Disneyland: Day I

Once upon a time we took our five year old daughter and our two year old son to Disneyland.

    

        

(And my parents came too 'cause they're such sports!) 

And it was pretty much perfect - from the moment we bumped into Heather and Royce on Harbor Boulevard to the time it didn't rain ever to the end of the day when we pushed two happy, sleepy children back to the hotel and ate pizza in our jammies. Perfect. Like I can't think of anything I would have changed, like I could hardly see through my happy, childish tears as we walked down Main Street, like even Wes (who is not exactly what you'd call a Disneyland buff) had a terrific time. 

Which is to say nothing of the children.

 

Fantasyland was first on the agenda.

From her lofty position atop Sapphire (my horse was Ruby....not sure the boys named theirs), Lucy spotted THE SWORD.

    

Looks like the legend of King Arther lives on (although Spencer really gave it his best shot!).

Next:  Peter Pan and Dumbo.   

(We may or may not have made off with Dumbo's magic feather.  Figured he doesn't really need it anymore , right?)

And then, in line for Storybook Land (we couldn't keep Spencer away from that giant whale's mouth any longer!), a worker pulled Lucy aside and took CINDERELLA'S GLASS SLIPPER from his pocket. Could Lucy please take good care of it?     

(Lucy took excellent care of it.)

Slipper in hand, we were off to Small World (my favorite).

it's a world of laughter, a world or tears

its a world of hopes, its a world of fear

there's so much that we share

that its time we're aware

its a small world after all

 

     

there is just one moon and one golden sun

and a smile means friendship to everyone.

though the mountains divide

and the oceans are wide

it's a small small world 

We watched the Small World clock ring in the hour...

...before a turn on the teacups...

("Not as fast as that one time!" I heard Mom say to Dad as they climbed in their cup. Aren't they darling?)

...and then trip to Wonderland!

Spencer wasn't sure about Wonderland, Wes said, but he love the white rabbit's house! 

And he loved...

  

Casey Junior!

After a snack,

       

we headed to Frontierland & Adventureland where Spencer fell asleep,

and where Lucy and I ran around Tom Sawyer's Island. 

Lucy loved (loved, loved, loved) playing "pirates" on the island.

      

When we got back across the river, Spencer slept through lunch and then some, so we left him with Grandma and Grandpa and raced back to Fantasyland (at Lucy's bidding),   

for more Peter Pan (her favorite). 

Spencer had just woken up when we got back (three cheers for a good nap and a happy boy!),

so we took Grandma over to be a model for the Jungle Cruise.

(Jungle Cruise = not Lucy's favorite.  She felt a little vulnerable with all those wild animals on the loose!  Little brother loved all those wild animals on the loose.),

Then, Tarzan's Treehouse!

Two thumbs up! (Eight thumbs?)

    

    

Tired from all that romping in the jungle, we set out for the Tiki Room!  And look who we saw on the way! 

        

For some reason (?!) Ryan and crew didn't want to join us in the Tiki Room =), so we ate our Dole Pineapple Whip alone.

Dole Pineapple Whip = divine.

       

After our refreshing little stop (can someone pay me for this advertisement please?) it was on to TOON TOWN!

Minnie was home!  She was quick to point out Lucy's matching polka-dots...

(a moment we've rehearsed a million times since the trip)

...and we were happy to find Mickey in his movie barn. 

Spencer and I had fun in Chip and Dale's Treehouse...

While Wes and Lucy waited in line for a more adventurous experience. 

 

(They're there. Right behind the tree.)

Then it was a mad dash to Tomorrowland...

Where we found Nemo in our yellow submarine.  

 (Love that hand-holding in the dark there.)
When we emerged from the ocean, it was just getting dark,

so we made time for one last tea-party,

(can't not do tea-cups at night!)

sailed to Neverland and back a final time, 

and then crammed in the stroller for our walk back to the hotel.
       

    

The perfect ending to a perfect day: