Pixie Dust & Potter Spells: A Tale of Two Theme Parks and Beyond

The end of November snuck up on us like a mischievous elf, and before we knew it, we were swept into the holiday whirlwind. Our to-do list was still half-finished, but time waits for no one… so off we went, driving 10+ hours to Sacramento to spend Thanksgiving with the in-laws.
Our thanksgiving meal? Black Bear Diner. Let’s just say the bear must have been hibernating, because the food was… less than memorable. We swallowed it down and carried on, determined not to let “meh” meals dampen our spirits. Luca our bear obsessed boy still enjoyed the sight of bears everywhere!

To make up for our anniversary, we were treated to Ruth’s Chris. The steaks were delicious, though Portland still holds the crown for the best experience. Then came the rental car shuffle… our first one had issues, so we swapped it out. Honestly, it just meant more time together, which wasn’t the worst thing.

After a couple of days of rest, we hit the road again… another 6+ hours south to the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. You know the one with the iconic Back to the Future staircase! The location was prime, perched right by the magic, though the hotel itself was more “functional” than “fabulous.” Still, it gave us the perfect chance to slip into Universal Studios that very night. Birthday buttons in hand, we dove straight into Grinchmas. And oh, what a sight! The park was dressed to the nines in twinkling lights and whimsical decorations. From the leaning tree to meeting Max and seeing the Grinch himself, it was pure holiday enchantment.
We wandered through Harry Potter Land, hopped on a few rides, and capped the night with the iconic tram tour. The next morning, we were back at it… shuttling to CityWalk and entering the park right at opening.

Ezra was smitten with the Minions ride. He refused to leave, saying “uh uh” and trying to buckle himself back in. Adorable doesn’t even cover it. Sweet Luca was afraid of most of the characters and clammed up at first when he saw them. He didn’t want to take photos with most of them. He became shy and backed off. But he was still curious and wanted to see them!

• Arabella found her groove in Harry Potter Land. The Hippogriff ride and all things wizarding were her Hufflepuff jam.
• Elijah, our thrill-seeker, couldn’t get enough of Jurassic Park and The Mummy. He rode them over and over, grinning like the king of roller coasters. He is so much fun to go to theme parks with!!!!!
• Luca, only 4, impressed us all by braving the Jurassic ride. I was nervous for him, but he handled it like a champ and only the speedy finale gave him pause… it was “too fast”.

On day two, we scored special member only event passes, which meant staying until midnight instead of being ushered out at 6. Dinner at Krusty Burger was a surprise hit no kidding they were giant, affordable burgers that even the kids devoured happily. We rode until our legs begged for mercy. Arabella got a Hello Kitty Drink at the Hello Kitty Cafe that she had been eyeing forever!

But when we drove to the next hotel… surprise! The power was out. No lights, no hot water, no air conditioning. The staff’s “deal with it or leave” attitude wasn’t exactly magical. At 1 a.m., we decided to tough it out. Sleep was scarce, so the next day we rallied with another round at Universal, splitting up so everyone could chase their favorite rides. Tired but happy, we squeezed every drop of joy out of it.

Then came the grand finale: Disneyland! We bounced into Fantasyland, Toon Town, and beyond. The crowds were wild…strollers jammed the streets, and cast members seemed frazzled with rudeness but the kids still found their magic. My sweet Ara was so nervous of Splash Mountain. She didn’t like that they didn’t have lap bars so she rushed off before we started… but then she grabbed her courage and tried again. The second time she loaded on the log ride and despite her fears got on and stayed on. She rode between Grammy and I. We all got completely soaked but came off full of giggles. Fear conquered.

Ezra lost a shoe somehow… and somewhere. We searched all over and thought it was a lost cause but last minute out of the corner of my eye I saw it kicked under someone else’s stroller! Yay… double win!

• Ezra was in heaven on Dumbo, Winnie the Pooh, and Peter Pan.
• Luca adored Winnie the Pooh and Speedtopia.
• Arabella loved Speedtopia too, plus the new Star Wars ride.
• Elijah was all about Finding Nemo and Star Wars.

Though Disneyland felt more chaotic than Universal, the kids’ smiles made it worthwhile. They may not have found it as magical as we had hoped but I’m still glad that we went. Next time… if there is a next time we will be sure to take a second day. Less rushing and more strolling.

Afterward, we headed back to Sacramento for a quick rest. Jay returned the rental, I packed the car, and then… homeward bound! Back to Portland we drove, hearts full, legs tired, and memories sparkling like holiday lights.