"On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair" (DL/So.California TR) LOTS of pics!

[mommaU4]

OK, possible snag in the wonderful trip plans I've posted. DH took the mini van in today to have some work done. Almost $500!!

The thing is this is really no surprise. It never fails that whenever we have a trip coming up, OR just got back from one, the van needs work. I should have known. And then to add insult to injury they told him it would only take an hour and a half. Not too bad. Well, he ended up waiting for FIVE HOURS!!

It was at Sears, and luckily there was a mall next door for him to walk around in, but still. 5 hours???? Shoot, I can barely kill 5 hours in a mall, let alone my poor DH who hates shopping malls.

The guy who did the work didn't even offer up an apology afterwards. Needless to say we'll be calling the manager of that location tomorrow. Not that it will do any good, but we can't just let it go.

(sigh) I just really hope we don't have to cut anything off the trip. Well, if we do it won't be anything at Disney so at least I know those plans are set. Pismo Beach might have to go though......

 

[MA pigletfan]

I am in!! I need as much Socal DL to tide me over till my own trip as i can get!..and this sounds like a fun ride !!!

 

[kaoden39]

We've done the snack your way through Disneyland tour. I found that you canmake ameal out of fresh fruit and such quite easily and you see more Disneyland in the process.

I know all about the minivan needing something done before vacation. In 2006 DH and I were going to exercise with Richard Simmons and I was in a car accident. To top it off the the person who hit me had no car insurance. But thankfully we had insurance that covers uninsured motorists. But we have a $500.00 deductible that we would get back later. It ended up working out OK. We had a rental vehicle and we were able to drive down to Beverly Hills for our weekend of exercise in a rental and we didn't have to pay for it and we didn't put the mileage on our family vehicle.

Your poor DH though 5 hours in the mall is too much for anyone. Let alone someone who doesn't like the mall.

Michele

 

[daisy_77]

Aw, Beth! I am so sorry to hear about the van. I hope that you don't have to give up much of your plans because of this.

 

[mommaU4]

I am in!! I need as much Socal DL to tide me over till my own trip as i can get!..and this sounds like a fun ride !!!

Glad you could join us!! I'll try to remember to take lots of pics too, instead of just carrying the camera around like we usually do. LOL

We've done the snack your way through Disneyland tour. I found that you can make a meal out of fresh fruit and such quite easily and you see more Disneyland in the process.

Their fresh fruit is really good. When the kids were smaller we'd always get some for them to snack on. You can only eat so many fries, kwim?

Aw, Beth! I am so sorry to hear about the van. I hope that you don't have to give up much of your plans because of this.

Thanks, it's a real PITA. But like I said, it's par for the course when we get ready to take a vacation. I might end up canceling the b-day party at the Plaza Inn, which would not be a big deal since I wasn't 100% sold on that already. Not sure what else, if anything, will have to go at this point.

We did call the Sears Corporate Office today and they said they'd forward our complaint to the General Manager of that location. We aren't really complainers normally, but you don't tell someone a job will take between an hour to an hour and a half, and then keep them there for 5 hours without so much as an apology. That's not right.

 

[wendylady36]

And then to add insult to injury they told him it would only take an hour and a half. Not too bad. Well, he ended up waiting for FIVE HOURS!!

It was at Sears, and luckily there was a mall next door for him to walk around in, but still. 5 hours???? Shoot, I can barely kill 5 hours in a mall, let alone my poor DH who hates shopping malls.

Oh my goodness! The same thing happened to me at Sears! All I needed was a tire changed and we were told 1-2 hrs, so we went to the mall to kill some time and came back after 2 hours and they still weren't done. So we ended up spending another 1-2 hrs in the waiting area! Sears must be out to get us

 

[kaoden39]

Glad you could join us!! I'll try to remember to take lots of pics too, instead of just carrying the camera around like we usually do. LOL




Their fresh fruit is really good. When the kids were smaller we'd always get some for them to snack on. You can only eat so many fries, kwim?




Thanks, it's a real PITA. But like I said, it's par for the course when we get ready to take a vacation. I might end up canceling the b-day party at the Plaza Inn, which would not be a big deal since I wasn't 100% sold on that already. Not sure what else, if anything, will have to go at this point.

We did call the Sears Corporate Office today and they said they'd forward our complaint to the General Manager of that location. We aren't really complainers normally, but you don't tell someone a job will take between an hour to an hour and a half, and then keep them there for 5 hours without so much as an apology. That's not right.

Oh my goodness! The same thing happened to me at Sears! All I needed was a tire changed and we were told 1-2 hrs, so we went to the mall to kill some time and came back after 2 hours and they still weren't done. So we ended up spending another 1-2 hrs in the waiting area! Sears must be out to get us

I am curious if the longer time on the car raises the amount you pay from what the estimate is. If so I would be even madder.

Michele

 

[mommaU4]

Oh my goodness! The same thing happened to me at Sears! All I needed was a tire changed and we were told 1-2 hrs, so we went to the mall to kill some time and came back after 2 hours and they still weren't done. So we ended up spending another 1-2 hrs in the waiting area! Sears must be out to get us

Dumb Sears!

I am curious if the longer time on the car raises the amount you pay from what the estimate is. If so I would be even madder.

Michele

It didn't for us. Not really. They told my DH it would be around $420 and it was $500. So it went up a little, but who knows why. And if they had said from the get go that it would be 5 hours, then that's one thing, but they said about and hour and a half at the most.

