Family Vacation

Rachel and Karen on the Tower of Terror

Tired baby, she still tool two naps a day and crashed at bedtime.

Kissing the doggy-Goofy, our Hotel entrance

View from out room, California Adventure Theme Park

Plane ride

It started at 5:00am. The teenage girls had to do makeup and hair. The baby had a bath, the dogs fed, doors locked, bags packed and off to the airport we went. Why do they tell you two hours prior to a flight? We were through ticketing and security in 30 minutes, families get to by pass the regular line and there weren't many families ahead of us. Wish we could chance being there just an hour ahead. Our flight got delayed by 30 min., no big deal if you don't have a toddler, but since we did we had to seek out the moving tram which was a big hit! We finally got to board and were one of the last to board so we had to sit in the very back and there weren't seats together until one lady was nice enough to move so me and the girls could at least sit together. We were ready to take off when all of a sudden all the lights went out. The pilot came on the intercom and announced there was a slight electrical problem starting the engine and they would try to start again in a couple of minutes. The second try was the same as the first, you heard the engines then all was dark. The pilot came on again and explained the problem was the on board auxiliary and needed to start but not needed to fly and all was okay. What!! We had to use an off board auxiliary to start and that would take about ten minutes. He would keep us informed of the situation,OH and to keep your fingers crossed because the cock pit crew had theirs crossed. The off board worked and we took off to LAX without any further incident. As soon as we landed Autumn was the first to clap and say YEAH!,the rest of the passengers followed. We took the Disney Express to Disney Paradise Pier Hotel. We got a room with a view and it had cute little shampoo bottles with mickey mouse ears. We went to California Adventures the first day where we rode the Tower of Terror, a couple of roller coaster and the Maliboomer that shoots you straight up in the air. Autumn was able to ride all the Bugs Life rides. The next day we went to Disneyland and the first ride we rode was the Jungle Cruise. We did all the classic Disney rides, pirates, haunted mansion, splash mountain etc. We helped a poor little lost girl find her family. We were a 10 minute walk from our hotel. Our hotel was across the Disney Grand Hotel and Spa and we could walk through their lobby and go through a side entrance into California Adventures, so we were able to go back to the room and nap and when ever Autumn needed a break. We also found a little snack shop next to The Grands swimming pool that had cheaper snacks like a 2litter of soda for 3 dollars instead of 2.75 for a 20oz in the vending machines and they had a whole roll of bagels for 3 dollars and lunch meat, so we saved a little on food and ate a little healthier. I was surprised to see all the booths that sold fresh fruit and the kids packs with yogurt, cheese and fruit. We went back and forth from the two parks and the hotel for the week. We helped lost kid number two find his dad at California Adventures.

California Adventures was working on a new attraction. It was a water fountain lights show of Ariel and we could see them working on the display from our room. It was neat seeing all the different colored lights glowing during the night as they worked on it. By Thursday night they were doing fire balls and smoke and you could see animation being displayed on the colored fountains. The girls had a hard time finding souvenirs, but eventually found something to bring home. Autumn wouldn't wear mouse ears so we didn't buy her any. Autumn did like the Brother Bear park where she could play on the rope ladders and bridges and go down the slide many many times, just like at Goofy's backyard where she tried to run down the slide!

Our flight home was delayed again! But no engine start problems, just quite a bit of turbulence and a rush so I could get to work. We had a very nice time and all want to go back again tomorrow!