Trip Recap Day 5

Today was the day that we were switching from Paradise Pier to the Disneyland Hotel and hubby was going to come join us.  I set my alarm for 5:30 am so I could call hubby to make sure he was up and ready to head to the airport.  When I called him he had been up for a while because he was so excited to come join us :)  He was already headed up to the airport and had just stopped by Starbucks for a coffee.  After I talked to him for a bit I went back to sleep until around 7:30.  I got up and called hubby again just as he was boarding the plane.

 I jumped in the shower and then started packing up.  Totally not like me to pack up last minute but since we were just switching hotels it wasn't like I had to pack smart, I just had to make everything fit in one of our 4 suitcases & 2 backpacks.  I managed to get it done in about 15 minutes, I think an all time personal record.  It wasn't pretty but it worked.  The kiddo was up at this point so I poured us some cereal and we watched Dumbo on TV.  Hubby called us about 10:45 to let us know he had landed and was getting into his cab.  So we grabbed all our bags and headed over to the Disneyland Hotel.  I am not going to lie, it was a very interesting walk and felt a bit like it would never end.  It really isn't that far of a walk but with 2 big suitcases, two carry on's and two backpacks it was an adventure.  The kiddo was a pretty good sport, but he was ready to just be there.

The pink line shows our route

We got there and just hung out at the front of the hotel until hubby got there.  We were so happy to see him!!!!

We got checked in really quickly and they gave us our room number and said they would text us when the room was ready.  So we checked our bags and then headed into the parks.

We had reservations at Carnation Cafe again so we headed over there.  What can I say it is one of our favorite restaurants.

How can you not get the fried pickles

The amazing shrimp salad.

We headed over to the rockets and then we we got a call from the hotel saying that a different room was ready for us so we could come and get new keys and the new room number.  

So we headed back to the hotel and got our new room keys and number.  When we got in the room I was actually really disappointed.  Don't get me wrong the hotel and rooms are really nice and I love staying here.  We had decided to splurge this time and get a deluxe room which I thought would be bigger than what we got.  The room was still really nice, just much smaller than I was expecting and smaller than Paradise Pier.  I didn't take any pictures of the room which I wish I had.  I promise when we go in January I will.  I am still trying to get used to taking pictures for the blog.  I am just not ready to put our faces out there so I don't really have a lot of pictures without us.  I noticed that I did take more when it was just the kiddo and I.  I think we did a lot more though once everyone joined us so that may be it.

Anyway, the hubby and I had booked the kiddo at the Pinnochio's Workshop for the night and since hubby had been up really early he took a nap and the kiddo and I went to the pool for a bit.  I cannot say how much I LOVE the Disneyland Hotel pool.  It is amazing.  They have two pools, two waterslides, and a little kid area with small waterslides.  It really is a lot of fun.  

We headed back up to the room just as hubby was waking up and got ready to go.  We headed over and dropped the kiddo off and then head to our dinner reservation at Wine Country Trattoria.  This is hubby's second favorite restaurant.  I didn't take any pictures but I can tell you it was yummy.  I had the Shrimp Scampi & hubby had Alla Vongola.  Then it was time to hit up the rides the kiddo won't ride.  We rode Soarin, California Screamin two times, then we headed over to Disneyland and we rode Star Tours, Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Big Thunder, and Splash Mountain-twice.  When we were waiting in line for the Matterhorn they were doing the fireworks and when we got to the openings they were doing the grand finale and it was so amazing.  Super romantic to get to share it with the hubby.  We couldn't have timed it better.  The upgrades they did to the Matterhorn were pretty awesome too.  Still a super jerky ride, but much improved.

The fireworks in line from the Matterhorn

After our second go around on Splash Mountain we went and picked up the kiddo.  He had a blast!!  They had a special viewing area for the kids to watch the fireworks from, they had a Mad Tea party, he got to play games and watch a movie.   I cannot say enough about how wonderful the babysitting is at both Disneyland & Disneyworld.  The Cast Members obviously love kids and love what they do.  Thank you to the wonderful cast members who take such good care of the kiddo.  He is really sad that we didn't book one for him when we go to Disneyworld.  

Then we headed back to the hotel for a nice sleep.

