Vero Beach

It had seemed like a good idea to stay at Vero Beach when we organised the trip. We had Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points  to spare, we had never been to Vero Beach and this way we wouldn't have to spend any more on accommodation. In retrospect, it would have been wiser and less tiring to stay somewhere closer Miami! Nevertheless we were here, and it really was a lovely place and the resort had great facilities for families with a variety of planned daily activities. 

We had our breakfast and dinner onsite, with lunch, drinks and snacks sourced form the nearby Publix. Whilst the food at the resort was not cheap, considering it was Disney, we were surprised that it didn't cost more. All in all, we enjoyed our little detour!

Good morning from Vero Beach! We all slept right through until 0630

Although there were still plenty of daytime siestas...

Breakfast, biscuit and gravy something I can't get at home!

Hammock time

He so desperately wanted to play corn hole but the family didn't oblige

So the cast members did!

So cute!

A morning walk along the beach

We need one of these!!

Just in case we wanted everyone to know that we were DVC members...

Our attempt to be healthy at lunch

Gym is good!

With classes and routines that you can play

Daddy and daughter bonding time with putt putt. Mother and son had nap time

Dinner!

Cornbread and sweet hawaiin rolls

Shrimp and grits

Vero Beach burger

A very large crab cake

Will Dec 5 Never End?

We made it! Our "home" at Disney's Vero Beach Resort

We boarded our flight bound for Chicago without a hitch. We woke up to a view of Lake Michigan. This was our second time waking up to Dec 5. Upon arrival we utilised Mobile Passport Control, eligible for returning ESTA holders, which saved us some time going through US immigration. All in all a pleasant experience. The immigration was nice, laughing at Malcolm's bad jokes at 0720am. Surprisingly, our luggage came out quickly. The process to recheck the bags was well signed and easy. Before long we were off to get the airport shuttle train from Terminal 5 to Terminal 1. Again, well signed and quick. The one thing I hate about US airports is security. They are so inefficient and well behind other global major airports. Install the new machines already. Taking everything out and taking off shoes took forever, with people undoubtably not doing something to the TSA's liking. Fortunately this time around, the line wasn't too long and we got through within 20 minutes. We took it as a win. 

Felt like such a coca-cola traitor

My Japanese meal entree

Part 2 - the main

Good morning Dec 5...again!

On the shuttle train from Terminal 5 to Terminal 1 at Chicago ORD

There was no priority pass lounge at Terminal 1 at Chicago O Hare. Boo. There was a food credit option unfortunately that was not included with the Priority Pass via the Amex Platinum Charge. We were hit with the smell of all things representing sugar as soon as we landed - sweet coffee, donuts, cinnamon sugar, bagels and more. We bought a couple of drinks to tie us over the last 2 hours of transit- chestnut praline latte and an oatmilk gingerbread chai latte. 

We had been lucky with our flights so far and we finally hit our first snag. The flight took forever to load. We forgot how much carry on Americans like to take onboard. Once boarded, we stopped somewhere along the tarmac, and waited for about 50 minutes. Something electrical had to be reset and we had to wait for maintenance to fix it. I was fearful that our flight would be cancelled but fortunately we started moving again! Phew. By now, energy levels were down to zero. The children had both passed out even before the plane took off and stayed asleep until we landed in Miami. Once again, much to our surprise, our luggage were one of the first to come out. Hallelujah for all 4 suitcases not getting lost. 

My warm coffee flavoured milk...oops I meant latte. 10 points for spelling Malcolm correctly though!

Gone!

The Miami airport tram system to the car rental centre. Most importantly our driver looks awake and was smiling!

Our second snag came in the form of our car rental pick up at Hertz. For some reason, our gold membership was not attached to our reservation and the staff member at the gold counter refused to help us despite being able to show our membership details and him not having anyone else to serve. So back to the pleb line we went. By now it had been another 45 minutes, couple that with the plane delay, we had to deal with Miami peak hour traffic. The planned 2 hour drive turned into a 3 hour drive. It was team effort keeping each other awake once the sun had set and the adrenaline from the rental car hooha had subsided. We utilised everything we had in the bag including kazoo karaoke. The joy of seeing the Mickey Head silhoutte on arrival at Disney's Vero Beach Resort was overwhelming. We had been "on the road" for 43 hours since leaving home.

Bedtime!!!

