Disneyland Birthday Trip 2009

For my birthday, my middle son and I went to Disneyland. It was hard getting there. Everything was going wrong in our family before, cars broke down, grandpa was in the hospital for a few days, we had colds, etc. Finally got to go after thinking it wasn't going to happen.

The van had been worked on. Was ready for the road supposedly. So we are 20 minutes or less away from Disneyland and the van quits running. In the middle lane of a busy freeway... Luckily a lady let me over and I was able to pull over on an area that was being worked on (though no one was there at the time).

Long story short, my grandparents added me to Triple A, triple A came and towed us to an auto shop in Cypress, California. After a couple of hours and $216 dollars later, it turns out that the fuel pump was missing two clips and one was broken so it came off and was leaking gas.

We got to Disneyland over three hours late. I wanted to be there right before they opened because you get a slight advantage that way. We ended up parking very, very, very far away. By the time we got inside Disneyland I was beat after the stressful morning and the hike (no trolly where we were).

I hate to say that my long planned for Disneyland trip did not go anywhere near as planned and wasn't as fun as we hoped.

However my son and I tried to make the most of it. He had a lot of fun but we hardly got to go on any different rides. It was hot, there was a million people (the benefit of going early is that you can head straight to the attraction that you want to go on that may have a long wait and not wait as long if you go when it first opens).

But regardless, we had some fun. I just was emotionally beat after the past few days and what happened on the way there. I was scared on the way home that the van would do something else but all was calm.

Here are some pictures from the day. Didn't get that many. :(

Waiting for our first ride, the Pirates one.

My favorite lady in the ride ;)

At the Haunted Mansion

Took this while we waited (a very long time) to ride on Splash Mountain

He hated waiting so long but he loved the ride. Even though he did get soaked.

Inside Splash Mountain

We ate at the Blue Bayou for lunch which is right by the Pirates ride and you can watch the boats full of people go through as you eat.  It's dark with a candle on your table and lanterns hanging above. It is also VERY VERY VERY expensive but if you want something a little different it's nice.

The ceiling:

My free birthday moose that I shared with my son

My son was most impressed with his menu from the Blue Bayou that turned into a Pirate Hat.

Some of the sights from riding the Train at Disneyland.

The Ice Cream Shop

Chocolate of Course

It was too much to finish but boy was it good

This was in the ice cream shop

Fortune

Waiting in line for the Pirates ride. May have been our fourth or fifth time.