For Christmas all I asked for from Eric was to take Kayla to Disneyland alone for a girls day while all the Christmas decorations are up. But I decided to wait until after Christmas to actually take her because Eric couldn't take time off and the weekends would be crazy busy before Christmas. So we went the last Saturday the decorations and parades and characters were still Christmas - January 7th.
We got there "early" - around 9am and I am so glad we did because we didn't really have to wait in very many lines for the first hour or two. Once we got in Kayla checked out the map and decided we would go ride Winnie the Pooh first. On the way over we passed Tarzan's Tree house and decided to stop and climb up. Turns out there's not a lot to it, especially since she's never seen the movie, but she got a lot of practice on the stairs. :-)
Then, just because the line was SOOOO short we rode Pirates of the Caribbean too. Turns out that one is pretty dark and has a couple drops right at the beginning and lots of canons and fighting. Kayla didn't say she was scared but she didn't let go of my hand the whole time. I kept trying to point out the funny stuff or the nice stuff because I know how much she hates the dark. She didn't say much about that ride. We'll see if she goes on it again next time we go. We passed Splash Mountain and Nightmare Before Christmas - both of which she is too short for - after Pirates. She talked about how she was too short for Splash Mountain all day long!
When we finally made our way over to the Winnie the Pooh ride and she hopped right on that sucker! That one we had ridden before. It's cute and you're riding around in a pot of honey. :-) And luckily Winnie and Tigger are right there when you get off so we went over to see them. For a long time Kayla was scared of these big characters. The first time we went to Disney she was really not into them. This is her 4th time at Disney and she has gotten better and better about seeing them every time. She walked right up to both Tigger and Pooh and give them a big ole hug, smiled pretty for her picture, and then gave them kisses on their noses. So adorable!!!!
After Winnie we headed back across the park. She had looked at the map and said she wanted to ride a mountain ride. It happened to be the bobsleds that she pointed to and she was tall enough for them. I guess I asked her one too many times if she was sure and after several yes's I got a no. She wanted to ride It's a Small World Instead. But, lucky for me, there were some folks gathering in front of the castle and when I asked what was going on they said the Band was about to perform with Mickey. We were early enough that we got basically front row seats - and by front row I mean Kayla stood in between 2 other girls since she's so little and I squatted behind her. :-) But she saw everything very up close and was even taken out by Alice In Wonderland to dance with some other little girls. I was SO GLAD I stopped to ask what was going on. That was such a great memory for her to make. Though she doesn't actually talk about it much. She usually talks about Santa. Hmmm.
So, where was I. Oh, yes, after the parade she forgot about Its a Small World and was back to the Bobsled. We actually had to wait for 20-30 minutes for that ride but she was very patient and stood in line and made nice with the other little kids around us. When we got on, you fit 4 people to a bobsled, 2 in front and 2 in back. We were in the back and I put her right in front of me and then bear hugged her. I was super excited that she said she wanted to ride this because it was an actual roller coaster. I hadn't ridden and actual roller coaster in years! She did so good on it too! I had her arms and everything in my bear hug so she didn't put her arms up but there was no screaming or crying and when we got off she said she liked it so I'll take it as a success! The true measure is if she'll go on it again. :-)
Well, now it's lunch time so we go to the famous red cart that sells corn dogs - one of Kayla's favorite things to eat. She took one bite of this giant corn dog! I was glad I had decided to share with her! We walked all over the park at that point because I couldn't figure out the best way to get her to sleep was. We ended up in the Disney theater watching the same Mickey cartoon over and over and over again. It was the first one ever created but still, watching it 10 times in a row is a little much. And she never napped! I took her to the other theater that was about Abe Lincoln and she didn't nap in that one either. She was soooooo tired and needed a nap but it just wasn't happening. We even rode the train all around the edge of the park and that didn't work either. So at that point I gave up.
