Bella Tres Chic: What's On My Happy List?

We spent some time last week

at the

Happy place!

{the castle is being refurbished so they have this

huge painted back drop covering it}

I have so many pics and food thoughts to share!

Not sure where to even start so I'll just start

from the very very beginning.....

Kyleigh HAD to attend her first morning class

on the day we were leaving, so

she rode the frontrunner

to school and we picked her up on campus.

Nope, she wasn't excited at all when she saw us.

We then drove straight thru
with just a few stops..
One in St. George for lunch
at Even Stevens.

Yum!
Their Do Gouda is my fav.

It took us about 11 hours
to get to Anaheim. 😵
This favorite travel snack of mine
makes it bearable.

We stayed at the Marriott Springhill Suites.
This was our first time staying here.

{I would highly recommend this place}
It's just a ten min walk from the park!

Kate was so excited

about sleeping in the bunk beds that night.

We should have just gone to bed BUT

we headed to Downtown Disney for a late dinner.

We ate at Earl of Sandwich.
Apparently it has the
World's Greatest HOT sandwich.

We had the Earl's Club!
By the look on Emmsie's face you know
how good it was! IT WAS delicious!
Definitely would get it again.

Afterwards, we tried out the new

Salt and Straw Ice Cream Shop.

Man, did we tried some funky

ice cream combinations...

I tried these two flavors...

So fun to try, but I probs
would not get them again.
😜

Day 1

{our shirts tell it all}

This was my favorite pic of the whole trip!
The look on these two faces when we got into
the park....priceless!
Pure joy I tell ya.
They were SOOOO EXCITED for
days leading up to this trip!

Upon entering the gates we immediately ordered our Max Passes.

They've gone up to $15 per person per day

{up from $10 last year}

BUT I personally would not do Disney
without them.

We wait on average 15 mins to get on rides...

plus you get any pics taken by the Disney photographers
for free...

Every trip we head for ADVENTURELAND first!
It's always been one of our favorite places
to hang in the park!

Over the years

The Jungle Cruise has typically been the ride

we go on first.

Then we hit the biggies....Like Indiana Jones and Pirates...
Kate didn't cry on Indiana like last trip,
👏
It is now her favorite ride!
Brie's too!

THEN we start eating....
😂
Seriously next to making memories
and taking pictures
I go to Disney for the food!!!
I am not alone in this.

Throughout our stay we share food
and taste test
and have a bite of this and that.
Just like last year, I don't think
I ate one thing
to myself the whole trip!

This Jolly Holiday Bakery is a family favorite...

Mary Poppins inspired!

The macarons and matterhorn macaroons
there are a must!

From the taste I got...😏

My favorite macaron is the raspberry.

{the hubs really misses the salted chocolate caramel one...

bring it back please!}

There are lots of

"Get Your Ears On"

special treats

right now as the 90th Anniversary

of Mickey and Minnie

is still going on.

This Mickey Macaron at the Jolly Holiday

was a bit of a disappointment...

both Kyleigh and Hannah said they would

probs not get it again.

Too rich.

Which is super strange cuz Kyleigh likes rich chocolatey things...

This infamous tomato basil soup

is also at the Jolly Holiday.

I only had a spoonful of my nieces...

but IT TRULY WAS DELICIOUS!

Someone said you could dip an old sneaker in this soup

and it would still taste good.
I half believe that now.

😂

Guess who finished it up???

{We have a little foodie on our hands!}

We were able to get a picture with Mary.

{one of my favorite characters to see}

Good thing cuz Kate and I had on our

Mary Poppins shirts and

I even had my Mary Poppins

"A Spoonful of Sugar"

Ears on...

😉

Bert was apparently with the chimney sweepers.

Darn it.

Another one of my absolute favorites is
Thunder Mountain.

Don't ask where my lipstick went!

🙈

Kate rode Matterhorn for the first time!!!

She survived.

I almost didn't.

I used to LOVE THIS RIDE!

It seems so dang jerky to me now...

I must really be getting old.

Small World will always be one of my favorites.
Me and Emmsie 💙 it!

We ate lunch at one of my

favorite spots in Disney.

They have a new menu at the Hungry Bear.

Not only do they have my favorite bathroom

in the whole park....

but they have this fish sandwich now

that was one of the tastiest things I had the whole trip.

Dang good!

The other lunch food item several of the kiddos

raved about was this

Lobster Mac n Cheese

found at the Harbour Galley-

a little food spot on your right,

right before you hit Splash Mtn.

It was good, but spicer than I would have liked or expected.

{p.c. diningatdisney.com}

While in Critter Country we went to one of our
favorite gift and candy shops...

Pooh's Corner

This tigger tail tastes like a chocolate orange

at Christmas time!

We rode the monorail around the park...

which I don't think we've done in YEARS!

{p.c. from thedisneyblog.com}

These four got to ride in the

special front area

with the engineer.

We HAD to see the

Fairy Godmother

because of the shirt Kyleigh was wearing...

She got soooo many compliments on it.

It was hilarious!

While waiting for the
evening parade to start...

we tried treats from Maurice's!

Found in another one of my favorite spots...

{left of the castle}

The Cheddar Garlic Bagel Twist and

Boysen Apple Freeze...

you just gotta!

May I say something about the

new paper straws though...

😝

leaves a paper taste in your mouth...

The parade always makes my heart happy!

Like I could watch it numerous of times.

Speaking of Genie and all things Aladdin....

There is a new quick 'n serve food retreat
where the old Aladdin's Oasis used to be,
between the Enchanted Tiki Room
and the Jungle Cruise.
It's called the Tropical Hideaway!