I feel like I write the same thing everytime we come to the States, the land of the big cars! This was a "mid-size"

Ah Florida! Sunshine and palm trees! And...traffic

Vero Beach Resort lobby

Beautiful Christmas tree decor. The turtle because the area is where turtles hatch their eggs

Quick dinner

The activity schedule. We're supposed to rest but I don't see Malcolm "FOMO" Albany doing that somehow...

Our DVC studio

Sink and toilet

Kitchenette

Back To The Americas

Colombia...why Colombia people ask? Well why not? We did have to discuss drugs and kidnapping with the children pre-trip...but Colombia is the next hot destination and so let's experience it before the masses discover it! Little did we know that getting to Colombia was not so easy nor kind to the wallet. Add going to Walt Disney World and a cruise to round off the trip and we had a little challenge going. In the end, we chose the option that was the best combination of price and pain (or lack of it). This would see us flying ANA/United flying via Tokyo, Chicago, and Miami before arriving in Bogota. 

Travel days are rather boring to read about so unless you are interested in trivial Albany silliness or photos of lounges, feel free to skip to the next post!

Baymax is ready!

Our first challenge of the day was getting to the airport. We had one child going to school, one going to a dermatologist appointment and getting medications, and one adult going to work. This smart adult chose to take the day off and enjoyed a combat class  and breakfast with gym friends. By 4:30pm we (well the rest of the family) were still taking showers, packing and tidying the house...

I intentionally left plenty of time for us to get to the airport as we were leaving right in the midst of Sydney peak hour traffic. Firstly husband ordered the wrong uber. The driver made a valiant attempt to squeeze our 4 suitcases into his little blue Lexus but didn't even come close to fitting the 3rd one in...and so another 17 minute wait it was for an uber XL. This time the luggage fit...just. We were hit with traffic as soon as we hit the Gore Hill Freeway. By the time, we inched our way forward, we could see the horrendous line for the Harbour Tunnel. Our uber driver made it his personal mission to get us to the airport in time despite still having 4.5 hours to our flight. He was obviously a pro at weaving in and out of traffic. Someone who I probably would curse if I were on the road with him but definitely someone I loved by the end of the drive. Still wondering how we only took an hour to get to the airport!! 

At 6:45pm on a Wednesday night pre-school holidays, immigration and security were a walk-through. We headed for our first lounge, The House, which disappointingly had very average food at best. Plus there were only 2 toilets. And so we relocated to the AMEX lounge which was slightly better. 

The House, part of the priority pass family of lounges

The Amex lounge

No alcohol for me sadly, on account of a recent bad asthma flare

The plane taking us to Tokyo

Only the Japanese

She's ready for her flight

Our flight to Tokyo Haneda was uneventful. It was an easy bus transfer from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 and we spent our time food shopping and just chilling in the lounge(s). One child was feeling amazing from having slept through the whole flight including the meal service, the other was grumpy because he didn't get enough good sleep. We're about to board our flight to Chicago O'Hare and so will continue "tomorrow".

The ANA business class seat

The amenities pouch. I didn't care much for the scent of the product but I do like the re-usable bag inside as well as the mini shoe horn.

My Japanese meal

One way to realise you're in Japan. So many buttons to push and that continuous sound of gurgling water as background soothing music...you can change the sound if you wish if it helps you toilet better

Waiting for our bus to take us to Terminal 3. We arrived so early, we had to wait 30 minutes for the first bus of the day

Father and daughter bonding over Spotify wrapped

Dilemma. Overwhelmed by choice

How could you not buy this? Plus it is limited edition Haneda airport. Sold!

Very tempted to add sake kitkat to the "tried" list

Next dilemma at 7-11

Sky Lounge. Feels claustrophobic. You need to take the lift in and out of the lounge (no stairs).

Food is ok though

Alcohol for those interested

Ice-cream available too! It wasn't 6am I would have partaken

Sigh I couldn't resist. Prices were on par with Australia but they did have items that we can't get back home

The much nicer ANA lounge

If you walk all the way to the end there is a quieter area at the back

There is a second food station which is smaller in selection but also much quieter

Our spot

You can order noodles from your seat but you do need a phone number that can receive text messages

The noodle selection. It is the same as the physical noodle station. 

My selection from the noodle station. Offering includes ramen, udon and soba with various options of fried tofu, vegetable tempura or grated yam

Looks like a beer machine is obligatory in Japan!