Malcon10t
02-06-2008, 10:13 AM
Christmas at Disneyland!
When: Dec 22 – Jan 3rd.
Who: Me (old), The Heir (22), Heir’s GF (19), MickeyDogMom (21), MDM dog (5 mos) Escape Artist (19), Escape Artists GF (18), Youngest (17), and 2-3 cousins (16-22) They weren’t all there all the time, but joined us randomly.
Stayed at: Residence Inn on Clementine
Plans: The Heir graduated from the CHP academy on the 21st, and plans were to move him on the 22nd leaving at 6am and be in Disneyland by dinnertime.
Reality: First, the truck we borrowed didn’t have lights for the trailer, so Escape Artist (who was also driver) stayed up til 1am rewiring the truck. MickeyDogMom decided to contract what was known here as the York Flu. Now, she is the major coordinator for the packing of the trips and she was down for the count. (This is a major setback in our house...) Then His Highness (aka The Heir) took his time getting everything he wanted put into the trailer. We finally left at 9am. Now, we had asked him to head out quickly, and since he could go 70 and we had to go 55, we figured he would beat us there, get the paperwork signed, and when we arrived, we would unload and be out of there. So much for that idea. We don’t know what happened, but we arrived at the same time as him. So, we sat twiddling our thumbs waiting on him. Finally, MDM and EA had enough, and while he was doing his walk thru, they literally removed EVERYTHING from the trailer into the hallway, then from the hallway to in front of the door, then inside the room. EA put the bed together quickly and we were gone in under an hour (from the start of unpacking, which was started 90 minutes after we arrived... No, we were not happy campers. MDM and EA were threatening to just unlad into the parking lot and leave.) It was now 6pm and we were in Culver City. So, off to drop the trailer at UHaul. We go to the one they say to drop at, hand the gal the paperwork, only to be told “We don’t take trailers.” So, off to find another location. Finally drop it, off to Glendale to pick up EA GF, then on to Disneyland (FINALLY!) By the time we get there, get checked in, unpack, and put up our Christmas tree, it is now 9:30pm. We gave up dinner at Disneyland and headed to Outback for dinner. No Disneyland on the 22nd.
The 23rd. EA and GF and Youngest head to the park while MDM and I head to finish Christmas shopping and stock supplies for the hotel room. We finally head to the park about 230pm. It was so great to walk thru the gates and hear the Christmas music on Main St. I loved looking at all the decorations. We spent more time looking thru all the shops and doing more Christmas shopping. I know we rode rides, but no clue what. We didn’t stay out too late, but we had fun.
The 24th. We headed to the park early. Today was going to be the big day. The Heir was going to propose to his GF. We had a VIP tour planned. So, we spent the day roaming the park, headed to DCA for a while, and tried to figure out if the engagement ring would fit. We knew how it would fit MDM, so she took GF looking at Mickey Mouse rings and played at trying them on. It was determined the ring should fit. During our tour, we went on the Mark Twain. The guide arranged for them to ride in the pilot house, and it was there he popped the questions. She was estatic. From this point forward, she spent more time on the phone calling everyone to tell them he had asked her. We left soon after and headed to the Outback, where the kids’ dad joined us for dinner.
The 25th. Christmas morning was fun. We had everyone at the hotel, made a quick breakfast trip, then opened presents. Everyone enjoyed their presents, then off to the park! We did dinner at Goofy’s, which was a blast! Goofy made over the engagement and acted like he was hurt she wasn’t marrying him. We hung out, watched the fireworks, then headed back.
26th-28th. My ex-SIL called to arrange dropping her teens off with us for 2 days. So, off to the park, we roamed everywhere, did everything, and had a blast doing it. The cousins are vegetarians, but found plenty to eat between Pizza Port and NOS. We saw Billy Hill, rode everything at least once, and just relaxed. The kids went on Indy, while I relaxed at Bengal BBQ. Since I was alone, but had a table for 4, I’d invite people to sit with me. It was fun as the first was a young couple who didn’t realize it would be busy at Disneyland during this time, and specifically booked because they “knew” it would be slow. They were great though and I had a great time talking to them. Next was a woman and several kids. They had brought a brother and sister (ages 5-8) with them and were treating them to everything. The kids were having a ball but you could tell they were overwhelmed. Then there was an older couple from Northern CA and they were more like me and just relaxing and taking it all in.
