We met Mickey twice. This time in his home, dressed as the Sorcerer's apprentice.
The first ride we rode in our 5 days at Disney was Dumbo. I think it would be a fun and easy way to break everyone into things at Disney. Our smiley girls enjoyed it!
We rode the Peter Pan ride early that morning too and went back several times.
Carosels are always a hit!
Even Daddy rode! Good job Daddy!
The crazy Mickey ferris wheel in California Adventure Park. I wasn't there because I wanted to go on California Screamin - a fabulous, go really fast, loop upside-down rollercoaster. Nobody wanted to go with me, so I went by myself, and then caught up in time with Will & the girls to take this shot.
A really great place for kids like mine who love playgrounds is the Redwood Creek Challenge in California Adventure Park. We spent quite a while there. Check out the video of the zipline at the end of this blog entry.Swinging bridge
Water feature in California Adventure. The girls loved it!
We are a happy family! Sitting on these fun chairs in Bugsland
More toon town photos. This is Chip & Dale's tree house. I didn't get a picture, but our girls also really loved the rollercoaster there. We probably rode that at least 6 or 7 times.
Jailbirds. Kyleigh doesn't seem to mind. Maybe Eden does?
A hidden treasure at California Adventure Park is this spot. You get a chance to work with a Disney animator. Everyone gets a big clip board, pencil and paper, and as you watch the animator do his work, you follow along. I am totally not an artist, but enjoyed it. Eden was studious! Most of the time, her head was down - following the directions to a tee. I loved watching that. Both our girls inherited their Dad's knack for drawing (thankfully not mine!).
Concentration!
Here you can see the Disney animator sitting at the desk, with his image projected on screen.
Even me - who can't draw a stick figure - did pretty good. You can at least tell its Goofy
Will's - excellent of course. 
What was amazing to me was how awesome the girls' drawings turned out. Eden's (below) was done totally on her own. Kyleigh only had a little help from Dad.
Kyleigh's (below)
Kyleigh and Eden riding the zip line in the Redwood Creek Challenge
Water feature in California Adventure. The girls loved it!
We are a happy family! Sitting on these fun chairs in Bugsland
More toon town photos. This is Chip & Dale's tree house. I didn't get a picture, but our girls also really loved the rollercoaster there. We probably rode that at least 6 or 7 times.
Jailbirds. Kyleigh doesn't seem to mind. Maybe Eden does?
A hidden treasure at California Adventure Park is this spot. You get a chance to work with a Disney animator. Everyone gets a big clip board, pencil and paper, and as you watch the animator do his work, you follow along. I am totally not an artist, but enjoyed it. Eden was studious! Most of the time, her head was down - following the directions to a tee. I loved watching that. Both our girls inherited their Dad's knack for drawing (thankfully not mine!).
Concentration!
Here you can see the Disney animator sitting at the desk, with his image projected on screen.
Even me - who can't draw a stick figure - did pretty good. You can at least tell its Goofy
Will's - excellent of course. 
What was amazing to me was how awesome the girls' drawings turned out. Eden's (below) was done totally on her own. Kyleigh only had a little help from Dad.
Kyleigh's (below)
Kyleigh, our jewelry collector, decided to spend some of her allotted $20 on a necklace. It took some time picking out just the right one. In the end, she decided on a Minnie Mouse locket. Then she took her little wallet up to the cashier, who was so good with her. "Did you pick this out yourself?" Kyleigh nods. "Well it is so pretty. Great choice. Is this your own money?" Kyleigh nods. "Would you like to wear this right now?" Emphatic nods. The smile is so Kyleigh. She was in her element here.
Splash Mountain. The first time we rode it - Eden hid behind me so as to not get wet. Kyleigh says she liked the ride, but I think her facial expression says otherwise.
We rode it again anyway. Eden loved it - it was second only to the Haunted House for her. 
The bridge at the entrance to California Adventure Park. 
Lighting McQueen & Mater
Buzz Light Year Astro Blasters. We enjoyed it so much that we went back several times. I was so glad I had done some reading and knew that this ride was a favorite that filled up quickly. As a result, we often rode it first thing in the morning.
Splash Mountain. The first time we rode it - Eden hid behind me so as to not get wet. Kyleigh says she liked the ride, but I think her facial expression says otherwise.
We rode it again anyway. Eden loved it - it was second only to the Haunted House for her. 
The bridge at the entrance to California Adventure Park. 
Lighting McQueen & Mater
Buzz Light Year Astro Blasters. We enjoyed it so much that we went back several times. I was so glad I had done some reading and knew that this ride was a favorite that filled up quickly. As a result, we often rode it first thing in the morning.
