Okay, so for those who missed the back story... Last year after a traumatic and difficult high risk pregnancy which resulted in a beautiful baby girl, we had a weekend where we found out my FIL had cancer, he died and our house burned down in the space of about 48 hours. While we all got out safely, the experience was... traumatic... to say the least. Then my identity got stolen. We've had a rough year, okay? But once the house was rebuilt and the identity thief was in jail and my credit score was mostly repaired, there was some insurance money left over. So we went to Disneyland for a week as therapy. We figure we needed it.
We drove down to LA on Thursday 5/12 and hit Olvera Street for a late lunch. El Cielito Lindo taquitos are a long standing tradition in my family and they are bliss in a paper boat! >swoon< Did a little shopping, got some biznaga (cactus candy) and a t-shirt to help my mom expand her Our Lady Of Guadalupe Awful Tchakes collection.
We headed on down to Anaheim and checked into the Carousel around 5. The valet parking was mandatory at that point but it was also free, so no harm no foul. Our room was clean and nice but *tiny* I mean, seriously mini. This would not have been a problem if our older kid was smaller, but more on that later. I called Disney dining on a whim and discovered that not only could I get us in at Goofy's, I could have my choice of timeslots. We ambled on over for a 7 PM dinner.
Okay, here's what I should have thought of ahead of time. A seven foot dog in a chef coat? Not a happy thing in the world of a 1 year old. Sure, some babies are probably just fine with them but it is NOT a given. Baby Who was Just Not Having It. She wibbled at Minnie. She whimpered at Chip. She wailed when blindsided by Pluto. (Who tried really hard to get her comfortable, even coming back later and trying from a distance.) The only character there she was okay with was the Fairy Godmother. The delineation between face and non-face characters remained a thing for her the rest of the trip. Still, the food was good, the people were nice and it was an excellent start to our Disney.
Friday: 5/13. DD's 1st Birthday. We were there for rope drop, I swung out to get Space Mountain FPs (because Buzz FPs are closed) and then we rode Peter Pan for her first ever Disney ride. The child is a natural. She blew raspberries at Hook and giggled at the Crocodile. Nice.
We whisked DS over to BTMRR (his favorite ride except Star Tours) and then back to Tomorrowland for Buzz. Not efficient, but it got Mr Who and Boy Who their choices. We indulged in Space Mountain with the use of Fast Passes and rider swap and DS (13) decided that for one more reason, having a baby sister is a mighty fine thing. Double rides? All good in Whoville.
Note: Those buttons for "1st trip" and "Birthday" and "Just Married" and stuff? Sure, you could wait in the long line at City Hall, but the nice lady at the Wait Times board in the hub will give them to you while waiting for BTMRR to call back and tell you they've found your kid's cell phone.
We did DL for most of the day, not heading to DCA until around 4. Rode Soarin, took the baby on the Triton carousel (NOT a winner!) and determined that there was no single rider line for Mr. Who on Screamin. Sad.
This was the day we failed our "back to the room for a nap" roll and it cost us. We ditched out before fireworks because we were so tired.
Bonus: The Carousel has a *gorgeous* view from the breakfast room which they open for fireworks. No, you don't get the soundtrack but it's still a great show. (One family had an inability to control a badly behaved child but once a guy who *has* to have been retired military barked, "Stop turning those lights on, young man! You're being rude to everyone!" the matter was settled. I heart that man, wherever he is.) It was probably better not to be in the park anyway. I have an unfortunate habit of bawling at the schmaltzy music and it's embarassing.
Just the explosions are wonderful and less humiliating for me.
Dinner was totally cheating- we had Quiznos from downstairs and called it a night. Tired Happy Whos. Although Boy Who got pummeled with pillows when he read the fire evacuation instructions and started a sentence, "wouldn't it be funny..." Stinker!
(more later)
We drove down to LA on Thursday 5/12 and hit Olvera Street for a late lunch. El Cielito Lindo taquitos are a long standing tradition in my family and they are bliss in a paper boat! >swoon< Did a little shopping, got some biznaga (cactus candy) and a t-shirt to help my mom expand her Our Lady Of Guadalupe Awful Tchakes collection.
We headed on down to Anaheim and checked into the Carousel around 5. The valet parking was mandatory at that point but it was also free, so no harm no foul. Our room was clean and nice but *tiny* I mean, seriously mini. This would not have been a problem if our older kid was smaller, but more on that later. I called Disney dining on a whim and discovered that not only could I get us in at Goofy's, I could have my choice of timeslots. We ambled on over for a 7 PM dinner.
Okay, here's what I should have thought of ahead of time. A seven foot dog in a chef coat? Not a happy thing in the world of a 1 year old. Sure, some babies are probably just fine with them but it is NOT a given. Baby Who was Just Not Having It. She wibbled at Minnie. She whimpered at Chip. She wailed when blindsided by Pluto. (Who tried really hard to get her comfortable, even coming back later and trying from a distance.) The only character there she was okay with was the Fairy Godmother. The delineation between face and non-face characters remained a thing for her the rest of the trip. Still, the food was good, the people were nice and it was an excellent start to our Disney.
Friday: 5/13. DD's 1st Birthday. We were there for rope drop, I swung out to get Space Mountain FPs (because Buzz FPs are closed) and then we rode Peter Pan for her first ever Disney ride. The child is a natural. She blew raspberries at Hook and giggled at the Crocodile. Nice.
We whisked DS over to BTMRR (his favorite ride except Star Tours) and then back to Tomorrowland for Buzz. Not efficient, but it got Mr Who and Boy Who their choices. We indulged in Space Mountain with the use of Fast Passes and rider swap and DS (13) decided that for one more reason, having a baby sister is a mighty fine thing. Double rides? All good in Whoville.
Note: Those buttons for "1st trip" and "Birthday" and "Just Married" and stuff? Sure, you could wait in the long line at City Hall, but the nice lady at the Wait Times board in the hub will give them to you while waiting for BTMRR to call back and tell you they've found your kid's cell phone.
We did DL for most of the day, not heading to DCA until around 4. Rode Soarin, took the baby on the Triton carousel (NOT a winner!) and determined that there was no single rider line for Mr. Who on Screamin. Sad.
This was the day we failed our "back to the room for a nap" roll and it cost us. We ditched out before fireworks because we were so tired.Bonus: The Carousel has a *gorgeous* view from the breakfast room which they open for fireworks. No, you don't get the soundtrack but it's still a great show. (One family had an inability to control a badly behaved child but once a guy who *has* to have been retired military barked, "Stop turning those lights on, young man! You're being rude to everyone!" the matter was settled. I heart that man, wherever he is.) It was probably better not to be in the park anyway. I have an unfortunate habit of bawling at the schmaltzy music and it's embarassing.
Just the explosions are wonderful and less humiliating for me.Dinner was totally cheating- we had Quiznos from downstairs and called it a night. Tired Happy Whos. Although Boy Who got pummeled with pillows when he read the fire evacuation instructions and started a sentence, "wouldn't it be funny..." Stinker!
(more later)
We were also on our family vacation to DL from 5/9-5/14. We also had dinner at Goofy's kitchen on 5/12, the same day as you to celebrate our son's first birthday. I just thought that was neat and had to share.
This guy came over and told Mr. Who that his kids though he was some guy named Marty Stouffer who makes nature films. Mr. Who was going to pose for a photo until the guy's wife told him to stop it. 
