dis2008

Early Nov 2007

It's a Saturday morning and I am watching Global TV Vancouver. The Canadian dollar is at a 50 year high finally surpassing the value of the US dollar. The travel expert on the news is expelling the virtues of all inclusive Mexican vacations. I have always craved the beaches of Mexico but DH Don's pale legs couldn't survive the blazing sun down there. Frankly he is not a beach vacation kinda guy.

I consider Vegas. Hmm I am not a gambler.Just one of those suckers that drop a dollar at every slot all the while crossing the casino floor. What really tweaks my interest are the rides (and shows) that I can share with my nine year old. Is Vegas my best choice? We just did Disney in 2006 do we consider a return visitor perhaps and inaugural DisneyWorld trip? I start what will become a "googling" obsession". We have done Disney twice thus far and while Disneyworld is a dream the thought of all those hours involved in transport from

BC to Florida are disheartening. Who wants to waste precious vacation time traveling?.All of this contemplating from one newscast.

I have an impromptu family meeting with DD9 (Paige) ,DH 49(Don), Grandma 78 and we vote - Disneyland it is. This is all rather spur of the moment. We have nada put aside for vacation. We will have to take out a loan.

In a phone conversation I mention to my DS- BJ 18 our tentative plans. He an his DF Jennifer have put aside Australian trip plans and are also considering another trip to DL.We begin to think a joint vacation may be the answer. Jenn is a compulsive planner and we begin tag team'googling' looking at different options. Grandma decides to opt out of the trip. She remembers all the walking six years ago and does not feel up to it again. She will be chief pet wrangler at home and hopefully get away in the summer to see siblings in Alberta.

I spy the families completed passport applications that have been sitting on my microwave for 7 months.Yeesh another hurdle we will have to address.

November 17nth,2007

I am checking the Bank of Canada website daily watching the dollar fall from $1.14 US. I know the US Thanksgiving weekend shopping will strengthen the slumping economy as our dollar has already started depreciating. In this short time I have vacillated I can already see costs going up.. So its now or never. After initial research the May 08 trip becomes the Feb 08 trip. Yeah! the sooner the better in my books. Our last trip in 06 was in February and with the exception of the last day which happened to be Presidents Day the crowds were quite tolerable. In fact at some points the attractions were walk on.

After considering the Residence Inn Suites at the Maingate (continental breakfast and suite sizes were selling points)Jenn and I have agreed that we want to immerse ourselves in the total Disney experience and that meant staying "on property" at the Disneyland Hotel. Of course this means about an extra $100.00-$150 per night but hey when will we being going again (yeah I know its becoming an annual thing...grumble grumble). The trip has grown from a 4 night to a 7 night stay. Jenn says we might as well "make it worthwhile"

I see the dollar signs but hey when is the last time Don and I had a vacation over a week long. I am crunching the figures all the while knowing DH is going to have an attack when we circle the bottom line. Out of the three Disney properties the Disneyland Hotel holds a childlike wonder for us if for nothing else the awesome pool. Disneyland Hotel it is!

We shop around to three different travel agents after putting together tentative packages online.I initially tried the Alaska Airlines website and because it is down am privy to a 10% off promo code. I go to the agents with dates that circumvent US, school and Japanese holidays.Leave no detail to fate.Yes I admit... I have already assembled a binder complete with divided tabs The agents just shake their heads at this overplanner proceed to see if they can come up with better bottom lines then we have come up with.

My wish list includes:

Flying out of Victoria Airport into John Wayne Airport Orange County (none of us are LAX fans) exact flights I want listed

Rental Vehicle (right down to make and rate)

Six day parkhopper tickets

7 nights Disneyland Hotel

Pirate Dinner Theatre Tickets

Universal Studio Tickets

Trip Insurance

All three come back with higher priced packages. So with loan cheque in hand I phone Alaska Air and go with their package. The 10 percent makes a significant difference. Let me tell you that the Alaska Operators (and over the course of time I have dealt with three thus far) have been totally pleasant and helpful. I love the service these folks give. I enquire about the kids fly free program but it is not in effect. I pay the downpayment. Yeah.... it is all final. I have something to look forward to after living through another Christmas employed by the worlds biggest retailer.

