All it takes is a little Pixie Dust...

Disneyland truly is the most magical place on earth!

We wanted to take the girls on a mini vacation. With Shane leaving for AMT "A" school in less than seven weeks, it sounded GREAT! Being able to go on as many adventures as we can and spend as much quality time with daddy, as possible. While five months may not seem "long" to others, it will definitely feel like an eternity for the girls and I. Afterall, we are use to seeing him everyday. : ) We are definitely planning on visiting him in North Carolina!! Even if we have to take a MAC flight to get there. So that will give us something to look forward too-- plus, we will be there for his graduation!

~

Our Disneyland Trip...

We left early Saturday morning for Anaheim. Knowing that the Disneyland gates opened at 9am. We intentionally arrived an hour later. Hoping that we wouldn't have to wait in a never-ending line of cars... just to park! Lets just say we wrong. I guess everyone else had that "great idea" too. Eventually we were able to park-- and off we went to catch the Trolley.

Makayla, Daddy, & Isabella on the Trolley.

Happy Lunar New Year!! This is the Year of the Mouse.

Makayla meeting Minnie Mouse for the first time-- and she got a kiss too!

Our day started in Adventureland!

First stop... The Enchanted Tiki Room

Can you imagine walking around the rest of the day sing this chorus?

"In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
All the birds sing words and the flowers croon
In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
Welcome to our tropical hideaway, you lucky people you!"

As the song says, this attraction features an entire cast of audio-animatronic birds, flowers, and tikis who will sing, crack jokes and entertain the audience during a 15-minute show.

Aladdin's Oasis-- is a live reenactment of the movie Aladdin.

Next stop... New Orleans Square.

"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!" Here is Captain Jack Sparrow, one of the many new features to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

After the Pirates of the Carribbean ride-- we met one of Shane's Airmen buddies and his girlfriend for lunch at the Golden Horseshoe. It was sooo good! The day started sunny with clear skies but by the time lunch rolled around it started to get a little chilli. Which is exactly what we had for lunch! They had the best chili served in a sourdough bread bowl, topped with cheese. Yummy! :)

During the wait in line to get our food, we got to see...

Billy Hill and the Hillbillies perform. It was hilarious!!

Isabella waiting in line at the Haunted Mansion.

Isn't this just the sweetest picture? I love, love, love it!!

Isabella & Makayla, both got personalized Minnie Mouse ears! Compliments to daddy!! :) They absolutely loved their hats. Isabella didn't take hers off all day!! Makayla on the other hand, couldn't stand the elastic band around her neck that held it on. But she was still a trooper and wore it a majority of the day. They looked so cute in them.

Still waiting in line for the Haunted Mansion...

We decided that since I got to take Isabella on the Haunted Mansion ride for her first time, on our last visit to Disneyland. That Shane would take Makayla for her first. So he would be able to enjoy her reaction. :) She did great!! She thought the dancing and singing ghost were silly. Although, at the end when a ghost "hitch hikes" into your doom bug... I heard her ask Shane... "Daddy, who's that?" I look over-- to see Makayla looking for the "ghost" sitting next to her. Once, we get off the ride and start walking towards another... she says, "Mom, that silly ghost was sitting next to me and my daddy. But where did he go?" :)

Once we were done with the Haunted Mansion ride, off to Critter Country we went...

The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh & Friends...

We got to hop aboard a Hunny Beehive and join Pooh and his friends on a whimsical adventure in search of pots of hunny!
Along the way you'll meet up with Tigger and share Pooh's psychedelic Heffalumps and Woozles nightmare. But Pooh awakens from his dream to find that his friends have thrown him a birthday party and they've all given him his favorite gift - a pot of Hunny.

Mommy, Makayla, & Tigger.
(Isabella didn't want to take her picture with Tigger for some reason.)

Mommy, Makayla, Isabella, & Daddy with Winnie the Pooh.

Shane, Isabella, & Makayla on the wall with the "Overflowing Hunny Pots".

The whole time we were in Critter Country, Isabella was asking to ride the Disneyland Railroad. So we back tracked a little to New Orleans Square to catch the train.


Interesting fact: Isabella is obsessed with Trains!! She absolutely loves them!! :)

The girls waiting for the train to arrive...

