{Travel Diaries} Disneyland 2015 - Days 1 & 2

I'm I'm We took Ellie to Disneyland and had just the best time ever!  I haven't been there in over 15 years so it was so fun to go back and finally check out California Adventure.  They were just finishing it up the last time I was there.  This is going to be quite the recap so I think I will break it down to 3 posts. #parsonsdisney2015 on IG @lifeonthefarm

It was so funny because we got a few different reactions when friends and family learned we were taking Ellie to Disneyland at 20 months old.  Lots of people were like "Wow! You're going to have so much fun!" while others immediately exclaimed "She won't remember it".  Let me just tell you regardless if Ellie will remember this trip, she had a total blast and seemed to love every minute of it.  But lets just explain why we chose to go when we did. Ultimately, Thomas and I have been dying to go to DL for a long time and its pretty expensive to go.  When we realized that Ellie could be "free" the whole way we jumped on the opportunity, since kiddos fly free until age 2 and then they get into DL for free until they are 3.  So there you have it.

Some crazy Highlights: the strollers ya'll, I mean I get that you can't bring them on the rides but just the stroller parking is hysterical and the things people leave in their strollers is wild.  I can't tell you how many iPhone 6+ I saw just chilling in the cup holders!!!  The tantrums that kids throw at the Happiest Place on Earth had me rolling (PTL that Ellie was even tempered). The amount of walking you do. And Fast Passes have got to be the most genius idea ever!

OKAY, onto our 4 days in Downtown Disney, Disneyland and California Adventure.

Travel days are always long days.  We left early on a Tuesday morning to the airport.  Ellie was very patient and just the best little traveler. (It might have something to do with our 6.5 hour roadtrip home when she was 3 days old)  I brought my trusty Ergo to carry her in while on the plane and let me tell you it is the way to fly.  We did get early boarding so we could pick our seats (Southwest) and Ellie had a great time reserving seats for Thomas and Papa.  We brought lots of snacks, some books, quiet toys, and coloring books/crayons but you were content for about 80% of the flights in the Ergo.  She slept for a majority of the first flight to Sacramento but the little girl behind us started to have a meltdown which woke Ellie up and she was not going back to sleep.  Oh well, she was a dream the rest of the flight with looking at a few books and coloring for a bit, but then Nanny pulled out her iPod Shuffle and taught Ellie how to listen through an ear bud and she was hooked!  We brought our stroller and a car seat since the airport shuttle we were using told us it was mandatory...then they didn't even make us use the damn car seat!!

When we arrived at our hotel we were starving so we checked in dropped our bags off and went to eat at the restaurant in the hotel...it was food, though not impressed.  After we ate we walked around the hotel for a bit and then back to our room.  We got Ellie a swim suit and a puddle jumper right before we left so we wanted to check out the pool - Ellie's first time in a pool (or larger body of water than a bathtub).  The water was a bit cold but she had a blast once she got used to the idea of a giant bath!  It was so much fun taking her for that first experience.  Then after the pool we went back to the room to dry off and change before we headed out to Downtown Disney!

Y'all, I don't think I can even tell you how excited I was for this.  I have never been to Downtown Disney before and it did not disappoint.  I mean the Disney Store is giant and then all the other options out there.  They have a Build-A-Bear with limited edition Disney characters for sale!!  Several restaurants to choose from and I have never been to a Lego Store before but their displays outside with larger than life Disney Characters made out of lego's is unbelievable, I mean how did them make them????  We had pizza for dinner that was so good and Ellie was definitely tuckered out after all the fun!

DAY 1 in Disneyland

We got up bright and early to get ready for our first day in Disney.  We got a 3 Day pass.  We had coffee (just the cheap stuff at the hotel) then waited in line for the first shuttle of the day.  

oops she smashed her face!

When we arrived at Disneyland they had already opened the gates and we were able to walk right in without any line waiting!  We took our selfie photo in front of the iconic flower Mickey Mouse and walked into the main square.  

 

As we were passing the Character Corner (idk if that is what you call it) Pluto was just walking out, so I quick got Ellie out of the stroller and told her to go see him...she went running towards him and then he walked behind a worker and she lost sight of him, which resulted in her running around in circles looking for him (you can see the video on IG @lifeonthefarm) it was hilarious.  Then she finally caught sight of him grabbed his hand and walked to his "station" and got a photo with him #precious.  I was actually surprised with her enthusiasm with the characters since we haven't really watched any Mickey Mouse shows (maybe a total of 8 times) and had know idea if she even recognized them...I guess she did!  

