Disneyland 2013 Day THREE!

On Day Three of our Disneyland trip, we really thought we had it all figured out. Disneyland had magic hours that day and we even got out of our hotel early than we planned. Feeling awesome. We walked past the monorail entrance because the line looked too long and headed for the main entrance. Lame people, waiting for the monorail. Oh wait. When we got to the entrance we all just stood in shock. The lines were UNREAL. They went all the way to the California Adventure entrance (which didn't open for another hour) and back around hallfway to Disneyland. Each line! And there were so many of them! I think it had something to do with the later opening hours which meant later magic hours. And the first week of school in January is actually still kinda busy FYI. Not Christmas busy, but still, a steady group of people. Now we know! So we raced back to the monorail which saved the day. Except that took a while because they decided to change protocol on that morning and start taking pictures of everyone when you use your park hopper...took forever. Let us in already! But we made it, and since we got dropped off deeper into the park we were still able to take advantage of short lines! Shelby, Trevor, and Grandpa headed off to the Matterhorn, while Cora, Grandma and I rode Dumbo a couple times. Well, Cora and I rode and Grandma took pictures. 

She's way more excited than she looks. 

See? Yay! 

Then it was back on the favorite ride again. 

How awesome that their favorite ride never has a line! 

muahhh! Big kiss from Shelby!

One more time on Dumbo! 

And one for Shelby too! Yay for getting the pink one!!!!

Then we hopped on Casey Jr., which I haven't been on since I was little. 

It was awesome, but mostly by comparison to the similar rides we went on a few months ago at Lego land. If you've been then maybe you know what I'm talking about. Lego land tries to do rides like this, except everything is dirty, dusty, and covered with spiderwebs. It is also full of bootleg characters. 

Nobody does it like Disney. 

One more ride before the lines officially get long! 

Hugs for Grandma in her cute & colorful outfit! 

Cora was not a big fan of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. 

Maybe she was thinking something like "But Dad, I've never even heard of this Mr. Toad! Why can't they make a Jake and the Neverlands Pirate Ride or something else less dark and scary?" It's just a guess...

Oh boy...we went straight for Tinkerbell next....and look at that! 

I think that means Periwinkle might be here! 

The Matterhorn was the perfect backdrop for our favorite snow fairy.

Shelby was very excited to see that her snow maker was there to keep her nice and icy. 

Darn sun getting on Cora. 

Love you Periwinkle! Stay cool! wink. 

I think all moms who know exactly what this was should win a prize for obviously watching 

Secret of the Wings so many times. 

Showing off her awesome Tinkerfairy shirt, Tink was super proud. 

It's from h&m, the greatest source for Disney shirts! 

They are always so much softer and often cuter than the ones from the Disney store. 

She's so excited that she is hugging Cora extra hard here! 

Tickles from Tink!

Tink liked Cora's (h&m) Rapunzel shirt too! 

Shelby was so excited to tell Tink that she has a sister too, just like her and Periwinkle. 

We believe in fairies! 

So, on a whim, Mom and I offered Shelby the option to meet Merida.

(who she only wants to call Brave, never her real name) 

It was a long wait, and miss Red hair even had to take a break, but Shelby wasn't budging. 

Well, every minute was worth it. Here's why...

1. Best Scottish accent ever, such a fun surprise
2.Those bears make noises and interact with Merida while she tells you a story!
3. SHE TELLS YOU A STORY! that she makes up and includes stuff that you tell her, like Shelby said that she was from San Jose. So Merida told us that her brothers wanted to go to San Jose, so she told them they had to save their money, because it was a looong way. Instead they saved all their haggis and put it on her bed. (then the bears start giggling) so they didn't get to go.

4. How fun are all the expressions she makes? Shelby was in heaven. 

5. She could not have been sweeter with Cora. 

We are all super fans now!

The benefit of having Merida take a break while we waited was that we got to see her very special, unique, determined, arm-swinging, sorta half-march, walk. Shelby can do it perfectly and was so happy to see how cool Brave walks. Sigh. I love Disneyland. 

Minnie! We're at your house!!!!

I'm always impressed by how they can sign with those big hand gloves.

The big Mouse himself. 

Shelby tried to get Cora to take her fingers out, to the amusement of the people in line after us. 

She tried her best! 

Break time! Grandpa and Daddy were off riding ride somewhere on something. Who knows. 

