Yesterday I did it.  I took all three of my kids to Disneyland…alone…  That’s three boys ages 11 weeks, 2 1/2 years, and 5 years.  I’m not going to lie to you.  It was tough, but really fun.  It was hot and crowded and after pushing “the limo” (our double stroller) around California Adventure and Disneyland yesterday I am admittedly a bit sore.

Here’s the secret on how I actually had fun with my three boys under pretty trying circumstances: I didn’t wait in any lines.  That’s right.  If you are a mom with an annual pass or thinking about getting one, you can do Disneyland with the kids on a crowded day and actually do it without waiting for any attractions…you just have to be creative and think outside of the box.  Our day played out like this:

Who says babies don’t have fun at Disneyland?

• We got to the park at 1 and went to California Adventure to play a couple of games at the Midway.  We go for the fishing game in which everyone gets a prize and the prizes don’t stink.  (No line.)
• We went on King Triton’s Carousel, which had no line.  I must admit, I didn’t think that one through before going on it.  Just close your eyes and imagine me with the baby in the Baby Bjorn plus a backpack trying to lift my boys onto their sea creatures.  It was not easy.
• We then visited with a friend who was visiting with her daughter and ate some snacks and walked over to Award Wieners and got a delicious Italian sausage dog.  I absolutely recommend it.  We rested for a good 30 minutes.
• It was then time to get in line for the Playhouse Disney show…which means we didn’t really wait at all.  I was able to nurse the baby during the show and watch my middle son in seventh heaven as he watched Mickey and Handy Manny–two of his favorite guys on the planet.
• We then took a bathroom break (see yesterday’s post for more on that) and took a picture with Stitch (who had NO line).
• After that we went to Turtle Talk with Crush.  And wait for it…no line.  We got there just as the show was about to start.  If you haven’t experienced Turtle Talk with Crush, it is an absolute gem.  Guests get to interact with Crush–ask him questions, etc.  I cannot for the life of me figure out how they do it!  Adults and kids were in stitches and my middle son (a child who honestly believes that all of Disney characters are his friends) was once again in seventh heaven.
• We then decided to go over to Disneyland and head over to the Stage Door Cafe in Frontierland.  We quickly ordered our food and took it over to the Golden Horseshoe.  We arrived half an hour before the show began, which was perfect.  The kids were just about finished eating when the show started.
• We ended the day by taking in a show at the Enchanted Tiki Room, which started just after using the “secret Tiki Room restroom.”  Another “no wait/no line” attraction.  We left the park just before 7.

Proof that I made it through the day.  Please don’t enlarge this picture! By this point I had sweated off all of my makeup.  Not good!

My future tour guides.

Moms, I’m telling you that you can do it too.  Just be a little creative.  Disneyland and California Adventure have lots to offer that are absolutely wonderful but don’t require you to wait in line for 70 minutes.  Keep in mind we did all of this on a day that was CRAZY busy…with one adult and three kids that needed frequent stops, snacks, and diaper changes.  Not bad, huh?  I will put together a post in the next few weeks about “no line/low wait”