Author: John

The girls had their drinks in little cups with lids. I sat between them for the Chicago flight.

No lines. Metal detectors for us and body scanner for mother. It is so nice keeping liquids and electronics in our bags.

Day 1: May 1

• 9:30 AM EDT: Travel to Buffalo, NY
• 12:30 PM EDT: Lunch near airport
• 1:30 PM EDT: Arrive at Buffalo International Airport
• 3:00 PM EDT: Boarding flight to MDW (Chicago, IL)
• 3:30 PM EDT: BUF to MDW 2684
• 4:30 PM CDT: Dinner at MDW
• 5:40 PM CDT: Boarding flight to LAX (Los Angeles, CA)
• 6:10 PM CDT: MDW to LAX 5964
• 9:05 PM PDT: Car service to Desert Palms Hotel & Suites in Anaheim, CA
• 10:05 PM PDT: Check in to hotel
• 10:30 PM PDT: Bed

Day 2: May 2 (All times PDT)

• 6:30 AM: Breakfast
• 7:30 AM: Bonnie and Harry pickup scooter
• 7:45 AM: Arrive at Disney California Adventure Park
• 8:00 AM: Park open, crowd level 5
• 11:00 AM: Lunch at Flo’s V8 Cafe
• 4:00 PM: Better Together Parade
• 5:00 PM: Dinner at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta / Paradise Garden Grill
• 6:30 PM: Better Together Parade (Backup)
• 8:00 PM: Arrive at World of Color
• 9:00 PM: World of Color – ONE

Day 3: May 3 (All times PDT)

• 6:30 AM: Breakfast
• 7:45 AM: Arrive at Disneyland Park
• 8:00 AM: Park open, crowd level 4
• 11:00 AM: Lunch at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
• 2:45 PM: John and Leanne leave park to pickup rental van
• 4:00 PM: Pickup rental at Alamo
• 5:30 PM: “Magic Happens” Parade (Also at 3PM)
• 6:30 PM: Dinner
• 9:30 PM: Together Forever – Fireworks

Day 4: May 4 (All times PDT)

• 6:30 AM: Breakfast
• 7:00 AM: Drive to Universal Studios Hollywood
• 8:00 AM: Super Nintendo Land Early Entry
• 9:00 AM: Park opens
• 10:45 PM: Express pass for Universal Studios Tour
• 12:00 PM: Lunch at French Street Bistro
• 6:00 PM: Dinner at Three Broomsticks

Day 5: May 5 (All times PDT)

• 6:30 AM: Breakfast
• 7:45 AM: Arrive at Disneyland Park
• 8:00 AM: Park open, crowd level 5
• 9:00 AM: Daisy @ Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
• 10:00 AM: Early lunch at Red Rose Tavern
• 11:20 AM: Magnolia @ Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
• 11:25 AM: Harry @ Savi’s Workshop
• 3:00 PM: “Magic Happens” Parade
• 5:30 PM: “Magic Happens” Parade (Backup)
• 6:15 PM: Dinner at River Belle Terrace
• 9:30 PM: Together Forever – Fireworks

Day 6: May 6 (All times PDT)

• 6:30 AM: Breakfast
• 7:45 AM: Arrive at Disneyland Park
• 8:00 AM: Park open, crowd level 5
• 11:40 AM: Lunch at Cafe Orleans
• 3:00 PM: “Magic Happens” Parade
• 5:00 PM: Dinner at Harbor Galley

Day 7: May 7 (All times PDT)

• 6:30 AM: Breakfast
• 7:45 AM: Arrive at Disney California Adventure Park
• 8:00 AM: Park open, crowd level 5
• 11:00 AM: Lunch at Smokejumpers
• 4:00 PM: Better Together Parade
• 5:00 PM: Dinner at Aunt Cass Cafe
• 6:30 PM: Better Together Parade (Backup)
• 8:00 PM: Arrive at World of Color
• 8:00 PM: Bonnie return scooter?
• 9:00 PM: World of Color – ONE

Day 8: May 8

• 6:30 AM PDT: Breakfast
• 8:30 AM PDT: Car service to airport
• 10:55 AM PDT: Light lunch at airport
• 11:55 AM PDT: Boarding flight to MDW
• 12:25 PM PDT: LAX to MDW 167
• 6:50 PM CDT: Boarding flight to BUF
• 7:20 PM CDT: MDW to BUF 5634
• 1:15 AM EDT: Home

Last year my mother decided that she wanted to take my family and my sisters family on a trip. She initially wanted to take us all on a cruise at the same time but due to my unpredictable health and the general need to book a cruise as early as possible this was not going to work. We all decided that separate cruises would be best which meant my mother would be going on two trips instead of just one which she was not at all opposed to.

Unfortunately my health has continued to be problematic so we started looking into last minute cruises that left from a port within a days drive of our home in Cambridge, ON. We ruled out the common cruise ports as they all required air travel which can have very unpredictable pricing at the last minute especially for 6-7 passengers. Unfortunately there are not a lot of options at our “nearby” cruise ports. The cruise would need to be short, 5 days max due to travel and my treatment schedule. The best candidate was a 5 day Bermuda cruise out of Baltimore (10h drive) but that didn’t work with my schedule and Bermuda did not sound at all inviting for 3-11 year old children.

Mother and I have been constantly brainstorming other options.

Leanne and I were planning to take the kids (minus Poppy) to Disney World this year however we were greatly concerned with the amount of walking involved. We thought of including my mother, who expressed a desire to return to at least Magic Kingdom, but had similar reservations due to her slightly reduce mobility.

During one of the brainstorming sessions with my mother, one of us, we can’t remember who, mentioned Disneyland California. It immediately became clear to us that this was the perfect solution. It would be a trip that everyone (except the 3-year-old) would greatly enjoy.

Disneyland is a fraction of the size of Disney World. We would have a short walk to the parks and see a lot of the same attractions that we could see at Disney World. It should be a very similar Disney experience just like we were in Disney World in Florida.

My mother and I have never been. In fact my mother’s family took a trip to California and Disneyland a few months before I was born. She was not able to attend. Disneyland has always been a destination she has wanted to see.

I texted Leanne with the idea right away and within the hour she had downloaded a Disneyland touring guide book from the library and started reading. We spent several hours that night researching and discussing Disneyland, travel to California and Universal Studios Hollywood. Our research and discussion only proved that this was a very good idea.