First rides of the morning

 After Minnie's breakfast, we headed over to 

Space Mountain

to pick up our fast pass tickets.  

Lindsey had never been on that ride before because 

it's been closed each time she came.

I knew in August we would need fast passes on 

all the rides that had them.

Tip:  make sure you get your fast passes 

EARLY.   I saw people trying to get 

fast passes for Splash Mountain around 4pm 

and they were sold out.  

Another time we tried getting a fast pass for 

Space Mountain in the early afternoon and

the next time slot to ride it was 10:30pm! 

If you are visiting Disneyland in a busy season, 

make that your first priority.   

*If you don't know about fast passes, they 

are basically a reservation time for a ride so 

you don't have to wait in long lines.  Many of the 

popular rides at Disneyland have Fast Pass 

Ticket booths.  You just swipe your admission tickets

into the machine, and out pops the fast passes.

We grabbed our fast pass tickets around 10am and 

were able to return at 12:30, so it wasn't a long wait 

for us on a Wednesday.  

I was very concerned about the crowd and 

long lines having gone August 4th 

(which I heard is one of the worst times to go) ,but so far so good. 

Baila was so excited for this roller coaster, but
Lainey was very nervous. 

Baila's expression on Space Mountain was hilarious. 

I had to spend a ridiculous amount of money 

for this picture, but sometimes it's worth it.

You wouldn't know from this picture, but Baila LOVES roller coasters 

and kept asking to go back on this ride.  She was ticked as heck when 

they wouldn't let her go on Californian Screamin.   

And the Tower of Terror is one of her favorites! 

She is my most fearless child.

Lindsey and I utilized the "stroller pass", which enables parents with 

little ones who can't go on a certain ride, to only make one adult 

wait in the line.  After the parent comes off the ride, the other adult 

takes their turn with one child but doesn't have to wait in line.   

You normally walk up the exit ramp where the disabled go, 

and then you are given first priority along with the handicapped.  

The ride attendant at the entrance 

passes out special stroller pass cards when you show 

them you have an infant or child who can't go on a ride. 

So Baila was able to ride this one 

more time with her Aunt Lindsey.  :) 

Next we headed over to the Matterhorn and 

on the way noticed Autopia had only a ten minute line. 

This is one of those rides you want to make sure and grab 

it while you can because we have 

had crazy wait times in the past.  

I can't think of a ride that brings back more 

nostalgia of Disneyland than the 

Autopia. 

For children, there is so much exhilaration

with the independence of driving their own car.
I remember having extreme giggles 

watching my sister and brother sputtering 

along and bumping cars

in front of me as a little girl. 

Great memories.

There must be something about 

this ride that brings out the kid in us.

I saw several middle aged adults 

driving cars on Autopia with 

NO KIDS. 

I mean, seriously? 

I assume they 

have a drivers license already?

The only bummer is the height requirement 

for this ride.   I'm not sure if it's changed in recent 

years, but I don't recall having to ride with an adult when 

I was 8 years old.  Luke was required to ride with 

either me or Lainey based on his smaller height. 

I can understand Isabelle, but an 8 year old?  Good grief. 

*Thankfully Lainey was allowed to take 6 year old Baila with her in the car or 

I don't know what we would have done!

Luke Man had a purplish maroon car. 
Isabelle and I were sitting next to him.

Baila riding with driver Lainey

AUTOPIA

Isabelle was throwing a fit because Baila wouldn't scoot over

"What was that Mom?  I'm squishing her?"

Now if any of you are wondering what 

the weather is like at Disneyland in August,

we were pleasantly 

surprised by the perfect temperature. 

Lindsey and I feared hot sweaty lines and had brought 

frozen drinks, water misting fans, tank tops, etc. 

It was actually chilly once the sun went down!  Guess I should 

have checked the Anaheim weather report 

better before I packed.   I expected the beach to feel like this but not inland. 

Minutes before we headed out the door on our trip, 

I finally checked the weekly weather report and quickly grabbed 

each of us one warm outfit and sweaters.  We 

ended up needing more though! 

ok, back to the rides......

 Next we headed over to the Matterhorn.  Isabelle at almost age 3

was tall enough to ride this.   During the ride her eyes were big and 

looked a little scared.   She held on very tight to my hand, but 

I kept assuring her we were having fun!  

After it was over I turned to her and asked 

"Was that so fun sweetie?"  

She looked a little shocked and in a 

frightened voice said 

"I didn't like it.

Too scary."

I felt so bad that I had traumatized my child, and 

hoped it didn't ruin the other rides at the park.

She's a daredevil like Baila so I wasn't 

expecting her to be so scared.  I think it 

would have been fine to work up to that ride, 

but my mistake was taking her on it right 

out of the gate.  

What's funny is that two hours later she kept 

begging to

"go back and see the white monster with red eyes" 

on the Matterhorn. 

She tells people it's her favorite ride now.

Next we headed over to Fantasy Land..............