Fun Fall Break in CalifornIA

We planned a super fun Fall break in California.  We went to our favorite spot- Newport Beach Villas, with some of our favorite people- the Scotts.  We ate yummy food, and hung at the pool and visited the beach, went to church, and saw the temple for just a couple days.  Then we went to another hotel near Disney and did a full day at the two Disney parks.  Kevin is still on a scooter so we were worried how he would handle Disney- but it turns out he was able to get a disability pass and we got to skip a lot of lines.  It was fabulous! The Fredericks (the family containing Scott, Makenna's boyfriend) were at Disney at the same time so we got to hangout with them there. We all had a blast!

Traveling with friends is so much fun! Even at the airport.

The Kennas at the resort while we were waiting to get checked in

Our Family (minus one) at that Newport Beach Temple

All the kids in front of the Newport Temple.

Beach pic

And then from beach time to Disney Time....

Let me tell you about our lucky little Disney miracle.  So because of covid you have to make park reservations ahead of time to go to Disney parks.  Since this trip was planned somewhat last minute by the time I was able to get tickets (free one day one park passes from Mark from Sunkist--thank you thank you) I logged on to get reservations and the only option available was to go to Magic Kingdom.  California adventure was completely full.  So we were kind of bummed but I called and they said once I get there I might be able to pay to add park hopper and then go to both parks.  My kids are really much bigger fans of California Adventure than Disneyland.  Im happy either way but mostly they love Guardians of the Galaxy so they were super bummed when we got there and went to the ticket counter the night before and were told there was no way we could upgrade to park hopper because the park is full and there is no way that will change.  So we were sad but hey we were at Disney so how sad could you be.  We hit up Disney Springs for dinner and met up with the Fredericks and had Black Tap shakes...so ya life was good.  So the next morning we wake up early and walk to the park.  This is our first time staying at a hotel walkable to the park and I got to say it is the best thing ever- probably the thing that may convince me to chose Disneyland over DisneyWorld in the future...maybe.  Dad separated from us to rent his scooter and we went to get to the front of rope drop- cause you know, we know how to do Disney right.  Well after dad got his scooter he went to guest services to inquire about a disability pass and while he was doing that he thought he might as well ask about adding park hopper.  The lady initially said it was full but then she said "let me check something"  She went to the back and came back and said yes she could give us park hopper.  So yay- Kevin called us to tell us and we were jumping up and down with joy and surprise.  Both parks were in our future!  So yay we got to do it all- Guardians (which was done specially up for Halloween- which actually the kids would have preferred the normal way but...), Cars, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain (before it gets redone) and Star Wars- Rise and Millennium Falcon and all the other stuff too.  We only missed out on a new spiderman "Web Slingers" ride that you had to have a virtual queue for and it just didn't work out but we heard it was kind of lame so that's okay- something to look forward to next time!

Disney is our Happy Place!

The scooter came in handy while waiting in lines.

Splash Mountain

Are we the cutest Disney family or what!

Snacking and waiting for the Fireworks (which never came) with friends at the Jolly Holiday- a newly discovered eatery and now one of my favorite spots for eating and park watching.  Such fun memories were made.