Disneyland August 2011 - Day 5 (Post 6 of 7)

Rachel - Almost 2.5 years old.  Joey - 5 months old.
Friday, August 5th, 2011.

Breakfast with little birds, like a Disney princess.


We saw a stage production based on the toddler TV shows: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Little Einsteins.  It was highly interactive and fun.  Streamers at the end.  What isn't to love?


Dumbo again.




Doug even took Joey this time.  He looks unimpressed.




Rachel loved it.  Come on...  Rachel was already in love with the movie.




The giant ferris wheel in California Adventure.




When you get bored going round and round you can always play with your baby brother's binky.


This was the day that Rachel got her stuffed Dumbo.


Though he has since lost his magic feather he flies as high as ever.


My friend, Shannon, was on this roof calling the big fireworks show.


If you look closely you can see some of her crew.



Now on to Fantasmic.  We have saved seats right in front, roped off with stanchions.  Someone passing by said, "I wonder what you have to do to get one of those seats."  We were walking behind them so I piped up, "You have to know the stage manager."  He tried to offer us $10.  Nice try.


Just a picture to show our unobstructed view.  Thanks Shannon!

Disneyland August 2011 - Day 4 (Post 5 of 7)

Rachel - Almost 2.5 years old.  Joey - 5 months old.
Thursday, August 4th, 2011. 

We started the day at the Winnie the Pooh ride. 



While we were waiting we met these two girls from China.  They were enamored with Rachel.  They took pictures of themselves with her then made it their phone background.  Of all the characters and things at Disneyland.


Winnie the Pooh himself.
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My friend Shannon is a stage manager at Disneyland.  She sits in the fancy chair and calls the shots with the big shows.  Shannon and I were roommates at BYU where she was studying theater.  It was super fun to see her doing her thing.  As a side note.  She got us passes to sit by the stage manager during "Fantasmic."  It was super cool.

She tried to get us a one on one with Mickey, who she had just been working with.  Again... He vanished. 


Tram ride in the jungle.



We found Rebecca, Nate, Annie and Gracie,  and look who is in the background.  Mickey.   Mickey's bodyguard said Mickey needed to get ready for his date with Minnie and had to go.  The tricky thing is they are only allowed one Mickey Mouse in the park.  If he is on stage somewhere then he cannot be in another part of the park. 




Ice cream on Main Street.


Waiting in line for the Finding Nemo submarine we ran into our chinese friends.  They tempted us with a shorter wait by line jumping to be with them.  But, we stuck it out.  The kids were having fun with Daddy.


We got to the front of the line where they told us that Joey could not go on the ride with bare feet.  What?!  Apparently most of the rides have this rule but don't enforce it.  A nearby lady overheard our plight and happened to have a spare set of socks for her kid.  Things worked out. 

Disneyland August 2011 - Day 4 - Character Breakfast (Post 4 of 7)

Rachel - Almost 2.5 years old.  Joey - 5 months old.
Thursday, August 4th, 2011. 

We hit the jackpot.  We went to the character breakfast in Disneyland.  It was pricey.  But, it saved us a lot of heartache chasing characters.  Here the characters come to you.
 

Minnie brings balloons to each of the kids.  The genius behind it is that she knows which tables she has visited.





I was surprised that Rachel wasn't afraid of Rafiki from "The Lion King."  Joey can't stop looking at the balloon.




Cinderella's godmother sang, "Bibbity-Bobbity-Boo."  


Doug's parents took the family to Disneyland when they were little.  Doug walked up to Captain Hook and told him that he had "a very strong finger."  I had to get a picture of him holding that "finger."


The experience was worth the money to me.

Disneyland August 2011 - Day 3 (Post 3 of 7)

Rachel - Almost 2.5 years old.  Joey - 5 months old.
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011.

Rachel was really beginning to like Disneyland.



We tried and tried and tried to catch Mickey.  Rachel wanted to touch him.  Every time we got close he would vanish.  But we caught Minnie and Pluto.






We went to the 3D "Bug's Life" show.  Rachel and Joey HATED it.  I think it was too realistic for their young minds.


Waiting for the train.  Playing with the stroller was almost as fun as the ride itself.




Teacups!





Dumbo is always a favorite.






Waiting.




Storybook Land.







Grandma and Papa Goodwin on Dumbo.  Too cute!


Waiting in line for the carousel.









One last spin on the teacups before bed.