Carsland at California Adventure

Our little boy has been anxiously waiting to explore Carsland.   We waited until my husband could join us and we headed out this weekend to Disneyland.   Our first stop was California Adventure, Sunday afternoon.   The new main street is wonderful.   While it is not as expansive as big brother, Main Street Disneyland, it is cute and wonderful all on its own.   We headed straight for Carsland.   We got a sneak peek last Spring of the main drag of Carsland. 

 



We got to walk the street Sunday and it was a treat.   It was crazy crowded and hot, but so worth it.   You feel like you are walking through the movie.   Everything was as it was pictured in the movie down to the blinking stoplight and statue of Stanley.   We just looked and appreciated everything.   The premiere ride, Radiator Springs Racers had a two hour wait.   The fast passes were gone for the day as well.   We decided to wait for Luigi's Flying Tires.   This was a unique twist on bumper cars because each tire is a hovercraft.   You lean to make them go the direction you want to go.   There was a 40 minute wait for this ride, but we were entertained by just standing in line.   The details that Disney went to recreate Luigi's tire shop was amazing.   It gives a nod to both Cars movies.   There was so much to look at.   We enjoyed our flying tires.  I didn't adjust my camera phone for bright sunlight, so the color is off in the picture.   You can see another tire over my son's shoulder and the silver things on the ground were blowing up the air.  

 

 

We next headed off to Mater's Junkyard Jamboree.   This is a pretty cute ride too.   You are towed around in a cart by a little tractor, except the tractors make quick turns and you are swung around.   It mixes a ride with almost square dancing.   The other three new things in Carsland are dining places.   Filmore's taste-in sells snacks, such as chips and apples.   The cozy cone motel has 5 different cones serving various foods and drinks.   We enjoyed the pretzel bites.   Another patron we met while sharing a picnic table, tried the chili cone queso and raved about how good it was.  We left Carsland for other attractions, but came back before we left the park for the night to see the neon lights.   There was a lot of neon!  The picture is really blurred, but you can see the neon lights.

 



 

Monday morning we returned to Disney to ride Radiator Springs Racers.   We were in the park by 10:15 and the fast passes for Radiator Springs Racers were already gone for the day.   We really wanted to try this ride out, so we opted to stand in line for an hour and 40 minutes.   The line was really long, but seemed to move quickly.   Starting somewhere around the middle of the line, Disney had people stationed at intervals selling ice cream, Italian ice, water, and sodas at $4 each.  They were selling quickly.   We got up to the ride and sat down in a car for six people.   You put on your seat belt and get ready.   The ride was pure Disney, top quality entertainment.   There were speakers behind our heads to play music or characters talking to us.   There was a replica of Ornament Valley, complete with waterfall.   Then we moved through various scenes from the movie, and it felt like I was in the movie.   We tractor tipped, ran from Frank, got advice from Doc., and more.   Finally, we got to race another car through Ornament Valley.   That was a bit like a roller coaster, and so much fun!   It was totally worth the long line.   I overhead someone telling someone else there were 10 different experiences you could have on the ride.   My one critique for Disney would be to provide more shade where the line first started snaking.   Most people were moving from one shady spot to another.   As you got closer to the front of the line, the shade improved.  

 

Sunday night, we convinced my son to try Symphony Swings.   He was sure it wouldn't like it, but ended up riding it twice.   We also rode Goofy's Sky School, one of his favorites as well. 

 

Monday, my daughter and I rode California Screamin.   I was reminded riding The Texas Cyclone at Astroworld as a teenager with my friend Tara Wikoff.   We also rode the Toy Story Midway, Goofy's Sky School again, and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree again.   We were out of time and had to leave after those rides.   The kids had a blast this weekend at California Adventure. 

Blowing the Dust Off

I am picking up the blog today and blowing the dust off.   This past month has been very busy.   We left Texas a couple of weeks ago to head out to L.A. for another season.   My daughter had a workshop with a casting director last weekend.   Due to the workshop, we arrived a couple of weeks earlier than last year.   We got to enjoy L.A.'s heat.   While Houston has L.A. beat on heat any day of the week, 95 degrees is still hot.   I know...in Houston its the humidity, not the heat, but take it from me, 95 sans humidity is still hot!

Enough about the weather, we spent the last week in July and first week in August starting our school year.   My daughter started 3rd grade and my son started Kinder.   I took pictures of their first day out on our front porch like I do every year.   Unfortunately, I don' t have a copy of the pictures because they are downloaded on our home computer and not my laptop.   My daughter's first comment while taking the pictures was, "I don't have a uniform in this year's school picture!"  School is going well.   The kids are back at it with few complaints.   Last year was the first year of homeschooling and there was push back from my daughter.   This year, so far are cruising along.  

We spent the first two weeks of August squeezing in as many play dates as possible in before we left for L.A.   It was great to see so many good friends.   We made the trip out to L.A. over a weekend and Monday so that my hubby could drive with us.   It was so nice to have a 2nd driver.   I usually try to do the drive on my own to haul more stuff with me, but having a 2nd driver is REALLY nice.   We got a late start from Houston on Saturday afternoon because we really wanted to attend a birthday party.   Saturday night we stopped in Kerrville.   We got up early the next morning and hit the road and drove to Phoenix!   That was a haul.   My husband did most of the driving and I give him props for it.   We drove into L.A. on Monday, picked up the key to the apartment, unloaded the car and got my husband off to the airport.   The first week here we continued with school, made some new friends, swam, and went to church on Sunday.   My L.A. church is so good.   It was good to be back.  

The last two weeks have been slow as far as acting.   Last week was especially slow, with school starting here.   My daughter has done a couple of auditions and booked a student film to film in September.  

I signed my son up for XMA.   It is an extreme martial arts gym that does non-combat martial arts.   Several actors have trained here.  In fact, my son's tramp/acro instructor is a stunt man that has worked on several projects.   Everyone I met was wonderful.   My son tried two classes Tramp/Acro and XMA and really liked the Tramp/Acro.   I met with Mike Chat, the owner.   He meets with all the parents and explains philosophy and programming.   My son is so excited to start his class this week.   Since they work with actors, they understand how auditions can be unpredictable.   We will be able to make up classes he might miss due to sister's auditions.   Perfect!   That was the one thing holding me back from putting my son in a class.  

My daughter's acting class starts in a couple of weeks.  Until then, we're just doing school, violin, auditions, and swimming in the apartment pool as much as we can! 

I almost forgot one of the most exciting developments of the last two weeks!  My son is actually swimming.   He can jump in from the side and swim across the pool.   He has been resistant to swimming, prefering to hang on to things.   In the last week, he has practiced putting his head down and swimming.  He can do it.   He even pops his head up to take a breath and keeps swimming in water where he cannot touch.   We are so excited for him to reach this milestone.  

We went to Disney this weekend.   We explored the new Carsland, but that is a blog post all on its own.   Maybe tomorrow...we'll see how the week goes.