We visited the Disneyland Resort the week of May 15th. In addition to the resort we also visited the USS Midway museum in San Diego, Universal Studios and the Los Angeles Zoo.
The trip includes myself - Dan, Nicole, Nicholas, Emma, Eric, Pat and Stuart.
We have lots of pictures (over 960 of them) and have included some of them in the blog with a link to the whole gallery at the bottom.
So without dragging this into on for much longer, let's get started shall we?
DAY 1 - May 14th, 2011
Ok... Technically we weren't supposed to leave till the 15th but I made a rather large error in my trip planning. It almost prevented us from going at all.
As we live in Canada, when crossing the border into the US via land or sea the kids do not require passports. However when crossing the border by air they are required to have passports.
I did not discover this until I went to check us into our flight from YVR (Vancouver International Airport) to LAX. After a couple of quick phone calls I started to panic. Despite being told by our airline that we didn't need passports when I booked the tickets back in January it was still my responsibility to verify and I didn't. Needless to say we now have a fairly large credit with that airline to be used in the future.
I called Nicole and Pat in a panic and asked them to come home so we could discuss our options.
A couple hours later we had finished packing, loaded up our two vehicles and were on our way down to SeaTac so we could fly out of SeaTac into LAX early Sunday morning. Cost us a small fortune to get flights that late but we were lucky enough to pull it off. Disaster averted.
This is me sitting in our van outside the Target store in Bellingham, Washington after we had eaten dinner. We still had a two hour drive to SeaTac so my wife had run in to the store to get some bottled water.
After a miserable night in the SeaTac Motel 6 we were ready to start our trip.
DAY 2 - May 15th, 2011
We had an enjoyable flight with Alaska Airlines down to LAX. Nicholas has flown before but for Emma this was a first flight. Both of the kids did really well considering the horrible night we had just spent in the Motel 6.
This was also Eric's first trip to California.
Nicholas on the plane, sitting between his Grandma (Pat) and Uncle Stuart.
Stuart, Pat, Myself (Dan) and Nicole on the plane.
Emma on the plane.
Nicholas and Stuart on the plane looking out the window.
A shot of Downtown Los Angeles from the plane.
After the flight we gathered our luggage and boarded a shuttle to our car rental place. We used Enterprise this time as I have used them many times in Canada for various business trips and have always been happy with them. Last year we used Hertz and it was a disaster.
Stuart at Enterprise Car Rental. We were loading up the rental vehicles for the drive to the resort.
At this point Nicole was very tired as this photo shows.
After a pleasant drive with light traffic we arrived at the Grand Californian and unloaded our luggage. Eric and I parked the vehicles in the self parking lot and walked back to the hotel to check in.
Front doors to hotel. They kept opening and closing so this was the best shot we could get.
After a smooth check in and as our room wasn't ready yet we wandered over to White Water Snacks for a bit of lunch.
Pat and Nicholas eating lunch at White Water Snacks.
In the middle of lunch we got a text message stating that our room was ready. Now there are five adults and two children in our party so how could we only have one room... Well we don't really. As members of the Disney Vacation Club we were on our first trip since buying into the club. We were lucky enough to get one of the two, three bedroom villas for the length of our stay at the resort. This villa is bigger than my house. We used up three years worth of points to get this villa and we don't for one second regret our decision.
Pool Table in Villa.
One of the upstairs bedrooms.
Villa stairs.
Living room clock.
Villa Dining Room.
Villa Kitchen.
Villa Living Room.
Villa Master Bathroom.
Villa Master Bedroom.
The front view from the Master Bedroom balcony. (There are three other balconies in the villa.)
The side view from the Master Bedroom balcony.
The view from Living Room Window from the upper level (adjacent the pool table).
The kids in living room, taken from the upper level looking down.
After we got settled Pat, Nicole and I took Emma to go do a bit of grocery shopping while Eric, Stuart and Nicholas went out into Downtown Disney for a bit.
Lego Woody at the Lego Store.
Nicholas and Mickey.
DAY 3 - May 16, 2011
We got up and went for a bite to eat at the Rainforest Cafe for breakfast. We like eating at this restaurant and always try to do breakfast and dinner there when we are at the resort. Nicholas on the other hand wasn't to impressed and got freaked out a couple of times and Emma was feeding off of her brother but we still managed to enjoy ourselves over all.
After breakfast we headed into Disneyland.
Breakfast at the Rainforest Café. Nicholas wasn't too sure of this idea.
Neither was Emma to be honest.
At the entrance gate, getting our online prepaid tickets converted into actual park passes.
Finally inside Disneyland.
The Sign. Need I say more?
On the Disneyland Railroad. (Nick’s second trip and Emma’s first.)