Mid December 2007

I have installed a countdown timer on my laptop. I see the seconds counting down until our Disneyland departure. Jenn shares my childlike excitement. Thank god we have each other to bounce our discoveries off of. We know that they others will eventually feel the same excitement but it is exasperating all the same. I discover the Dis Boards . My gosh there is an army of Jen and I's out there! It is like a support group for Mouse Addicts. Within days of joining this group I read that Alaska Airlines are offering their "Kids Fly Free" program. I call back the 1-800 number hopeful. Did I mention how much I love these Alaska folks?!. They operator comes back with a $1050 saving. Enough for us to consider upgrading to Concierge Level at the Disney Hotel. Alaska can not upgrade me but tells me to call the hotel directly. After hanging up with Alaska I call the resort directly. I feel like I am asking the Wizard of Oz for the impossible. Turns out I would have more influence with the wizard. I am told we will have to wait until we arrive to try to upgrade. I don't get it. I have credit card in hand why do I have to wait and chance there being a concierge room available? I am a compulsive planner and it is most difficult to let go and HOPE that we can can get what we really want when we arrive. It is Jennifer's birthday the day we arrive and it is important to me that the experience be what we have both been dreaming of. She is such a Disney Fan I want for her dreams to come true.

What is concierge level (Mouse Planet Description) you ask? Well besides being slightly better appointed rooms there is a an exclusive lounge with continental breakfast, snacks and drinks throughout the day, evening appys with beer and wine and other services available.

The Internet is bringing planning right to my fingertips. Some of the experiences that Jenn and I have considered or already added to our agenda

At Universal Studios Citywalk a couple of activities that have even caught the eyes of our men folk:

Indoor Skydiving

January 1, 2008

Happy New Year!

In the name of being adventurous Paige and I decided to do the polar Bear Swim at Saratoga Beach this morning. The temperature was hovering just above freezing. Both my kids were raised on the doorstep of the Pacific Ocean and both would opt for a pool, lake or river over frolicking with sea creatures or God forbid....seaweed! Well I don't know what was more traumatic for Paige (9) who did this when she was four- the white caps filled with seaweed or the thousand needles of cold piercing our skin. Talk about a quick dip. I told Paige to remember how cold that was...it should make the Neverland Pool at DLH seem tropical in February.

39 days...16 hours...35 min...49 sec...till Paradise.

January 15, 2008

-Suitcases lay open in anticipation with a couple of things pre-packed.

- Last family passport is being picked up in three days (whwhoo)

-17 more work days left.

I can hardly contain my excitement!

January 26, 2008

I had a "fairy godmailer" send Paige a postcard from Disneyland. The postcard was from Captain Jack Sparrow expressing that he was looking forward to her visit and could always use new crew members especially scallywags like her. She was quite enthralled and couldn't imagine how he got her address. She has decided that it is upmost important that she now pack all of her pirate shirts. So much for Tinkerbell!

I put the fininshing touches on all of our matching trip shirts today and laminated the "Comox Valley Record" to take a picture on Splash Mountain for newspaper picture entry. Two weeks to go (10 work days). How will I last that long!?

Typically I have come down with a pre-trip head cold. It is best to get it over with now instead of going through the pain of sinus headaches and planes altitudes. Now if only everyone else could partake in my sickness ahead of time..lol

February 9, 2008

D-Day. At least departure day. Don, Paige, BJ and I will meet up with Jenn in Victoria. We are having her pre-birthday dinner with her mom tonight and fly out first thing tomorrow.

BJ spent the night here last night. All of his and Jenns pets are now moved in here and grandma will care for the whole menagerie.

I'm a little worried about BJ. He was up most of the night with a low grade fever. Hopefully it doesn't get worse.

Well we are off. Will update soon.

February 10, 2008

Happy 21st Birthday Jenn!

Somehow the five of us were up and dressed departing the Waddling Dog in at 3:15 am this morning. We were first in the line at an empty airport. Right now we are sitting in Seatac airport waiting to board our Orange County flight.

We all didn't realize how big Seatac airport was. We took a series of subways to get to our wing. Only then did we find out they changed our departure wing and we had to trudge down to D concourse. Well the plane just pulled into the skirt. We are anxious to depart this rainy 7 degree Celsius weather.

