How Do You Think We Stay So Happy?*Final Thoughts & Farewells* 10/7 p100

[vamassey1]

Lovely update Cynthia. After being on so many family trip I often wonder what it would be like to be truly alone. I think I would be a little lost at first. Sounds like you enjoyed your time. It's strange when you only have to think about what would please me and not what would please everyone else.

Beautiful pictures of POR, Epcot and MK.

 

[KatMark]

What a great update, Cynthia. POR is really a beautiful resort (and we would probably stay there if we were NOT so happy at our moderate). The greenery is very pretty.

I love taking the ferry over to the MK...it's such a pretty ride (and we get stuck on the monorail every single time we take it ). I would have gotten teary-eyed as well with the little boy chanting CASTLE...how sweet.

Glad you enjoyed The Plaza. It is our must do last meal of every trip. Love the fries and the Club.

 

[cdotla]

Great update Cynthia!

Isn't it great to be footlose and fancy free in the World with no one but yourself to please?

Great photos! (Did you end up getting a new camera since your last trip...I seem to remember some complaints about your last one....)

Isn't the Plaza wonderful? So bright and sunny in there. Except for the last time I ate there, when the whole place was dark and dingy during the reno, with every single window covered up. ugh! Depresses me just to remember it. Thank goodness that is over-with!

 

[MEK]

Great update and photos, Christine. We are with you -- the Plaza is a long time favorite and always our last meal of the trip. After all the heavy meals during the week on the dining plan, we really enjoy the laidback and simple food; and those french fries...all I can say is .

And the desserts aren't too shabby either!

You know Kathy, that's an excellent idea - last meal of the trip! I like that. You know - All this talk about the Plaza, I might just have to add it.

I too love that picture of the tables & umbrellas with the castle in the background - so colorful and happy, pretty much sums up what the MK is all about

I absolutely love that picture. It really just screams MK. I think it would make a great screen saver because it just transports me to my happy place.

I have yet to try the Plaza, sounds like I need to!

Just another reason to go back!

Hi Mary Ellen, almost caught up - Nice Beach pics - I love how you take a piece of Disney with you everywhere! Here in Oregon we call it the Coast. In calif. it's the beach. It could be because in Oregon it's mostly too cold and too rough to swim or hang out at - it's mostly for fishing and brisk walks.

I'm hoping your headache clears so you can enjoy the day - looking forward the the MK part of the trip

Never leave home without a bit of Disney!

Coast, huh? OK, I am adding that to the list.

Fortunately my headache does clear by the end of the day.

All this talk of headaches - I have learned it's usually due to hormones and natural progesterone goes a long way toward helping that without upsetting your natural balance. Just sayin'

I definitely think its hormonal, which is why I generally just roll with the headaches. But progesterone - that's a good tip. My SIL swears that topical progesterone helps. Maybe I should reconsider that option.

Hey guys! Having fun reading along! It is neat to hear all your personal quips and points along the way!!!

:

So glad you are enjoying the read.

ME, I LOVE YOUR PHOTOS!!! you know I have always wondered about Port Orleans, I think my boys would totally get a kick out of that resort, they love Tom Sawyer's Island!!! it seems like that! Fun!

I think its a great resort. It's definitely one of my favorites. Perfect if you have a car.

AND the butterfly house!!! NEAT...

Tracy ... GRAPEFRUIT MARGARITA. enough said. SCORE! ALL over that one. May replace my top shelf from the Margarita shack, if I can get over there in time!!!! SO good that looks! Very refreshing I am sure!

Same here! I think that looks fabulous and I definitely want one in December! I wish I had a recipes - I would start making them at home.

Glad you are now at BCV and all together! Looking forward to more updates and girly fun.

What is this about pool-side alternative medicine??? Is there a blender involved??!!

Well, we saved the blender for later. We went much simpler for our first round at therapy. Ice, mixer, booze!

Ooooooh! C your update has literally given me goosebumps!
I cannot wait to see the new HM updates! I am (as you did) trying not to look at too much about it so I can be surprised! I'm glad to know that you enjoyed it!

And lunch at the Plaza is always good too!

It was such a great update with all those wonderful pictures. I think you really will like the HM updates. They are pretty darn cool.

Great beach pics! The weather looks gorgeous. We normally do not get beach weather so our trips to the beach are limited!

Thanks! We get about 3 1/2 months of really good beach weather. Sometimes a bit longer. It was really warm last week for this time of year. It was great.

Am sorry to hear that your headache got worse but am glad you were feeling better after some rest. Love the pics of the Butterfly house.

.

