss over them.
She had been in a different spot taking pictures but drug them
over to her garden house to have
tea with them.
At the end of her little tea party
Minnie was TRYING to tell Penny that she liked her bow
but Penny THOUGH Minnie was going to take it.
Penny let Minnie have it!
The lady that was Minnie's helper was laughing so hard she couldn't even translate Minnie's very exasperated pleas to appease Penny.
They did eventually make peace and share a little kiss.
After meeting Minnie
there was NO WAY
we were skipping Mickey
The girls were dying to see THEIR princesses so we set off to find them.
Walking through Sleeping Beauty's castle to find Snow White's garden.
I could also do an entire post of Penny hugging princesses.
They ADORED her.
and she LOVED it.
Twirling with Snow White.
I was amazed at how much time and effort was spent on each child.
We never felt pushed through.
The girls each got to talk to them and
they answered questions and
there was always lots of hugs.
Meeting Aurora
and Ariel
and Cinderella
Our Cinder "ellie" was thrilled to meet the real deal.
They even compared footwear tips.
We surprised the girls with Lunch at
Ariel's Grotto.
The food was so good
(not that they cared about that)
Meeting Belle
and Jasmine
and Mulan
After lunch I checked my Disney app to see who else was hanging around and discovered
COWBOY
We hustled over to frontier land.
Earlier in the week Penny met
Jessie
but
we had not seen Woody.
I wish that you could bottle emotions
I would of bottled this.
We had to make one more stop before we headed back to the hotel.
Penny got to meet Snow White
Ellie met Cinderella
but Lucy
needed to meet...
She put on Lucy's hat.
Lucy was enamoured.
That afternoon we went back to the hotel.
I was amazed at how the Disney experience panned out.
I thought we would meet a few characters and mostly focus on the rides
but we met all the princess or at least spotted them
with the exception of Pocahontas.
That night we went back to soak in the last bit of magic.
We caught Fantasmic again.
Ate churros on the the train.
Enjoyed seeing tinker fly over the castle.
and as the clock struck 12
we found ourselves in the warm California breeze eating corn dogs
by the glowing castle.
There were so very many splendid moments spent there.
I was worried that the crowds or the kids or my up-tightness
might change the magic
I had felt there before
but
it truly is the most magical place on Earth.
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