The Disney Vacation

I know, it took me a long time to write again. I can't believe that we are already a week back from California. Needless to say, it was a great vacation. We left early Tuesday morning the 27th of June, just to spent half a day at Sea-Tac airport, because our flight got canceled for technical reasons (apparently the breaks did not work, when they tried to get the plane out of the hangar). Actually I was happy when they announced that the flight was canceled, because I rather not fly in a questionable plane. Due to Jason's great timing (he walked by the podium on his way back from the bathroom, just as they announced the cancellation), he was first in line and so we got 3 seats on the 11.45am flight to Orange County. It was a long wait, considering we had gotten up at 5am, but there is a fabulous playground in the terminal which took a lot of energy out of the girls so they both slept during the 3 hour flight. The drive from John Wayne Airport to Disneyland is only 20 minutes. Our room was ready, so we could check in immediately. We were on the 9th floor with a beautiful view over "Disney's California Adventure Park". After lunch at the Storyteller Restaurant at the "California Grand", we got some supplies at a supermarket and Marlene and I spent the rest of the afternoon at the hotel pool. Besides the regular pool, they had a wading pool for Tots and a big waterslide for all ages. Jason and Amelia stayed in the room to rest. Since the day had started so early (and since there was no way Amelia would go to sleep with the rest of us awake), the lights were off by 9 pm, even before the nightly fireworks. The next day started early again, because Amelia was up by 5.30, which woke up Marlene, which started a chain reaction of not falling back asleep. Jason had heard that there is a 7am early entry into Disneyland. They newly remodeled "Pirates of the Caribbean" Ride had reopened just 2 days earlier and we wanted to try to be in line early, because regular wait time was about 4 hours. The "early" entry for Wednesday turned out to be 8 am, but when we got to the gates at 7 am there was already a long line. At 7.30am they allowed people to enter the park and walk the Mainstreet area. Everyone for "Pirates" was supposed to line up on the left. By the time we got there (did I mention Pushing and shoving?) there were about 400 people in line and we decided to stay on the non-pirate side. Looking back it was a good idea. Marlene turned out to be afraid of all the dark indoor rides like "Pinocchio" and "Mr. Toad", so we would have never made it to the actual Pirates ride (a lot of people took their small children). We had a lot of fun in the castle area, where most of the family rides are. At 8am there were not many people and within the first hour we had been on the Teacups, Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, the Carousel and the Small World. I guess the kids liked the "small world" best. It is colorful, slow, and airconditioned. Next stop was Toontown with Mickey's and Goofy's houses. The line to meet Mickey was to long, so which we just visited Goofy. For a little rest we entered the train that goes all around the Park. After half a round we exited at New Orleans Square where we had a second breakfast on beignets. It started to be really hot, which made everything very difficult for Amelia. Back at the Castle, we visited the big " once upon a time" princess store. Jason decided to head back to the hotel with Amelia, while Marlene and I stayed at the store (airconditioned) to listen to Sleeping Beauty tell her story. It ended around noon and so it was time for Marlene and me to walk over to the other park to Ariel's Grotto for our Princess Lunch. We nearly did not make it, because Marlene had a serious meltdown (she was tired, hot and hungry). At Ariel's Grotto, we did not have to wait too long for our seating,since it was only the two of us. We had a great table right where the princesses come out. It is great to sit in an airconditioned restaurant and to eat a good lunch, while Jasmin, Belle, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty come to your table. We got all their autographs and, off course, their pictures. After lunch we joined Jason and Amelia at the hotel, where we all took an afternoon nap. Around 5pm we were back in business going to California Adventure Park. We wanted to try some of the rides there, but the lines of the grown up rides were too long. Instead we rode some of the ones that were suitable for Marlene. We were just in time for the "Blockparty" with many of the Pixar characters. We danced with Woody, Buzz, Sully, Mike, and all the bugs from "Bugs Life". After Jason and Marlene rode the Ferris Wheel ans Neptunes Carousel we walked over to Disneyland for the evening Parade. We had a nice spot in the shade and did not mind waiting a bit. The Disney Parade is really worth it. Big Floats with characters in most beautiful costumes brought huge smiles to little girls faces. This ended our first day in the park. We took the second morning slower and had the "Lilo and Stich" breakfast at our hotel. While we feasted on a great buffet, our table was visited by Lilo, Stich, Goofy's little brother Max, and Pluto. Amelia was not sure what to make out of these things looking at her. She started to cry when they came to close. After breakfast we checked out of the room and went back to Disneyland. It was still before 9 am and so we headed for Tomorrow Land to ride on the cars (this must have been the latest thing when the park opened 50 years ago, now it seems like a very retro piece of history). Next stop the rides at the castle, where Marlene declared that she would never ever "Mr Toad" again. We walked through Frontierland towards Adventureland. Today we had time to go on a cruise on the Steam Boat "Mark Twain". Since we were meeting with Karla at 2.30 at our hotel, it was time to slowly head back. The midday heat was getting to us. So we preferred to wait in the airconditioned Lobby. Now it was time for Jason to get back to the airport and fly home. Marlene, Amelia and I drove with Karla and Einar to their place in San Clemente to finish the day with a nice dip in the pool.