January is the perfect time of year to travel to Disneyland for four reasons:
- gas prices are low(er)
- the park is not busy (we usually walked onto rides or waited in a 5 minute line)
- a lot of promotions (for both Disneyland and nearby hotels) are offered this time of year
- The sun was shining and the temperatures reached the 70's!
Warren Familia
Our family left Las Vegas early in the morning (6:00am) to make our 4 hour drive to Anaheim. We stopped for breakfast at the famous train car depot McDonald's in Barstow where both Jess and I were accosted by the same panhandler. For time's sake, we ate our Sausage McMuffins in the car while Jess drove and searched for directions on his phone at the same time. When we arrived in Anaheim, we checked into our hotel, assembled the jogging stroller, packed it full of coats and food, and began our brisk walk to "The Happiest Place on Earth." Ava was the lucky child who got to choose the first ride of the day (because "ladies are always first"). She chose the carousel, and so it was.
Brahm impatiently waiting for the others to return from a ride
Daddy and Ava had to take Dramamine chewables before swirling around in the teacups
Being pregnant, I thought it would be best to avoid some of the jerkier rides. So while Jess, Ava, and Simon spun around on the Rocket Jets, Brahm and I interactively shot our astro-blasters at targets on the Buzz Lightyear ride. Brahm was less than happy to be separated from Jess. In fact, if one didn't know that I was his mother, one would think that I was kidnapping him. There was "weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth" when Brahm was transferred from Jess' arms into my arms. Once lunch time rolled around, we enjoyed our packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, granola bars, oranges, and pudding cups while watching the Jedi show in Tomorrowland. The rest of the afternoon was filled with rain. But, we made the most of our day by shielding ourselves with an umbrella and/or poncho. Because of the ominous weather, the park was practically empty. Ava and Brahm peacefully napped in the jogging stroller under the waterproof cover while Jess and Simon jumped onto the Indiana Jones ride and others like it with ease.
Ava and Minnie Mouse (she was still a little unsure about the characters on this trip)
Simon and Mickey Mouse
Once nightfall hit, we headed back to the hotel, threw up our tired feet, watched way too much Disney channel, made ourselves dinner, and took a dip in the jacuzzi. Thank goodness for on-site laundry facilities. With a family of 5, the odds of a child (or parent) getting an essential article of clothing dirty are high.
My children had their internal clocks set on Mountain Standard Time, so we rose bright and early each day at around 6:15am. The hotel provided a complimentary hot breakfast buffet that we were all too happy to eat each morning.
Dumbo
Our next 2 days at Disneyland and California Adventure Park were much the same but with the sun brightly shining. I noticed that everything was in bloom-- the roses, the trees, the flowers, everything! If Southern California didn't suffer from wildfires, floods, earthquakes, high jobless rates, a high deficit, and a steep depreciation in home values, then I would definitely want to live there! The high temperatures for the remainder of our trip reached up to 70 degrees. Who could beat that in January?
A major meltdown
As I mentioned before, I could not ride on the roller coasters or other jerky rides. So, when Brahm fell asleep in the stroller for his afternoon nap, Jess and the other kids used this time to hop onto Space Mountain or the Matterhorn. With a sleeping Brahm by my side, I leisurely sat on a park bench, munched on a huge macadamia nut-white chocolate chip cookie, and "people-watched." I love to people-watch. The Japanese tourists were my favorites. The women were dressed to the nines in their Dior shades, fur-lined jackets (mind you- it was 70 degrees), mid-thigh form fitting dresses, and stiletto boots along with the most expensive camera equipment slung around their necks. Then there were the Orthodox Jewish families. Both parents and children were dressed as if going to synagogue-- women and girls in skirts and blouses, boys and men in slacks, white shirts, neckties, and sweaters. The boys wore yarmulkes (yamakas), and prayer shawls with the tassels hanging out from under their sweaters. The men wore fedora hats. Some had the long side curls whiles others didn't. On the opposite end of the spectrum were the families whose parents were covered in tattoos, and piercings. I always found it to be most surprising at how normal their children looked. I imagined these tattooed mothers with dread locks shopping at Gymboree, The Children's Place, Gap Kids, or other mainstream children's stores for their kid's clothing-- that is how normal and cute their children appeared to be. Finally, I saw quite a few LDS families. The women were usually blonde and wore stretchy Shade shirts, chunky jewelry, and pushed a double stroller full of kids. The men wore their BYU paraphernalia.
Brahm napping
The Toy Story Soldier street show
Speaking of BYU paraphernalia, Jess wore his BYU hat while we were there. While watching the nightly Celebrations parade one evening, the main singer atop a float appeared to be looking at me. I turned away and watched the performers in front of us. I then turned to look at the float again, only to notice that the singer was again looking at me. Feeling awkward, I turned away again. This happened a time or two more. Finally, the singer shouted out for all to hear, "Go Cougars!" The whole time he was staring in Jess' direction, not mine. In fact, Jess had quite a few people give shout-outs to him (actually to BYU) while we were there.
Brahm and his best friend
Jess and Brahm visiting with Mater and Lightning McQueen
Miss Minnie
My family's favorite rides were Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear, Matterhorn, Pirates, Monster's Inc, Mr. Toad's Wild Adventure, and Soaring Over California. Simon did not care for some of the faster roller coasters and the Snow White ride (the evil queen frightened him). I, on the other hand, could not handle the new Nemo Submarine Adventure. Being pregnant, I have become terribly claustrophobic. I was so fearful that this ride would experience difficulties while we were nestled inside the enclosed submarine and that I would have to endure minute upon minute of patiently waiting for problems to be fixed, hoping the air supply wouldn't be depleted by the 50 or so passengers.
Matterhorn
Ava
Ava was Daddy's roller coaster buddy. She, unlike her brother, enjoyed the "wind-in-your-hair" sort of rides. Brahm was happy with any ride as long as he was with Daddy.
Me, already exhausted on the first ride of our final day in the park
Pirate Simon
A photo-op with Minnie
Lastly, I cannot end my journaling efforts without sharing a funny story. I had a mean protein craving while there, and our daily peanut butter and jelly lunch wasn't cutting it for me. I saw people dining on huge turkey legs. The sight of them was quite hilarious. They looked like cavemen gnawing on gigantic bird carcasses. I was convinced that I
needed one of these absurdly large legs of meat to suppress my protein craving. Jess kindly ran across the park one afternoon to a snack stand to buy one for me. When he returned and laid the leg before me, I was a tad bit grossed out. I tore off the skin, then the layer of fat, and then I began to strip the meat from the bone. There was enough meat on this one turkey leg to feed my entire family. The kids had a couple bites, I had a couple bites, Jess had a couple bites, and then we were done (with meat to spare). My hand reeked of roasted turkey. I swore off meat (at least for the next 2 days) after this incident. While "people watching" the next day, I saw a couple walking hand-in-hand and happily sharing and gnawing at a turkey leg together (skin, fat and all!). I started to gag.
The infamous turkey leg
On our final night in California, we met up with Jess' cousin Jace and his family.
Baby Malin, Jace, Krista, and the Warren clan
I love Disneyland! This was our 3rd time going as a family. I love the music blaring on Main Street. I love the ride operators and Disneyland staff (they are all so happy and sweet). I love the nightly parades and street shows. I love the cleanliness of the park. And, I love the rides! We had a great time!
