A Tale of Two Trips: Disneyland and Hawaii July 2014 Long Way Home: The End 9/13 p.40

[mickeystoontown]

You'v made it to Hawaii! It sounds like your resort choice was a good one given the fact that it was close to the places that you wanted to visit and the things you wanted to see. Your meals looks absolutely delicious even though I am not a fan of Japanese food.

Oh and I have to say it....if you have a pancake lover in your family then you should go to either Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I've never ever seen so many pancake houses in my life. They are on every single block.

 

[JanetMom]

It's cold here today. The idea of Hawaii sounds good. I think I warmed up just a little by looking at your pictures.

 

[MickeyT]

Loving the pictures Dee. We're probably a year of two out from visiting Hawaii so you definite grabbed my attention.

 

[dtr_angel]

Dee I'm soooooo sorry! All caught up now though. Happy new year!

 

[MEK]

That resort is simply gorgeous! So many amazing pools and the Pacific Ocean. That sounds like nirvana right about now!

Both your lunch and dinner look delish! You are making me hungry so early in the morning.

OMG - what the heck landed on Nate's head? Ugh - all I can think was it was a bucket of water that had been used for cleaning. I have visions of it dumping from the sky. Glad everyone had a good laugh over that.

 

[natebenma]

Dee, sorry I got a bit behind.

you've arrived in Hawaii. Your pictures bring back wonderfu memories of our honeymoon there almost 32 years ago.

The resort you stayed at looks quite lovely.

And I'm wondering if it is lunch time as I am drooling over all of your food pictures.

Beautiful beach.

at the water on Nate's head.

No worries Kathy! It is so hard to keep up everywhere!

I bet a lot has changed since your honeymoon trip, but Waikiki beach is still beautiful. Did you stay at a hotel closer to Diamond Head? I bet you would be shocked at how packed the resorts are along that stretch now.

We enjoyed our meals that day and visited both restaurants again later in our trip. It was kind of a cop out because we didn't venture off the resort much to eat, but I guess if you find something good, why bother? I am sad that we never tried the coffee house that Cynthia really likes which was literally across the street from our building. We could see it from our balcony but with my really poor sense of direction, I couldn't figure out how to get there!



The incident with the water on Nate's head was hilarious! I felt a little guilty because if I hadn't stopped to take a picture, he wouldn't have stopped and the water would have missed him. I'm glad he was a good sport about it.

You'v made it to Hawaii! It sounds like your resort choice was a good one given the fact that it was close to the places that you wanted to visit and the things you wanted to see. Your meals looks absolutely delicious even though I am not a fan of Japanese food.

Oh and I have to say it....if you have a pancake lover in your family then you should go to either Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I've never ever seen so many pancake houses in my life. They are on every single block.

We really liked the resort- it had everything we needed to keep us fed and entertained. In that order! Location was great- we were relatively close to every place we wanted to go and we had a spectacular view of Diamond Head from the beach.

Thanks for the heads up on where to go for pancakes!

It's cold here today. The idea of Hawaii sounds good. I think I warmed up just a little by looking at your pictures.

You may need the pictures again today for a warm up. BRRRR!!! It is cold here today, -20 degrees Farenheit with wind chill (about -28 Celsius)! They cancelled school for my boys today because we have a lot of walkers in town and it just isn't safe for anyone to be out.

Loving the pictures Dee. We're probably a year of two out from visiting Hawaii so you definite grabbed my attention.

Thanks, Mike! I will be glad to share whatever info I have when it is time for you to make the trip. I definitely recommend adding the DL piece first. It really helped our adjustment to the time difference.

Hope all goes well with your runs this week at the World.

Dee I'm soooooo sorry! All caught up now though. Happy new year!

Not a problem!!! I am so behind everywhere, including catching up with your report.

Happy New Year to your family!

That resort is simply gorgeous! So many amazing pools and the Pacific Ocean. That sounds like nirvana right about now!

Both your lunch and dinner look delish! You are making me hungry so early in the morning.

OMG - what the heck landed on Nate's head? Ugh - all I can think was it was a bucket of water that had been used for cleaning. I have visions of it dumping from the sky. Glad everyone had a good laugh over that.

We love a big resort where we can walk around and enjoy the views and landscaping. This was a great place for us to start our trip.

There were a lot of food choices which was good, and every place we ate was decent.

That's what I think with the water- that it was from a cleaning bucket. There was just so much of it, it wasn't like it was just a glass or so.

I'm glad Nate had a sense of humor about it.

 

[teekathepony]

Hi De! I'm taking some time to get caught up today.

Sorry to hear that your last night in Disneyland wasn't exactly perfect, but like you say, at least you got to see the fireworks.

Excited for Hawaii!

Surprised you'd have to fill out a customs form for that. "You must be the sequoias" -- hahaha that's funny, but glad you got through!

Beautiful view from your room! Wow!

Waikiki beach looks so beautiful (as I sit here freezing in -10 degree weather. Oh sorry, that's about 14 degrees Fahrenheit. )

Your meals both look yummy! What a beautiful resort and grounds, very beautiful.

