Disneyland February 2020 - Day 7 and Thoughts

Goodbye Grand Californian!  We'll see you again for sure.

Day 7 - Sunday

• Fly home - On the last day, we had to go home.  Most of the morning was getting packed and ready to go home.  It is not easy to do this with little kids.  As fast as we packed, they would get stuff back out.  We got really close so Lisa took the kids down to get breakfast and I finished packing.  I called bell service to help take the luggage.  They were very helpful.

• Breakfast in hotel - Lisa took the kids to Craftsman Grill to eat.  She said it was good.  The kids did pretty good eating.  I got down there just as they were finishing.

• Interesting driver - Our driver arrived early, so we felt a little rushed, but he was in no hurry.  He was a very interesting guy.  He looked like a bodyguard.  Lisa started talking to him while I was getting the luggage and he said that he moved to California with Frank Sinatra and worked for him for over 40 years.  He told us that he worked for many celebrities as a behind the scenes person to arrange or plan things for them.  For instance, we would reserve hotel rooms with private entrances or private dinners with paid vetted patrons to ensure security and privacy.  He said he worked for Jennifer Lawrence, Barbara Streisand and others.  Very interesting guy.  Also, very helpful and friendly.  We highly recommend BEST-VIP Chauffeured Worldwide Limo Service.  We made it to the airport with plenty of time and I got a bite to eat at a taco stand.  It was pretty good.  You should have seen us go through security.  Grady decided to start melting down as we were going through.  We were a mess.  Then Lisa walked around with him in the stroller while I ate and he fell asleep.  We boarded the plane and had to wake him up.  He was not happy about that.  He was not great on the way to Denver.  Then he was ridiculous at the Denver airport.  He just wanted to run everywhere.  He did like the moving walkways, but didn't want to stop.  We finally got him to eat and then boarded the next plane.  We were told it was full, but the flight attendant in the back said there were a few extra seats.  She tried to redirect people so we could get an extra seat for Grady.  It actually worked out really well.  We made it home fine.  Grady was a lot on the flights.  We got our luggage easily and back to the truck without a problem.  

Ellie with a Minnie donut

Oh the plane ride.  This is not what it looked like most of the ride.

Oh look, Grady has different close on.  I wonder how that happened.

Overall Thoughts and Review

Overall this was a great trip.  We were able to do a lot and spend some good time together with my brother's family.  We were glad both kids could ride rides and they both enjoyed the rides.  We loved the hotel and the perks that came with it.  It really made the trip better.  Food was a struggle and nap/sleep was a challenge.  I can't say enough about our ground transportation.  They were on time, extremely friendly and helpful with very comfortable vehicles.  We had some trouble with Disneyland park entry and security points.  Here are a few points I came up with on the way home.

Highlights:

• Grady saying ‘Fun’ - After the rides, we would ask Grady if it was fun.  He almost always had a smile or excited expression.  After a while, we started getting off the rides and he would say "Fun", before we asked the question.  It was really cute.  He did really well on the rides.  He got a little scared on Pirates, but in the end he loved Pirates and now wants to listen to the music in my car all the time.

• Grady saying ‘Choo-Choo’ - Before the trip, Grady loved trains, he calls them "choo-choos".  When we were in the parks, he loved seeing all of the trains and roller coasters and called them all "choo-choos".  It was really cute.  Loved watching the Incredicoaster.  I think he could have done that all day.

• Grady saying 'Star Wars' - One day we were walking through Galaxy's Edge and out of the blue Grady said "Star Wars".  He had never said it before and he didn't have much exposure to it, but he must have liked Star Wars land.  He did like walking through it and he liked "Chewy", Chewbacca.

• Grady saying 'Pirates' - After we rode Pirates, we got off the ride and Grady said it was fun and said "Pirates".  He really liked that ride.  He went on it twice and liked it both times.

• Ellie on roller coasters - Ellie had been on all of the roller coasters except the Incredicoaster and she got to do it this time.  She LOVED it!  She wanted to ride it all the time.  It is so much fun riding roller coasters with her.  She puts her arms up and has a cute little scream/yell through the rides.  That experience is why you take kids to Disney.

• Hotel - The Grand Californian is amazing. We loved this hotel.  The rooms were great.  Plenty of room and very comfortable. The staff was very pleasant and helpful.  The food options were good.  The location is unbeatable.  The direct private entrance to California Adventure was awesome and being able to get into both parks early each day is extremely helpful.  We stayed on rented points on the DVC side and I am currently looking to become DVC members now.

• Snacks - Every time we go to Disneyland there are new snacks and they are always great.  The churro toffee and fluffernutter churro were this year's new favs.  But we always go back for the standards:  Dole Whips, churros, popcorn, Tigger Tails, rice crispy treats, Mickey ice cream bars and others.  The last day, other than breakfast, we only ate snacks.  

• Star Wars Land - Galaxy's Edge was actually a surprise to me.  I had big concerns going in and I still have some, but in the end it was really cool.  The more we were in it, the more I enjoyed it.  It is very immersive and the rides are great.  Smuggler's Run was fun, but Rise of the Resistance is nothing like anything I've ever done.  The first experience on that ride will stay with me for a long time.  Even though I held Ellie and tried to keep her from getting too scared, I was in awe and shock of what I experienced. 

Lowlights

• Grady at meals - There is one word to describe Grady at meals, "sucked".  There was no reason to eat at sit down restaurants.  He was terrible.  I didn't get to actually enjoy any meals because I was trying to keep him under control through all of the meals.  I left or skipped several meals because of his ridiculousness.  Next time we are doing quick service for all meals until he can get better at meals.

• Grady at bed - Grady didn't sleep in the pack and play except for 1 nap.  He slept in the big bed with Lisa and usually slept sideways kicking her.  He almost fell out of bed a couple times.

• Grady at nap - Do you see a theme.  Grady was the problem on this trip.  Who takes a 23 month old on vacation.  Yuck.  He napped once in the hotel.  Otherwise he did nap in the stroller, but not very well.

• Grady on plane - Ellie was not great on flights when she was younger, but nothing like Grady.  Holy cow!  We dreaded it going into it and then couldn't wait for it to end.  

• All flights - Ellie is getting better on planes, but adding Grady to it is not helping.  How do we warp to California?  Can we get Elon Musk's hyper-loop done?