Toy Story

We're here at The Happiest Place on Earth! Well....really....we're at the place across the street from The Happiest Place on Earth....California Adventure! We're staying at the Paradise Pier Hotel. Not bad. Not The Grand Californian which is our absolute favorite place to stay - but this is a good second option that saved some $$.

We hit the rode around 8:30AM yesterday and were at the park by 4. Not bad. The drive was OK though more traffic-y than I'd hoped. Guess we weren't the only people wedging in a 4 day weekend. Still, we only stopped once and made good time and thankfully, hit I-5 in LA mid-day so the traffic was bearable. Still stop and go but oh well. That's LA.

The boys headed straight for California Screaming and picked up Fast Passes. We all rode the giant ferris wheel - which terrifies me until we're moving consistently. And then you're only moving one or two times around and it's time to be terrified again while everyone gets unloaded. Of course, we were at the very top when the unloading started...I don't know why I get so scared hanging up in the air. We absolutely did not get into a swinging car - those put me over the edge. Even the 'stable' car swung more than I'd like and J. said 'honey, it has to swing a bit or we'd be upside down at the top'. Oh, yeah....Mr. Practical.....

It's just after 8AM and the room is full of the sounds and smells from a mass of people sleeping in one room. The boys are still snoring away. J. is showered. I'm getting showered next. We're having a sit-down breakfast this morning, heading straight to get our Fast Passes for the World of Color show tonight and then rides, etc. all day. I'm hoping to get to Disneyland today - and the Pooh store specifically.

We head home on Sunday and it's back to work Monday. Usually allow a 'recuperation' day in my schedule but Monday filled up with meetings that need to happen so I'll be heading in - undoubtedly suffering from a post-Mickey fog.

I do love this place. OH - and it's looking like I might be returning for a work related conference in the spring - and if that happens, I'm going to spend a couple days here ALONE....which will be lovely. It's the hardest part of any vacation - trying to get four people to agree what to do, when. The staging and scheduling is a nightmare. The boys are old enough to do their own thing and honestly, I'm sure if you ask them, they'd prefer to just be left alone. But armed with cards that allowing 'charging privileges' at any store, restaurant, kiosk, etc. - I'm a little less inclined to allow them to 'roam free'.

The water slide is right outside our window and it's fun to hear smaller kids having so much fun. This place is magical for all - but watching little kids light up at the sight of Buzz Lightyear brings back so many great memories of when our boys were those little people. Magic. That's the only word that describes it.

We're off. J. is on a mission to get those World of Color fast passes FIRST THING. We have access to them 1/2 hour before the general public and he is ON A MISSION.

Bye for now -