Brandin had a 2 week break between classes and just needed to get out of town. (He has been going full time for a full year now) We talked about possible options that would be somewhat cheap, and decided on Disneyland! (I know, not a cheap trip lol) we really lucked out because one of Brandin's friends in the ward runs a travel agency company and was able to get us Disney tickets at a fantastic discount. Also, my brother had a week off and wanted to come with, which meant we split the cost of gas and hotel in HALF! So away we went. I had a Dr app Tues at 2, so as soon as I got done with that we were on our way! It was a 9 hour drive, and we got to our hotel room super late. Got up early the next morning and drove to Disneyland. We spent the whole day at Disneyland, rode almost all of the rides, and despite what everyone says about the lines in August, only stood in line for about 15 for all rides (except space mountain and splash mountain, which was a 30 min wait) We ended the night with the fireworks and headed back to the hotel after 13 hours of fun! Got up extra early the next morning, and made it to California adventures 30 min before the park even opened so we could stand in line for the Lightening McQueen racers ride (which was the main purpose for the whole trip. For anyone that knows Carter knows that his life REVOLVES around McQueen) We were told by many that this ride is the busiest there, typically having a 2 + hour wait. Boy were they right! Even with being half an hour early there were hordes of people standing in line and the fast pass line was already over an hour long. Can you say crazy! wow. Thankfully the lines moved fast and we only stood there for about 40 min once it opened. It was fun, but not worth a 2 hour wait. But Carter LOVED it! Then we spent hours wandering around Radiator Springs. They did such an awesome job, it felt like we were in the movie. We left a couple times to check out the rest of the park, but anytime we walked away Carter would start crying that he wanted to go back to "Disneyland" (once we saw McQueen it became Disneyland and nothing else counted. ha ha) We were also lucky enough that he was begging to go back to McQueen when some girls overheard him and told me they had to leave early and do I want their fast passes for the McQueen racer ride? YES PLEASE!! Thank you kind strangers for making my son so happy and for saving me 2 hours of waiting in line. So Carter was spoiled and able to go on his favorite ride TWICE!! I was also a lot more impressed with California Adventures parade, it was a ton more interactive. All of the characters that Carter would wave at would come over and give him a high five before walking past, which made him feel super special! They had Mater and McQueen there to talk to and take picts with, and Carter stood in those lines at least 7-8 times for each of them. I had one worker there ask me if we came to Disneyland a lot, nope, just a lot that day! ha ha. Towards the end of the night we broke down and paid Disneyland prices for Carter to get a toy (seriously ridiculously overpriced) and we got him a McQueen that had a Mickey hat on, and a Mater that had a Goofy hat on. They he had to go back through the line and show both Mater and McQueen that he had bought a small toy that looked like them. (BTW, McQueen and Mater are now REAL, not pretend, just ask my son!! :) Along with Red and DJ, who were also in Radiator Springs) We finished the day out with the light show/water show (a million times better than I was expecting) and headed home. Did I mention that my blisters had blisters, and bandaids didn't help? I looked like a gimp for most of the second day, hobbling along because they hurt so bad, but totally worth it! Brandin was the only on that had been there before, so the rest of us had a great time experiencing Disneyland for the first time!! Back to the hotel to crash, and then back up early the next morning to have a beach day!!! Carter had also never been to the beach, so it was a ton of fun letting him go play in it for the first time. Even with sunscreen I still FRIED, and now a week later I am finally starting to not hurt so bad. Silly white skin. That night we stayed at Brandin's cousin Meagans, and then back up the next morning to start our trip home. We had a pit stop in Vegas, ate some lunch and wandered around the Bellagio. By the time we made it home I felt like I needed a vacation, I was so tired from all of the fun! Loved every min of it, so glad we were able to go!
Get ready for pict overload!!!
Carter and his idol, the first time through the line to meet him. Oh and just so you know, McQueen told Carter that they were best buds, yup, Carter and his idol are BFF now :)
Family pict :)
Carter meeting Red.
So excited to go on the ride! Just waiting in line.
Carter is so small you cant even see him in the pict. ha ha
Pict in front of Radiator Springs
Brandin and Ty in front of us at one of the Bugs Life ride. So made for little kids, I think even Carter was too old and bored in it. ha ha
Getting picts with Jesse and Buzz. Somehow we missed Woody. :(
Mr Potato Head also talked to Carter and kept telling him jokes. Carter wasn't too sure to think about him.
Silly boy had too much to check out, he couldn't be bothered with looking at the camera.
So so so happy to see Mater!!!
Getting to be monsters with Mike
The people in the parade coming up to give him high fives.
DJ had a dance party that was fun for the kids.
Everyone turning on their neon!
Carter Checking out the Piston Cups!
The ferris wheel right before the light show.
And now day 1, Disneyland. For some reason when they loaded the went backwards. Oops!
The princess castle, which we didn't spend a whole lot of time in. Lets face it, I was the only girl there and none of the boys wanted to waste their time there :)
Me and my bro :)
Side story. Brandin took Carter on the boat (pictured behind Carter) while Ty and I were on a different ride, and the Captain asked Brandin and Carter if they wanted to go up to the Captains quarters and "drive" the boat! Carter was stoked and when they got off the captain gave Carter an official paper saying that Carter was a captain and had driven the ship! He was one happy boy and wanted a pict with "his" boat.
Everyone with Tigger
Daddy and Carter with Pooh. Carter was so happy to learn that some of his favorite characters are in fact "real" and not pretend like he thought.
It's a small world. I don't think I will ever get that song out of my head now :)
Pluto!!
On the Toy Story ride.
hanging out while Ty took Carter on the ride behind us.
Another funny story, My favorite princess is jasmine, and I at least wanted a pict with her since we were there. I tried to get Carter to talk to her (he had been so chatty to all of the characters up to this point) but he wouldn't go near her/talk to her/nothing! I couldn't even get him to sit by her when they took the pict. After we left I was asking him why he was so shy, he said it was because she was too pretty! She made him all nervous. Silly little boy!
Him and Mickey with matching ears! :)
Goofy! We had to chase him around Disneyland before finally getting a pict with him.
Space mountain, another pict failure! ha ha
Sitting in the submarine waiting for the finding nemo ride to start. Seriously, one of the lamest rides there. Not worth waiting in line for at all!
Mickey in the parade
Carter looking for who was coming next in the parade.
The greatest picture ever! We went on splash mountain at night, so you couldn't see the bottom of the drop. It came out of nowhere and we just kept falling. Brandin and I have funny faces because we were both caught so off guard that we screamed, and Carters eyes are just about bugged out of his face. So funny, so we splurged and bought this pict so we can have a good copy forever :)
Most people get this shot on their way in, I was to anxious so we sleepily took it on the way out at 11 that night. Not so good cause it's dark. But oh well.
And of course the Beach!!
By bro wanted to try surfing, so he rented a board, then Brandin tried it, and they were done within 15 min. ha ha. Ty went and exchanged it for a boogie board, and again, 15 min in he was bored. So he took it back and spent the rest of the day making sand castles. ha ha
Band Carter playing in the sand.
Carter now buried.
Brandin trying out the surf board.
Carter covered in sand.
The boys sand castle.
Carter buried Daddy!
