It'll Be Alright: Disneyland and Southern California for Christmas 2022

Annual Tea Cups Family Photo

Day 2

Got up early and ready to go - We got up and ready and took the short walk from our hotel to the parks. This is one of the best parts of the Courtyard Theme Park Entrance.
No problem getting into park - no lines - On previous trips, we had to wait in some lines for security, but very long lines to get in the parks. We had very few issues on this trip.
Ate at Jolly holiday - really slow ordering - chimney sweep cold brew is delicious - We got close to the rope drop area and were going to get ready to take off, but the family called an audible and stopped to eat at Jolly Holiday. I was really thrown off. My brother is normally a commando tourist in Disney parks, but he was a kinder gentler tourist on this trip. Much more go with the flow and it freaked me out. Anyway, breakfast was delicious and it was the first indicator of a trend of the trip. We ordered food to share between the four of us and I missed out. I was going to share a croissant sandwich with Ellie and she ate it all. Grady ate all of his yogurt and fruit as well. We did get some sweets though. Lisa got a raspberry macaron, which was delicious, a Mickey gingerbread cookie, also very delicious and the beginning of the Tour de Cold Brews of Disneyland with the Chimney Sweep cold brew. This coffee had smoked syrup, chocolate and caramel ssauces, cream and smoked salt-sugar sprinkle. It was SOOO good.
Haunted Mansion holiday - so good, short line, new gingerbread house - After breakfast we checked wait times and Haunted Mansion was still pretty short so we headed there. I LOVE this ride both regular and holiday. The holiday version is SO good and it didn't disappoint. After we were done, everyone in our group loved it and talked about how different it was from the original and how it was still great and kept the feel from the original.
Pictures by castle - We walked toward the castle and Fantasyland and stopped on the walkway between Fantasy Faire and the castle. This is a great spot for pictures and it wasn't super busy. We got some great family pics and even got a little silly with some gingerbread photos.
Castle walk through - Next we walked through the castle and parked the strollers in Fantasyland. We started with the Sleeping Beauty walkthrough. We really enjoy this and it was a first for some our group.
Toad - Next we rode Mr Toad's Wild Ride. It was a fairly short line so we hoped on. I know this is a fan favorite and a classic Disney dark ride, but I'm gonna say it: It's time for a change. At minimum, a refurb, but up to a replacement. The ride is jerky and it is all cutout displays with very little technology enhancements and no animatronics. I think it would be great to give it an overhaul similar to Snow White.
Tea cups - Next there was no line for the tea cups so we hoped on. We love this ride and we have to do it every time. Lisa and I came to a realization that the 4 of us are not going to fit in one tea cup much longer. It was a sad moment, but we will cherish it for as long as we can.
Churro - The kids were getting hungry so we stopped at the churro stand in Fantasyland. Disneyland has the best churros.
Millennium Falcon - Next we headed to Galaxy's Edge. I am always blown away each time we walk in to this area and it think it gets better each time. Grady was SO excited just walking into and through the land. We found that Smuggler's Run was not very long, so we hoped on. Still a great ride and the kids are getting better at it, which is good for everyone.
Mando and Grogu - Grady so excited, and Bob Fett Grady ‘I just wanted to do this my entire life’ - After the Millennium Falcon, we were walking around the land and spotted the Mandalorian walking around. Grady flipped out and he, Riley and Crosby went to meet him. They talked to him and saw Grogu in Mando's pouch. We also saw Boba Fett walking close to Mando so we got to see them both. It was really cool and Grady was in Star Wars heaven. He was so cute and excited. The Mandalorian and Grogu are his favorite and he got to see them on the first day.
Lunch at Carnation Cafe - After that, we went back to Main Street for lunch at Carnation Cafe. They crammed us into a long booth so we didn't have a lot of room. The kids were getting a little antsy and overstimulated by the morning so we had a few issues at breakfast, but not bad. Lunch was good, but not great. Good to sit down and restart though.
