Ben's Wish - Day 2 (Disneyland)

We got up early (for vacation early anyway) on Tuesday and headed over to Disneyland. We rode the monorail over from Downtown Disney, only to realize that it would have been easier to walk but the train ride was fun for Ben. After getting off the monorail, first stop - Pixie Hollow.

Even though it was early in the morning there was a bit of a line. We were given a Guest Services pass that we had no idea was such a wonderful thing. All we had to do was show this and we got to enter through the exit and skip waiting in ANY lines all day long. Unbelievable!! Ben ran up to any and all fairies and hugged them within an inch of their lives. Funny that the kids were all the same size as the fairies . . .

Next, on to ride Dumbo. Ben had said from day one that he wanted to ride Dumbo at Mickey's House so off we went . . .

Next Sammy got to pick her favorite and we headed for Casey Jr. and the railroad. Fitting car for our group . . .

Next we rode on the Peter Pan ride. Ben and Nate talked big about getting Capt. Hook with their swords. Then, who should happen to walk up, the Capt. himself. All the talk was out the window and Ben ran up and gave him a big hug. Not much of a lost boy protector after all . . .

We had only one appointment to keep all week, and that was with Mickey Mouse. We all got to spend nearly an hour playing with Mickey. The kids were a little shy at first. They talked a bit and we tried to interpret because, of course, Mickey can't talk. Finally they settled in and played UNO fro almost a half hour. Who gets to play UNO with Mickey for that long. What a great time.

We laughed because Mickey kept nearly winning and then would get slammed with draw cards. We finally called the game because Mickey had other places to be. When he got up he pulled out the cards he had been stashing under the game cabinet they were sitting next to. Mickey . . .cheating . . . we all laughed a lot at that.

And then a pictureof our true personalities . . .

and of course, mom had to cry at Mickey too. . . (at least dad kept his tears hidden for the picture:))

We walked out from playing cards with Mickey and ran into Aladdin and Jasmine. Who could have even hoped that Megan would get to meet her FAVORITE princess

And then around the corner to run into Cruella. I think Sammy's Halloween costume was cuter than this one but the girls got a kick out of the attitude . . .

Next we saw Minnie . . .

As the day wore on it got a little dark, a bit chilly, and Nate kind of gave out.

For one last ride, we hit the rockets . . .

What a cool first day in the park. In between and betwixt all of these character meetings I think we truly rode EVERY ride in the park. We went to Fronteerland for lunch and dad got picked to be a participant in the Dating Game show that was going on on stage with the Mayor, the Sheriff and the Mayor's not so attractive daughter. Fortuntely, he also had the camera on his belt . . .

Like I said before, that Guest Pass thing was amazing. No lines in Disneyland can truly wear you out. And best of all, I remembered sunblock on my newly shorn head and had no suburn - Wahooo!!