Disneyland

Day 1

After a bloody long cattle class flight (boo hoo no upgrade... Too full, but I am in for the return trip!!!) which was actually rather pleasant and not too bad after being spoilt going to Seattle. (Being koru has it's benefits as we had the best seats the back of the plane can offer). Aaron and Quinlan sat next to an ex wallaby player who commented on quinlans all black jersey and talked rugby with Aaron for a wee while.

... We arrived in LA with no dramas. lA was less drama than San Fran arrival in June this year. We walked straight through with a quick wink at the camera and a finger printing. No body scan required.

We collected all our bags and waited outside for the Disney bus. 45 mins later we were checking in to the hotel and 5 mins after that we were on the monorail to Disneyland. Wow!!!! What a place. Nothing like what I experienced 15 years ago. Everything is so perfect and clean and sparkling and bright and so damn happy!!!!!

The park was crowded being a Sunday and hot a hot 28.... Woot woot we bought summer with us.

Aaron needed an afternoon nap and thought we all did as well but as soon as he fell asleep we crept out of the room to the rooftop pool! Hehehehehe you snooze you lose!

Once nana nap was over it was back to Disney until midnight. The kids wrote in their diaries about the smell at DL. It smells sweet like sugar and cinnamon.... Very strange but very alluring. We managed to get on splash mountain just before midnight (why oh why) and as you get soaked we were able to keep going around. Aaron and I got off after the second time and left the kids on their to go around again.

The kids have been awesome thanking us profusely for bringing them here so that's worth every cent!

day 2

We slept until 10.30 then meandered over to DCA (california adventure) for the day. another scorcher... Which was just as well because grizzly river run is a giant whitewater rafting ride that you get soaked on!!!! we were booked in for lunch with Princeses (poor Aaron and Quinlan) which Sophs just loved!!!! But not as much as California screaming the roller coaster. oMG I cried the first time I went on it.... Scary.... But then it gets fun.... There were no queues here today so we went on it a few times. This park is very cool we had VIP tickets to see Aladdin which was unbelievable.... A full scale performance... Amazing!!!! Everything is just so well done here.... You notice how everyone is an actor here ...hehehe theatre folk everywhere.... There is a dramatic flare to everyone... Even the street cleaners.... They are all called Cast members and what a production!!!!

So we staggered home (no alcohol involved) at 9.30 as Sophs was completely done!!!! Another awesome day done.

day 3

Hmmmmmmm wish we had a rewind button. We got up at 7.30 to be at the park by 8 am as we thought we had early toontown tickets.... It was foggy (hello Hamilton) and cold ... By the time we got to Disney Sophs had already cried and was to cold and everyone seemed slightly grumpy so we did a couple of rides and headed home. An hours sleep later, warmer clothes and what a difference.... The kids bounced out of bed with grins on their faces ready for round two..... We sussed out the fast pass system today which meant you dont line up at certain rides so that was cool. For lunch we had all you can eat ribs (vege skewers for moi) at Big Thunder Ranch.... We obviously didn't eat enough as the waitress was concerned we were leaving hungry as we hadn't eaten much!!!!... No ..... we rolled out of that joint!!!!! ready to fling ourselves on the Big Thunder (Big Chunder) roller coaster!!!! No one was sick but yikes.... Could have!!!

Sophs got to make her dream come true of meeting tinker bell and is now collecting autographs from all the princesses and fairies and Quinlan and Aaron now make plans to meet us elsewhere!!!! Quinlan has started collecting baseballs and they are pretty cool. Another awesome parade and some more fireworks and thank goodness it shut at 6 pm tonight for a cast party so we were able to get back and into bed early..... Tomorrow is early morning VIP visit with Mickey and Minnie and the park is open until midnight so we will see how we go on our final Disney day.