No way Jose! We are going to Disneyland! 3/13 - Movin' on Up!

[jenseib]

You are the meanest mom in the world! !!!!!!

 

[jedijill]

Great updates! I have got to get back to DLR ASAP!!!

Jill in CO

 

[podsnel]

Don't feel bad, Brook- Henry needs SOMETHING to talk about in therapy when he grows up!

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Ok, so I have a LOT to catch up on...but just wanted to say hi!! I'm here!

 

[annmarieda]

I have coaxed my dd into trying something (actually just this last trip) and having her absolutely be terrified. I don't think you are a bad mom... sometimes a gentle nudge and our kids find something that they love. My oldest dd would not go on a rollercoaster for anything. Her dad bet her real money she would like it and she took the bet. Now... it could have been one that my dh lost and we would have been horrible for coaxing her... but SHE lost and also won because she LOVES roller coasters and has from that very first one she road.

I like BTMRR in DL a bit better. I think there are more drops?

The canoes crack me up... you have to actually "work" to do them. My dd had a bit of a fit on them.

Love the shop pics!!!

 

[ladylyons]

Don't feel bad about taking Henry on BTMRR. On our last trip our DD was finally 40" tall and wanted to go on everything!!!! Well that backfired!! DH went to take her on Space Mountain (she wanted to go) but by the time they got to the ride vehicle she was not feeling it and was crying. Needless to say I was already there to take her away before they got on (I had a feeling she wouldn't go). Then my DH did take her on BTMRR. She laughed until they did the first drop! Cried the whole rest of the way. Then I took her on Radiator Springs Racers (similiar to Test Track). She liked it until the race started (the fast part). Cried the rest of the ride. Oh well. Did I feel bad yes but you never kow if they are going to fully like it until you get them on it. And yes we were that family that would take our screaming, crying kids to see the characters cuz we never knew when the breakthrough would happen. Now we have the kids who are running up to them to give them the biggest hugs ever!!!

We also say Hi to Walt every time we walk by the firehouse. Now I have another reason the firehouse will always hold a special place in my heart. Over the New Year (while I was in DL) I lost a freind that I had known since elementary school. He was a former firefighter and had been teaching classes to our local school.

 

[jenseib]

Don't feel bad, Brook- Henry needs SOMETHING to talk about in therapy when he grows up!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I hate to say that I've coaxed my kids onto rides before and they either came out crying or ran off to a corner and sucked their thumbs. Okay, so I'm exaggerating a little. Seriously, Henry probably got over it much more quickly than you did.

 

[Sherry E]

Brook -

I think that my last post about New Orleans Square's decorations got buried at the very end of the previous page, right before the page turned, so I'm not sure if you saw it...but I thought of something I wanted to ask you anyway!

If I recall correctly, in looking at DISboards' e-mail alerts/subscription notifications that came through I think I saw that you use SmugMug (or is it Smug Mug?)? The photo links had a SmugMug reference. Do you like SmugMug? Is it worthwhile to join? What are the advantages?

The reason I ask is because I am a longtime Photobucket customer and they have been reworking their website so much lately that it is now full of bugs and very non-user friendly (especially for people who post hundreds or thousands of photos of forums!). They basically forced everyone into a half-finished new website that is missing some key features we all used to use. I am looking for a good replacement, but there are so many image hosting sites that it is hard to decide which ones are best.

One thing I need is the ability to be able to choose a size for uploading multiple photos at once. I don't want my photos to turn out gigantic when I upload, but I also don't want to have to go through and individually resize each photo one by one to get them at the size I normally use. One great feature of the old Photobucket was that we could choose the size we wanted before uploading many pictures at once. However, they do not have that feature working on the new site. So if I can find another image hosting service that has that feature, I will gladly start uploading any new photos there. Does SmugMug have that function?

 

[merbobear]

I am a little behind on your TR but I saw the title of the latest update and had to peek! Part of being a great mom or dad is coaxing our little babies into being big kids and expanding their horizons! It's not always going to work out in our favor, but someone's gotta do it! Believe me, I have been on the "Mother of the year! NOT" list myself a time or two (I recall specifically last summer we took dd on a child's roller coaster in Six Flags. She started crying before it took off and got so worked up that she literally threw up on herself. MOM OF THE YEAR, right here, looking to take your trophy! lol

But don't self-bash too hard, even if you had a moment where you felt like YOU made your darling boy sad, you are still the mom that takes him on all of these wonderful adventures and there is a reason that he leans into you for comfort when he is sad or scared! To Henry, you are the best Mommy in the whole entire world.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Luvin the update. Poor Henry on Big Thunder Mountain. I don't blame him for crying. I won't go on coasters at all

I hope Henry grows to love coasters because Joe and I really do. It will be fun to ride with him as he grows up!

