There were a few things that ended up being flight issues. I don't know that I have great answers for them, but I can tell you what we ran into.
As a diabetic who currently has all injectables in vials, not pens, I kind of hate the liquids rule. Ideally I would have the vials in a padded box of some kind that would protect them, but I need them in a plastic bag. It's true that the vials are pretty tough, but I have had one break once, and you never forget it. I keep a pair of socks in my purse, and once through security I roll the bag up in them.
If you are going to be injecting on the plane, you need to think about cleaning and disposal. I use individually packaged alcohol wipes for the one. My inelegant solution for the other is a plastic bag and saving the tip from the needle to put back on it. Most airline restrooms have sharps disposal now, so you are only keeping it until the end of the flight.
On the plus side, with international flights they are bringing you food and beverages on a regular basis, so you are unlikely to get dehydrated or end up with low blood sugar without having a remedy. You should still never count on that. I made sure to stock up on glucose tablets before we left, and it ended up being really important when we hit Amsterdam on the way back. I'll write more about that next week.
I had to keep track of medications for both my mother and myself. With the time changes that involves deciding how to split them up. There is no exact perfect way, but I look at getting us onto the local schedule. For the first flight we were leaving Monday morning and arriving Tuesday afternoon, without long layovers. I gave her the Monday evening medications about three hours after the equivalent of the dinner they served us. We had an airport transfer and started a new flight around 10 AM in the time zone we were going to be in, so I gave her the Tuesday morning pills after boarding. Possibly an hour or two earlier would have been better, but we were rushing to make our flight then. You do the best you can.
It would be very helpful if I could have kept my mother's pills in her pill organizer, but again, that is not something security likes. So if in the process of fishing through four bottles for five pills, one tiny one gets dropped and can never be found again, well, that could have been much worse.
There were four main issues to traveling with a dementia patient.
One was Mom's inability to leave her purse alone. It is supposed to be stowed under the seat, and I kept putting it there and she kept pulling it back out. Dementia patients may not be able to identify that it is their memories that are missing, but there is still a sense of loss, which can lead to obsessing over possessions. I eventually gave up, and the flight attendant only mentioned it when we were getting ready to land, at which point Mom did leave it there, probably because the words of someone in authority matter more than me.
I touched on the bathroom issue in an earlier post. On eight and ten hour flights, you can't be expected to hold it the entire time, and it's good to get up and move around some. It stressed her out a lot to think about getting up, but you can tell when there is more anxiety about needing to go, and then you need to be firm. I timed my bathroom visits to go with hers. I thought that made sense in terms of less getting up, and not leaving her alone in the row, but when I got out the first time she had wandered to the back of the plane and I know she did not know where she was. That was frightening. I was more firm on subsequent visits about telling her to wait right there, but there are no guarantees. I had told her to wait the first time too. That's where I think tag teaming with another person could be good.
Having a partner could also be helpful for the reminders, because she did forget where we were and where we were going at times, and what we had done with the luggage (more of that obsessing). One of our seatmates could tell, and he very kindly started making conversation with my mother, which could have been a good rest only I was drawn into the conversation too. I came home with a deep tiredness, but that was not the biggest problem.
The biggest problem was her tiredness. There is sleep deprivation, and the more tired she became, she not only became more disoriented but more hostile about it. One the way there we were met at the airport by a cousin and while we did make one visit first, I could then say that she needed to rest, and we went to the hotel. Even after just an hour or two of lying down she was somewhat better.
The return was much worse. Not only did it end up being longer, but then there was a much worse customs process, and no one to meet us. We used MAX for transportation to and from the airport on our California trip and it was fine, so that was still my plan. I quickly realized that I needed something faster and simpler, but it was midday so that added an expense. I probably could have done better with prearranging something. I have never used Lyft or Uber, but this probably would have been the time.
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Traveling with special needs - TSA Pre✓®
I am going to try tackling the "traveling with special needs" topic in these next posts. One reason for my reluctance last week is that I am not sure that I have anything helpful to say. I know what problems came up, but I am not sure that I have any solutions. We largely just endured.
