Day 2- Disney parks and a moody pre-teenager...

Day 2:

This morning started for us at 6:00- far better than the 3am alarm going off yesterday. We all were really well rested though so everyone was completely ready to go early. We got coffee at the hotel lounge and breakfast as well and then headed to Disneyland for rope drop at 7:30. At 8:00 we were let into the parks and laughed as people literally ran to get to their destinations (and yes, I have done it in the past but we were in no real rush today).

We headed first to Nemo Submarines and waited about 5 minutes or so to get on. That ride is a lot darker, louder and scarier than I remember and neither kid was really impressed. We went to Buzz Lightyear ride next (a hit w/both my kids) which is like a video game- you get space guns to hit targets throughout the ride. Next we rode Jungle Cruise, Pirates (which we literally walked into, and kept walking into we jumped in a boat. We didn‘t stop once for a wait!), Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones (which P was finally tall enough to ride and LOVED) and Small World. We then went on the much promised hunt for Star Wars gear for Aidan - who built himself a new double sided light saber (green).

We hopped on the monorail leaving Tomorrowland and went to Downtown Disney for lunch at the Rainforest Café, then shopping at the Lego Store. During this time (well the whole morning off and on really) Aidan turned into a sulky teenager which made things difficult to say the least.. Oh well.

We headed next to Disney’s California Adventure (where our hotel entrance is in), hit up Bug’s Land, walked along Paradise Pier and rode the carousel. We were walking along the pier and back to our hotel when we realized the Grizzly River Run water ride was a walk on ride (which most ALL the rides were today. Aidan really didn’t want to ride but he was a good sport. We donned our ponchos, which we hadn’t needed today- however there were a few sprinkles today during the sun and it amused us seeing umbrellas and rain boots on people. Obviously not Seattleites! We got stuck for a while at the very top of the drop which was really annoying and scared the kids- but then it was over (and yes we got wet but not as bad as the Kali River Rapids in WDW). We walked about hundred feet to our hotel and took a much needed break from the parks, as it was near 4:00.

Around 5 or so we headed back into California Adventure and rode Soarin’ over Ca - which we had fast passes for, and once again I rode the ride I really dislike but do so for my kids. P isn’t really a fan either but Aidan loves it, and Matt liked it. The weather was still really spotty at this point so the parks were still pretty dead but instead of doing anything else ride related we chose to go get dinner. Back through the hotel lobby we trekked and out the Downtown Disney exit and off to Tortilla Jo’s we went. It was about a 20 minute wait, and the food wasn’t great but the kids once again got balloon animals made for them so they were happy. Aidan however chose to once again get completely moody which wasn’t the greatest ending to the day. Matt and I commented we feel like we are traveling with a teenager. We went back to the hotel to drop off the balloon animals and were planning on going back into Disneyland for the fireworks but the rain was starting again (and the wind) so we stayed put.

It is now 8:45, Matt just went on an ice cream run, the kids are bathed and playing their DS’ and will soon go to bed. We have an early 5:30 am wake up tomorrow (magic morning entrance) so we def need sleep. Our last day in the parks is tomorrow, then it’s off to our Disney Cruise to Mexico!!


PHOTOS FROM TODAY picw #14-22 at http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj194/mom2aidannpiper/Disneyland%202011/