My sweet baby boy turned two on March 20th & because he’s finally at the age where he’s recognizing characters we thought it would be a blast to take him to Disneyland! We’ve taken him twice already, but he was so small both times he had no idea what was going on. The best part of having a kid is getting the chance to be a kid all over again, only BETTER because you have the reins! A little story about me & my childhood: I always dreamed of going to disneyland as a kid. I remember we’d get the free information travel videos in the mail & we’d watch them over & over. We even had a savings jar to fund our dream family disney vacation going for a while, but that went the way of Carl & Ellie’s Paradise Falls change jar (if you catch my Up reference). So going as an adult is always extra meaningful. This time I even saved up enough extra scratch to invite my 13 year old little sister along! It was a total bucket lister for me to be able to do that. It was her first time & she got the full, magical experience which made me feel so warm & fuzzy inside.
My trip had two huge highlights. The first was character dining. The food was super fun & it was a dream having the characters up close & personal to interact with.
The second was the firework show. Are you ready for the coolest story ever? Ok. So I LOVE the Disney firework show. Brings a tear to my eye every time. I really wanted a good spot to view the show, so I asked a nearby cast member for her advice on the best place to wait. She suggested right in front of the roped off front & center VIP viewing area. So that was where I parked myself two hours early. I know I’m nuts. ANYWAY as I was waiting a guy got down on his knee right in front of me & proposed to his girlfriend!!! I am a romantic all the way so I pulled out my phone & started snapping pictures like a weirdo. It didn’t seem like they had a photographer around. I kept waiting for one to pop up from behind the bushes & yell “surprise!” The light & the location where picture perfect! As they kissed & started to walk away together I realized they really had NO ONE around to capture the moment! The only photos of their engagement lived on my phone. I told my new cast member friend who had been watching the same thing unfold that I’d be right back for my stroller & my epic fireworks viewing spot & I ran off after them (while wearing my sleeping toddler). I found them, texted them their images & the cried & thanked me. The good deed alone made me feel AMAZING. What a special night & how lucky I was to play a mini part in the life milestone of another couple. They will remember that night forever. How freakin cool.
So when I get back to my epic firework viewing spot, I smile & wave at my new cast member friend & let her know I got them their photos & prepare to settle in for a couple hours of spot holding. I love the firework show that much! As I’m spacing off & staring at the pretty sunset as it dips behind Cinderella’s Castle, the cast member girl taps my shoulder. She says that she was so touched by what I had done for the couple, that she wanted to do something nice for me & my family. That night I was granted access to the VIP seating area to view the firework show! I was put on a list & no longer had to hold my spot, because one was reserved for me & my famliy! Front & center! It was literally my dream come true. I will remember snuggling up with my family & watching that show for the rest of my life. SO MAGICAL. AHHHH!

Here are a few of my favorite images from the trip. Enjoy!