Kiddo's Disney Tag

This is the kiddo here, and this is what I answered:


1- Favorite Character-Luke/Pluto
2-Favorite Princess - Snow White
3-Favorite Heroine - Leia
4-Favorite Prince - Charming
5- Favorite Hero-Iron Man
6-Favorite Animal - Pluto
7-Favorite Sidekick - Robin Hood in Disney Infinity 3.0
8- Favorite Villain - Darth Vader
9- Favorite Original Character - Pluto
10 - Favorite Love Song - You'll be in my Heart
11-Favorite Song-Heffalumps & Woozles
12-Favorite Villain Song- Be Prepared
13-Least Favorite Song-I don't have one
14-Favorite Kiss- It's to awkward to answer
15 - First Movie I Saw - Snow White
16-Favorite Classic - Robin Hood
17-Songs that is always stuck in your head-Heffalumps & Woozles
18-Favorite Pixar Film-Cars
19-Least Favorite Pixar Film-I don't have on they are all really good
20-Favorite Sequel-Cars 2
21-Overrated Movie-They are all really good.
22-Underrated Movie-Planes
23-Movie that makes you laugh-Cars
24-Movie that makes you Cry-Inside Out
25-The saddest Scene from your favorite movie-When Luke is struck by the Sith Lightning
26-Saddest Death-Clone Troopers
27-Favorite Quote-When Francesco is away from home he misses his mama
28-Favorite Theme Park-Disneyland
29-Favorite Theme Attraction-Silly Symphony Swings
30-Favorite Theme Park Show-Fantasmic

I hope you enjoy.  What are your favorites?  If you want to share them go ahead and do the Disney Tag.

Disney Tag - Me

So the Disney tag has been making it's way around the internet and the kiddo asked if he and I could do it for my blog so I figured why not.  Since I am up and can't sleep I figured I would do mine now and then tomorrow or the next day we would do his.  Ok timer is set, go:

1- Favorite Character-Emma Swan/Mickey
2-Favorite Princess - Jasmine
3-Favorite Heroine - Emma Swan
4-Favorite Prince - Aladdin
5- Favorite Hero-Killian/Kristoff
6-Favorite Animal - Maximus
7-Favorite Sidekick - Genie or Mushu
8- Favorite Villain - Regina
9- Favorite Original Character - Mickey
10 - Favorite Love Song - A Whole New World
11-Favorite Song-Never Had a Friend Like Me
12-Favorite Villain Song-Pour Unfortunate Souls
13-Least Favorite Song-Feed the Birds
14-Favorite Kiss-Emma & Hook
15 - First Movie I Saw - 101 Dalmatians, but the movie stopped playing halfway through, my first full Disney Movie was Babes in Toyland
16-Favorite Classic - Robin Hood & Trick or Treat(cartoon short)
17-Songs that is always stuck in your head-Boo to You
18-Favorite Pixar Film-Brave/Inside Out
19-Least Favorite Pixar Film-Bugs Life
20-Favorite Sequel-Toy Story 2
21-Overrated Movie-Maleficent
22-Underrated Movie-Enchanted
23-Movie that makes you laugh-Aladdin
24-Movie that makes you Cry-Up
25-The saddest Scene from your favorite movie-Baby Mine - Dumbo.  Not my favorite movie but it hurts me to see and always makes me cry
26-Saddest Death-Ellie
27-Favorite Quote-All your dreams can come true if you just have the courage to pursue them/I will always find you.
28-Favorite Theme Park-Disneyland
29-Favorite Theme Attraction-California Screamin/Expedition Everest/Space Mountain in Disneyland Paris
30-Favorite Theme Park Show-Paint the Night

Some of these were so hard to pick just one so I cheated a bit.  I wasn't sure if Once Upon a Time counted but I made an executive decision that it did in my case.  It took me 5 min 45 seconds so just a bit over not to bad for being a bit tired :)

Training catch up

The hubby and I had been doing really well on our training when we got back at the start of last month, but the past few weeks not so much.
About a week and a half ago I got sick, again with another sinus infection.  This one knocked me on my butt!!!  I spent about 4 days just sleeping.  I am still suffering from it right now, and just want it to go away!!!  While they have been treating me for the sinus infection they also discovered that my anemia has come come.  So not only am I dealing with the cold but also super low iron levels.  Joy of Joy.

So I took a bit of time off of training but started up again this week.  I did two 30 minute runs this week as well as the long run for the week yesterday.  I did 11 miles and managed to keep a 15:04 pace.  Not my best pace, but I'm trying to be ok with it because it is still better than I have to have to finish the half and it does feel like I have an elephant.  Hopefully the meds will work there magic and I will be ready to do a much better time on my 14 mile run next Saturday.

The kiddo has been doing really well on his training.  He is running cross country at school so he has practices three days a week and then his meets on the weekend.  We do have to get a few three milers in with him during the week.  I think we are going to do those on Wednesdays.  I will let you know how he does on his first one.

Trip Recap Day 4

I am definitely noticing a theme as I write these recaps.  We rested a lot which is not normal for us.  We usually are up at 6 and out the door by 7.  We always like to beat the crowds.  I think because we had so much time this trip I knew we would be able to get everything i that we wanted to so we just relaxed.

