We spent our last night in Madison at the Country Inns and Suites. Our friends the Rosebooms brought dinner to our room and we played in the pool. We were given a shuttle ride to the airport on Wednesday morning, the 5 of us and our 12 pieces of luggage!
Our flights to LAX were good. Everyone traveled well - what a relief. We collected our luggage and took our reserved shuttle to the Ramada Plaza hotel in Anaheim. The hotel room was large and the staff accommodating and very helpful.
We ate supper at the Cheesecake Factory in the Anaheim Garden Walk mall. Huge portions. Then we tried to catch the Anaheim Resort Transport to Disneyland. After 30 minutes, we were finally picked up because we waved down a shuttle. The driver said that our route wasn't being covered and he took pity on us after driving by the first time.
Clara's meal at the Cheesecake Factory.
Finally at Disneyland, we walked right on to Pirates of the Carribean, and Haunted Mansion. Then we had a 20 minute wait for Splash Mountain. From there we watched Fantasmic! and a fireworks show immediately following. Then took ART back to our hotel. Neo fell asleep in my arms on the way out of the park.
Thursday morning, we woke up at 7am, had a full breakfast and took the ART to Disneyland. We entered the park a little after the 8am opening time. Clara went to get fastpass for Space Mountain while the kids and I went to Finding Nemo ride. Finding Nemo has been changed/improved. Space mountain was down for repairs and did not open the rest of the day. We rode the bobsleds, Neo loved it! Then Big Thunder Mountain. By this time, it was nearly 10am, so we stopped for fruit and drinks.
We rented a stroller for Neo, then went to California Adventure. Clara, Neo, Zoe, and I went on Tower of Terror - again the ride has been changed for the better - great ride! I laughed the whole way! We walked over to Grizzly River run, but the line was 40 minutes. We had our picture taken with Pluto - a perk of Disney Rewards. Then went back to our hotel to get the luggage in storage, rest, then check out. Again the hotel staff was very helpful!
We returned to Disneyland about 2pm. Neo insisted on a visit with Mickey Mouse. The pictures were very cute and he was so happy. Then we stood in line 20 minutes for Buzz Light Year ride. Had lunch at the Ranch near Big Thunder Mountain about 2:30pm. Our final ride was Roger Rabbits Cartoon spin - after a 40 minute wait!
Neo fell asleep on the way out of Disneyland. He slept all the way back to the hotel on the ART and in the lobby on a couch for 30 minutes waiting for the shuttle. Then he slept the 45 minutes to LAX. Finally woke up to help us get checked in at V-Australia.
Luggage checked, we took the elevator to the 2nd floor for security - and it was like we were in the fastpass line! The que for security snaked around the first floor then up the escalator to another twisting line. We were in the "family" line, which was shorter.
We had a bite to eat from Burger King and waited for our flight to board. Once we were through the gate check, I sent the kids up the ramp, each with their boarding pass. Neo went with them and I was following along, having stowed the passports into my pack. A V-Australia employee asked if she could check the wait of my carryon bag. I agreed, thinking it would be but a moment. Unfortunately, she could not get the scale to work. After trying a couple of minutes, I explained that my 3 year old was unaccompanied on the ramp. She still did not release me. I then recalled I had my purse stuffed into the luggage. I pulled that out, the employee lifted the bag, decided it was OK and sent me on my way. The line was huge. When I finally got to the plane, Neo was with the stewards and crying. I hear another employee remark that he figured that the minor was "left" by his parents.
I was not happy with that situation!
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