The big bear outside the Grizzly River Run
Wearing our dollar store rain jackets before riding the Grizzly River Run in California Adventure Park. I had many people come up to me and ask where we got them. I told them I had purchased them before we came. Will teases me about being so prepared, but we were glad for them.
For years I have wanted to go to Disneyland with my children. One of my neighbors, whose children are good friends with ours, has shared the same dream. When we booked our trip, she booked a trip for their family too. We were able to meet up with the Morrows on the Monday evening for our princess supper, a few Disney rides, and the fireworks later that night. It was fun for everyone.
Riding its a small world
Wearing our dollar store rain jackets before riding the Grizzly River Run in California Adventure Park. I had many people come up to me and ask where we got them. I told them I had purchased them before we came. Will teases me about being so prepared, but we were glad for them.
For years I have wanted to go to Disneyland with my children. One of my neighbors, whose children are good friends with ours, has shared the same dream. When we booked our trip, she booked a trip for their family too. We were able to meet up with the Morrows on the Monday evening for our princess supper, a few Disney rides, and the fireworks later that night. It was fun for everyone.
Riding its a small worldAnd for all my hair-doing sisters - check out my girls' hair do's! Probably the fanciest I've ever done. This was for our princess supper earlier that evening.
Probably our favorite ride (and definitely Will's) was Toy Story mania. Its multiple shooting video games, done with 1960's toys. Your cart takes you to different screens, which are 3D, and you use your gun to shoot darts, hoops, balls, etc. just as you would on a 1960's midway. It was so fun!
Probably our favorite ride (and definitely Will's) was Toy Story mania. Its multiple shooting video games, done with 1960's toys. Your cart takes you to different screens, which are 3D, and you use your gun to shoot darts, hoops, balls, etc. just as you would on a 1960's midway. It was so fun!Here we are in the line up with Mr. Potato Head, who actually interacts with people in line. 
3D glasses
With the toy guns
In the Tomorrowland area, there is a pavillion with all sorts of 'futuristic' displays. We liked this game best, which demonstrated the growing need of cities for power. Separate from the environmental message, it was just fun for Dad and Eden to play this game together.
We loved riding the Autopia cars. So fun for the girls to steer their own vehicles. For the parents, it was most entertaining to sit in a vehicle with Eden because then you had a good view of Kyleigh's driving. Kyleigh's driving involves much weaving from side to side. I asked her why she likes to drive like that and she said "that's just what the car does, Mummy!" Hmm
Riding the monorail. We sat in the front cabin with the driver. What a great view!
In the glass hotel elevator. It was a rea; hit with the girls. They loved seeing us go up and down, as we were on the top floor. Will doesn't look to excited here, but really we all liked our hotel - especially the free breakfast each day. Will had omlettes several times. Eden and Kyleigh loved the lemonade.
Behind the girls is the shuttle we rode from our hotel to Disneyland everyday. It had decals for the movie - "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs" - so we were able to recognize which bus was ours from that!
Waiting with the suitcases for our shuttle to take us to the airport on our way home.
We had this taken on one of our last days in Disneyland. The sign behind us says "Celebrate today!" We did feel we truly celebrated. We had a wonderful time as a family - lots of good memories! It was a fabulous celebration!
3D glasses
With the toy guns
In the Tomorrowland area, there is a pavillion with all sorts of 'futuristic' displays. We liked this game best, which demonstrated the growing need of cities for power. Separate from the environmental message, it was just fun for Dad and Eden to play this game together.
We loved riding the Autopia cars. So fun for the girls to steer their own vehicles. For the parents, it was most entertaining to sit in a vehicle with Eden because then you had a good view of Kyleigh's driving. Kyleigh's driving involves much weaving from side to side. I asked her why she likes to drive like that and she said "that's just what the car does, Mummy!" Hmm
Riding the monorail. We sat in the front cabin with the driver. What a great view!
In the glass hotel elevator. It was a rea; hit with the girls. They loved seeing us go up and down, as we were on the top floor. Will doesn't look to excited here, but really we all liked our hotel - especially the free breakfast each day. Will had omlettes several times. Eden and Kyleigh loved the lemonade.
Behind the girls is the shuttle we rode from our hotel to Disneyland everyday. It had decals for the movie - "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs" - so we were able to recognize which bus was ours from that!
Waiting with the suitcases for our shuttle to take us to the airport on our way home.
We had this taken on one of our last days in Disneyland. The sign behind us says "Celebrate today!" We did feel we truly celebrated. We had a wonderful time as a family - lots of good memories! It was a fabulous celebration!