Yes... Makayla is saying, "boobs" at the beginning.

We can all thank Shane for that. :)

But-- P.S. She loves you!! XOXO

All aboard... next stop Mickey's Toontown!

The girls were so fascinated by this sign.

Toon Town in a nut shell-- is a fun, whimsical place with brightly colored buildings, lots of interesting details...and a few surprises. This little town has it all - City Hall, Post Office, Gas Station, Police Station, and Fire House...and of course the homes of its two most important citizens - Mickey's House and Minnie's House.

From the movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Isabella on Donald's Boat-- Miss Daisy.

We got to meet Minnie Mouse inside her house!!

Which the girls thought was super cool.

... Okay, so did I! :)

Makayla checkin' out Minnie's bed.

The girls playing at Minnie's Vanity.

... and at her Kitchen table.

Isn't this beautiful?

Pretending to be Pluto-- she even barked too! :)

Isabella & her daddy in line to meet Mickey Mouse.

"It all started with a mouse!"

When it came time for us to meet Pluto-- luckily, we were the last family to take a picture with him before he had to take a "potty break" and we only had to stand in line for five minutes. (Unlike the 40 minutes we stood in line to meet Mickey Mouse.) Unfortunately, for us people kept lining up behind us to meet him. Even though Pluto's "assistant" repeatedly told the other families that he was taking a break and would be back in 20 minutes to sign more autographs and take pictures. So with her "panties in a bunch", she went ahead and snapped our picture before we were even ready. So much for a "good" picture with Pluto... and that's why the girls aren't looking. :(

She's such a Happy Girl!

Fantasyland

"Here is the world of imagination, hopes and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment, the age of chivalry, magic, and make-believe are reborn, and fairy tales come true. Fantasyland is dedicated to the young at heart, to those who believe that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." - Walt Disney

Storybook Land Canal Boats

Take a boat ride through the mouth of Monstro the Whale (from the movie Pinocchio) and into Storybook Land, while you enjoy the miniature character sets.

Isabella & Mommy on the Dumbo ride.
Nothing tops-- the Classic Dumbo ride. I honestly, think it was one of their favorites!! Can you tell from the smiles? :0)

Pinocchio's Daring Journey

So this ride has a little story to it... we tried to get on this ride 3 times. The first two times the lines were super long. Eventually, we decided to just get in the never ending line because the girls really wanted to go on it. As we were in line-- mind you, we have about 20+ people behind us, a cast member - what they call Disneyland employees walked up to us and ask if he could speak to us in "private", away from the crowd. At first, we were a little hesitant. As in... who is this guy and does he really want us to step out of line and loose our spot?

Anyways, we followed him and he asked the girls if it was either one of their birthdays-- of course, they said, "no". The guy quickly and in an excited voice says, "Good, then that means it your un-birthday." (Like in Alice in Wonderland) He continues on, "So, to celebrate your unbirthday here at Disneyland. I am going to take you around the back and get you all on this ride without have to wait in line! Sound good?"

It sounded so great, like music to our ears!!! I honestly, could've cried tears of happiness. After waiting in sooo many lines, this was truly a blessing. Especially, because it was sprinkling outside!!

So, Thank You to the overly-excited but awesome Disneyland cast member. :) We are so grateful-- and what luck, huh? He could have picked anyone but he picked us!! Super cool, if you ask me!

Sleeping Beauty's Castle at night, is sooo beautiful!

~Disneyland's Parade of Dreams~

Prince Mickey & Princess Minnie

Isabella's favorite... Sleeping Beauty ~ Princess Aurora


After the Parade of Dreams...

We stood in line for 60 minutes for the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.

This is what happens when she gets bored-- she becomes upside-down girl! :)

Yay! It's finally our turn. Waiting in line for an hour is absolutely insane. But the NEW Nemo ride is totally worth it. And to think we almost didn't go on it because of the long line. But I am so glad we did, it turned out to be Isabella & Makayla's FAVORITE ride!! :)

Unfortunately, since it was raining... they closed the Mad Tea Party down early. :(


Also closed for refurbishment:

It's a small World

King Arthur's Carousel

...and Jungle Cruise

~The End~