This weekend we took Beatrice to Disneyland for the first time and it went wonderfully!I was pretty concerned about taking a 17-month-old to Disneyland: I expected over-stimulation, missed naps, tantrums, and general emotional breakdown. I wanted to take Beatrice because my parents, Gillian, and Ezra were in town and going to Disneyland has been a family tradition every year since I was a baby myself, but at the same time I anticipated disaster.
But in fact Beatrice was WONDERFUL. She didn't cry, scream, fuss, or complain once the entire day. She was cheerful, happy, cooperative, and absolutely loved every single ride and activity. She was, in fact, far better behaved than she usually is on a regular day.
She loved every ride and attraction, from the Tiki Room to the Jungle Cruise to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, but her favorite was Pirates of the Caribbean.
At first I refused to let her on Pirates of the Caribbean. The ride, for those of you who aren't familiar, takes place in deep darkness; contains flashing lights, tunnels, loud explosions, and two steep roller coaster-style plunges; and is populated largely by skeletons (though I figured Beatrice lacked the cultural context to be scared of skeletons).
This is a very dizzy baby.
Riding the Casey Jones train with Aunt Gillian
dancing to street musicians, watching the parade, pointing out ducks floating in the man-made lake ("duck!"), waving to passing boats, climbing on Tom Sawyer's Island, and pretending to feed the beloved Tinkerbell doll my mom bought her. The only ride I wouldn't let her on was Dumbo (I was afraid she'd jump out) but she was perfectly content to wave wildly at me and Dev as we rode it.
Beatrice remained on perfect behavior from 10am-6:30pm, by which time she was clearly pretty tired - still not fussy, but developing a sort of bleary-eyed stare - so Dev kindly drove her home and put her to bed while I stayed until closing with my family. The weather was mild, the lines were the shortest I'd ever seen them - it was pretty much a perfect day.
But in fact Beatrice was WONDERFUL. She didn't cry, scream, fuss, or complain once the entire day. She was cheerful, happy, cooperative, and absolutely loved every single ride and activity. She was, in fact, far better behaved than she usually is on a regular day.
Running through Fantasyland with no shoes on
She loved every ride and attraction, from the Tiki Room to the Jungle Cruise to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, but her favorite was Pirates of the Caribbean.
Waiting in line for the Jungle Cruise
On the Jungle Cruise
At first I refused to let her on Pirates of the Caribbean. The ride, for those of you who aren't familiar, takes place in deep darkness; contains flashing lights, tunnels, loud explosions, and two steep roller coaster-style plunges; and is populated largely by skeletons (though I figured Beatrice lacked the cultural context to be scared of skeletons).
Anyway, Dev insisted that Beatrice would love it but I said no. So the rest of my family went on while Beatrice, Gillian, and I watched some ducks, but when Dev got back he was more sure than ever that Beatrice would love it - and he was right. I finally agreed to take her with Dev and she wasn't the least bit scared. She laughed and clapped on the two steep plunges. She beamed at the long tunnels and the eerie flashing lights. When we passed the large pirate vessel firing cannons with loud, bright explosive bursts into the darkness, she leaned out, waved at the menacing pirate figure, and shouted "Hi!"
Dev explained, "Beatrice is basically a pirate."
She also loved spinning in the tea cups (and helping her father turn the wheel to make it go faster), riding on Casey Jones' circus train,
This is a very dizzy baby.
Riding the Casey Jones train with Aunt Gillian dancing to street musicians, watching the parade, pointing out ducks floating in the man-made lake ("duck!"), waving to passing boats, climbing on Tom Sawyer's Island, and pretending to feed the beloved Tinkerbell doll my mom bought her. The only ride I wouldn't let her on was Dumbo (I was afraid she'd jump out) but she was perfectly content to wave wildly at me and Dev as we rode it.
Beatrice remained on perfect behavior from 10am-6:30pm, by which time she was clearly pretty tired - still not fussy, but developing a sort of bleary-eyed stare - so Dev kindly drove her home and put her to bed while I stayed until closing with my family. The weather was mild, the lines were the shortest I'd ever seen them - it was pretty much a perfect day.
With her mother on the Mark Twain steam boat, looking for ducks
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