My Extremely Disney Birthday!

Last month I celebrated my 37th birthday with my family at the Happiest Place on Earth! Yup, you guessed it...Disneyland! There is no other destination on the planet that I would've chosen for my birthday celebration because I am just an old Disney geek! I was counting the days until my birthday weekend arrived because I knew this was going to be the holy grail of all birthdays. My "bucket list" birthday! My husband had booked us a room at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, reserved a character breakfast at Story Teller's Cafe and invited our friends to come out and join us for some Disney magic.

We didn't tell our kids where we were staying so they had no clue what was going on when we pulled up to the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. From the moment we stepped out of our car and rolled our luggage up to registration, the kids were losing their marbles. We had a lovely room that felt warm and cozy like a Winter cabin. Our view was amazing! We could see the Paradise Pier, Grizzly Peak and Hollywood Tower of Terror from our balcony. We were able to watch Minnie and her Fly Girls perform a swinging show down in Condor Flats all from our balcony.

 

There are so many reasons to choose the Grand Californian as your hotel. The property offers many fun perks. One of the most awesome perks is that hotel guests can enjoy a private entrance to Disney California Adventure Park. I can't tell you how great it feels to know that you are just a hop and skip away from your room. This was the first time we didn't use a stroller when visiting Disneyland Parks. When the kids started to get tired, we just headed back to our room. The hotel offers numerous pools, an arcade and Pinocchio's Workshop where kids can enjoy crafts, computer games, Disney films and so much more. Another perk is the huge 6th floor viewing platform which allows guests to watch The World of Color without the crowds! My kids put on their Toy Story pj's and rushed up to the platform to get a great view of the World of Color water spectacular. It was beautiful up there at night. My kids ended off the night by watching classic Disney cartoons in the hotel lobby. They relaxed in pint-sized rocking chairs and recliners while Dad and I watched the fire.

 

The following morning, we couldn't wait to get downstairs and have my birthday breakfast with Chip 'n Dale at Story Teller's Cafe! The decor was so inviting and rustic. Everything about this place screams family cabin! This may sound weird, but as we sat down and I looked around, I felt as if no one was a stranger. Everyone was smiling and sharing their special moment with us just as we were celebrating my special day with them. Crazy right?

 

I absolutely adored this place! There were critters everywhere! All of our favorite furry friends from our favorite Disney films. We saw Chip, Dale, Meeko from Pocahontas and Terk from Tarzan. We were so busy hugging and playing and hanging out that we forgot to eat! Our friends Kenai and Koda grabbed the kids and took them for a sing along so Dad and I could enjoy our coffee and Mickey Mouse waffles. This was the best way to start my birthday. I didn't want breakfast to end.

 

After all that fun and excitement we decided to head into the parks to continue the celebration. We were so happy to find Woody at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree. We hung out with some goats, stopped for an amazing snack of bacon wrapped asparagus from Bengal Barbecue, hung out with Mickey Mouse on Buena Vista Street, and had dinner with friends at one of our most favorite places to dine. Rancho del Zocalo Restaurant is located in Frontierland and it has the most beautiful atmosphere and lighting surrounding you while you feast on delicious Mexican cuisine. I ended my birthday trip under the stars watching the fireworks show while the kids joined Nemo and friends for an underwater voyage.

 

This was BY FAR the BESTEST BIRTHDAY EVER! How will Dad ever top this one?!?!?!