Thanks. I really did start to feel better later in the day, so it was basically just a bump in the road.

Also enjoyed reading the MK updates and seeing the pics of the castle.

Me too!

Hey girls...I am finally all caught up!

Mary Ellen - I certainly hope that headache goes away so you can enjoy your trip. Hopefully an afternoon in the shade by the pool does the trick!

Thanks! Yes - a little shade, a little pool, and some alternative medicine helped kick the remnants of my headache away once and for all.

Your nite out together at Raglan Road sounds like such a great time!

Love those phone booth calls! Too funny....I will have to try that with the kids sometime!

Raglan was really fun. And the phone calls - very fun! But I could not keep a straight face while calling.

As Mary Ellen has mentioned, she’s been given a lot of grief over previous trips about being a bit of a Sherpa. I felt a Sherpa picture was required

Not so Sherpa like at all! She did a good job downsizing.


[/I]

Whatcha talkin' about - I totally look like a sherpa here! But at least I am laughing!

I forgot about the CM you made friends with that morning. I think he enjoyed having his picture taken.

Love this pix! And I like the pp pictures of you in Epcot. Cute!

 

[eandesmom]

What a lovely way to spend the morning!

It was!!!!!!!!!!

Lovely update Cynthia. After being on so many family trip I often wonder what it would be like to be truly alone. I think I would be a little lost at first. Sounds like you enjoyed your time. It's strange when you only have to think about what would please me and not what would please everyone else.

Beautiful pictures of POR, Epcot and MK.

It was very very strange. I've certainly had alone time aplenty on business travel, and do plenty for myself at home lol, but this really was different. Almost a little overwhelming with the choices!

It's funny, on previous girls trips with my college friends or sisters and mom, we are together at all times so the idea of alone time on a girls trip just never really occurred to me as being not only a possibility, but a probability.

Great update Cynthia!

Isn't it great to be footlose and fancy free in the World with no one but yourself to please?

It really was. Very bizarre at first and did make for a few interesting moments here and there but it really was wonderful.

Great photos! (Did you end up getting a new camera since your last trip...I seem to remember some complaints about your last one....)

I did! I really really like it. I haven't done any editing to my shots as I'm really focusing on getting my settings down first but am sure I'll go there at some point. I got it mainly for Alaska but figured I might as well get it before Hawaii and the girls trip (nice justification huh). I still have work to do on my indoor pictures but am slowly getting the hang of it. I really like it. It paid for itself just in my Hawaii sunset pictures, the old one never could have done that! Same thing on Evan's TKD black belt test yesterday, a vast improvement in the action photos, the difference is incredible.

It's a good upgrade for me. Not the size or quality of a high end DSLR but photo quality comparable with a mid range one in a lovely (relatively) small size that I can still fit in a purse. My old one does what it's meant to do, it's a pretty good point and shoot but it just can't handle action or low light at all and certainly can't get the zoom this one can with the lens options. Now I'm debating whether to get another lens for alaska or not but am trying to hold back since I just ordered a rather fabby new bag to put the new camera in as my purse really isn't ideal for multiple lenses.

Isn't the Plaza wonderful? So bright and sunny in there. Except for the last time I ate there, when the whole place was dark and dingy during the reno, with every single window covered up. ugh! Depresses me just to remember it. Thank goodness that is over-with!

Oh I remember that, that was horrible! It is just adorable in there. A great OOP lunch. I wouldn't use the dining plan on it that's for sure.

I definitely think its hormonal, which is why I generally just roll with the headaches. But progesterone - that's a good tip. My SIL swears that topical progesterone helps. Maybe I should reconsider that option.

That is a good tip, I am going to keep that in mind for the future. Although the word gives me bad flashbacks as i had to take it while pregnant with both boys.

Whatcha talkin' about - I totally look like a sherpa here! But at least I am laughing!

not any less sherpa like than I did!

I forgot about the CM you made friends with that morning. I think he enjoyed having his picture taken.

He loved it, he was a doll.

Love this pix! And I like the pp pictures of you in Epcot. Cute!

Thanks!

 

[MEK]

December ADRs

are done.

Dec 14th - arriving too late to bother with ADR.

