Disneyland in a weekend

What is the one thing you must do in Disneyland? Visit the one, the only, Mickey Mouse!

Mommy and me at Disneyland!

Disneyland in a nutshell

"It's a small world after all," rang out from the the speakers as we embarked on the happiest cruise that ever sailed! Mommy and I spent last weekend in Disneyland and Grandpa was very happy. He got to ride on "It's a small world" (his favorite ride) with two of his children and his only grandson! Unfortunately, Grandma Jojo (as well as Auntie Annie and Uncle Eric) stayed home because our new cousin, Josephine "Josie" Lynn Weber, was born last week (and Marit and Daddy stayed home too because Marit is not quite old enough for all the rides)!

It's a small world is a very popular ride in Disneyland and features over 300 dolls in handmade traditional costumes from cultures around the world who dance and twirl and sing in a spirit of international unity. It debuted at the 1964 New York City World's Fair and sold ten million 60¢ and 95¢ tickets for children and adults, respectively, and the proceeds were donated to UNICEF. The 15 minute ride was relocated to Disneyland in 1966 after the World's Fair closed and has become an international success ever since with a theme of global peace that has transcended generations and is just as relevant today as we hear about immigration and racism all over the news. We did it twice as the wait time to ride time ratio was by far the best in the park (2:1)!!

Uncle Dan and I at It's a Small World

Inside It's a small world ride

It's a small world clock

Mommy and I had flown into Anaheim late Friday night and met up with Uncle Dan and his girlfriend Taya, and Grandpa Pastorius at the Grand Californian Hotel. It was a special treat for me to get to go on a trip with just Mommy. At first I was jealous of Marit who got to have a special weekend at home with Daddy but after a fun-filled, action-packed weekend of rides, visiting Disney characters, and eating junk food, I think I ended up with the better deal!

We arrived early at the gate for the "Magic Hour" where guests of the hotels can enter the park 1 hour before everyone else. We headed right to Fantasyland though the Disneyland Castle. I was mesmerized by the water fountains and Main Street USA but Mommy made me keep walking so we could hurry up and stand in line (for nearly hour) to ride on Peter Pan's Flight, which is one of the original Disneyland attractions from opening day in 1955. When we finally made it to the front, we boarded a small ship that flew over out of the nursery window over London to Neverland, where we saw Mr. Smee, the tick-tock crocodile, and Peter Pan and Captain Hook duel. It was exciting except when we got out, we saw the real Captain Hook and I ran away because I was scared.

"Scary Captian Hook!" but Mommy got his autograph for me.

While Mommy got his autograph, I headed to ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant, followed by Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Mad Tea Party spinning tea cups, and Casey Jr. Circus Train, which tours the Storybook Land.

Going "Up and up and up on Dumbo"

After Fantasyland, we headed to Tomorrowland to ride on Finding Nemo's Submarine Voyage, shoot lasers at three-eye aliens in Buzz Lighyear Astro Blasters, and finally drive cars around at rack in Autopia. I got a Disney driver's license but Mommy says she's taking it away for a few more years because I still need some more practice (but at least I didn't crash).

"I'm driving the car. It went bang bang. I did not do well on those turns. Better watch out!"

Next we headed to Adventureland were we got to see birds talking in the Enchanted Tiki Room, watch gorillas and hippos take over a jungle camp on the Jungle Cruise, dream about honey on the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and climb to the tops of the trees in Tarzan's Treehouse. The last ride of the afternoon was my favorite ride - Splash Mountain. First, I was sitting in front. We went down a drop, and then another drop in the tunnel and turned round and round and then we came out and went up and up and then we went down the biggest drop and the water got all over me! I didn't even see the drop in the dark because it was in the dark tunnel and it was the scariest. It was really really fun and scary!

Do I look happy? Just kidding!

How about now? Posing in front of Splash Mountain after getting SOAKED going down it for the first time!

On the Winnie the Pooh ride

Watch out - jungle cruise

Since we were going to have a late night, Mommy and I headed back to the hotel for a quick power nap before we had to meet the others before our Fastpass for Hyperspace Mountain expired. Mommy bought me a bubble maker to play with so I didn't have time to realize that Space Mountain was actually a very scary ROLLERCOASTER COMPLETELY IN THE DARK! I was terrified! I decided that I do not like roller coasters! Opened in 1977, now it has a Star Wars overlay where we rode on a rocket with many turns and small dips but with bright lights and the illusion of speed that terrified me for many years to come!

