Hi everyone!
Whew! Yes, I know,...it is 2:15am, and I AM STILL UP!! But, it's been quite the day. As many of you know, we JUST told the kids a few days ago that we are going on the cruise! They have been excited ever since, barraging us with questions everyday, and on our computer on DIS many times a day. Sunday was no different. We decided to pull out the
DCL dvd again (we've watched it 4 times in the past 3 days!), and watch again. At the end, our DD said, "I wish we could go today!". My DH said that would be great, but had to wait just one more week, but it was in port right now getting ready to take another group of cruisers out this week. She said, "Here? In L.A.?!". Yes, DH said, and they all began to ask to just go see it, pleeeez! (BIG emphasis on the pleeez..) Well it was already 4:30pm, and as you all know, the ship takes off no later than 5:30. We live on a good traffic day, about 40-45 min away. But, DH said, well we needed to do a dry run there anyways, & although we may not see the Wonder there, we'd know how to get there. BUT.. it was raining like cats & dogs, and sideways! But DH said in his impromptu tone, "Shoes & coats on kids, we're goin for a drive!" So we literally grabbed & went! It was raining so hard & the wind was blowing sooooo hard. We got down there & we're trying to use the map app on the phone, as we did NOT print out the directions there! (oops..) So we got close, but must've missed the bridges/turnoffs. Finally seeing a "cruise ships" sign, we turned. But ended up infront of the Queen Mary! Yikes, wrong port! So off we went. "Uh oh", DH said, looking down at the dashboard, we are almost out of gas! So then had to make the mad gas dash, of which NONE were in sight. Finally finding one, it was 6:25pm at this point. Oh well, I was thinking, maybe we will still find the port itself. So off we were again in the pelting rain. Finally the right bridge! So we head over, but still nothing. All of a sudden a shrill from the backseat.."MOMMMMM!!! LOOK!!!" And to our left was THE WONDER!!! I could'nt believe she was still there, it was 6:45!! We pull into an empty parking lot, OMGness, it's right there infront of us!! 2 tugboats are frontways into it "holding" it in place so it won't hit the dock! (the wind was blowing that hard), and raining buckets. I am sooo excited by this point, we were all piling out of the car, but then it started to pull out! "Kids, pile back in, we're following it!" DH cries out. We pile back in like wet dogs, and proceed to each next berth along the way. Poor cruisers, no outdoors Sail Away party, but we could see many out on their verandas, and CM all in their raincoats. We pulled into 3 more berths, hurried out, waving and jumping, taking pics. The wind nearly blew us over! and our umbrellas flipped up,
as we were laughing ourselves silly.
I'm at this point imagining people looking out saying, "Look, no one out there, oh except that nutty group soaking and waving like crazy people!!" Then the kids did the hand motions for getting a truck driver to blow his horn. We were the ONLY people out there anywhere. Then as the kids did that, they BLEW THE HORN! the "When You Wish Upon a Star" one! That was super exciting. The last berth we parked at, we were sooo close to the ship, like RIGHT infront of us, 50 ft, we could clearly make out the people, saw kids jumping on their beds in their cabins, heard the movie playing on the big screen on deck. The ship seemed to be rocking pretty bad. The water was very choppy. So, if it rains again on next Sunday, as it says it may, my advice would be to take that Dramamine/Bonine WAY before boarding & bring a raincoat/umbrella!!
What a day!
I just had to share, it was such an exciting thing to see that beautiful ship. We saw a Carnival ship & like I said, the Queen Mary, but they DO NOT EVEN compare to the Wonder. Get pumped, only 6 more days!!
Anyhow, anyone planning any trips to Disneyland before the trip. I think its time we made a trip, maybe Thursday or Friday of next week.
If it is when it's time to sail, I'm guessing they will move the Sail Away party indoors. 
But I'm hoping the rain will have stopped by then! 
My DH likes to lounge and do nothing on vacation so DS and I will be having all the fun! Unless he likes the kids club too much and then I guess I'm on my own.....
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