We did get a wakeup call this morning and were up at 7 since we had breakfast inside the park at 8:20. Alex said he felt better this morning, so we got him up and headed out. Since we did not have early entry we were told to go to gate 1 to check in. We got there about 10 after 8 and the process ran very smoothly. We were given a paper, checked in, and just had to go pay for the meal. We were quickly seated right by the buffet area and before even getting our food we were inundated with characters! We saw Captain Hook, Chip and Dale, Minnie, Fairy Godmother, Pooh, Eeyore and Stitch. Tigger was there but went on break so we didn’t wait for him. The most fun we had was with Pinocchio, who sat at the table and played with Alex for 15 minutes. Alex was in heaven, the character managers were all smiles, and Andy video taped the whole interaction. We also were asked a question by Hook. He wanted to know where HIS toy was. We immediately decided we better get a small pirate toy for our next trip! Andy and I enjoyed the meal. I had an omelet and French Toast with strawberry sauce. Alex had apple juice. He refused all food, but drank several glasses of juice.
After this incredible breakfast we headed to Buzz. While the boys did Astro Orbiters and Star Tours I rode Buzz by myself. We then got Indy fastpasses and Soarin’ fastpasses before going to the hotel to check out. We stayed there for a few minutes before calling the front desk to let them know we were vacating and leaving our luggage.
We immediately went to California Adventure with plans to ride Tower of Terror, Soarin’ and Mulholland Madness. Instead we ran into character heaven. We say Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible (did not do pictures with them), Pluto, Goofy and Max, and I had my picture taken with Dopey thanks to the incredible Photopass man who asked Dopey to take a picture with me before he headed to Snow White. I was very appreciative! While I was doing this, Alex was getting a picture with Max. Finally we got into line for Tower of Terror when Alex had to go potty. We left the line. When we came back, they let us in the Fastpass return line. That was very nice of them! It was not needed though and we all knew it – but it was the gesture that counted.
After we got done with Tower, we were running short on time. We told Alex we didn’t have time for Soarin’ or Mulholland Madness if he wanted to go back to Disneyland. He never complained. (We should have gotten a clue then, but we are dense). We gave away the Soarin’ fastpasses and said goodbye to California Adventure.
At Disneyland we did our final ride on Indy. Then Alex wanted to skip Pirates but do Star Tours so we headed over there. The boys rode, then we rode Buzz together. After going through the Buzz store, Alex was suddenly on the ground doubled over in pain. Andy carried him to the stroller. We then went to ToonTown where Alex wanted to play a bit. I again didn’t feel good from Tower, so relaxed at the fountain. Andy called me and told me to head out and get more pull ups on the way down Main Street. I had already purchased 2 while they rode Star Tours, but now stopped to buy 3 more, and the poor lady there was very worried about Alex.
By the time I made it to Town Square Alex and Andy were there. Alex was lying on Andy shivering and his teeth were chattering. This was NOT food poisoning. We put him in the stroller where we put pants on his arms (we kept a pair of sweats in the stroller in case he got wet on Splash) to help keep him warm. He was burning up with fever.
In the short time it took to get to the hotel, Alex was no better. He did not want to fly home and Andy and I did not want to put him on Airport Bus after Sunday’s disaster in the bathroom. Instead, I called to rent a car one way so we could drive home. It cost a pretty penny, but it was all about Alex right now. (In hindsight Andy and I realized if we would have been flying out of John Wayne we would have flown, but since it was LAX and a long drive to the airport we drove).
Andy picked us up with the car at about 4pm. Alex was shivering in his sleep and his teeth were chattering. We gave him some Motrin to reduce the fever, packed up the car and were on our way. To rush hour traffic.
We were rear-ended on the freeway. Fortunately there was no damage. We stopped once for food. Alex wanted none, but did need to use the bathroom. It was here that we put him in a pull-up. Those were our saving grace on the way home. This drive was incredibly long. We hit Vegas at about 9:30. We stopped in Richfield Utah at a hotel at 2:30 with plans to stay the night if National would let us keep the car. Sure we could keep it, for an additional $187.00! We said forget that. The owner of the hotel sent us off with fresh baked muffins she was making for the continental breakfast the next morning.
By 5:00am we were in Grand Junction Finally, our home state and Alex had been sleeping now for 14 hours with a few wakeful moments to go to the bathroom. Andy and I were exhausted. We had been up almost 24 hours by this time with only very short naps in the car. It was 2pm when we got to Tia’s house (Andy’s sister) where we dropped off Alex and the luggage and headed out to the airport to turn in the rental and pick up our car. We got to the airport when we remembered the keys were in the luggage!
I called Tia to ask her to find the keys and have them ready for us so we could just run in and leave again. Twenty minutes later she called and asked if we would like it if she followed us back to the airport with our luggage and the dogs so we didn’t have to go back to her house before going home. Wow – what a wonderful person! We took her up on that, and 30 seconds later almost got run over by a semi. We couldn’t wait to be ride of this rental. By this point Andy had called our car a new name: crumple bait or something like that. I wrote it down, but can’t find it.
The exchange at the airport went smoothly and we finally had the dogs and everything we needed. We took the toll way home so we could arrive more easily since it was now rush hour in Denver.
We walked into our house at 4:00pm. We had been in a car for 24 hours. Alex had slept 18-20 of those hours. We had to make several unscheduled stops to either get him to a bathroom or change the pull-up because he couldn’t control his bowels. His fever was kept down with Motrin. We stopped at McDonald about 30 minutes before arriving at Tia’s the first time. Alex ate 2 chicken nuggets. It was the first thing he had eaten since the hot dog at 6:30pm on Wednesday. It was now Friday afternoon.
Andy and I had been awake since 7am Thursday morning with a combined 3 hours sleep between us on the drive.
We unloaded luggage, dumped it on the floor and went to bed. I set the alarm for 8 but we got up closer to 8:30pm. Alex was in bed again by 9:30 and I was in bed by 10:30.
We slept until 12 noon.
In hindsight we know we should have flown, but when a sick 5 year old we love more than anything said he didn’t want to fly, it really tugged at the heart strings.
Alex definitely doesn’t have food poisoning, and is still sick.
My feet are still swollen and very painful. Andy is now thinking it is because of my joints. We are happy to be home, and had a wonderful trip.
Poor Alex is blaming Tower of Terror for making him sick, because it happened after he rode TOT. We assured him that it was not that at all. It will be interesting to see if he rides it next time.
May All Your Days Be Filled With Magic! And your nights full of Disney Dreams!