No holiday for JWA

Brooke Ashley Francis couldn’t think of a better place to spend part

of her Christmas morning than John Wayne Airport.

In just a few hours, the vocal 3-year-old would be in the happiest

place on Earth -- Disneyland.

“I am going to see Mickey,” Brooke Ashley said while doing a

ballet routine on the base of the John Wayne statue, near the baggage

claim. “And I am going to chase Goofy all around.”

The Francis family was just a part of the many people at John

Wayne Airport, either picking up family members or saying goodbye to

loved ones on the most celebrated holiday in the United States.

All those interviewed said the increase in security precautions

did not deter them from their holiday travel plans. John Wayne

officials limited entrance to the airport from the San Diego Freeway

and Michelson Drive. Cars entering from Campus Drive were subject to

search.

“Airport police staffing levels have been increased and additional

security procedures have been instituted,” Airport Director Alan

Murphy said in a news release. “While some of the increased security

measures in place are visible to the public, more sensitive

procedures are not.”

Bren and Mike Montgomery, from Texas, said they could not tell the

difference.

“The flight was nice -- note very crowded -- and the fares were

cheap,” Mike Montgomery said.

Bren Montgomery said the flight would have been perfect if she

weren’t flying with an infant. The Montgomery family was visiting the

southland for a week and were in a rush to get their vacation

started.

Brooke Ashley, who is always bugging her parents to go to the

Magic Kingdom, opened Barbie ballet slippers from Santa and then the

money gift: a Disneyland package. In less than two hours she was on a

plane, mother Robbi Francis said.

“She is always bugging us to go -- right now -- and she doesn’t

understand that we are a state away,” Robbi Francis said. “So this

morning we told her, ‘We are going. We are going right now.’ And she

was so excited.”

Disneyland was a popular winter time activity for Christmas

travelers, as Carrie Van Dyke and her daughter had just spent a week

there. Although the time at the amusement park was happy, the reason

behind it was bitter sweet.

Van Dyke said her mother-in-law had informed the family at the

last minute that she was diagnosed with a terminal illness and had

just days to live. Her one wish was to take all of her grandchildren

to Disneyland and so Van Dyke and her daughter made the trip from

Washington state.

“We had to do this quickly,” Van Dyke said. “It really wasn’t our

choice to be flying on Christmas.

Brooke Ashley may not have minded her time at the airport but Long

Beach youngster, Mar Quese Williams said he was bored, as he sat in

the lobby area of the Continental terminal.

Mar Quese, his parents, brother, sister and uncle were waiting for

the matriarch of the family to arrive from Tulsa, Okla. Mar Quese, 9,

and his brother Mar Selles both wore sharp New Jersey Nets jackets,

and their 4-year-old sister, Mar Amani showed off her brand new,

bright pink Care Bears raincoat.

The Williams were planning on a large family dinner Thursday,

Friday, Saturday and every other night until their mother leaves.

“We are going to have a great time all week,” said Jesse Williams.

Williams said the added security was not a problem or a nuisance.

“I guess I have a face you can trust,” he said.