Disneyland Day 3

Today we started out at Walt Disney Studios Park. Our first stop was Cars Quatre Roues Rallye. Luckily McQueen or Mater didn't have any speaking parts. I don't know if I could handle them speaking French. But it was a great ride for the boys.


























The Flying Carpets over Agrabah was fun but not a favorite.



























Disney Studios was much like Universal Studios, we watched a few films on how cartoons were made. We also attended Stitch Live!! Cassidy's favorite attraction. It was an interactive movie with Stitch. Stitch was on the big screen exploring the galaxy in his space cruiser, but he would interact and talk with the audience. Cassidy loved that he fell in love with one of the members of the audience. Another part of the park put us on a tram to see different movie props. We watched and felt the heat of an explosion.

Then were thankful for our boy's raincoats when the floods came rushing at us. Zachary got to see a war torn city.



























The Stunt Show Spectacular was a lot of fun too. I liked the car that was driven backwards. The boys like the motorcycles and the guns.

Cassidy played in the rain while we waited for the English version of CineMagique. Zachary just needed a break.

























We ate dinner at the Agrabah Cafe back in the Disneyland Park. After dinner we were able to watch the Disney showtime spectacular. It include Buzz, Woody and Jessie. Mickey spoke French, Minnie spoke English, I think Donald spoke English as well, and Goofy spoke French. The script was very good that we could follow what was going on even if I only understood half of the conversations. It ended with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen.

Our Mickey's watching the show.


Our day isn't over. We walked under Cinderella's castle this time. And we found the dragon. And yes all three kids were clinging onto me as we walked into the cave.

We ended the day walking around the Robinson's tree house.


























Thomas found a cannon which made him and Zachary very, very thirsty. I didn't mention that our day started off a bit rainy. So instead of having our fun end with cold wet kids, we dressed them for the rain. This way I didn't have to tell them to stay out puddles. It made the whole day much easier. But the rain stopped and they boys were allowed to take off their jackets, but their rain boots and rain pants stayed on.

Disneyland Day 2

After a good night's sleep and a breakfast of croissants, baguettes and Nutella we were ready to start another day.

Zachary wants to be a big boy. He was very happy when we gave him his park ticket to get in the gate. Then did not want to give it up. So Stewart gave him a Fast Pass ticket that we didn't use. He carried it around with him most of the day.

Peter Pan's Flight, did I mention the haunted mansion made our kids scared of every ride in Disneyland. Cassidy was nervous and help on to her dad during Peter Pan's flight. But here she at least let go long enough to cover her ears.

Thomas had to have a Fast Pass ticket to hold on to just like Zachary's.

They weren't scared of the Tea Cups. I think it has to do with all the sun. And they didn't go as fast as I remembered. But the kids had fun and that is what counts.

Its a Small World is a must see.

When you leave the boat ride you get to walk through this display. Inside each monument or building is a little TV that has a cartoon showing off different things about that country. It took us a while but we finally found Germany.

Outside the castle the story of Sleeping Beauty was being told. They did a great job combining French and English. It made things seem a little more romantic. When the story was all told we walked up to the top of the castle.

We found the kids favorite attraction, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast. Buzz is using etch to give us our mission. We must destroy Zurg. I found Buzz speaking French quite amusing, but forgot the video camera.



It was a fun ride. We sat in our space capsules and used our laser guns to shoot enemy targets. It even kept your score. I had the high score, but then again the ride stopped right in front of one of the highest scoring targets.

Disneyland Day 1

We left around 3am to drive to Disneyland. The kids were really excited to go, but soon fell asleep on the road. The trip took about 5 hours to get to the Davy Crockett Ranch where we stayed. We got there too early to check into the cabin, but we did get out park tickets and meal coupons. So off we went to the park. Our first attraction was the Phantom Manor. Probably not the best choice to start with. Our kids were scared of every dark place after going through this attraction.

So the next ride was a bit less traumatic. We took a ride on the Riverboat.

We passed Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster on our ride. Cassidy really wanted to try out the roller coaster. Thomas and Zachary just had fun watching the ducks in the river.

The rain went away as we traveled along.

Cassidy really liked Alice in Wonderland's maze. The boys found the water fountains fun to play with.

More of Alice's Maze

Painting the roses red.

We called it a day around 3pm. The boys were tired and we needed to check into our cabin still. So we took a leisurely ride on the train. Zachary couldn't make it to the car, luckily he found a place to fall asleep.

We ate our first meal at the Santa Fe Hotel's buffet. With our hotel and park ticket bundle, we also get a food voucher for each day we are here. So tonight we opted for Mexican. The kids posed in the street along Route 66. Though if it wasn't for the Cars movie, they would have no clue what Route 66 was.

Cassidy's 9th Birthday

Stewart and I planned a big surprise for Cassidy as one of her birthday gifts, so a party just wasn't in the finances. Not to mention I was trying to finish up some school work, so I did not have the time to plan, prepare and clean for a party. Not to mention it has been raining and is cold, so I couldn't just throw a bunch of kids outside. But Stewart did invite some of his coworkers for a BBQ. He took care of the food and cooking, which was great. I did a little cleaning. We do live in a small world and have become close friends with a few of his coworkers. So Cassidy sort of had her party. We ate dinner on the back patio, until it started to rain, then rain harder, then hail.


It ended up being just the right time to start opening presents. Cassidy has been teaching herself how to sew. She sewed some clothes from her stuffed animals, so Grandma Suzanne sent her a sewing kit and fabric.

The last gift was from Stewart and I, it started her off on a scavenger hunt. I thought I saved the clues, but can't find them. So I will add them later if I do find them. First they all ran upstairs to Cassidy's room, then back downstairs to the piano.

Running again outside, luckily it stopped raining. Then off to Thomas and Zachary's room.

Cassidy finally found the final clue among some travel books. This travel book was for France. And her big smile is because she discovered we are going to be spending 5 days and 4 nights at Disneyland Paris. And the best part was we were leaving in 9 hours (around 3am). Our friends the Petty's gave us their Paris with kids tour book and a map of Disneyland they had brought back from their trip. Frank is showing the kids all the cool stuff they are going to see.

Finally after all the excitement. We had cake and ice cream. I did make the cake, which didn't take as long as I thought it might once I got the pieces.


























HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASSIDY!!!