 

[jmskinner]

I'm caught up! Loved all of your Disneyland and California Adventure pics. Funny how certain rides look exactly the same. Like the fossils sticking out at Big Thunder Mountain.

Sorry you didn't get to meet up with your friends. I have done that multiple times at WDW.

Loving the pics of Hawaii. And your view...

 

[natebenma]

Hi De! I'm taking some time to get caught up today.

Sorry to hear that your last night in Disneyland wasn't exactly perfect, but like you say, at least you got to see the fireworks.

Excited for Hawaii!

Surprised you'd have to fill out a customs form for that. "You must be the sequoias" -- hahaha that's funny, but glad you got through!

Beautiful view from your room! Wow!

Waikiki beach looks so beautiful (as I sit here freezing in -10 degree weather. Oh sorry, that's about 14 degrees Fahrenheit. )

Your meals both look yummy! What a beautiful resort and grounds, very beautiful.

Hi Wendy!

Good to see that, like treasured Disney movies, you have been "released from the vault"



So much on our Disneyland trip was amazing that our fails on the last night did not deter from a fantastic trip. But it really would have been nice to hook up with our friends!

I laughed when the guy at the Agricultural Inspection desk greeted us that way. I guess not many people from our flight had anything to declare.

Waikiki was postcard gorgeous, the resort was big and beautiful, our hotel view was breathtaking and our meals were fantastic.

Oahu was a win!

Thanks for coming along.

I'm caught up! Loved all of your Disneyland and California Adventure pics. Funny how certain rides look exactly the same. Like the fossils sticking out at Big Thunder Mountain.

Sorry you didn't get to meet up with your friends. I have done that multiple times at WDW.

Loving the pics of Hawaii. And your view...

Glad you are all caught up!

Disneyland was so much fun. We really enjoyed comparing the rides that were in both places. Some things were very similar but the ones that weren't...

Vive La Difference!

We were disappointed we didn't get to meet up with our friends.

Aloha and to Hawaii with us.

 

[natebenma]

As soon as we booked our trip to Hawaii, we knew the one thing we needed to do was visit Pearl Harbor. This is such an important place in the history of our country and we wanted to pay our respects. My boys are both history nuts, especially military history with a particular interest in World War II.

Here is something that Disney fans can appreciate- Reservations for the Arizona Memorial can be made online at 10 am, 180 days before the trip*

There are limited seats available on the ferry that goes over to the memorial and I think there only a few seats available per time slot to reserve in advance. Otherwise, you either need to book a tour package that includes a reservation on the ferry or you have to get to Pearl Harbor early in the morning to be sure to get a seat. We didn’t want to risk that, so we knew we would be doing the advanced tickets. Like with many National Park reservations, the tickets are free but you need to pay a small transaction fee for the reservation.

One of the great things about my part-time employment is that it is usually no problem for me to be available to manage things like this. Our date for ordering the tickets was January 17. As it turns out, Ben was in his school’s Geography Bee that morning, and I was able to be in audience to watch him. No way was I going to miss that!





So Mark had to take on this duty. I hated for him to have to be responsible for this while at work, but there really was no other choice. I was relieved when I received the text from Mark that we got the day and time we wanted: Thursday July 17, 9:15 am.

ETA, since Melissa asked: Ben placed 7th out of 24 kids who were in the contest. This was his first (and last) time in the bee- he just missed out on qualifying for this year's bee by two questions. And as an aside- Nate was in the Geo Bee his first year at the middle school and placed 2nd. It was the only time a 5th grader has made it to the runner up position. Both of my boys missed a question about where the Poconos are located. D'OH!


*ETA, based on Cynthia's reply- it appears that the reservation system has changed and tickets may now be reserved 2 months out, not 6 months. Here is the info from the National Park Service reservation site:

NEW!: Two month Advance reservations now available for groups and individuals.

NEXT DAY: 300 Next day Tickets available for individuals only

DAY OF: 2,000 walk-in tickets available daily at the Pearl Harbor visitor center.

NOTE: Reservations are available everyday starting at 7:00 a.m. (HST) through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.



Meanwhile, back in Hawaii...

On the day of our visit, we ate a quick breakfast in our room, then got a taxi from the lobby of the resort. The Hilton Hawaiian Village has an arrangement with Charley’s Taxi and has set rates to places like Pearl Harbor and the Airport.

I think we arrived at the site around 7:45 am. This was our first full day in Hawaii, with a 3 hour time difference from California, and another 3 from our New England home base. Since we are all early risers anyway, this time was not a hardship for us.

We were at Pearl Harbor from 7:45 until about 2 pm. I took 823 photos while we were there. Ben took an additional 470 and Nate took a few with his phone.

Don't worry! I won’t be posting them all here!









We purchased the Passport to Pearl Harbor which included admission to the Bowfin Submarine, the USS Missouri (“The Mighty Mo”) and the Aviation Museum ($65). We also purchased the headset tour.


We started at the Bowfin Submarine:













Lost Submarine Memorial

This marker to lives lost in submarine disasters has a personal meaning for my family. My dad worked at the Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard for 30 years. He was one of the engineers who worked on the Thresher submarine. He was scheduled to be on board for a test dive, but one of my dad’s coworkers wanted to go in my father’s place.

