Just Another Day in Paradise: Disneyland Last Chance Edition

We made the trip to Disneyland one last time before our passes expired, even though we did have to get Adam a ticket. I guess we just can't help ourselves! Actually some very sweet friends of ours generously chipped in so we could come. Thank you!

We had a plan to go right down Main Street USA, trying to ignore the scent of fresh baked waffle cones, and go to the Snow White fountain. Hi Mickey!

Beautiful. We can't help but sing along with her, I'm sure we aren't the only ones.

Small world was the first ride of the day. A crowd pleaser to all.

It is so much fun to see the kids' faces light up and see what excites them.

The hidden Mickey is made by these balloons casting a shadow of a Mickey head on the ceiling in the last room.

Monkeying around in Toon Town, Sarah was cold so wore my sweater. It made her look more like me to me, and more grown up. I couldn't believe it fit her as well as it did.

Goofy posed for me then came right to my kids, who weren't standing by me, took one in each hand and walked all the way down the roller coaster with them and spun them around a little. So fun.

We were on our way there anyway. We rode it twice. Adam went once with Rachel,

Who held him very tight,

and once with Sarah, but both times with no hands!

What a ride!

Next came "teapcups" as Adam calls them.

Dad always sits this ride out...even looking at the picture makes him dizzy.

But we love it!

We all enjoy Alice, but that Caterpillar is getting a little small for the six of us.

Fran wanted me to show the new railings they installed to make it safer...aka ruin it.

Still not home. The white rabbit never is.

Adam was prepared to wait it out until he came. We convinced him to come on a boat ride with us instead.

The girls love sitting on the front ridge of the boat.

Adam was absolutely adorable. A main motive for this trip was cement in Adam's mind all the memories we'd made. He has been so young that so many of the rides were new to him.

He was very concerned about being eaten by Monstro.

After being eaten he was tuckered. Rachel offered to carry him, and to her delight he accepted.

Such a precious moment.

Saddle-up for the carousel. I was nervous to let Adam ride alone, but he did great.

We wanted to "brush and brush and brush and brush" that hair.

The Cinderella Castle. Last time we saw a gray cat scaling the side. It was so out of place and creepy, because of the scale it seemed gigantic.

The young Dumbo group.

The not so young Dumbo group.

Since we go through the exit with Aunt Luise for the Peter Pan line, we have line memories of flattening ourselves to the wall as other wheel chair families squeeze past.

But we have a great view of the mermaid mural.

Pixie Dust!

Waiting for us.

Us waiting.

Waiting and getting silly.

Ready!

For the Wildest Ride in the West!

The Hidden Mickey...can you see it? This is to the left of the track as you go up the hill.

After Thunder Mtn the girls rode Indiana Jones and went through Tarzan's treehouse to meet up with Adam and Tyler. This is what I saw looking down from the top of the stairs.

Such cute buddies.

We rode the jungle cruise together.

Adam started out fine sitting by himself, but crept into Tyler's lap as he became increasingly more afraid of the animals...and the gunshots didn't help. He would barely look up. They must have seemed so real and wild.

Guess where we went next.

Tiki Room! So restful.

One of Tyler and Adam's all time favorites.

MINE!

Adam was so excited for the Matterhorn next. I always worry about him on that ride. It is so rickety and he is just so little and could fall out so easily.

Well this time I had reason to worry. He bonked his head on the rail. Poor guy.

But he still loved it.

Autopia Cars, that is the smile of a boy who loves cars and anything to do with them, but especially getting in giant toy ones that really go...and getting his very own license to do so.

Adam couldn't contain his excitement, he just had to lick Dad.

Finally the wait is over! They are off!

Driving Miss Sarah was so proud of pushing the pedal by herself the whole time.

I'm sure you can see this Hidden Mickey.

Time for Space Mtn...Nice Posing.

Hidden Mickey between the seats.

Last ride of the night. Blast those aliens for Buzz!

An ariel view map of the Disneyland Complex. I like seeing it mapped out this way and thinking back to how it used to be when I was a kid.

Home with our fabulous hosts.

We got off to a rough start on Day 2.

We saw McQueen and Mater, but no smile.

We rode King Triton's Carousel

And there it was. He was thrilled to learn Woody's ride was next.

After Toy Story Mania we went to Bug's Land and flew on Flik's Flyers while Ty waited,

and rode the Ladybugs while Ty and Adam waited

...they really don't know what they're missing.

But they sure know how to BONK!

Rachel was thrilled to drive her own bug.

Adam asked slyly as we walked out of the ring, "Did we GET Mommy?!"

We rode on Heimlech

Then Dad and the girls drove the bumper cars again while Adam started in on our treat for

Aladdin.

Ahh, it was warm and cozy in there...and dry.

Rachel and Dad got brave and rode Tower of Terror, she looked like she felt the terror part.

We found the Hidden Mickey on Sulley in Monsters Inc.

It's always nice to see Roz, especially because she always comments that Adam is such a cute little monster.

After MuppetVision 3D, Beast's Library and Singing to Ursula, we split up.

Ty took Adam and Rachel to Turtle Talk with Crush while Sarah and I went to the Animation Academy. They draw on an overhead and teach you step by step how to draw a character.

That time it was Daisy Duck.

By 4:00 the rain had cleared and we were ready for Bear River! Ty took the girls while I sat on a bench with Adam to eat suckers, it was a very happy moment.