Shopping then Grady nap - We walked through the shops on Main Street and then Grady took a stroller nap. I found a Mickey sweatshirt (more to come on this sweatshirt) and Ellie got a fluffy pink Disneyland spirit jersey.
DCA - met Carl, peppermint churro, Ariel and Zack churro toffee cold brew - We walked to California Adventure to see Avenger's Campus with the whole group. We went the long way by Soarin' and Grizzly Peak. We met Carl from Up and got a peppermint churro. After that we went to do the Ariel ride, but Grady was still napping. I took this chance to find my second stop on the Tour de Cold Brews. At the Festival of Holidays, one of the booths had a churro toffee cold brew. Come to find out, there was an alcohol version, but I got the non-alcoholic. It was really good, but a little too sweet. I think the coffee liquor would have calmed the sweetness.
Holiday cavalcade - After I got my delicious cold brew, I stood outside of Ariel's and watched the people while Grady slept. Right as our group came out from the Ariel ride, the holiday cavalcade went by. Grady woke up and the kids went up to watch and had a great time, dancing and having so much fun.
Avenger’s Campus - Spider man show, Hawkeye show, M’Baku show, Guardian show - Then we walked to Avenger's Campus. I was so excited for Spence and Crosby to see it. As we walked in, the Spider-Man show was going on. That is so cool. We continued in and got to see the Hawkeye holiday battle that we saw last year. We walked around some more and the new M'Baku show was starting after Hawkeye. We really enjoyed this show. M'Baku was very charismatic. I liked it more than the Dora Milage show. After the M'Baku show we walked toward Guardians and the Dance Party was going on. There is so much to see in this land. It is great!
Mostly everyone Turtle talk - Lisa and Zack shop - The kids wanted to go to the animation building and see Turtle Talk. Lisa and I skipped and did some shopping. I actually took a potty break and ended up at the Grand Californian to take care of business. By the way, this is a well kept secret, the restrooms inside the entrance of the Grand Californian to DCA is clean, quiet and easy to get in and out by yourself.
Parade - After that, we went back to Disneyland. When we walked it, the Christmas parade was going through Town Square. We squeezed into the ropes to watch. We really enjoy this show and the music is similar to small world. It is catchy and entertaining, but it is an ear worm that sticks with you the whole trip. I really enjoyed watching Josie, my 2 year old niece, who was so into the parade. When Pluto showed up (her favorite character), she cheered and this watched him go all the way around the square and started down main street. She about broke down a couple times when she couldn't see him, but then she found him again. It was really cute.
Star Wars dinner - We were getting hungry so of course we looked for the closest restaurant to Main Street, Docking Bay 7 in Galaxy's Edge. It was very good, but I got a shrimp dish and it had sausage in it that I didn't notice on the menu. I ate around it, but it was kind of a pain.
Jungle Cruise - Next we met my parents at the Jungle Cruise because they just wanted a hot dog instead of going to Star Wars land. We love the Jungle Cruise and the new changes make it that much better. Our skipper was great and added a holiday twist to most of the jokes. We did find that my dad had some trouble getting through the lines. It was dark so it was hard for him to see and the stairs in the queue were tough for him. We also found that the lines were condensed to 1 lane because someone threw up in line. Yuck, we had to distract the kids because our kids have a reputation of getting sick just know there is vomit around.
Mom, dad, Riley and Ellie went back to room - After the Jungle Cruise most of us were pretty tired, especially the older kids. My parents were done too, so they took the older girls back to the hotel and the rest of us continued on.
We rode pirates and watched fireworks with the littles. Sam got chewed out for running into someone with the stroller during the mass exodus after fireworks - We had a good time hanging out for a little while longer, but Sam accidentally bumped someone with the stroller and she flipped out on her. It was an accident, but the lady sure thought Sam had done it on purpose. This happened after fireworks in the crowd of people trying to leave it park. It was pretty ridiculous.
Bedtime - We walked back to the hotel and crashed. It was a fun full day.