Well, Brian decided to surprise us with Annual Passes - YEP! Just in time for Marissa's fall break from school. As I write this post, I wonder how many posts will be uploaded with Disney pictures between now and October 4, 2012.
I actually knew a few days earlier of the announced surprise - can't keep a secret like that from me (I'm the suitcase packer - HELLO!). But Brian and I did manage to keep the secret from Marissa and Sierra. They both thought we were going on a camping trip - which did not allow bikes or dogs (our good friend the Roberts' kindly housed Rocky for a week - LOVE you guys!). The morning of our drive to LA Marissa started asking about our camping stove, sleeping bags, etc. which I said Daddy had already packed while we were dressing - I had also already snuck all their Disney apparel in my suitcase.
We arrived into LA in the evening, and exited for gas near the Disneyland exit, and as we drove past Disneyland the girls started giggling and stuttering about what they could see out their window. We yelled SURPRISE!! Apparently, they were both so surprised, and asked if we could leave our campsite and come to Disneyland for a day. Brian and I laughed and explained that we were not camping, we fooled them as a surprise. It still took a minute or two for the both of them to register the fact that we were not going camping but visiting Disneyland for 4 1/2 days! I think for a quick moment they may have been a little bummed about not camping, but just for a second.
Marissa's break from school just so happened to be the same week of our 8 year wedding anniversary. Our first day to Disneyland October 4th...of course I couldn't resist hurrying into Main Street's City Hall and be presented with an official Disneyland Celebration pin!
Here we pose at the entrance Mickey Pumpkin. Love that the photographer's now ask you to pose with silly faces.
We were a little bummed that the Pirates of the Caribbean ride was under construction, as well as the entrance of California Adventure park, but pretty excited to ride the parks newly opened Little Mermaid - Ariel's undersea adventure ride. It was definitely worth seeing, but hate to admit we never returned, or spoke about during the remainder of our 4 days at the park.
Back to Disneyland park for the Star Tours adventure (the girls first time ever riding due to height requirements). Sierra was photographed and pictured on the screen notifying us all that she was the galaxy spy.
As much as Marissa enjoys this fast pace roller coaster, I reach for her throughout the ride making sure she does not fly out of the seat! Sierra on the other hand had never ridden this ride and had a death grip on Brian - not because of the high-speeds, but because of the Ghost Galaxy and skeleton images, which ended-up being our final fun frontier - much too spooky for the girls.
Next, the Tower of Terror! I know what to expect on this ride, and still found myself unprepared for the drop! This by far was our favorite ride, to which we rode possibly 3 times a day.
The park closed early (6pm - for their Halloween party, which we were tempted to attend, but decided that the $200.00 admission was much too expensive during this stay). We made it back to our hotel lounge just in time to indulge on one drink for the conclusion of Happy Hour. We later returned to the lounge and celebrated our anniversary with Sushi and a bottle of champagne cheering to 8 wonderful years of marriage - so blessed, and very much lucky in love!
Unfortunately, we arose the next morning to RAIN!! We decided than rather risk the chance of one of us getting sick ruining the remainder of our stay, we'd make the most of a rainy day doing a little shopping and bowl! We located a really nice bowling alley at the Garden Grove Shopping Plaza across from Disneyland resorts. The AMF Bowling alley offered a $10.00 per player lunch special: 1 game, shoes, ball, lunch!
We had so much FUN!! Can't believe Sierra came in 2nd place!
The bowling alley even had a photo "look at me I'm all that" wall - HA!
Hard to believe that with all the rain we had seen Wednesday, we were dressed in shorts and tank tops the very next day! We decided to start at California Adventure and ride Toy Story - the line is usually a ridiculously long wait. We lucked out on the wait, approx. 20 minutes, but standing that short while seemed like hours beneath the moldy umbrellas which are used to shade the area - GAG! After this post, I plan to notify Disney and hope they remedy the problem, not as if the park doesn't make enough money to purchase new umbrellas or replace the fabric, or geez even use a bottle of febreeze in the meantime. :)
Since we've already photographed the girls w/practically every character during our [many] prior visits, the girls had only asked to pose with Pluto and Max Goof (Goofy's son).
A second Tower of Terror photo - poor Sierra can't be seen!
Back to Disneyland, we decided to check out Woody and Jessie at Woody's Round-Up. The area had pumpkin carvers, and a section to make crafts, color and/or draw.
This trip Sierra was also tall enough to ride Splash Mountain (my favorite ride) - of course not to be believed by the expression on my face, I just really did not want to get soaked, which I didn't - as mischievously planned by Brian [and Marissa] who in turn was splashed! The same happened on our last day at Disneyland, on the Grizzly river run water raft.
Both Marissa and Sierra saved $50.00 each from monies earned selling snacks/drinks to golfers nearby our house. They both learned how easily money disappears, and the cost of items, trying desperatly to make the $50.00 last. I was very impressed with their decision to wait on certain items, and the appreciation of the items purchased.
Marissa bought a Simba stuffed toy, a hat which has many colorful mini mickey images, a key chain, Mickey rice krispee treat, a lollipop, and this beautiful face painting!
Sierra purchased a Pluto pillow pal, a minnie mickey baseball hat, a lollipop, a minnie mouse ballpoint pin, and this beautiful face painting.
I'm hoping to continue to photograph the girls as pictured below each time we return to Disneyland - be so cute to compare the photos as they get older.
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