Simply terrified. How many 4 year olds do you know that went on Space Mountain? (Mommy felt a little guilty after making me go on that one.)

Not going on any more roller coasters ever! (Quite frankly, I'm surprised he even talked to me after that one.)

In Mickey's Toontown, I got to meet all the Disney characters, including autographs from Goofy, Pluto, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, as well as ride on the Gadget's Go Coaster (I was quite skeptical of another roller coaster after being tricked into going on Space Mountain but since it was outdoors I eventually caved in) and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin.

I couldn't believe I met the real Mickey and he signed my book!

Cheese!

Getting Minnie Mouse's signature

Cheese!

"Look who I found, Mommy!"

Getting Pluto's paw print

Pluto the dog

Getting Goofy's signature

Say "Goofy"!

Theo and Grandpa trying on their Indiana Jones hats

Just before dinner, we had a Fastpass for Indiana Jones Adventure but I was too scared with all the skulls and dark tunnels while waiting in line (and at this point Mommy felt bad for making me go on so many thrill rides) so we walked through the ride when we got to the front and Mommy waited with me until Grandpa and Uncle Dan got back and then she got to ride. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and a balloon man made me a special Mickey balloon hat and we returned to the park one last time for the Disneyland Fireworks, which were unfortunately canceled due to high winds.

Mickey bubble maker and flashlight and Mickey hat

California Adventure Park

On Sunday, we woke up early and had another fun-filled, adventure-packed day of rides in California Adventure park, adjacent to Disneyland. Opened in 2001, it opens onto Buena Vista Street and we rode the Red Car Trolley to the end and headed to Cars Land, where we met Lightning McQueen and Mater the Tow Truck while headed to Radiator Springs Racers. We only had to wait about 30 minutes (later in the day the wait was over 2 hours!) We started on a leisure drive through the country and then through encounters with characters from the movie, Cars, such as a near head on collision with Mack the Truck, tractor tipping and being chased by Frank the combine with Mater and getting pulled over by Sheriff, getting new tires at Luigi's Casa Della Tires and then getting ready to race with a pep talk from Doc Hudson and then we accelerated to 40 mph and won the race around Ornament Valley. After that we headed to Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree.

Lightning McQueen from the movie, Cars!!

Entering Cars Land

Mickey in the Red Trolley in California Adventure Park

Over in Grizzly Peak at the Redwood Creek Challenge trail, Grandpa chased me through the rope bridges and I rode on the Sequoia Smokejumpers Training tower tire swings about a dozen times. We had Fastpasses for the Soarin' Around the World ride, in which we were cantilevered over a huge IMAX screen and flew over various places around the world. It was scary because we kept crashing into birds and planes and other things while suspended in the air!

Paradise Pier

It started to rain in the afternoon so we headed inside to Turtle Talk with Crush, where the turtle from the Finding Nemo movie talked to me but I clammed up and forgot the question I wanted to ask! Then we headed to Paradise Pier where we rode through the Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure, then high above the park on Mickey's Fun Wheel (a ferris wheel with views of the entire Disneyland Park). While Mommy rode on the California Screamin' roller coaster, I rode on a humpback whale on King Triton's Carousel of the Sea and nearly got sick spinning around on the Silly Symphony Swings. We decided to call it a day and headed to the hotel lobby for some old school Disney cartoons and a trip to the pool.

Riding on a humpback whale

Last, but not least, we headed to Paradise Pier Hotel and their outdoor pool and water slide. It was my first time on a water slide and I loved it! I marched up the 3 flights of stairs and despite the breeze and high of 60 degrees, I did it all by myself before Mommy even had time to put on her swim suit! After a few times, I learned that laying down made you go much faster than sitting up and I was hooked.

Loving the giant waterslide!

After dinner, we returned to see Turtle Talk with Crush (again) and then do all the rides in A Bug's Land, including two rides where I got to drive the bumper cars! Overall, I'd say it was a fun-filled, adventure-packed weekend and I can't wait to go back again someday!