29-30th. The 29th was my F-DILs last day. We ended up touring Fantasyland. She had never been there. My son was doing the eyerolls at Dumbo and the Carousel. When she asked what was good about Fantasyland, I explained in terms I knew would get her… “Its romantic!” So we did all the Fantasyland rides, then headed back to BTMRR (so my son could regain some testosterone.) The days were flying by. The 30th was a leasuirely day. Many of these days were spent wandering, checking out shows, and just relaxing.
31st. NEW YEARS EVE!!! This day is a riot. It is the Heir’s first day on the job in LA. So, while we felt some pity for him, we headed to the park EARLY. Did breakfast at Café Orleans, wandered the park, rode what we felt like and realized the crowds were’t bad this year!!!! My ex joined us in the afternoon. My son called at 2 and said they had let him off early and did I think he could get in the park! I said Come and try!!!!! He got there at 3:30 and had no problems. Kids were in tomorrowland with their dad, so the Heir and I headed to Café Orleans to sign in for our dinner ressie. Later, I got in line for Fantasmic!, which ended up being cancelled. We headed to Splash Mountain. The kids and my ex rode. My younger son’s GF and MDM stripped off their sweatshirts so they would have warm/dry shirts coming off the ride. While we used the HA entrance, there was no wait AT ALL. (It was 1130p) They rode twice without getting off, and while I tried to get the operator to send them a third time, they were wet and cold, so they came off. We got back to NOS just in time to see the limited fireworks for NYE. We ended up leaving earlier than normal on NYE (about 1230am) and headed back to the room.
1-2nd. More rides, more shopping and overall, just a great time. We relaxed and couldn’t believe it went by so fast. While we weren’t due to check out til the 3rd, we left the night of the 2nd as MDM had class at 9am on the 3rd.
Highlights? Bengal BBQ, breakfast at the hotel, getting addicted to the Dog Whisperer, getting addicted to S’more Sandwiches, seeing our favorite CM, whom we’d thought departed Disneyland, watching the parade again, riding Dumbo again, and just taking in the relaxation at the park. Now, I need to start planning again.
When: Dec 22 – Jan 3rd.
Who: Me (old), The Heir (22), Heir’s GF (19), MickeyDogMom (21), MDM dog (5 mos) Escape Artist (19), Escape Artists GF (18), Youngest (17), and 2-3 cousins (16-22) They weren’t all there all the time, but joined us randomly.
Stayed at: Residence Inn on Clementine
Plans: The Heir graduated from the CHP academy on the 21st, and plans were to move him on the 22nd leaving at 6am and be in Disneyland by dinnertime.
Reality: First, the truck we borrowed didn’t have lights for the trailer, so Escape Artist (who was also driver) stayed up til 1am rewiring the truck. MickeyDogMom decided to contract what was known here as the York Flu. Now, she is the major coordinator for the packing of the trips and she was down for the count. (This is a major setback in our house...) Then His Highness (aka The Heir) took his time getting everything he wanted put into the trailer. We finally left at 9am. Now, we had asked him to head out quickly, and since he could go 70 and we had to go 55, we figured he would beat us there, get the paperwork signed, and when we arrived, we would unload and be out of there. So much for that idea. We don’t know what happened, but we arrived at the same time as him. So, we sat twiddling our thumbs waiting on him. Finally, MDM and EA had enough, and while he was doing his walk thru, they literally removed EVERYTHING from the trailer into the hallway, then from the hallway to in front of the door, then inside the room. EA put the bed together quickly and we were gone in under an hour (from the start of unpacking, which was started 90 minutes after we arrived... No, we were not happy campers. MDM and EA were threatening to just unlad into the parking lot and leave.) It was now 6pm and we were in Culver City. So, off to drop the trailer at UHaul. We go to the one they say to drop at, hand the gal the paperwork, only to be told “We don’t take trailers.” So, off to find another location. Finally drop it, off to Glendale to pick up EA GF, then on to Disneyland (FINALLY!) By the time we get there, get checked in, unpack, and put up our Christmas tree, it is now 9:30pm. We gave up dinner at Disneyland and headed to Outback for dinner. No Disneyland on the 22nd.