I was in a bit of a panic watching Briar Fox go down by the canoes and put on a lifejacket.
I was like Oh Heck No - You can not put a large HEAVY Furry costume in a canoe. What if it tips????

Once I saw the size of the lifejacket I was confident he was just Goofin'.

I had visions of a drowning Briar Fox. In water I cannot see the bottom of.

Can you imagine? That would have been a nightmare! He sure was acting like he was going out though. Remember when they used to send Goofy on skis in Bay Lake though? Goofy would also show up at River Country and go down the slides! (that had to be sooooo cool for the kids)

Your photos are awesome as always! I really need to get into a better habit of looking up. I miss so much.

I understand the Mom of the Year guilt. I "encouraged" my DS to go on TOT when he really didn't want to, but he is one you just never know if he'll like it until he tries. I should've known better.

Isn't walking from park to park the greatest thing?! If one is too busy, that's OK because you can just wander over to the other one.

Disappointed to say DD showchoir will not be headed to NY. Money is a huge factor for many kids in our school district, and they just didn't have enough kids able to afford the trip.

I got in the habit of looking up during college - all my architecture classes! Our professor would DRILL it into us that half the beauty of a building is usually at the top - he was right!

I adored park hopping in Disneyland! I'm honestly not much of a hopper at WDW because of the time it takes (except Epcot to DHS because I love the boat ride), but in Disneyland it was fantastic!

That stinks about the show choir! NYC can be a very expensive trip though, I can see why it's a problem. BUMMER!!!!!

You are the meanest mom in the world! !!!!!!

I know!

Great updates! I have got to get back to DLR ASAP!!!

Jill in CO

Thank you! ME TOO!

Don't feel bad, Brook- Henry needs SOMETHING to talk about in therapy when he grows up!

LOL!!!!!!

Ok, so I have a LOT to catch up on...but just wanted to say hi!! I'm here!

Hello!!!!!!! Thank you for reading!

I have coaxed my dd into trying something (actually just this last trip) and having her absolutely be terrified. I don't think you are a bad mom... sometimes a gentle nudge and our kids find something that they love. My oldest dd would not go on a rollercoaster for anything. Her dad bet her real money she would like it and she took the bet. Now... it could have been one that my dh lost and we would have been horrible for coaxing her... but SHE lost and also won because she LOVES roller coasters and has from that very first one she road.

I like BTMRR in DL a bit better. I think there are more drops?

The canoes crack me up... you have to actually "work" to do them. My dd had a bit of a fit on them.

Love the shop pics!!!

That was my hope. Henry is such a timid kid, he often needs coaxing - like down the tunnel slide at Legoland! Remember that? But, I do think, after that experience, I'll hold off a bit. I will encourage him to do the Barnstormer (which I already know he likes), Test Track and the kiddy water slide at our pool on this coming trip. I know he can handle those! Gotta take baby steps yet!

Too funny about the canoes! I wonder how often they tip?? I think it's a great addition to the park, it really is fun to watch, but it's quite low on my "fun" scale...

Don't feel bad about taking Henry on BTMRR. On our last trip our DD was finally 40" tall and wanted to go on everything!!!! Well that backfired!! DH went to take her on Space Mountain (she wanted to go) but by the time they got to the ride vehicle she was not feeling it and was crying. Needless to say I was already there to take her away before they got on (I had a feeling she wouldn't go). Then my DH did take her on BTMRR. She laughed until they did the first drop! Cried the whole rest of the way. Then I took her on Radiator Springs Racers (similiar to Test Track). She liked it until the race started (the fast part). Cried the rest of the ride. Oh well. Did I feel bad yes but you never kow if they are going to fully like it until you get them on it. And yes we were that family that would take our screaming, crying kids to see the characters cuz we never knew when the breakthrough would happen. Now we have the kids who are running up to them to give them the biggest hugs ever!!!

