Home

Although tired, my girls are rallying over the smallest things — the shuttle bus ride over from the rental car-return site, watching their stuffed animals go through security, having Dad buy them yet another ice cream. (A recurring theme, if you’ve been following along.) … All in all, I would say that this trip has been a huge success.

So many cool memories, and — every parent will appreciate this — we’re taking home only a few toys. … Because of the pouring rain, with the occasional lightening strikes — just the kind of conditions you want for a long flight — our plane to Salt Lake City was going to be delayed at least two hours, which would put the final leg of our trip, from Salt Lake City to Sacramento, in jeopardy, as well.

Well, in every great trip, a little @#$% must fall. And in this case, it came in the form of unrelenting rain.

OK, time to regroup. I looked over at my surprisingly patient and resilient girls — much more resilient than my stomach on this trip, let me tell you — and wondered if it would be fair to keep them waiting even more. As it was, we were forced to check out of our lovely resort at 10 this morning ( Hellooooo, Hilton Resort People — you ever hear of the noon checkout, let alone at 1? ) to then cool our heels at the nearby Downtown Disney, a huge mall-like venue also found in many other cities.