Disneyland Anaheim, Way Overdue!!!!

This year my partner and I (mostly my partner) decided we should do a family vacation to the California Disney parks. This would include the elder generation of our mothers, us, the eldest child and her two girls. After months of planning it paid off. Everyone had a great time with a Disney Christmas.

Thursday 12/18/12:

Tonight we told two little girls they are headed to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure for their Christmas gift. I think it’s safe to say they didn’t believe us, until they unwrapped their new Minnie ears, both specific to each kids personality, also in the package was a map of the parks, that’s when they realized they were really going!!!!!

Monday 12/22/14:

With the need of a minivan and none of us drive one, I rented one from Hertz. I have to admit I am Hertz loyal as they always take care of what I need, to the point now I am a preferred customer. The intention of getting the van a day before leaving was to prepack, however the prepack turned out to be minimal. We were able to load the red wagon (for towing kids) the emergency road kit and the dry snacks bin. As we drive a somewhat older car, it was a lot of fun to play with the panel buttons of a modern vehicle.

Tuesday 12/23:

Amanda off at 1pm, load car and load kids, load mom and her luggage (as well as cooler and food box). Start the 7 hour road trip at 2:30 pm. Stop at about 6:30 for gas and snacks. Really heavy traffic due to trucks on the grapevine. Even heavier traffic arriving into the heart of Los Angeles. As we neared the Disney exit the fireworks were going off, we all joked that Disney was celebrating our arrival to vacation.  We all unloaded to our rooms at the Travelodge Anaheim.

Wednesday 12/24:

Our first day at classic Disney. We started the day with the girls meeting Mickey and Minnie. Then the character breakfast at The Plaza. We were greeted by goofy, Minnie, Rafiki, Gepetto, Captain Hook, Peter Pan, Chip and Dale, Tigger, Pooh, Pluto , Donald Duck, Fairy Godmother. (it was a breakfast buffet ).

From there we started for the rides. By end of evening after watching Fantasmic and the fireworks we had oh competed half of the park. (Lunch at French market then dinner at Aladdin’s Oasis. )

Thursday 12/25:

Off to Disney California adventure. First thing was a meet and greet with Elsa and Anna from frozen. Then breakfast on the pier. Then it was off to cars land. We did the racing first then the tractors. Then it was off to Ariel’s Under the Sea, then California Soarin.  After that we meandered around and just popped in and out of wherever finally seeing the production of Aladdin and also Crush the Turtle.  We celebrated Christmas with a late lunch at the Rainforest Cafe and enjoyed all of the animated activity.

The kids played in bugs land and the production in the bugs land theater was excellent in 4D. (Dinner was sandwiches in the room)

Friday 12/26:

Back to classic Disney park. Breakfast was in Tomorrow-land, then we hit up the rides we missed the first day. Unfortunately it became so crowded by 10 we skipped a few favorites. This however made us reevaluate what to do. So we saw a Mickey show we normally wouldn’t have watched some of the street bands, had lunch at grizzly bears. Then it was off to the holiday parade. From there we called it an end of vacation.