11;30 am

Well not the smoothest start. The plane was delayed at the gate. The pilot was saying that there was a navigational light out and it would be a couple of minutes. 20 minutes down the road the captain was saying that the engine needed to be for a better term "jump started by a cart and the cart they had did not have enough power. Everyone was nail biting by the time we were taxiing. Did the engine have enough power? Captain says we are running half an hour behind. I am thinking it is closer to an hour.

In the air we ran into some nasty turbulence. Poor Jenn. Poor me. It was a bit better until now. It is starting to bump again. Time to wrap this up as I will have to stow it again. I was going to write down a little prayer but my DD9 is looking over my shoulder and giving me a quizzical look so I will put on a brave face and close this up!

Well I have not touched this computer in 2.5 days so I am now going to revert into point form.

-At airport we came to the realization that rental car was not going to hold us and the luggage. Were able to snag a mini van for 80 dollars more. SNA airport is SOOOOO clean and easy to navigate. Will defiantly fly in there again.

-We arrived at the Disneyland Hotel to be greeted by Goofy . I am so disappointed to not get a Concierge Room right away. They do however complimentary upgrade us to a 7nth floor view room over downtown Disney. The cast member told me to keep trying so I will try again tomorrow

- By 4-5 PM I was grumpy and over tired and kept getting us lost on our attempt to find the discount Disney warehouse store. I turned into a petulant child. We gave up at about 6 and decided we needed to get to Buena Park to the Pirates Adventure Dinner. Luckily we found this destination.

-We were wary because of reading other peoples reviews of this experience. Right away we know we are going to enjoy ourselves. The atmosphere is bang on. The appetizers were excellent . This dinner is totally interactive and I found myself enjoying it so much more than the Medieval Times dinner. Jenn and Paige were both picked to participate. After a filling dinner they gave Jenn here Birthday Cake which we have to take back to the hotel.

-After listening to a deranged GPS navigator system we did several circles on the freeway and missed getting back Disney in time to see the fireworks. We did ooohh and aahhh on the freeway.

Day 2 &3

-We started our day with room service breakfast of 2 bakery baskets and an urn of coffee. The sun is up and shining. It is warm already.

-While the family is shopping the gift stores downstairs I revisit the check in desk and encounter a phenomenal cast member at the front desk. I ask Sandy if there are any opportunities to upgrade to Concierge. She says leave it in here hands and she will work some magic. Long story short. when we come back for a PM rest Sandy calls and says she has done it the only part is we will keep our room we are in instead of moving up 4 more and we will not have the DVD player. Awesome! At the same time our Mousekeeper crew call asking who Jenn likes character- wise. Minutes later BJ and Jenn arrive in the room and the team comes to the door and present Jenn with a cake of shaped towels with chocolates tucked into it and balloon bouquet. The also have a signed B&W photo of Pooh and friends. Our mousekeepers have been very accommodating. Tipping makes a huge difference. When in doubt a dollar per person in the room per day.

-Our first official Disney day we spent mostly in Disneyland. I would like to be able to list everything we did but without consulting Jenn's notes which are checked in her bag as we wait for our departing flight.

-Crowds are moderate. Rides are at most a 5-10 minute wait.

-I relish beating Don in Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster and after Jenn and I let the boys in on all the secrets. From then on they are intent on beating our scores.

-We seek lunch indoors because the sun is sweltering to us northerners. After some musing we decide on the Trattoria in DCA.. Our sandwich platters are all delish. BJ's lasagna is lacking the body I put into mine.

-Churro stands will be our downfall. $4.00 dollars for these little crispy delights.

-BJ and Jenn are in full pin trading mode. Paige and I are a little more tenative but gradually getting into it.

- 5::10 we have a reservation for Jenn's birthday dinner at Goofy's Kitchen in our hotel. Paige and BJ are most enthused about the buffet the serve up as some of it is designed for the younger set die Peanut Butter and Jelly Pizza. We have Goofy, Alice, Mad Hatter,

Price Phillip, Mary Poppins Penguin, and Minnie all visit our table. Brier Fox is in the restraaunt and while the girls get autographs we do not get family pictures with him.-

After dinner we re-enter the parks as they are open until 10 PM. We tire before that time

-We return to the Concierge Lounge to watch tonight fireworks. Amid snacks and drinks they open the sliding doors, lower the lights and turn up the fireworks soundtrack. This is an excellent view. We will watch it from in the park on the weekend for full effect.