One thing happened that I still don't understand; somehow we ended up as TSA PreCheck:
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/tsa-precheck
I know you can pay for this. While I object on the grounds that the last thing we need is more cash-based inequality, I can totally see why you might decide that the shorter line and less invasive security check is worth the investment. Regardless, as my account is running dry, I would not have been able to and did not pay for it.
The only possible explanation I can give for how we got it is that maybe because we had just been through the system at the end of January, somehow that was a recent enough check that we could do the short process.
The first time-saver was that the line was much shorter, with fewer people in it. Fatigue ended up being a big part of our problems, so any expedition is good.
We also did not have to remove shoes and things, and there were not as many things that we needed to take out specially out of our carry on items.
Also, we did not have to go through the full body scanner, just a regular metal detector.
This worked well for me. The body scanner always seems to show something by my right knee. My only guess is that when that piece of rebar recoiled and slashed me, leaving me susceptible to an opportunistic infection that hits me any time my immune system gets too stressed, it may also have left a tiny scrap of metal in my body that migrated up a few inches and then got stuck. Or maybe it's a fat thing; I don't know.
For my mother, titanium joint replacements still set off the metal detector, subjecting her to the increasingly intimate pat-down.
I had been looking up different tips for traveling with dementia patients, and they all said to keep the person in front of you, with that as a better vantage point for guiding them and hearing the instructions they are getting.
That seems to be mainly true, but it is still not everything you would hope for. Part of me has come away thinking that really you need two people so you can tag team. One in front, one in back. Never one person in the bathroom while you have to hope your charge will not move or have anyone ask them any confusing questions as they stand outside the bathroom.
Of course, that would involve one more airline ticket, a bigger hotel room, more spending on food, more room in cars, more time off work... there are a lot of things that make it prohibitive.
I guess it is still more affordable than my other idea: traveling by private jet.
One thing happened that I still don't understand; somehow we ended up as TSA PreCheck:
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/tsa-precheck
I know you can pay for this. While I object on the grounds that the last thing we need is more cash-based inequality, I can totally see why you might decide that the shorter line and less invasive security check is worth the investment. Regardless, as my account is running dry, I would not have been able to and did not pay for it.
The only possible explanation I can give for how we got it is that maybe because we had just been through the system at the end of January, somehow that was a recent enough check that we could do the short process.
The first time-saver was that the line was much shorter, with fewer people in it. Fatigue ended up being a big part of our problems, so any expedition is good.
We also did not have to remove shoes and things, and there were not as many things that we needed to take out specially out of our carry on items.
Also, we did not have to go through the full body scanner, just a regular metal detector.
This worked well for me. The body scanner always seems to show something by my right knee. My only guess is that when that piece of rebar recoiled and slashed me, leaving me susceptible to an opportunistic infection that hits me any time my immune system gets too stressed, it may also have left a tiny scrap of metal in my body that migrated up a few inches and then got stuck. Or maybe it's a fat thing; I don't know.
For my mother, titanium joint replacements still set off the metal detector, subjecting her to the increasingly intimate pat-down.
I had been looking up different tips for traveling with dementia patients, and they all said to keep the person in front of you, with that as a better vantage point for guiding them and hearing the instructions they are getting.
That seems to be mainly true, but it is still not everything you would hope for. Part of me has come away thinking that really you need two people so you can tag team. One in front, one in back. Never one person in the bathroom while you have to hope your charge will not move or have anyone ask them any confusing questions as they stand outside the bathroom.
Of course, that would involve one more airline ticket, a bigger hotel room, more spending on food, more room in cars, more time off work... there are a lot of things that make it prohibitive.
I guess it is still more affordable than my other idea: traveling by private jet.
Saturday, June 3, 2017
AC Hotel Vicenza by Marriott
I just got back from a week in Italy with my mother. I had thought this week would be traveling with special needs, but I am not ready for that one yet. I may do it next week, and then get to the beautiful and wonderful places and eateries, or I may do them first. It does make sense to get the bad review out of the way.
There were several things that were frustrating. I chose the hotel partly because I read that it had a laundry room. This was a lie. It has laundry service, but that is not the same thing. It is also not located near a laundromat, which could also have been fine.
I wanted to like them. They were conveniently located for some things, and one of my cousins had even worked for them for a short stint, but they disappointed me every time I gave them a chance.The service in the restaurant was terrible, in that it was impossible to get service. There was always something: "We're closed." "We're out of that." "Could you go to the bar instead?" Being closed is at least valid, though having hours posted visibly could have avoided that.
