
Disneyland
Imaginative
Adventurous
Mickey Mouse
Overjoyed
Noteworthy
Dream vacation
We are back from our trip to California. We left Saturday July 11 and spent a couple nights at Newport Beach. I made the mistake of putting sunscreen on while I was wearing shoes. Sunday night, I had very crispy red feet. We had dinner at the Crab Cooker that night. Gretchen was brave enough to try some clam chowder. She is not a seafood lover. Her meal consisted of the tomato slices that came with my crab cakes.
Monday we drove over to Laguna Beach and then San Juan Capistrano Mission. In the evening we checked into the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Yes, my hubby spoils me. He knows I’m not good at walking long distances and the Californian has its own private entrance to California Adventure. They also have a viewing balcony for the light show in the park. Monday night we checked out the Lego store in downtown Disney; had dinner at the Storyteller Cafe and then went up to the balcony to check out the 10pm light show. Shawn rented a wheelchair. I let Gretchen sit in it on the balcony (it has no seats) and by the end of the show, my foot was throbbing. Back in the room we found out why as I took off my shoes and socks, my right foot had a huge bulbous pus blister where it was burned.
Needless to say, Mom was in the wheelchair come Tuesday morning and we hit the parks for the first day. Last time we went to Disneyland happened to be a week before Carsland opened. We headed over there first and lucked out with only a half hour wait for the racers ride. We spent the morning and early afternoon in California Adventure and then went back to the hotel to rest. Then in the evening we spent time in Magic Kingdom. The first night there we got some great seats for the Fantasmic Show. Since my blister popped, I let Gretchen use the wheelchair. It was nice to have a bench to sit and rest my feet during the show. Wednesday was a repeat – California Adventure, hotel, Magic Kingdom. We lucked out again. After we got off the river cruise, the girls wanted more Bengal barbecue and as we were eating Indiana Jones opened up again and we were able to walk right on.
Wednesday night we went over to the Matterhorn. It’s never been open the other two times we were in Disneyland. Gretchen did not want to go on. We set up to watch the Electric Parade instead before heading back to the hotel. Thursday morning Rachael and Dad woke up early to tame the Matterhorn, extra magic hour hotel guests have we haven’t used because Gretchen doesn’t wake up early. Then we all went to the Magic Kingdom and we finished off our three day park hopper in California Adventure. We made the last Grizzly run and got soaked. The private hotel entrance is right across from the ride. We went back to the hotel. Shawn wanted to sit by the fire and dry, but the girls were tired. We brought them up to the room and then Shawn and I went back down to the lobby to enjoy the fire, a glass of wine and some alone time for our last night.