Sunday, April 19, 2009

Disneyland Trip Spring 2009

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Our adventures driving to Disneyland
This was going to be epic and it was! I went to Disneyland with two of my co-workers from school, Jen Nieto and Susan Kelley. Susan's roommates Heidi Peaslee and Jenny Veatch were also part of the group. We drove down to Disneyland on Wednesday, April 15. On our way, we saw a semi that had turned over due to high winds and the tow truck that was trying to move it, we stopped in St. George so Jen could try and In-N-Out Burger for the first time (I believe she LOVED it!), we drove through Vegas SLOWLY (I have quite a few pictures from that because of TRAFFIC), I finished the book "Shakespeare's Secret", and then we finally made it to our hotel, the Clarion, close to Disneyland.
We found out that another co-worker, Scott Earl, and his family, were staying at the hotel next to us and had a hot tub. We tried to convince him to let us come over and use it too, but to no avail. We had to get a roll-away bed because there were only 2 queen size beds in our room, and we had 5 people. The room was way too small and we couldn't even fit the bed in there. Jen used her s-k-ills to get a suite (even though they said everything was full). We got pizza for dinner that night and then just ended up going to bed since we were getting up early to start our adventure. Susan was amazing and got us the hotel, food to pack in, and the 3-day park hopper passes. I think we each ended up paying about $200 (plus more for gas afterwards), but it was worth it for a fun Spring Break!

Our super cool hotel - Clarion
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Documentation is very, very important!
The morning of our first day at Disneyland started out with cereal and Secret Agent Oso. (Random cartoon on T.V. I'm sure loads of kids know who he is, but we didn't. Susan nicknamed me Secret Agent Oso after that). We decided that we were not going to spend money on two meals at Disneyland (way too expensive), so we brought in food. Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches, placed in a Chex Mix bag. Jenny and Heidi were taking their backpacks, so we placed our sandwiches and some fruit in there for lunch.

On our way, we stopped and got Jenny and I sunglasses since we didn't have any. We were stylin' now!
Without sunglasses (Jenny)
Now we are stylin'!
C - Chalyce
We are officially in the park!
When we got to the front we grabbed our tickets and then ran to get a fast pass for Indiana Jones right away. Then we went on the Jungle Cruise while we waited. On our way their we ran into Scott and his family, so we took a picture to show that we were all there at the same time.
Jen (5th), Scott (5th) , Chalyce (6th), & Susan (4th)
I took random pictures with my phone and sent them to my family to see if they could guess which ride we were on. (My friend Stephanie Truscott's sister had done that to Steph when she was in Disneyland, so I thought it would be fun). Most of my family responded. Maren ended up being the best at it.
We went on soooooo many rides! (Apparently, I found out later, that I was going at break-neck speeds. Jenny and Heidi nicknamed me break-neck Bohne, but hey, you've got to get all over the place quickly!)
Indiana Jones Ride

We had a crazy mishap on Indiana Jones though. We lost Jenny's backpack on the ride! They would actually have to stop the ride to get it and it wasn't worth it just for her. Luckily, another woman dropped hers as well, so they stopped the ride to find both of them. Good thing since our food was in there! We went up to the Swiss Family Robinson Tarzan Treehouse.
Jungle Cruise & Tarzan Treehouse
We went on the Pirate Ship and Mark Twain Steamboat, out to the island in the middle. 

Pirate Ship, Mark Twain Steamboat Ride

Jen & I on the ship
Pirate Ship Mast
Mark Twain Steamboat
Mark Twain Steamboat Paddle
Buzz Lightyear, Star Tours, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion,
Jen & I on Buzz Lightyear

Star Tours, Pirates of the Caribbean (Captain Jack Sparrow in the middle of course), Haunted Mansion
Winnie the Pooh ride (got a picture with Pooh Bear, Eyeore, and Tigger),

Had lunch,


Went to Aladdin's Palace,


Small World, (watched the parade outside), and others.

Nope, the parade hasn't started yet

My tired feet!!!

Isn't Jen beautiful?!

Jen & I waiting for the parade

We went on Splash Mountain at night (dusk), so it was cold!
Cheese!
SPLASH MOUNTAIN!!
I'm hiding behind Susan. :-)

We were going to see the fireworks after dinner (Golden Horseshoe) - chicken strips with barbecue sauce, but we weren't in a designated area, so we  had to keep walking. We stayed until midnight, but no Fantasmic either. :-(


Chicken Strips are gone! French Fries left over.

Can I just say divine!
We decided to go do some karaoke and find the Pirate Captain's Quarters.

Jen was heating it up with Gabriella & Troy :-)

A cannon in the bedroom?
We went on the Matterhorn and the Finding Nemo (Submarine) ride instead.All the rides are so much fun!

I forgot, we ended up on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 3x because we had to get out of line. No complaints here. We love that ride!
Waiting in line.
Waiting First Time
Susan is dangerous!
Waiting Second Time
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from Tarzan Treehouse.
Waiting Third Time :)
Jen is happy about our Fast Pass 

Fast Passes are the best invention, EVER!
That is where we saw the pirate guy :-) Ha ha ha ! It was so much fun! I love Disneyland!
Notice the skull? Did he just jump out of Pirates of the Caribbean?
Pictures of the Castle and Snow White's Grotto during the day.

