The Happiest Place on Earth!

This event has been a LONG time coming! At the beginning of the year Disney did a promotion to "Give a Day, Get a Day".....in other words we could choose from a list of approved service projects, sign up, complete and receive a free Disney Park Pass. Considering all we had to do for our service project was drop off supplies at a local food bank, we thought it was a pretty good deal ;) Our intent was to take Maci before she turned 3 because she would still be free. Well, with our crazy summer schedule, Tanner's 90-day challenge then breaking his collarbone we weren't able to make it over the summer. The deal expired on the 15th of December so we found ourselves finally there on the 13th of December. Yeah, that's how we roll.


I flew in with the girls the night before....I have already tried to erase that experience from my memory....and we stayed in a hotel about 10 miles from Disneyland. It was a night of many adventures, beginning with Maci calling out at dinner "Dad, her has big bunnies!", to Leila having to sleep in the Hotel bathtub because there was no room to put the pack n' play, to waking up with Maci's feet in our faces. Despite it's difficulties, we survived. A sweet friend offered to watch Leila while we went to Disneyland which ended up being a HUGE relief....I can't imagine having tried to take her all day and late into the night!

Tanner, Maci and I set off on our Disneyland adventure. We somehow managed to wait in the longest line to get into the park. I thought Tanner was going to blow a gasket! I'd never seen him so impatient. But it paid off when we were able to talk the incredibly nice woman into letting Maci in for free even though she is over 3.....that saved us $68!! Tan was so caught up in sweet talking her that he kept talking after he'd asked if there was anyway we could get Maci in for less and she said "It is $68 sir. But you can always just walk away from the window."....I ended up having to just pull him away. Thanks Lady! You made our day!

The 'Happiest Place on Earth' is always A LOT happier when it is free ;) It was worth the trip, the wait in line and all the frustration in getting there to see the look of wonder and awe on her little face.

We started the day off in Fairytale land and went on Dumbo very first. Huge hit, she LOVED it! Second was Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Huge bomb, she HATED it! She refused to go on ANY rides after that.

She was loving the castle!

Bribed onto the teacups with a granola bar......

Didn't go over real big.

She tolerated it and promptly got off the moment she could.

We figured it was time to meet the Princesses since riding rides was out of the question....and since that is the main reason we came. She could hardly wait her turn before walking up to Ariel with her mouth gaping open in a huge grin.

She. Was. In. Heaven.

And that's what we did. Over and over again.

Mimi had sent Maci with special Disneyland money that she could spend on one special treat. She chose to have her face painted. She climbed up in the chair, knew exactly what she wanted and sat absolutely still for about 15 minutes while it was being done.

She got out of the chair and walked straight over to the full length mirror and said. "Wow, I beauful!".....I caught a glimpse of her looking at herself in that mirror.

After that she was calm enough to ride It's a small world after all.....she warmed up to it about the time we were getting off.

She sat on Daddy's shoulders while watching the Christmas Parade go by.... I couldn't see anything So I just got a picture of her up there.....

We spent the next 2 hours waiting in line to see Minnie's house. Surprisingly it was worth EVERY minute. Maci was in heaven. She soaked up and examined each detail thoroughly.
Despite however comfortable Minnie's bed may look, I assure it is not ;) But how cute is my "mermaid princess" Maci bug?!?

I found a couple of concerning things in Minnie's house.... call me crazy, but are these really Disneyland appropriate? A picture hanging on the wall of half-naked horse people feeding each other grapes....really? They couldn't just hang a picture of a bunny or flowers?

And then there was the issue of Jessica's Secret magazine resting on Minnie's armchair...... Sure, I get it. Cute, clever, hahaha. But is the picture appropriate? Not that it's that big a deal and maybe I am the only one who notice's things like that. Just sayin.

We sat in ToonTown for the literally an hour while Maci ate her popcorn. It was so nice to be relaxed! No pressure of rushing around. Maci refused to ride everything anyway, it was free to get in, I've been there a million times.....it was pretty much perfect.

After hiding in Tanner's lap during the Buzz Lightyear ride, Maci stared at these princess pins/necklaces for literally 30 min in the gift shop.

We tried talking Maci into riding a few more rides but she wasn't interested. So we went to the Princesses yet again....just to say goodnight.

Rode the teacups while waiting for the fireworks to start.....I think she actually smiled this time around.

We watched the fireworks, which never fail to amaze me. Every night after bath time at Grandma Helen's we used to run up to her bedroom and all peer out her back window to watch the Disneyland fireworks before going to bed. She had the perfect view and you could even hear them from her upstairs window ;)

We said our final good-byes to the enchanted castle and made our way to the car with the sleepiest Schwimp I ever did see. We'll be back when our Leila Boo turns 3!