Life with Kids : {Travel Diaries} Disneyland February 2016

I'm back with the recap for our 3rd day in Disneyland back in February. On Day 2 we met up with Ellie's cousins who were vacationing in San Diego and she had so much fun, I was a bit worried she would be sad that they weren't with us for Day 3 but then it's Disneyland and who doesn't have fun there??

We woke up bright and early to hit the Magic Hour in Disneyland. My toms had dried out a bit but I used the hair dryer to speed things up and then we were good to go...only as we were ~~walking~~ running towards the main gate I stepped in a huge puddle and my shoes got soaked again... Once inside we of course started our morning off the right way with Coffee with Character at the Starbucks on Mainstreet USA. We went with the villain theme and you know I had to pick my favorite villain...Maleficent - but unfortunately the cast member didn't know how to spell her name (she should be fired!! j/k) and Thomas went with Gaston. This got me thinking about my two favorite villains - Maleficent and the Wicked Witch they have a similarity...they both have green skin!!

Oh and in case you're wondering my go to drink at the Bucks is a Grande Upside Down Caramel Macchiato but this trip we had to go with a Triple Shot ;)

Our past two trips (Feb 2015, Sept 2015) we used our Extra Magic Hour in Fantasyland but this time around we hit up Tomorrowland and got on the Astro Orbitor because that line is ridic...we got a boarding pass and somehow managed to fit all three of us on a spaceship together!

And that pretty much took the entirety of our extra hour!!! Then someone I know was begging for the Carousel so we made our way that direction.

we did some wandering around trying to get on Pinnochio but it had a "breakdown" and was temporarily closed. So we made our way to "it's a small world".

It was a bit chilly for me so I used what we had to warm up...my poncho. We scored this awesome picture from someone waiting in line with us and it might be my favorite!!

'it's a small world" is right next to Mickey's Toontown, we wanted to try and see some characters so we made our way that direction. We found Goofy and Ellie was so excited!

We got in line for Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin and the line was much longer than what the reader board said outside...which seems to be a trend with this ride. Regardless the line has enough entertainment that Ellie didn't seem to notice too much.

And then halfway through the ride it shut down and we were escorted out of the ride by a cast member. We stepped out of line for a photo op, but had to go quickly so we wouldn't get in trouble ;)

We walked around Toontown a bit and Ellie saw the Trolley and did NOT want to get off!!

Finally we made our way to Maiinstreet to meet with some characters...they were all heading out for a break when we got there so we did what we do and hung out for them. While we were waiting Ellie was trying to jump up the curb and a Cast Member thought she was so cute so he asked her who she was waiting for. She replied Minnie Mouse, he said ok and went in to tell her to look for Ellie when she came out.

First out was Pluto and Mickey and Ellie ran for hugs...

and then the Cast Member let Mickey know that Ellie was waiting for his girlfriend, Minnie, to come out so he waited with her!!! Seriously how does my pumpkin get this lucky???!!!!

Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck came out together and started "fighting" over Ellie, but ultimately Minnie won and took Ellie on a tour around the square while looking for her picture spot.

One of my favorite pictures to date!!

And because Mickey was so nice to wait with Ellie we had to get a picture with him too!!

Then we got in line for Daisy...we didn't want to make her too upset about Ellie choosing Minnie over her!

and all Ellie wanted to do was stick her hand in Daisy's mouth!! Silly girl almost got us kicked out ;)

We got back in the stroller and Ellie had some of her Character Milk (Gaston).

We finally got some ears!!

but I think Ellie's are my fave!!

And made our way to lunch at the Carnation Cafe. We shared Walt's Chili for an app and it was good...super filling and extra hot (temperature). I ordered the Homemade Meatloaf from Walt's Favorites and it's now my favorite - I still think about it and want some more!!

Thomas had the Sourdough Bacon Cheese Melt and he took a bite out before I could snap a pic...boys!!! It was also really good!! I can't remember what Thomas' parents got for lunch but I do remember that it was delish, and Ellie did what we usually do and ate bites off our plates.

