Arrived!

I have made it to the Paradise Pier Hotel in Disneyland!!

I had a long day of travel starting with waking up at 7:00am (4am California time) then had a flight at 12:10, but didn't leave until 12:50. So for the five hour flight the man in front of me decided to lay in my lap the whole time. He had his seat so reclined that my knees were hitting the seat the whole time, and if you know me, you know that I have tiny short legs for my height.

I landed in L.A. around 3:00 and then proceeded to get lost on the way to baggage claim. There were 2 escalators, one that went to the bottom floor (baggage) and one that just went down one floor (not baggage). I took the latter escalator and then proceeded to walk around until I found an elevator and went down to baggage. Just as I got there I saw my bag come down the shoot, so I grabbed it and ran.

Now at the Orlando airport you can't help but find the Disney Magical Express. There is a desk and Disney cast members walking around telling you where to go. Not so at LAX. It took me a good half hour (and asking 20 people) where the Disneyland Express picked up. I got many different answers from people who were unsure, and then one man seemed fairly competent so I listened to him. I ended up on a concrete median (which I knew is where I had to go) under a sign that said "Skytransit". Of course!!! Why didn't I think about looking for the Disneyland Express at the Skytransit median! (Sarcasm)

So once I was standing there for about 5 minutes a Disneyland bus came up, so I started to gather all my belongings. The bus driver then proceeded to honk extremely loudly at me, as if to ask if I were boarding the bus. I nodded to him and he stopped the bus and threw my suitcase under the bus. I was the only person on the bus, but the bus driver then honked at every median we passed. It was very un-Disney-like.

We were then stuck in MASSIVE traffic. He had the radio playing (not the Disney video) and it said that a huge gas tanker truck had exploded under a bridge so the freeway was closed, so I think the traffic was particularly bad, even for L.A.

I finally arrived at the Paradise Pier Hotel which is extremely nice! I checked in and the Guest Services Host said that he was jealous I was going to be Guest Services on the ship because he had applied for that job but did not get it...oops. I then went up to my room and found my roommate there! Her name is Cheyenne and she is literally from down the street. She had 2 friends with her (I can't remember their names) and they all went out for karaoke tonight. Which I am fine with because I am exhausted.

I then chatted with my family (HI GUYS!!!) on the computer and then hunger got the better of me. I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday so I was pretty hungry. I looked up quick service locations and found one at the Grand Californian. I went down to the front desk to ask if there was a shuttle there and they said it was literally across the street. So I walked across to the quick service food location and got a hamburger and french fries (neither were great) and walked back and ate it in my room.

On the walk back I saw, what I can only assume, where people from California walking by me. They had toques, scarves, mittens, and huge puffy winter coats on. It really is not that cold here, it is 10 degrees Celsius. It made me giggle because I came from pretty cold weather and it seems so balmy and nice here.

I have training at 6:30am tomorrow so I am going to sleep soon (even though it is only 7:00pm here). I am really tired after my big day of travel and the time change will benefit me tomorrow when I have to wake up at 5:30am.

Ta Ta For Now!!!