- We are scoring on the the photopass photo opportunities, autographs and show seating's-

-Tuesday AM BJ and Jenn set out ahead of us to line up for early entry. We are going to attempt to circumvent the dreaded Nemo ride line-up. Don, Paige and I finish our continental breakfast in concierge and hike down to join them. They are first at the turnstiles. We stratigize that Jenn and I will "walk really fast" to the attraction and hold spots. As it turns out BJ leads the way and Don and Paige are right on our heels. We arrive puffing but exhilarated that we are number one to Nemo. Despite some negative reviews we all enjoy the ride but would not wait an hour plus like some to ride it again.

- We venture over to the Pirate Lair. Jenn and I decide to explore the island later but make a break for the "treasure spot" in hopes of getting to Cpt Jack Sparrow first. We aren't disappointed. We see him talking to the photographer and then in the blink of an eye as we round the corner he vanishes. I turn into a giggling school girls when he pops out from behind a rock.

-Don Paige and I exit the park the park( day 3) during the hot afternoon and go to the Anaheim "Flea Market" which is a cornucopia of shopping. In fact the selection is quite daunting. I keep in mind the new 8 dollar suitcases should we have to acquire one for the trip home.

-We have dinner in White Water Snacks tucked into the Disney Californian Hotel. It is a little "inexpensive" (by Disney standards) counter service diner. I have a huge delish veggie burger I end up taking half with me for later. Food here is good and there are few others in the place.

-As the park closes at 8 PM on the Tuesday night my family retires to the room once again exhausted I on the other hand would like to socialize a little so I head downstairs to the outdoor bar called The Lost Bar. I am served up a fishbowl margarita and strike up conversation with others watching Idol on the bar TV. I am teased about my accent. go figures. The gentleman on my right is wealth of Disney nostalgic history and turns out that he is the wealthy gentleman that moved into the Disneyland Hotel (It was cheaper than the 30,000 per month ranch he was leasing-this story was related by Sandy my front desk friend). He is a fishing nut with three boats from 26 feet to 90 feet. Don joins me about this time and we invite Ron up to our coast for some real fishing. we exchange business cards.

Day 4 Wednesday

- Today is Universal Studios Day. It opens at 10 so after concierge breakfast and perusing the hotel stores we have an 8:30 departure.

On a clear day the 40 mile trip takes 45 minutes. We, of course, hit traffic. Almost two hours later we arrive.

-The crowds at this park are very light. We virtually get to each character meet immediately. Ride the rides consecutively and see the shows with no waits.

-BJ, Jenn and I go through the House of Horrors. In fear we pass through too fast to get the whole picture.

-We do the prerequisite studio tour next. Few changes since we last rode it in 2001. While it is sunny the tram is chilly with the blustery winds whistleling through the hills.

-We explore the upper lot and get pics with all the Shrek and Simpsons cast. BJ and Paige are thrilled to see Crash Banacoot from Sega.

-We take the four(?) long escalators down to the lower lot. As a whole we do Jurassic Park Water Ride. BJ and I are the only ones who have ridden previously. Paige cries in certain parts and hides her head but in the long run gets over her initial fears and rides it two more times.

-I am anxious to ride the Mummy Ride and BJ and Jenn tentatively agree to go with me. No wait. The ride was excellent. We didn't need to disembark, we rode it again. Giddy we exited and searched for Paige to convince her to ride with us. She was a little trepidations but she went and ended up loving it enough to ride again.

-We did the Backdraft walk through. Paige was verging on hysterics. I really forgot how paranoid she is about fire. We decide to return to the top lot. BJ decides to run the hundreds of stairs instead of the giant escalators. If he can do it, I can do it mentality strikes me. OMG! Steep freaking climb! Gasp...

-We see the Shrek show and Paige is a volunteer for the Animals actors show. We finish our park visit with the Waterworld show.