And then this happened!! So we made our way to Disney California Adventure to ride Radiator Springs. Thomas and his parents went first while I stayed back with Sleeping Beauty. When they came back I hopped in line and Thomas saw me as he was exiting so he "line jumped" (sorry Sheldon) and took a second spin. I mentioned before that we just go in the Single Rider line because it's SO much faster, there are signs all over saying that you WILL be separated from your party and will NOT get to be in the same car...

Well somehow we lucked out and got to be in the same car!!!

Unfortunately it wasn't a good thing because for the first time the car I was in lost!!! My winning streak is officially over!!

Ellie was still sleeping when we got off!! Stroller naps FTW. We made our way to Goofy's Sky School on Paradise Pier with Papa and Nanny sat back with Ellie. It was my first time on the ride and had no idea what to expect...except they said to hold on to your ~~hats~~ ears!! Holy moly that was a crazy ride and I was actually screaming practically the whole time!! It doesn't look that intimidating but you make these tight hairpin turns and it seriously feels like your plane is going to fly off the tracks!!! I was sure we were going to fall out.

Ellie girl was awake when we got off the ride and we made our way to some rides that she could go on like Heimlich's Chew Chew Train and all Ellie wanted to do was be held by Nanny.

Somehow we were able to convince her to ride the train with us.

Then we got in line for Francis' Ladybug Boogie. It's similar to the tea cups but much more jarring and abrupt...not a smooth ride by any means. The group ahead of us had a mom with three young kids, including an infant, and the cast member stopped the ride halfway through because the mom was holding the infant on her lap...which apparently isn't allowed, all riders have to sit on the seat - which I wouldn't let my infant sit on the seat with how rough the ride is, so she had to get off with her kids and try something else...it was pretty stupid.

** Before we had lunch we got Ellie this Anna/Elsa doll that you flip and it becomes one or the other**

As we were walking through the Hollywood Pictures Backlot area of DCA we saw that the Frozen Sing-Along was about to happen. We parked the stroller and went right in, no waiting in line!

It was really fun they did a shortened version of the movie but sang all the songs and we had to sing-along too...Ellie loved it and kept waving her Anna/Elsa all around.

Our next stop was to ride Monsters, Inc Mike and Sully to the Rescue! It's one of our favorite rides but the line was SO long (probably because the Sing-Along just got out and they are right next to each other). And today must have been the day for rides to break down because this one broke down right as we were at the end of it! That's okay because we got to get some awesome photos while waiting for the Cast Member to release us and escort us out.

On our way out we were a little hungry so we got ourselves a Turkey Leg!! Ellie loved it, Thomas did too ... I think I'm good on the Turkey Legs for the rest of my life, just not my thing - I'll take a churro or two please ;)

As we were getting our Turkey leg, people were lining up for the Pixar Play Parade. We have been wanting to see it for Ellie (because Cars) so we found a spot on the curb and waited. Ellie met a little friend and they enjoyed entertaining themselves by jumping off the curb 100 million times. The little girl was so sweet (about a year older than Ellie) and really tried to help me enforce Ellie's proximity to me i.e. keeping her close! Thank girlfriend!! Her parents kept telling her to leave Ellie alone and that her mama is capable of taking care of her...but it was just so sweet - she is one of my favorites!

Ellie adored the parade as we thought she would. I am not sure if I can tell you which part is her favorite because she just got so excited the whole time...but when Mike showed up that was pretty big, same thing with Woody and Buzz and then of course with Lightening McQueen too ... she did keep asking where Red is...she loves herself a Firetruck.

After the parade we made our way back to Disneyland to ride on the Tea Cups, the Carousel and watch the Paint the Night Parade (for reals this time).

These two had to share a horse because someone stole our third horse!!! Oh well, it's a good thing Ellie loves her Dada!!

Thomas parents saved us a spot for the parade and when we got there his mom had a crazy story to tell us about how ridiculous people are about these parades. I guess there was this lady sitting on the bench behind us saving it for her family and this other group came in and sat down right next to her, she told them she was saving it and their reply was basically "too bad because we're sitting here...get over it" so her entire family had to squeeze in on the ground instead of on the bench. WOW!!

The parade was so cool and Ellie really enjoyed it. Thomas parent's kept commenting on how much more fantastic and bright it was compared to the Electric Light Parade they remember from yesteryear.