The 23rd. EA and GF and Youngest head to the park while MDM and I head to finish Christmas shopping and stock supplies for the hotel room. We finally head to the park about 230pm. It was so great to walk thru the gates and hear the Christmas music on Main St. I loved looking at all the decorations. We spent more time looking thru all the shops and doing more Christmas shopping. I know we rode rides, but no clue what. We didn’t stay out too late, but we had fun.
The 24th. We headed to the park early. Today was going to be the big day. The Heir was going to propose to his GF. We had a VIP tour planned. So, we spent the day roaming the park, headed to DCA for a while, and tried to figure out if the engagement ring would fit. We knew how it would fit MDM, so she took GF looking at Mickey Mouse rings and played at trying them on. It was determined the ring should fit. During our tour, we went on the Mark Twain. The guide arranged for them to ride in the pilot house, and it was there he popped the questions. She was estatic. From this point forward, she spent more time on the phone calling everyone to tell them he had asked her. We left soon after and headed to the Outback, where the kids’ dad joined us for dinner.
The 25th. Christmas morning was fun. We had everyone at the hotel, made a quick breakfast trip, then opened presents. Everyone enjoyed their presents, then off to the park! We did dinner at Goofy’s, which was a blast! Goofy made over the engagement and acted like he was hurt she wasn’t marrying him. We hung out, watched the fireworks, then headed back.
26th-28th. My ex-SIL called to arrange dropping her teens off with us for 2 days. So, off to the park, we roamed everywhere, did everything, and had a blast doing it. The cousins are vegetarians, but found plenty to eat between Pizza Port and NOS. We saw Billy Hill, rode everything at least once, and just relaxed. The kids went on Indy, while I relaxed at Bengal BBQ. Since I was alone, but had a table for 4, I’d invite people to sit with me. It was fun as the first was a young couple who didn’t realize it would be busy at Disneyland during this time, and specifically booked because they “knew” it would be slow. They were great though and I had a great time talking to them. Next was a woman and several kids. They had brought a brother and sister (ages 5-8) with them and were treating them to everything. The kids were having a ball but you could tell they were overwhelmed. Then there was an older couple from Northern CA and they were more like me and just relaxing and taking it all in.
29-30th. The 29th was my F-DILs last day. We ended up touring Fantasyland. She had never been there. My son was doing the eyerolls at Dumbo and the Carousel. When she asked what was good about Fantasyland, I explained in terms I knew would get her… “Its romantic!” So we did all the Fantasyland rides, then headed back to BTMRR (so my son could regain some testosterone.) The days were flying by. The 30th was a leasuirely day. Many of these days were spent wandering, checking out shows, and just relaxing.
31st. NEW YEARS EVE!!! This day is a riot. It is the Heir’s first day on the job in LA. So, while we felt some pity for him, we headed to the park EARLY. Did breakfast at Café Orleans, wandered the park, rode what we felt like and realized the crowds were’t bad this year!!!! My ex joined us in the afternoon. My son called at 2 and said they had let him off early and did I think he could get in the park! I said Come and try!!!!! He got there at 3:30 and had no problems. Kids were in tomorrowland with their dad, so the Heir and I headed to Café Orleans to sign in for our dinner ressie. Later, I got in line for Fantasmic!, which ended up being cancelled. We headed to Splash Mountain. The kids and my ex rode. My younger son’s GF and MDM stripped off their sweatshirts so they would have warm/dry shirts coming off the ride. While we used the HA entrance, there was no wait AT ALL. (It was 1130p) They rode twice without getting off, and while I tried to get the operator to send them a third time, they were wet and cold, so they came off. We got back to NOS just in time to see the limited fireworks for NYE. We ended up leaving earlier than normal on NYE (about 1230am) and headed back to the room.
1-2nd. More rides, more shopping and overall, just a great time. We relaxed and couldn’t believe it went by so fast. While we weren’t due to check out til the 3rd, we left the night of the 2nd as MDM had class at 9am on the 3rd.
Highlights? Bengal BBQ, breakfast at the hotel, getting addicted to the Dog Whisperer, getting addicted to S’more Sandwiches, seeing our favorite CM, whom we’d thought departed Disneyland, watching the parade again, riding Dumbo again, and just taking in the relaxation at the park. Now, I need to start planning again.