And Fetus Makes Four

[resol37]

Hello readers!

My name is Ashley - welcome to my Pre-Trip Report. Let's dive right in, shall we?

I leave the day after tomorrow (Saturday, October 22nd) for a five night, six day trip to the LA area including one day at Universal Studios and two days at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure.

Imma tell you all about it.

That's me. Car selfie FTW! No, I do not know how to make that any smaller.

I'm 33, married, and living with my husband in downtown San Jose, CA. I'm originally from Charlotte, NC (kinda - I'm an Air Force brat at heart). Moved to California two years ago for my husband's job.

I'm partially disabled due to a bout of Guillain-Barre Syndrome that had me in the hospital and in-patient rehab for six weeks last year.

I can now walk without assistance but still have partial numbness in my legs from the knees down (with the worst of it in my toes) and nerve pain in my feet. I'm going to try to avoid using a wheelchair or ECV during this trip as they really put a cramp in my style but I will be taking advantage of Disney's Disability Access Services.

I'm a lover of thrill rides, all things spooky (The Tower of Terror and The Haunted Mansion are favorites) and food. I currently work part time as an Enrollment Specialist for an outplacement company and am really looking forward to a little vacation.

My husband, Alex.

Just turned 39 and works for a large tech company in Silicon Valley. Originally from the very small town of Marion, VA.

Former police officer, used car salesman, park ranger, pharmacy technician, etc., etc., etc.

We've been watching all of the Harry Potter movies over the past few weeks as a refresher because he is most pumped up for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at US.

He's also looking forward to riding some thrill rides that he couldn't ride before due to a heart condition that was corrected with surgery earlier this year.

My friend, Charlee!

She's 32 and works in hospitality in Denver, CO.

Charlee and I met while working at Disney's Hollywood Studios (then called Disney-MGM Studios) at Walt Disney World back in 2004. We were both doing the College Program with her working at the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and me at the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playground and the Backlot Tour.

We were the best of friends but haven't seen each other in person since then.

Charlee messaged me on Facebook earlier this year having just gone through a rough breakup and said that she needed some Disney and she needed me to join her. Disneyland it is, then!

Oh, yeah... And then there's our fourth trip member, Alex and Ashley's unborn son!

Yup, I'm pregnant! I just started my second trimester and we're so very excited. I'll be missing out on my favorite thrill rides, but I'm happy all the same.


The plans are these:

• Alex and Ashley drive from NorCal to SoCal Saturday morning/afternoon and meet up with Charlee at the Hilton LAX for one night.
• Spend Saturday night and Sunday doing stereotypical LA tourist stuff. (May include In & Out Burger, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theater, etc.)
• Check into the DoubleTree Anaheim sometime on Sunday afternoon.
• Hopefully spend some time at Downtown Disney Sunday night (I need Earl of Sandwich!)
• Go to US (focusing on tWWoHP) on Monday
• Maybe back to DD Monday evening? (Charlee's got a football game to watch that night)
• DL on Tuesday
• DCA on Wednesday
• Alex and Ashley drive back to NorCal Thursday

Stay tuned!

 

[kaitmaree]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Looking forward to reading about your trip. Safe travels!

 

[resol37]

Thank you, kaitmaree! Leaving in less than 24 hours and haven't packed yet!

 

[Jaina]

The trip I went on while pregnant was such a different, interesting one! We did things differently than usual, but still had a great time! I hope you have a great time!

 

[resol37]

Welcome back!


Our trip is long over and I’ve been putting off writing the trip report. Mainly because I don’t have nearly as many pictures as I would like. Alex and I always say we’re going to take more but then we end up caught in the moment and forget to take out our cameras.


Alex is better than I but his pictures are still sitting in storage on his camera so I’ve gathered what I could from Facebook and am ready to get started.

 

[resol37]

Day 1 – Travel Day


Alex and I awoke early (though I did not note the time), finished up last minute packing (got to get one last use out of those toiletries before packing them away) and hit the road.

This is us getting ready to pull out of the parking deck at our apartment building. It couldn’t have been too early as the sun was up and we also had a quick stop to make along the way.

Chick-fil-A! Now, I try to avoid Chick-fil-A when possible and living in California makes that pretty easy as there aren’t too many around. But I lived in North Carolina for 19 years and I’m pregnant and I needed a good biscuit. California has zero Bojangles so Chick-fil-A it was. Chicken minis for me and a breakfast wrap/burrito/not a biscuit so whatever for Alex and we’re officially off.


The drive down was uneventful. We stopped at Denny’s for lunch. Here’s some proof.

We split an appetizer sampler of chips and queso, mozzarella sticks, and chicken tenders. I’ve been doing my best to stay away from caffeine during the pregnancy but I wasn’t too successful this trip (small amounts are ok) and got my favorite drink of all times here – an Arnold Palmer! Yum.

No idea where I took this. Somewhere in the central valley.


Alex and I arrived and checked in at the Hilton LAX around 2:30 – 2:45 pm that afternoon.

Our view.

Alex got this flattering shot of me (edited with Prisma).

After relaxing in the room for about 20 minutes we decided we needed a snack so we went back downstairs to the bistro off the lobby.

Split ourselves a hummus plate and a chicken quesadilla. Alex also got himself a Jack Daniels, I believe.


We still had awhile before Charlee’s plane came in so we bummed around the hotel’s main lobby floor and looked around the gift shop. We went back to our room and relaxed (Alex napped) until we got the text from Charlee that she had arrived.


I managed to sneak up on her in the lobby and we spent a few quick minutes saying hi and catching up before we realized we had several days together for that, but Charlee was hungry now.


Alex found a decent sounding restaurant on Yelp! that was within walking distance so we took off. Turned out it was in another hotel a few blocks away. I do not have a note of the name, but it was decent food.


I was still looking for variety so I got a sampler of mashed potatoes, Sriracha Brussels sprouts, and fried pickles. I’m going to need California to work on their fried pickles though. Spears? Come on, now.


Alex got steak with veggies and a beer and Charlee had a fried chicken sandwich with fries and a pineapple cider. I took a sip of the cider and it was amazingly good.


We sat and talked for a long time, then walked back to the Hilton and sat and talked some more.


Eventually it was time for bed so Charlee left for her room and we looked forward to the next day.