This year we decided it would be fun to take Adri to Disneyland for a couple days for her birthday. My sister has season passes so they are there a lot anyways so why not join them. The problem with my sister's season passes is the blackout dates. So we had to go a couple weeks early. The good news is since I used to live in California I was able to get a Disney credit card, have it mailed to me at my parent's address, and get myself the Southern California resident discount.
Our week got off to a crazy start. Monday was Memorial Day and I don't get paid time off. So I had to work 40 hours between Tuesday and Friday morning so I can leave for SoCal at 11 and still get a full paycheck. I had to leave at 11 because my nieces both had their graduation party that night. After a nice 6 hour drive we arrived just in time for the party. By the time I got to bed late that night I was beat.
The next day was Adriana's birthday party. I told Natalie to make it simple but I don't think she knows the meaning of the word. So needless to say we were up very early. I was so tired by the time the party came around I just sat on the couch. I filled up the piñata for the kids and made it out for the piñata beating and cake but that was about it. After her party we had to go back to my Dad's house for the family scat party. I did a lot of butt whopping that night. First my dad tried to attack me and he got to see the ceiling. I know someone got a picture of it but they haven't handed it over. After that we had our scat game. Everyone wanted me to lose because I like to knock early. My rule with a crowd that big is if you have 13 or more on your first hand you knock because there's no way you are the lowest. My aunt Peggy was talking a lot of trash and really wanted to take me down. After chugging two of my ginger ales I put the bottles on the table and let her know I already destroyed two Reeds that night and am ready to destroy another two Reids (her and my uncle David were the last two left against me). When all was said and done I had 33 ones to give me a nice padded pocket for Disneyland.
The next morning we got up really early. The plan was to park at the Hilton, take the shuttle over to Disney, stay at the Hilton that night, repeat the next day leaving the car there. So it took us a couple hours to get over to the park. The first ride we went on was one that scared Adri at Disneyworld, and at Disneyworld it doesn't even have a real drop. Yes we started on The Pirates Of The Caribbean. Adri made me hold onto her really tight the entire time. Zach on the other hand was not scared at all. He was curious and looking all around with excitement. I might have enjoyed the ride a little more if I didn't notice that Zach peed on me while we were in line. A great start to my day and I didn't have a spare shirt with me. We also broke down for 10-15 minutes. Yes less than two minutes into our first ride of the day.
After this we got our fast passes for Splash Mountain and went over to the Haunted Mansion and had lunch while waiting. When it was our turn for Splash Mountain Adri did not want to go with us. Instead she wanted to go with her aunts. We really didn't know how well she would do on that ride especially considering they changed the bench seats so now the only way to ride double is side by side in the back. When they went down the drop I couldn't even see Adri. I went over to the pictures and couldn't see her there either. She was completely hidden behind the seat. I waited for her to come out expecting her to be scared but she was happy and ready to go again, this time with her parents. We had the same experience with Thunder Mountain. I thought for sure she would be scared when she got off but she ran up to us with a big smile ready for Natalie and I to take her. She sat right in between us and told me to hold on tight. She was pretending her best not to be scared but I could tell she was. Even being scared she enjoyed it. Afterwards she kept telling everyone it's good to be scared because her Daddy told her so. Not exactly how I said it but ok.
We tried to take Adri over to space mountain but as my luck goes it was closed. It has been closed every single time I have been there in the last ten years. So we went over to Star Tours. Again I thought Adri would be scared, she went with her aunts first. She came off with a big smile on her face ready to go again with us.
After this we went over to Tomorrowland where she slept on me during the entire wait for Peter Pan. For the outrageous price going to Disney you would think they could install some fans in their lines like Magic Mountain. It was only 80 degrees but standing in line holding a sweaty toddler against me made me miserably hot. It was just as bad as being in Florida. I have to say it was nice getting to hold my little girl all weekend though.
After Thunder Mountain we had to take a bathroom break. This was one of the funniest Disney moments of all time. As I'm outside the bano with Natalie's sisters I hear security saying that there are reports of a man and a woman sharing a stall in the bathroom. I was just laughing when I heard it. Well a couple minutes later a 15-17 year old boy came walking out of the bathroom. Security pulled him aside. A couple minutes later what we thought was a teenage girl came out looking for him. Then she turned around and she looked like a 40 year old hooker. Security had a two minute talk with her before she ran to the bathroom holding her stomach. I guess once she figured she was in big trouble for being in the bathroom with a minor she got sick. After throwing up security walked her out. I was just sitting there like the nice guy I am laughing at their stupidity. Don't they know that is what dark rides are for?
Eventually that night we made it over to Small World and Adri was scared to death to go on that ride. Natalie sat this one out and stayed with Zach. In line Adri was trying to negotiate. She said we can go on Big World, we can go back to Thunder Mountain, and eventually she said no she's ready to go home. Well we finally got her to go on and she loved it. She sat there quietly next to me and kept telling me to hold her tight anticipating a waterfall. When we got to the end and there was no waterfall she decided she liked the ride and she wanted to go again. When asked why she liked it she gave the obvious answer for a 3 year old, the dolls. We had gotten off the ride right as the firework show started so we stood in front of Small World watching the show before going again, this time with Natalie.
We managed to stay until 10:30 that night. I really don't know how we made it with two little ones but we did.
My poor lil man Zach. Look what the girls did to him.
On Small World. She liked Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Star Tours but was a little afraid of Peter Pan and terrified to get on Small World. Go figure.
I think this was on Dumbo. Adri loved Dumbo.
The next morning we were up again early eating waffles in the lobby getting ready for round two. At breakfast Adri said that she wanted to go on Splash Mountain again but she didn't want Ryder to go because he is too small and he is her best friend and she doesn't want him to get hurt.
Day 2 we met up with my sister and her family. We started out on Matterhorn. Adri was barely tall enough to go on but they now have separate seats and I figured there is no way that kid would last on that ride sitting alone. So she got to sit it out with her bff. I have to say I don't know why I ever liked that ride. It was jerky and not fun at all.
When we got over to Buzz Lightyear Zach was once again asleep. We got on the ride and it just kept spinning in circles. After a few spins and noticing no one else was spinning I realized there was a control and Adri had got a hold of it.
At the end of the night we got to see Fantasmic. I had never seen it before and Jeff kept saying the show was the best thing since sliced bread. It was alright, but once you've seen a Rammstein show the bar is higher and Mickey just can't beat Rammstein. Adri almost fell asleep on me and by the end of the show she wanted to leave. After the show Cassandra and her family left and we went to Star Tours for one last ride. Adri really wanted to finish off the night with Dumbo but it was late, we were tired, and Zach was asleep. Since we were next to the rockets we took her there instead. Of course she fell asleep on me for 20 minutes waiting for the ride. All day Adri wanted to ride with her aunts and it hurt Natalie's feelings. Well when it comes down to it, when the kid is scared or tired who do you think she runs to? The night before on Small World she wanted to ride with me because she was scared. Before the rockets Adri wanted to ride with one of her aunts, I don't remember which one. Well when we woke her up for the ride she was tired and changed her mind. She had to ride with me and no one could change her mind. And of course this kid wanted to take the rocket as high as she could. At almost four years old Adri was riding things I wouldn't get on until I was probably twice her age.
And that was Adri's birthday weekend. We survived. My biggest worry was taking Zach out to a park full of germs but he did good.
No comments:
Post a Comment