Boo turned 4 yesterday and we took her to Disneyland today for the first time!
For those of you that know me well…you know that this was a huge thing for me for several reasons:
1. I can’t stand crowds or lines (especially amusement parks and sporting events).
2. I am germ-a-phobic.
3. Princesses….boring.
And…finally…don’t hate me:
4. Disney is creepy.
Yes, I said it. I think all of their movies, and many of their rides, have a weird dark streak to them. I’m convinced Boo will have nightmares from a few rides that were marketed to kids and should have had an “R” rating on them to warn us. Even Sleeping Beauty’s Castle tour was ridiculously creepy and scary.
But, regardless, Boo had an amazing time…..and that’s all that matters. We did Disney and we don’t have to go back for another 20 years now, right?
She loved the tea cups….
My mother-in-law was in town and it’s her birthday this week as well so it was a special treat to take her to Disney too:
Boo loved riding with Daddy on everything:
I wasn’t about to stand in a princess line for a photo op, so we just kept our eyes peeled and finally found Sleeping Beauty. The conversation went a little like this:
Boo: I’m four today.
SB: It’s your birthday! What is your name?
Boo: Um, have you seen Cinderella or Belle?
Me: Sienna, let’s just take a photo….maybe we’ll see Cinderella later.
Boo: I don’t want you to take a photo. I just want to eat my hotdog. (we had just bought it when we spotted the princesses)
Then Sleeping Beauty (or Aurora? no idea what I’m supposed to call her) taught Boo a princess curtsey which I’m pretty sure Boo thought was a little ridiculous judging from the look on her face (I don’t blame her, who “curtseys” in a recycled knit dress):
Then onto Snow White:
Boo: Hi. It’s my birthday today.
SW: Let me guess….are you four?
Boo: Yes. Um, have you seen Cinderella or Belle?
Me: Sienna, please let’s just take one photo….maybe we’ll see Cinderella later.
Boo: I don’t want you to take a photo. I just want to eat my hotdog.
We never saw Cinderella….but I kept reminding Boo that she DID make an appearance at her birthday last year. We went to Toon Town and met Mickey and Minnie…ho hum…
….until we checked out Minnie’s refrigerator. Cool!!! We love the unexpected:
Rides we rode that were WAY too scary for a toddler? (learned my lesson and didn’t ride anymore dark rides)
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Pirates of the Caribbean
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
Favorite rides that we rode over and over?
It’s a Small World (Boo woke up singing the song first thing)
Mad Hatter Tea Party
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Alice in Wonderland (Boo wanted to know why the Queen was so mad)
Finding Nemo (One small scary second)
Astro Orbitor
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Gadget’s Go Coaster
Random Photos
Wow Disneyland is beautiful at night! I loved the park more once the sun went down. Then I do what I always do in crowds….randomly snap photos on random settings to see what I end up with:
Streetlights
Balloons
Carousel
Paint cans
Toon Town Ride
We stayed for almost 7 hours. As soon as I saw this face I knew we were done…even though she insisted we stay longer:
Happy 4th birthday Boo! We love you!
Oh gosh that was the cutest and funnies blog post ever, gosh I love Boo! Glad Boo had a fabulous 4th birthday, she sure was cute in her LBB dress. Hugs!
im glad someone said it, disney frightens my kiddo's too! maybe once they get bigger things will change. adorable pictures:)
This blog cracked me up. Happy Birthday Boo! Hope the hotdog was good 🙂
Funny, 2 out of the 3 scary rides are my 3 year olds fav's! She hates the Pirates though. I am also not a fan of crowds, but we love Disney. I'm glad she had a fantastic birthday.She is absolutely gorgeous.
The only Disney movies my 4 1/2 yr old can watch without getting totally scared are Tinkerbell and Cinderella. We're going to Disneyland in May for her 5th B-day so your critique of the rides is helpful. Also, Ashley, your girl is no longer a "toddler" 4 yr olds are officially preschoolers. 😉 Sorry your baby is growing up!
Ha! I am cracking up at her face with Minnie. I agree, princess are desperate and lame. I loathe when people (who am I kidding, my mother and mother-in-law) call my daughter "Princess." It makes me want to dress her in black.
I love the photos. The teacup shots were my favorite.
I am absolutely with you all the way! My two (age 5 & 3) have seen TWO Disney movies – Cinderella (they were completely underwhelmed) and Robin Hood (DS cried on and off for days because of all the meanness). I don't dare try them with any of the others – they'd have nightmares for weeks!
Happy birthday to Boo!
I think Disney's creepy, too.
That didn't stop me from bribing my 2yo with the promise seeing Mickey Mouse if he pees in the potty, though…
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only anti-Disney person. It just doesn't do it for me. I try not to mention it becuase then people look at me like I just kicked a puppy 🙂
Happy birthday ,Boo. Like the pictures in the teacup.
Greetings from Belgium, Martine
I have four kids (all born in Anaheim) and we only go to Disneyland on their 4th birthdays too. Two down and two to go. =)
Happy 4th birthday to Boo!
Looks like she had a great birthday! Thanks for the pictures! We're going to Disney World next week and now you've totally got me jazzed!
all four of your reasons to dislike disney are the same as mine. i hate disneyland, and equally loathe people that think its the greatest place ever, have decades of christmas cards taken at disneyland, and phony disney t-shirts (you know the type). however, boo looks like she had fun, and i can respect a girl who isn't down for curtsying. awesome photos too!
My saying- love it while you're livin' it! In other words, Disneyland might not be your favorite place, but you sucked it up and gave your girl a great day! That's worth it! Hats off to you!
I had to laugh – I am not a germ-a-phobe, but otherwise I agree with #1,3 and 4. Glad you enjoyed the trip.
Happy Birthday Boo!! Supposedly I went on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride when I younger and hated it, so I guess it can be agreed that it really is a scary ride.
Oh, I agree with that for just about any theme park . . . but, the kids do love it. And that Sleeping Beauty . . . she could stand a make-over . . . that hair!!!
Ok, don't think I'm a creeper but does anyone else ever feel like some of the writers in these Disney and Nickelodeon movies and shows have "sexual" undertones to them?????? SERIOUSLY. I can't tell you how many times I have rewound something to hear it again and sure enough….it IS what I thought they said but somehow snuck it into a Disney flick????
Maybe I'm a perv. I don't know. My mind is NOT usually in the gutter so this is strange for me to admit.
And if I had to stare at Aurora's bangs like Boo had to I'd be all about gettin out of there to eat my hot dog too. Yikes.
I am with you. I have told my sister in law that I will let her take my kids to Disneyland. I will probably break down and go but might be able to hold out till age 5. Hopefully!
Love the balloons pic!!
My daughters bday is feb 8th too!I also made her a birthday outfit but her big sister designed it for her. domesticdeadline.blogspot.com
Haha always as a child (and still) I HATED anyone in costumes that covered their whole bodies. One year we did a "Character's Breakfast" at Disneyland where all the characters would come and visit you while you eat, they had to warn all the characters not to come near me because I would start screaming otherwise.
Truth is, I would still start screaming if they came near me.
LWP sent me. I love your Only One of Me tank. Super cute!!!