Emma is having fun.
Me videoing being photographed. I kept the camcorder on for the entire trip around the park. I may update this at a much later date once that video is processed and uploaded.
After the trip around the park on the railroad we got off and wandered up Main Street.
What’s Mickey looking at?
Oh, it’s a Military Helicopter flying over. There were a couple of them flying in formation.
The Castle.
Once we got to the central hub we decided to go for a spin on Mark Twain. During our last trip the Rivers of America had been drained so the track could be replaced and we all missed out on the Mark Twain.
The Rivers of America from the Mark Twain.
Sailing ship Columbia.
By this point it was getting close to lunch and nap time for the kids so we started heading for the exit.
On our way out we passed Minnie Mouse.
Nicholas enthralled by the Downtown Disney fountain.
After lunch and nap time we headed back into Disneyland.
Walking through the crowds.
Emma heard Turkey Leg and thought we meant her own leg. Nom, Nom, Nom.
Father and Son at the Disneyland Fire hall.
After a long day we headed back to the hotel to call it a night.
Time for a quick crawl under the coffee table before bed time.
DAY 4 - May 17, 2011
We split up a bit on this day. Eric and I drove down to San Diego (in miserable weather) to pay a visit to the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum. This was my third trip to the museum and my brother's first trip. Pat, Stuart, Nicole and the kids would stay behind and spend time in the parks.
Midway Hangar Deck.
I was trying to get out of the shot and failed miserably.
Eric In the Midway Brig (where he belongs.)
Random Midway corridor.
Same type of plane the first President George Bush flew during WW II.
Model of the first US Aircraft Carrier (USS Langley) and the next US Aircraft Carrier (USS Gerald R Ford)
Meanwhile back at Disney, Nick tries on Mommy’s shoes.
Plastic pancakes anyone?
Exterior side shot of the Midway.
Midway’s Flight Deck. We got a real good feel for the life of a sailor with the rain blowing sideways up on the flight deck.
Midways Control Tower.
Meanwhile back at the resort:
Disney Junior Show.
Nicholas enjoying the show.
Pixar Pals.
Nicholas meets Mater and Lightning.
Nicholas, Emma, Stuart and Pat in front of a waterfall.
Emma, Nicole and Nicholas with Tigger.
Around dinner time Eric and I returned to the resort and rejoined the group as we spent the evening in California Adventure. As it was dark we didn't take many pictures.
DAY 5 - May 18, 2011
We took a break from the resort and headed up the 5 and then the 101 to Universal Studios.
Eric, Stuart and I went on the backlot tour first as we felt our kids were to young to go. Pat and Nicole stayed behind and we would swap afterwards.
Taken on our way out to Universal Studios.
The Mini Van is full.
Emma and Nicholas with with Curious George. I must be getting old. I remember reading about Curious George when I was a kid.
Courthouse Square during the Backlot Tour.
Emma and Nicholas with Easter Bunny from Hop.
Emma and Nicholas with Frankenstein’s Monster.
Emma and Nicholas with Homer Simpson.
Mr. Potato Head – Universal Studios Producer by Day, Toy Story Carnival Game Hawker by night at Disneyland Resort.
The Courthouse in the Backlot.
King Kong managed to crush one of the trams before they got him into his new home after the massive fire in 2008.
Going into King Kong 3D. By far the best thing about the already great tour. If you haven't experienced this yet I strongly encourage you to as soon as possible. It is awesome.
We were lucky to survive an encounter with Norman Bates. What's that lunatic doing out in public after all these years anyways?
Dan, Emma, Nicole and Nicholas with the sign.
Eric with the Universal Globe. The rest of us already have similar shots from previous trips.
The weather wasn't the greatest and we had pretty much seen all we wanted to so we went into Universal City Walk for some lunch at Johnny Rockets where Nicholas showed how much he loves his sister.
We took a long scenic drive back to the resort and I guess Stuart was tired.
Even though we live near the ocean, we don't have a single beach near us without some island or another blocking a straight view to the horizon so we wanted to stop to see such a view. Weren't counting on the oil rigs but we weren't going to complain to hard.
The view we got was great.
DAY 6 - May 19, 2011
Spent the next three days in both parks, even doing the early Magic Morning entry into Disneyland on Day 6 where I finally got to ride some of the Fantasyland rides that after two previous trip I had somehow managed to miss.
The crowd just before regular opening on a Magic Morning.
Emma, Nicholas, Walt and Mickey.
This butterfly decided to wait with us in the Casey Jr. Circus Train line.
On the Casey Jr. Circus Train.
Yes, Nicholas and Emma, elephants can fly.
On a Storybook Land Canal Boat.
