california trip: day 5

The last day of Disney, we were determined to ride the new Radiator Springs Racers.  So, we got to the park even a little earlier than before.  In fact, once we got through the ticket gate, we still had to wait inside the park for them to open up the main street.  Most everyone in that crowd was headed for the same thing, and the line started a ridiculously long distance from the ride entrance.  But, we decided to stick it out and we are so glad that we did.  Actually, since Krew was too little to ride, Bart and I waited out with him while everyone else waited in the real line.  They got a stroller pass for Bart and I which allowed us to go on the ride with no wait at all.  They really only waited about 30 minutes, which is amazing for how long we had seen the wait during the week.  Plus, that meant that Bart, Krew and I had some time to kill just the three of us.  Our first stop was meeting Lightning McQueen!

We had walked past him several times over the past few days, and again, Krew loved him from a distance!  But, he wasn't so sure about him up close.  Then, one of the coolest things that happened to us the whole trip happened.  The cast member who was taking pictures of people with McQueen said, "McQueen, this little guy is a little scared, can you turn off your engine for him?"  I hadn't even really noticed before how loud the car was, it just sounded like a running car to me.  But, right away, he turned it off and he was quiet!  He said something to Krew like, "Don't be shy."  Of course if Krew was a little older he may have really thought a talking car was cool.  But, as a mom of a nervous little one, it meant a lot to me that someone thought about the little detail of having McQueen turn off his engine so he wasn't so scary.  Way to go Disneyland!

He did get brave and when McQueen told him to give him a high-five on his headlight, Krew did it with no hesitation!

Next, it was our turn to ride the racers!  Let me just say that this was the most incredible ride.  It really felt like we were in the movie, and had just enough speed and thrilling turns and dips to make it really exciting!  One of the best rides I've even been on!  Plus, it was nice to be able to enjoy it with this handsome fella!

For lunch the last day, we felt like we could splurge, so we let the twins pick anything they wanted.  They watched their uncle Andrew get a giant turkey leg, and that's what they both wanted too.  And no, they did not finish the whole thing.

The end of the day was spent going on the racers a second time (thanks to the fast passes we got earlier that morning), catching a few minutes of a couple of parades, and shopping for some souvenirs.

Bart, Kade, Ky and I were all able to ride this one together.  It was fun to see the ride in the dark too!

Ky pretending to be an ewok while Kade built his own (double) light saber for his souvenir.

Krew and I at the end of a long, fun day, waiting for Mickey Mouse to come by in the parade.

As we left the park that night, I could not believe that we had spent 3 full days there!  It went by so fast, and I was not ready to be done!  Hopefully we'll be able to go again some day!

Our favorite rides were: the Radiator Springs Racers, the new Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear Astroblast (Kade and Ky made everyone take them on this ride over and over any chance they got), and Soarin'.  We had some yummy food, but not near enough, and I wish we would have seen more of the parades and taken a million more pictures!