Disneyland 2013

Oh yeah - we did it again!  We had to get Jack and Nate down to Disneyland to see the new Cars Land before the heat and crowds of summer.

 

 

It's Disneyland Day!

 

 We drove down the afternoon before and hung out in Downtown Disney for dinner.

 



Nate (a.k.a. Sugar Shack) is already liking this vacation thing... he gets cookies and treats for being well behaved in public!

 



Jack was practicing his best crocodile from Peter Pan. Those are the eyeballs going up and down.
 

 



They refuse to look at the camera at the same time.


 

On our way to the gates to be the first ones in the park!
 

 



Dad and Jack on Dumbo.




Last time we were at Autopia, I couldn't ride because I was pregnant with Nate.  After subjecting myself to Jack's driving skills I now understand why they wouldn't let me on the ride! Major whiplash!
 

 



Nate's first time driving a car!!! Turns out he's actually worse than Jack at driving! 



 

"I wanna go see Mickey!"
 

 



In line to meet Minnie Mouse - also prime nap time for Nate.
 

 



He woke up just in time!

 

 



Jack was so excited to hack Mickey's email from Minnie's computer. (We think he's trying to break them up so he can finally be with Minnie forever.)
 

 



You two look like you got caught red handed - what DID you send in that email???
 

 



Jack's favorite part about Minnie's house... baking a cake in the oven.
 

 



"Got anything other than cheese in here, Minnie?"

 



Then it was off to Mickey's house. Nathan couldn't believe the real Mickey Mouse was right in front of him!

 

Mickey hi-fives!
 

 



 



Nate spotted Pluto's bed: "Hmm... don't mind if I take a rest."
 

 



 



Finally, it was off to drive Mickey's car.

 

 



And don't forget Donald's boat!
 

 



"Everybody hold on! We're comin' up on rough seas ahead!!!"
 

 



First Mate Nate helping to steer the ship.

 



 

Oh boy- Jack convinced Nate to be the chauffeur. I see where this is going.

 



Nate really loved the slide in Goofy's yard.
 

Then it was off to the Jungle Cruise before we hit up California Adventure.




Nate enjoyed seeing all the animals and screamed when the Elephants sprayed water!
 

 



However, in a brilliant parenting moment, Ryan told Jack just what those cannibals next to the boat ate.  He totally freaked out!

 

 



After several hours the boys needed a little break...




And so did Dad...




Were you aware they sell beer in California Adventure?!?  That sure makes the lines easier to take.
 

 



Jack woke up just in time to catch a photo with Jessie!
 

 



In case you've forgotten, Jack thinks Jessie is a pretty special gal.
 

 



I think they both got kind of embarrassed about the whole thing.

 



Because the lines were so short on Monday, we finally got to go on the Toy Story ride.




Jack and Mom ready to go with their 3-D glasses.
 

 



Woody was right there by the ride too. 

 

 

Then came the moment we'd been waiting for.... CARS LAND!!!!!  To recap, Jack LOVES the movie Cars.  He even has a Lightning McQueen bed.  He knew that Cars Land had opened at Disneyland but we were able to keep the details about the rides a secret. 



"Is that what I think it is, Dad?!?!?!"

 

There is a whole ride dedicated to those tipping tractors that both boys love so much.  You get to ride in the ACTUAL TRACTORS from the movie!!

 

Click on the below video to see Jack discover the tractors for the first time.







 Getting ready for a tractor ride!
 

 

 I'm not sure Nate loved the whipping around part so much. He takes after his dad.
 

 

 

 Then we got to meet the real Lightning!

 

 He actually talks back to you!
 

 

 Next up was Luigi's Casa de la Tires ride.
 

 

 Nate liked this one a lot more!

 

 After Cars Land we hit up the lady bug ride we love so much.

 

 And we got to see the Pixar parade with The Incredibles.

 



Then it was time for dinner at Goofy's Kitchen.
 

 



 Dale came first to meet the boys.
 

 

 Then Aladin showed up.  Poor guy- the boys had no idea who he was.  But they were very excited to show him their toy tractors they got from Cars Land!

 

 "Aladin, that's great that you have a flying carpet and all, but we're talkin' about tractors here."
 

 

 

"Hi boys!"

 

 



 "Hi Minnie. Would you like one of my previously-chewed strawberries?"

 

 

 "Fake Out! Mine!"


 

 "Well then, I've got a surprise kiss for you Nathan!"

 

 

 "Ugh - Mouse cooties!"
 

 

 "Fine, Minnie.  I'll share my strawberry with you for real."
 

 

"Here, let me make sure we get that all the way in your mouth."
 

 





 Nate eventually gave in and had a quick kiss for Minnie. (And she was a good sport!)

 

 

Pluto!

 

 



 The best part of the night: I caught Jack sharing his dessert with Nate.  Turns out Disneyland is the happiest place on earth!

 

 After dinner, we went back over to Cars Land to check it out at night with all the neon.
 

 

 Jack and Stanley.
 

 

 The cozy cone motels.
 

 

 Mater showed up but Jack was too busy reciting movie lines to get a decent picture.

 

 And we had just enough time for one last tractor ride!
 

 

 The next morning it was back to Cars Land to get in line for the big Radiator Springs Racers.  But first we had to stop to take a picture with Red, the fire truck.

 

 

 While Dad and Jack stood in line for something stupid like 100 minutes, Nate and I went to Bug Land to ride some kiddie stuff. Nathan wanted to be on the big kids' ride.
 

 

 

"It's not fair that I'm too short!"





Finally, we got the text from Dad that they were on the ride! 




 We made it to the view point just in time to see Jack and Dad come racin' by. Check out Jack in the middle front. That ride was fast!

 

 

Then I got to get right back in the front of the line with Jack to ride while Dad stayed with Nate.

 

 

 Here is the souvenir photo from our ride.

 

I love Disneyland!!! Pretty sure I'm a big dork!

 

 

 While waiting for Dad and Jack to get done "Soarin' over California," we came across Minnie and her airplane.  Nate was SUPER excited!

 

 Nathan thought the monsters in Monsters, Inc. were just a little scary.

 

 Having some fun in line for Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

"Gimme another jelly bean, Dad. This line is booooooring."

 

 



 Jack and the evil emperor Zurg!
 

 

 Jack and Buzz Lightyear!

 

 

 Our trip wasn't complete until Nate got a set of Mickey Mouse ears with his name on them too. Jack is not really sleeping here. I'm pretty sure he was doing an impression of Nate.

 

 And then he hit the point of no return.  It was time to head home.
 

 





"Are we there yet?"

 

It was a pretty great trip!!!