Emma makes a new friend.
Emma and Nicholas spend some time with Tinkerbell and Vidia.
After Pixie Hallow Nicole and Pat took Emma and Nicholas into Toon Town. We had promised to take Nicholas to meet Mickey in person for weeks before the trip. Nicholas loves Mickey after watching Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse on Disney Junior (which we also get in Canada).
Once in Mickey's house Nicholas was lucky that they weren't that busy as Mickey spent a fair amount of time with him.
Nicholas and Mickey at long last.
Later in the day, Eric, Stuart, Nicole and I braved a nearly hour long lineup to try out Indiana Jones Adventure. Enjoyable if a little intense for me.
Searching for Indiana Jones.
Once we left the parks we hit up Build-A-Bear and Ridemakerz to get something for the kids. Emma, Nicholas and me.
For Nicholas and myself I built a remote control version of Lightning McQueen.
Nicholas and Dan with the completed Lightning McQueen. This is the Cars 2 version of Lightning.
DAY 7 - May 20, 2011
Emma (as Cinderella) and her Build-A-Bear (Cat) Mittens.
Breakfast at Goofy’s Kitchen.
Nicholas and Alice.
Emma and Alice.
Pluto and Emma.
Nicholas and Snow White.
Chip and Emma. Emma really, really liked Chip. She wouldn't let go of him. He found this rather amusing.
Donald Duck and the kids. Is it me, or does Donald appear to be eating Nicholas's hand?
After breakfast we headed into the parks.
California Screaming and Mickey's Fun Wheel.
Even though I find it's a small world kind of creepy I went on it again for Emma. My brother who was sitting next to me also didn't really like it much. But then he doesn't like the Jungle Cruise either. I think he's a bit goofy personally.
DAY 8 - May 21, 2011
Our last full day at the resort. Didn't take to many pictures but we do have a few to share.
Nicholas, Emma and Miko during breakfast at Storyteller’s Cafe.
Dale with Emma, Nicholas and Nicole.
The fountain near the Haunted Mansion.
Emma and Nicholas with Aviator Minnie.
DAY 9 - May 22, 2011
If you recall there was a slight mess up with regards to our flights. Originally we were to return to Vancouver on this day but because of the mess up we ended up staying an extra day before we could fly back to SeaTac.
We had originally thought about going back to Universal Studios as our tickets were good for two days but we ultimately felt that we had done what we wanted to there and the kids would end up bored for most of it so we decided to try out the Los Angeles Zoo which none of has had been to before.
I got to eat my first churro here. I liked it.
The front entrance sign.
Nicholas looking at a waterfall.
Eric taking yet another photo. Seriously he took over 600 of them.
A nice rose.
Nicholas looking at some Meerkats.
Not even two yet and Nicholas already has a monkey on his back…
Emma enjoying the zoo.
Koala out of a tree. Notice I didn't type Koala Bear? Koala's are not bears contrary to what many people think.
I wonder where his lion friends are. I thought all sleeping Zebra’s had Lion friends… Can you tell I went on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland twice this trip?
Nicholas is still working on the whole walking thing. (He was fine if anyone is wondering.)
A wild lizard in a zoo. I found that amusing for some reason.
Stuart taking Nicholas on a wild stroller ride.
Emma kept trying to get her socks off.
Yep, she’s a Canucks fan. But Daddy’s hat is to big. Shortly after we got home the Canucks eliminated the Sharks to move on to the Stanley Cup Final. Sadly as we all know they lost the cup final in Game 7.
Nicholas has lots of teeth.
Emma? Not so much.
The family in front of The Front of Water.
The Back of Water (Disneyland isn’t the only place to see it apparently.)
The elusive ATM. The LA Zoo must feel honoured to have one in their collection. (And so ends the lame jokes.)
Once we were done at the zoo we headed to the Holiday Inn near LAX. This allowed us to return our rental cars early so we would have one less thing to deal with the next morning.
DAY 10 - May 23, 2011
We woke up bright and early on the last day of our trip and got down to the airport. The flight home was great.
Once we got to SeaTac we gathered our luggage, paid for the week plus long parking and headed for the nearest IHOP for breakfast / lunch. After that we hunted around for a gas station that wouldn't give us grief for our Canadian Visa's so we could top up our tanks.
Finally we got on the road and drove the 5 north to the Canadian / US Border only to get stuck in a two hour long lineup going into Canada. Guess that's what I get for booking our return flights on a holiday in Canada. (It was Victoria Day.)
So that was long, but a pretty good record of the trip. Thanks for reading.
If you want to see the above photos in more detail or any of the other photos (over 960 of them) from this trip not included here please go to this page.
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