We slept in until about 8 then got ready and headed into Disneyland.  We did the Rockets a couple of times, Autopia, went to Toontown, met with Pluto, then we decided we were hungry.  Since we hadn't had breakfast and we didn't have any reservations the kiddo asked if we could do McDonalds.  So we headed out of the parks and walked down Harbour Blvd to get a very early lunch.

We had a nice relaxing lunch and then I decided that since we had walked off resort we might as well go to the CVS down the road to get some staples.  I am really glad we went.  I got us some water, milk, snacks, and me some eye makeup remover and curlers (curling irons do not work for me so I decided to try out some foam curlers which worked great!!!)   More and more as we go to Disneyland we don't get a car so it was really nice to know how much stuff was available within walking distance for us to stock up.  Next time I will wait for hubby to come though, the water was heavy :)

Since this was our last day at Paradise Pier and our last day just the two of us I asked the kiddo what he wanted to do.  He said he wanted to do the pool, then go watch the Soundsational Parade.  So we headed into the pool for about an hour then went back to Disneyland.  We got there a bit early and got some pretty good seats.

The Disneyland Band came out before the parade to entertain us.  When they played Star Wars the kiddo jumped up and started singing and dancing

Kiddo's favorite part

After the parade the kiddo asked if we could try to catch the Pixar parade in California Adventure.  Since we didn't have any plans or reservations I figured sure why not.  So we headed over there with more than enough time.

We were super hungry at this point so I decided why not stop at one of my favorite quick service spots, Mendocino Terrace.

You can never go wrong with Cheese

The kiddo and I shared a Cheese Platter which was fantastic as ever. It's funny cause the kiddo & I are very picky eaters but we both love a wide variety of cheese.

We went and rode Silly Symphony Swings twice and then Toy Story and decided it was time to head back to the hotel.  Since we had to check out the next day and move to the Disneyland Hotel we packed up and then went into the pool for a late night swim.  We were going to watch the fireworks from the hotel roof top but the kiddo was tired and was kind of getting whiny so I decided it was time to go to bed. 

Trip Recap Day 3

So we decided that today was going to be the day that we did the early morning at California Adventure.  We got up at 6:15 and left the room at 6:50 we were doing good no problem getting there by 7:00 for magic morning..  Well as we walked through the doors into the lobby of Grand Californian I looked at the sigh, turned out Magic Morning wasn't until 8:00 am.  Good one on my part.  So we sat and watched the old Disney cartoons in the lobby then got in line.

One thing I love about magic mornings is how peaceful the park is.  There aren't a lot of lines or people.  It's just a relaxing time.  The kiddo and I strolled hand in hand through Grizzly Peak over to Cars Land.  We rode Mater four times, then did Toy Story three times, and the Silly Symphony Swings two times.

 Then we went and got Churro bites at the Cozy Cone, our favorite spot to get Churro's

The park was getting busier so we decided to head to Off the Page and do some shopping.  We came at the perfect time and got to watch the Red Trolley News Boys, one of the kiddo's favorite shows.

After we watched the show we did some shopping, I bought myself the Aladdin record and then we headed over to Carthay Circle for lunch.

I got an Ernest's Daiquiri

Yummy Bread

View from our seats

Carthay Angus Burger

Terrible picture of Orecchiette Pasta

Close up view of the ceiling, it's based off of Snow White

I loved my food, the kiddo not so much.  He is very picky and he likes his pasta thin.  This was one of the best burgers I have had in a really long time.  I would highly recommend the lunch to anyone.  

Then we headed back to Disneyland and rode the rockets, Buzz Lightyear, met a few characters, rode Autopia, and just hung out. 

Mine, Mine, Mine

Then we decided it was time to head back to the hotel, have a snack of Chocolate covered pretzels, go swimming and take a nap.  That was one of the really nice things about going for as long as we did, we got a lot of rest which we don't normally get during a trip to Disney.  The kiddo and I really love the Paint the Night parade so we decided we would go watch it again.  We got there a bit over an hour early and it was packed!!!!  We walked all the way down past the Matterhorn and there was not a spot to be found.  The kiddo was getting really worried, so we headed back down Main Street.  We were really lucky and this really nice young couple let us sit with them so the kiddo could watch the parade.They were so nice. 

We had yet to see the fireworks, and I had heard that it was awesome to watch it from Main Street so we had perfect seats to just jump into the middle once the parade was over.  I personally don't think Main Street is the best spot.  I had to hold the kiddo up the whole time and it was so hot.  Plus you were having to look at too many different spots, the castle, the shops, above the shops, etc.  If you have multiple days to see the fireworks, it's worth it, but if you have just one night watch them in front of the castle.   After the fireworks we decided it was time to go back to the hotel, but I was so hungry!!  One of my favorite things to get is slice of pizza at Naples, but everyone else had the same idea, so I ended up getting a pizza pretzel at Wetzels, which was just ok, not the same as a slice of pizza.  Then we headed back to hotel for bed time.