KICKS ON ROUTE 66!!!

Now I always thought I was a cool little S2000, 240 horsepower, electronic steering, 6 gears and a 9000 Red Line… Boy was I wrong.  I was making it back from Delaware visiting my Grandpa - he is such an old Ford 250 but what are you going to do 1951 was not good to him.. (he is considered a lemon) He was always telling me to visit some old places of this great country and me being slick and quick decided to pass through some major cities and catch the main highways to get back to California.

As I was heading through the west, I got a call from my buddy, Devon

Montgomery Johnston the Third -DJ for short. Always getting

into trouble playing loud music and such with those tuner cars –( well

he did go to the renowned East Coast Music Conservatory). Anyway - here

he is again busted and doing time in a town called Radiator Springs,

Carburetor County – just east of the Cadillac Range and something that

has to do with an Ornament Valley. (Yeah! had to look on a map – GPS did

not pick it up) And what is with this Bessie is was yammering about?

Interstate 40 here I come, next stop Radiator Springs, I need fuel,

sleep and fun!

After passing a great deal of Bug’s in this Land, I started to roll down

the main drag of this town. To my left there are baby tractors going

dosey doe in circles but then they decide to change turntables and throw you for a loop –This

Junkyard Jamboree is conducted by Tow-Mater – a good ol’ boy who can

whip his hook and rock a joint. I wonder if he would like to go

tractor tipping and watch some Hee Haw. (something I used to do in

Jersey)

To my right is Fillmore’s Taste-In  Filling station – Organic fuel

replenishment. Hmmm I think I will stick with the fresh produce, water

and juices – but still some healthy options (You may want to remember

the water after visiting his humble abode through the 70”s beaded

doorway and the tie dyed light show from under his tent. Stumbling out

from the mist, I am greeted by Sarge, a straight laced gunny with

reveille in his heart – I accidently stepped on to his perfectly

manicured lawn and felt so bad that I bought his “Mother Road survival

kit” Guaranteed that if you break down, this kit will help you get

through the night and maybe the next world war, and he did mention

that it all stows nicely in my trunk. He has some really great surplus

in his SeeBee.

Starting to get tired - Next stop is the Cozy Cone Motel – Checked in

and tried the spicy popcorn and had my churro (ok - I had three), I also received a cute

Cone Shaped souvenir cup. So cute.

Gas gauge was starting to hit the “E”, Sally suggested that I head

over Flo’s V8 for some oil, grease and check up on my coolant.(Grandpa

would be proud) I ordered one of Flo’s  Spit Fired specialties - Pork

Loin with Coca-Cola BBQ sauce and a Pie O Ramas… Needless to say I was

already filling out my starboard and port sides with the rumulan drink

I had earlier, I really did not need them to continue to Kling-on - Flo

felt for me and sent me to  check in with Doc Hudson’s, unfortunately

he was not around tonight but I guess I could just get some new cover

up pinstripes from Ramon. This shop is HOT!!  Talk about some great

body artwear to camouflage my beaten tires. After I was decked out

with some new flames, I knew the rubber had to go. (There goes my

savings account fund to the new Avatarland or my Infinity and Beyond

Space flight meeting at the next Death Star stockholder meeting. I

have been waiting for years for this stock thing to blow up so I can

retire)

Casa Della Tires – Whoa! Stop my valves! – this Luigi and Guido know

how to get wheels turning…Hey don’t judge a forklift by the size of

his tower of tires – After I had the special Guido treatment I felt

like I was riding on air. After all this make over, I knew my tuner

crew would not recognize and maybe this is just enough to roll with

them. (I refuse to be considered a nodder!)– But who the heck is this

Bessie.. I am starting to get a little irked by her.

City Hall will reopen in the morning so I decided to go back to the

Cozy Cone. OMG –Who is in the driveway - Lightning McQueen with that

debonair KA-CHOW smile and what a sound that revving engine makes. I

tried to turn on my charm and slide my way past the lobby but was

halted by Sally  – I just got flashed by a Porsche to race. WHAT!!!! I

guess I was a little too aggressive in my body language. (Accidental

back fire-must have been that drink from Fillmore). Are you serious?

It’s been a while since I have shown a Porsche what I can do but this

in the desert and I am so used to asphalt. A good night sleep and I’ll

beat this Ms. Sally Carrera!

As I get pep talks from the locals and a special acknowledgment from

the Sheriff the next morning, I feel good about racing. Ramon thinks I

am looking good in my fresh paint job and the House of Tires did sell

me some good rubber that should hug the road - Deep breath.

READY SET GO! - Hairpin turns, steep banks, a pass by a gorgeous

waterfall and a photo opportunity – who cares if I win or lose, (I

lost) It was all in good fun! As I head back into town with both my

tail pipes low, I pass by the statue founder Stanley – he looked like

an awfully persistent li'l bugger for a two-cylinder but he and his

wife Lizzie seemed to have had a good life together in this little

town so I paid a little homage to him.

As soon as I remembered why I arrived, I see DJ celebrating his new

found freedom under the town’s one traffic light with some dancers – I

putt on over to check out the celebration and loving the Blast from

the Past music he was pumping out, I guess I got a little party happy

becuase I ran into the Radiator Springs Curio shop and broke a great

many tourist knick-knacks.

