DDA Chapter 12

[ReAnSt]

We had a quick drive to the Lehigh valley airport. We did not hit any traffic which was good. We got there and unloaded the stuff. My Mom helped us into the airport. My Dad stayed at the van and was going to pick Mom up after she was finished helping us.

We checked in with our passports and they scanned them. We also canceled our parents flights. Then we dropped off our checked bags at the security screening. We said our goodbyes to Mom.

My brother and I found the elevator and headed downstairs to go through security. I walked through the metal detector. Since I had metal on my boot I had to be wanded down.

We got in another elevator and headed upstairs. Then in another elevator to the level of our terminal.

 

[PNO4TE]

holy snot!! You look very similar!!

Here is a PhotoPass shot from last October. We are both in it.

 

[ReAnSt]

Once we were on the proper level, we grabbed some dinner at Subway. Then we sat and waited some. We watched the storms roll in, lighting, thunder and pouring rain.

Sitting in the airport killing time; that chair is not comfy. Anytime I could transfer to another chair I did so.

Soon it was time to board the plane. We were flying Continental to Cleveland and then from there to Los Angeles. We got to board first since I was in the wheelchair. Backwards down the ramp I went. An airplane employee helped us down. We tossed our bags as they would not fit in the overhead compartments. Then I hobbled to the back of the plane. That was where our seats where, as we had picked them before I hurt myself. It was not too bad as it was a small plane. The crutches got collapsed and thrown overhead.

The crappy weather, before we took off.

We were not allowed out of our seats the entire flight due to the weather. It was a bumpy flight the entire time.

By the time we got to Cleveland the sun was out again

We got off the plane, their was an airport employee waiting for us. They took us through the super long tunnel, in the elevators and across the airport to where our next terminal was. He even stopped at the potty and waited for us to be finished and then took us to our terminal. Now we had almost 2 hours between flights. So we did not sit at the gate for that amount of time. We walked all over the airport.

A stop at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. OK so not the real thing but I want to go back to the Hall of Fame.

Chanon I may have to just take the first flight to Cleveland and come visit your some time. It was a short easy one hour flight.

A quick trip to the Cleveland Zoo

We checked the boards and noticed that lots of flights were delayed and canceled. A flight to San Francisco that was already supposed to leave was not leaving till tomorrow. They were waiting for a flight crew from Newark. The flight from Philly we were going to take was scheduled to arrive a few minutes before our connecting flight was taking off. Our flight was delayed about 15 minutes and leaving from a different gate. I guess all that bad weather on the East coast was causing havoc across the airways.

We moved to our new gate and soon boarded the plane. We got on first again, well with lots of other people in wheelchairs. We were once again in the back of the plane. Since the flight was sold out they were not moving our seats. I had no problem hobbling to the back. They were getting ready to close the doors and I noticed that our plane was very empty. I guess people from the delayed flights were supposed to be on our plane. That plane from Philly we were going to take landed right before they closed the door on our plane. Their is no way we would have made it. I was so glad we left from Allentown instead.

We took off, the flight was not bad it was bumpy and quite stormy for about 200-300 miles across the midwest.

Lighting

I think this was Las Vegas, but am not 100% sure

Stephen was commenting about how it was dark for so long across the country. I forgot he has not really flown in the dark. He also has only flown up and down the east coast. This was both of our first trips to the west coast.

 

[PNO4TE]

I am going to blame being out in the sun/heat all day.


That's my story and I am sticking to it!!

I think we do look similar. Luckily for me I look more like my Mom than my Dad. Alison... not so much!

 

[ReAnSt]

We arrived in Los Angeles a bit after 11pm, which was around the time we were supposed to arrive. Our delay did not cause us to land that late. An airport employee met us at the gate. They pushed me all the way to baggage claim, helped us collect our bags. Then they pushed us to where the rental car buses pick people up to take them to the car pick up places. Once again we tried to tip them but they refused.

We got on the bus and loaded our stuff. The bus took us to Hertz it was not a long ride. It was lighting here. It was also windy and chilly.

The bus drove into what looked like a deserted fenced lot of parked cars. We drove around in here for a bit and then were dropped off at the main building. By now it was probably about 12:00am. There was a long line at the pick up window. I sat on a bench outside with our bags and Stephen went inside.

I sat and sat some more. Some people came out and were pretty irritated. They were saying something about needing to 25 in order to rent a car. I was like Oh crap, we might be in the same boat. As Stephen is 24 and I doubted they would rent me a car with crutches and a boot. Then I heard them say they were trying to rent a 15 passenger van. I was still hoping that we were not going to have any problems.

It started raining and thundering and lighting. I sat some more. By now it was like 1am. Finally Stephen came out with keys. Turns out they were missing several categories of cars that people reserved and lots of people were waiting for cars to come in. Who returns a rental car at 1am??

He went to locate the car. We ended up with an SUV, a Subaru Tribeca it had less then 600 miles on it. We threw our stuff in the car and headed to get out of the parking lot. I did not care what we had I wanted to get moving.

We eventually found the road we wanted to head toward Anaheim. We started seeing signs that said road closed ahead. We were going we hope not. Turns out I-5 was closed from 12am to 5am for construction. There were signs that led a detour off the road. There were not signs on how to continue going. We followed some other cars with the hope they were taking us the correct direction. We found our way back on I-5.