Trying to take a picture of myself with Snow White in the background.






I love the cute little girl in her princess dress behind me!

Sleeping Beatuty's Castle

Friday, April 17, 2009
Today was our day for California Adventure! Since it was such a long line the day before, we went and did Space Mountain first. 

SPACE MOUNTAIN! We wanted to go the night before, but we waited for the next day.
It ended up being in our favor, only a 10 minute wait.
We went on Splash Mountain again (in the daytime = SUN) and Jen got soaked. 
Susan & I after Splash Mountain. We are wet, but not as bad as Jen!
Jen is in the middle, soaked to the bone!
We of course got a picture with Goofy in ToonTown. My favorite! We also waited for a long time to get a picture with Mickey. It was worth the wait!
I love Goofy!
Mickey & Me
We tried to wait in line for Cinderella, but the line was too long. We went by this place called Le Petit Chalet which made me think of The Small Chalyce. :)

We went to the 3-D Muppets Theatre which was fun and then went to the Monsters, Inc. ride. We went on Tower of Terror (Jen, Jenny, Heidi, and I) while Susan walked around (which was good since she found Cinderella and stood in line for us to meet up with her). I was a bit apprehensive on Tower of Terror. I was holding the handle really hard as well as Jen's hand. My hands were tingling afterwards, but it was fun.
Oh, the Golden Gate Bridge!
The top of the curtain - kind of hard to see.
Gotta love the Muppets
Inside the Muppet Theatre
That is one big eye!
Mike & Sully
Susan & Sully
CDA are good for behavior training at school? :)
Should I put them on speed dial?
The dreaded elevator!
We are on the left, I'm at the top on the far left.
Closer picture. Yes, Jen is probably feeling me squeezing her hand.
       We ran to where Susan was and ended up being last in line. Lucky us! We had to be the ones to turn others away. I got one with her and then we had the whole group. 
Cinderella & I
Jen, me, Cinderella, Heidi, Susan, & Jenny
We went to Screamin' after that and loved it. Susan loved it (even though she doesn't like roller coasters). I scared Jen a little bit when I said I felt sick before it. Then we went to do Soarin' and Heimlich's Chew Chew Train. (Heimlich - just so we can hear him speak Spanish in a German accent. I tried to record it on my phone, but it didn't work.) I also took a picture in a Britain Phone Booth. 


Calling England?
Superman's Changing Phone Booth
We went to Denny's for dinner and then came back (early) for the fireworks to sit in a designated area. :-) I love fireworks! Especially the ones at Disneyland!

Waiting for the fireworks to begin!
Before the lights come on for the show.
I love it all lit up
It is so beautiful lit up at night.
The change of lights and the fireworks.
Fireworks!
Love the glittering gold ones.

Saturday, April 18, 2009
So, when you get the park hopper pass, you get what is called a "Magical Morning". We got to come on Saturday at 7 A.M. before the park opens. It was actually really cool because there are way less people and kids, so we got to do all the kiddie rides a.k.a. spend time in Fantasy Land! We took a picture by the castle, rode all of the rides in Fantasy Land (just to name a few - Snow White, Peter Pan is one of my favorites!, Dumbo, Storybook Land, and the Carousel), I tried to pull out the Sword in the Stone, and rode Space Mountain and Indiana Jones one more time. It was so much fun!

Our last picture by the gates
Our Magical Morning (with a few others) :-)
Me in front of the castle
Pulling out Trying to pull out the Sword in the Stone 
No one was there this morning. My own store!
My knight in shining armor
Can I take him home with me? Please?!?

Then Jen and I shared a Dole Whip (love them - Hawaii!) and as we walked back to the center I heard - Miss Bohne! Miss Bohne! There was the Pino family and Jace was trying to hide. Mrs. Pino is my room mother, so it was funny to see them (especially Jace - he was not happy to see me). The last ride I went on was Autopia (the cars - which I think is where the new Cars attraction is). 


Walt Disney and Mickey Statue
All of us in front of it (where we saw the Pino's)
Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper
Ha ha ha! High School Musical! Gotta love the craze!

Cars!

Fantasy Land all together.
Cal (I'm by the A)
Cali (By the A)
Gold Car at Autopia (last ride)
California, knows how to party!
On our way out of the Magical Kingdom
Leaving the Happiest Place on Earth
I'm going to live here some day
Susan's last purchase in Disneyland. Yay!
Leaving our hotel
Outside our hotel window
The last stop for souvenirs
I already got my sunglasses here, so I'm good
Our Hotel
Sounds really ritzy, right? French accent?
The keys to the car that will whisk us away. How sad.
We got in the car at 2 to drive home (bummed to be leaving) and switched off driving. I just wrote in my journal and listened to Jen's book on tape about some romance. I love Jen! 

More Semi's, but no one tipped over, thank goodness.
Las Vegas
In-N-Out, not complaining that we went 2x :-)
We stopped in Las Vegas for In-N-Out and to visit a friend of Jenny's. We made it home at 2 A.M., but it was soooo much fun! Definitely a great vacation to remember!
Super cool, awesome Disneyland Trip - Jen, Susan, Chalyce, Jenny, and Heidi