But where I really want to spend some time is on the bathroom, because there are some interesting points there, and I think we can have some fun with it.
On a side note, it's the first place I have ever stayed with a bidet. I didn't use it, but I did check it out. I have heard of people getting sprayed in the face, but in this case the water just flows down out of the faucet, like a normal tap. If it is for "washing your backside" (as Crocodile Dundee deduced), the spray seems like it would work better. I have heard you can use it for washing other things, but if it is ever used for backsides, I don't want to put anything else into it. I may be too American, but it doesn't seem practical.
And practicality is really the key.
The bathroom was sleek and modern and lovely. Look at that clear counter. You can also catch a glimpse of the half shower door.
One of the cute ideas was soap in the shape of a golf ball, with a box that acts as the soap dish.
It does not stay good looking, getting worse with each use. That is a good summary of the issues with the bathroom.
That sleek counter develops water spots and streaks with each use. Yes, it cleans, but it spends most of its time looking dirty in a way that marble and its imitators don't.
The half door lets a lot of water out. That is a little worse because the adjustable shower head is hard to get into a good spot and have it stay there, but that particular problem is a little more common.
The towel rack hanging at the back of the shower is not as perilous as it looks - the towel stayed dry. However, what may not be obvious from the photo is that the tub is really high. There was a sign to hang the towel if you did not need it replaced to conserve water. I admire that, but if you got out of the tub to get dry (which is the only way to get all the way dry) you were not able to reach the rack to hang the towel back up.
With that high tub, there was a rail in the tub, but it was on the far side. If you were lying it the tub it was probably helpful for getting up, but for getting in and out of the tub, there were no good options for bracing.
I know that some of the issues were due to a lack of space and attempts to maximize it. That comes up a lot with hotels. A lot of it was still putting form over function.
I read once that "design" is merely a way of solving problems. That is probably an oversimplification, but it feels reasonable to say that a design that creates problems was done badly.
That applies in this case.
Would not stay again.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/vicvi-ac-hotels-by-marriott-vicenza/
There were several things that were frustrating. I chose the hotel partly because I read that it had a laundry room. This was a lie. It has laundry service, but that is not the same thing. It is also not located near a laundromat, which could also have been fine.
I wanted to like them. They were conveniently located for some things, and one of my cousins had even worked for them for a short stint, but they disappointed me every time I gave them a chance.The service in the restaurant was terrible, in that it was impossible to get service. There was always something: "We're closed." "We're out of that." "Could you go to the bar instead?" Being closed is at least valid, though having hours posted visibly could have avoided that.
But where I really want to spend some time is on the bathroom, because there are some interesting points there, and I think we can have some fun with it.
And practicality is really the key.
That sleek counter develops water spots and streaks with each use. Yes, it cleans, but it spends most of its time looking dirty in a way that marble and its imitators don't.
The half door lets a lot of water out. That is a little worse because the adjustable shower head is hard to get into a good spot and have it stay there, but that particular problem is a little more common.
The towel rack hanging at the back of the shower is not as perilous as it looks - the towel stayed dry. However, what may not be obvious from the photo is that the tub is really high. There was a sign to hang the towel if you did not need it replaced to conserve water. I admire that, but if you got out of the tub to get dry (which is the only way to get all the way dry) you were not able to reach the rack to hang the towel back up.
With that high tub, there was a rail in the tub, but it was on the far side. If you were lying it the tub it was probably helpful for getting up, but for getting in and out of the tub, there were no good options for bracing.
I know that some of the issues were due to a lack of space and attempts to maximize it. That comes up a lot with hotels. A lot of it was still putting form over function.
I read once that "design" is merely a way of solving problems. That is probably an oversimplification, but it feels reasonable to say that a design that creates problems was done badly.
That applies in this case.
Would not stay again.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/vicvi-ac-hotels-by-marriott-vicenza/
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Disneyland with special needs
In our small traveling group, potential areas of concern included dementia, arthritis (included artificial knees), anxiety, diabetes, and fear of losing a wig. In addition, the park can be tiring for much younger people.
