Celebrate You June 5-14 HoJo

[BrerMama]

We decided to wear our matching Mickey/Minnie shirts on this day. We woke up a little late due to our late night on Sunday, so we decided we'd just go to California Adventure. I took my fisheye camera, and we had fun posing in the big letters in the esplanade.

After that, we went over to Disneyland just to get our group photos taken by the Photopass photographers. We were over at California Adventure in time to be first in line at the entrance gates, and we were quite happy and surprised when we were asked if we'd like to open the park. We were let through the gates early, did a big countdown, and when the rest of the crowd was just coming into the park, we were already on our way over to Soarin' Over California, one of our favorite rides.

We spent our day exploring California Adventure -- the carnival-type rides of Paradise Pier, the fun themed rides at Bugs Land. Chesney finally -- finally! -- got to see Turtle Talk with Crush and we were all saying "cha" the rest of the week. That evening we took our 10% coupon and hit the World of Disney and did the bulk of our souvenir shopping.

All in all, a very fun day.

 

[auntiegem]

In awe of your photos!!!

 

[indiesgirl4ever]

Awesome! Love how you guys did the full CALIFORNIA

 

[Gidget]

How much fun you all had!!!! Reading your TR, makes me more and more impatient to get to Disneyland!!!! And you take amazing pictures!!!! What types of cameras do you use? (I'm in the market, as it were...)

 

[dawnrose]

Am loving this report! Your photoshopping is inspiring...I have got to get myself to learn this stuff! Can you post a link to your blog? I'd love to check it out.

 

[BrerMama]

In awe of your photos!!!

Thanks so much!!

Awesome! Love how you guys did the full CALIFORNIA

It was quite the feat to get them all. People were sitting in the C and leaning against another letter... the L, maybe? We politely asked them if they could move so we could get the photo. They were very kind in doing it.

How much fun you all had!!!! Reading your TR, makes me more and more impatient to get to Disneyland!!!! And you take amazing pictures!!!! What types of cameras do you use? (I'm in the market, as it were...)

I'm a Fuji girl, and I've made myself the poster girl for "you-don't-have-to-buy-a-DSLR-to-take-good-photos." I have a couple of good Fuji Finepix point and shoots (I'm too lazy to go get them and find out the model numbers, but I will tomorrow and post it). I also use Photoshop Elements to fix colors, crop, and just give them a little pop. So glad everyone likes them! My family gets sick of me showing them my photos!

Am loving this report! Your photoshopping is inspiring...I have got to get myself to learn this stuff! Can you post a link to your blog? I'd love to check it out.

I will post the link, but with a huge spoiler alert! I'm a couple of days ahead on the trip report on my blog, so if you read it, you will be spoiled here. So read at your own risk.

My blog is walk with us. Lots of digital scrapbooking stuff, some recipes, a lot of trip reports for Branson, some Disney planning reports. Just our life.

And now for the next chapter...

 

[BrerMama]

Tuesday...hmmm, what did we do Tuesday? Mostly we explored. Dan and the girls went up in the Tarzan Treehouse, everyone went over to the Pirate's Lair (which will always be Tom Sawyer's Island to my family), and I had a lot of fun taking photos of the whole adventure. By this time, Chesney had made some good friends who were staying in the room 2 down from us, and I spent my afternoon laying by the pool keeping an eye on her while she played with her friends. I should add here that the weather in California was pretty much my definition of gorgeous (although I'm sure some native CA people would disagree with me). It was in the 60s and low 70s every day, and there were several times we took hoodies with us for after dark. I like warm, with a hint of a chill, especially in the evenings. I do not like hot. It really wasn't swimming weather, but Chesney swam anyway. She was the only one that consistently swam, and I only got in the hot tub once and never in the pool. I'm not stupid. I did greatly enjoy the hours we spent by the pool, me in my coverup with a pop at one side and a book on my lap. I finished 3 books during the trip and made my way through 2/3 of a fourth.

Anyway, here's a sample of Tuesday's pictures:

 

[VallCopen]

Awesome report!!! I might have to cheat and read your blog, can't wait... Great Pics too.

