As I get ready to write up this post, it occurs to me that an entry like this one rather resembles something I remember hearing about from 'yester-year': get-togethers to view slides or home movies of someone else's vacation--fun for the ones reminiscing, but not necessarily so for those who didn't get to go along on the trip--so with that said, since this is truly more for us to mark our past we won't be offended if you just want to take a quick glance at the pictures/collages and then skip the write-up altogether...unless you really want to. : )
This very lo-ong entry is dedicated to all the fun we had during our very first visit to California Adventures. Throughout that day we took in as much of that park as we could, and though we didn't quite get to it all, we sure enjoyed ourselves trying!
For the first stop of the day M was very happy to try out the 'California Screamin" ride with J-rod. Li'l J was pretty bummed that he wasn't quite tall enough yet, so he, C-sta and I rode the carousel next door while we waited. As it turned out, while we had a good time riding the beautiful carousel and M LOVED 'California Screamin", it was apparently too soon after breakfast for J-rod to have tried that ride out! Poor guy, but what a good dad to have taken his boy on it huh?!?!
After reuniting and giving J-rod a few minutes to recover from having been turned topsy-turvy we headed next door to take our turn at the very popular ride, 'Toy Story Mania'. Fortunately this ride had just opened up for the day so the line wasn't too long. All of us had a really good time shooting our lasers and felt a bit like we were part of the Wii game our kids enjoy playing so much. : )
When we were done riding 'Toy Story Mania', we gave 'Mickey's Fun Wheel' at 'Paradise Pier' a try. Since this is a ride that tickles my tummy, we opted for one of the "mounted" gondola's (there is NO way I would have done well on one of the "free-mounted" or swinging gondola's. I'm getting motion sick just thinking about it!!).
The carnival-like atmosphere around 'Paradise Pier' was pretty neat--complete with all the sights, sounds, games, rides, and YUMMY smells of a true carnival--just like the beautiful pier that I grew up near. Being there brought back good memories, but I especially enjoyed that we were making our own good memories. While walking around the pier, we stopped to enjoy some of the fun smaller rides like the 'Jumpin Jellyfish' (where M saw one of his classmates), a roller-coaster that Li'l J was able to ride, and then we stopped to lunch on some yummy food at a beach-themed restaurant where we ran into a family from our ward that was also enjoying their Spring Break in CA. What a good day, at a fun place, to run into some great people we knew!!
Having stretched our legs some more around the park while giving our lunch time to settle, the time had now come for the boys to ride the 'Grizzly River Run'...the one ride they had all been looking forward to ALL. DAY. LONG! They were SO happy to have gotten a little wet. Normally this isn't my kind of ride but knowing that I had ridden and survived a similar ride at Sea World a couple years earlier (also on a Spring Break trip), the boys wouldn't let me get away without riding this one so we came back later in the day and I took a turn at riding it with my boys. I did survive this one too, though I seemed to have enjoyed it less...not sure why, especially considering I was pregnant with C-sta when I last rode this kind of ride and that is when I am most prone to motion sickness! One would think it would have worked out the other way around, but not this time...so weird.
While drying off a bit, we came across some favorite Disney characters that were more than happy to pose for a few pictures with their fans! Near these photo-ops was fun hang-gliding ride, 'Soarin' Over California' that almost bested me but the kids really enjoyed it.
Since C-sta was a pretty good sport throughout the first half of the day allowing us to stroll her around without getting to participate too much in all of the fun, during the second half of the day we took in some of the attractions that were more to her level and interest. 'Playhouse Disney Live!' interactively showcased some fun shows that each of our kids have each enjoyed at one time or another : Mickey Mouse Clubhouse; Handy Manny; The Little Einstein's; My Friend's Tigger and Pooh. Li'l J and C-sta had fun dancing to the music, and especially enjoyed it when bubbles and leaves fell from the ceiling as the four stories were being told.
'A Bug's Land' was filled with lots of rides that were just C-sta's size! It's a good thing J-rod did not go on 'Francis' Ladybug Boogie' with us because although it made me think of the 'Mad Tea Party' ride, the "bugs" on this ride are controlled by the ride (NOT you the rider) and they spin like CRAZY!!!
On our way out of 'A Bugs Land' we made found ourselves in just the right spot at the right time to catch the "Pixar Play Parade"going by. It was fun to watch our favorite Pixar characters as they danced right in front of us; some even stopped to share our hands!
When the parade was over we headed over to the 'Hollywood Pictures Backlot' where we took a taxi through 'Monstropolis' in the 'Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!' ride. Monster's Inc. is one of our favorite movies, so getting to be a part of the action was very exciting!
Once Mike and Sulley rescued Boo, defeated Randall, and returned Boo to her home, we took a break for dinner and then watched one last show on the 'Hollywood Pictures Backlot': Muppet*Vision 3D. The kids had a great time playing with all the HUGE props while we waited to enter the theater.
Since CA Adventures before Disneyland did and we weren't quite ready to return home, we headed back to the main park. It was here that C-sta decided it was hi-time we handed the map over to her, and it was a good thing we did because we finally got a photo-op with Mickey! We finally wrapped things up with all three boys riding the classic 'The Matterhorn Bobsleds' while C-sta and I had some fun at 'Mickey's Toontown'. A good ending to a great day!
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