Flying away
Trip Start
Feb 11, 2008
1
2
11
Trip End
Mar 24, 2008
Anaheim,
California,
United States
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Bought some Bundy for Uncle Sid - normal & special edition - at the Duty Free shop. Only trouble was no-one thought to mention that we couldn't carry it through the transit area when changing planes in Auckland - so that is in the confiscated items to be destroyed bin in Auckland airport.
Oh well - KC very cross at Air NZ for not telling us this piece of info when checking in!!!! 10/10 for the landing by pilots though.
Still quite bumpy but endurable flight to LA with another superb landing. Managed a couple of hours sleep despite the bumpy air and arrived to a very easy run through US customs in the incredibly busy LAX.
$115 cab ride out to Anaheim and settled into hotel
Day 1 - World of Disney
. Decided to hit the street immediately and tried Denny's for lunch. Then wandered over to Downtown Disney for an exploratory tour. Had to keep moving to stay away as it had been a long haul. Managed that & all had an early night.Day 2 - California Adventure Park (aka Disneyland 2). With perfect weather we decided today was the day for adventure albeit a little tamer than the Aussie worlds on the Gold Coast. Definitely tailored to the young family with under 10's in mind. Everything sparkling clean and friendly with safety in mind at every turn. Trevor says the roller coaster was the tamest he had been on yet (with Jaime) and even kept his eyes open going around Mickey's head. Trev & kids got a tad wet on the log ride so had to seek out some new outfits all round. Had breakfast, lunch and tea in the park and returned to hotel sufficiently stuffed & pleased with our first big day out.
Day 3 - Got the weather thing right as today was foggy (or cloudy or overcast or marine layers or smog....) & cool - couldn't see the Hollywood hills let alone the big white sign! Hopped on the VIP bus tour of downtown LAaaaa (Los Angeles), Hollywoooood (Rodeo Drive, Sunset Boulevard & Strip, Walk of Fame) etc. Then we tripped off to Universal Studios for the rest of the day. Lots of fun here with the studio tour, special effects, house of horrors and Randall & Jaime both helped out in the special effects studio much to their delight. It might be a mere 27 years since I was here but still saw some of the same old favorites (Jaws, parting the waters) but thoroughly enjoyed the looks on the rest of the family's faces as well as the new attractions.
Fairly puffed tonight with an hour or so on the bus back to Anaheim at night on the 5 lanes each way chock-a-block freeway.
Food is very big here - serves are quite large and much fried or stodgy choices (pizza, churros, pancakes.... but even my chicken caesar salald was too much tonight.
Anyway might leave it at that for now - suffice to say we're having a good time. Back to the real Disneyland tomorrow then Friday back to LAX to head to Cresswell, Oregon.
Comments
Hi Cliffs
Glad to see u r having a good time!!
From The Johnsons
Having Fun
Great to see your having fun. Brings back a lot of memories and gets the itchy feet itching harder.
Sally and Greg and boys