I took a lot of that into account while planning the trip. I did not plan on going on any fast rides, and I had considered which ones were harder to get in and out of, or more uncomfortable for the legs. There was no chance we would go on Goofy's Sky School, but there were a lot of rides that I thought would be fine.
I underestimated the knees. Even some rides with a reasonable amount of leg room required too much bending. We discovered this on our second attempted ride, Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, when my mother could just not get seated. Maybe the anxiety makes her give up sooner, but it she couldn't do it. She ended up waiting just outside the ride exit while I rode it.
In addition, the first ride we did, Soarin' Over the World, made her dizzy. Getting in and out of the ride was easy, but the ride part itself - which I thought she would love - scared her.
That required an adjustment in plans. Many rides that I thought would be okay (pretty much everything in Fantasyland) had to be scrapped. She had been on most of them back in the '80s, but I had been excited to introduce her to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and that wasn't going to happen.
I ended up prioritizing the ones that I thought she would enjoy the most and where she would have the most leg room. We rode Ariel's Undersea Adventure, Peter Pan, and the Haunted Mansion. We also went into the Enchanted Tiki Room (an attraction, but not a ride), and we rode the Monorail.
There are a few points that I want to make, but I think the first is that we still had a nice time. I like riding rides a lot, but sitting and listening to the music and watching the people is still good. There is a good and happy feeling there, and it was good for her to partake of it, even if the memories are not always there.
There is also a lot of entertainment, with bands and musical acts all around. We only specifically made an effort to catch the show at the Golden Horseshoe Review, but we could have done much more.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/entertainment/
I was constantly reminded that choosing to stay at the Grand Californian had been the right way to go. We were easily able to get back and forth from the park, which meant taking breaks in the middle of the day possible (because it was necessary).
The reason we rode the Monorail was to see if the Downtown Disney stop was closer to the hotel than going through the main entrance. It may have been a little closer, but there were stairs going down from the platform there (the Tomorrowland stop is all ramp), so it was a mixed bag. Trying it was still something to make the experience more interesting.
Wheelchairs are available, and I thought about it a lot, but that was not something my mother wanted, and I had to respect that.
I personally am grateful that the bathrooms have receptacles for sharps, which is helpful.
But the most important thing is to once again be grateful for how helpful the cast members are. When Mom was struggling to get in to the trailer for the Junkyard Jamboree, they tried to assist. I think they might have helped us position the legs in if we had wanted, but I knew she would hate that. Instead, they helped her get to the exit to wait, but immediately followed with a pass for quick readmission if she wanted to try it again. I appreciated that.
Also, in addition to the Main Street Electrical Parade, we also stayed for the World of Color. We had gotten regular reservations and found her place, but I was worried about her standing for that long. I went to find a bench while we waited.
The way the World of Color reservations work is that you get a ticket for a standing area, which you hand over as you enter. If you leave they give you one back (it is probably not the same one, though that doesn't matter) so you can return and get back in.
Our cast member asked and I explained I just wanted to let her sit for a while. I have seen chairs, but they were marked reserved and I don't know how you get them. I still don't know how you get them in advance, but he immediately asked if I would like for her to sit during the show, and he found her a spot to sit.
It just made everything so much easier, and I was so grateful.
Looking back I suspect that if I had asked someone earlier - at the hotel or in the park - how to get a seating place, they would have had answers.
One thing I have become aware of recently is how many different types of disabilities there are. We tend to think of wheelchair access, but someone on the autism spectrum recently had trouble flying: pre-boarding would have been very helpful, but without difficulty walking or small children the airline just couldn't see to give her that grace.
It impresses me seeing how many different issues Disneyland can be good with. It may require some advance planning, but there are many things that can work, and be a great experience.
I took a lot of that into account while planning the trip. I did not plan on going on any fast rides, and I had considered which ones were harder to get in and out of, or more uncomfortable for the legs. There was no chance we would go on Goofy's Sky School, but there were a lot of rides that I thought would be fine.
I underestimated the knees. Even some rides with a reasonable amount of leg room required too much bending. We discovered this on our second attempted ride, Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, when my mother could just not get seated. Maybe the anxiety makes her give up sooner, but it she couldn't do it. She ended up waiting just outside the ride exit while I rode it.
