UPDATED: The start of a TR - slowly writing blog, new posts up

[Jade+3]

You guys must get up early! We always seem to be running late when we are on holiday.

I agree about the Days Inn Seaworld, I would never stay there again either. I have never had much luck with San Diego hotels. Next year I think we will stay at Carlsbad.

Sorry you did not enjoy Legoland. We have been twice and loved it, but my kids are younger and the rides were great for their ages. Both times we went in the low season and we did not have to wait for anything.

Looking forward to reading the Disney installment.

 

[shan08]

ehsmum - Im loving the trip report and photos. We are staying 4 nights at the Holiday Inn, Im glad you liked it!! Im glad we decided not to go to Legoland although our boys are a bit older. Cant wait to hear the report on Sea World!

 

[OzCath]

Loving your blog ehsmum! Wasn't going to go to Universal, but am now reconsidering. We have two youngsters 5 and 2, do you think they are a bit young for universal?

 

[heidispidi]

Is Day 4 Disney-day? I can't wait to read more!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Love! Love! Love! Waiting for more!

 

[Caroline NZ]

Hi,
I am really enyjoying reading your trip report too. We had a similar experience at Legoland when we went in 2009. The kids were aged 4&7 and enjoyed it, But it was not a place I want to go back to again. Your positive report on US has convinced me that we will visit there on our Jun11 trip. We are going to be staying at Liberty Station in San Diego for 6 nights ( and Anaheim for 14 nights). I hope the neighbourhood is okay, I'd better do a bit more research.

 

[SnowWhite09]

Okay, I've done Day 2

http://clare-usa2010.blogspot.com/2010/08/universal-studios-hollywood.html

I know that not a lot of DISers are fans of Universal Studios but we loved it!

Loving your trip report!

We loved Universal Studios too and can't wait to go again.

We went to go to In 'n' Out Burger at Barstow on our drive back from Vegas and the line was out the door there too so we never got to try it either. It must be really good!

Had the new King Kong ride started when you visited US?

When you say no Jaws - have they taken Bruce away from the Studio Tour?

 

[ehsmum]

Thanks everyone . Sorry I haven't done any more yet - I've been back to the dr and am on my 4th course of antibiotics!! He doesn't think it's anything serious, but I'm just so sick of being sick.

You guys must get up early! We always seem to be running late when we are on holiday.

I agree about the Days Inn Seaworld, I would never stay there again either. I have never had much luck with San Diego hotels. Next year I think we will stay at Carlsbad.

Sorry you did not enjoy Legoland. We have been twice and loved it, but my kids are younger and the rides were great for their ages. Both times we went in the low season and we did not have to wait for anything.

Looking forward to reading the Disney installment.

Our plan for this trip was to get up early and be at the parks at opening each day. Some mornings the kids weren't keen on getting out of bed, but when they were riding Space Mountain at 8am they appreciated it! It backfired a little in that we never got back to the parks at night as we were too tired, but we really enjoyed being in the parks early before the crowds.

Loving your blog ehsmum! Wasn't going to go to Universal, but am now reconsidering. We have two youngsters 5 and 2, do you think they are a bit young for universal?

The 2 year old might be a little young. There's only 4 rides and I don't think a 2 year old would meet the height requirement for any of them (and they'd all be too scary I would think). Younger kids wouldn't "get" the studio tour either. I'd maybe stick to Disney and do Universal when the kids are a little older

Is Day 4 Disney-day? I can't wait to read more!

Not yet! Day 4 is SeaWorld and San Diego Zoo, then off to Disneyland

Loving your trip report!

We loved Universal Studios too and can't wait to go again.

We went to go to In 'n' Out Burger at Barstow on our drive back from Vegas and the line was out the door there too so we never got to try it either. It must be really good!

Had the new King Kong ride started when you visited US?

When you say no Jaws - have they taken Bruce away from the Studio Tour?

Unfortunately we missed King Kong by a few weeks. The kids keep saying we have to go back to ride it though! The lake where Jaws used to jump up at the tram is empty. I think the guide said that they are refurbishing it so it might return, but that was the one thing I'd told the kids about and then it didn't happen!

 

[ehsmum]

Day 4 is done

http://clare-usa2010.blogspot.com/2010/09/seaworld-and-san-diego-zoo.html

 

[lovintheland]

I am thoroughly loving reading your blog. Can't wait for the next installment. We are staying at HoJo's in 10 sleeps(just thought I'd throw that in) we have a room in bldg 2 as the Disney view room's were all booked. I'm a bit worried as we had the Disney view last year and loved that building. Were you happy with the toom? Did it have a balcony and separate sink outside the bathroom?

