A Day of California Adventures! (2 of 3)

Day 2 - Let's get this show on the road!

So, because we were staying on site at The Paradise Pier Hotel, we were allowed early admission to the parks - score!  We got up early, walked across the street to the Grand Californian Hotel (sigh - so beautiful) and right into California Adventure.  We had a plan!  Pick up the FastPass for World of Color show that evening and zip over to CARS LAND!

First thing's first:  Radiator Springs Racers.  Even an hour before the park opened to the public, there was still a ~30 wait.  What?!!  Eh - whatever, s'gonna be great!  We got into our blue car and off we went!  It started off slow and easy, but about half way through we came to a stop, another car pulled up beside us, everyone rev'd their engines and... Boogity, boogity boys!!  They pulled ahead, we pulled ahead - what a race!  I honestly don't even know who won.  Wes was NOT happy in the end.  It was too fast for him.  There were tears when he got out.  Nothing a Mommy-hug wouldn't fix, but with that reaction, and Van getting a little motion sick from it, we didn't opt for a second ride (Josh and I loved it!).  

We slowed things down a bit and had breakfast at Flo's V8 Cafe, complete with a visit from Red (the Radiator Springs fire engine).  With everyone settled, belly's full and a bit of coffee in Mom and Dad we moved on toward Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and met Lightning McQueen on the way! 

Radiator Springs Racers & Mater's Junkyard Jamboree

As we left Cars Land the park opened to the public and huge crowds of people walking as fast as they could flooded the route to the Racers, and we saw that our 20-30 minute wait had become 70-80 minutes.  Yikes!  

Right next door was A Bug's Land, which the boys had been very excited about for quite a while.  They both made a decisive bee line for Tuck & Roll's Drive 'Em Buggies (the bumper cars).  So happy.  They both loved driving and bumping the cars around the tent.    I think we quickly hit every ride in the area, and would have done them all again if Mom and Dad had not pointed out that there was a LOT more park to see yet!

Tuck & Roll's Drive 'Em Buggies, Francis' Ladybug Boogie, Heimich's Chew Chew Train & Flik's Flyers

A cast member helped us figure out when and where to see Buzz, and we made our way over to Paradise Pier.  The boys spotted Donald on the way and smiled with him for the camera.  For as irascible as that duck is, he still makes ya smile.  The big ride on the Pier, aside from Mickey's Fun Wheel, is Toy Story Midway Mania!  This was a huge hit for everyone!  3D glasses, lots of shooting targets and all the Toy Story characters - perfect!  From there it was on to the wheel, and then to Ariel's Undersea Adventure... but not before meeting BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!  Oh, this was Wesley's highlight.  His face lit up a little brighter, and it seemed Buzz was diggin' our li'l guy just as much - they were fast pals.  They sparred a bit and had big smiles for the pictures - it was a magic moment.

After a siesta in our room, we came back that afternoon and checked out the Disney Jr Live! show, which both boys were super excited about!  Also over in Hollywood Land was the Monster Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue ride as well as oodles of new Frozen attractions (which the boys had little interest in).  Couldn't seem to convince Van to go on Tower of Terror with me!  Maybe next time.

For dinner we had made reservations at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel.  The boys were very excited to meet Goofy. We enjoyed mac-n-cheese pizza, hot dogs, prime rib, fried chicken and lots and lots of yummy desserts at the buffet.  Both boys had a hard time concentrating on food when the characters came by - Pluto, Minnie, Chip & Dale and, of course, Goofy himself.

Van's favorite ride of the weekend came after dinner - Goofy's Sky School, a small car roller coaster.  Even with a 30 minute wait, he and Josh were quickly able to ride it twice in a row with their FastPasses! while Wes and I took another turn on the Fun Wheel.  One more turn on Toy Story Mania! and a bit of boardwalk games and it was time for the World of Color show.  We found our way over and got pretty good seats, but with only about 20 minutes to go before a 9:45 show, Wes had had enough and was promptly asleep on my shoulder.  

Enough was enough for one day.  Wes and I left about half way through the show, and Josh and Van joined us in the room a little later.  It had been a long but wonderful day around California Adventure.  A little drizzle didn't stop our smiles.