Postcard from the Peas: Disneyland
We are home from our whirlwind vacation to Disneyland.
I am so happy and so exhausted.
But I’m also excited to share a few iPhone photos from our trip and a few observations. Lower your safety harnesses and hold onto your hats and glasses!
(Disclaimer: no expectant mothers, individuals with heart conditions or children under 42 inches should read this post.)
Facts:
Four days of walking overtakes age appropriateness when it comes to willingness to ride in strollers. You could be 5. Or 7. Or 36.
Age appropriateness is also irrelevant when it comes to hugging people dressed as cartoon characters. Or giving them “high fours.”
Six kids (our two + our friends’ four) is a lot. Period. But six kids in Disney is unfathomable excitement and joy. How could you not want to be in the middle of that? Only with a heart of stone, I tell you.
Lulu doesn’t like Splash Mountain. She’s the only one, obviously.
There is a Starbucks in California Adventure. And for that reason I am alive today.
Some places you simply don’t feel ridiculous eating a massive, juicy pickle in front of a large crowd of people. Daily.
The new CARSland is amazing.
Lulu REALLY doesn’t like Tower of Terror. At all. And I’m pretty sure she doesn’t like me anymore either.
Ice cream tastes 10 million times better when consumed on a parade route.
Disneyland is just plain spectacular. But the truly Happiest Place on Earth is anywhere I am with my precious girls and my sweet husband.
And a Starbucks.
Looks like a wonderful vacation! I love the picture of you and the Starbucks sign – you look so pretty! And your hair looks gorgeous, as usual – I love that braid – and your arms look fantastic, too. Hot mama! The Splash Mountain picture is amazing
Oh goodness, you are too much. Thank you!
We are going at the end of April so I liked hearing your review. You answered a question that I had, we will be renting a stroller for my 5-year old!
Oh yes. There were times that the girls were fighting over it…and Gigi is almost eight! Another tip is that the stroller rentals open about 45 minutes before the park officially opens and the main gates open about 30 minutes before the stated times (even though the rides won’t run until the stated opening time). There are also self-serve kiosks to the right of the rental counter, which are much quicker! You will have a blast…enjoy!
After all that time the only pictures we have together are mouth-open-screaming pics! That about sums it up! Screaming/laughing/eating. I loved it all
Ditto. Come home soon!
Aww… We were just there a month ago and the pictures make me want to go back! We love the ginormous pickles too!
Sadly Mad Hatter and Splash mountain that you featured were both closed for refurbishment when we went
Bummer! Thunder Mountain was closed for us. I missed it!
YES to Splash Mountain and High fours! <3 You Mama!
Back atcha, Ali.
Clearly it has been a long time for me…I had to look up tower of terror.
I always like a Disney affirmation…considering we honeymooned at WDW, own a Disney timeshare (well, two now), and then I made my husband work for them (or so my mother-in- law says). Can’t wait to hit Orlando in April! On either coast, it’s a good time. Glad to see you and the Peas!
Your trip will be a blast! How is your back? I caught wind of something on Facebook and have been thinking of you.
Hi hon – I have the rare but curable head cold/herniated disc combo. It’s not fatal.
But anything with the disc is uber painful! Prayers for rapid healing <3
Sounds like you all had a blast! I’m sure Lulu did too.
I love your hair in the Starbucks picture, it looks really cute!
Thanks, Sarah. Lu has clearly stated she prefers Hawaii. I’m still not sure she is 5.
i love disneyland! i usually go at the end of the year, whenever it’s xmas time…i can’t wait to check out the new cars land!
It’s so cool! Very true to the movie.
It’s been so long since there’s been a picture of you! You’re gorgeous, as always.
It was good to see your face!
That’s sweet of you. Thanks, Kim.
Is it sad that I can’t stop scrolling back up to look at that chocolate covered mini M&M mickey head? Dang.
Maybe it’s more sad that I didn’t get to eat one.
And for the record, I would LOVE to take my kids Disney (World, in FL) but Zak DOES have a heart of STONE! I just may have to forward him this post…
It was prettier than it tasted
I’d start working on Zak for a trip when Kaz is 1. That’d be perfect!
Even the most disgruntled children seem better in Disney. I just got back from Disney World. They need to get their act together with adding a Starbucks. I definitely could have used some of that magic.
It is a beautiful addition to the park, I must say.
So glad you guys had fun! Loved seeing your pics on instagram!
Awwww Tower of Terror is fun, but I can see how Lulu would not like it! Kudos to her for even going on!
LOVE your hair, looks gorgeous!
Hope you have a relaxing day since you are getting back to the routine at home! <3
You would not believe the laundry. Luckily, we have coffee here too. Much love to you & the fam, Katie.
Looks like you had a great time! I’ve never been to Disneyland, but know the thrills of Disneyworld!
Ahhh…so fun! I’ve never been to Disneyland, but I’ve been to Disney World twice, and I loved it!
I agree with Katie — your hair looks gorgeous!
Thanks, Em, that’s sweet of you.
The picture of the teacup ride at twilight/dusk really captures the magic. Thanks so much for sharing a bit of your vacation – glad you had a wonderful time. Your hair has gotten so long that I almost didn’t recognize you! You look beautiful but you always do!
Have a great week!
Thanks, Christine. I’m blushing and it’s not even 6 am. What a nice start to the day!
We just got back from Disney World a few days ago too, I always either get a room with a washer/dryer or do a few loads while there it cuts down on packing (we only bring a few outfits rather than an entire trip worth) and doesn’t overwhelm me coming home to a mountain of laundry. Remind the kids you couldn’t go if you had a puppy
I am so jealous of you right now. I’m drowning in ice creamy, sweaty, sparkly laundry.
