Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Woke up on Wednesday morning to find our flight had been canceled, so we were forced to drive two hours to Portland, to get a plane to California. You don't just throw something like that at someone who spends months planning a vacation to a place she has been four times in as many years! It's just not nice! So, that put us at Disneyland a few hours later than originally planned, and unfortunately, we weren't able to go to the park the first day like we had planned. The park was so nice our first day (Thursday). Lines were low, there wasn't a ton of people. You could actually move around a bit. It was nice. We all loved the Haunted Mansion Nightmare before Christmas overlay. It was our first time seeing that. Definitely, one of our favorites. The park looked so beautiful with all of the Christmas decor everywhere. We've never been there around the holidays before, and it was exciting for nerds like me who love Disneyland and Christmas. How can you go wrong? I have to give a shout out to a few LPers I met in the park on Thursday. Lady Starlight, Wondering Alice, Amazedncal2 and husband Dave, Tinkeroon, Shiva, and Tinkmobile. Everyone was SUPER nice to me and my family and it was really, really great to meet everyone!!! Friday we spent the day at DCA. It was nice. Walking along the path by the rapids ride waiting for the WOC fastpasses, I'm amazed that people complain so much about that park. It's so beautiful! It might not be Disneyland, but it certainly doesn't have to be. It has it's own, unique vibe, and it's a pleasant one. We saw the Pixar Parade, and then headed to Midway Mania. Pretty sure I spotted Lesmisfan working while we were waiting to get on. Oh and my husband thought the woc water jet pumps were ducks, that was hilarious, and pretty much worth the price of the trip in and of itself! We got FRONT ROW for WOC. I mean the VERY FIRST ROW! I was shaking I was so excited. And it did not disappoint. I thought it was great! We all loved it. Even my husband was raving. And my three year old looked at me and said "I wub it, Mommy!" Next day we were back at Disneyland, and holy cow it was crowded. It was a Saturday. We tried to see the parade in the evening and fireworks, but it's just too crowded. You have to wait way too long to get a spot, and for us, it's hard because we have limited time in the parks and half to make the most of it. We missed most of the parade because we couldn't see, and the fireworks got canceled. I was sad because I was looking forward to the holiday versions. We were literally stuck in a mass of people for like 10 minutes after the parade. We couldn't move any way at all. It made me wish so hard they would have offered a "pay extra Christmas party" night like they did at Halloween. Consider me a proud supporter of that for all future events. It's just way too crowded to make it enjoyable to see or do anything around the parade and firework times. All in all it was a completely awesome trip. Would we do it again? Of course we would and I'm already beginning to plan for it! Here are some pics, and when I say some, I mean hundreds, lol. And I was very selective too! Hopefully this will work: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=256739&id=100001146043436" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/photo....46043436</a>#!/photo.php?pid=256737&id=100001146043436&fbid=153353388046195
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Darn, that makes you sign in to facebook to view it. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Try this: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=256742&id=100001146043436" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/photo....46043436</a>
Originally Posted By Pollyana I have to go to work, but I liked what I saw so far. Good photos and beautiful kids. Lots of disney smiles for sure. I especially like the picture of Mickey hugging the children....its really precious. I am looking forward to this evening when I have more time to really check out more pics. Thanks for sharing.
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight CC,it was so nice to have met you and yoru family. All the pictures you took of your trip were wonderful. Glad you guys all had a great time. How could you not though, right? You were at DL afterall. Glad you guys got back home safe and sound. Hope to see you again at DL someday.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Sorry to have peer pressured you into posting pics and a report LOL. I was just so excited for you and your family. Your pictures are awesome!! and your kids looked so happy So would you go back for xmas? or would you opt for a time when theres lighter crowds? and how did you like hojo's?
Originally Posted By friendofdd Those are wonderful photos. Many would make good "wallpaper". Your children are beautiful and so are you through the blur. Glad you had a good visit.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance I rode Indy, but no Aladdin Howard Johnson was good. The kids pool area was the best I've ever seen. My kids loved it. Thank you Fodd
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin I don't have time to read the trip report right now, but I loved the pictures. It makes me so happy seeing Disneyland. And I got warm fuzzies from seeing your kids having so much fun!
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Oh! I forgot one other funny thing my husband did. We saw Captain EO for the hay of it, and I've never mentioned anything about the ride or discussions on LP about the ride. During the song part when the chairs are constantly rocking to the song, my husband leans over to me and says, "They are forcing me to grove!" It made me laugh.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 "Constance" it was so nice to meet you and your family and take a holiday ride with you I still can't figure out how you guys made it to the exit before us Thank you for writing the trip report and I'm so happy that you had a good time and the kids enjoyed the pool! I haven't been able to see your pictures but I know that you have a beautiful family!
Originally Posted By Dalia3001 Yay! I loved your trip report and your photos. Your kids are adorable, and they look so happy! It looks like they had an awesome time at the water play area...in December! Either they are some tough little ones or it wasn't as chilly as it was up here in Northern California over the last few days. It looks like they had so much fun that depending on what they do to the DLR pool, I may well suggest that we stay there the next time my sister and brother in-law come to visit with their two kids. I am so glad that you got to stand at the front of WOC, and that it was a great show. I really bombed out on that one, my last trip. Maybe I'll give it another try some other time. I love your husband's response to Captain EO, hysterical! Sorry about your traveling woes; what a pain. Thank you so much for posting!
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance I'm sorry you can't see the pictures, Amazed! I can't figure out how to post it without logging into facebook. I'll work on it though! Dalia, thanks! The best thing about the kids area at Hojo's was that you could sit down and relax and watch the kids playing. Even my little guy who's barely 3 could play while I watched because the pool was only a foot deep. That way, I didn't have to get wet and in the pool for him to be able to play.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Walking along the path by the rapids ride waiting for the WOC fastpasses, I'm amazed that people complain so much about that park. It's so beautiful!" The very first time I went to DCA I thought the exact same thing.
