New Year - First Disneyland Visit

Happy New Year! The kids have been saying how it's been a while since we've been to Disneyland. I suppose that's true. It's been nearly a month since our last visit was back on December 16th before all the Christmas madness.
For the past year I've tried to have a theme for the hats we wear each week. I'm going to try to continue that this year as well. My Disney hat collection still have a few more that haven't been seen.
This week's theme is hats from the Asia Disney parks. Back in October, we made it out to Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland. It was an awesome trip and I need to hurry up and get my write-up started.
Ian and I are wearing fez hats from Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland. Alli is wearing an adorable pink pom-pom hat she picked out herself from Tokyo Disneyland. And Theresa is wearing a beret from Shanghai Disneyland.

I'm really looking forward to the opening of the new parking structure. We arrived at the entrance to the Mickey and Friends parking garage at 8am, but it was a waste of 15 minutes while we slowly made our way to the parking booth. 

Today we're doing somewhat of an experiment. Theresa is going to walk with Alli and the stroller through Downtown Disney. Ian and I are riding the tram. 

There's a reason we're splitting up today. It takes a little longer to get a stroller onto the tram and I thought me and Ian could make it to the entrance faster if we went by ourselves. Unfortunately for us the price for annual passes went up unexpectedly overnight last week. Oh well, what can you do. We get plenty of enjoyment out of Disney and it's a lot of fun to be there as a family all the time.

If Theresa and Alli had decided to walk right to the entrance, we probably would have met up just as we finished buy Ian's AP. Instead, she decided to take the monorail into the park and that turned out to be a timely mistake. After scanning in, it was another 16 minutes before they finally got to board. Only one monorail running today?

Ian and I took a trip on Star Tours to Jakku and Crait (is it still fixed on these two Episode VII and Episode VIII?) while we waited for them. He's really looking forward to Star Wars Land opening later this year. And I think on this trip he got his first peek behind the magic. While we were getting thrown around during all the fighting, he decided to lift his glasses up. Afterwards he told me, "I didn't know it was just a screen." I guess in his head we've been looking through a windshield on all our past adventures.

Theresa and Alli finally made it into the park and walked right onto Buzz while Ian and I were finishing up Star Tours.

One of our treat we purchased for the kids at Company D yesterday. Purple Fruit Punch popcorn, from Bing Bongs I think. And only $2!
Alli, where should we go next?

Gadget's Go Coaster!

With these short lines, we'd end up riding twice.

Ian, what's next? Roger Rabbit.

I love how characters just wander around back in Toontown.

Both kids trying to get into the same skip pattern as Pluto as they skipped through Toontown.

When it comes to themed queues, I think the queue for Indiana Jones is the winner. But a close second is the queue for Roger Rabbit. Theresa just wishes you could skip the long walk when there's zero line.

They get such a kick out of making that puppy pop his head up out of the window and bark at them.

The lines have been great so far today. At 10am, the carrousel had no line.

Ian named his horse Albert II. Let me know in the comments if you get the reference.

Alli was happy to get her favorite pink and purple horse.

Anyone concerned that they're only eating junk, here's the rest of their morning snack. Cucumbers, carrots, and bell peppers.

Ian's next request was Big Thunder Mountain. I'm happy for the bench seats because it means I can take both kids at the same time and Theresa doesn't have to ride. Alli said it was her new favorite ride when we finished.

We're in the picture somewhere, but I just wanted to comment the beautiful blue skies. So Cal just got some heavy rain yesterday and that really clears up the skies.

One of the perks Cast Members get each holiday are coupons for a free treat in the park. Yesterday Ruston used four of the six coupons. He wanted Ian and Alli to have the last two, so they were both excited to get a special treat today.
Ian loves popcorn, but only the really buttery yellow pieces. From my experience, the most buttery popcorn at the resort comes from this popcorn cart near the Matterhorn. I don't know why it's so much different than other stands, but from what I've seen, it is.

Yum! Ian made sure to record a special thank you message for Ruston.

Satisfied with everything we've accomplished so far this morning at Disneyland, we made our way over to DCA. I think this park is a little more crowded because of Extra Magic Hours this morning. Normally we'd skip Mater if there's a 20 minute wait, but today we'll give it a shot.

We do look like Shriners don't we. Another person wanted to know where we got the Abu (from Aladdin) hats.

Group photo before lunch. They're still not giving out chocolate samples. Disappointing. Lunch was seaweed, rice, carrots, applesauce, yogurt, and buttered bread from the Boudin Bakery.

With Grizzly River down for refurbishment, the water level here in the wharf area is also drained. The ducks and seagulls are still hanging out and looking for kids to throw them bread.

While Theresa and Alli went to Toy Story Midway Mania, Ian and I went to visit the Tivan Collection. I wonder if Tanaleer Tivan would be a member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (like Lord Henry Mystic and Harrison Hightower III).

Great photo! Groot, don't push that button!

Theresa and Alli rode the Jumping Jellyfish three times while Ian and I rode Goofy's Sky School twice. I'm glad he loves these types of rides.

Can we go again Daddy?

I traded kids with Theresa and ran over to the swings.

Love it!

Here's a look at that coupon.

Share Alli! Thanks Uncle Ruston!

Time to wrap up this day and head home. We're ending it as we've been doing so often now, by winding it down at the gazebo near the Disneyland Hotel. Relaxing for some. A chance to run around for others.

On our walk back to the car, we encountered not one, but two Cats of Disneyland.

Both of these guys were hanging out near the formal Gazebo near the Frontierland Tower.

It was a great day to be at Disneyland and it's good to be back! Here's to another wonderful year of visits.