They left the magic carpet at the entrance

I love it, love it here!
Not only is it located in one of
my favorite park areas but

the eats are fantastic!!!!!

Asian Steamed Bao buns....
We tried the Bulgogi Beef and
Kaffir Lime Chicken.
The beef was 👊!
The sweet crispy LUMPIAS filled with pineapple
and warm cream cheese dipped in
pineapple sauce were divine.
Oh my goodness.
I'm still thinking about them!

You can also get a Loaded Whip

topped with fresh fruit,

hibiscus crystals and pocky sticks.

I liked it, but didn't love it.

I wish I would have gotten one of the

dole whips

in just plain pineapple, orange, raspberry

or a twist.

After 12 hours in the park we called it a day!

*****

Day 2
So so true!!!

We spent the day in California Adventure...

It was the first day of the Food and Wine Festival
so we basically ate
our way thru the park.

{Bless our tummies}

It was also the Poppi's brithday!

🙌

Kyleigh bought him an
Oreo Mickey Shake!

Here's just a sampling of the food we tried
from the festival booths..

Brie rode the Incredicoaster
for the very first time...

right next to it is
Jack Jack Num Num Cookies...

Hello!

This is their Gluten Free Cookie...

I'd definitely get this again.

It was most excellent.

Why in the world we went on the fetching
Ferris Wheel is beyond me.
The non-swinging one I think I could endure.
But we got a swinging one.
BAD BAD idea my friends.
I thought I could handle it.....

but I was pretty much a hot mess.

There is something that does not
bode well with me

and the feeling of tipping...

especially backwards.

It's soooo weird.

My Hannie who video records everything

caught me in my weak moment.

I had some other kids that were terrified

too so we were so happy when that ride

was over with!

One of our favorites...

The Poppi loves this ride!

We saw the Frozen Musical
at the Hyperion.
Very very well done!

Spent some time at the Animation Station.

They show clips from numerous
Disney movies
on the big screen.
Hannie and I could have stayed in there
for a long time.
It's a nice place to rest.

Did some souvenir shopping...

This pic makes me want to cry

happy, grateful tears...

So does this corn dog!
The only thing that would make it even
better is having honey with it like the
corn dog trucks in Utah have.

Some fun snacks from the Cozy Cone...

mac in cheese in a cone

this birthday hat tastes like cotton candy

and sprinkles come out of it...

😀

and at Flo's 8 Cafe...

the Neapolitan Shake is always a

hit with the kids.

These two get a pickle picture every time

at the fruit stand!

This is the new Coca Cola flavor
I had a chance to try.
Surprisingly I'm not a fan.

I was also so excited to try this
chicken and coleslaw
at the Poultry Palace.
Sadly it didn't wow me....
I actually like KFC chicken
and coleslaw way way better.

Another not worth your purchase was this
cherry filled donut from

Schmoozies!

None of us were impressed.

On the other hand Hannah said her
chocolate/peanut butter churro was
one of the best finds of the trip.
{only found in California Adventure}

After 11 hours in the park...we called it a day!

*****
Day 3
Up so so early. I amazed myself.
Like we were walking to the park
IN THE RAIN 😡
in the 6 o'clock a.m. hour.

We had early entry at 7a.m.

With our extra magic hour we made the most of it
in Fantasyland.

Dumbo was closed last trip so Kate
hopped on that first!

The ride for Peter Pan is always
so dang long.
Last year we said forget it, but
the line was doable this time.
Due to the rain there were
less crowds.
🙌

But due to the rain
The Storybook Land Canal Boats,
Tea Pots and Alice in Wonderland
rides were closed. :(

Casey Jr. Circus Train was still a go'in tho.
That's where Kate got her Dopey look a like pic.
😂

We had breakfast at the Red Rose Tavern.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT
IN THE WHOLE PARK!

It's all Beauty and Beast inspired.

We tried the glazed ham and cheesy egg souffle breakfast sandwiches,

buttermilk pancake platter

and the breakfast flatbread with salmon,

roasted red onions

and lemon caper cream cheese.

YUM!

My Hannah Isabelle had on her

Belle shirt and Beast packpack!

Me and Emmsie went a little

Villan-y on this day.

I would have worn these Malificient Ears
all day if I could...but the fetching rain.

Kate dressed purple-y as

purple is Disney's signature color this year.

Last year's color was rose gold..in case you were wondering.

😜

The rain was a tad bit miserable.

Like I love the rain, but not being in it and getting wet.

It was nice to have a spot to get out of it..

This Disney Mexican restaurant is one of my happy places...

we went there to get dry...

they even have space heaters

We braved the train!

If you catch it at the station behind

the French Market

you can get some beignets and mint julep

before you hop on.

😉

Few last rides...

We had reservations to eat at the Carnation Cafe on Main Street.

Fried Pickles...

Walt's Chili

Chicken-fried Chicken

and Homemade Meatloaf!

{This was the bomb.}

I would definitely go back

just for the meatloaf.

Kate wore her birthday pin.

She got a free birthday cupcake.

We spent some time in the Disney Museum....

The original map of Disneyland in 1955

I sorta die at this picture!

{read the plaque on the park bench}

Kate had fun souvenir shopping

with her own money...

I did too!

Kyleigh and Allie ate dessert at the Blue Bayou!

Splash Mtn was the fam's last ride....

These girls went on it again and again

and again...

My last food purchase was the BEST!

THE jalapeno and cream cheese pretzel.

We were able to see part of
Mickey's Mixed Magic Light &
Firework show before we left.

After 14 1/2 hours in the park...
I was so so done.
Especially with being wet and cold
from the rain most of the day
AND Splash Mtn.
I still had a couple kids
that could have kept going.
😳