We arrived bright and early at Disney's Grand Californian on Monday morning to register. The front desk lady was very helpful and pleasant. Since we were staying at a Disney hotel we qualified for Early Entry in to Disneyland each day they offered it. Which was Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. So after checking in, we headed to the monorail station to wait for the monorail to take us into Tomorrowland, so we could get in line to ride the new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. Early Entry lets you in an hour before the official park opening. So we were able to get in at 7 AM. Here is Dan and the kids waiting in line for the monorail to come. Notice the tired, glazed look on their faces. ;p This was at about 6:30 AM.
The line for Nemo wasn't too bad. We waited about 50 minutes to get on the ride. Which is much better than the 3-4 hours people were waiting after the official park opening! The ride was so cute, and the technology was amazing. They mixed animatronics and computer generated images all under water. It is a great addition to Disneyland. And so nice to have the subs back and working in the water. It ended up being one of Sierra's favorite rides. But she loves the movie Finding Nemo, so it is no surprise to me.
After Nemo we went on Star Tours. This was the kids first time on this ride. And it was years since Dan and I both had rode on it. I forgot how fun it is. Dallin needed quite a bit of "encouragement" to go on the ride. He hid is eyes most of the time, but peeked every once in a while. A day or so later when asked what one of his favorite rides was he said Star Tours, lol.
Once that was over, we fastpassed our way onto Autopia. This was one of the kids favorite rides from last year. Dan and Dallin drove together and Sierra & I drove. With Sierra steering while I pushed on the gas. My goodness that gas pedal is hard to push! My leg ached for a few minutes afterward.
Next we went into Innoventions. Now our whole reason for going into it, was so we could talk to Stitch. (The alien from the movie "Lilo and Stitch"). Unfortunately once we got in there we found out, he isn't available to talk to, until after 1 pm. So we just checked out a couple other things in the building and then left. We were able to go back later that day and try again. It was fun, but not something we'd probably take the time to do again. Turtle Talk with Crush in Disney California park was a lot more fun.
We had a little bit of time before our reservations for lunch, so we went on Astro Orbitors. This ride is like Dumbo, except they're little space ships you can fly in. Both the kids love this ride.
After that it was lunch time at Carnation Cafe. Now we love Carnation Cafe. We ate there last year, and had to eat there again this time. It is right on Main Street, and the head chef Oscar has been working in Disneyland since 1956. He always walks around and greets people while they eat. He is such a nice older gentleman. Since we had priority seating reservations, we had to wait only about 5 minutes and then we were seated. Dan and I got the cup of soup and half a sandwich combo. They have the most wonderful soup there called Loaded Baked Potato soup. It is sooooooooooo yummy!! We both got that and the roasted turkey sandwich on pretzel bread (also to die for). Dallin got the cute PB&J painter's palette again, and Sierra got Mac & Cheese, which also came with summer fruit.
Our tummies were now satisfied and we were ready to go check out the Jedi Training Academy, back in Tomorrowland. This is a very fun show. I highly recommend it. Especially if you and your kiddos are Star Wars fans. My kids have never watched any of the Star Wars movies, and they still enjoyed it. What happens is two Jedi Masters have come to train some kids to be Jedi's. They randomly select kids from the audience to teach them the art of being a Jedi. The kids that are chosen learn how to fight using "light sabers". After their training, there is a disturbance in the force. Out comes Darth Vader and Darth Maul. They try to get the kids to come over to the darkside. The kids of course refuse. Then each child, in turn, gets a chance to fight either Vader or Maul. The good guys are victorious, and Vader and Maul leave. It was very fun to watch. Dallin said he wanted to participate, but he really didn't try too hard to get picked. Deep down I know he was a little hesitant about facing the bad guys. And I knew Sierra wouldn't do it. Every time Darth Maul walked near our side of the audience, back she walked to hide near me. Which I don't blame her, he is very scary looking.
When that was through we went to attempt to talk to Stitch again. Then after that we headed to Fantasyland for the Sword in the Stone ceremony. We got there a little early, so decided to ride King Arthur's Carrousel while we were waiting. It worked out perfectly, because when we were done with the ride, it was time for the ceremony.
The wizard Merlin came out to see if he could find a temporary monarch for the kingdom, while Kind Arthur was away. Whomever pulled the sword out of the stone was crowned ruler. And guess what, Dallin got picked! It was so cute. Dallin pulled the sword up from the stone, he got crowned, and was King for a couple minutes. Then Merlin gave him a medal and a royal proclamation that he signed for Dallin. Dallin had fun, but he was a little out of it from being tired by this time, so it didn't faze him all that much.
We went to wait for the Parade of Dreams after that. Dan went and got us some yummy goodies. We munched on our churros and pretzels while we watched to parade go by. It is a nice parade. Very neat to hear Walt Disney's voice in a part of it. This is the parade they created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland (which was celebrated last year and the year before).
After the parade we decided to go ahead and walk over to New Orleans Square. We had reservations for dinner at the Blue Bayou. So we headed that way, and just sat on the planters looking out onto the Rivers of America for a few minutes, before our time to go to dinner.
The Blue Bayou was an amazing restaurant. It is in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. We requested a waterside table, so we were right there closest to the ride going by. The food was very tasty too. The kids got Mac and Cheese once again. Dan and I got the crab cake appetizer. Then Dan got the Mahi Mahi with shrimp, and I got molasses braised pork chop with apples. We wanted dessert, but just had no room in our bellies for it. We will definitely be eating there again next year.
Once dinner was over, Dan decided to take Dallin to our hotel to rest before the fireworks. Dallin said his brain and body was too tired to go on anything else right then. Sierra on the other hand, didn't want to go back yet. So she and I used our Space Mountain and Buzz fastpasses. She was actually brave enough to go on Space Mountain with me. Afterward though she decided it was just too fast and dark for her. She asked me if she had to go on it again, lol. I said not if she didn't want to. The whole rest of our trip, every time we tried a new ride, she had to ask if the ride was fast. She was worried it would be like Space Mountain.
With Space over, we went on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. This is a very fun ride and interactive. You get astro blaster lasers to shoot robots, aliens, and Zurg during the ride. Dallin and Sierra both love this ride. Especially Dallin, since Buzz Lightyear is one of his favorite characters.
When Buzz was over, Sierra and I headed over to Grand Californian, to our room to rest with the boys, until it was time to go back for the fireworks. The Remember Dreams Come True fireworks show, is the best show I have ever seen. If you get a chance to experience it, make sure you do. It is not to be missed. They use effects not only in the air, but on the castle, and the Matterhorn, and all around the hub. It is a superb show!
After the show we were all tuckered out, and headed back to the hotel for bed. We had an early day again Tuesday. It was bedtime for all of us.
1 comment:
Very nice trip report. Thanks!
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