My family spent a week in California this May/June. While I would have chosen to spend at least 4 days doing Disney, we tried to spread things out and do lots of different things, including the beaches. Unfortunately, since it was so early in the season we didnt get great beach weather. I enjoyed sitting on the sand though, despite wearing a sweater!
I thought Id share some quick beach pictures with you (since honestly, I didn't seem to take that many pictures in the hotel or parks).
San Diego Lifeguards truck we were sitting on the beach and saw a Baywatch-esque rescue!
The Lifeguard Surfing in after questioning witnesses
Yarn Bombing at Laguna Beach
Boats
And now on to what you came here for! We decided to try to get going early, but we had an hour drive to get there so we decided to go to California Adventure on our first day (since it opens later). Half of our group traveled together and got to the Grand Californian around 10am (when the park opened) the other half got there around noon. I stood in the long line to check in while DH took the bags to bell services and my cousin parked the car. I checked in and we were told we would get a text with our room numbers by 3pm. We bought our park tickets at the registration desk and headed towards the guest entrance to California Adventure!
Lobby Fireplace
Registration Desk
Registration Desk bears
Entrance for Resort Guests
We turned right and went towards Paradise Pier. We rode Ariels Undersea Adventure first it was really cute and fun! If we werent a party of adults (that wanted to do other things) I would have ridden it again just to try to catch more of the details. I cant wait to try it in Florida!
We went on to the rides in Paradise Pier. We stood in line for California Screamin and got all the way past the front of the line we sat down in the coaster and they told us to pull down the restraints& and then they popped up and they told us the ride was out of order! The sent us off the coaster and cleared the lines and everything! We were a bit disappointed that we wasted all that time and didnt even get fast passes to return when it was back up, but I guess that happens.
Since the others texted that they were parking their car we didnt want to get in another long line so we walked around the Pier and hopped a little ride on the Golden Zephyr, which was a great place to take photos!
Love that face
We met up with the others and headed in the other direction, towards an hour long Soarin line. A line just long enough to enjoy some Disney popcorn! Now, I dont know if this is just one of the things that Ive failed to pay attention to, but I never had Disney Caramel popcorn before. I got regular popcorn (which can hardly be called regular, as Disney popcorn is so delicious) and DH decided to get the caramel stuff. Well, it was SO GOOD - I'm craving that over any other Disney food now!
Caramel and regular (aka DELICIOUS) Popcorn!
We kept making our way around the park. Im a big Muppets fan, so I loved all the little extra Muppets things around the area. There was no line for MuppetVision 3D they loaded people straight into the theater!
Watch out Beaker!
We kept heading around riding Monsters Inc and the Tower of Terror and enjoying all the little details of A Bugs Land until we decided to go for food. DH peeled off at Corn Dog Castle, my parents stopped at Paradise Garden Grill, and the rest of us went to Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta for some salad and Flatbread Pizza (and beer).
Sorry for the bites missing in the photos!
Pizza and Salad
DHs Corndog
Im not sure what time we were eating, but I'm pretty sure that it was at this time that I noticed I didnt get our room number text yet. Then, promptly at 3 it came in!
We went back to Screamin and waited in line again so everyone could ride. Then the boys used the fast passes that wed grabbed earlier and rode it again. The rest of us grabbed ice cream!
Ears first, of course
Now we headed back for the boys to use our Tower of Terror Fast Passes while my aunt and I headed to see Aladdin (my dad went with my mom on her mission to find a sweater to guard her from the ever-cooling night). Right before the doors closed for Aladdin the boys got in and found us up on the Balcony great timing! They said they were the last ones that were allowed in. Aladdin was a GREAT show, but I felt bad for my Aunt, who is afraid of heights she did NOT like walking to and from her balcony seat
After the show, it was time to go check out the room!
TV Bed (and masked faces - my Dad's name is Dale so I thought this was appropriate!
Kitchen Table (and another person incognito)
Master Bedroom
Master Bedroom
I wished I had bath bombs (and more time)
Soaps (we usually leave them behind for Clean the World)
Since the second half of our party got to the park later than the other, they would have had fast passes to the later show, so my aunt gave up hers to my brother and she and my parents stayed behind (enjoying coffee and snacks from the White Water Café) while us kids went to the show.
I knew that there were better places to stand than others, but I also knew that my family wouldnt want to sit around waiting for a show for very long (when we had limited time in the parks) so that was never my priority. We ended up standing at the water level (on the Boardwalk, I think?)& and we ended up getting soaked (as we were warned we would)! I didnt mind, I thought it was fun like the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls! Plus, I knew we had a nice comfy room close by to go back to! My brother, on the other hand, bailed out of the splash zone at some point, and later informed us that its a show thats supposed to be seen from far back lol well at least one of us got to see the whole thing (while us other three got soaked while enjoying pretty colors).
Colors before the World of Color Show
Volcano water
Blue!
We ended our park visit by a ride on Grizzly River run, which I enjoyed (to my surprise, since I dont normally like Kali River Rapids I was either just in a very good mood, or already wet so I had more fun without the worry of getting wet, or else its just a really good ride). Then we went back to the Grand Californian. We were looking forward to having some time in the hot tub and some snacks, but we were in for a little surprise when we found out that the pool and restaurants were all closed for the night! We tried Downtown Disney but all that we could find open (that wasn't sit-down) was the ice cream place. Good enough!
Tomorrow Breakfast from White Water Snacks and
Disneyland!
