Day 20: Disneyland Surprise

Our final day - a BIG surprise for our kids!!!

Phil and I sent each other messages once our room was awake and ready to go for the day.  The shuttle was coming at 10am so we had plenty of time for a good start to our day...

which started with Mommy handing out homemade shirts for everyone

who were waiting patiently piled on the loveseat (because photo-op, right?!)

and with each shirt, the kids gratefully accepted each of their shirts and loved that Mickey or Minnie ears were on them...

But it was Lily who put it together... Mommy is not handing out matching shirts for the whole family unless we were doing something kind of major... and she had seen the Mickey Mouse sign in the lobby of the hotel so she put it together that we were all going to Disneyland!

We kind of made an impact in Disneyland.  Later in the day, people seemed to "know" us or remember us from other parts of the park!  I'm sure it had nothing to do with 8 people in red shirts ...evidently red was the best color choice because our kids were very visible to us - LOL

Instead of waiting in lines to meet characters, we just took our picture with the characters (and other people)... totally worth not spending an hour in line!

Ridiculously precious and hidden away so very small line!

Oh my word - I died.  She was just SO cute with Cinderella!

See Jemma?  She is holding her hands like Cinderella did with Lily.

Ian knew from experience that this was not a ride for him.  I didn't understand in the moment, but once we got home, I found a flash drive from the orphanage that we hadn't realized they gave us that had pictures on it.  One of the pictures was Ian on a teacup ride.  No wonder he was so adamant.

It's a Small World - as adorable as ever - or more!

Phil took Lily, Ian, and Sammy to drive cars.  We didn't realize the line was so long because he was going to take kids in two shifts but there was no way we were doing that line a second time.

I saw this picture on Phil's phone and thought they looked like teenagers - and thought OH DEAR, THEY ARE GOING TO GROW UP TOO FAST!  But they look like such good friends and that is my prayer!

Sammy got to drive!

Our friends told us how to economically eat at Disneyland and it was perfect.  We split the huge meals and only had to buy 4 (I think) food tickets for the entire day!

And then while we're eating, Anna walks up!  SERIOUSLY!

Titus and Sammy were a little bent out of shape about not being allowed to meet Cinderella (I guess I thought that was weird) so I was happy to let them meet Anna.  They were THRILLED!

And she was so cool with them!

Oh and then Sofia the First walked by us and Phoebe gave her a hug - LOL - skipped that line too!

Disneyland HK was just about identical to the rides in Orlando!  Jungle Adventure: brought Titus to tears when we got caught in the volcano - but we all survived!  LOL - even the arrows attack from the cannibals!

Then we met a Pirate who wanted the kids to call him princess... it became awkward after a while.  But we played it cool and moved on.  I don't think the kids will ever forget him.  HAHA!

Titus went on his first roller coaster and loved it! Phoebe went on the same one and I got a little choked up (she was in the row ahead of me with Lily) because I thought she was so little she'd fly out of her seat, but she loves adventure and did great!

And then proceeded to go with Phil and Lily on this ride!  AHHHH - I told her I couldn't watch.  She was upset with me that I said I didn't want her to go.  But then I changed my mind and just said I wouldn't watch.  But then I did, although I could only see Phil so I was fine.  And she and Lily loved it.  And I could hear Phil screaming his head off.

We got to see the Light Parade.

And then as we walked through the thousands of people to return our strollers, we ended up getting front row spots by the stroller return to see the parade again and up close!

We hurried to our shuttle so that we didn't get left at the park and then sat on the bus so the driver (just the driver) could watch the fireworks.  He literally drove the bus and parked it so he could watch  - we sent the kids up front by him to sit and watch since no one in the bus could actually see with the way he parked.  It was a little weird.

Pretty awesome day!