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Micki's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 11/17/00 -------------------- 11/16/00 11/15/00 11/14/00 11/13/00 11/9/00 10/23/00 10/15/00 -------------------- Micki's Introduction

October 15, 2000

So, lets back track a bit.

Since it's now the middle of October and this diary is for a trip next month, our reservations are already made, but I'd like to share some of what we booked and the reasons why we booked it.

Matthew made his first trip to Disneyland at 5 months old. It was the end of September 1996 and the Main Street Electrical Parade was making it's last runs. My dad and I have been long term fans of the light parade and it's music. There was no way we could not see the final runs of such a Disney Icon. We drove down that trip, I couldn't convince my husband that the expense of flying was worth it. The trip was good, so I can't complain. Driving with a 5-month-old was easy -- he slept most of the time. :-)

We went down again when Matthew was 2 years old and we drove. It was a long time to sit for an active 2-year-old. The drive down wasn't bad because we left at 3 a.m. (ugh!) but the drive back was rotten. It took us 45 minutes to get out of downtown Anaheim (traffic) and when I informed Terry that we could have been home already (it's a 45 minute flight) the ground was set for our next trip to be by air.

Zap ahead to this past December. We didn't have just Matthew to contend with anymore, but also his new little brother, Andrew. Andrew was only 6 months old and there was no way I was up to driving with the both of them. Flying had its own little problems, but they didn't over power the thought of two kids in a car for eight hours. :-)

We booked both kids a seat even though Andrew could have ridden on my lap. Much like his brothers drive at 5 months, Andrew slept for nearly the entire trip. Matthew had his own backpack that we stocked full of toys (including a few new ones just for the surprise factor), books, chewy food (gummi bears are great) to combat ear popping during take off and landing, and sippy cups with is favorite drinks in them. Make sure the toys don't make noise or are electronic. Most electronic toys need to shut off during take off, landing, and taxing -- the same times when you really want to occupy the kids. Noisy toys just simply annoy the other passengers.

Flying went so well that trip, that when we surprised the boys with a return trip six months later in May of this year, we flew again. Now hooked on flying, we can't imagine driving (especially since Andrew is not a real good car passenger) and are flying down for this upcoming trip. The only thing that is different now is that Andrew has his own backpack and his own favorite toys, foods and drinks. We bring new meaning to "carry on luggage."

Next time I'll fill you in on our hotel choice and about shuttle service from the airport.