The Tower of Terror is our favorite ride at WDW! My 5 year old rode it with us 4 times in a row and her only commentary was “mommy, why is daddy screaming so much?” He’d be sitting out with Lulu
Oooh, it’s my very most favorite too! I could ride it 10 times in a row and love every second of it!
Thanks for sharing! I’m glad you had a great time. You look absolutely beautiful!
I have to tell you that yesterday I found your carrot cake protein bars and they are a lifesaver. I’m on a 4-week food elimination challenge that includes many of my usual proteins, so I’m scrambling for alternative protein sources. Thankfully carrots, oats and brown rice protein powder are ok! I had to leave out the cinnamon, though, which is a tragedy. I might make another batch and include raisins.
Thanks, Beth, for the compliment. I’m so glad you’ve found something with your challenge that is delicious. It’s been too long since I’ve made a batch of those babies!
Super cut pic of you by that Starbucks Sign! And Mickey’s head made of M&Ms and drizzled in chocolate? So much is so right about that.
*ha! i meant super cute–but super cut works as well. rockin sexy obama arms
Ha! Thanks!
Looks like you all had a fabulous time! We are thinking about taking Ayla to Disneyland next year possibly…CARSland looks like so much fun.
Hope you all have a super week!
Blessings & Love,
AngelaB
Oooh, you must take her! You’ll all love it!
What a beautiful trip! That picture of you at the Starbucks sign is adorable and your hair looks fantastic!
That’s so kind of you. Thanks, Emily.
Your hair looks amazing. At some point in the near future, may I humbly request that you do an updated hair post? As a fellow “curly girl” I would love to know if you are still using the same products and techniques from this post: http://peasandthankyou.com/2012/02/07/curly-girls/ or if you have some new recommendations.
Looks like you guys had fun! I also didn’t like Tower of Terror. I honestly had no idea what the ride was until we started dropping and I started screaming.
It’s my absolute FAVORITE!!!!
Lulu and I would get along spectacularly. I would pee my pants if I went on tower of terror. And I was so scared when I went on the Splash mountain ride, the last time I was in Disney.
You both don’t know what you are missing! (Well, I guess Lulu does…)
Oh gosh. I have the biggest craving to go to Disney, and this post just made it worse! I’ve been campaigning for years for my boyfriend to go with me….
And I’ll concur the hair comment- love your ‘do!
Thanks, De!
We just returned from DisneyWorld, where I took my 5 year old son on Space Mountain and Expedition Everest. I know, Mother of the Year. I assumed that since he met the height requirement, the rides would be NBD. Wrong! Thankfully, he didn’t completely freak out during or after the rides, but he just can’t stop talking about how “not fun” they are!
Looks like you all had a great time! (The teacups almost killed me; my head spun for 5 minutes after I got off)
My head is still spinning today. I think the office ladies at school thought I was drunk as I tipped over at the front desk.
My happiest place on Earth is with Nate & Weston, although I am probably a little too excited about taking them to Disney someday
Oh man, you will love it when you take Wes for the first time. Magical.
OMG, I love. Last summer, my boyfriend and I went to Disneyland for 3 days. Alone. With no children. And yes, I still squealed over princesses, made him watch all of the parades with me, and ate about ten million churros. So much nostalgia!
I didn’t get a churro the entire trip
Guess I’ll have to go back!
So glad you had a ball! Welcome back! I’m sure it’s bitter sweet seeing your best friend leave!
Yes, but our friendship will never end! I’m so excited to see where the next year takes us all and we will have such sweet memories of this trip.
You have such a good attitude!
By the way, I’m in the middle of baking (what’s left after I ate half the pan) “park bars”. I wanted to give them a test run before our theme park vacation at months end. Oh my heavens! So good!
I am in my mid 30s and have never been to Disney! Thinking we might do a few days at Disney followed by a short Disney cruise this Fall. Don’t want my little boy to grow up saying he has never been either!
I haven’t been in years! Looks like you all had a blast. I just might have to take my hubby there sometime, he’s never been.
Sounds like a pretty fantastic vacation!
For the record, Lulu is not alone in her hatred of the Tower of Terror. When I was 7, I waited in line with my mom for a ridiculously long time, only to decide upon reaching the front of the line that I was too scared. We walked down many, many flights of stairs instead.
Ha ha ha. Walking down thirteen flights of stairs sounds worse.
You look absolutely gorgeous in that Starbucks picture! That m&m chocolate thing is looking pretty too!
Thanks, girl.
Looks fabulously fun!! Now I want to go to Disneyland, even thought we just got back from Hawaii. By the way, thank you for your favorite things post from Maui a few months ago. We went to Leoda’s Kitchen 3 times on our vacation and now I am trying to figure out how to get back or convince them to ship me their pies!! Maybe you could recreate a recipe for the Choc. Mac. Nut Praline Pie……I would love you forever!
Yeah, you and my husband both.
How crazy good is Leoda’s?!?
So cute!! Your hair is getting long! I love the braid headband. Do a vlog tutorial!!!
What a fun trip with your friends! I loved reading Kim’s testimony on SheReadsTruth, too.
You look so beautiful in your pic with the Starbucks sign
Thanks, Jacquelynn. It was a super special trip and one none of us will ever forget. Kim is just an incredible person, as is her husband. I’m glad you got to hear their story. Hope you are well!
That mickey shaped m&m treat looks awesome!!! I’m glad you all had such a great trip!
cute hair braid
It looks like you had a blast!!!! The last time I was at Disney world was when I was 2! And now I only live about an hour away so I really have no excuse for not going back!