From San Diego to Anaheim

So we are doing this slightly tough but we ain't stupid!

We decided that as it was rush hour and as there are four of us, two travel bags, a wheelie bag, two small day packs and Ella's toy (in flight) bag we would catch a taxi from the hotel to the bus station.

Once there we gave the kids their sugar laden breakfast cereal. It was called Cookies Cereal and that's what it was …. Miniature chocolate chip biscuits which you pour milk over. Morghan ate it like there was no tomorrow! Chris and I had what we thought was healthy, a sultana bran thing, it too was coated in sugar. Our meal at the greyhound bus station was completed with a over size coffee from the coffee bean. Piping hot I might add.

We boarded the bus, Ella and I managing to get a seat together. I have learnt American's are rude when it comes to personal space. They live in cities with millions of people and well lots of crazies!

We all made it up the highway to Anaheim and decided to walk the two miles to our hotel. Two miles sounds so much shorter than five kilometers. So with backpacks on we walked. My hips aren't as young as they use to be.

Once we saw Disneyland we started yelling and screaming and then we saw our hotel … Howard Johnson. I'm going to recommend this hotel to anyone with kids staying at Disneyland. It's literally across the road, well priced and has an amazing children's water play area. As we walked in Ella thanked me for making her dreams come true!

We made it to the pool with some corn chips and salsa for lunch. And although it was freezing the water was heated and kids had a ball.

Later we went for a walk to the local shopping mall …. Not much, we should have done downtown Disney. But we did have a milkshake in a genuine diner.

Wasn't much of a day and involved an early night! But we needed a break.

Thursday 9th of September

Woke up bright and early ready for Disneyland. We had breakfast at Denny's, after getting so many mixed reviews on the place …. Our verdict is Morghan loved it (choc chip pancakes), Ella hated it (she ordered pancakes and she has a savory tooth) Chris didn't mind it and I thought the eggs could be done better!

We went to the ticket counter and got our passes and our "It's our first time Badge". Technically it's not my first time to Disneyland, I went in 1977 when I was three, I've also been to Disneyland Paris and Tokyo but it was my first time with my children, so I lived the lie!

We made our way into Disneyland and made it Main Street to purchase our mouse ears and have the names put on the back. Along the way we met Minnie, Mickey and Chip (Chip and Dale). Fantasyland was our first stop, the Dumbo ride, The flight of Peter Pan, The Tea cups, just to name a few and then onto tomorrow land for the Buzz ride, Nemo's adventure and a trip on the monorail.And then onto the steam boat (Mark Twain), where we thought of Nerida and Ed and our last trip on a steam boat for your wedding (yours seemed a bit more authentic) and then onto Pirates of the Caribbean …. Most hated by Ella. We also did it's a small world the carousel and a stack of other rides. The park was relatively quiet so we got a lot done. And did I mention we met Buzz Light-year and Woody!

Our day was completed with the parade… spectacular!

With two tired kids and aching feet we left the park and made our way for dinner and a Margarita! They cost $5 here, apparently expensive?

I just thought I would mention here that Disneyland is the cleanest place I have ever been and the staff are incredibly friendly!

I would also like to mention that disability is no obstacle here. Almost every ride can be ridden by a disabled person and many of which you don't have to get out of your chair for. I wish I had taken photo's but the facilities were amazing.

Friday 10th of September

Once again up early for Disneyland with a large breakfast to keep us going.

Today was Disneyland Adventure park where Mickey and his friends 'Vacation'. We got our tickets to World of Colour, more about that later.We then enjoyed the some of rides on the pier. Ella has started to get brave with her rides!

We then went to a ride called Flying Over California! An Amazing Flying adventure over different parts of the state complete with smells. Absolutely amazing!

We then made our way to Monsters Inc, while down in that section of the park we stopped to watch a show and both kids were picked to be on stage. They both ended up with animated drawings of Cinderella and Woody signed by Disney animators. A fantastic experience for them both. Whilst there Ella got to meet her hero Cinderella … a magical moment for her!

Morghan and I decided to brave the roller coaster ………..Brilliant and do a few more rides while Ella and Chris watched playhouse Disney.

We then went on the Ferris wheel. You know the one with Mickey on it over the water. Well this is a scaryFerris wheel and the gondola's swing ……Mickey was not nice designing this ride! I actually found this the scariest in the park!

We had a quick ride on the rapids and then walked back to our hotel for a quick dip and a rest.

We came back for world of Colour! Amazing water spectacular! It's what you get when you have an unlimited budget a few hundred thousand lights, lasers flame throwers a water dance designed by the guy who designed the belagio fountain and a Disney soundtrack. Word can't describe it but we were all amazed.

Afterwards, what we should have done is go to the hotel and get some sleep but what we did was go into Disneyland. See the end of the fireworks, hop on a few rides and had a bogie to a Disney band playing. We got back to the hotel at midnight with two sleeping kids!

Saturday 11th of September

Why should have we gone to bed early …..we had a morning pass which got us into Disney at 7am. So at 6.30am we woke, very tired and went to Disneyland but it's amazing how many rides you can get on in an empty park. Ella even braved the Matterhorn!

At about 10 we caught the monorail to downtown and had breakfast in the most amazing restaurant called rainforest!Where animated animals and a storm happen every 15 mins.

After what was meant to be a quick trip to a bookshop …kids love bookshops and spent a good 45 minutes in there. We made our way back to Disneyland and up to Toon Town.

At around 2pm, we left Disneyland and made our way back to the hotel for a sleep and a swim.

That evening we went back to Disneyland Adventure Park. Morghan wanted to take Daddy on the roller Coaster!

We headed back to Disneyland for dinner ………….yummy Gumbo!

And then the fireworks, sure beats riverfire! Tinkerbell is more special than those noisy planes!

Finally made it home at 11.30pm and to bed!

Sunday 12 September

A travelling day up early to finish packing and then shuttle out to LAX.Getting through security was fun with self service check in based on your passport.A five hour flight to NY on the oldest plane I've ever seen. But surprisingly a very comfortable flight! No TV's so the kids watched downloaded videos on the computer.

When we arrived it was raining and we had to wait ages for a cab. But got one in the end. Checked into our very old and very two star hotel ….but it's a bed in New York! We went and had dinner at Scotty's Diner on Lexington Avenue and found out steam does rise from the streets in New York!

After many texts it was decided that as Leo had been busy shopping all day we would meet tomorrow!

And we made our way to bed!