I am anxious to slide into Universal Citywalk. I want to take everyone to the Nascar Racing Simulation and Skydiving Experience. I am disappointed as the Nascar has closed just prior to our visit and no one is "Skydiving". We are getting tired, chilled and cranky and hungry on top of it all. We decide to eat at Tony Romas on Harbour near DL and brace ourselves for the ride back.We as a unit want to shop at the Halloween Warehouse we passed on the way but time and traffic are against us. As Jenn says we would need a lot of extra suitcases if we went overboard there. What would customs thinks of that luggage? We still hit traffic but do get back a bit faster. We make it to dinner by 8 PM. Tony's is packed as the parks are closing. Windburned and exhausted we return to the room and sleep deeply. How will I ever survive after this trip not having my bed turned down and chocolates on my pillow?

Day 6 Friday

We do not have any concrete plans for today except that we are going to try and view the fireworks from the park. We do end up on paradise pier riding the thrill rides. Jenn and BJ are goading me into riding the Maliboomer. It is a tower ride in which has you seated, lifted twenty feet in the air then propelled a couple of hundred in feet in the air in a kind of reverse bungy motion. Now I have a bit of a residual fear of heights but if Jenn had to get over her fear of the Tower of Terror then I was going to conquer this. Nine year old Paige was begging to do it but fearful mother that I was ( I was also unsure if she fulfilled the height requirement) I strapped myself in while she was lined up for another ride. Stomachs hand on...there is a Plexiglas puke shield for a reason. Still I exit smiling. Paige is standing there crying. She wanted to do it. I relent and take her to the measuring pole. Damn...she is 52 inches and I am obligated to ride again. She giggles as she is hurtled into the air. We are both so busy exiting the ride that we are surprised when we round the curve and finds out that the two of us have been "Dreamed" with Dream Fastpasses which are good at both parks for today. If she hadn't made me do this ride again we would not have won. Don, Jenn and BJ are right there waiting at the exit but because they are not coming off the ride we go to guest relations DCA to claim three more fastpass lanyards.

-Paige and I are cutting it short by now. She has a 11:15 appointment in Downtown Disney at Clubb Libby Lu to have a Hidden Rock Star Makeover. I am happy as a mom to see her looking like a girl again instead of the tomboy she has become.

-Paige wants to visit the pool and Don agrees to take her. "Just don't get the hair-do wet!" The crowds are much bigger today as people have started a four day weekend. We opt for out of the way activities. One of the places we visit is the Innovations building under the pretense of BJ getting to "talk to his favorite- Stitch". We sign up and wait our turn to have a personal video conference call with the Blue one. What a funny conversation. Every time I hear "tighty whities" I will think of Stitch. There is my 18 year old grinning ear to ear. He so enjoyed this experience. Jenn and I start questioning our decision to book his birthday at the Japanese restaurant on the pretense that the Lilo and Stitch breakfast was too juvenile for him. We tell BJ what we had planned for him and while knife wielding table chefs interest him he is so enthralled with Stitch at this point he choices the character breakfast. When we visit the concierge lounge we ask them to make alternate arrangements for us...no problem.

-Jenn is feeling under the weather so BJ takes her back to the hotel. Don and I are going to try to stake out a bench near the castle for the fireworks and tinkerbell flight. People are starting to grab up prime viewing spots and hour and a half before the event. Don and I take turns holding a large bench. 10 minutes before the scheduled start the announce the possible cancellation due to winds at high levels.

Jenn and BJ arrive at this point with hotel blanket in hand. Thank goodness because it is so chilly when the sun goes down. We all bundle under. Don has been in line for a hot coffee for 45 minutes and gives up as the fireworks are starting.

While viewing the fireworks from the concierge lounge is comfortable and enjoyable there is nothing compared to being right under it and feeling the heat from some of the pyrotechnics. For me as an immense Tinkerbelle fan, it was something to be so close to her flight above the park. I had a tear in me eye. Before we know it we join the current of mouse eyed tourists exiting the happiest place on earth.

Feet are screaming and I actually question whether the ugliness of crocs might be worth the comfort...I must be in pain!

It is late and we do not relish getting up at 6 am for the 7 O clock breakfast sitting.

Sat Day 7nth

-We made such a good choice attending the first sitting of Lilo and Stitches Brunch. We had so much character time it was insane. I get such joy seeing the smile plastered on BJ face. The food was fabulous. My only complaint was none of us seemed to eat our monies worth (Paige was under the weather with sunburn and gastro problems). BJ must really be full when he cannot eat birthday cake for breakfast.

