Doing the Happy Dance! We usually do one Disney trip a year, but the kids and the husband have been clamoring to go back . . . Yesterday, the confluence of a great fare on Southwest and the end of summer sale for on-site Disney hotels led me to suggest going to DL for my 40th birthday! And the fact that the semi-permanent Hello Kitty Cafe is just a half-hour's drive away in Irvine doesn't hurt, either . . .
I was sort of stereotypically dreading the big 4-0, but now I can hardly wait! We'll be there from August 30 to September 4; my birthday is on September 3. I've booked dinner at Blue Bayou for that night, and Cafe Orleans for the first day we arrive. I have to give some thought to the rest. Anyway, the reservations website doesn't seem to be working and the phone line seems to be going bonkers, too (getting people who sound surprised I got through to them, the line ringing and ringing and ringing and ringing, etc.).
I've booked through Costco Travel and we'll be staying at the Grand Californian. (Costco still had standard rooms available, unlike the DL website, plus the usual perks.)
With each trip, we get ourselves to do new things. This time will include:
- A visit to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for my daughter, who is *finally* 3! I've been waiting for this day!!

- My husband joining a charity group (the Dragon Master Foundation) to run his first 10K as part of the Disneyland Half-Marathon Weekend.
And who knows what else. We will spend 4 (more like 3 1/2) days in the parks, with one side trip somewhere. Like I said, Hello Kitty Cafe . . .
