145 Middle Schoolers: Wicked Awesome or Epic Fail???DeParting-Such Sweet Sorrow p. 76

[cindydare]

Love your castle and HM pics!!

 

[natebenma]

Havent bought the camera yet but only because I went to do school run (in my car lol) this morning and discovered a major crack in the windscreen Now I have to spend my cash on getting it fixed and I think thats going to be £200 if I'm lucky or £300 if I'm not! I'm beginning to think getting my camera is jinxed!
On better news though my daughter passed her final exams and graduated from university as a teacher today My eldest boy got the all-clear from kidney specialists Youngest boy got his 1st school report which was all good except apparently he likes to regale his teacher with tales from home and has "a lovely turn of phrase"

Sorry to hear about hte car window. Unexpected expenses really stink!

But everything else sounds like great news!

School finished for the summer here today. Nate is moving on to high school next year. At the "not-a-graduation" awards ceremony last night, he received the most improved in art award.

When they started handing out the awards, I had major fears that he would receive the most improved in Life Skills. He did, after all, go from a 4 in effort, Satisfactory grade to Excellent, with 1s in effort and conduct. Sounds like a pretty big improvement to me. And he made a brilliant pillowcase.

I'm so glad he didn't win that one!


Ben had a great first year at the middle school- Straight As in all his classes.

Love your castle and HM pics!!

Thank you so much!!!

 

[JanetMom]

School finished for the summer here today. Nate is moving on to high school next year. At the "not-a-graduation" awards ceremony last night, he received the most improved in art award.

When they started handing out the awards, I had major fears that he would receive the most improved in Life Skills. He did, after all, go from a 4 in effort, Satisfactory grade to Excellent, with 1s in effort and conduct. Sounds like a pretty big improvement to me. And he made a brilliant pillowcase.

I'm so glad he didn't win that one!


Ben had a great first year at the middle school- Straight As in all his classes.

So nice to see you have good news on both fronts. A great start to the summer.

 

[natebenma]

So nice to see you have good news on both fronts. A great start to the summer.

Thanks!

We are kicking off summer with our annual Pizza and Poola Palooza. I usually host this on the last day of school (half-day), but I was working yesterday. So it will be the First Annual Day AFTER the Last Day of School Pool and Pizza party.

The first year we had 87 people.

When Mark came home from work that night, he asked me how the party was.

I said good.

He asked me how many people were there.

I said "Under 100"

He

Later, I heard him ask Nate- "How was the pool party?"

"Good"

"Did fewer than 100 people come?"

"Yes"

"Well, at least you have your stories straight!"

 

[natebenma]

I just discovered that I don’t have many pictures for the next few updates.

Exactly One.

This shows the crowds as we walked from the Haunted Mansion backstage to Mickey’s Philharmagic.

There was a short lecture about sound, but at this point it was after noon and everyone was hot and hungry. Apparently I did not pay much attention to what Donna was telling our group, because I’m not really sure what we were supposed to be learning from the show.

Once again, I wasn’t overly impressed with the attraction choice. I like Philharmagic and all, but it is more like a late afternoon need-a-break-from-the-sun-while-waiting-for-a-Fast-Pass-to-come-due kind of show.

BTW- Why do they call it Mickey’s Philharmagic? Donald is the star of the show! Unfortunately, it still remains a mystery because I forgot to ask.

When we exited the show, it was time to part ways with Donna. For today at least. Earlier on in the day, she told us that she was doing the programs tomorrow, too, and we should ask for her. She must have liked our group, though, because as she handed me the survey to fill out for the Energy and Waves program she said “See you tomorrow!”

Finally. It's lunchtime!!!

For months, I have been looking forward to lunch at Columbia Harbor House.

I love the menu with the not-so-typical fare of fried fish and tuna or hummus sandwiches. I have been dying to try the lobster roll!!! I love that it never seems very busy in there (I’m not sure most people realize this is a counter-service restaurant). I love the upstairs seating with the nautical theming- it never seems crowded and is air-conditioned and it is possible to score a table overlooking the Haunted Mansion.

