Disneyland: Final Day (day 3)

We just got back from an amazing trip to Disneyland.  It has been 2.5 years since we last went and so we had much anticipation before this trip.  We left on Wednesday and spent 3 days in the park and headed home on Sunday. The girls were thrilled to miss 2 days of school. During our previous trips to Disneyland, we spent much of our time apart, with Will and Kate enjoying the roller coasters while I stayed with Maggie on the more mild rides since she was too young and too short to enjoy the thrill of the rides.  This trip, I was really hoping we could spend our entire trip together and we did!  Turns out Maggie LOVES roller coasters just as much as the rest of us and by the 2nd day, she was riding each ride with her hands up in the air.  The trip was such a fun, unified family experience and we can't wait to go back!

We rode Space Mountain 6 times during our trip!  Needless to say, this is definitely a family favorite!

The tea cups were the only ride we did in Fantasyland this time.  It is so nice to be out of the baby age in which Dumbo and Peter Pan are the only rides the kids can handle.

Autopia

Maggie really wanted to meet Rapunzel and so we made sure to find the time to meet her, and Flynn Ryder, while Maggie was dressed up like Rapunzel too.

Maggie also really wanted to meet Goofy.  Kate, however, was more excited to tap Goofy on his nose but he didn't seem to like that very much.

Happy family!

There is now a new Star Wars exhibit in Tomrrowland that we toured.  The girls were using their force on me while I was taking the picture.

This Luke Skywalker was built entirely out of Legos.

We got to meet the real Darth Vader too!

Maggie really wanted to meet Minnie Mouse so she and I stood in line for 40 minutes to capture this sweet picture.

Kate participated in Jedi Training in which she learned how to use the force and swing her lightsaber.

Darth Vader and Kylo Ren joined the Jedi Training to fight all the kids

Kate had to face Kylo Ren

Kate was an excellent Jedi against Kylo Ren.

After Jedi training we headed to Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer's Island in which we ran into Captain Jack Sparrow.

Maggie was working really hard to try to open this treasure chest with no success.

We rounded out our last night by staying in the park till 9pm, riding Autopia again, then the Astro Orbitors, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and finally finishing with our 7th ride on Thunder Mountain Railroad.  We can't wait to come back...hopefully for Will's 40th birthday in December!

California Adventure: Day 2

Day 2 of our trip was spent in California Adventure.  We love this park because it is always a little less crowded than Disneyland and it feels like you can move and breath more easily.  However, both Kate and Maggie would argue that Disneyland has a lot more rides that they enjoy and it feels more magical. 

Golden Zephyr

Cars Land

Luigi's Rollickn' Roadsters

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree

We rode the new Guardian's of The Galaxy ride twice.  We loved it and would have rode it more but the line just was too long.  

Red, the fire truck from Cars

Flik's Flyers

Heimlich's Chew Chew Train

Goofy's Sky School

The park looks cool lit up at night!

Happy family

Another awesome day!!!

Disneyland: Day 1

1st time on Space Mountain was such a fun experience but the kids had to warm up to the idea of this exhilarating ride in the dark.

 In line to go again on Space Mountain!

Getting ready for Pirates of the Carribean

For lunch we ate at our favorite spot, Blue Bayou (hence the name of our blog).

Maggie was so excited to finally eat her favorite mac 'n cheese.

The Monte Cristo sandwich is the only reason in which we eat at the Blue Bayou.  It turns out that the sandwich is no longer on the menu so you had to special order it.  Shockingly the sandwich was $30 each!  Our sandwiches were only lukewarm, not as tasty as previous times and so not worth it.  Our entire bill came to $104 for 2 sandwiches and 2 bowls of kid macaroni!!!  We were floored by the bill and I doubt we will return to this restaurant anytime soon.  So sad to not have the best experience in the end.

Disneyland has certainly become a huge hub of Star Wars characters, fans and paraphernalia. These Storm Troopers were super fun to watch them roam around Tomorrowland and talk to the people around them.  They sounded just like real Storm Troopers!

Autopia was one of the longest lines we stayed in...probably about 45 minutes long, but the girls loved driving their cars.

Will told me that Maggie was very purposeful and delicate with her driving.

Kate was a bit more crazy and ridiculous with her driving so I had quite a bumpy, but very fun ride!

Watch out for Kate! 

Star Tours is always a winner!

In line for the Matterhorn 

Minnie Mouse's house

Donald Duck's boat

Toontown is filled with silly things like TNT levers to push.

Will is so strong!

It's A Small World is always a welcomed break from the busyness of Disneyland.  The line is usually short and the ride is long and relaxing.  It's A Small World was still decorated for Christmas so we got to hear a combination of "Jingle Bells" and "It's A Small World" during our ride.

Jungle Cruise

Tarzan's Tree House

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Thunder Mountain Railroad

At the end of the day, the girls got to pick out a souvenir.  Kate chose a Mickey lightsaber. And Maggie chose a stuffed animal, called Pascal (from Rapunzel's movie, Tangled).