Disney California Adventure
We loved California Adventure. We spent our first day at the Disney parks here and part of our last. There was plenty to do and it wasn't as busy as Disneyland. We really liked the more relaxed pace it offered especially with two kids in tow.
A Bug's Land was our first stop. We started there because the rides were designed for preschoolers and we weren't sure what Ethan's ride tolerance would be. We had fun viewing the world from a bug's perspective as we played in the spray from the giant garden hose and took a ride in discarded Chinese food boxes. It was so creatively done with every detail thought of. Definitely a great way to start our Disneyland experience.
A bug's perspective
Ethan on Heimlich's Chew Chew Train
So-sick-of-you-taking-my-picture-and-it`s-only-our-first-day-at-Disney Ethan on Heimlich`s Chew Chew Train
Tuck and Roll's Drive 'Em Buggies
(...here we watched a lady yell at the attendant for nearly 10 minutes because her son wasn't tall enough to ride...talk about entertainment!)
Flik's Flyers
Francis' Ladybug Boogie
Princess Dot Puddle Park
Jonas, our super baby, slept through the entire Bug's Land experience.
Jumping Jellyfish was Ethan's first "big" ride. It was kind of a tester to see if he could handle heights before we threw him on a rollercoaster of any kind. He passed...with flying colourful jellyfish...tehehe. He enjoyed this ride so much he rode it 4 or 5 times, not minding waiting in line in between. And what a view...
Waiting with a smile...
...ready for take off...
...soaring, or should I say jumping...
...enjoying the excitement as a spectator. ;)
We followed Jumping Jellyfish with Mulholland Madness, a roller coaster, Ethan's first. It was a bit intense with lots of sharp corners and drops, but no upside down loops. I talked Ethan through the ride and at the end he said he enjoyed it, but didn't want to go on it again...ever! :)
As we were waiting for the Pixar Parade to start, Reuben caved to Ethan's excited pleas for a balloon and purchased him a Lightning McQueen, only to discover that Ethan was no longer a McQueen's-my-favourite kind of guy. His loyalties had shifted, he now wanted...Buzz Light Year!! So, Reuben and I exchanged a look of surprise at this sudden change of heart, chuckled a little and switched the balloon...little did we know, this moment was the start of something buzzish. :) Next Ethan convinced Reuben he needed a Buzz toy with spinny lights for the fireworks display and well it continued from there...what can I say but welcome to the family Buzz!
Poor Lightening...once so loved, but you've been replaced! ;P
The Pixar Parade was smile inducing, eye popping, hand clapping, and mouth cheering fun! Ethan was so excited to see the characters he had gotten to know through Disney movies and games. It was awesome to see how thrilled he was to be witnessing the action! Mater and Lightning, Buzz and Mr. Incredible were for him, the highlights of the show.
As heard, while watching the parade:
Ethan: Dad is that real?
Reuben: What?
Ethan: The big, scary, black, bug-like machine.
Reuben: No, not real...I promise.
Playing at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. It's amazing how you can present a child with attractions and rides that rival the best in the world and yet they are happiest playing at the playground...lesson learned! We could have visited this park everyday and it wouldn't have lost any of its playing power, in fact I think Ethan asked to visit this park everyday.
The High School Musical 3 Show was fun. It was outdoors; they just pulled up their float and started to sing. The singers and dancers were wonderful, but the best part was watching Ethan after the show dance around imitating them (check out the video below) ...my super-star! :)
Monsters Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue was a favourite. Ethan loved this ride and somehow we lucked out on a Saturday evening (I'm not sure how to explain that) and found virtually no line-up for this ride. So Ethan went on it again and again, even Jonas got to enjoy this one. We just exited the ride and got right back in line.
The ride took us through Monstropolis in taxi cabs with licence plates that read "NOHUMNS" ...too funny...
...and followed the storyline of the movie (Monsters, Inc.) with Boo (a human child) getting lost the the city as the Child Detection Agency tries to find the toxic tot and keep her from infecting the entire city with her humanity. It was a wacky ride with bad things happening to good monsters!
We also enjoyed the Alladin Show...what a production, definitely worth the wait in line! There were a few scary moments that made Ethan nervous, causing him to require some reassurance that the characters were indeed not real and just pretend, but in the end he said he enjoyed it too! Of course this was the moment our "super baby" decided to be... not so super. He required movement of the stand-up kind through the entire 45 minute show...you win some, you lose some I guess...
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