The Ultimate Family Vacation
I wanted to take my family on the ultimate family vacation. Plus, my son has done so well with his first year of homeschooling that I felt a reward of sorts was appropriate. I don't know about you, but in our house the words "ultimate family vacation" can only mean one thing: Disneyland.
So off we jetted to Southern California, where the temperature was 97 degrees when we landed. I told my wife, "Aren't you glad I made you bring your shorts?" Luckily it didn't stay that hot, dropping down to the high 80's the next day and the rest of the week. It was nice to be in shorts and sandals the whole time, especially after the long winter.
When I started planning this trip, I knew there was only one place to stay ... the overly-expensive Disneyland Hotel. Why? Because it was on my List Of Things To Do In My Life. Ever since I was a little kid I had wanted to stay at the Disneyland Hotel. So that was my logic in booking a room there. And it turned out to be quite nice. Here's the view from our balcony...
The Disneyland Hotel is old, and showing its age in places, but it's fun and comfortable, and has a very cool pool (complete with pirate ship, mermaids, and skull rock). We stayed in the Marina Tower and all we had to do to get into Disneyland was walk out the lobby, turn left, and walk about 100 yards to the monorail station (I have a whole other post to write about the monorail). Or we could make the 15-minute stroll through Downtown Disney, a jumble of trendy shops and restaurants, to the main gate.
It was like being on a cruise. We never left the confines of the hotel or the parks, only dealing with the outside world driving to and from the airport. For five days we were in a Disneyized fantasy world.
A couple of things about this fantasy world, though... In this world food costs three times what it does on the outside. Also, there are lines for everything. 10 minutes to get on a rollercoaster, 20 minutes to eat prime rib, 2 hours to meet fake princesses! Lastly, this world makes you buy things, like an ear-piercing Astro Blaster for your son, or a frilly pink princess dress for your daughter, that you normally would dismiss as junk. You can enter this place as an avowed non-consumer, but you will not be able to resist the siren call of the Disney marketers. Oh no, don't even try.
I'll have more to write about our Disney vacation over the next week. Plus, I took over 700 pictures... You don't think I'm going to share a few more? All in all, it was a great week. Very relaxing and full of awesome family memories. Most of all, it was nice to just get away from the laundry and the dishwasher.
Oh, and I made a new friend at Disneyland! She was very curious about how many dogs we have here in Idaho...
So off we jetted to Southern California, where the temperature was 97 degrees when we landed. I told my wife, "Aren't you glad I made you bring your shorts?" Luckily it didn't stay that hot, dropping down to the high 80's the next day and the rest of the week. It was nice to be in shorts and sandals the whole time, especially after the long winter.
When I started planning this trip, I knew there was only one place to stay ... the overly-expensive Disneyland Hotel. Why? Because it was on my List Of Things To Do In My Life. Ever since I was a little kid I had wanted to stay at the Disneyland Hotel. So that was my logic in booking a room there. And it turned out to be quite nice. Here's the view from our balcony...
The Disneyland Hotel is old, and showing its age in places, but it's fun and comfortable, and has a very cool pool (complete with pirate ship, mermaids, and skull rock). We stayed in the Marina Tower and all we had to do to get into Disneyland was walk out the lobby, turn left, and walk about 100 yards to the monorail station (I have a whole other post to write about the monorail). Or we could make the 15-minute stroll through Downtown Disney, a jumble of trendy shops and restaurants, to the main gate.
It was like being on a cruise. We never left the confines of the hotel or the parks, only dealing with the outside world driving to and from the airport. For five days we were in a Disneyized fantasy world.
A couple of things about this fantasy world, though... In this world food costs three times what it does on the outside. Also, there are lines for everything. 10 minutes to get on a rollercoaster, 20 minutes to eat prime rib, 2 hours to meet fake princesses! Lastly, this world makes you buy things, like an ear-piercing Astro Blaster for your son, or a frilly pink princess dress for your daughter, that you normally would dismiss as junk. You can enter this place as an avowed non-consumer, but you will not be able to resist the siren call of the Disney marketers. Oh no, don't even try.
I'll have more to write about our Disney vacation over the next week. Plus, I took over 700 pictures... You don't think I'm going to share a few more? All in all, it was a great week. Very relaxing and full of awesome family memories. Most of all, it was nice to just get away from the laundry and the dishwasher.
Oh, and I made a new friend at Disneyland! She was very curious about how many dogs we have here in Idaho...
Labels: Disney, Disneyland, vacation
Permalink posted by Phil at 12:18 PM
11 Comments:
Sounds like a nice vacation. Disney is definitely a world of it's own.
Nice picture with Cruella!
We took a family vacation to southern California last August and spent three days at Disneyland and California Adventure. My girls are 11, 12, and 16, so we actually enjoyed California Adventure much better. It didn't seem as crowded, and more fun for the older kids. "The Tower of Terror" was one of my favorites. Also, the fireworks were unbelievable. I went to Disneyland the first time in 1984, and there have been many changes since then, of course. So glad you had a wonderful, warm and sunny time at the "Happiest Place on Earth"! Look forward to seeing more pictures.
Looks like you had a great time! We're going in a few weeks, I can't wait.
Welcome to Sunny Southern Cal!
Hope you guys have fun. I'd tell you about the secret bar in Disneyland (how can you deal with that many kids all around and NOT drink?!) but I can't give away all my tricks.
Try the restaurant located inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Excellent food! Great atmosphere!
Glad to hear you had a wonderful, well deserved, vacation.
OK. I'm jealous. I want to stay in the Disney Hotel too, but I'm not sure if we can afford it. We'll see.
I have never, ever been to Disneyland. Glad you enjoyed the trip!
I'll never forget Disneyland. I was about 16 when we went. I can't wait to take our little one. I figure probably when she is 8 or 9.
Sounds like a great trip. I've been to Disney World a few times but never Disneyland. We're thinking about a Southern California vacation next summer.
I'll have to email L.A. Daddy for that secret bar.
omg. have i got a picture for you.
Oh great
I needed a picture of family vacation for a Blog Scavenger Hunt that I am doing.
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