We chose to go to southern California to take the kids to Legoland and Disneyland. Everything was booked with just a twinge of guilt. Our kids are growing up so far from their grandparents and we want them to know each other. Weekly phone calls can only go so far. But we got over it pretty quickly. :)
Matt and I decided to not let the kids know what we were planning and to surprise them as the date got closer. We booked two months in advance and didn't want daily questions about how much longer before we were leaving. Two weeks before our plane took off we dropped the bomb on the kids. Gwyneth responded with, "I thought you were taking us to Alaska." This was deduced after apparently peeking at our computer screens while we were booking airfare on Alaska Airlines. Quint just kinda smiled. I think he would have had the same response if we told him we were going to Target. Money well spent on him.
Our original itinerary consisted of flying in Saturday, Sunday at Legoland, the next two days at Disneyland, then flying home on Wednesday. Jam packed full of amusement parks. After a really fun, full 9am-6pm day at Legoland we decided to take a down day the next day and just do one day at Disneyland. Quint was exhausted - heck - I was exhausted.
I am so glad we did our "down day".
We had a lazy breakfast. Bought sunglasses and hats (apparently there's this big yellow orb in the sky in southern California that can burn you and make you very hot). Spent some time in Newport Beach. Gwyneth and Matt took what seemed like a 30 minute ferris wheel ride. They definitely got their money's worth! We all played at a dingy arcade where Gwyneth *nearly* beat me in air hockey. It was close, people. Matt parked it in front of a Mrs. Pacman. He still can't get over the fact that he's not as good as he used to be. Took a boat out on the water - which was soo nice! Played at the beach AND pool. Matt and I had delish iced vanilla lattes. Had Mexican food for dinner and topped it off with yummy margaritas. It was as close to a perfect day as I can remember. The kids were easy going. I didn't have to yell ... at anyone.
Then came our day at Disneyland.
We woke up and went straight to the park deciding on finding breakfast once we got there. We settled on the Plaza Inn as my only requirement was that it was real food. I didn't want pastries for breakfast. We walk up to tell the lady how many in our party and I notice that breakfast is like $35 per person. That struck me as a little high for breakfast. Then I realized that it was a Minnie Mouse character breakfast - yay! We didn't even know. Matt and I had briefly talked about doing a character meal but didn't pursue it as we didn't really want to be ruled by a schedule since we were only doing one day. So it was a nice surprise that we were able to do a character meal as a walk-in. Gwyneth was over the moon excited to see the characters. Quint was a little slow to warm up. He didn't freak out, he just sat there hoping they'd go away. His basic - if I don't look at them - they can't see me - thing he does when he's uncomfortable. It was heartwarming to see Gwyneth jump up and hug each of the characters. Sometimes I feel that she's growing up too fast and I think Matt and I needed that - to see her as an innocent, little girl. Too soon will that change. Darn teenage angst!
Disneyland felt like it was full to the brim with people. People everywhere. It felt like I was trying to enter in an exit only door as school was being let out. I was immediately out of my element. I hate large crowds - especially with the kids. The lines for each ride was excruciatingly long. By noon Quint was begging to go "home" - meaning the hotel room. While in line he would literally fall limp to the ground and lay there pleading to not go on. For your viewing entertainment (yes, that is our feet trying to kick, I mean, move him forward:
We would have to drag this child so he wouldn't get trampled by the people behind us wanting to move forward in line. It wasn't pretty. This is even after we got off the teacups and eyed the Dumbo line only to complain to each other about how long the line was - then to have what I can only explain as "Disney Magic" occur. This lady promptly turns around and asks me, "Is it just the four of you?" I'm thinking it's some nice lady wanting to chit chat with a stranger as we walk to the whim of the crowd. I reply that it is when she tells me to "follow me". I notice then that she's wearing a Disney polo and has a walkie talkie. This is official enough for me to have my family follow a stranger. She brings us to the handicap line of the Dumbo ride. She then tells the lady guarding the line what I can only imagine was, "even though no one in their party is handicap - let them through". Smiles and thank-you's were exchanged then my family was left standing in a significantly shorter line of what Matt called "Make a Wish kids." It felt slightly uncomfortable. I kept my eyes down and didn't make eye contact with the sweet kids in wheelchairs looking at us wondering what our ailment was. I felt compelled to confess whatever ailments we had were all mental - at least in my husband's case. Sometimes I wonder about him.
After a while we decided to split up as Gwyneth was a trooper and Quint was a stinker. She was into everything and never complained once. Quint and I *luckily* found a spot to sit in the shade and rest while Gwyneth and Matt did some of the bigger kid rides such as Space Mountain and Splash Mountain. Here they are on Space Mountain:
We met up with our dear friends, the Katz's, for dinner at 6pm. In hindsight this was a horrible idea. My son can be hit or miss at a restaurant on a good day, but on a day where he's super exhausted, it's just a catastrophe waiting to happen. Quint was very excited to see Ethan. His excitement can only be explained as he grabbed his - thankfully empty - cup of chocolate milk and THREW it a lady at another table. I screamed mid throw and stood with my arms out as if I was going to grow Inspector Gadget arms and catch it. Thankfully it just kind of hit the lady's ankle. I apologized profusely. I wouldn't have known what to do other than buy that lady's meal had the cup been full and spilled all over her. I was horrified. Dinner was very stressful for me. I couldn't finish my food, but I did finish my two drinks. Priorities people.
Overall it was a good trip. It was nice to get away and break from routine. I asked Quint whether he'd want to go back to Disneyland or go to the beach next time and he said, "beach." That's my vote for next family vacation, too.
No comments:
Post a Comment