-BJ and Jenn head to the parks albeit a little late for today's early admission. The great part about staying in an onsite hotel is you get early entry for all the applicable days instead of just one like good neighbor hotels. We just present our hotel charge slips with our passes.

-Don, Paige and I are heading back to Hollywood. We are going to visit the LA Zoo. I figure Paige won't have that kind of opportunity up in BC. The traffic is sooo much better on Saturday, so much so we get there twenty minutes earlier than planned.

- The weather is glorious. The zoo is huge and fun to explore. The wheelie shoes we bought for Paige at the Anaheim marketplace are proving to be helpful as we can pull her to the next exhibit. We get tons of pictures and enjoyed ourselves. We are heading back to Anaheim by 1:30.

-At some point we regroup again and do the animation studio again. I will never be artistic but at least with their method it resembles the character.

-We all watch the Electric Light Parade in DCA. Novel to see some cast that we haven't seen elsewhere including dumbo and the ugly step sisters.

-We have dinner at Crocs Bits and Bites at the hotel. I order the veggie burger hoping it is as good as at GCH. Blech. Greasy soy patty. Inedible for me

Sunday Day 8

- Our last official park day today. Don stays back at the hotel to have Paige knuckle down on her homework. Jenn, BJ and I use our last early entry , We do some of fantasyland and head into adventureland. We go to the pin trading shop tucked behind NOS but it is still closed. We wait five minutes to ride the Disneyland Express. We grab the caboose with intent of getting off at Toontown. Yikes Toontown is still closed so we line up for the princess faire.-We find that with the crowds bigger we are opting to ride less and peruse shops more. We do finally catch the Aladdin and Jasmine show in Adventureland followed by a yummy lunch at Rancho Del Zocalo. Portions are big enough for Jenn and I to share. Silly me...I try to eat the creme brulee knowing what it will do with my gatric bypass. It hits me hard when we are on the Riverboat Mark Twain.

-Don, Paige and I ride up front with monorail pilot.

- Don, Paige and I drive to the mall.Paige needs some medication and I am picking something up for co-worker. I walk in and am sure I hear angels singing for I must be in heaven. Good thing I didn't find this place earlier in my trip cause friends and family would be getting a lot less for souvenirs!

-All of us visit the room at some point and pre-pack for departure tomorrow. Man it is a tight fit in some of the luggage.

- Dinner at White Water Snacks (here I meet my first feral Disney Cat who comes right up to me for a bite of chicken...ahhh can I take him home!?. The chicken nacho's are good and too much for two of us to finish.

-DL is open to midnight today and the initial plan is to close the place tonight. This is difficult when you are up so early for early entry so-Paige and I soak up some safe sun by the pool. I try to rest. Hard to believe I will be back in a parka in a couple of days.

-Jenn and I lament that it had been a very fulfilling trip and we are ready to go back home. What am I thinking (I write in retrospect).

-BJ wants to go take Paige to speak to Stitch at innovations but Jenn and I have made reservations for dessert sitting at Rainforest Cafe ( he has been whining about wanting a volcano all trip...so this was to be in lieu of his birthday cake). He instead agrees to Build A Bear which allows us to detour to Rainforest after. By 9 PM we are sharing the volcano which on his last trip to DL he polished off solo and was so sick.-

-Silly me...sugar from Volcano and fancy island drink have me ralphing immediately. There is no way I can close down the park. BJ is the only one that heads back that way to finish his shopping. He is back in the room by ten and the rest of us a fast asleep.

Monday Day 9

-We visit concierge for our last breakfast. We will miss the spoiling and the smiling morning faces.

- The drive to the airport takes about 15 minutes. Rental vehicle checked in in 30 seconds.

-There is some confusion when I and everyone else thinks I may have thrown out our boarding passes. Machine doesn't want to issue them to us so we go to the manual ticket window.

-BJ's luggage is 5 pounds overweight. How does that happen to a guy. We throw open my suitcase and start transferring.

-Flights back go smoothly and on time.

-In Victoria Jenn's brother meets us at the airport with our vehicle as her mother is in the hospital. She has had emergency surgery today.

we make a side trip so Jenn can visit her.

-9:30 we are back home. My dogs are turning inside out they are so happy...alas I am already just a little sad...who could help but be?

Will post photoapp pics when we edit and they arrive