That's when Kelly and Zoe showed up! That made missing the nap a little more manageable. We were right there in time for the parade so we sat around for a while for that sucker. Longest wait/parade ever! But it was worth it. Characters all dressed up for Christmas. Santa and Mrs. Clause. Christmas music. The girls loved waving at the characters and Santa and Kayla would point out things that were familiar to her like gingerbread men. :-)
After an ice cream stop we headed for the tea cups which is Kayla's favorite ride there right now! She and Zoe spun that sucker around like it was no ones business and they both had a blast! We went and had their faces painted, as usual, before heading to the Gadget Go Coaster. The love this ride in Toon Town. Zoe decided she wanted to ride with me so we did a little switcheroo and Zoe and I sat in the very front of the car with Kayla and Kelly right behind us. Kelly convinced Kayla to ride with her arms up the whole time! Kayla was so excited and happy every time I stole a look back. I love seeing her so happy! If the line hadn't been so long we would have gone a million times. But, it was finally time to see Mickey Mouse again. That was the longest wait for Mickey we've ever had - I was glad we were with friends. Made it not so bad. The girls walked right in, hugged Mickey, he spun them around, we took pics, and the girls gave him kisses. I love this picture of the four of us!!!
At this point it's getting dark and chilly. We go ride the Alice in Wonderland ride, which the girls were allowed to ride in the front of the car together while Kelly and I were in the back. They had an absolute blast! Walking back through the castle there wasn't really anyone waiting to take their picture in front of the castle so we made a quick stop for that and I am so glad I did. The pictures turned out so cute (if you don't focus on the group of people right behind the girls!)
Then while Kelly got us some food Kayla, Zoe, and I rode the rockets. They thought it was hilarious to tickle me for the first 7 minutes we were in line. After the first 32 seconds I was tickled out but they were having such a good time I couldn't stop them! We did have a little issue with who was going to drive. Thinking I was being smart, before we even got close to getting on I had the girls guess a number and whoever won was going to drive. Well, Kayla won but Zoe didn't really care. She climbed right into that rocket and hugged the steering wheel just like any other 4 year old would do. Luckily the operator was nice enough to help me so the girls squished together and both had hands on the wheel. Whew!
We chowed down on those burgers and then did one last right - the Buzz Lightyear ride. You're supposed to shoot at things with your laser gun. Kayla's a little young for that, and not quite coordinated enough, but she loved turning our car around in circles. :-) Inside version of teacups!
By this time it's past 7:30pm and my little girl didn't get a nap. She is EXHAUSTED! So, we head to the front, grab her a bunch of lollipops and head home. I would have loved to stay and see the fireworks but without nap she barely makes it to 8pm much less 930. So, we headed home. And as I turned around to say "Kayla, I love you and I'm so glad I got to spend such a wonderful day with you" for the millionth time that day she was sound asleep. KO Disney.
I LOVED that day. Everything was about where she wanted to go and what she wanted to ride. She got to spend some time with just me and some time with one of her best friends. She didn't have to share me with anyone and I didn't have to be shared. We had nothing to worry about except having fun. There were no melt downs, no tantrums, nothing. It was the easiest day I've spent with her in a long time! Just what a Disney day should be like. I have several friends who have season passes and they go all the time with their kids. While that would be nice and I would love to do that - going with both kids just isn't feasible right now. When Tyler can ride some rides or Kayla can ride some alone, sure. When they aren't moving in opposite directions, sure. When I don't have to carry around a diaper bag, sure. (I had the stroller with me and she rode in it some, but I let her walk as much as she wanted.) But I'm also glad we don't have season passes because I don't want the magic to be lost. I don't want to go so often she's bored. Disney is expensive. It should be special. I would definitely get my money's worth if we had passes and go as much as I could but I also kinda like that we can't. Of course I could just be justifying the no passes to myself. :-)
We'll get to do it again in March when Aunt Amy and Adam come and I am looking forward to it! I would love if she was tall enough to ride Big Thunder Mountain with me but she'd have to grow like 3-4 inches and that's unlikely. Guess we'll just have to go again in another few months. :-)
There are a ton more pictures in picasa. Go check them out!!!
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