We eventually made it to the Park Vue Inn. We checked in. We went to our room. Then we got in our car and went to find bottles of water to take on the ship. The first place we went, we got gas at. They only had individual bottles of water, we wanted a case. The suggested we go across the street, so we did. Eventually Stephen found a case of bottles of water but they were not easy to find. We ended up with a 12 pack of 16 oz Dasani bottles. Dasani is not my favorite brand of water, but it is what they had. It was 2am, it would do.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Great report so far, Becky!

Elin, you and your sister do not look that much alike. Just sayin'.

 

[ReAnSt]

Then we headed back to the Park Vue Inn. We ended up with a first floor handicap room. We had only requested first floor but they gave us the handicap room.

Thank you Glynis for recommending the Park Vue in to me. They were very nice, went above and beyond and it worked out very well for our trip. Let's just say someone got to know the hotel staff very well. I will have more about this later. I would definitely stay there again.

We actually called the Park Vue Inn several times ahead of time as the price had dropped, each time they lowered the rate we were paying.

We headed to bed around 2:30am as we planned on getting up at 7am to head to Disneyland.

 

[PNO4TE]

As long as we are comparing my before and after...

Here is 2003:

And 2006:

 

[PNO4TE]

Got about an inch and a half off and highlights--howa bout you?

didn't get any cut since I just had it cut 2 weeks ago or so. But I did go for something a little different... burgundy highlights! Probably should have gotten more, but Kristin was afraid I was going to come home with clown hair. Now she and Bob have to look very carefully to find them! But I like it, so that is all that matters.

 

[babytrees]

Here is a PhotoPass shot from last October. We are both in it.

see I can see the difference in here.....like I said...it's all the heat's fault

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Elin - You look terrific!

 

[ReAnSt]

I just need to keep myself straight with the trip report as I am posting it in three places. Here, the DCL board and Disneyland board.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I just need to keep myself straight with the trip report as I am posting it in three places. Here, the DCL board and Disneyland board.

Post it on one forum and then quote yourself on the others. That way you just type once. Or copy & paste.

 

[ReAnSt]

Post it on one forum and then quote yourself on the others. That way you just type once. Or copy & paste.

I am copying and pasting. I am not typing it three times.

 

[PNO4TE]

Elin - You look terrific!

Thanks, Elizabeth. You weren't around for a lot of that weight loss, I think!

 

[PNO4TE]

Becky - I am glad you are posting your TR here... I really don't have much time to get to the other threads! Thanks.

 

[PNO4TE]

It is time for bed here. I am very sleepy tonight! Good night, everyone!

 

[babytrees]

It is time for bed here. I am very sleepy tonight! Good night, everyone!

night Elin!! I had fun being able to talk to you in real time!!

 

[ReAnSt]

Friday, August 15th, 2008

First Visit to Disneyland

So when we turned in for the night I set my cell phone as an alarm clock as well as the hotel room clock. So the phone starts ringing way to early in the morning I pick it up to shut it off, but I realize it is not the alarm clock ring. Someone is calling me. I answer the phone it is our Mom. She figured we would be up and getting ready to go, as she knew we were supposed to meet our Dad's cousin Diane and her daughters at 8am. She also was 3 hours ahead of our time.

We get up, get dressed and then head to breakfast. Breakfast at the Park Vue Inn is not handicap accessible. It is upstairs on a patio and inside. There is no elevator. I walked upstairs and Stephen carried the wheelchair upstairs. Part of the reason we got the one we did is because it weighed less then 20 pounds. Which was good because it was carried lots of places, it was also very narrow which made it good to fit in smaller places on the cruise ship.

We got a call from Diane, she was stuck in traffic and would be late. She would call us when she got closer. She had our tickets so we could not head to the park for opening. So we headed back to the room for a period of time.

Well I was in the room for a bit. Stephen ended up taking the rental car back to Hetz. There is a drop box at the Park Vue Inn which we planned to use. However if you drive less then 75 miles they charge you $15 for fuel unless you fill it up and show them the receipt. We called Hertz they said to not be charged the ffe, the car needs to be turned into the main office in Anaheim. There was no way with the drop box. So he took the car back to Hertz and then took the shuttle back to the hotel. I stayed in the hotel and waited for him.

She called us saying she was about 10 minutes away so we headed toward the park. It is a quick walk from the Park Vue Inn. I was uber excited as it was my first time in California and at Disneyland.

Lobby and Cold Stone Creamery at Park Vue Inn

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You can see this Disneyland sign from the above area

The walkway was well lit from the hotel to the Esplanade

Baggage Check

Mouse Bench

We ended up spending a bunch of time in the Esplanade as we had to wait for them to park and get to where we were so we could get our tickets

Army Men

Monorail through Golden Gate Bridge

We found Tyra Banks brick

Eventually they found us and we went inside. We have not seen them for years. So it was nice to get to spend time with them.

 

[ReAnSt]

So we entered the park. We had no problems using the 3 day summer fun passed, designed for Southern CA residents. They are $99 for 3 day park hoppers. They handed us a handicap accessible guide when we entered the park.

The train was in the train station

The three girls

Main Street

I would have loved to have bought a miniature version of these gas lamps

So the tracks in the pavement were a pain as the wheelchair tires kept ending up in the space, then I either had to get out of the chair and remove the chair or had to be pushed along the track till I got up. We eventually figured out that if you push the wheelchair across the track instead of alongside it you would not end up in the track rut.

Matterhorn

Tomorrowland

Castle

They insisted we all have our picture taken in front of the castle. The Photopass photographer took our picture on our cameras. My picture on my camera turned out better then the Photopass picture.

So we headed to Adventureland
We were going to go to the Tiki room, but the show just started and we decided we did not want to wait