Disneyland - Day 1

Day 1
{October 24th}

We had been wanting to take Braxton to Disneyland for awhile and started promising it to him last fall after I got pregnant.  

We figured this fall would be a good time... somewhat "off season", he'd be 3, and Everett would still be easy to tote along.

We also knew we wanted both grandmas to come with us to help out too!

After building it up for the last 8 months, we finally made the trip to "Mickey's Big House" and it did not disappoint!

We had the absolute best experience and I can't wait to go back when Everett is older.

Braxton ate up every single bit of it and was soo good both days!

Everett was also a little champ and never even fussed one time.

We flew in on a Thursday night and out on Sunday afternoon so we packed everything into two really  full days.

We wanted to stay at one of the on site resorts but they are crazy expensive so we ended up at the Springhill Suites about a mile away and it was great!

It was tight for 4 adults and 2 kids but it was nice, new, had free breakfast, and we were really only there to sleep.  

We got up by 6 each morning and were basically out of the hotel around 7.

It was about a 20 minute walk to the park and we were there when it opened each day.

Ready to go!

Our first priority was to check out Cars Land before it got crowded so we headed there first.

Of course when we first walked into California Adventure, there was Mickey Mouse right there with like a 5 minute line!

It couldn't have been more perfect to see Mickey first thing and it was awesome.

Braxton loooved all of the characters and our pictures of him with them are my favorite!

He was so enamored and walked right up and gave them big hugs.

Cars Land was AMAZING!

By far my favorite part of both parks!  

They did such a good job with it and didn't miss a single detail.

We were shocked but there were hardly any people there first thing in the morning on Friday.

We got to see both Lightning and Mater and only had about a 10 min wait in every ride there.

My favorite ride, hands down, was the Radiator Springs Racer ride and we were soooo disappointed when Braxton was 2 inches too short to ride it.

It seriously broke my heart.

He didn't know what he was missing but after experiencing how amazing it was, I wish soo bad he could have gone on it!

We got a fast pass the first time we rode it and only had to wait about 5 minutes.  Then we went back a second time right after and got in the singles line and we walked right up to the front.

We seriously could not believe our luck since there was a 2 hr wait for the ride each afternoon/night.

Meeting Lightning

 

 

 

 

 

We hit up a few more areas in California Adventure while it was so empty.

It was seriously heaven and felt like hardly anyone was there.
We headed over to Disneyland for lunch and then both boys took about an hr nap in the stroller.
When they napped, Brian and I used our fast passes to hit up the bigger rides.
We decided to just hit what we could with a reasonable line when Braxton was up and actually fit in quite a bit... saw the parade, did Buzz Lightyear and Autotopia in Tomorrowland, Toontown, tea cups and a few random others.

I love his little hand resting on Pluto's knee

 

Braxton's first roller coaster!
He was all about the rides and couldn't wait to get on the next one each time.

 

Tomorrowland

Ready for the parade!

We hit the jackpot in the afternoon again... Minnie and Mickey and a fairly short line.

Everett would not stop giggling at Minnie Mouse... he was loving it!

We had reservations at PHC Grill with Mickey on Saturday morning so we decided to send the boys back to the hotel with Mimi and Nana to get in bed at a decent hour.
Brian and I stayed longer at the park and got to have dinner and hit up a few more big rides.
We were so exhausted when we rolled back in at 10pm but so grateful for such an awesome day!