Disneyland: Round Two

We took a trip out to California for Ben's spring break this year. We went to Disneyland and then spent some time in San Diego. Yes...yes you heard me right I said Disneyland. You might reply, "Weren't you just there six months ago"? Yes...that is correct my friend! We went back and we had a blast! We wanted to take Jo before the baby is born because it might be a while before we make it back again.

It was not an easy trip though. A journey that should have taken us around 9.5 hours (including our stops) took us 14 hours. This peaceful Jo I captured above sleeping so nice in her carseat only lasted approximately 3 hours of the trip and the rest was let's just say quite an adventure. We thought that there was a reason to all the traffic such as a car accident, or road work. We were wrong it was just everyone else heading to California with us on a two lane highway.

We spent our first day at Disneyland. Jo LOVED going on the hotel bus over to the park. It was probably the highlight of the trip for her. She still asks us to ride the bus whenever she sees one.

It was fairly busy at the park so we mainly focused on hitting up the shows and rides that we missed the last time that we were here. Then we were able to each pick a few favorite rides, and of the course the Paint the Night parade we had to see again.

The first attraction we decided to check out was the Tiki Room. It was a hit! Jo loved looking at all the decorations...then the show started and she was in love with the birds, the water fountain, and the music.

 She danced through the entire show.

She was a little more timid this trip with the characters, and walk-throughs then she was last time. She didn't want to touch any of the interactive activities at Tarzan's tree. However, she loved going on rides.

She enjoyed seeing the fish on Nemo's submarine.

Of course her favorite was riding the horse on the carousel.

Jo was 32 inches tall this trip and got to hop onto a few rides that she missed last time.

She is fearless when it comes to rides and I still can't believe she is willing to try every single one possible and never shed a tear, until the ride stops and she doesn't want to get off.

She enjoyed watching the characters from afar and waving at them.

She knows a lot of their names and would tell us, it's Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Minnie Mouse.

She kept telling us that she wanted to run up and give all the characters hugs. The first character we were able to meet was Tigger. She did in fact run up and give him a big hug and then run away in terror after. It was the first and basically the last hug that she gave.

She was okay going to see the other characters if Mom or Dad was holding her

After we left she would talk excitedly about how she was able to see "Tigger, and Winnie" and how she "gave them a hug." Oh our silly girl.

Ben and I both agreed that our favorite was seeing the show "Mickey and the Magical Map." Jo enjoyed it as well. They had bubbles come from the roof as well as streamers. She was able to watch the characters sing and dance from afar and none of them approached her.

 We got quite a workout from the trip. Not just the walking but Jo did not want to ride in her stroller the first day at all. She walked a good chunk of the park with us and the rest of the time we carried her.

 

While waiting for the Paint the Night Parade we decided to hurry into one of the hat shops. After we finished browsing we left and Jo kept asking us over and over again for something and we just couldn't quite understand her. Finally she pointed to her own ears and then to Mickey Mouse on Ben's shirt and told us that she wanted "Mickey ears."

We sure had a lot of fun. Jo was worn out by the end of the night and fell asleep on her Dad's shoulder. He placed her into the stroller and we strolled around the gift shops. She stayed asleep the rest of the night from the bus and walking back to the hotel room. I laid her on the bed changed her diaper and pajamas and Jo didn't even stir.