For my birthday this last September, husband gifted me with a day at Disneyland during Christmas time! I can't tell you how excited I was --I ♥ Disney and I ♥ Christmas (my co-workers can vouch that I start humming Christmas tunes, very off key, in July), so putting the two together makes my head near explode with happiness. And it's another item to cross off my bucket list!

We went the very first weekend of December, which is right before the mad rush. I have heard and read over and over again that December and January are the busiest times of the year for Disney. Worse than summer. I think that because Christmas break for the kiddies hadn't begun yet, combined with the overcast weather, it was the perfect time! There were hardly any lines in the morning and we managed to hit our favorite rides by 10:30 AM. It was AWESOME.

Giant windmills, about the only thing to see on the road between Phoenix and LA.

If we ever drive back out to Disneyland again, I think we'll avoid that route so we don't go nuts. Even if the detour adds an extra hour to the route.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites again!

Inside of our hotel room.

We stayed in a corner suite which had an excellent view of the fireworks at Disneyland.

Our 1st night in CA, we ordered from room service. The chicken was so spicy I couldn’t handle it!

Soup of the Day: Chicken Tortilla Soup

The next morning....

All decked out in Christmas decor!!!!!

There were Christmas wreaths on every lamp post.

Oh Chritmas tree,oh Christmas tree...

Main Street completely decorated!

Isn't this amazing??!

Our first park, Adventure Land! This is our favorite part of Disneyland!

We tried to get into the Pirates ride but that wasn't ready so we opted for the next best thing since Indiana Jones was under construction:

The Haunted Mansion!

The Hearse in Christmas and Halloween decor!

Husband: Stop taking so many pictures! He's watching you!

Inside the Haunted Mansion, decorated with Jack Skellington.

I like the original Haunted Mansion better. They change it up during Halloween time and vamp it as The Nightmare Before Christmas. This stays up until they take down Christmas decor.

On the Jungle Cruise: they were... er, guarding over the er, sleeping zebra.

After Adventure Land, we rant to Frontier Land for Big Thunder Mountain. NO LINES AT ALL.

This reminds me of Sedona.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle decked out in Christmas decor!

We figured out later in the day why the rest of the park had very little lines... everyone was at the new Cars Land area!

Totally reminds me of Arizona.

Route 66 tree

Deja Vu. It's like we're in Oatman, AZ all over again.

"I'd like 20 extremely unhealthy but extremely tasty churros please. Thanks."

Since we had hit up our favorite rides by late morning, we went to Mickey's Toon Town for nostalgia's sake.

Cue maniacal laughter.

Too heavy.

I got this...

Our favorite ride at California Adventure: The Tower of Terror! Oooooooh! Ahhhhhh! So terrified!

3 brilliant minds in this picture. Plus me...

After shopping and lunch, we hunkered down in the rain to watch the Christmas parade:

Parade of the wooden soldiers.

Donald and Daisy Duck

Ugly Sweater Parade? Love it!

Mickey and Minnie!

The Princess Brigade: Ariel and Prince Eric

How Charming!

Princess Charming and Cinderelly, Cinderelly!

Snow White and the OTHER Prince Charming

Beauty and her beast

Gepetto's toy brigade

So Bashful!

HO HO HO!!

We have become old farts and needed an hour break at our hotel from running around. We headed back to Disney in the evening.

We braved the 2 hour line for the new Cars Land main attraction, Radiator Springs Racers.

At least there were interesting things to see in the long line!

Classic tanks, which we still see at the ghost towns we visit in Arizona.

It's like we're in Arizona all over again!

Finally near the front of the line!

The ride was very well done.

Yes, yes, even though there was much protesting from the husband, we did ride It’s a Small World!

The inside and outside of It’s a Small World is decked out in Christmas decor.

Santa reading the naughty or nice list.

Completely surrounded by Christmas!

I like how they inserted the Disney characters into the ride.

Abu from Aladdin

The Lion King's Timon and Pumba

The Little Mermaid, I'm not sure which country she falls under...

Lilo and Stitch

Dorie and Nemo

Jesse from Toy Story

And with that I leave you with a photo of my husband having a blast while I am horrified for my life. This ride goes much faster with only 2 people in it!