Commando v. Casual - The Innate Planner Battles the Inner Pirate - 2-8 P22

What a great start. So happy that you got all your requests-that view was awesome!!! Can;t wait to read the rest-kleenex is ready :)
 
That title sounds so inappropriate, but I’m totally leaving it as is.

Pirate. pirate:

Anyway, the meaning behind the tee hee is that when talking about the trip I’d entertained the notion of us having an easy evening, perhaps staying at the hotel, or maybe even heading over to Epcot. Or perhaps making a reservation in the Magic Kingdom for dinner, any of those things would have been fine.

To which my husband said pfft, and gave me an eye roll, savvy?

Okay, maybe not. Actually, it went something more like this:

MJS- “Kat, seriously? Do you REMEMBER what happened the last time we deviated from the plan and didn’t go to the Magic Kingdom and eat at Casey’s like we always do?”

TK - “Um, yeah.” :::reluctantly agreeing, as we are never really supposed to admit our husbands are indeed, right::: ;)

MJS - “And what did we end up doing?”

TK - “Went to the Magic Kingdom and ate at Casey’s.”

MJS - “Exactly.”

This conversation references the two, bless my family, two other instances in which we tried to do something other than go to Casey's and inevitably ended up...you guessed it...at Casey's.

Never mind that when I relayed this whole conversation to Nana, she said to me, one, that she was amused that MJS had such a forceful opinion, because he is such an easy going traveler, and two, of course we were going to Casey’s for dinner!

So the family had spoken, so it shall be. :worship:

The tradition of Casey’s is actually long standing in my family. It used to be that when I was in college, there was a flight on your departure day that pretty much gave you enough time for one last run into the Magic Kingdom. So, I always used to, no matter who I was with, go to the Magic Kingdom, have a Casey’s hot dog as my farewell meal, and shop my way down Main Street, ending in the candy store and hopefully scoring the ever elusive bag of purple cotton candy. For those of you who haven’t had purple, I refer you to Jeff Dunham and Peanut, Spark of Insanity.

For that obscure reference, PM me.

I digress.

Anyway, I promise, we really are getting to the Magic Kingdom.

Well, in recent years, especially with kiddos, that running in just doesn’t work anymore because everything takes longer with kiddos and flight times aren't as wonderful as they used to be, so it somehow became that we started every trip with Casey’s. And so began a tradition that, apparently, my husband is not willing to deviate from.

It was with this lofty goal…of heavenly, Disney-fied nitrates…that we headed to the happiest place on earth.

Now, I wasn’t really thinking too much about missing Mom as of yet. Obviously I thought of her with the fantastic room view, and let’s just say she was always in some corner of my mind. I was really focused on the kids on our way to the bus stop. Nemo was so excited and Squirt was looking ever so adorable.

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On a side note, as I’m putting in this picture of the baby, I just wanted to offer a little tip to you all that I’d read about here on the DIS boards. This was quite a while ago, before a December trip I took with Mom and Nana when Nemo was about three. Someone was talking about getting those battery operated Christmas lights to wind around their stroller at night. Not only would the light up effects be cool, but it’d be easy to find the stroller.

Mom and I thought this was a great idea, and we searched high and low but couldn’t find those lights. So, Mom bought this beautiful gold garland, and when we got to Disney, we wound the garland around the handle of the stroller. We did it for purely decorative purposes, but let me tell you! Our stroller was SO easy to find in the sea of strollers any time we parked it.

I left that gold garland on for every single trip afterwards, because it was so easy to find the stroller. And when it was finally time to let go of Nemo's stroller (it broke or I totally would have used it for Squirt), I cut off a piece of that gold garland, and still have it to this day.

Were I more Sparrow-like, I'd have woven it into my hair, but as I'm not sporting pirate-y dreads as of yet, it's in a keepsake box. :thumbsup2

This year, I wanted something different for Squirt, so I headed to the dollar store, and keeping in theme with our resort, got some lovely hibiscus garland to wind around the handle. It’s actually quite funny, because throughout the remainder of the trip, we were constantly losing flowers. It became a running joke, how many fell off today, can we find where it came from, can we reattach them. It may have been a bit of a pain, but they were inexpensive, and again, it was always soooo easy to find our stroller.

Now, to return to our regularly scheduled programming.