 

[indiesgirl4ever]

60's and 70's burrrrr to cold for me! In a way being born and raised in Cali has a downside of many, you get used to warm weathr so when it's colder, I seem to bundle on the blankets xD. Hehe. Anyway, I can never get tired of your photography! (especially disney!) I would look at them all day xD
Love the TR so far! Can't wait to here more!

 

[dawnrose]

Thanx for posting your blog. Do you do only digital scrapbooking? Just curious...Noticed we read a lot of the same blogs...Love your trip report. You seem like you have a great time and do a lot, but also relax.

 

[BrerMama]

Awesome report!!! I might have to cheat and read your blog, can't wait... Great Pics too.

Cheat away. I'm so bad... I only read completed trip reports because I hate being left hanging!

60's and 70's burrrrr to cold for me! In a way being born and raised in Cali has a downside of many, you get used to warm weathr so when it's colder, I seem to bundle on the blankets xD. Hehe. Anyway, I can never get tired of your photography! (especially disney!) I would look at them all day xD
Love the TR so far! Can't wait to here more!

Oh, I hate the heat. We have been planning to go to Florida next year because it's a big anniversary year for us, and we are balking because after being in CA, we are not looking forward to the heat of FL. Here at home, the weather is in the triple digits right now with humidity, and I want CA weather back so badly! Give me "June Gloom" any day!

Thanx for posting your blog. Do you do only digital scrapbooking? Just curious...Noticed we read a lot of the same blogs...Love your trip report. You seem like you have a great time and do a lot, but also relax.

I was formerly a paper scrapbooker... from 2000 to 2004. I switched at the end of summer 2004. So I still read the blogs of a lot of paper scrappers. I'm all for getting up early and getting a lot done so that I don't feel guilty when it comes time to relax. The only thing that would make HoJo better is a pool bar...

 

[BrerMama]

Today was scheduled to be our day "off" but as the day grew closer, it was apparent to me that my family would not be happy laying by the pool or seeing a movie. I decided we should take a Gray Line tour, and because I am such a generous person, I let the family outvote me.

Our destination for today was Sea World. We arrived on our bus just before 11 am, and the first thing we did was get in line for the 11:30 Shamu show. While we waited, we looked at our map/times guide and made a plan for the day. During our approximately seven hours at Sea World, we managed to see 3 shows and all the animal exhibits we wanted to see, and added in a ride on the water ride.

It was a chilly day (probably upper 50s/lower 60s), so before we left Mykiah and I bought hoodies and blankets for the bus ride home. We got back to our hotel somewhere between 8:30 and 9 pm and hit McDonald's on the way back to the room. While I found Sea World charming and loved being able to look out to the ocean, the food was not good (actually, this was a theme on this trip). We were hungry when we got home, and McD's hit the spot. We went to bed as soon as we were done eating -- it's unusal for us to spend 7 straight hours in a theme park and we were pooped.

 

[indiesgirl4ever]

Today was scheduled to be our day "off" but as the day grew closer, it was apparent to me that my family would not be happy laying by the pool or seeing a movie. I decided we should take a Gray Line tour, and because I am such a generous person, I let the family outvote me.

Our destination for today was Sea World. We arrived on our bus just before 11 am, and the first thing we did was get in line for the 11:30 Shamu show. While we waited, we looked at our map/times guide and made a plan for the day. During our approximately seven hours at Sea World, we managed to see 3 shows and all the animal exhibits we wanted to see, and added in a ride on the water ride.

It was a chilly day (probably upper 50s/lower 60s), so before we left Mykiah and I bought hoodies and blankets for the bus ride home. We got back to our hotel somewhere between 8:30 and 9 pm and hit McDonald's on the way back to the room. While I found Sea World charming and loved being able to look out to the ocean, the food was not good (actually, this was a theme on this trip). We were hungry when we got home, and McD's hit the spot. We went to bed as soon as we were done eating -- it's unusal for us to spend 7 straight hours in a theme park and we were pooped.

We call McDonald's McCrulty havent been to Seaworld in so long! I love the Shamu show they have! Awesomeness!