whoever
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
Here we are. After 37 months of not being at the DLR, I'm finally going back (Amy had gone twice this summer with 2 out of the 3 Girl Scout Troops as she's troop leader for all 3 of our girl's troops). Victoria had not been to Disneyland 56 months!!!! This was also a milestone trip for her as each child for their 10th birthday gets a trip to Disneyland sans siblings and a meal at Club 33 to celebrate them being Disney Adults. We would also be going for Dapper Day weekend, so more fun there as well.
This trip had a shadow cast over it, but we were going to make the best of things. After 26 years of not a single day of unemployment (not even when switching jobs, end one on a Friday, start the new one the following Monday), I had been downsized shortly before our trip. Everything was already planned much in advance and we had thankfully paid for the hotel and tickets on Disney Visa Points, but it was still a bit stressful not to think about $ now going out and zero coming in as I've been the sole wage earner for the past 16+ years.
Friday, November 4th found me up at 4am. I was hoping for a 5-5:30am departure. I was ready to go, however when traveling with women, it's never gonna be a timely departure. Somehow we apparently needed 15 bags for 3 people for 4 days..... I'm not joking... 15. I had 3, my suitcase, my laptop bag, and my camera bag.
Thankfully the Axiom is a full-length vehicle as most the luggage fit aft of the 3rd row.
With Victoria settled in and snacks/beverages within arm's distance of the front seat, it was time to hit the road at......... 6:41am! Well past my hoped departure time.
With such a late departure, traffic was quite heavy and given that we are in the literal center of Phoenix, getting out to the West was a bit of an aggravating experience. Fast forward a bit, we found ourselves rolling in to the fuel exit immediately before crossing the Colorado River, the Flying J in Ehrenberg. The fuel fill up took a good 6 minutes and a few more while I waited for the girls to finish their potty break and breakfast getting and we were back on the road. Once Amy finished her Cinnamon Donut holes, it was time for her to start sewing. Yes.... she hadn't finished Victoria's scratch-made dress completely, and would spend the next 2.5 hours or so sewing while I drove.
Cruising past the wind farms a little past 10am.
We made great time until we got off at Ball Rd. Man, that last couple of miles felt like it could have been faster on foot.
Finally our Turn!!!
At 11:42, we were pulling into our home away from home. 5 hours 1 minute total travel time. Not my best time (4hrs, 57 minutes), but it was a good run especially with all the construction slowing things down.
Quick check-in, unload, toss the keys, and we were informed that our room was ready, but hadn't been inspected yet. We would get a text later when it was ready, so in to the parks we went at noon on the dot.
I'm always slow going through bag check as I had 5 lenses and my camera body with me, and there's a million zippers on my bag. They usually give up and wave me through after the first couple of them. Amy and Vic had gotten quite far ahead of me though so I had to hustle to catch up.
Took about 10 minutes to get through DTD, the surprisingly long lines at the gates, and the obligatory take your picture to link to your ticket routine, but we had perfect timing as just as we passed through the railroad underpass, the Disneyland band was rounding the entrance to the square so we got a front-row show.
And finally, the long vista.... never gets old. LOVE seeing this every single time.
This trip had a shadow cast over it, but we were going to make the best of things. After 26 years of not a single day of unemployment (not even when switching jobs, end one on a Friday, start the new one the following Monday), I had been downsized shortly before our trip. Everything was already planned much in advance and we had thankfully paid for the hotel and tickets on Disney Visa Points, but it was still a bit stressful not to think about $ now going out and zero coming in as I've been the sole wage earner for the past 16+ years.
Friday, November 4th found me up at 4am. I was hoping for a 5-5:30am departure. I was ready to go, however when traveling with women, it's never gonna be a timely departure. Somehow we apparently needed 15 bags for 3 people for 4 days..... I'm not joking... 15. I had 3, my suitcase, my laptop bag, and my camera bag.
Thankfully the Axiom is a full-length vehicle as most the luggage fit aft of the 3rd row.
With Victoria settled in and snacks/beverages within arm's distance of the front seat, it was time to hit the road at......... 6:41am! Well past my hoped departure time.
With such a late departure, traffic was quite heavy and given that we are in the literal center of Phoenix, getting out to the West was a bit of an aggravating experience. Fast forward a bit, we found ourselves rolling in to the fuel exit immediately before crossing the Colorado River, the Flying J in Ehrenberg. The fuel fill up took a good 6 minutes and a few more while I waited for the girls to finish their potty break and breakfast getting and we were back on the road. Once Amy finished her Cinnamon Donut holes, it was time for her to start sewing. Yes.... she hadn't finished Victoria's scratch-made dress completely, and would spend the next 2.5 hours or so sewing while I drove.
Cruising past the wind farms a little past 10am.
We made great time until we got off at Ball Rd. Man, that last couple of miles felt like it could have been faster on foot.
Finally our Turn!!!
At 11:42, we were pulling into our home away from home. 5 hours 1 minute total travel time. Not my best time (4hrs, 57 minutes), but it was a good run especially with all the construction slowing things down.
Quick check-in, unload, toss the keys, and we were informed that our room was ready, but hadn't been inspected yet. We would get a text later when it was ready, so in to the parks we went at noon on the dot.
I'm always slow going through bag check as I had 5 lenses and my camera body with me, and there's a million zippers on my bag. They usually give up and wave me through after the first couple of them. Amy and Vic had gotten quite far ahead of me though so I had to hustle to catch up.
Took about 10 minutes to get through DTD, the surprisingly long lines at the gates, and the obligatory take your picture to link to your ticket routine, but we had perfect timing as just as we passed through the railroad underpass, the Disneyland band was rounding the entrance to the square so we got a front-row show.
And finally, the long vista.... never gets old. LOVE seeing this every single time.