:happytv:

I have to tell you, when we finally arrived, and got to the gates, it felt the same, but also different. I just. I don’t know. I guess the best way I can describe it to you is that I saw this sign…

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…and all I could think was, these are my first memories without her.

And when I saw the castle for the first time on that trip, and when I was walking on to Main Street, all I could think was, it’s still here.

I can’t believe it’s still here.

I didn’t cry at that moment, but the tears were there, right in the corners of my eyes. I mentioned this thought to my husband, the not believing it’s all still here, just chugging away, and he said, of course, what did you think would happen?

Honestly? I can’t believe Disney World keeps going without my mother in it. Much in the way that when she was in the hospital, dying, and I was driving to see her, I could not fathom that there were people in cars on the highway whose lives were completely normal. That the sun kept shining. That people were shopping and busy and working and doing. Whatever it is they did. While my mother was dying.

And it was that same feeling, for a moment. Indeed, it’s still here. And in some way, she is too.

We took our time heading down Main Street, since it was Squirt’s first time, and we stopped for the obligatory first castle photos. I have to tell you, these are some of my favorite photos from the trip. We took them ourselves, not with a photographer, and I just really like the way they came out. We’re excited, and happy to be there, and heck, we’re headed to Casey’s, so you know everyone’s happy.

We get to the famed purveyor of oh so holy hot dogs, and order. MJS heads off to secure us a table, and we get down to business. Recently, Casey’s has changed its offerings to include some fancy dressed up dogs, but we were in it for the classics, thank you very much. I do have to say, although good, and although really hitting the spot, since we were all pretty much starving, the hot dogs, buns, etc, are not the same as they used to be. I think that recently Disney must have hit on a new distributor, and it just wasn’t quite as I remembered, nevertheless, it was good.

And it was so sweet to see the baby have his first Casey’s hot dog. We gave him some of that, and some French fries as well. I’m happy to report none of those went up anyone’s nose.

It’s a long story involving Nemo as a toddler.

Perhaps another time.

With full bellies, a round of pit stops, which I should probably add, for those of you who are interested, a stop at the baby care center for Squirt and I.

Squirt was ten months old at the time of this trip, and I am still nursing him. My goal is to make it a full year, and I have to tell you, by the end of the trip, I’d gotten the hang of the whole discreet nursing public thing. In the beginning, and whenever I was near one, however, I’d take advantage of the baby care centers. First of all, they were a wonderfully cool break from the hot weather outside, and second of all, the nursing rooms were so divine. My baby is at that age where everything is so interesting, and with all the hustle and bustle of the World going on, he didn’t always want to nurse, even if he wanted to nurse. So the quiet, soothing music in the nursing rooms at the centers, and the subdued lighting was really perfect for us to have that down time and nurse with some privacy.

Anyway, I mention it for anyone who will be traveling with an infant or small child, I can’t recommend the baby care centers highly enough! Any questions, feel free to ask.

As I said, with full bellies, a round of pit stops, and a nosh for Squirt, it was time for us to develop our plan of attack.

Of course, Nemo definitely had his own ideas. :thumbsup2



Next Chapter
 


Great update, Kat. You did great your first walk in to the MK. I so know how you feel. The first time I walked in Epcot I was fine...although the tears did want to come. It was later in the trip when they did. :hug:

I'm so glad you got to Casey's and that Squirt got his first hot dog and fries at the MK.

Can't wait to hear what Nemo's idea was for the plan of attack. :goodvibes
 
Great update, Kat. You did great your first walk in to the MK. I so know how you feel. The first time I walked in Epcot I was fine...although the tears did want to come. It was later in the trip when they did. :hug:

Thanks, hon. :hug: It's so nice to have your understanding, it feels like a blessing to me.

I'm so glad you got to Casey's and that Squirt got his first hot dog and fries at the MK.

Me, too! Even if my family practically forced me. ;)

Can't wait to hear what Nemo's idea was for the plan of attack. :goodvibes

Think like a six year old boy.... :lmao:
 
Wow--what a great update, Kat!

I wondered about how I would have received the baby care centers. I think you are probably right--the World would seem oh-too-interesting to my kids. A qiuet place would definitely be in order.
 


How fun to have Mr. Pirate insist on Casey's. They do pay attention! And I certainly do believe you all were hungry -- no pics of your meals!

