Happiest…
There was a moment, during early evening hours of
day two of our family trip to Disneyland, when I just had to stop… look around…
and mentally catalogue every detail of what was happening around me.
We had just gotten done riding the Toy Story Midway
ride in California Adventure. Lesley and TJ were laughing, Grandma and
Grandpa Reno too as we made our way toward Flo’s Café for a late lunch.
While they weren’t there at the moment, I imagine smiles adorning the faces of
Nana and Ba. Even the So Cal Martin clan, who had retired to their hotel
room for a nap, were probably smiling. Baby Frankie was strapped on my
chest and I couldn’t resist taking a picture.
I was probably smiling too… Everything I had hoped
for was coming true. Our trip to Disneyland, was a success.
It may be crazy to say, but it was one of the happiest moments of
my life.
Backstory: I might need to rewind here.
I grow up in Southern California, so Disneyland was a different experience for
me than it will be for my kids. For one, “being at” Disneyland was
Special, but “going there” wasn’t. The reason was we did it so often that
I don’t even remember my “first trip” to the magic kingdom. I remember
early trips, but not the first. I wanted TJ to have a different
experience. I wanted him to remember his first trip to Disneyland
and I wanted him to have the time of his life.
At first we weren’t going to take TJ until he was 5
years old. Back in 2010, when we knew everything about everything… Les
and I surmised that at 5, TJ would be able to fully comprehend and recall
everything. After 18 months, we knew we were wrong and that TJ would be
ready sooner than 5. Since that time, we have been contemplating what
would be the best time to break his Disney seal.
January 16, 2014 –
After driving down from our Daly City home, we
arrived in Southern California (LA Area) on a Thursday evening. Before
hitting the OC, and after 5 hours of driving, we stopped at a Rite Aid in
Castaic, CA. It was supposed to be a “pit stop.” Stop, eat, drink,
pee, and get back in the car. An hour and a half later (after the
aforementioned, plus shopping and riding mechanical helicopters) we were back
on the road.
A couple hours later (thanks traffic) we checked
into the BEST WESTERN PLUS Raffles Inn & Suites on Harbor Blvd. I
quickly unloaded the car and headed to the LAX airport to pick up Grandma and
Grandpa Reno.
Thankfully, LAX is just “15 minutes away” from
Disneyland.
By 8:30pm or so, I was back in Anaheim and the
entire family got together at Denny’s for a pre-game meal. TJ was
ecstatic as always to see Grandma and Baby Frankie calmed down from running
roughshod through our hotel room to play with Grandpa. By 10 or so we
were all in bed, ready for the next day.
January 17, 2014 –
After waking and dining at the Contiental breakfast
provided by our hotel. The Martin-Reno clan began the walk to
Disneyland. Mapquest says the trip is only 0.95 miles. Not going
to lie, It seemed a little farther. The cool thing was as we got
closer to the park entrance, more and more people started joining the
pilgrimage and TJ’s excitement level began to pick up.
We finally made it into the park and that’s when the
real fun started. Immediately Grandpa set out to buy the boys first
Mickey ears hats. While he was in the store, TJ got to meet Mickey
Mouse. Of course, I tried to get both video and still of the event.
It didn’t go well. I messed up the Mickey shot but that just means we get
to go back and try it again.
Interestingly enough the most unexpected interaction
came from Chip ‘n Dale. The chipmunks practically jumped into Baby
Frankie’s stroller. While, I fumbled
with the video camera they played peek-a-boo and entertained. I was able to squeeze off a few seconds of
the interaction. It was a great way to
start the day.
As we made our way down Main Street USA, I took the
family inside the Main Street Cinema.
The theatre is likely the least exciting or populated attraction at the
park, but for some reason I start every trip to Disneyland there. The Bill actually showed it to me the first
time my mom and him took me to Disneyland.
It’s something I did with Lesley the first time she went. The cinema shows 6 of the oldest Disney
cartoons on constant loop. Including
“Steamboat Willie.”
From the Disney website: Walt
Disney opened Main Street Cinema on July 17, 1955 to both introduce a new
generation to the bygone era of early moviemaking and rekindle a nostalgic
spark in those who had witnessed it firsthand. Today, the theater—and films
that play there—provide an eye-opening glimpse into what movie-going was once
like.
Remember where you came from, right?
Anyway, the first “ride” of the day took the form of
Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at the front of Fantasyland. C’mon the castle is iconic. TJ loved walking through and seeing the 3d
dragon. Loved it so much he didn’t want
to leave. Ha! After convincing him there
was much more to see, it was off to “Dumbo.”
TJ rode this while I stood in the Storybook Land Canal Boat line. TEAMWORK.
Because that line was so long, TJ had time to fall
in love with the Mad Tea Party teacup ride.
I’m not going to lie, I hate this ride.
It literally makes me sick… TJ rode it three times in two days.
Next was the Casey Junior Circus Train ride. “All Aboard!”
Les and I had so much fun puffing around storybook land with our two
boys.
I think I can, I think I can… I thought I could, I
thought I could.
All that was missing was Uncle Justin singing “Casey
Jr. coming down the track, coming down the track…!”
After disembarking, we headed toward Frontier
Land. The family boarded the Mark Twain
riverboat and steam sailed our way around Tom Sawyer’s Island.
That’s when my mom showed up with Bill. Nana and Ba walked us around Adventure
Land. TJ got to ride the Pirates of the
Caribbean ride and climb Tarzan’s treehouse.
I don’t know which he liked more.
I can tell you Baby Frankie’s favorite part of the Pirates ride was the
giant Skull and Crossbones that talks to you at the start. That and the two drops…
We did the Jungle Cruise, ate, rested a bit and
noticed that time was starting to catch up with us, so we decided it was time
to head toward Mickey’s Toon Town.
TJ fell asleep on the way and stayed out for two
hours.
Because Daddy had grown up in the area, I had lots
of friends who wanted to see us while we were close. We planned a “birthday dinner” for that
night.
Dinner with Friends – Rainforest Cafe
TJ played toys with the kids and even got the
celebratory “Volcano” at the end of dinner.
It was getting late and grandpa and grandma
volunteered to take Baby Frankie back to the hotel for the night. That gave Les and I a chance to take TJ back
to Disneyland ourselves. Doug and Ashley
were nice enough to come with us.
We hit up the Buzz Lightyear – Astro Blasters and
made another trip to the Mad Tea Party teacups.
After that it was time to call it a day.
