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

[JanetMom]

Local friend or someone elsewhere? By bus!?! How long was the trip?

Close to a local friend. They live near Niagara Falls, Ontario. That is about 1,250 miles to Florida, so it is a long drive! My friend accompanied her daughter's jazz band to WDW all four years of high school - by bus!.

(Her husband has always had disdain for Disney, but I think it was just disdain for the bus trip. Recently he suggested that I plan a trip to Disney for all of us, so I'm guessing the idea of an adult trip with stops at France and Mexico , is more appealing than a bus trip supervising the jazz band.)

Friends-

I'm so sorry for being behind on everyones reports! Between my family, Ben's play opening this week, flag football, running a movie night and planning a major Casino Night fundraiser in a month, I have been having trouble keeping up. I try to read when I can and can't wait to get back to read and look at all the beautiful pictures and comment.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Relax, take your time and come back when you are ready. We will all be waiting for you and can pick up where we last left off.

Have a good weekend!

 

[DrMomof3]

I sense quite a bit of foreshadowing. Not boding well for a good night. Hopefully things work out!

Amanda

 

[natebenma]

I sense quite a bit of foreshadowing. Not boding well for a good night. Hopefully things work out!

Amanda

I think you are sensing things correctly!

But on the whole, things could have been worse.

 

[natebenma]

We got off the bus and entered EPCOT in the soaking rain. Our group split up- some going to Some of All Thrills, and me, another mom and two boys making our way to the World Showcase so her son could buy a kimono in Japan.

We stopped at a gift shop so the boys could buy ponchos.

I decided not to get one for myself for a few reasons-

I was already wet.

I don't like the feel of the ponchos.

I'm cheap. I brought a raincoat on the trip. I wasn't about to spend extra money on something I had remembered to pack (but forgot to bring)

We made our way through the World Showcase:

I told my traveling companions I wanted a picture of me soaking wet in all of the countries.

Good thing I have a waterproof camera!


Cant Stay Dry in Canada:

Underwater in the UK

Look! Its the International Gateway to the Beach Club!

Floating Away in France

Misty in Morocco

Just Drenched in Japan

Next up: Turning Japanese


Addendum to this post- Not only was I an idiot that night forgetting my raincoat and failing to switch my footwear to sandals, I also lost out on the chance to win Mother of the Year. Again!

Here is the picture of the group who went to Sum of All Thrills. Please note that the only person in this picture who is NOT wearing a raincoat or poncho is my son.

Although I personally pre-purchased the Photopass CD for the entire class, this is the only group picture taken of my walking group. I do have a few solo photopass pictures of me, and some of the other groups did take advantage of the Photopass system.

 

[JanetMom]

This is my favourite post! You are fantastic!

I am a kindred cheap spirit and I can appreciate all the reasons you didn't buy a poncho.

I love how once you got wet you just went with it. Best way to deal with this situation.

Only sad thing about this post was the picture of the International Gateway. So close, yet so far.

My day is now complete and I can go to bed with a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing your misery with your usual style and flair!

 

[emmysmommy]

You had a lot of fun with the being drenched thing!!! Cute idea to take photos around WS! I know what you mean about the rain ponchos and the way they feel - makes me feel like I'm in a terrarium! And they smell of that funny cheap plastic newness smell.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

This is my favourite post! You are fantastic!

I am a kindred cheap spirit and I can appreciate all the reasons you didn't buy a poncho.

I love how once you got wet you just went with it. Best way to deal with this situation.

Only sad thing about this post was the picture of the International Gateway. So close, yet so far.

My day is now complete and I can go to bed with a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing your misery with your usual style and flair!

Love the latest update Dee (now you know what it really feels like to be in the UK-most of the time anyway) and love how your misery has Janet going to bed smiling

 

[natebenma]

This is my favourite post! You are fantastic!

I am a kindred cheap spirit and I can appreciate all the reasons you didn't buy a poncho.

I love how once you got wet you just went with it. Best way to deal with this situation.

Only sad thing about this post was the picture of the International Gateway. So close, yet so far.

My day is now complete and I can go to bed with a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing your misery with your usual style and flair!

I still don't think my decision to forgo purchasing a poncho was wrong, but I majorly regret that I forgot to wear sandals that night. My socks and sneakers were SOAKED by the time I got back to the resort.

Seeing the International Gateway was bittersweet- I really love it, but for this trip, it was not the way "home"

I am so glad I added some amusement to your evening.

PS- in case you missed it- I added some new photos to the end of my post. I think you will enjoy them.

You had a lot of fun
with the being drenched thing!!! Cute idea to take photos around WS! I know what you mean about the rain ponchos and the way they feel - makes me feel like I'm in a terrarium! And they smell of that funny cheap plastic newness smell.

I didn't mind my clothes being wet all that much, but having my sneakers and socks drenched was not enjoyable. I was squishing by the end of the evening.

I was pretty pleased when I thought of the pictures around the world, and my traveling companions were amused, too. It was one of those "This is SO going in the trip report" moments.

