Thursday, June 9, 2011

House of mouse

My oldest girls had dance competitions over memorial day weekend at none other than the Disneyland Hotel. Hmm, do we really want to be anywhere near Disneyland during the 3-day weekend that kicks off summer? Probably not. But that was beside the point. We were going.

And when the schedule came out, a mere 10 days prior to the start of the show, and we realized that the first dance was scheduled for Friday evening, and the last dance not until Monday morning, well, there was not much left to do but make the most of it and embrace the fact that we'd be spending the entire weekend in Anaheim, or local environs.

My mom was slated to fly out to join in the girly fun. And fly out she did, thank the 8 lb baby jesus, because I could not have done it without her -- physically, emotionally or financially.

But thanks to her help, we had a grand old time, despite the pesky highway traffic, dance drama, and incessant toddler demands.

Friday night was all about checking out the hotel. It's pretty terrific, we were very pleasantly surprised. It's very tasteful, but still definitely Disney. You do not forget where you were while staying there...

From song-playing, light-up headboards


To Mikey Mouse, both big

and in various parts and pieces througout,


to goofy characters ready for a quick hug and photo

it's clear that you are in the house of mouse!

Breakfast in Goofy's Kitchen was a treat.




But unbelievably, not as big of a treat as lunch at the American Girl store in LA. That place is a little girl's dream.

Look at those little doll chairs...

And oh wait, little doll cups and saucers too.

But really, this is the very best (or at least my favorite) thing about the entire American Girl experience:

A doll stand in each loo? Do they not think of everything?!

Eventually (but no, not that same day) we made it into the actual Disneyland park, taking advantage of the fact that we were entitled to enter the park an hour before the general public, due to our preferred guest status (I told you it was a cool hotel).

We loaded aboard the monorail


and landed just minutes later in the happiest place on earth.

With it's giant teacups

and wild lines rides

And all manner of opportunities to spend money transform yourself

and have fun


Oh, and did I mention there was dancing too? Well thre was. And although we made it to each competition and the girls performed well, dance was somehow secondary.

That mouse has some charisma I tell you.

6 comments:

Pat said...

What happy memories! Thank, Beth for a wonderful weekend with my girls.
Love, Mom

pants and jackets in SoCal?? said...

oh, beth, what fun!

You and your mom DO NOT age! but the girls are growing like weeds, I tell you.

I was also tickled by the doll stand in the loo at the American Girl store in NYC, and I will tell you what that place did forget...a BOYS bathroom :) calvin had to use a janitor's bathroom b/c they don't have a place for boys. too funny, eh?!

And a little FYI...Rod was one of the engineers that helped build Toontown at Disneyland and I have a picture of the now 20 yr old Coco, trying to pull up the same barbells when we got to do the "family day" there before it opened to the public. "It's a small world after all"

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Aw, what fun! I'll never forget staying at the Disney hotel in Orlando when we were kids, what a trip that was! My own kids have only ever crashed at the ol' Holiday Inn down the street, the poor neglected bastards. Looks like you all had a lovely time - those doll holders in the bathroom at the AG store look like a super freaky mini S&M contraption.

And I think you did just fine with A's hair in the hip hop outfit. Holy cow, that's quite a crew.

nice post!

xo
Jacquie

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Oh Elizabeth I love this! I love seeing photos of your gigantic (well, 2 of them.....) girls, and your wee girl, and Pat -- Pat! -- and you! You're gorgeous, as always.

I can't get enough of all y'all.

And that hip-hop hair? It defies gravity. Which, clearly, is the objective.

Each one of you is more gorgeous than the next and I am *so* happy to get to visit with you.

Love! And thanks. Awesomeness.

xxxEllie

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Okay, Jacquie, you have a twisted mind. If they were going in install doll sized S&M contraptions in the AG store my best is that they would put them in the mens bathroom, which I hear they don't even have.

Which is too funny, central PA. Poor Calvin. And interesting stuff regarding Rod and his Toon Town connection. That deserves some sort of nickname....thinking....

Ellie, you are too, too funny. I guess I should post photos more often.

And yes, the hip hop hair, that's the tricky twisty do that does defy gravity, and my hair skillz, but it’s supposedly essential to the number, titled as it is: “Bobblehead.”

xoxoxoxoxo,
beth

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Bobblehead? Perfect.

And no menses' rooms in AG? Sexist! That's like not having diaper-changing stations in menses' room in stadiums. Jerks.

Love!

E