Silly me to come back here without my tissues. I was right there with you, stunned at how the world went on as usual when Dad was dying. And later surprising myself by being able to enjoy some of the old routines again, sooner than I'd thought. It gets better, honest. :goodvibes
 
Wow--what a great update, Kat!

Thank you.

I wondered about how I would have received the baby care centers. I think you are probably right--the World would seem oh-too-interesting to my kids. A qiuet place would definitely be in order.

Those little eyes were taking everything in!

How fun to have Mr. Pirate insist on Casey's. They do pay attention! And I certainly do believe you all were hungry -- no pics of your meals!

No joke, I thought about that, as I was eating it. We have some pictures of the boys eating, but no food pics persay. Too hungry! :lmao:

Silly me to come back here without my tissues. I was right there with you, stunned at how the world went on as usual when Dad was dying. And later surprising myself by being able to enjoy some of the old routines again, sooner than I'd thought. It gets better, honest. :goodvibes

It's funny, I didn't expect this to be a kleenex worthy update, but as I was writing it, I remembered how I felt as I walked into the park and knew that had to be included. It's all part of the process and part of the trip. :thumbsup2
 
I think it's super cute that MJS insisted on Casey's. Too cute.

Good to know about the baby care centers, I always want to sneak a peek in just to see but don't feel right doing that. :rotfl:

Look at those little baby feet! I just want to gobble them right up, in a non-threatening way of course ;)
 
subbing! Really enjoying your TR so far. Congrats on getting such a prime location and view.

Can you believe I have never tried Casey's? I really need to change that.

Looking forward to more!
 
:hug: for the first time in the MK without her.

I am so glad you got some great family pics in front of the castle!

I love your tradition of eating at Casey's! We don't have a WDW tradition. Can you believe in all of our trips we have never eaten at Casey's either? We definitely need to fix that! So cute that squirt had his first Casey's meal.

Looking forward to what Nemo has in mind!
 
I think it's super cute that MJS insisted on Casey's. Too cute.

Who knew the man had opinions about Disney? I feel like I'm the Borg and he's been assimilated.

Good to know about the baby care centers, I always want to sneak a peek in just to see but don't feel right doing that. :rotfl:

They're really great. There's a separate room (or rooms, depending on the park) for nursing, with low level lighting and some nice ambient music. There's an area with high chairs to feed the kiddos, and they've got a Disney movie running on the tv nonstop. There's a really nice changing area with changing stations, and they also have a little shop in case you forgot something, in which case you can pay your weight in gold for six diapers. ;)

Look at those little baby feet! I just want to gobble them right up, in a non-threatening way of course ;)

I do gobble them up! I know what you mean, I love baby feet!

subbing! Really enjoying your TR so far. Congrats on getting such a prime location and view.

Thank you! And :welcome: Happy to have you here!

Can you believe I have never tried Casey's? I really need to change that.

:faint:

Get thee to Casey's, my friend!

Looking forward to more!

Looking forward to writing it!

:hug: for the first time in the MK without her.

Thanks!

I am so glad you got some great family pics in front of the castle!

Me, too! Very impropmtu photos, and I love them.

I love your tradition of eating at Casey's! We don't have a WDW tradition. Can you believe in all of our trips we have never eaten at Casey's either? We definitely need to fix that! So cute that squirt had his first Casey's meal.

:faint: Not one?

One little thing that you have to do every time? No? :confused3

J/K I keed, I keed. I find it really funny that Squirt's first ever Disney meal was Casey's. It seems fitting.

Looking forward to what Nemo has in mind!

Again, I say, think like a six year old boy...
 
Wow, this is a tough TR for me to get through! If it's this hard for me to read it, I can only imagine how hard it must have been to go through it! :hug:

Honestly? I can’t believe Disney World keeps going without my mother in it. Much in the way that when she was in the hospital, dying, and I was driving to see her, I could not fathom that there were people in cars on the highway whose lives were completely normal. That the sun kept shining. That people were shopping and busy and working and doing. Whatever it is they did. While my mother was dying.

