Disneyland..and so it begins!

Guest post by Mommy:

Well anyone who possibly still reads this blog knows that we have been counting down to our big Disneyland vacation. And it finally happened! We bought our annual passes and had a great five day vacation with Pete. I honestly took 200 photos.  Seems a bit much to upload on to the blog. We will see how it plays out.

We drove to California on Friday night and surprised the girls by staying in a hotel close to the park. They were really funny however when I told them about the surprise.

Cara: "Yeah! We can play at Disneyland's water park!"
Me: "Disneyland doesn't have a water park..."
Siena: "Ya huh, the hotel does."
Me: (realizing she thinks we're staying at the Disneyland Hotel) "umm, we're not staying at THAT hotel"
Cara: "Yea! the other hotel!"
Siena: "We're staying at the summer one with the fun elevator!" (Paradise Pier the other Disney hotel)
Me: "He he he...no. We're staying at just a normal hotel."
Cara and Siena: "Ohh.." (they looked a little crestfallen!)

But despite that slightly hilarious beginning, the girls really were excited. Iva travelled amazing and we made it to the hotel by about 10 pm California time. Not too shabby but then Siena and Iva both seemed impossible to put to sleep. Which was a big deal because we were going to be up and at the parking lot by 6:30 am! We had purchased park hopper tickets with the intent to upgrade to passes, but we really wanted that extra magic hour that you get with 3 day and up park hopper passes.  That's why we were at the park so early.

A Disneyland first for me occurred, I was one of the first TEN cars into the parking lot! Wahoo! That extra hour at 7 am on a Saturday proved very worth it. We ended up spending 16 hours or so between both parks that day and the first 4 hours were the best. We accomplished so many rides before the lines filled in.

Highlights from day one:

-Iva's very first Disneyland ride will go down as Alice in Wonderland.  She was even awake and appeared to look at everything!
-Siena LOVED every roller coaster and big kid ride. She was so excited to bounce between Star Tours and Space Mountain.  (Unfortunately Splash Mountain and Big Thunder were both closed!) We were able to work the stroller pass and fast pass system so beautifully for her.
-Breakfast with Minnie in the park was fun. I was slightly disappointed by it, but the food was yummy and I think it would have been more fun sans a three month old baby! We got to meet Captain Hook!
-Annual passes were bought!
-I discovered the joy of Disneyland's baby care center. California Adventures just wasn't as nice.

Go to sleep!

Waiting to get in!

First ride!

A great baby!

The baby care center really was delightful.. 

Exhausted!