We also say Hi to Walt every time we walk by the firehouse. Now I have another reason the firehouse will always hold a special place in my heart. Over the New Year (while I was in DL) I lost a freind that I had known since elementary school. He was a former firefighter and had been teaching classes to our local school.

That is VERY true about taking kids on rides and such. It was my hope he'd have a break through, since he enjoyed Gadget's so much. All well!

That is a great way to remember your friend when you are in Disneyland! You can say hi to Walt and him.

I hate to say that I've coaxed my kids onto rides before and they either came out crying or ran off to a corner and sucked their thumbs. Okay, so I'm exaggerating a little. Seriously, Henry probably got over it much more quickly than you did.

I'm glad I'm not the only guilty Mom here! LOL! Sounds like several of us have done the same! And you are right, I'm sure he was over it sooner than I was. I STILL feel bad. (stinkin' Mommy Guilt!)

Brook -

I think that my last post about New Orleans Square's decorations got buried at the very end of the previous page, right before the page turned, so I'm not sure if you saw it...but I thought of something I wanted to ask you anyway!

If I recall correctly, in looking at DISboards' e-mail alerts/subscription notifications that came through I think I saw that you use SmugMug (or is it Smug Mug?)? The photo links had a SmugMug reference. Do you like SmugMug? Is it worthwhile to join? What are the advantages?

The reason I ask is because I am a longtime Photobucket customer and they have been reworking their website so much lately that it is now full of bugs and very non-user friendly (especially for people who post hundreds or thousands of photos of forums!). They basically forced everyone into a half-finished new website that is missing some key features we all used to use. I am looking for a good replacement, but there are so many image hosting sites that it is hard to decide which ones are best.

One thing I need is the ability to be able to choose a size for uploading multiple photos at once. I don't want my photos to turn out gigantic when I upload, but I also don't want to have to go through and individually resize each photo one by one to get them at the size I normally use. One great feature of the old Photobucket was that we could choose the size we wanted before uploading many pictures at once. However, they do not have that feature working on the new site. So if I can find another image hosting service that has that feature, I will gladly start uploading any new photos there. Does SmugMug have that function?

I'm sorry, I did miss your post!!

I do use SmugMug, it's a paid subscription (I think $40/year?). SmugMug does NOT have the feature to resize your pictures as you upload because it's main function is for professional photographers to showcase their work-either for sale, or for galleries to show clients. You get an unlimited amount of space and can upload videos and pictures. So we use it as a back-up storage for our photos, uploading them in full size. Then you can choose what size you want to share them on message boards and such, and that is all very easy.

I REALLY like SmugMug because it's a solid site that loads very quickly and we have an unlimited amount of space - that's important since we take just a few pictures. It's worth the price to me and I feel like even if our server fails here at home, we have an online back up. It's really easy to download an entire album too.

I hope that helps, let me know if you have other questions too! If you do go with SmugMug, let me know - if I refer a friend, I can save $5 for next year!

I am a little behind on your TR but I saw the title of the latest update and had to peek! Part of being a great mom or dad is coaxing our little babies into being big kids and expanding their horizons! It's not always going to work out in our favor, but someone's gotta do it! Believe me, I have been on the "Mother of the year! NOT" list myself a time or two (I recall specifically last summer we took dd on a child's roller coaster in Six Flags. She started crying before it took off and got so worked up that she literally threw up on herself. MOM OF THE YEAR, right here, looking to take your trophy! lol

But don't self-bash too hard, even if you had a moment where you felt like YOU made your darling boy sad, you are still the mom that takes him on all of these wonderful adventures and there is a reason that he leans into you for comfort when he is sad or scared! To Henry, you are the best Mommy in the whole entire world.

Thank you for making me feel better! Sounds like quite a few of us have made this list. I have to say, I'm REALLY glad I didn't have throw up to deal with after that ride though!

 

[brookelizabeth]

We left off after some shopping on Main Street USA and we hopped over to California Adventure. Remember, this was before their construction was done - so we came in through a construction entrance and were routed around by Grizzly River. I am ITCHIN' to go back and just found out there is a conference next month there...but, it's just too soon after our WDW trip. So, I have to wait for the next one!

