Last Disneyland Trip for a While...

Our Disneyland Annual Passes expired on Feb 16 so we had to make it out there one more time.  We left early Sunday and came home after a half day Wednesday the 12th. We usually stay at the Embassy Suites South but decided to try out a Disney hotel this time and went with the Paradise Pier hotel.  It was nice, super convenient for getting cranky kids back for a break and cost about the same as our other hotel because of our AP discount.  There were 23 of us there, our family, Russ, Cindi, Jill & Jaci, Meredith, Kelcie & Jared and the Porter Family.

After arriving and checking in to the hotel we explored a little.  Some people went swimming in the pool (which was right out our windows-we had 4 rooms all next door to each other) and then we headed out to find dinner.  After calling a few places and not being able to get a reservation we went to the hotel restaurant and they sat us right away.

After dinner we walked around Downtown Disney before heading back to settle in for the night.

Because we stayed in a Disney hotel we got Magic Mornings- which means we got into the parks an hour before they opened to the general public.  The first morning we got into California Adventure and headed straight for Cars Land to ride Radiator Springs Racers.

 Boston and I did a few smaller rides and met Mater and Red while we waited.

(The littles waiting to go on the Tractor ride) 

(We happened upon Donald as he first came out for the day! Score!)

Apparently they all got a tiny bit wet on Grizzly. 

We spent half the day in CA, some of the highlights were Rusty and I riding Screamin' together for the first time ever, taking Brenner on Soarin over California. Rusty took Boston and Brenner back to take a rest for a few hours while we stayed at the park and rode a lot of rides with the bigger boys.  

At lunch time the girls (me, Kelcie, Cindi, Jill, Meredith, Sarah and Jared) went to eat at Cafe Orleans in Disneyland.

Russ had my two older boys and 4 of the Porter kids so we could enjoy a nice sit down lunch.  We finally got to see what all the fuss was about the Monte Cristo.  It delivered. 

 We all met for dinner that night at Rain Forrest Cafe in Downtown Disney.  We had planned to watch World of Color that night but it didn't start until 945, and none of us wanted to wait that long!

 We have hardly ever watched a parade at Disney because that is the perfect time to jump on a bunch of rides with short lines, but this night while we just had some of the littles we did.

The kids had the best view and we had the sorest necks.

The next day we got into DL early and split up to hit the favorite rides.  Cindi jumped in line to meet the Frozen princesses- and waited two hours so we could be the 5th group in line. 

While we waited for Frozen we rode a few Fantasyland rides. Including the Teacups. I took one for the team and went on with Berk, Savvy and Jaci. I had to close my eyes. Horrible horrible ride! 

Finally Olaf woke up on the Frozen house and we got to go in and meet Ana and Elsa! 

Brenner is a HUGE Frozen fan.  He had to get a hug from each Princess. 

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We also saw Woody at the petting zoo we didn't know they had.

We didn't stay at DL for the whole day, we wandered back to CA for a while.  This was my turn to take the little boys back to the hotel for naps while Rusty and the men (and boys) got to eat the yummy Cafe Orleans. While they were there I took some of the kids to Innoventions to see the Ironan exhibit and to meet Thor! 

(Swoon) 

(Monorail time!) 

Our last day, we woke up, packed up the room and cars and headed back to CA for the morning.  

When in doubt, entertaining toddlers at Disney can always involve candy. Or food. Boss and Brig liked the Mickey ones. 

This was a big day for me because of all the rides at both parks there was ONE I have NEVER ridden, Tower of Terror, and I did it that day.  I am proud of myself but I also never need to do it again.  

On the agenda for the day was taking the littles to the Disney Jr live on stage show. It's so cute and they love it. 

The boys both decided to pick up Pin Trading, I wish they would have started when we first got our passes not when they were expiring but oh well.  They have had fun trading with the cast members. We ate lunch at CA, I love the bread bowls and soup on the Pier there.  

We had planned on going back to DL to Toon Town for the littles to see mickey and as I was walking down the Main Street of CA he walked out. So we saved ourselves tons of walking and saw Mickey and across the way was Goofy too!

Then it was time for a last minute spending of the gift cards and time to head back to the cars and head home!