Destination Disney
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Author: Aramco ExPats
Released 17 July 2007
Grandchildren Satomi Swayne & Olivia Swayne
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
With family spread across the map, it has become an annual tradition to meet once a year for a family vacation - destination Disney.
Rusty and Brad Swayne, encouraged by their mother, Vicci Thompson, to be easy-going travelers with a preference for activity filled vacations, have found that bringing their growing families to Disney World provides the perfect mix of all-ages fun. Disney World, Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom, MGM Studios, and Downtown Disney have been among the favorite destinations. This year, however, Rusty put in a bid for a west coast vacation due to the fact that he has an active toddler and a pregnant wife who is not a seasoned traveler and was dreading the cross-country air travel. Graciously, the family agreed to give Disneyland a go, and because of the close proximity, a detour to Hollywood and the San Diego Zoo and Sea World became part of the agenda.
Rusty, Vicci, Kara, Olivia, Satomi, Jacob, Taka and Brad
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
Vicci flew out from Cape Cod, Brad flew his family out from New York on Father's Day, and Rusty and family arrived from Seattle. It was a long trip for Brad's kids, Jacob, 7, and Satomi, 5, but grandma came to everyone's rescue when she offered to have the kids room with her for the duration of the trip. Rusty's daughter Olivia, 21 months, survived the three hour plane ride albeit with much protesting about being strapped in her car seat. The cousins met for the second time and really hit it off.
Satomi, Pam & Charlie Burns, Jacob
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
Disneyland was a different experience for a family so familiar with Disney World. Everything seemed to be on a much smaller scale, most noticeably Cinderella's castle, a third of the size of the castle that greets visitors at Disney World. On the other hand, getting to the park entrance required no trams or long lines, and the park entrance was adjacent to Disney's California Adventure theme park and Downtown Disney making it possible to park hop every day rather than plan to visit just one park daily. For instance, during one day's trip to Disney, plans were made to meet up with fellow Aramco ExPats, Charlie and Pam Burns, for lunch in Downtown Disney. An easy walk from one park to the next.
Without a doubt California Disney was still magical and provided a few new rides for Jacob and Satomi to experience. The family also spent a day at Knott's Berry Farm's two parks. The original park, filled with roller coasters, is primarily geared to thrill seekers. Brad and Vicci were first in line for a ride that would leave them unsteady on their feet for some time, and while they were waiting in line, Rusty took the rest of the family around the park in search of rides that were appropriate for the kids. We discovered that most of the rides were not for youngsters so we walked across the street to Knott's Berry Farm's Soak City, a fantastic all-ages water park.
In addition to experiencing the magic of Disney, if you're a movie buff, a trip to the City of Angels can also provide you a brush with the stars while touring Beverly Hills and the surrounding Hollywood Hills. Now that's entertainment!
Grandchildren Satomi Visiting a Hippo
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
A short trip down the beautiful, beach filled California coastline to the San Diego Zoo and Sea World rounded out the trip. The San Diego Zoo is one of the most amazing zoos you'll ever experience and we were fortunate to visit it on a day when the crowds were small making it possible to sit right in front of the viewing glass watching the underwater hippo come up for air or staring in ah at the albino python in his graciously enormous replica of home for as long as you wished. Sea World provided a fantastic, entertaining and inspiring viewing of the infamous killer whale, Shamu, whether you sat in or out of the "Soak Zone", and had a variety of underwater exhibits including an encounter with nearly 300 penguins, a big winner if your kids have recently fallen in love with penguins after watching the movie hits March of the Penguins or Happy Feet.
The memories made with family during these annual trips are true treasures, and the kids couldn't possibly have more fun. We'll let our feet rest for a while, but we'll be ready and raring to go on our next adventure a year from now.