I love going to Disneyland (if that wasn’t already obvious) and we’re lucky that we live close and can go often. I had a blast when I took James to Disneyland for his birthday – he was so daring and wanted to go on every ride. Annabel, on the other hand, errs on the side of EXTREME CAUTION when it comes to rides. This is a girl who thinks a lazy river is “too fast.” So when Mike and I surprised the kids this past Saturday with a trip to Disneyland, I didn’t know how it was going to go.
Right away, Annie declared, “I’m NOT going on Thunder Mountain,” the roller coaster that James went on for his birthday trip. James wasn’t having that, though, and started trolling her the way only a little brother can. “Okay Annie, I go on Thunder Mountain and you go sit on a bench.”
Mike and I called a time out on Thunder Mountain trash talking so we could enjoy some other activities, like meeting characters and going to a Disney Junior dance party.
But James could only be distracted from rides for so long, and after a few hours he started insisting on “Rides! Rides! Riiiiiiiides!” Funny enough, the first ride that Annie and James could agree on is Mike’s least-favorite ride ever – the Ferris Wheel.
Mike HATES heights. But he can’t resist puppy dog eyes from his kids, so up in the air we went. But he definitely didn’t like it.
After the Ferris Wheel, I suggested Mike try the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride. You know, a ride that lifts you several hundred feet up in the air and then *drops* you. I’m such a good wife. But James wasn’t going to let Mike go alone. “I wanna go! I wanna see Star Lord!” We discovered that the minimum height requirement was 40-inches tall…and James is 41.5. Mike agreed to take him along on the ride, but told me to stay close. “If he freaks out, I’m going to call you,” he threatened.
While the boys went on the ride, Annie and I did her favorite thing – shop. She looked at every single item at every single shop near the Guardians ride. After about 30 minutes, I got a text from Mike:
LOOK AT HOW CASUAL JAMES IS.
LOOK
That kid kills me.
After spending half the day in California Adventure, we headed over to Disneyland, where James immediately started pushing to go on Thunder Mountain. We got in line, and Annie was NOT pleased.
I told her that if we got to the front of the line and she decided she didn’t want to go on the ride, she didn’t have to. But she wasn’t about to let her little brother show her up.
Annnnd the verdict?
She LOVED it. In fact, she and I went on it two more times (which is my limit…I thought I was gonna hurl after our third ride).
After the roller coasters, we took in a parade, where James found a new way to sleep.
Yes, he was LITERALLY SLEEPING like that. Children are so weird.
Locals (and people who are planning to go to Disneyland), we tried the new “Max Pass” and it is LEGIT. For $10 more per ticket, you can reserve fast passes on your phone, plus you get free downloads of any photo taken by a park photographer. I was skeptical of it, but it was so, sooooo worth it. I think it perfectly melds the ability to book fast passes (like Disney World visitors can) with the day-of spontaneity that I love about Disneyland.
We finished our trip with two firsts: the kids got to drive cars on the Autopia, and I FINALLY got to see the Fantasmic show, something I’ve wanted to watch since I was a teenager.
This was easily the most fun I’ve had at Disneyland with my kids. Now that Annie has realized rides are fun, I feel like a whole new world has opened up for us! Now we just need James to grow another inch or so taller, and the world will be our oyster.
Susan says:
Tell Annie I think she’s brave for going on Thunder Mountain.
RzDrms says:
What in *tarnation* is James doing behind Annie in that first “scared” photo of her in line?! LOLOL! Looks like he’s mackin’ down on a cupcake! Hahaha!
Heather says:
LOL! He’s got his face in a Dole Whip cup!!
RzDrms says:
Ha! Wouldn’t we all if we could?!
Elizabeth says:
Those pics of Annie before the ride KILL me!! She was pretty brave to go. Nothing like a little brother to goad you into stuff.
Jessica says:
We just got back from Disney World, and my six-year-old was such a daredevil! He did Tower of Terror twice – I couldn’t even go a second time! I was like, “Daddy will totally go with you again and I will be over here shopping.” And he did Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. I was shocked at how excited he was for the thrill rides. I guess James is the same way!
Callie says:
Way to go Annie!! Big Thunder is one of my favorite rides. James face on guardian wins all though! I see people with Mikes look on the Fun Wheel all the time but usually they are on the swinging side.
Damita says:
Good job Annie! So proud of you! The next time I’m afraid to ride a roller coaster, I’m going to remember how brave you were and I’m going to do it!
Leah says:
Love this post. It’s so fun to see you all having fun together. I took my kids to an amusement park for the first time last month. My husband was there too and could have taken over, so the fact that I voluntarily went on that spinning teacup ride … I still feel nauseated thinking about it.
Katie says:
HAHAHAHA James is too funny in the picture. I am cracking up!! Good job Annie!! I remember being 8 and standing in line for space mountain. I walked right up and right out. It wasn’t until day 2 when I found the courage to do it.
Jana Frerichs says:
This is a great post. I literally laughed out loud at casual James. What a kid! And I’m so glad Annie took the plunge and ended up enjoying it! Thanks for sharing!
Jeanie says:
I’m with Mike on the Ferris wheel. It always has made me nervous, but there was a time I’d go on every single ride. You probably couldn’t get me on many of them now, in my old age. And YAY, Annie!
Kelly says:
I so wish I still lived in Orange County and could go whenever I wanted. What parade did you go see? One of my son’s friends is a monkey in the animal parade.
Meghan J says:
Does anyone else think Annie looks like a giant in that last picture? I’m dying over here!
Allie says:
No I’m with Mike and Annie on this one. Being dropped is not fun