
Some people never do things when they should. When our son was younger we never traveled anywhere but back and forth to Iowa. Not much of a vacation for him. So, if the title of this post seems a bit odd, well, it is just because we finally got Greg to Disneyland. It was just a few years late, and oh, we took along his wife Jenn and two kids too.
We were able to park in the handicapped parking using my placard, so it was a short walk to the tram that would take us into the park. The temperature that day was in the 60's, but the wind was kind of cold. Not so cold that the snow on the castle is real. Still, it was very pretty and made for a great picture, don't you think?

As we were walking into the main park area we spotted Pluto and the grandkids wanted to have their picture taken with him. I had never been to Disneyland before or I would have known that they have "official" photographers who accompany the characters and so we just walked up and started taking pictures. Jenn told me later that kids that go to Disneyland can get autograph books and have the characters sign them when they have their pictures taken. The picture goes in a sleeve on the page with the signature. We'll know better next time....

With so many extra people there because it was two days after Christmas, many of the rides had really long wait times. We did get to ride the Disneyland Star Tours one, and the kids absolutely loved it! After snaking around in a line for what seemed to be an hour but was probably closer to 30 minutes, you end up at the entrance to several doors and when they slide open you file into the row to which you are assigned and strap yourself in. The premise of the ride is that there is a new droid pilot and it is his first day. Basically, you are watching a movie and the seats are rocking and rolling around. I was holding on for dear life and trying not to look at the screen so I didn't upchuck my recently eaten breakfast! I am pretty sure I left my liver near the Death Star....
My husband is a pretty quick thinker. Garrett is 7 and Katrina is 6, and they had gone to see Santa before Christmas, so when we were at the park near Frontierland the kids spotted Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and their reindeer. Jim told them that they should go over and tell Santa "thank you" for bringing their Christmas presents, and they rushed right over and did that. I love this picture of them. Just for this day, they were just two innocent kids believing in Santa.
They got a ride in on the merry-go-round, watched a magician at Big Thunder Ranch, and had a chat with Chip and Dale. Garrett was totally into the magician and was cracking up watching the tricks.
Katrina will probably always remember her visit with Ariel. We got there just as the character was taking a "3 minute break" but it turned into a little longer than that. I think the poor thing must have been freezing! She wasn't nekkid or anything, but in that outfit she sure needed a heated seat or something. Cruella DeVille could have loaned her a fur piece.
It was a pretty long day for all of us. I was on my last legs with all the walking. The grandkids were so good and patient with all the waiting and walking. It might not have been the perfect day, but it was sunny and I think we all had a good time. The good news is that right now the kids live about two miles from Disneyland and we can all go again, but this time NOT on a holiday.