My punishment – I finally got to meet Bessie.

Have toddlers, will travel to Disney!

Just some tips to help you through your trip to a Disney Theme Park:

Using an outside Stroller Rental Company  A Disneyland Stroller Rental costs $15 per day or two for $25. There are NO Disneyland double strollers. There is one central location for renting strollers, outside the right entrance of Disneyland, opposite side of the plaza from Downtown Disney. Disney Stroller Rentals can be used throughout Disneyland & Disney California Adventure but cannot be taken off property or kept overnight. Disneyland Strollers can and do run out at the parks, especially during peak times. Arrive early if you want to be guaranteed a stroller. If you plan on leaving the park for a break, you may run the risk of no strollers available when you return. Some companies charge a delivery fee - these can be steep so do your research.

REST! - Every day head back to your room to rest, freshen up, or even do a load of laundry.  Having a break during the hottest and busiest time of the day we were able to let our daughter rest , take showers, catch up on the news or sports ;), change our clothes/shoes for the evening weather and dinner… That A/C can be really cool in the restaurants

.

Baby Care Centers – Each park has a Baby Care Center. Free to use, have private nursing areas, diaper changing stations, little commodes/toilets, highchairs. They have hot/cold water dispensers and a microwave for formula and meals. Available for purchase are a few supplies – On one of our trips, Alexis dropped her bottle and it exploded while in line for POTC. $2.00 for a Gerber bottle and we were back in action. While the WDW Baby Care Centers have DVD’s playing – Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure do not. They are small in comparison to WDW. This really shocked me at DCA – it’s a newer park with ability to have better amenities – I only say that because these centers can probably see 700 to 1000 kids during the busy seasons. My goodness the Disneyland Baby Center still has a cloth diaper toilet/disposal in the middle of the changing station. It was a little gross to see.

Taking advantage of the Early Magic Hours – Not only is it cooler and less crowded (not that many locals either), I think that the Cast Members are happier and tend to give you tips for the remaining day, like where to eat lunch that usually has the shortest wait time, or whisper a secret to another Cast Member and that may let you ride on the Lilly Belle or get you to steer the Mark Twain. Inside tips here and there can make your day. Just getting to walk the parks is enjoyment enough for me – hearing the different theme music, smelling the Turkey Legs, Churros and Popcorn makes me happy and hungry…

Don’t stay out to late – Planning on staying for World of Color or the Fireworks? I opted to see the shows towards the end of our week long trips at WDW, but here at Disneyland we go to the parks @ 7PM, this helps keep our little one on a schedule. Most of the families coming to DLR average about 3 to 4 days before heading out – my suggestion is to see the shows on the last night of your trip and ask for a late checkout if your travel transportation and hotel/resort allows it.

Bring Snacks - Carry small, easy items, including fruit snacks, granola bars, crackers, bottled water and juice (no glass). Disneyland and California Adventure both have many places to eat and many options for snacks. Gerber meals, baby food squeezable pouches, formula, snacks and drinks are fine to take into the parks in a small collapsible cooler bag, but anything else - the Cast Member may have to throw it out. A Picnic Area is right outside the Disneyland Entrance gates - make sure you get your hand stamped before leaving so you can re-enter when you’re done.

FREEBIES! - Head to Guest Services and get BUTTONS! Tell them a special story and they may make your little one an Honorary Citizen of Disneyland for the day!.  I started a tradition for my little girl by collecting the buttons and adding them to a felt banner that we got in Walt Disney World.  So from Happy Birthday to Happy Anniversary to Honeymooners! I got them all – Hey they are free and I have yet to be declined for a button! 

I have done Disney alone with our daughter and with my husband – Both options has it’s advantages and disadvantages… Such as shopping, restroom breaks, Quick Service food windows, struggling with a stroller on and off the monorail and trams, and riding the rides alone with your little one. My mommy and me time on The Little Mermaid ride did not end up well…What she ate at The Luck Fortune Cookery ended up on me – Ursala really scared her. It was a long hike back by myself – getting the stroller out of stroller parking while trying not to let anything fall out of my shirt and on to another stroller. Putting a completely freaked out 2 year old in the stroller and trying to get back in the hot sun to the Baby Care center (meanwhile trying to cover up my shirt so not to disgust any other family) I had to wash my shirt and bra in the sink – clean the sink… you get the idea. But I was not going to let that ruin our time – Of course I had a clothes for her but not me – so we continued to Bug’s Land and let her run around in the Princess Dot Puddle Park at DCA. I dried out and she stayed wet and extremely happy.

When Dad comes along, it’s easier to have a wonderful helping husband but also my plan of attack seems scattered. Although we have Premium Passports and have access 365 days – we never know what we are going to do once we are there.. It may be the crowds that make our decision for us, knowing we can come back another day or the need to parent swap while one rides an attraction and the other has to wait - The fastpass we have not tried still.

But one thing is for sure – A lighted toy, a balloon and food is always purchased before we leave the parks.

So when you are out in the parks, you never know where Agent P is going to be!


See you soon!