Love the latest update Dee (now you know what it really feels like to be in the UK-most of the time anyway) and love how your misery has Janet going to bed smiling

So sorry that you have to put up with so much wet weather!



Your comment about Janet cracked me up!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Have to admit that while we get alot of rainy weather it's not typically like florida rain-more of a fine mizzley, drizzley type rain if you know what I mean But hey at the mearest blink of sunshine you will be dazzled by the sight of sun deprived legs appearing in all shapes and sizes from shorts of all shapes and sizes Truly a sight to behold

 

[eandesmom]

ok that is one of the best photo series I've seen in a long time. Absolutely love it.

Major UGH on the soaked tennis shoes though. Yuck.

However, mom of the year should not have to tell a 14 year old to pack a poncho. Either he does, or he doesn't but he is old enough to know what he wants to bring. I assume by the fact the rest of them had them that someone reminded the rest?

14 year old boys are not known for their attention to that kind of detail. At least mine aren't.

 

[JanetMom]

Please note that the only person in this picture who is NOT wearing a raincoat or poncho is my son.

 

[jenseib]

You crack me up with wet in the countries pictures.

 

[Ninja Mom]

This is my favourite post! You are fantastic!

I am a kindred cheap spirit and I can appreciate all the reasons you didn't buy a poncho.

I love how once you got wet you just went with it. Best way to deal with this situation.

Only sad thing about this post was the picture of the International Gateway. So close, yet so far.

My day is now complete and I can go to bed with a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing your misery with your usual style and flair!

I don't know which I enjoyed more, JanetMom's joy at your predicament or the predicament itself...


~NM

 

[ddluvsdisney]

What a great attitude you have even when soaking wet!!
I HATE being wet I would have been grumpy lol.

Sounds like buying the CD was more of a waste. Not really taken advantage of??? If so that's to bad.

Did you get a chance to eat?? I'm always thinking of the food.

 

[natebenma]

Have to admit that while we get alot of rainy weather it's not typically like florida rain-more of a fine mizzley, drizzley type rain if you know what I mean But hey at the mearest blink of sunshine you will be dazzled by the sight of sun deprived legs appearing in all shapes and sizes from shorts of all shapes and sizes Truly a sight to behold

Sunny Florida must really be an adjustment for you, but a welcome one!

ok that is one of the best photo series I've seen in a long time. Absolutely love it.

Major UGH on the soaked tennis shoes though. Yuck.

However, mom of the year should not have to tell a 14 year old to pack a poncho. Either he does, or he doesn't but he is old enough to know what he wants to bring. I assume by the fact the rest of them had them that someone reminded the rest?

14 year old boys are not known for their attention to that kind of detail. At least mine aren't.

Thanks! Not the highest quality photos- the one in France looks like I am melting away- but it was a lot of fun.

The wet sneakers were a flashback to our trip in 2008 during Tropical Storm Faye. It didn't stop raining for 5 days and our shoes never dried out.

You actually pegged it. Nate wouldn't have worn a poncho whether I had reminded him or not.

I love having so many of you who understand what it is like dealing with teens!

I should point out that you will soon see in another thread that a certain "Flat" son of mine has his own poncho and is smart enough to know when he needs it.

You crack me up with wet in the countries pictures.

Glad I could bring a smile to your face!

I don't know which I enjoyed more, JanetMom's joy at your predicament or the predicament itself...


~NM

Good times!

What a great attitude you have even when soaking wet!!
I HATE being wet I would have been grumpy lol.

Sounds like buying the CD was more of a waste. Not really taken advantage of??? If so that's to bad.

Did you get a chance to eat?? I'm always thinking of the food.

Me too!

Wet I can handle. Hungry, not so much.

I did get something to eat, but like many experiences on this trip, it was not exactly the way I would have planned it!

I'm not sorry I got the CD, but I do wish the groups would have taken more photos and that my group in particular had taken more than that 1 pose. After I made all the edits and added borders, we ended up with over 200 photos. I'm still making copies of CDs for families upon request.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I love sunny florida

 

[DisMomAmy]

I was only two updates behind.

I love that you documented your wet tour around the world!

 

[GatorMommy2007]

As a middle school teacher who takes a group of kids on a yearly trip...I LOVE this TR!!! Granted, we don't have as far to travel (7 hours in vans) and we don't have NEARLY as many kids, it still reminds me of our so-planned-yet-so-fun trips!

 

[natebenma]

I love sunny florida

Me, too!

I was only two updates behind.

I love that you documented your wet tour around the world!

Might as well!

As a middle school teacher who takes a group of kids on a yearly trip...I LOVE this TR!!! Granted, we don't have as far to travel (7 hours in vans) and we don't have NEARLY as many kids, it still reminds me of our so-planned-yet-so-fun trips!

I'm so glad to hear you are enjoying this. I haven't figured out yet if this is a "how-to" report, a "how-not-to" report or a cautionary tale. Maybe all of the above!

 

[teekathepony]

Oh I'm so with you. I refuse to buy those expensive ponchos!! I love the wet in each country pictures, too funny. You're such a good sport!