Disneyland!!! Warning, Long Post

This was our first official family vacation. As in Mike turned off his cell phone!!! Huya! And wow, I knew I would love it, but I really loved it. We decided to fly down. I love flying. With Mike. Me and just the girls, not so fun/stressful. But to me it was just an extended day of the vacation! We drove to utah and flew out of salt lake, so had a fun night going to the gateway mall and eating at applebees for dinner. Then we went to our hotel, The Radisson in downtown, (we've been loving priceline lately)and had a good nights rest.

Everything went great on the flights, the girls were really good. We got to Anaheim around 3, and were all starving! So we ate at IHOP right next to our hotel, the ParkVu.
Of course everything was super expensive all around this vacinity, but we had expected it, and budgeted for it, I was so happy the cost didn't bother me like it would normally. :) We had some great tips/advice from friends and family. Our hotel was literally right across the street, served a free breakfast buffet and a light dinner, and had a great view of the park/fireworks. After IHOP we went to stroll around downtown disney. I found some amazing flip-flops and we got some souveniers for the girls. (the toys were just too much to resist) all the cute polly pockets and such. We really wanted a set of those silver classic mickey mouse fork and spoon set, but they ran out earlier in the year! We got some ice cream and people were laughing at Nia with this huge ol ice cream cone! She certainly looked pleased!
We drove a few blocks away from the expensive stuff and found a food 4 less that we stocked up on bottle water, yogurt,bagels, string cheese, etc. Saved us tons! Then we just brought it in a mini cooler with us each day. We headed home and just as we were getting the girls to bed we heard the fireworks and were able to watch them from our balcony.


The next morning we were up and ready to go by 8 with full tummies. The mornings were my favorite, with the nice cool air and not crowded.


The first thing we did was to go to the princess area, and Nia was able to meet the princesses. She loved it! And gave each of them a big hug! She was a ham and kept making these cheesy smiles!She was in her element. Mae was afraid of them though. :) hanging back, curious, but not enough to go see. They were both in their princess dresses, but it was so funny, every employee there knew exactly which princess she was. "Hello sleeping beauty".


We were able to go and do everything we wanted to in the park, the first day Nia was just sortof taking it all in, and didn't really tell us what she wanted to do, but by the second day she knew where she wanted to go, and what she wanted to eat. (she loved the mickey mouse cookies and cotton candy) Oh my goodness, we had these sugar cookies with ears dipped in chocolate from a shop in california adventure, and I am going to have to try to duplicate those! They were deliciously thick and chewy with a yummy almond flavor.

We went to world of color that first night,super cool!
Both girls crashed on the way home of course, and Mike was able to go on the new star tours that he had fast-passed. It wasn't worth it to me to carry the girls through, or I would have gone too. The next day (friday) was actually less crowded than thurs! Oddly. Another full day that was super exhausting but so fun. Nia's favorite rides were the spinning tea cups and It's a small world. But she really liked snow whites scary adventure so she said! We talked it up telling her it was scary, so maybe she was just being contrary.
Our last night was absolutely perfect. We had fast passes to tower of terror, my favorite, and then we were heading back to disneyland cuz nia said she wanted to go on its a small world for the last ride. We made it to the princess area just in time for story-time with the princesses! Oh she loved it! I did too! It was just so fun for little girls. A very pleasant surprise, I was very impressed with the princesses.
Then we barely made it on small world before it closed, were able to get a few last minute things in that giftshop, and as we were walking out of the store the fireworks started! We had the perfect view, and had a bench right there just waiting for us! (amazing if you knew how crowded it was)
We were able to hear the music with the fireworks this time which made it incredible! It was just a very fitting end to our time there. Such fun! Our flight and drive home was uneventful and enjoyable. The girls were troopers, and we were so grateful to be able to do this together.
All-in-all I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun it was. I've been there a couple of times, but going with the kids it really did feel magical!