In addition, the first ride we did, Soarin' Over the World, made her dizzy. Getting in and out of the ride was easy, but the ride part itself - which I thought she would love - scared her.
That required an adjustment in plans. Many rides that I thought would be okay (pretty much everything in Fantasyland) had to be scrapped. She had been on most of them back in the '80s, but I had been excited to introduce her to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and that wasn't going to happen.
I ended up prioritizing the ones that I thought she would enjoy the most and where she would have the most leg room. We rode Ariel's Undersea Adventure, Peter Pan, and the Haunted Mansion. We also went into the Enchanted Tiki Room (an attraction, but not a ride), and we rode the Monorail.
There are a few points that I want to make, but I think the first is that we still had a nice time. I like riding rides a lot, but sitting and listening to the music and watching the people is still good. There is a good and happy feeling there, and it was good for her to partake of it, even if the memories are not always there.
There is also a lot of entertainment, with bands and musical acts all around. We only specifically made an effort to catch the show at the Golden Horseshoe Review, but we could have done much more.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/entertainment/
I was constantly reminded that choosing to stay at the Grand Californian had been the right way to go. We were easily able to get back and forth from the park, which meant taking breaks in the middle of the day possible (because it was necessary).
The reason we rode the Monorail was to see if the Downtown Disney stop was closer to the hotel than going through the main entrance. It may have been a little closer, but there were stairs going down from the platform there (the Tomorrowland stop is all ramp), so it was a mixed bag. Trying it was still something to make the experience more interesting.
Wheelchairs are available, and I thought about it a lot, but that was not something my mother wanted, and I had to respect that.
I personally am grateful that the bathrooms have receptacles for sharps, which is helpful.
But the most important thing is to once again be grateful for how helpful the cast members are. When Mom was struggling to get in to the trailer for the Junkyard Jamboree, they tried to assist. I think they might have helped us position the legs in if we had wanted, but I knew she would hate that. Instead, they helped her get to the exit to wait, but immediately followed with a pass for quick readmission if she wanted to try it again. I appreciated that.
The way the World of Color reservations work is that you get a ticket for a standing area, which you hand over as you enter. If you leave they give you one back (it is probably not the same one, though that doesn't matter) so you can return and get back in.
Our cast member asked and I explained I just wanted to let her sit for a while. I have seen chairs, but they were marked reserved and I don't know how you get them. I still don't know how you get them in advance, but he immediately asked if I would like for her to sit during the show, and he found her a spot to sit.
It just made everything so much easier, and I was so grateful.
Looking back I suspect that if I had asked someone earlier - at the hotel or in the park - how to get a seating place, they would have had answers.
One thing I have become aware of recently is how many different types of disabilities there are. We tend to think of wheelchair access, but someone on the autism spectrum recently had trouble flying: pre-boarding would have been very helpful, but without difficulty walking or small children the airline just couldn't see to give her that grace.
It impresses me seeing how many different issues Disneyland can be good with. It may require some advance planning, but there are many things that can work, and be a great experience.
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Preparing for your Disney trip
Going to Disneyland doesn't take a lot of planning for us anymore; we know the territory.
Purchasing the passes in advance has always resulted in getting them in the mail. In the past they have been paper, but this time they were plastic, kind of like a credit card. Because we were staying at a resort hotel, we also got a packet with coupons for Downtown Disney and ground transportation information.
My sisters recently went to Disneyworld, and that was a different experience.
For Disneyworld, it is wristbands, and you register them online. Not only do you register them, you can plan fast passes and meals in advance.
https://www.wired.com/2015/03/disney-magicband/
I had read this article a while ago, so I was not completely surprised at the options. Reservations are not required, and there is a part of me that likes to leave things open to spontaneity. I mean, how do you even know when you will be between rides? Well, maybe if you were using fast passes, you would.
Granted, my whole strategy is to pick less busy times of year, and then use psychology and opportunism to do the least amount of waiting in line possible. That seems completely incompatible with smart wristband technology.
Not everyone can do it our way. Being childless means you don't have to go during regular vacations. That is not true for everyone. If the only time to go is a busy time of year, that level of planning may be what makes the trip better than long lines punctuated by a few moments of fun. Advance planning could be helpful for a busy Disneyland time as well.