I thought of Cynthia (eandesmom) and her husband when I saw this

This was the route the temporary entrance would take you - that's the Grand Californian straight ahead. It is basically IN the park and fits right into the theme of the land in that area.

Hmmm....for some reason I thought this was under refurb while we were there, but obviously not! Perhaps it has just opened again? We didn't ride, it was CHILLY!

I really enjoyed all the bands Disneyland has!

We were headed here

High on my To Do List was to ride California Screamin'. If you recall during our day focused on DCA it was closed while we were in the area, so I had to get on today!

If I recall correctly, that was the exact time. The FPs were good right away...which we found strange, but it worked! I went first, Joe took Henry on King Triton's Carrousel which is right next door

The line was a bit long, even with the FP, but TOTALLY WORTH IT! I warned my seat mate that I would very likely be screaming the entire way, but don't worry, I was enjoying it. He laughed...I don't think he believed me...until the ride started and he laughed at me the entire time. Which in turn made me laugh once the ride stopped. I'm sure he had a good story to tell his friends when he got off!

Then it was Joe's turn, Henry and I watched his launch:

Back row!

There they are, through the loop!

Joe really enjoy it too. It's a great coaster!

Our next goal was a bugs land. We had mostly explored this area before, but I wanted to do a few other things there, and it was so cute, we had to see it one more time!

We walked through the Pacific Wharf area

Much busier here today than the other day!

Stopped for some fun with bubbles

Here we are!

Continued in next post

 

[brookelizabeth]

Henry thought these yellow seats were cool

Awesome themeing

Site line! This is one thing about Disneyland that seems to be less focused on than at WDW. At WDW they really strive to keep you in the land you are in...this would NEVER fly at WDW. Why is a haunted hotel in a bugs land?! But, at Disneyland, they are more pressed for space, so it's not nearly as strict. I guess it can kinda work...maybe the bugs land is in the grass of the haunted hotel.

Here we are! Heimlich's Chew Chew Train.

The adorable queue

By the time we entered this line, later in the afternoon, the line was fairly long considering. This area is kind of like the Fantasyland of Disneyland/Magic Kingdom. The rides are fairly slow loaders and there are a million little kids and strollers.

Henry was very excited for this one!

I had no idea what to expect, as I hadn't done any real research on this particular ride. It's a very simple "train" type ride where you ride through half eaten foods and Heimlich talks to you the entire time through speakers. He makes a lot of munching noises.

It's cute, but I'd skip it unless you had a little one. Definitely walk through this area though, even if you are traveling with older kids/without kids. It's adorable!

 

[jenseib]

How wild is the coaster? More than Rockin Roller Coaster, or about the same? Does it have that same type of launch? Thats the part I hate about RnR.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Don't you love how Screamin' and Space Mountain have the music streaming in at you during the ride? (like RocknRoller Coaster) Wish they all had that.
Bugs Land is cute. Perfect for the little ones. Love all the colors there.
I laughed at your ToT view from Bug's Land, but I agree. DL doesn't have the luxury of spreading stuff out. But I kind of like how close things are. Easier on the feet!

 

[Sunstar]

I guess it can kinda work...maybe the bugs land is in the grass of the haunted hotel.

We did a backstage tour here one year and that's exactly what the guide said. They built it with the TOT in sight on purpose to give you a sense of scale.

 

[annmarieda]

Too funny about the canoes! I wonder how often they tip?? I think it's a great addition to the park, it really is fun to watch, but it's quite low on my "fun" scale...:

I think they are among the original rides, aren't they? Thus I think they are a bit dated... Just like the shooting range.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I absolutely love Bug's Life so I know that I'd have to see A Bug's Land no matter what else I did. I'd probably even right the little train despite the fact that I don't have little kids any more. Oh wait, maybe one day I'll have a little grandchild to take there!

 

[glennbo123]

I'm all caught up! You're a beignet-eating, double-goldfish-and-juice-getting, mother-of-the-year-not who's posting like a mad-woman because she's got a new trip coming up....got it! Enjoying the updates.

 

[MEK]

Henry's pick!

A perfect choice Henry! But I think you deserve two from your mother of the year. Seriously though, what parent hasn't coerced their kid to go on a ride and then felt guilty when it didn't go as planned. Give him another year or so.

I love all the pictures of DL and it really is cool how the Grand Californian is practically in the park.