Next up: Lunch at Cosmic Rays


.

 

[wishinon3stars]

BTW- Why do they call it Mickey’s Philharmagic? Donald is the star of the show! Unfortunately, it still remains a mystery because I forgot to ask.

Good Question! I wonder if anyone knows the answer?

Finally. It's lunchtime!!!

For months, I have been looking forward to lunch at Columbia Harbor House.

Hahaha, Guess you were outvoted . . . great lead in to your next installment

Next up: Lunch at Cosmic Rays


.

I'm still following along and am enjoying your trip. Other than the HM, how did the boys do staying interested? Sounds like it may have been a long morning

 

[natebenma]

I'm still following along and am enjoying your trip. Other than the HM, how did the boys do staying interested? Sounds like it may have been a long morning

It was a long morning and the hottest of our trip. By the time we were finished with HM, I think everyone was done. It was crowded and difficult to hear what Donna was saying, so this was not the most informative part of the program.

Glad you enjoyed the lead in.



Being in charge does not mean you make all the decisions.

 

[wishinon3stars]

Being in charge does not mean you make all the decisions.

Ain't that the truth!!! As Mom of 3 I know that first hand !!!!!

 

[cindydare]

dying [/I]to try the lobster roll!!! I love that it never seems very busy in there (I’m not sure most people realize this is a counter-service restaurant). I love the upstairs seating with the nautical theming- it never seems crowded and is air-conditioned and it is possible to score a table overlooking the Haunted Mansion.

Next up: Lunch at Cosmic Rays

We tried Columbia Harbor House last year and loved it....and the lobster roll was great!! I've been trying to have the Lobster Roll at the Captain's Grille for 3 trips now and still haven't made it there for lunch.....this year is going to be my year!!! (I'm planning on making my laundry day a lunch day at the Captain's Grille.....DH can chase the kids around SAB for awhile, but I'm going to have a Lobster Roll and a drink!!)

You'll just have to put CHH and the Lobster Roll on your "to-do list" for next trip!

I have friends who really enjoy Cosmic Rays, so I hope you still had a good lunch!

 

[jenseib]

LOL..I love how you are making me drool over Columbia Harbor House and then you put ...Next, lunch at Cosmic Rays.....I guess things didn't work out quite the way you planned.
I want CHH too this past spring...but my family was having a slight meltdown about the distance from where we were and I just said forget it. All Claire wanted was a corn dog and she was happy...we went to Pecos Bills, which I was happy we tried as well.

I love that you got to go behind the scens at HM. Is it reflected off glass. I think I read about it once, but I can't remember all the details.

 

[pixarmom]

Thanks!

We are kicking off summer with our annual Pizza and Poola Palooza. I usually host this on the last day of school (half-day), but I was working yesterday. So it will be the First Annual Day AFTER the Last Day of School Pool and Pizza party.

I always love hearing about the natebenma annual pool party! Good to hear the tradition is going strong!

Told R about the Haunted Mansion backstage opportunity and he was in total awe. As part of an advanced art program last year, he and the other students had to identify a location that is significant to them, and then create a painting and a supplementary sculpture based on that place. R chose HM, which was an interesting choice given the places we've traveled, but demonstrates his true devotion! He was also seriously disappointed by the time spent on Stitch.

My head is already spinning thinking of a group of 20 in Cosmic Rays!

 

[MHTeacher]

Just one picture? You must really have been tired!

We ate at CHH for the first time ever on this last trip, and I have discovered a must "redo" counter service restaurant!

 

[JanetMom]

Thanks!

We are kicking off summer with our annual Pizza and Poola Palooza. I usually host this on the last day of school (half-day), but I was working yesterday. So it will be the First Annual Day AFTER the Last Day of School Pool and Pizza party.

The first year we had 87 people.

When Mark came home from work that night, he asked me how the party was.

I said good.

He asked me how many people were there.

I said "Under 100"

He

Later, I heard him ask Nate- "How was the pool party?"

"Good"

"Did fewer than 100 people come?"

