Disneyland Trip 2010

 Overview

 We picked July to go this time because I wanted to meet up with

 some friends there as part of the trip (more on that later).  We had

 never been to Disneyland in the summer and were concerned that

 it may be too hot and too crowded.  Well it was hot - mid 30s which

 is what it was at home.  This was hotter than their average for July. 

 The summer crowds were there, but it was not a problem.  There were

 four of us on this trip with Jenifer and Miranda taking their spots in the

 back seat.

 This was the first time driving there for us.  I had always wanted to

 drive there.  Online maps say it requires about 23 hours of driving time

 each way.  We wanted to take our time and not be rushed for the drive.

 Stopping along the way to look at views or whatever, was part of

 the trip plan. 

 Traveling there was 3 1/2 days including a day in San Francisco.

 Traveling home was 5 days including 2 nights in Las Vegas.

 We were away from home 16 days with 8 of them at Disneyland.

 We added 5100 km to our truck and mostly avoided interstate

 highways.  Everything was organized before we left: all hotel

 reservations made; the driving route planned; my trip book

 made; truck serviced and cleaned before we left.

 The best investment I made for the trip was a GPS unit.  It was

 great to have as it not only provided directions with advance turn

 information but also: the arrival time at our destination for the day;

 advice about what lane to be in on the California freeways; the speed

 zone we were currently in; traffic congestion ahead alerts, current

 speed; lists of nearby services; as well as music that I preloaded for

 playback on the truck system!  On the start of Day 2, I thought the

 GPS may be directing us to a route I had not planned on so I stopped

 and looked at a paper map.  The GPS was right and I never looked

 at a paper map again.  And no stress between navigator(s) and driver.

 As part of planning for this trip, I read many online hotel reviews to

 try to avoid bad ones.  I found this very useful and now add to the

 information online by posting my own hotel reviews on tripadvisor.

 Days of Disneyland - 2010 ...