We went on a vacation in Summer of 2026. This time we went out a bit earlier than usual, in June this time. We started off our vacation with three theme parks. That’s one way to beat jet lag: schedule stuff that will keep you active and exhausted. We definitely were reset after that first day at Disneyland!

2025-06-17 Disneyland

Rented a stroller for Momo. Got to the park at about 8:30 when it opened but waited for a stroller first. There was more of a line than I expected for the strollers and park!

Picture with Goofy. Then Mickey. Then Chip & Dale. Then Minnie. This was all just after the entrance. We were done by 9:45.

We went to Galaxy’s Edge next since we had 10:20 lighting lane passes for the Millennium Falcon. As soon as we entered Galaxy’s Edge Momo started to complain – she had a bad experience on the Millennium Falcon last year and did I not want to ride it. I guess I’ll sit out.

We went over to Galaxy’s Edge and had 20 minutes to wait before we could use the Lightning Lane. I went to the restroom and Momo took a picture with Rey. We got a parent swap and I waited with Momo. Alan and I were Pink Engineers.

Lisa went to Autopia next and we caught up with them there. On the way there Momo and Lisa rode the merry go round. I went on my own as did Alan, Momo and Lisa went together.

After that we headed to the River Belle Terrace for lunch at 12:15. Lisa and I split the fried chicken sandwich – it was good! Alan got strawberry pancakes, and Momo got a kids pancake meal.

We lined up at Pirates of the Caribbean at 13:22. Lisa said there’s no way there would be a 45 minute wait for Pirates at Tokyo Japan because it just isn’t that popular. That’s hard for me to believe. Momo really didn’t like Pirates.

Next was lightning lanes for Haunted Mansion. Momo is a big fan.

We got a spot to watch a parade then went to the town square to get a picture with a 70 year anniversary sign. Then went watched the Disney Marching Band for a while.

After that we split up – Alan and I went to ride Standby at Rise of the Resistance while Lisa and Momo went to look at souvenirs. We will meet up at 5pm for Minnie and Mickey’s Runaway Train Lightning Lane passes.

We met up with Lisa and Momo and spent some time at the Pixar theater where they were doing a kids dance thing that Momo joined. After that we went to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad on lightning lane passes. We boarded at about 17:45.

After that Lightning Lane for It’s A Small World at about 18:00. Then we walked over to Jungle Cruise for a 30 minute wait. Always a fun one.

Then the Hidden Paradise place for something to eat, normal Pineapple Whip x 2, Trio of Baos, two pork and one chicken lime.

After that Lightning Lane passes for Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters. I beat Alan with 178,000. Then we lined up somewhere to watch the parade and fireworks.

After that Lisa and Alan went to ride Big Thunder Mountain and Momo and I went back to the hotel. We got back at about 10pm.

2025-06-18 California Adventure

We left the hotel a bit after 8am, and got to the park at about 9am after picking up a stroller and visiting the restrooms. Radiator Springs Racers has a 140 minute wait time and it isn’t eligible for the Multi Pass lighting lane – they want you to spend $22 per person for it. So we reserved Soaring and went to get some pictures.

First up is Philharmagic. Then pictures with Queen Elsa. Momo changed out of her Elsa dress, we bought some shirts, and then went to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live for Momo.

Then we headed over to Toy Story Mania with our Lightning Lane (11:00). I won in our car (the family) with 198,000 points. After Toy Story Mania we rode the carousel nearby.

We got lunch at the Wine Country Trattoria thing, a nice leisurely affair.

After that we went to take a picture at Cars Land and ride Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. Then we took a picture with Lightning McQueen and rode Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters.

Lots of walking around after that but the next thing we did was Ariel’s Mermaid thing. Then more walking around and we checked in for the “Better Together” Pixar parade and dessert thing I bought. It was expensive – maybe $350 for the four of us? But we got seats, a box of sweets (too much and I would really have preferred just an ice cream) and drinks. Including wine. So you could really get your moneys worth of you drink a lot – we do not. Momo really enjoyed it though and the view was great so definitely worth in my book for the experience. Once anyway.

Then we tried to use our Lightning Lane passes for the Grizzy River run but it was down, so we went to Turtle Talk, which Momo really wanted to do. We got a picture with Mickey on the way. It turns out Turtle Talk had just ended and the next one was in a hour. We walked around a bit – got in line for Monster’s Inc. but that would have ended last 7pm so we got out and went back to wait for the 7pm Turtle Talk.

We did that, I lost my hat, then we did lightning lanes for Soarin’. They were only doing lightning lanes because of demand since the Grizzly one was down and people came here instead.

After that we did Monster’s Inc on the make-up lightning lane for the Grizzly ride.

The last ride of the night was Spideys Web Slingers. I’ve never done that so I don’t know what it is about. Oh maybe not – it was down. In the end we gave up and left at around 9:30.

2025-06-19 Universal Studios Hollywood

We left the hotel at about 8:30 or so, and got to the Universal Studios Sheraton at 9:50am, checked in, and parked. Apparently the tickets were for June 5th and not today so I needed to go to Guest Services to pay the differences. Finished that up by 11:00am.

We wandered around and found the Wizarding World of Harry Patter. It was nice – very good atmosphere. Lisa and Alan lined up for the Flight of the Hippogriff, but Momo didn’t want to ride it so her and I went to Oliver’s Wand shop (didn’t get anything but she found one she liked). Then we stopped at Honeydukes and Momo got a fudge brownie. I tried the Butterbeer ice cream and that was very nice! It was vanilla soft ice cream with an outer drizzle of the sweet honeybutter sauce. We went back and bought a wand for Momo, met up with Lisa and Alan, then headed to Mario World and did the 100 minute line for Mario Kart.

That was nice but it was a long ride. Alan said it was ok. Momo was a little scared. It was fine for me.

Then we checked at Toadstool’s Cafe for lunch but needed a reservation, so we got the earliest one at 5pm in three hours.

So we got snacks and then lined up at The secret Life of Pets at 15:15 or so. It was a nice slow dark ride. Momo liked it. I got no reaction out of Alan. We finished that at 4:15 then lined up for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.

Checking my email our reservation at Toadstool’s Cafe is actually at 5:45pm so we have some time. As I’m writing this though it is 4:45 and we aren’t near the loading zone as far as I can tell yet.

Done by 17:25. Momo really didn’t like it though and cried through the whole thing. It is like a big IMAX movie theater with segments of two or three rows of 4 seats on a platform. The platform rises up and simulates motion like in Star Tours, but this was completely fine for me because I could look away from the screen, and see the motion of the segment next to ours which somehow made it very easy to get through. If you like Minions you might like the ride but my kids don’t really have a connection to those films.

We went to Toadstools Cafe and got there right before our 17:45 reservation but that wasn’t a problem. Lisa and Alan got Mario burgers, Momo got the kids pasta (she liked it), and I got the spicy spaghetti and meatballs. It was good, but a bit too spicy for my tastes.

The last thing we did was the wall with boxes you push to turn them all yellow. We won that one!

We stopped by Harry Potter on the way back so Momo could use her wand on the magic spots.

It was fun. Generally, my family doesn’t have a strong connection to the properties at Universal Studios, but I can see that if you or your kids are interested in the properties there it would be a lot of fun. We do have a strong connection to Disney, so the kids are more into that. I’m glad we did it though, and Momo really enjoyed doing magic at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, even if it was hard to do some of the spells. I’m sure she will remember that.