Disneyland: Day 1--Surprise! We're Going to Disneyland!

On Saturday, April 27th we woke up as usual. The kids watched a little TV and I made pancakes for breakfast (Mickey shaped ones, mind you) and we sat down to eat. That's when Jason casually mentioned to the kids that we'd be leaving for California in a couple hours. It's funny, because they all looked at me like, "Is Dad serious or is this another one of his 'jokes'?" But he was serious. The kids still didn't, like, jump around and hoot and holler or anything. More like a slow building excitement. As you can see if you watched the video, once Easton's finally convinced he chimes in with a "I so thought this was fake!" and "So this was all one big plan?" So cute! The video is not all that exciting, just our family sitting down to breakfast but that's how it was:


Dalton even got a little verklempt with the news. Adorbs!


I had been secretly packing for days so really all that was left to do was get dressed and go! Our flight was over the lunch hour and, even though we'd had a late breakfast, we needed a little something to hold us over till we got to California. With our new diet, it's not like we can just grab whatever wherever so I made some smoothies to have in the car on the way to the airport. You may recognize this one from Facebook:


Before long we were in line to check in for our flight. The kids are at a really easy age to travel with finally. Easton was so independent and dragged around a carry on suitcase for us.


Dalton was able to push Autumn in the stroller.


While Jason and I each wrangled a car seat and a bigger suitcase.


But no one whines or complains about pitching in. No one wanders off. They're so great! (Anyone would, having just been surprised with a Disney trip, right?)


We saw our church friend Bob, a TSA agent, as we went through security. I said hello but Jason was in business-mode and didn't see him so Bob played the ol', "Excuse me sir, I'll need you to come with me" joke. Classic. :)

And we were off....boys on one side:


Girls on the other:


Autumn didn't like when the man next to her fell asleep. She woke him up!


The digital age sure makes entertaining children while traveling a lot easier...one time I looked over and saw this:


Autumn had a Pinkalicious audio collection to listen to and some things to color and a few snacks.


It's really not too bad a flight. The boys were mostly on their devices. I'd set each boy up with a few new games on their devices and before long we were on the ground again at the John Wayne Airport:


Waiting for J to get the rental car:




First things first: the kids waiting in the trunk while we install the car seats (hardest part of traveling with kids):


Then it was off to Sprouts for a few groceries followed by the hotel:


Nothing fancy, we weren't going to be there much anyway. But the location was great! I'd stay there again.


As this is our fourth Disney trip as a family, it's become somewhat of a tradition to hit Downtown Disney on our arrival day. It seems that's just how it's always worked out and, well, I'm all about traditions so we kept it up! First stop was an early dinner at Rainforest Café. I used the gift card I'd earned and we had a coupon that the hotel gave us for a free kids meal or two (or maybe they were just discounted, I dunno anymore). We had to eat outside if we didn't want to wait forever but that was okay. As we were going over our plans for the week and such Easton told me, "I can't believe you planned all this for us!" Awwwww....

(Please excuse my gigantic looking arm and instead focus on the precious mother-son moment peeking out behind it.)



After dinner we were off to check out the robotic animals and the gift shop:




Then we moved on to the rest of Downtown Disney with the Lego Store always being a highlight:




Eastie built a car and raced it:


He won!

Another hit each trip is the Build a Bear store. They love the one in the local mall so this two story one is even better!


We checked out Ridemakerz which I like to call "Build a Car":


And always make sure to still stop and smell the flowers:


The gigantic World of Disney store. Dalton wanted a pic with Genie:


Before too long we headed back to the hotel. I had new Disney jammies for each kid as a surprise...Toy Story for Easton, Cars for Dalton:


And Merida for little Miss:


Then it was bedtime. Day 2: LEGOLAND is here.