The kids were bouncing off the walls though because today we got to do Carsland!!!! We had walked through but not done any rides and the couldn’t wait. The main big thrill ride (Radiator Springs Racers) never had a stand by wait time of less than 75 minutes so you either needed to be first in line in the morning (as in RUN to it) or get a fast pass (but the line just for the fast pass were often an hour too).
Our plan was to run. Lol. We got in line at 8:30 and were 3rd at our turnstile. When the gates opened we booked it but there had to be about a hundred people in front of us. I had read a tip online that if you keep to the right you will get ahead because the cars come down the road (Lightning, Mater, etc) on the left and all those people will merge over but if you are already in the right then you can go fast. It worked!!! There were maybe 20 ahead of us but each car held 6 so it went fast. It was a fun ride!!
Kids LOVED it! By the time we got off the ride the wait was already 45 min so there was no way we were riding again. We did do the Flying Tire ride (just like the classic DL flying saucer ride)- you get in and the air turns on and your tire hovers. You have to lean/shift your weight to get your tire moving. We all found it easy (and we got it going fast) –I was with Aidan and Matt and P rode together. Us grownups just put our arm around the kid to make sure we all leaned the same direction. It was a bit like bumper cars too- you could crash another tire:) We also rode Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. Kids LOVED it. It’s really fast, spinning and lots of jerking. Matt and I both had hurt shoulders afterwards but the kiddos thought it was great!
After that we walked around and met a couple characters (more autographs!) and Piper wanted to ride California Screamin (no way for Aidan though). Poor thing though- her and Matt rode and she ended up with a he red bruise all down her spine. She was over the height requirement but just got thrown around in her safety seat! She also got a little queasy going upside down. During that time Aidan and I rode the huge ferris wheel (I am NOT a fan of it but sucked it up for him).
We wandered a bit more around DCA then went to get an early lunch in Carsland. We tried Flo’s diner (made to look like a gas station outside). Decent food and the kids got cute Lightning lunch boxes. We found the hidden patio area of the back (most sit out front or on the right side) and the Racer ride goes right by it so the kids were super entertained all through lunch.
We initially were planning on going to the beach the next day but the kids needed a break from the parks (we did too) so we checked Alamo and switched our reservations for today! We finished lunch then headed back to the hotel to grab towels and change. Off to the beach we went!
We went to Huntington Beach and it wasn’t too crowded which was really nice. Kids loved how big it was we all enjoyed just laying around for a cpl hours. Piper even found a pressed penny machine on the pier! Aidan didn’t care. He gave Piper his book and change:) She by this point has almost filled up an entire book!
On our way back to the hotel we stopped at the Hyatt Regency hotel and I checked in there. I am doing a boudoir shoot there tomorrow and we needed a non Disney modern hotel to do it in. This one was perfect. Close to us and my hair/makeup gal and not too far for Sarina to drive from LA. I ran in, got checked in, made sure the room was good and then jumped back into the car with the family.
We went across the street and ate at Red Robin before heading back.
After returning the rental we got into Carsland right at dusk when they do the lighting ceremony. They play the Shaboom song from the movie and one by one all the shops/rides come on. It’s really authentic to the movie and so cute. We rode Maters a cpl more times and the kids got snacks from Cozy Cone. The park closed at 8 so we headed out and let the kids swim for a bit at the hotel before bed. Another great day!
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