...was not the happiest place on earth for the first little bit. After pulling our kids out of bed at 5 am to surprise them and avoid morning traffic in Vegas, we pulled over with a flat tire just outside of the big city, causing us to lose two hours in the wait for the tow truck. Lily talked about how it was the worst possible thing that could have happened, which I told her she shouldn't say because there were a lot worse things that could happen. By the time Adam and all four kids squished in the back cab due to the nice allowance of the driver to take our apparently oversized family, Lily was in tears and carsick. We got to 24 hour tire where we didn't need to get out of the car for them to jack it up and change the tire lickety split, for $40 cash only, leading us to speculate how this place *really* operates (we regretted not getting another tire for the other side since we ended up at Costco in CA and spending $160 for a new one).
Lily threw up within the hour and three or so more times before we ended up at the beach (I couldn't help but point out how I was right that a flat tire wasn't the worst thing - she thought it was a good joke too). I was contemplating if it was really possible for us to have had *that* bad of luck for it to be the flu and to travel through the family throughout our 4 night stay, but by the time Britt showed up with her kids Lily was good to go and as energetic as ever.
The beach was magical and the kids were so happy in the water, especially Jackson who got to try out boogie boarding for the first time and absolutely loved it. Lily might need a few more times to get the hang of it. I love that Lily and Eleanor and Jack and Gregory start up as friends even with months and months in between seeing each other.
Ada is obsessed with sand and loved building with her Dad. I was enjoying catching up with Britt.
The next day it was off to Disneyland. We got there early and stood in 4 lines before they let us in, requesting that 'for your safety, please walk to your destination'. For the next probably two hours these were the most oft repeated phrases going through my head: "What the heck were people talking about, this is the worst place ever." "This is a nightmare." "Why did I get a three day pass, there is no way we are going to last that long." Three hours and three rides later we were eating our super overpriced lunch and Jackson needed to go to the bathroom, which I couldn't find and almost started to cry.
But we finally got into the swing of things and although we did spend basically every single line-wait discussing the logistics of how Disneyland could make more money and let in less people, or why are there so many adults without kids, or newborns or pregnant women, or why would anyone go back more than once, people are crazy, etc etc, we did start to enjoy it.
The kids did awesome, Isaac was such a little trooper even though he couldn't go on some of the bigger rides because he was two inches too short....such a bummer. Adam tried to make it up with churros. We thought Jack and Lily were handling it well until Jack said he wanted to go to the beach and we answered that we weren't going to the beach, we were at Disneyland. Cue major breakdown (first out of three - the second one occurred ten minutes into the second day as he fought for a ride in the stroller, the little stinker). I've realized that I have to talk and talk and talk to him to remind him that he does have fun if he gets out of his bad moods.
On Splash Mountain we realized that Jackson likes a thrill but oh boy Lily doesn't. We kind of forced her to go two times after this and she has the same look of terror every time.
Adam was a trooper and took the kids on the obligatory spinning rides, saving me from probably a full day of nausea. I seem to have become even more sensitive with age. :P
Ada LOVES Minnie and Mickey Mouse. She always points them out on her diaper and asks me to sing the song. So we did wait in line to meet her, although Ada of course wouldn't go by herself. She loves to point out "Minnie Mouse!" when she sees this picture though. So cute.
By the third day we had found a good rhythm and would only go on rides with short lines to get more in. I felt by the end we knew what we were doing. But I am going to research a lot better when I plan our next trip.
My parents say when I was little I just wanted to go on It's A Small World repeatedly. It still amazed me, I love the colors and cultures and the culmination of peace at the end.
Buzz Lightyear was a favorite for all. Ada would point her laser at Adam and gleefully say "Shoot Daddy!" It was really cute. I love this picture. These two can get along so well sometimes.
Also by the end I had recognized why it is such a wonderful place, at least for our family. It was really neat to be able to focus 100% on the kids having a good time and as parents keeping them safe (Ada dodged under more ropes and around more corners than I would have thought possible). It was definitely a happy place and I think even Adam would be willing to go again in a few years, even though on the first day he said he was going home and making reservations for an isolated cabin on a lake in Montana. Our introvert selves really came out that first day.
The last day we were there Adam determined that our other front tire would probably blow out on the way home so we went to Costco, where they gave us a 2.5 hour wait but luckily Britt was willing to drop everything to come pick me and the kids up, then take her kids out of school so we could go play at the beach again. It was so fun; I'm really hoping Adam will be up for at least another beach trip soon...
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