Life's a Beach! Disneyland day 5

Friday morning of our trip we all slept in.  It had been a full and exciting week and we were all exhausted.  I couldn't sleep past 7 California time, so I got up and started packing for our trip home.  The night before we stayed at the park until it closed, and usually when Disneyland closes its rides, they leave main street open for shopping for an hour after the park closes.  However, Thursday night was Grad Night for southern California and they closed everything at nine o'clock, and hurried us out of the park.  Dalyon wanted to shop for a souvenir that night and we weren't able to, so I promised him I would take him to Downtown Disney in the morning to do his shopping, so that is what we did.  While everyone slept in, Dalyon and I snuck away and went and to Downtown and had breakfast together then went shopping.  We had a great time together and he was able to get exactly what he wanted, and I was able to finish getting what I wanted to take home too. 

With our purchases in hand, we hurried back to the hotel to load up the car and head to the beach for a few hours.  We decided to go to Newport Beach because it is a straight shot from Disneyland.  It was a beautiful day and I laid out my towel on the warm sand and fell asleep.  The kids played in the water and dug holes in the sand.  The weather was perfect, a cool gentle breeze came off the ocean, and in spite of the sunscreen, we all got a little sunburned. 

Heading up to the beach. 

Cami and Chet in the water getting their feet wet.

Mady and Grandma catching some rays.

Chet, Tagert, Kora and Cami.

Dalyon showing off his sword skills he learned
at Disneyland.  I would love to rent bikes and ride up
and down this walk.  It looks so relaxing.

Cody, Cami, Tagert and Chet.

Cody and Chet got all the way in the water.  Too cold for me!

Eric pretty much sums up how we all felt on the way home.
It was a quiet ride home, for the most part.

Eric had left his laptop at the hotel when we had checked out, so after the beach we went back to get it and used the showers at the pool to clean up from the beach.  The drive home was slow because of all the CA traffic, and I got lost a time or two, but we found I-15 and stayed on that until we hit the Hurricane exit at about 1 o'clock in the morning. 

Overall we had a great time.  Here are some of the favorites:
Mady: rides- California Screemin', Splash Mountain, Grizzly Rapids, and Space Mountain.  (all roller coasters)   characters- Goofy and Pluto
Cody:  rides-  Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, California Screemin',   characters-  Brier Fox and Tigger
Dalyon-  rides-  all of them.  He went on all the rides, scary or not, but his favorite California Screemin', the Bugs Life 3-D movie,  the Matterhorn and Space Mountain.  Character-  Goofy
Cami:  rides-  A Bugs Life rides, the Disney Train, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo Submarine   Character-  Minnie Mouse, Pooh Bear and Tigger and of course the Princesses.
Eric-  rides:  California Screemin', Tower of Terror,  character- Pooh Bear
Grandma:  rides-  Splash Mountain,  The parade, Fireworks,  Character:  Princesses
Me:   rides-  Finding Nemo submarine ride, Peter Pan, Fireworks, Tower of Terror, California Screamin',
characters- Sully, Pooh Bear and Tigger and Rabbit, and I saw Peter Pan, which is a very uncommon sighting at Disneyland.  He climbs on the railings and hides behind poles and is hard to get a picture of in a crowd.

Look closely or you may miss him.  He likes to stay hidden. 

 
Some of the most memorable things from our trip: 
My nephew Tagert when he was with Rapunzel, he was all shy and she kissed him and he blushed (he is 5).  Cami going on the rides and screaming/crying after.
 Losing Cami, and finding her OK. 
Seeing the excitement on the kids' eyes when a character came out. 
Eric yelling "Grandma!" at my mom to keep track of her.
Cody always being hungry. 
Me walking like a drunk woman after going on California Screemin' with Vickie.
Driving all over the place looking for a good place to eat and having to settle on DENNY'S again.
Cami with Cinderella who told her that they could be sisters. 
Bishop Dave making good his offer to buy Eric a Churro. 
Tagert asking the Ferry God Mother where her wand was, helping her try to find it, and asking her how to use one, then buying himself one because hers appeared to be broken. 
Tigger teaching Kora how to bounce.
Kisses from Goofy.
Wyat and Dalyon being inseparable, you would think they were twins, the same hat, sword, giggling like girls.
Bubble blowing contest on the trip down, Cody telling us he will never chew gum again in his life.
Bumper to bumper traffic and missing my exits.
Eating dinner at the Outback Steakhouse and all of the kids falling asleep with their heads on the table before the food could come.  We ended up taking a lot back to the hotel for the next day. 


What a fun way to start our summer!   I can't wait to go again because I love Disneyland!!