Anyway, enough Sears talk!! Sorry about all that. I only mentioned it because it might alter the trip plans but other then that, let's just forget about it, and get back to Disney!!

 

[mommaU4]

I went to Party City yesterday and bought the twins each a tiara that says Happy Birthday on it. They are pretty cute and were really cheap. Only $2.99 each.
I've seen them much higher priced elsewhere and they weren't really any cuter. This way if something should happen to it, I won't be out too much money.

I'm going to give them those to wear along with birthday pins that say Birthday Girl and of course the official Disneyland birthday button. There will be no way anyone can miss it's their birthday!!!

OK, so it won't actually be their b-day, it will be exactly a month early, but like I said, it just didn't work out for us to go in July so this is their birthday trip and I'm going to let them have some fun with it.

 

[kaoden39]

We've done the birthday thing at Disneyland. They have all been either early or late. I can never seem to make the plans at the right time. Disneyland is a great place to be for a birthday even if you are 70 like my Mom was on our last trip.

Michele

 

[mommaU4]

We've done the birthday thing at Disneyland. They have all been either early or late. I can never seem to make the plans at the right time. Disneyland is a great place to be for a birthday even if you are 70 like my Mom was on our last trip.

Michele

Aww, how cute. I hope to still be celebrating my own birthday when I'm 70!

 

[mommaU4]

Well speaking of birthdays I was bored and thought I'd post the items I have for the girls.
Here are their tiaras and pins:

And since I was in a picture taking mood, I thought I'd post some of the new tees I bought the twins for the trip.
They each got a Princess one, a Tink one and Hannah got Belle and Lindsey got Sleeping Beauty from the Disney Store and DisneyShopping.com.

Then I found these totally cute Minnie and Daisy tees that were so appropriate for them I knew I HAD to get them! In case it's hard to read, they say 2 Times the Fun, But Double the Trouble. So true.

They each have four new tees, but we'll only actually be at DL for 3 days so we'll save one for our next trip in October.

 

[mommaU4]

I also picked up some new tees for Noelle. My favorite is the vintage Mickey and Minnie tee from DisneyShopping, but the cheapest one was the white Princess tee. That one was on sale a few weeks ago at Target for a dollar!!! (I love that store! )

In case you're wondering where the new tees for Adam are, so am I!! I couldn't find anything for him in his size that wasn't too cutesy. Not that he's too broken up about it. LOL

But I wanted to get him something new for the trip too, I just couldn't find anything he'd like. Boys are much harder to shop for, and teen boys are no exception!!
Maybe I'll make one final run to the Disney store to see what I can find. We always get the kids new Disney tees to wear, so I have to at least try to find something.

 

[wendylady36]

How exciting! I love all the shirts, they are too cute!

 

[julezdisney]

I love everything! Adorable! Now I'm so much more sad about my local Disney store closing. I'll have to get over there tommorow and see what's left. My daughter has the same birthday button from a few years ago!

I'll be on my trip 2 weeks after my birthday- would it be bad for me to do the same thing?

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I'm in for your TR! Woo!

I love the shirts you bought your girls! So cute. It makes me jealous wishing I could fit in those..! Seriously!!

 

[julezdisney]

I'm in for your TR! Woo!

I love the shirts you bought your girls! So cute. It makes me jealous wishing I could fit in those..! Seriously!!

You probably could! I've seen your pix from your report! I buy size XL 14/16 all the time so DD5 and I can have matching clothes!

 

[daisy_77]

Super cute stuff! I love the crowns, ribbons, and tees! They are going to look so adorable!

 

[kaoden39]

Very cute stuff. The girls are gonna look so cute. And they'll have so much fun with everybody telling them happy birthday.

Michele

 

[mommaU4]

I love everything! Adorable! Now I'm so much more sad about my local Disney store closing. I'll have to get over there tommorow and see what's left. My daughter has the same birthday button from a few years ago!

I'll be on my trip 2 weeks after my birthday- would it be bad for me to do the same thing?

Oh no, your store is closing? That's too bad. We are lucky in that we have 2 Disney stores here in Vegas, and an outlet store. It's a great way to get a Disney fix.

But when we lived in MI for 3 years, there wasn't a Disney store to be found, so I've been there. I had to settle for shopping online, which was still fun especially when there are codes and coupons to use.

I think you should get a birthday button for yourself for sure!!! Why not? Honestly, I know very few adults or even kids, who celebrate their b-days on the actual day. Work and/or school usually gets in the way. And not everyone can take their vacation and time it to be at Disney right on their birthday. That was the case with us and the twins. My DH couldn't get time off around their actual day.
Two weeks isn't that far off at all. So get your button and wear it proudly.

I'm in for your TR! Woo!

I love the shirts you bought your girls! So cute. It makes me jealous wishing I could fit in those..! Seriously!!

Thanks, glad you could join us!
I hear ya on wanting to wear the shirts! And kids clothes are usually so much cheaper too. It's just not fair. LOL

Super cute stuff! I love the crowns, ribbons, and tees! They are going to look so adorable!

Thanks.

Very cute stuff. The girls are gonna look so cute. And they'll have so much fun with everybody telling them happy birthday.

Michele

Thanks. Yeah, they'll get a real kick out of it. I can't wait to see their reaction.