Dec 15th 1140 LTT 6pm LaHacienda Will just watch Illuminations from Norway

Dec 16th 1150 Sci Fi Dine Inn 7:30pm California Grill

Dec 17th 1130 Yak and Yeti Doing CS this evening but reconsidering the Plaza

Dec 18th 11 Cape May Cafe (I may change this to the Coral Reef. Nilla's meal looked really good) 7:30pm Artist Point

Dec 19th We'll play it by ear. Maybe hit the ice cream shop in Celebration

 

[Queenofallthings]

Great updates ladies! I do love the sherpa picture

Mary Ellen...I think that's a great ADR lineup for December

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Trying to get caught up...
The headache sounded very unmagical. Glad you got better later in the day!
I'm really enjoying all the photographs, you girls do a very nice job with your cameras!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Cynthia, I loved your little kick up your heels moment when you realized you could do anything you wanted! I know in truth you would have been thrilled to have Mary Ellen with you, but I love how you seized the moment and rolled with it!

Thanks for the boat ride along! We always take the boat in - seems like so much less crowd, and just enjoyable.

Mary Ellen, Glad your headache got better later in the day. Dying to hear about the alternative therapy!

Good job getting your ADRS done - looks great!

 

[manntra]

Looks like you had a fun morning Cynthia It seems that you adjusted to solo traveling just fine

Great ADR's ME!! Glad you are getting an AP again.....somehow I just knew you would

Tracy

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Been reading along but not posting like I should!

MEK-really hope the headache got better! There is nothing worse. I have been there with migraines in the past so I feel for you.

Eandesmom-How neat to experience Disney by yourself! While I love being with my family, I think it would be great to be solo for at least a while doing what I want at my own pace. Too cute that you got a solo picture too. Love your pictures coming into MK. We have never taken the boat and I hope to write that wrong real soon!

I have always wanted to try the Plaza. Anxious to hear your thoughts.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

great updates!
"therapy" =

Cynthia - BEAUTIFUL pictures!!! What a wonderful morning - visiting with MEK, having some quality time together and then being totally free! The only time I ever got close to that was when I went into a store and the rest of the family waited somewhere else and we met up! Of course, I would have stood around going, okay, what should I do? I'm not a good decision-maker when left to my own devices!

We had lunch at the Plaza back in 2008 and really liked it. Haven't been back since. Might want to revisit it on our next trip. I think we will not be doing the DDP much in the future so it would be great!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Great update Cynthia! I am so glad you took the boat as all the pics from the distance look great and I loved the 'castle' story - think that will be me in September!

MEK - great ADR choices for your Dec trip

 

[glennbo123]

You ladies have been posting updates like crazy lately! Whew!

More lovely pictures of POR....nice job taking them Cynthia. Cairo was in the news some this past spring with all of the flooding...it's the southern-most city in Illinois, where the Missippi and Ohio Rivers meet.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

EandEsmom- I would like to try being alone in WDW at least once. I like to do a lot of things alone.I do love having company, but alone time like that is hard to beat!

Your pictures are very nice, I need to start taking more pictures. Photography was one of my hobbies, but I sort of stopped taking photos.

MEK- glad that our therapy methods work well!

 

[vamassey1]

Christine, somehow I missed your update. I just went back to read it.

Beautiful pictures, so much color and sharpness and of course they scream Disney! Thanks for the HM pictures, can't wait to see it myself.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

MEK, since our kids are grown, just about all of our travel is done during school days. Our next Disney trip is the day after Labor Day, as is all of our Disney trips now. My GDs will miss a few school days this trip, but also will miss the crowds!

 

[tinacaplan]

Lovely updates. Cynthia, your pictures of POR were beautiful and your pictures of the boat to MK were pretty good, too! Sounds like you had a wonderful, relaxing morning.

 

[sunny_stace]

I have to say Cynthia, as much as I love going to WDW with my mum or my best friend, I love spending time alone there! Having that freedom sometimes is very liberating and relaxing I usually spend mine just wandering around and taking photos! Having friends to meet for lunch is always wonderful too!

I love the sherpa shot of Mary Ellen! She must pack like I do...I also love the story of the awesome CM at POR! That makes me happy to hear - I'll have to look for him when I'm there in September! I love CMs like that who just love to chat with everyone and have a genuine "Disney" attitude.

The boat ride to MK is absolutely one of my favourite experiences and I have to do it more often! Watching kids as you get closer and closer is very magical too. I've teared up more than once myself! It is also like a little break before you hit the park, which certainly looked mighty busy!

 

[MEK]

Great updates ladies! I do love the sherpa picture

Oh brother....Mary Ellen the Sherpa strikes again!

Mary Ellen...I think that's a great ADR lineup for December

Thanks! I added the plaza today for dinner on the 17th. We are doing the DxP for three nights, but spreading it out over 4. That was going to be my OOP night.

Trying to get caught up...
The headache sounded very unmagical. Glad you got better later in the day!
I'm really enjoying all the photographs, you girls do a very nice job with your cameras!

