California Adventure

Here we are at California Adventure, a new to us Disney Park. We were excited to exploreThis is the California Zephyr. Joel took these pics for my dad, who loves this trainIt was neat to see what was part of the "California" adventure.This was a really cool Tron exhibit. When we first arrived we headed to the Back lotThe park seemed like a combination of MGM, and something else, it had a lot moreWhen we arrived we sent the dads to get tickets for World of Color, the evening showAnd we headed to meet some secret characters. This was the Monster's Inc rideWe rode it later and Holly actually really enjoyed it, looking for Baby BooHere the girls are waiting for our Exclusive Card member Meet and greet (from Kathy)We didn't know who we would meet, but there were only a few people in line and we were excitedThen we went around the corner and saw Chip and Dale!They had on cute matching purple hatsThe girls gave then both big hugs and had a lot of smilesIn California Adventure there was a parade, we ended up missing itHolly didn't want to go over and see it, but Daddy took a few pictures of it as it leftHolly saw the monster's in the distance but the music was really loud and it was a big crowdHere is Joel at Flynn's Arcade, the home of TronWe were on our way to the Princess lunch and exploring the parkWe ran into Goofy, which was excitingThere was a really neat dancing show going on. Holly was curious and ran up to it and then awayIn the distance was the Tower of Terror, which we did not ride.This is a cool backdrop cityscape that shows a forced distance perspectiveAnd a famous old Hollywood theatre, later Chloe went here to see the Aladdin show.

Main Street Disney Parade

We made it back to the park in time for the 6:30 Parade. We got a shower to cool offand both girls got a nap. They were well rested and I was hopefulHolly was a little anxious and nervous, but I told her she was going to get to see the princessesThe Parade Started with some drummers, I thought Holly would like them, and we were outsideBut they were really loud and she did not like them at all and got upsetI was able to briefly calm her down when the Mickey and Minnie Float came out but it was short livedWe were at the start of the parade and the first people to see it as it came out into Main StreetThe problem was that the very loud musical float stopped right in front of us. Holly was crying but she did not want to go.She was intrigued and really just didn't like the noise of it all, but she wanted to see what was coming nextShe was happy to see Pluto, but eager for Mickey and his drums to leaveOnce they did she calmed down a little bit and she had a better understanding of what a parade wasShe liked seeing goofy but as he got close she wanted to hideI hugged her tight and let her cover he head with Blankie but she wanted to peak out and see what was next.The Aladdin float was up next and she thought the dancers were Princess Jasmine so I did not dissuade her from that belief and she was very excitedShe was almost amused by the loud clapping monkeyBut much more intrigued with the dancing fish and anticipating who she would see nextShe was thrilled to see Ariel and was very wiggly. She was still in my lap and needed reassuranceI had to whisper in her ear and talk her through the parade describing each itemPointing out the octopus, which is one of her favorite silly animals right nowMade her super giggle and made it all seem a little less scaryand of course as soon as she recognised someone she was shouting their nameNext came Sebastianand she was actually excited to see Donald and he wasn't too super loud eitherShe liked his Fiesta Dancersand he was super cute in his hat. As we got further along she got more confidentBut she was still very agitated and needed deep pressure and soothing voiceFinally the princess came and that was the pinnacle of the showThe dancing ladies in waiting came firstThen she saw Rapunzel's towerShe was so excited to see Snow WhiteShe had learned Sleeping Beauty's name was AuroraBy this point she was jumping up and down with excitementRapunzel was beautiful, her hair was braided like it is at the end of tangledThe on the other side of the float were even more princessesNext was Belle in her beautiful gownAnd Cinderella. The girls were Star Stuck.I think from this point on she was actually enjoying herself.She pointed at the monkey s and made "oo Oo Ah Ah" sounds at themThen she said, "look Mommy, Lion." I told her his name was MufasaThough now that I think about it, this might not be the dad.She super liked these Giraffe Elk characters, so tall on stilts, they were super neat, but she was still eying the princesses.Next there were beautiful "butterflies" according to Hollythen she flipped out to see Tiana, this was actually our first and only time to see her during the tripI hadn't realized how much Holly actually liked her, and she asked about her several times for days to come.Though, Princess and the Frog was in fact her first princess Movie, I never thought she really liked it.But she was so happy to See Tiana, and it was like a special thing since she hadn't seen her yet.She even liked the AlligatorAnd pointed out that he was playing a trumpet like in teacher Jon's classNext was Peter Pan, which Holly was not impressed with, but that's because she didn't make the connectionShe didn't know who is Peter Pan's friendChloe was super excited that he came right up to her and said hello.Holly saw Captian hook and the butterfliesBut then the true moment of Truth was when she noticed TinkerbellNow that was truely the highligh of the parade.Tinkerbell literally blew a kiss right to Holly and her smile was so big.At this point she could hardly contain herselfand I had to make sure she didn't run after Tinkerbell.She wanted to turn around and watch as she went around the town circle to the other sideThe Final group was Mary Poppins, the Chimney Sweeps did a neat little dance,and she was riding a Carousel horse, but it was lost on Holly still basking int he glory of her favorite Fairy.