I write a whole lot about fabulous times I have at the Disneyland media events, but there are times (many times) when my family goes to the park and things go wrong.  And sometimes, things go really wrong.  And sometimes, things go really, really wrong.  Now, usually a day when things go totally wrong, we have a meltdown or have to park in the very last row of the parking structure only to find out we forgot the stroller at home or get puked on by one of our kids (and that one has happened too many times).

So, this most recent trip to Disneyland for the world premiere of World of Color was one of those trips in which it went really wrong after having been wrapped up in glorious anticipation for almost a year.  Yes, I had been dreaming about this event for an entire year.  After Baby C was born, I worked so hard to get weight off (not all that successfully, I might add) to look somewhat human for the event.  I labored over what to wear and worked to get the baby to take a bottle.  The plan was for my husband to stay at the Grand Californian with the kids Thursday night and then go to the park with them while attended more media events during the day on Friday (today).  I packed them up with meticulous precision–everything in ziploc bags labeled for when it should worn, consumed, etc.  I wanted to make it as easy as possible for him since he would have already put in a full hard day at work before going to the hotel with the boys.  And finally…yesterday…a day in the works for an entire year arrived….and went down, down, down, down hill.

It all started when we got on the freeway and got stuck in two hours worth of traffic.  We live a mere 37 miles from Disneyland and it took TWO HOURS! By the time we arrived at the hotel (so graciously provided to us by the kind folks at the Disneyland Resort), checked in to the hotel, checked in for the media event, got the kids in the room and the baby nursed (for about 5 minutes), I ran out the door and met up with my media host.  It was now 7:30ish and all of the excitement of the “blue carpet” was about over and thus missed interviews with the likes of BOB IGER who actually made it a point to come and talk to the online media and bloggers.  Oh and I still hadn’t had dinner.

We were then escorted to the show area where I snacked on Vitamin Water and World of Color popcorn.  (Both excellent, but still not dinner.)  After the show I practically RAN to the party and wolfed down some appetizers (dinner, I guess) before being whisked off to my on-camera interviews.  Now by this point, the sweat from running around and the mist and dampness in the air had done a number on my hair and makeup and, of course, I didn’t have a mirror with me.  I did my videos–looking like I had been scrubbing toilets all day–and shortly after I finished got a call from my husband that the baby had been screaming for the better part of an hour and refused to take a bottle.  Ugh.

My media host walked me back to the Grand Californian and from there RAN in my high-healed boots through the corridors of the hotel.  At this point in my awesome adventure, as I ran breathlessly through the hotel, my feet aching with each step, I instantly realized four important things.  First, the Grand Californian is really long.  Second, running in high-healed boots is not fun.  Third, I am so not ready for the 5k I signed up to run this September.  Fourth, sometimes it’s really hard being a mom (but I already knew that one).

Upon returning to the room, I immediately plopped down on the floor and nursed the baby.  I didn’t even make it to a chair.  My other two kids were still up (I’m sure our neighbors were too) and although my friends celebrated at the premiere party until the wee hours of the morning, I was in bed with my two year old (we had to separate the kids so they would sleep) by 11:15, as had I left, I’m sure the kids would have never gone to sleep.

The next morning, we got up, packed and tried to get ready for my friend to sign my husband and oldest son into the park around 9:30.  After a million texts and finally asking around, at 10:30, I learned that she was dealing with protesters in front of the Disneyland Pacific Hotel and couldn’t sign us in.  (Today was a blackout day for our annual pass.)  This is NOT her fault, of course, but just added to the nightmare of the weekend.  We finally told the kids that Disneyland wasn’t going to happen.  Any idea how hard it is to explain to a five year old and a 2 1/2 year old they are NOT going to Disneyland after it has been a week-long bribe and you are standing at Downtown Disney after staying the night at a Disney-property hotel?  It is NOT easy.  I felt awful.  Not to mention the fact at how secretly crushed I was to not be able to attend this morning’s press events.

To make it up to the kids, we decided to take them to the Storyteller Restaurant at the Grand Californian and we were going to spring for the character breakfast.  The bears from Brother Bear were visiting with guests, as was Meeko from Pocahontas.  My kids took one look at the bears and freaked out.  There was no way they were going to even look at them let alone take a picture or interact with them.  We turned around and left and later got McDonalds on the way home.  Enough was enough and as the song says, “You gotta know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.”  It was definitely time for us to RUN.

So anyway, this was just about our least successful trip to Disneyland.  Heck, it wasn’t even a trip to Disneyland because we never got into the park!  It just goes to show that all the planning in the world does not mean you’ll have a great time at “The Happiest Place on Earth.”

Did anything good come of this crazy adventure?  Well, I did get to see the show again (and recorded the entire thing from beginning to end, which I will be posting this week) and eat really good popcorn and my husband got to catch up with his cousin who was also staying at the hotel.  And of course, I did get lots more information to write about.  In the next week, I will be reporting on lots of news I did receive and that which I have gotten from my roving reporter (aka most-awesome friend), Marcy over at The Glamorous Life Association.