While we took a break here, we saw our fun friends the Belnaps from Pleasanton! 

I should have taken a picture. It was fun to catch up for a minute. 

Shelby missed Cami and was so happy to see her! Jen was the only person who helped us with our move, by watching Shelby for a few hours while I packed and then the next day while the movers were there since my parents were out of town when all that actually happened. Goodness I'm so glad that's over. 

Okay, back to Disneyland. 

It's a full time job trying to get Cora to stop long enough to eat something. 

Thank goodness my Mom is always so thoughtful and on the ball, ready with fruit or other favorites. 

Disneyland with grandparents is the only way to go! 

Next we all hopped on the train for a leisurely ride back to the front of the park. 

Even though we love all the princesses, Shelby still has only one favorite. 

Sleeping Beauty. 

Speaking of Sleeping Beauty. Thank you train for helping Cora fall deep asleep. 

She zonked out in Tomorrowland and then I carried her all the way to Cars Land 

where we lounged and enjoyed the view. 

Shelby and Grandpa went on this cute ride. Mom shopped for Richard and Brett, because she was feeling so bad that they weren't there. Trevor went to get a fast pass, because it's physically painful for him to not have at least one fast pass AT ALL TIMES. I checked the times for the Disney Jr. show and it was soon! So I grabbed Shelby and woke Cora up when we got there. Nobody else made it in there before they closed the doors, so it was a fun Mommy-daughters show. They loved it, except for Handy Manny, they just don't care about that show at all. Thank goodness that part at least has bubbles!

When we got out Grandma surprised the girls with balloons! 

Cora had been begging for one. :) 

Happy girl. I was also happy because I got to see those cute newsboys sing Newsies songs twice in the new Buena Vista part of California Adventure. Nothing puts a smile on my face like dancing and singing "Arise and Seize the Daaaaay!" 

Okay, here we go, one more line. Cora had worn that Rapunzel shirt all day and I wasn't going to leave without seeing her. 35 minutes....we can do this. 

A couple more carousel rides for Cora...

chatting with the other kids in line for Shelby...

a nap for Grandpa....

(this photo was taken for us by one of the Disney workers who could not stop laughing!)

We made it! Shelby had colored a picture of Pascal for her and I had been carrying it in my purse for two days! Rapunzel LOVED it. She told Shelby said that she was going to show it to her mother, the real one. Shelby wanted to make sure her mother was nice now. She really doesn't like Mother Gothel.

Cora wanted to make sure her book got signed too! 

Pictures with Princesses is done for this trip! Shelby (of course) was still bummed that she didn't get to met Mulan (one we haven't ever met yet) and we didn't see Tiana this time (her second favorite princess). But Trevor reminded her that it's fun to save things for next time! Besides, we were all way too excited for our next adventure...something none of us had ever done but we had always wanted to do...

Eat at the Blue Bayou! You know, the restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean.

My family is not great at planning things ahead, but ever since Trevor joined the family, he has been so good at helping us do fun things like this! When we told Richard we planned to eat here, it almost made him want to come along too. Almost. He was hilarious about it and also a little mad. "Oh fine, the one time I don't go you decide to eat there! And then you'll probably never do it again!" Well Richard, hate to have to tell you, but it was AWESOME! The food was so good. And our table was right at the edge, closest to the boats. Shelby had so much fun waving at people. They said the funniest things like, "throw us a roll!" My dad definitely thought about it too. Ha!

Don't worry Richard, we will make it a tradition now! 

Of course, this Tinkerbell light alone made it Shelby's favorite restaurant. 

Though she was a little nervous about staying so long inside the ride. Neither of the girls enjoy Pirates and Cora even cried during parts. Someday I'm sure they will love it as much as the rest of us. 

Trevor and I agree that the New Orleans Christmas decorations are the prettiest. 

Though the castle does look pretty awesome too! 

Seriously, so nice having my parents there. I would have taken her on that ride like one time the whole trip. I lost track of how many times she rode it with them! Though I think this was the only time she did in socks.

Thanks Mom and Dad! How do you guys have so much energy???

The last ride of the trip was Mom's favorite. We just had to have the guys see the Christmas version. 

Waiting in line for Small World? A first! 

My buddy and me. 

By the last day I was definitely wishing I would have bought a backpack to carry her in since she wasn't a big stroller fan. at all. Though my arms were definitely stronger by the end!