Over 50 years ago, on April 10, 1963 the Thresher submerged and never resurfaced. The 129 casualties is the largest number of lives lost in a US submarine disaster. To this day, my dad attends the annual memorial service and has often been the escort for his coworker’s widow and family.









It was time for our reservation on the ferry that would take us out to the Arizona Memorial.

Before going out, you watch a movie about the geo-political circumstances that lead to World War II, Japan’s involvement and the events that led up to the bombing of the battleships at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

I can’t describe how incredibly good and informative this movie was. Of course, I knew the basics of how and why Japan bombed the US fleet, but the details presented were really illuminating and went way beyond anything we covered in history class.


We then boarded the ferry that would take us over to the offshore memorial, where you could see parts of the submerged USS Arizona which still lies on the ocean floor.

Dedicated on Memorial Day in 1962, the USS Arizona Memorial, built over the sunken hull, honors the 1,177 crewmen who died during the attack at Pearl Harbor. The hull is both a tomb for over 900 sailors who remain within and a living reef providing habitat for marine life.


“They fought together as brothers-in-arms, they died together and now they sleep side-by-side” -Admiral Chester W. Nimitz












It is amazing that to this day, oil continues to rise to the surface from the sunken battleship.

There were 1.4 million gallons of fuel on the USS Arizona when she sank. Over 60 years later, approximately nine quarts still surfaces from the ship each day. Some Pearl Harbor survivors have referred to the oil droplets as "Black Tears."








A somber display of the devastating loss of lives on December 7, 1941















Continued in Next Posthttp://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52876255&postcount=411

 

[natebenma]

The next two places we visited were accessible by shuttle bus. Before heading over to the USS Missouri battleship, we walked around the grounds a bit more, and then we got an early lunch at the meal counter. Hot dogs and soup.

Good, but not worthy of food porn.

The battleship USS Missouri was the site of the Japanese surrender in World War II and saw service during the Korean conflict before retiring to become an exhibit at Pearl Harbor.






















R2D2




Interior of the ship








Site of the signing of the treaty that ended WWII.










We spent a lot of time exploring all of the decks of this huge battleship.


Close to where the USS Missouri is docked, you can find the Oklahoma Memorial which honors the 429 sailors who died when the ship capsized.





The Aviation Museum in Hangar 79 contains examples of military aircraft and weaponry and has some wartime scenes set up.















It was starting to get hot and we were tired from hours of touring Pearl Harbor. Time to get back to our resort.


Up Next: Is That Your Final Answer??? http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52906885&postcount=430

 

[jmskinner]

Going to Hawaii has never been on my to-do list, except that I would like to tour Pearl Harbor. Thank you for sharing that part of your trip.

I had never heard the story of the Thrasher, can not imagine the feelings your father has lived with all these years.

So, how did Ben do in the Geography Bee?

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

180 day advance purchase. Who's Copying who?

I really like the idea of a set rate taxi. Just nice to know in advance the cost.

My goodness, that story of your Dad is so tragic. Such a feeling of gratefulness and sadness all at once.

You know, a lot of people are obviously so familiar with Pearl Harbour, but for most (myself included) it's just this iconic site, far far away with a tragic history. To actually be there, especially as an American, must be surreal. I think this photo really captures the feelings one must have being at that site.

You both look so mournful and respectful.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I wish that we had gone to Pearl Harbor when we were in Oahu. It looks fascinating. It must have felt a little strange for you to be there, considering your father and what happened to the coworker.

 

[KatMark]

What a tragic story about your Dad and his co-worker.

Mark and I never made it to Pearl Harbor on our honeymoon (I think it was the "honeymoon" aspect), and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing your pictures. My Dad served in World War II and I know how much he wanted to go see Pearl Harbor and he never got that opportunity.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Thankyou Dee for your latest update. Like many I knew some of the history of Pearl Harbor but it seems more real looking at your photos and reading your report. You really made me reflect on how fragile life is and how precious with your dad's story. A reminder to us all to appreciate the good fortune we have to be here at all!

 

[jenseib]

Fabulous update Dee. It i such an interesting place. My parents went there a few years back and said it is just amazing and so sad all at the same time. I have read that many crew members who did not die on the Arizona have had their ashes placed there when they died as well.

 

[eandesmom]

I am confused. All the stuff I've looked at has the reservations at 60 days out, not 180. I just double checked and can only find 60 days. We are really hoping to get them at 60 (and should, it's not peak season) but I'd love to book it now.

Wow, what a story about your dad and the Thresher. Just. Wow.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Such a piece of history that I don't think we can truly appreciate now. I wonder what it will be like to take my grandkids (some day in the distant future ) to the 911 memorial.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Oh wow Dee, what a tragic story. I know that he must have felt relief but sadness too. I am sure that your father is honored to be the escort for his co-workers family.

I can certainly see why you took so many pictures while at Pearl Harbor. I am sure that you wanted to take as many as you could so that you wouldn't forget your visit there.