*Sigh* I know those feelings all too well. Everyone just going about their daily lives while you're dealing with the worst possible thing ever. I guess it happens every day, you never know what anyone is really going through. :goodvibes

Anyway, I'm glad you guys stuck with tradition and ate at Casey's! :banana: The Baby Care center sounds great! I've always thought about peeking in there...but that might be weird, without, you know, a baby! Someday, hopefully! :)
 
Wow, this is a tough TR for me to get through! If it's this hard for me to read it, I can only imagine how hard it must have been to go through it! :hug:

Aw, HUGS for my friend, Nermel9!!!! :hug:

*Sigh* I know those feelings all too well. Everyone just going about their daily lives while you're dealing with the worst possible thing ever. I guess it happens every day, you never know what anyone is really going through. :goodvibes

One of the weirdest feelings in the world, and you're so right. We never really know what's going on with anyone else.

Anyway, I'm glad you guys stuck with tradition and ate at Casey's! :banana: The Baby Care center sounds great! I've always thought about peeking in there...but that might be weird, without, you know, a baby! Someday, hopefully! :)

That's so funny, you and Lady Lallie said the same thing about the baby care center! :lmao:
 
Oh how I've missed a TK report. I am smiling, tearing up, grinning as you go.

What a gorgeous view and magical start. I am :rotfl: about Casey's, good for YJS for speaking up, I love it.

Very good to know on the nursing rooms. I won't ever need them again of course but it's still really cool to hear about them.
 
Aww, I love that MJS insisted you start the trip at the Magic Kingdom with dinner at Casey's! Smart man, indeed! :thumbsup2

How appropos (is that even spelled right???) that the current Disney campaign is Let the Memories Begin because I know you had a lot of them coming back to you on this trip. :hug:

If I still had children in strollers I would totally use your garland idea and use the baby centers! As it is, I will squirrel that information away for the time when I have grandchildren. Think I will be able to remember all that in fifteen years? :lmao:

Can't wait to see what Nemo's ideas are for where to head next!

On a totally unrelated note, I could really use your eye for color and design. I am getting ready to paint the kitchen in the next few weeks, and I am so nervous that I am going to pick the wrong color. I want an orange, but not a Halloween orange or a coral/peachy orange. Want to drive down to Georgia and help me? :lmao:
 
Oh how I've missed a TK report. I am smiling, tearing up, grinning as you go.

Aw! :goodvibes

What a gorgeous view and magical start. I am :rotfl: about Casey's, good for YJS for speaking up, I love it.

Thank goodness, because it ended up being just wonderful.

Very good to know on the nursing rooms. I won't ever need them again of course but it's still really cool to hear about them.

:thumbsup2

Aww, I love that MJS insisted you start the trip at the Magic Kingdom with dinner at Casey's! Smart man, indeed! :thumbsup2

Agreed.

How appropos (is that even spelled right???) that the current Disney campaign is Let the Memories Begin because I know you had a lot of them coming back to you on this trip. :hug:

I'm pretty sure that's how you spell it. Yes, I was surprised that was the theming for this year, since I haven't really been paying attention to the catch phrase. I knew about the pictures online and on the castle but never noticed that we were "letting the memories begin."

If I still had children in strollers I would totally use your garland idea and use the baby centers! As it is, I will squirrel that information away for the time when I have grandchildren. Think I will be able to remember all that in fifteen years? :lmao:

If not, I'll remind you! :lmao:

Can't wait to see what Nemo's ideas are for where to head next!

On a totally unrelated note, I could really use your eye for color and design. I am getting ready to paint the kitchen in the next few weeks, and I am so nervous that I am going to pick the wrong color. I want an orange, but not a Halloween orange or a coral/peachy orange. Want to drive down to Georgia and help me? :lmao:

I'd be happy to. I could use a good road trip and a vacation. School gets out for Nemo today, if you can believe that, and I'm so ready for it to be over.
 
To MJS! Nine years ago today, we started sailing the seas of life as a crew, and I couldn't be happier! Thank you for the laughs, thank you for your amazing ability with our children, and thank you for loving me! Happy Anniversary to us!
 
I LOVE the Baby Care Centers! I just wish they had them in more places, or that the ones they do have were a bit more convenient. I think I only used them once in each park, because it was such a trek out of the way to get to them most of the time. If I was nearby, I would always try to stop in, but I was rarely nearby when the baby decided he needed care.

Memories are the strangest things. I just have to walk past certain places or hear certain songs and I think about the people I've lost. I can only imagine losing someone I've shared Disney with, especially a parent!
 

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