Welcome back Wigd!!!!! Hope you had a fab time.

Unmagical - that just about sums it up. Fortunately the day does get more magical. I promise.

Glad you like the pix.

Cynthia, I loved your little kick up your heels moment when you realized you could do anything you wanted! I know in truth you would have been thrilled to have Mary Ellen with you, but I love how you seized the moment and rolled with it!

What I did like about our trip was that everyone felt comfortable to do their own thing when necessary. I knew she wouldn't have any problem wondering off without me. In fact, she was the last one back for happy hour or, should I say, therapy?

Thanks for the boat ride along! We always take the boat in - seems like so much less crowd, and just enjoyable.

:

I do love the boat ride also. It's so scenic and her pictures are perfect.

Mary Ellen, Glad your headache got better later in the day. Dying to hear about the alternative therapy!

:

Let's just say that when bags fly free on Southwest, so does alcohol.

Good job getting your ADRS done - looks great!

Thanks! I'm glad I didn't have any hard to make ADRs. Mine were all pretty straight forward. And I DID add the Plaza for Saturday night!

Looks like you had a fun morning Cynthia It seems that you adjusted to solo traveling just fine

I'm surprised it took her right up until 1200 to get there. Phew - just in time for food!

Great ADR's ME!! Glad you are getting an AP again.....somehow I just knew you would

Tracy

Yeah - I'm pretty predictable like that. After about two weeks of going home I knew there was no way I could go back without going in the parks. So my non-park trip pretty much went out the window.

Been reading along but not posting like I should!

Well, we are glad to have you hear. I do that alot - I read but then don't post.

MEK-really hope the headache got better! There is nothing worse. I have been there with migraines in the past so I feel for you.

Thanks! It really did improve as the day went on. WOOT!

Eandesmom-How neat to experience Disney by yourself! While I love being with my family, I think it would be great to be solo for at least a while doing what I want at my own pace. Too cute that you got a solo picture too. Love your pictures coming into MK. We have never taken the boat and I hope to write that wrong real soon!

If you ever get the opportunity to go off solo - go for it. It really is fun. You get to indulge yourself, but I also think you appreciate you family time more as well. It makes you realize how many little things you want to share with your family.

I have always wanted to try the Plaza. Anxious to hear your thoughts.

Well, I didn't eat there this trip, but I have eaten there twice before and I really enjoyed it both times. Nice, fresh, tasty sandwiches in such a pleasant environment. And when people walk by they just sort of look at you as if to say, "how did you get a seat in there?"

great updates!
"therapy" =

Thumbs up! Exactly!!!!!

Cynthia - BEAUTIFUL pictures!!! What a wonderful morning - visiting with MEK, having some quality time together and then being totally free! The only time I ever got close to that was when I went into a store and the rest of the family waited somewhere else and we met up! Of course, I would have stood around going, okay, what should I do? I'm not a good decision-maker when left to my own devices!

I think you might be surprised. Once you really settle in to that solo time it can be quite liberating. The first time I did it I found myself thinking, "I bet Brian would like this" or "I wish I could show this to Nick". But with practice it becomes all about you!!!!

We had lunch at the Plaza back in 2008 and really liked it. Haven't been back since. Might want to revisit it on our next trip. I think we will not be doing the DDP much in the future so it would be great!

Well, all this talk about the Plaza made me add to my ADRs. That will be an OOP meal.

Great update Cynthia! I am so glad you took the boat as all the pics from the distance look great and I loved the 'castle' story - think that will be me in September!

I'm glad she took all those pictures, too. I can't believe she got the bob cat!

MEK - great ADR choices for your Dec trip

Thanks! I pretty excited about Cali Grill and AP!

You ladies have been posting updates like crazy lately! Whew!

We've been updating fools, but Cynthia has been updating her other TR like crazy.

More lovely pictures of POR....nice job taking them Cynthia. Cairo was in the news some this past spring with all of the flooding...it's the southern-most city in Illinois, where the Missippi and Ohio Rivers meet.

Her pictures turned out great. I think she took more than I did and that can be hard to do.

EandEsmom- I would like to try being alone in WDW at least once. I like to do a lot of things alone.I do love having company, but alone time like that is hard to beat!

It is pretty fun being alone. I took a 4 day solo trip and it was very unique. There were things about it I really like and things I didn't. I think its more fun to be there with somebody, but get some solo time as well.

Your pictures are very nice, I need to start taking more pictures. Photography was one of my hobbies, but I sort of stopped taking photos.

Disney is a great place to rekindle your love for photography.

MEK- glad that our therapy methods work well!

Yes, indeed it did!