 

[aussiegirls]

Hey lovintheland, good to hear you managed to score a room at the Hojo. I remember you were so worried as they were booked out for a very long time. I am so happy for you

xxx

 

[ehsmum]

I am thoroughly loving reading your blog. Can't wait for the next installment. We are staying at HoJo's in 10 sleeps(just thought I'd throw that in) we have a room in bldg 2 as the Disney view room's were all booked. I'm a bit worried as we had the Disney view last year and loved that building. Were you happy with the toom? Did it have a balcony and separate sink outside the bathroom?

I'm so jealous!

Building 2 was fine. The room was good (but it was my first time at HoJo so I don't have anything to compare it too). It did have a balcony but it didn't have a seperate sink.

I didn't notice the freeway noise at all but the pool noise did bother me. Because we were getting up early we were also going to bed early but the pool was open till late and people were having pool parties at night. It wasn't bad enough to complain or turn me off the hotel, but I did notice it.

 

[lovintheland]

Aussiegirls, I was soooo relieved to finally get a booking a little while ago. It was quite funny a lovely lady had posted on the Disneyland forum that she was possibly cancelling a room at Hojo's and I messaged her to let me know when she cancelling if she decided to. It was only for 7 nights but I was so desperate to stay there I thought we could change hotels. Anyway she messaged me out of the blue a few days later and said "quickly go on the Hojo's website it showing availability for your dates". So I did and booked it straight away. I was so lucky because ever since then it's been totally booked out again. The girls at the hotel we even supposed to email me as soon as there was a cancellation. I was just in the right place at the right time

We now have booked Disneyland Hotel just for the last two nights. They had a good rate and I thought what a lovely way to finish off the holiday.

Ehsmum, thanks for the info. I'm worried about not having the seperate sink like the premium rooms do. Makes it so much easier with 3 kids and everyone trying to get ready at once. I have just emailed them to ask if there is a cancellation in the Disneyview room to change us. Hopefully we will be in luck again. It's so funny my DS just yesterday he can just imagine hearing the "ding ding ding" of the bell at the kids pool area, and the non enthusiastic pool girl calling out to kids "don't go head first". Little does he know he'll be hearing that real soon.

I hope you are feeling better soon! I'm at home sick at the moment too. I have had an ongoing sinus infection for the past month and now I have vertigo. I really need all 5 of us to be and stay well. This is our third trip and each time we've all been sick at different times.

At least today is giving me time to do some last minute things with no kids around

 

[Jade+3]

ehsmum, sorry to jump ahead, but can I ask you about Las Vegas. Did you have any trouble with 5 in your room at MGM?

 

[ehsmum]

No problem, Jade. Ask anything .

The MGM was fine. I don't think they even asked at checkin how many people we had in the room. The room was on the smallish side but we were used to that by then!

The hotel is huge! It took us about 20 minutes just to walk from our room to the pool! And you have to walk through the casino to get to the strip which was an education for the kids!

 

[Jade+3]

I have been so worried about Vegas, as I couldn't find anywhere for 5. My youngest will only be 2, so the kids can all share a bed.

I have stayed at MGM before, and I do remember the rooms being small. Last time we went (just with 2 kids) we had a tower room at the Luxor, which was massive.

 

[heidispidi]

Your day at Seaworld sounds like the day I went to SW on the Gold Coast - we saw it all in 2 hours then left!

Looking very much forward to hearing more about Hojo and Disneyland!!!

 

[ehsmum]

Yeah, SeaWorld is my least favourite Gold Coast park as well but my husband loves it . I was keen to see Shamu as we don't have the killer whales here and the Journey to Atlantis was a fun ride, but in future I think I'll give San Diego a miss.

I've put up Day 5 which was our first day at Disneyland

http://clare-usa2010.blogspot.com/2010/09/disneyland.html

 

[aussiegirls]

Wow, I loooooove Seaworld on the Gold Coast. The last time we went (2006) we spent the entire day there from the time it opened until the time it closed and still didn't see everything we wanted to.

I am very excited about Seaworld San Diego

xxx

 

[aussiegirls]

Oh, and I just had to add, ehsmum aren't the Mickey head pretzels the yummiest food on the planet

xxx