After our impromptu photo sesh with Pluto we headed down Main Street to the Walt and Mickey statue for a photo - unfortunately they were repainting Cinderella's Castle so it was all covered with a screen :(  

I had heard that the meet a Princess could get crazy so we headed there first and only had a 10 minute wait.  We got to meet Belle, Cinderella, and Snow White. Of the three I think that Ellie was the biggest fan of Belle, she was great with her and since orange seems to be the color that Ellie is drawn to I think the yellow dress had something to do with it.  

After meeting with the princesses we went to Fantasyland so that Ellie could get some rides in.  We started with the carousel, since that was the recommendation by so many, and then to Dumbo.  She did great with both rides so we tried out Mr. Toad's Wild Ride = success, so onto Pinocchio and Snow White and again = success.  For some reason though those rides seemed a lot darker than my memory, anyone else?  As we passed the Tea Cups there was no line so we jumped right in, all 5 of us, and it was cramped!!! no leg room, I had to put my feet up on the seat.  The Alice in Wonderland ride had a fairly short line so we waited for about 10 minutes there and this was Ellie's favorite ride hands down!!

I think she is having fun!

We had reservations to eat lunch at the Blue Bayou in Pirates of the Caribbean so we headed that way and I don't ever recall the line for Pirates to be that short ever!!  So we took a ride on that and once again I totally didn't realize that there were two drops in that ride.  So fun and Ellie loved getting splashed with the water (we got the front row).  Then it was time to check in for lunch.  You guys!!! This was the best restaurant ever.  I have been down to NOLA back in high school and I don't remember the food being that good.  Thomas and I shared the Jambalaya and had the Gumbo for an appetizer.  I am craving Gumbo every single day now!!  (I tried making some the other night and it was good but not comparable at all)

Our plan was to head back to the hotel for Ellie's nap but she fell asleep in the stroller so we took advantage of it and Fast Passed the Indiana Jones Ride (for Thomas and Papa) then went to wait in the 15 minute line for Thunder Mountain (taking turns of course).  We did some looking around and then headed to Tomorrowland to Fast Pass Space Mountain and Star Tours (again for the boys)  They had to be back in 2 1/2 hours so we decided that we would take a break head back to the hotel and change our clothes up.  On our way down Main Street we ran into Chip and Dale actually just the one with the red nose so I guess that was Dale, Ellie grabbed his hand and walked across the street with him.  Then we spotted Mickey so we got in line for that, only about 5 groups ahead of us and then about 20 behind us - boy did we time that right?  Ya'll this was the best Mickey ever.  When it was Ellie's turn she ran up to him and gave him a hug, then he took her around the corner of the building to play hide and seek (she had no idea btw and you can watch on IG) then he took her to check out the fire truck and finally we got pictures but then he took her across the street to go window shopping!! I have no idea how Ellie got so blessed to have about 10 minutes with the guy but she was loving it! I am sure that all the people in line behind us were getting annoyed and I kept trying to tell Mickey thank you and can I have my daughter back please, but he just kept doing what he was doing.  Then we got in line for Donald, Ellie was a little hesitant of him but we still managed to get a good picture.  We spotted Goofy but he was just leaving for his break so we waited by the Character Corner and Mickey walks up again and takes Ellie over to the flower pots and teaches her how to pick the flowers, then over to the gate - which she pushes open (that wasn't supposed to happen!) and freaked all the workers out and finally he leaves to go in for his break.  About 1 minute later he comes back out with Minnie and they steal away Ellie again!! I guess you could say it was love.  She also got to see Daisy very quickly but then we thought we should high tail it out of there before some other visitors wanted to murder us for Ellie stealing all the characters!!!!  Definitely one for the memory books for sure!!

After our break in the hotel we headed straight to Tomorrowland.  Nanny and I got in line for the Astro Orbitor and we were in that line for so long!! Thomas and Papa went on both of their rides before we even got on our ride!!!  It was actually a really scary ride to go on I felt like we were going to fly right out of the rocket!!  Then we went back for a couple of rides for Ellie in Fantasyland like It's A Small World and a churro, some shopping down Main Street (we all got the same sweatshirt), an ice cream and then to Frontierland/Adventureland/New Orleans Square which apparently are all different lands right next to each other, I thought it was all the same place!  Nanny and Papa got another Fast Pass for Thunder Mountain because I convinced them that its even better at night and then we went to The Haunted Mansion.  Since I thought we were going to have to walk a bit in that ride I put Ellie in the Ergo, she had fun in the elevator but almost as soon as we got into our Doom Buggy she was out like a light!  I was able to successfully transfer her into the stroller and then Nanny and Papa took her back to the hotel so Thomas and I could have a short date.  We went on the Jungle Cruise at night, did some window shopping and then headed back to the hotel.

she was not a fan - no problem more for me!!

just a little backwards sitting in the stroller NBD

#tripleting

Ellie was fast asleep when we got back and we were out like a light not much later! Check back next week for our day in California Adventure!

♥ Ashley

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