At the end of September, Brad found out that his business trip scheduled for November would in fact happen over Thanksgiving. So we were thinking of ways to use up the rest of Brad's paid vacation days as well as have a nice family trip to make up for Thanksgiving. So since Carson LOVES Halloween we thought we would make an impromptu vacation to California to go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disneyland.
So for two weeks leading up to Disneyland Carson would ask "Is it Today?" and "I'm going to see Mickey, Goofy, and Captain Hook." I don't know why Captain Hook was so important to him, but he really wanted to see him. Even on our way to California Carson sat in the car for an hour while Brad and I packed up to go. He really wanted to see Mickey Mouse!
It really was the best way to go to Disney. People thought we were crazy, but it was so worth it! The party was after park hours, but they let guests arrive 3 hours early. So we were able to go to Disney from 4-Midnight. My boys do well at night so I didn't think it being past their bedtime would a problem. Plus Disney limits how many people are there for the party so the lines for the rides where at a minimum.
Sorry, but this is going to be a long post because I want to remember it all.
Here we are entering the park!
I don't remember the last time I went to Disneyland. My last few memories have been at DisneyWorld and that was 10+ years ago. So it really shocked me to see how SMALL Sleeping Beauty's castle was! Its really dinky, but I guess to a 3 year old like Carson it was huge.
Carson's face just after walking through the castle and seeing all the rides! Again another thing I was surprised about was how close everything was. In DisneyWorld I felt like everything was huge and we did a lot of walking from ride to ride. Not so in Disneyland.
Next on our stop was Toontown since Toontown closes at 7. We wanted to make sure Carson got to see Mickey's house, because during the weeks leading up to Disneyland all Carson would talk about was seeing Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, well that and Captain Hook.
Needless to say Carson loved Mickey's house and to cap it off we got to see Mickey Mouse. Mickey was so sweet to Carson and gave him high fives and shook his hand. Nothing makes a mom happier then to see their children so happy. It really was so sweet to watch. Carson still keeps asking to see Mickey again.
Why pose for a picture in front of Mickey's House when Goofy's house is right there!
Tanner loved playing in Goofy's play yard!
Carson rode Go, Go, Gadgets Coaster twice!
His look after getting off. He was loving it!
Here's the list of rides we went on:
Gadgets go Coaster
Its a Small World
Mad Hater Tea Party
Peter Pan
Pirates of the Caribbean
Buzz Lightyear (his favorite)
Astro Orbitor
Here's Carson watching the Tea Cup ride:
and here we are on ours! I was really surprised at how many rides Tanner could go on! He went on all the rides with us except Gadgets go Coaster and Buzz Lightyear (but I think that was only because he was asleep in the stroller when we went on it)
While making our way to go ride Pirates we ran into Aladdin and Jasmine! I was so glad I just borrowed this movie from a friend to get Carson up to speed with some more Disney Characters. It was really funny though, because as soon as we were the next person in line Carson did the "potty dance" saying he had to go, so I told him to wait since we were next in line and Carson started to cry, and when we got to meet them Jasmine asked why he was so sad, and Aladdin told Carson that he liked his hair, because it reminded him of Abu. They were really nice.
Next up was the parade! We had front row seats and while waiting for the parade to start the Princess from The Princess and the Frog came crossed through us to hurry and get into the parade. Her dress was so pretty.
Tanner was pretty interested.
Carson finally got to see Captain Hook! As well as Peter Pan.
Every girls dream!
It was so fun seeing all the characters!
Carson waving to Mickey!
Seriously the cutest parade.
Now on to the Fireworks.
The fireworks were so cool! They had zero from The Nightmare before Christmas fly across the castle and then a projection of Jack the Skeleton appeared right above and narrated the show. So if Carson tells you he saw a skeleton in the sky at Disneyland that's what he means. It was amazing. Then they had other villains and theme songs timed with the fireworks. Brad commented that they were the best music timed fireworks he had ever seen. So good!
Apparently not good enough for Tanner, because he fell asleep during the fireworks show.
To end the night the Villains sang us out telling us they're taking over the castle now.
Fastest 8 hours of our life. Carson could have gone all night if he could. I don't even think we made it out of the parking garage before we found him like this. This picture doesn't do it justice, because it was dark and all you could see was his glow-n-dark necklaces and sword. Super cute.
I was really worried that with how excited we were that something would happen or that we wouldn't be able to do everything we wanted and be disappointed. However, everything turned out perfect and we absolutely loved it. Carson keeps asking to go back. It really was magical being there even if it was only for a night.