"Yes"

"Well, at least you have your stories straight!"

I totally want to be one of your kids!

BTW- Why do they call it Mickey’s Philharmagic? Donald is the star of the show! Unfortunately, it still remains a mystery because I forgot to ask.

Very good question!

 

[AnjieNet]

Enjoying the trip report! That would be a class trip I'd sign up for as well.

Thanks for all the pics of All-Star Movies. We will be staying there for the first time this October. We are Value Resort only people and it's the only one we haven't yet stayed at besides AOA. Being just DH and I with two small girls there is plenty of room for us in a value and we take short trips so spend very little time at the resort going commando style all the way.

We've done Stitch once just to say we had. Never again unless Little DD insists. We'd do it once more for her and say we are done for good!

Backstage at HM sounds like fun. I love learning how things are done.

Haven't done CHH but it's on my list for the upcoming trip, along with Cosmic Rays though we've been there many times.

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[natebenma]

We tried Columbia Harbor House last year and loved it....and the lobster roll was great!! I've been trying to have the Lobster Roll at the Captain's Grille for 3 trips now and still haven't made it there for lunch.....this year is going to be my year!!! (I'm planning on making my laundry day a lunch day at the Captain's Grille.....DH can chase the kids around SAB for awhile, but I'm going to have a Lobster Roll and a drink!!)

You'll just have to put CHH and the Lobster Roll on your "to-do list" for next trip!

I have friends who really enjoy Cosmic Rays, so I hope you still had a good lunch!

We have been to CHH 3 times, I think. I was very curious to try out the lobster roll. As a proud New Englander, I feel it is my obligation to test out lobster rolls whenever possible!

I haven't been to Captain's Grille for lunch, so I have not tried the lobster roll there, but I have had the lobster salad in the CL lounge at the BC and it was good!

Love your laundry/lunch/libation plan!

LOL..I love how you are making me drool over Columbia Harbor House and then you put ...Next, lunch at Cosmic Rays.....I guess things didn't work out quite the way you planned.
I want CHH too this past spring...but my family was having a slight meltdown about the distance from where we were and I just said forget it. All Claire wanted was a corn dog and she was happy...we went to Pecos Bills, which I was happy we tried as well.

I love that you got to go behind the scens at HM. Is it reflected off glass. I think I read about it once, but I can't remember all the details.

It certainly was not the way I planned or pictured lunch.

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to divulge the secrets, and I certainly won't post anything here. I can PM you with what I remember.

I always love hearing about the natebenma annual pool party! Good to hear the tradition is going strong!

Told R about the Haunted Mansion backstage opportunity and he was in total awe. As part of an advanced art program last year, he and the other students had to identify a location that is significant to them, and then create a painting and a supplementary sculpture based on that place. R chose HM, which was an interesting choice given the places we've traveled, but demonstrates his true devotion! He was also seriously disappointed by the time spent on Stitch.

My head is already spinning thinking of a group of 20 in Cosmic Rays!

We had a fantastic party. It was in the mid 90's today, so everyone was very appreciative. We had about 60 people throughout the afternoon.

I know your family would love the backstage stuff.

I'm glad to hear others agree with me about Stitch.

And about Cosmic Rays- I was certainly concerned about how (or if) it would possibly work for our group.

Just one picture? You must really have been tired!

We ate at CHH for the first time ever on this last trip, and I have discovered a must "redo" counter service restaurant!

Just one picture. And I don't have any for the next update. And one single postable picture for the update after that. It was a rough afternoon.

I totally want to be one of your kids!

If you promise to be respectful and appreciative, you're in! It would be a nice change!

Enjoying the trip report! That would be a class trip I'd sign up for as well.

Thanks for all the pics of All-Star Movies. We will be staying there for the first time this October. We are Value Resort only people and it's the only one we haven't yet stayed at besides AOA. Being just DH and I with two small girls there is plenty of room for us in a value and we take short trips so spend very little time at the resort going commando style all the way.

We've done Stitch once just to say we had. Never again unless Little DD insists. We'd do it once more for her and say we are done for good!