While I am confident that when I take my crack at Disneyworld that I will do it better, it can be intimidating too. With so much there - and not wanting to miss things - how do you do it?
Here is something helpful; no matter how much I love Disneyland, there are people who are way more fanatical about it. This can be useful.
Let's say I was looking for discounts, I might head over to Mouse Savers first, and subscribe to their newsletter: https://www.mousesavers.com/
They have their own links, but don't worry, there are more. For example, if I wanted to check out restaurants, I might go to http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/. I'm not even sure if that's the one I have used in the past, because there are others.
That's not to take away from the park web sites. Sorting restaurants by location, like https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/#/sort=location/ is helpful, but those are general descriptions and prices. The sites done by fans may have pictures of the menu items, and reviews. It can be handy.
It is easy to miss things. You probably will miss things. The origin of the food map is that my sisters were going and they had heard about a macaroni and cheese dog, and a Matterhorn macaroon, and they did not know where they were. In the process of using the Disney site to find it, well, I guess I wanted to draw some, but also - even knowing that things can change - I really know where to find stuff now.
If browsing randomly shows you one dish that looks good, and you see certain rides are near it, and plan that there will be a meal there, after those rides, it's as valid a planning method as any.
And if you have to ask questions, the cast members are really nice.
Purchasing the passes in advance has always resulted in getting them in the mail. In the past they have been paper, but this time they were plastic, kind of like a credit card. Because we were staying at a resort hotel, we also got a packet with coupons for Downtown Disney and ground transportation information.
My sisters recently went to Disneyworld, and that was a different experience.
https://www.wired.com/2015/03/disney-magicband/
I had read this article a while ago, so I was not completely surprised at the options. Reservations are not required, and there is a part of me that likes to leave things open to spontaneity. I mean, how do you even know when you will be between rides? Well, maybe if you were using fast passes, you would.
Granted, my whole strategy is to pick less busy times of year, and then use psychology and opportunism to do the least amount of waiting in line possible. That seems completely incompatible with smart wristband technology.
Not everyone can do it our way. Being childless means you don't have to go during regular vacations. That is not true for everyone. If the only time to go is a busy time of year, that level of planning may be what makes the trip better than long lines punctuated by a few moments of fun. Advance planning could be helpful for a busy Disneyland time as well.
While I am confident that when I take my crack at Disneyworld that I will do it better, it can be intimidating too. With so much there - and not wanting to miss things - how do you do it?
Here is something helpful; no matter how much I love Disneyland, there are people who are way more fanatical about it. This can be useful.
Let's say I was looking for discounts, I might head over to Mouse Savers first, and subscribe to their newsletter: https://www.mousesavers.com/
They have their own links, but don't worry, there are more. For example, if I wanted to check out restaurants, I might go to http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/. I'm not even sure if that's the one I have used in the past, because there are others.
That's not to take away from the park web sites. Sorting restaurants by location, like https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/#/sort=location/ is helpful, but those are general descriptions and prices. The sites done by fans may have pictures of the menu items, and reviews. It can be handy.
It is easy to miss things. You probably will miss things. The origin of the food map is that my sisters were going and they had heard about a macaroni and cheese dog, and a Matterhorn macaroon, and they did not know where they were. In the process of using the Disney site to find it, well, I guess I wanted to draw some, but also - even knowing that things can change - I really know where to find stuff now.
If browsing randomly shows you one dish that looks good, and you see certain rides are near it, and plan that there will be a meal there, after those rides, it's as valid a planning method as any.
And if you have to ask questions, the cast members are really nice.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Corporate Downsides
There were two less great incidents on our trip. Neither were huge deals, but there were some common threads.
Remember two weeks ago when I said the only competition for the Minnie's Bake Shop Chocolate Chip Supreme cookies are the Colossal Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cookies at the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop in California Adventure? My sisters had requested that we bring them some, along with some Boudin sourdough bread from the Pacific Wharf Café right across.
One of the exciting things about staying at one of the resort hotels would be that I could have our purchases sent to the room. I confidently requested this service and was told that they (the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop) were not Disney, so they could not do that. She also could not accept the Disney gift card that I had been going to use to pay.
