Originally Posted By iamsally Well, I guess everyone pretty much knows that my much anticipated Disneyland trip with all six grandchildren, my daughters and their husbands ended on a sour note. For a while it tainted the entire trip but as time had passed and I am able to look at the pictures (which are hard proof that some of the things said about me were purely false) I have come to realize just how much fun I did have. I am not going to give a blow by blow; just the highlights. We arrived early Friday morning. By early I mean 2AM. And joy of joys: our two room suite was overbooked or something. Anyway, they put us in a storage closet; well not quite but almost. We stayed there two nights in order to get a two room suite with 4 beds and a full kitchen. Not too bad, well pretty bad, but we all survived. We are talking 5 adults two kids and two infants. (Well they gave us a rollaway.) They also promised us a $25 a night refund. Wonderful, as the difference in one room and two rooms is $30. I now know why they gave us the runaround and I have yet to see a refund; that hotel is gone! Yes, sold and the owners who knows where. Friday morning we got moving as early as we could and went to meet up with DD1 and family who had already been there for 2 days. There was hugging and pictures and we headed to Pirates so we could all ride something with a line that moves fast. I think maybe this is when we did Pinochio and Snowwhite as those lines are usually small. By afternoon Chloe and I went to the hotel for a nap and lunch. We slept long enough to stay late into the evening. The family was just going to the Riverbelle for dinner but decided to round up a table for F! SIL’s teenage daughter had never seen it. Well, duh, it was her first trip to Disneyland. What a drag, the projectors were not working. Nashara loved the show cuz she didn’t know what she was missing. And Chloe was so excited about it that I resolved to make sure she got to see it right. We watched the fireworks from the Riverbell and I really do not like that view. Too many trees. DD1 and her family left, DD2 took Chloe and I took my grandson to ride Dumbo and Buzz. On Saturday morning we went to Mini and Friends. It was so much fun but as I have stated before; if you want to interact with the characters, DO NOT GO WITH BABIES. We got lots of great photos and the food was fresher than last time. Nashara was blown away with this as well. It was getting hot and crowded and we decided to go to DCA and see Crush and that stuff. On the way we stopped at Engine Ears so Nashara could see the Mr. Potato stuff. It was a riot to see the look on her face as she said, “I think I want to do this.†She only got about half enough stuff in the box. My DD2 and I are experts at stuffing these boxes so she took it in hand and greatly added to the collection. We had a lot of fun watching the Toy Story zoeatrope(?) then went down and played with the animation stuff and took personality tests and sang along with movie characters. Then we had just enough time for a quick run through of the Snowwhite exhibit before Crush was on. My granddaughter got picked to talk to him and it was such fun. Then he asked to talk her parental unit so my DD1 got to talk to him too. Some of us went one way and some of us rode Monsters. It was time for Chloe and I to get our nap so I went back to Disneyland for my stroller, I had been carrying Chloe in a sling. My stroller was gone. I checked with security and lost and found but it was gone for good. So I had to carry her back to the hotel. Not a long walk but a bit for a grandmother to carry a baby. That evening I wanted to take her on Pooh but after riding the train around the park I decided to leave with my daughter so I would have help with the baby. The next morning was Easter Sunday and Chloe and I were attending the breakfast meet at Carnation Café. I had not had chocolate or coffee for 40 days and was looking forward to a mocha. We got out early and were in the park by 8:02. We headed for Fantasyland and had time for Peter Pan, Alice and Mr. Toad before breakfast. Chloe just loves those rides and watching it all through an 18 month old’s eyes is such fun. She had just been there 2 weeks before and it was amazing the way she would remember things. I truly enjoyed my mocha. Weird thing, I did not get the meal I ordered. The goofy thing; I did not even notice as I was just too busy talking to everybody I guess. As breakfast was ending DD2 and family came by the café and she was able to meet some of my friends and since they were all doing BTMR and I had a baby with me I left with my daughter. We met up with the rest of the family and I think this is when we did the Tiki Room but my memory is spotty and with the baby I did not get enough pictures to go back and check. I was still sans a stroller to get to and from the park. I actually offered my first-born if I did not return it but was told they absolutely DO NOT let strollers out of the park. So after baking in the hot sun waiting for Knightnfreeze (and meeting him) and chatting with 999haunts and PB I took her and myself to the Steve Martin movie just to cool off. Then, after trying different plans I walked back to the hotel with her in her sling. We stopped at World of Disney where I had no problem letting her run around pulling stuffed animals off the shelves. I would not normally allow this but I was a bit put out by the treatment (or at least lack of compassion) at lost and found. We walked on to the lobby of the GCH where we stopped to listen to the piano player. I took Chloe over and showed her how the piano worked and explained to her about “real†music. After that break the rest of the walk was not too bad. I was mostly worried about her being out in the sun as I had lost her hat and forgotten my parasol. So, we had a good lunch and headed out in my car for a vain attempt at acquiring a stroller. Everybody including Walmart was closed. When we got back, she was asleep and stayed asleep until 7PM. We ate and headed back to the Parks in my car. We met up with the family who was saving seats on a bench for the fireworks. Chloe looked over at the Astro Orbiter, got all excited and yelled WWHHHEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! She remembered it from the previous trip. So I resolved to get her on it soon. She loved the fireworks. After, we went on Buzz with DD2's family and then on AO. Chloe just loves to sit up as tall as she can and let the wind blow her hair. Then we parted company and Chloe and I went to check the line for Nemo. It was really short so I called DD and told her to get over there. We only had about a 15 minute wait and it was after midnight when we got out. I just knew they would not let me take the rental stroller out past the gates. Sure enough I was told to stop and I said, “You just don’t know what I have been through,†as I was pulling stuff out. When the CM learned my stroller had been stolen she got a security CM to walk me to the shuttle. What a relief. I had gotten a great parking spot so it was easy after that. The CM told me that teenagers will steal strollers and push each other home in them!?! Okay, this is getting really long. I will take a break and post more later.
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove Oh, iamsally, this really is a "Tale of Two DL's". I'm very sorry to hear of your unfortunate experiences, and heartened to hear of the good ones. Thanks for taking the time to type this out for us. My best to you and your family.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Have to ask since you mentioned the hotel being sold - which hotel??
Originally Posted By iamsally It was called the Parkside Inn and Suites and is on West across from DCA. It was a real flea bag but we got really good deals from them.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Thanks for the info - i have reservations there and Desert inn for oct - I guess I know which one to cancel!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Ruthie, glad to see you posting a reliving the good times. we love you sweet spirit. Big Bear Hugs, The Baloos
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 >>We stopped at World of Disney where I had no problem letting her run around pulling stuffed animals off the shelves.<<< I loved this! I think we all know exactly how you felt at that moment, you were Done with a capital D. I'm so sorry that your planned family trip was blotched for reasons beyond your control. It sounds like Chloe and her grandparents will be having lot's of Disneyland trips in the future.
Originally Posted By iamsally >>>Oh, iamsally, this really is a "Tale of Two DL's".<<< Ironically, it is the fun I was having that caused the problem. I was oblivious to the stew pot that was simmering and ready to blow. Go figger.
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"The CM told me that teenagers will steal strollers and push each other home in them!?!"<<< Sadly, it is not just teenagers that take other people's strollers. :0(