Backstage at HM sounds like fun. I love learning how things are done.

Haven't done CHH but it's on my list for the upcoming trip, along with Cosmic Rays though we've been there many times.

Looking forward to reading more!

Glad you made it over here.

I posted more on the Movies picture thread this morning and I still have a few more to add later.

 

[DrMomof3]

I love the whole build-up to lunch at Columbia Harbor House followed immediately by the preview: Lunch at Cosmic Ray's. Guess CHH wasn't on the YES meal plan????
I also love Columbia Harbor House. We tend to eat lunch at either Liberty Tree or Plaza in MK because it's easier to not scramble for a table while trying to carry 3 heavy trays of food and somehow not lose any of my wandering children. But if we do quick-service, it's always CHH.

Amanda

 

[natebenma]

I love the whole build-up to lunch at Columbia Harbor House followed immediately by the preview: Lunch at Cosmic Ray's. Guess CHH wasn't on the YES meal plan????
I also love Columbia Harbor House. We tend to eat lunch at either Liberty Tree or Plaza in MK because it's easier to not scramble for a table while trying to carry 3 heavy trays of food and somehow not lose any of my wandering children. But if we do quick-service, it's always CHH.

Amanda

Oh, CHH was one of the qualifying locations for the Y.E.S dining plan. This is not where I ran into THAT issue.

It just was not on everyone else's plan. Anymore.

More on that tomorrow.

 

[natebenma]

As I mentioned, in my pre-trip “planning” for the trip, Columbia Harbor House was at the top of my list for lunch at MK for our group. And miraculously, Nate agreed with this choice. As did the other chaperones when I floated the idea out to them at the airport, on the magical express bus and at the resort.

But once we arrived at the MK in the morning, perhaps even on the bus enroute, I started to hear dissention in the ranks.


“We should eat at the restaurant close to Space Mountain”

“Cosmic Rays is going to be really crowded!”

“Every place is going to be crowded”
 
“It is usually pretty easy to find seats at Columbia Harbor House. There’s no way we will find seats together at Cosmic Rays”


“We’ll be fine”


I still held out hope that when the Y.E.S. program was over, everyone would come to their senses. Well, to my senses, and realize that the right choice was CHH. But when we exited Philharmagic and met up with the other 3 chaperones in our group, I knew there was no way I could convince everyone to backtrack to Liberty Square, and then cross a couple of lands to get to Space Mountain after lunch.

Bye Bye airconditioning.

We arrived at the entrance of a very crowded Cosmic Rays around 12:30. I handed out the 20 meal vouchers and reminded everyone to get a cup of ice water in addition to their drinks to help keep hydrated. One kid listened. We were just about to enter the very long order line, when one of the cast members informed us-

“The lines are much shorter at Pod 3”


I shouted “Everyone follow me!” and took off for Pod 3.

About 4 kids and one chaperone in our group joined me.

I sent one of the kids back to get everyone else.

He came back alone.

We ordered and received our meals, and found a place to sit. On a stoop, just outside the restaurant. I took a couple of bites of my burger, then left my tray of food with the other chaperone and kids and I set off to find the rest of our group. I found another 10 of them at tables, outside, around a corner. There were still 4 people in our group missing, including 1 chaperone and my son.

I had serious anxiety that our group was separated. I don’t even like to split off from my family unless we have a Plan A AND a Plan B for meeting back up. This was not working for me!

The mango gelato was tasty. My burger was not very good. The fries were cold.

I have no food porn.


Next Up: Spacing Out!
.

 

[JanetMom]

I know it is just one lunch, but still this is sad. You know you were close to a perfect lunch spot and instead you were torn in a different direction. Every little crowd and wrinkle along the way just made it that much worse.

I can just imagine how I'd feel in that situation. I likely wouldn't have finished my lunch either.

But hey - nowhere to go but up, after a crappy lunch! (People mover, I hope.)

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm not a huge fan of Cosmic Ray's. Tom and I had an ok meal there during MNSSHP in October but we generally avoid it.
I'm an expert at losing children!

Amanda