Disneyland- Christmas 2021

The kids were really excited about this surprise trip! We left Tampa in the afternoon on Sunday 12/19 and landed in Long Beach, California around 8:45 PST. We were pretty tired and went to sleep as soon as we got to our hotel! In spite of the late night, the time difference between PST and EST allowed us to be up early and ready to go! 

 

 

The kids were excited to ride all the rides that are not at Disney World like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, The Matterhorn, Autopia and others. 

Coco was brave enough to ride with Cruz. ;) 

 

The kids were also excited to compare the rides that are at both DW and DL. They determined that Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain AND Pirates of the Caribbean were both better at Disneyland as well as Its a Small World. The Haunted Mansion is better at Disney World. 

 

This trip was a little different than other Disney trips we've taken as we called this a "yes trip" in terms of snacks. We started off with Dole Whip.... 

and frozen lemonades! 

The castle is so much smaller than at Disney World but just as pretty all decorated for Christmas. 

Pirates of the Caribbean is Roger's favorite ride! 

DL changes It's a Small World around to have a holiday theme during the Christmas season.

 

Cotton Candy in Toon Town was a huge treat! 

We took a quick park break and Uber'd over to In and Out Burger just a little ways away! 

Rowan ate TWO burgers! :) 

Afterwards we stop at our hotel to add a few more layers and head back to the park to ride some more rides! The daytime temperatures were in the mid 60's and evening temps in the 50's. 

The kids were very excited for our day at California Adventure as the last time they were here, Rowan was four and Cruz was three! 

 

We waited in line to ride a ride in Radiator Springs only to have it break down twice while we were in line! Roger opted out and went to find some coffee! 

 

The Ferris wheel was fun in that you could either choose a stationary car or a car that moved while the ride was turning. Cruz and I loved it as did Rowan. Cora and Roger did not. 

We found the bench in Radiator Springs where we found Cruz at age three sitting with a Disneyland employee after he wandered off! :) 

We were back it with the treats- ice cream cones and....

giant churros! 

Guardians of the Galaxy was a ride not at Disney World although it is built like the Tower of Terror. The kids loved it. Cora received a Disney gift card in her stocking and used it to buy a new friend!

We waited in line for over two hours to ride the Radiator Springs Racers which is DL's version of Test Track but themed from the Cars movies. Rowan said this was his favorite ride from the trip. As a preschooler, he loved all things Cars and I just love when I can catch glimpses of that little boy.

Giant pretzel! Cruz loved the ride the Incredicoaster which is an Incredibles themed coaster and the only one to go upside down at DL. No surprise that it was Cruz's fav. 

Coco really loved the Incredicoaster too as well as The Matterhorn. The rest of us did not like The Matterhorn. We all got off with headaches and in desperate need of a chiropractor. 

We headed straight from Long Beach, CA to Chicago, IL (with a quick layover in Houston) to continue our Christmas adventures. 

"Christmas Morning"

The night before Christmas for us this year was on Saturday December 18th. The kids got in their jammies, put out oreos and milk (in the Most Valuable Person mug that Cora got Roger at their school store) and went to sleep.  

We had new stockings from the Target Dollar Spot this year as our normal ones are in storage. They did the trick! ;) 

 

Cora got all her favorites in her stocking- earrings, a ring, water bottle stickers, bracelets and blind bags. 

The boys stockings are WAY hard so they fewer items but arguably cooler things like ear buds, mechanical pencils and practical jokes. 

 

We did gifts a little bit differently this year due to space restraints in our apartment and also due to the fact that as the kids get older, their lists get smaller and more expensive! ;) 

Each kid got a want but they made sure the want was something they would get a lot of use out of. The boys got wireless headsets for their video game systems. 

Coco got a new chair for her desk which ended up being backordered until January so we threw in a small bracelet making kit to keep her busy until then! ;) 

 

Blue light glasses in the stockings were a hit with all my boys! 

Cruz was SO sure he knew what this big gift was (and he was so wrong). 

He got a map to Disney's California Adventure, a Mickey t-shirt and a Santa hat. 

Rowan got a map to Disneyland and the same other items as Cruz. 

 

Cora received a Christmas Minnie sweatshirt and Christmas ears. The kids thought we were maybe going to Disney World or that we had just gotten them clothes.

 

They were SO SO SO excited when they learned we were leaving later that same day for California and a day at Disneyland and a day at California Adventure. 

We finished up our morning with cinnamon rolls, playing with new things and packing up! 

We also did our family Secret Santa this year and added Roger and me in too! I had Roger and I guess we didn't get a picture of us! 

Coco got this turn board in her stocking! Its going to be so great for practicing turns, spins and balance.