California day 2

A not so sunny wake up but instead wet and super windy!  I am already certain there will be no surfing lesson, but told Colin I would call or have the concierge call for us.  I really do like this hotel and hate that we are leaving today.  Not very often am I totally awed at the service and staff of a hotel but this hotel has been amazing . . . so many wonderful, friendly, helpful employees.  I wish we would have stayed here two nights . . . amazing service and an even better location.  Of course it isn't cheap but for the first time in a long time of paying that stupid 'resort fee', I feel like it was totally worth it!  We head out to breakfast where it is pouring rain . . . stopped by to have the concierge call about surfing lesson . . . walk back to the room and see this . . .

. . . the weather sure does change fast.  The bad part was due to the high winds (25+ mph) and the under tow no one is offering surfing today.  In fact several places have cancelled all lessons until Wednesday.  I have one disappointed boy, but I am happy they take safety so seriously!  So we go to our plan B for the day, beach day!  We grab a couple of bikes to go explore the boardwalk . . .

 . . . and then grab some beach gear to play in the sand.  Never too old to play in the sand!  It was so cold and windy but really do enjoy watching and listening to the waves . . . and thinking about life . . .

Colin loves the sand . . . that is our hotel behind him . . .

. . . after about 15 minutes I had to cover up . . .

The pier was fun to walk to this morning . . . they were having a swim test for ocean lifeguards so we watched them a bit; man they were swimming in only swimsuits.  It looks so far away but is really a close walk.

Colin was running around having a blast but didn't get past his ankles in the water!  The water was about 60.  So cold!

Our beach visit was short due to wind and just cold outside!  We decided to head to Anaheim early to visit the mouse named Mickey.  We dropped off the rental car, tried to check into the hotel but room wasn't ready; so we walked to Disneyland!  We arrived at the front gate around 2:00pm and had plans to stay until closing at midnight!  Colin was most excited about churros!

I love Fantasyland but Colin isn't so thrilled.  He was a good sport and rode all the rides!  He does like the teacups only because he tries to make me sick by spinning it non stop!

He really loves Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters . . .

So here is what we did today . . .

 A few notes . . .

Our first stop was to pick up a Fast Pass for Space Mountain our return times was between 9:50pm-10:50pm.  Yes, we waited that long (over 7 hours) and it was so worth it!

Space Mountain is now called Hyper Space Mountain and is Star Wars themed.  While I am not a super Star Wars fan, the ride was impressive!  It was so cool . . . so cool that at the end I clapped.  Colin was not the least bit amused!  In fact, all three times we rode it, I clapped!  I love this ride . . . one of the few roller coasters that I will actually happily ride.

We actually rode Buzz Lightyear more than I admitted above . . . for some reason our competitiveness really does come out on this ride!  Funny thing is most of the scores are backwards on the million pictures I have so it looks like I won a lot.  I did not!

. . . and sometimes we just like to go alone if it is not busy!  Colin's highest score!

 . . . and me just hanging out.  Seriously you can only play so many times!

When we exited Buzz Lightyear near the end of our night and the Disneyland app said the wait time for Hyper Space Mountain was only 30 minutes, we ran back over to ride it again.  We actually only waited 9 minutes so we got right back in the line a second time . . . this time we actually waited 30 minutes but it was the last ride as the park was nearing closing time!

The Disneyland phone app is a must if you go to the parks so you can track wait times for each ride; it really does utilize your time well if you don't mind a little extra walking.

Speaking of walking . . . my phone says we walked 11.3 miles today . . . my feet feel every one of them!

Colin ate 5 churros today!  FIVE . . . he loves them!

I had to stop and snap a picture of the castle before we left . . . Disneyland is celebrating 60 years!

After almost 10 hours in the park, we found one lone taxi to take us back to our hotel . . . there was no way I was walking to the hotel!  Did I mention we were so tired . . . Colin was even complaining that his feet hurt too.

We finally were able to check into our hotel room a few minutes past midnight . . . they were so thrilled to tell us we had been upgraded to a park view room . . . too bad all the fireworks were over plus we change hotels tomorrow.  I guess in the morning when we wake we will see just how great the view really is!  The room was huge but we were too tired to really even care!