It felt like she was a little curt about it. That may have been my shock at receiving the two negatives in a row - so unusual for Disney. I interacted with two other people in the shop, and they were both friendly and warm as expected, but this took me back.
(I didn't really buy any other souvenirs until the last day in the hotel, so I never got to try.)
My sisters had one other request: Sprinkles cupcakes was doing a January Care Bear promotion, and although it was supposed to end a few days before we would be there, they wanted me to check.
There is a Sprinkles in Downtown Disney.
http://sprinkles.com/cupcakes/flavors/calendar-january/care-bears
I was pretty sure that there would be no hope of still finding Care Bear cupcakes, but I still agreed to look. I thought it would be really cool to try a cupcake ATM, which Sprinkles is known for:
http://sprinkles.com/cupcake-atm
One thing you may not know about me is that I have never been to a place that specializes in cupcakes without being disappointed. People may rave about them, like at Saint Cupcake. They often have ingenious and impressive layouts, like Kara's Cupcakes in San Francisco. (It looked like a jewelry store. So gorgeous.) I know cupcakes can be good, because I have had good cupcakes in other circumstances, but somehow the places that specialize in cupcakes seem to focus more on appearance, and the taste is kind of blah.
So far, I am four for four.
Don't get me wrong - the cupcakes were not horrible, but they weren't great, and it is weird to me that a shop that does nothing but cupcakes shouldn't have terrific cupcakes. Also, I bought them in the store, because I saw no ATM at this location. I would have had to go in anyway to ask about the Care Bears, but you guessed it, no Care Bears.
But, not for the reason you expected. The issue was not the date, but because this particular Sprinkles is located in Downtown Disney, they couldn't do the Care Bear promotion at all -- competing registered trademarks, I guess.
So somehow the place outside the park was too Disney, but the place inside the park was not Disney enough.
All in all, if these are the worst things that happened to us on this trip (and they were), we're doing okay.
I would say that I am taking recommendations for good cupcake shops, but the truth is I won't believe you anymore. Too jaded.
Remember two weeks ago when I said the only competition for the Minnie's Bake Shop Chocolate Chip Supreme cookies are the Colossal Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cookies at the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop in California Adventure? My sisters had requested that we bring them some, along with some Boudin sourdough bread from the Pacific Wharf Café right across.
One of the exciting things about staying at one of the resort hotels would be that I could have our purchases sent to the room. I confidently requested this service and was told that they (the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop) were not Disney, so they could not do that. She also could not accept the Disney gift card that I had been going to use to pay.
It felt like she was a little curt about it. That may have been my shock at receiving the two negatives in a row - so unusual for Disney. I interacted with two other people in the shop, and they were both friendly and warm as expected, but this took me back.
(I didn't really buy any other souvenirs until the last day in the hotel, so I never got to try.)
My sisters had one other request: Sprinkles cupcakes was doing a January Care Bear promotion, and although it was supposed to end a few days before we would be there, they wanted me to check.
There is a Sprinkles in Downtown Disney.
http://sprinkles.com/cupcakes/flavors/calendar-january/care-bears
I was pretty sure that there would be no hope of still finding Care Bear cupcakes, but I still agreed to look. I thought it would be really cool to try a cupcake ATM, which Sprinkles is known for:
http://sprinkles.com/cupcake-atm
One thing you may not know about me is that I have never been to a place that specializes in cupcakes without being disappointed. People may rave about them, like at Saint Cupcake. They often have ingenious and impressive layouts, like Kara's Cupcakes in San Francisco. (It looked like a jewelry store. So gorgeous.) I know cupcakes can be good, because I have had good cupcakes in other circumstances, but somehow the places that specialize in cupcakes seem to focus more on appearance, and the taste is kind of blah.
So far, I am four for four.
But, not for the reason you expected. The issue was not the date, but because this particular Sprinkles is located in Downtown Disney, they couldn't do the Care Bear promotion at all -- competing registered trademarks, I guess.
So somehow the place outside the park was too Disney, but the place inside the park was not Disney enough.
All in all, if these are the worst things that happened to us on this trip (and they were), we're doing okay.
I would say that I am taking recommendations for good cupcake shops, but the truth is I won't believe you anymore. Too jaded.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Main Street Electrical Parade
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/entertainment/disneyland/electrical-parade/
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