60 Candles, 30 Million Lights, Best Friends&Family at Disney--Priceless (New 5/23)

[WDisneyMom]

Best news yet!! 6 years cancer free! Congratulations!!!!

 

[KatMark]

I was going to do a poll, but I can't remember how. So I'll just post the question here and you guys/gals can give me your thoughts.

It looks as if all goes well in the next couple of days, I will be traveling with Mark to Florida for his business trip in April. In between his various customers and their locations, we will be able to stay one night at a Disney resort and spend the day at a park the next morning/afternoon before heading to Daytona Beach as his next stop.

So my question to you is this. Actually....I'm going to make it two questions:

1) Which park would you go to if you just had one day? MK? Epcot? DHS? AK?

2) Which resort out of the following would you pick: POR-Riverside, Pop, CSR or Saratoga Springs?




And I'll be back later this afternoon or tonight with responses.

 

[GrammyJudy]

I absolutely would pick MK if I had only one day but one day would nnot be enough so I would maybe pick Epcot. It that during Flower exhibits.

For the hotel would not matter to me...they are all great. Try one new to you!

 

[that's nice]

So my question to you is this. Actually....I'm going to make it two questions:

1) Which park would you go to if you just had one day? MK? Epcot? DHS? AK?

I'd do MK... but if I could, I hit DHS to ride my favorites then hit MK. Or if the day I was there had a EMH morning, I might hit that park then move.

2) Which resort out of the following would you pick: POR-Riverside, Pop, CSR or Saratoga Springs?

Depends on if you are trying to save a few $... then POP.

If not, then POR just to try it out, or CSR.

Happy planning!!!

 

[ronnmel]

1) Which park would you go to if you just had one day? MK? Epcot? DHS? AK?

I would base my choice based on park hours and crowd calendar. If you can hop between parks, then I'd choose either MK-Epcot, or DHS-Epcot (both finishing at Epcot, unless park hours make it better otherwise).

2) Which resort out of the following would you pick: POR-Riverside, Pop, CSR or Saratoga Springs?

POP! First, I totally agree with the PP who said you should try something new. So that eliminates CSR and I don't know which other resort(s) you might have gone to before. Second, you probably won't spend much time at the resort, why pay extra? Third, I think you guys are going to enjoy seeing the memorabilia and icons of the past. Plus you can walk to AoA to check it out as well. Fourth, if you hate it, it's only one day. If you love it, you can decide to come back for a later trip.

 

[pas130]

I was going to do a poll, but I can't remember how. So I'll just post the question here and you guys/gals can give me your thoughts.

It looks as if all goes well in the next couple of days, I will be traveling with Mark to Florida for his business trip in April. In between his various customers and their locations, we will be able to stay one night at a Disney resort and spend the day at a park the next morning/afternoon before heading to Daytona Beach as his next stop.

So my question to you is this. Actually....I'm going to make it two questions:

1) Which park would you go to if you just had one day? MK? Epcot? DHS? AK?

2) Which resort out of the following would you pick: POR-Riverside, Pop, CSR or Saratoga Springs?

And I'll be back later this afternoon or tonight with responses.

For one night..pop. one day Epcot because I have never done F&G

 

[mommy2mrb]

I say Epcot if Flower & Garden are happening...if not MK!

I'd stay where you haven't stayed before!

 

[englishrose47]

I was going to do a poll, but I can't remember how. So I'll just post the question here and you guys/gals can give me your thoughts.

It looks as if all goes well in the next couple of days, I will be traveling with Mark to Florida for his business trip in April. In between his various customers and their locations, we will be able to stay one night at a Disney resort and spend the day at a park the next morning/afternoon before heading to Daytona Beach as his next stop.

So my question to you is this. Actually....I'm going to make it two questions:

1) Which park would you go to if you just had one day? MK? Epcot? DHS? AK?

2) Which resort out of the following would you pick: POR-Riverside, Pop, CSR or Saratoga Springs?




And I'll be back later this afternoon or tonight with responses.

#1 Epcot
#2 Pop

 

[PhoenixStrength]

1. Mk
2. Pop

 

[WDisneyMom]

Mk/por

 

[KatMark]

such wonderful news about your mammogram kathy

Thank you, Lisa.

great you got all your ADR's booked!

I was happy we got everything.

hmm, I can't figure out who you all drew either...maybe someone from Hercules or the Hunchback

From what others have posted after you, it is some fairy from Wreck it Ralph????

we love going to Animators and looking at all the artwork afterwards, we've been getting the pencil drawings out last couple of trips, much easier on the pocketbook!

I am the world's worse drawer, but I really enjoy doing it.

First so glad the mammo was good !!!! I can't think who that character is either , the 3 pix looked great who didn't do one or am I miscountingUnless Marv auctioned it off to finance future trips to Disney!!!

Thanks, Rosie. I'm missing someone's picture...I think it was mine.
Marv better not be taking any trips until he finishes his TR!

YAY for being cancer free !!! Wooo Hoooo

That character you drew is Vanellope from Wreck it Ralph. My DD loves that movie. Can't wait for it to come out on video !!!

Thank you, Susan. I haven't seen the movie...we'll probably do it when it comes out on video. We are going to try to watch Brave this weekend which we still haven't seen it.

THAT is the best news I have heard all day!!!

I was going to ask the children tonight who you drew; however, I see someone already knew.

Thank you, Judy. I was pleased with it two. February always gives me a little stress when I have to have my mammo.

Blessed news, Kathy!

Thanks, Michelle.

Congrats on your mammogram!!!

Looks like a great day at DHS. I have never done the animation thing. I am so bad at drawing & the boys really have not had any interest.

Thank you, Doreen. I'm terrible at drawing too...but you should really do it sometime.

Yahoo!! Congratulations!! What good news!! I am so happy for you!

I really enjoyed the art class, thought it was fun. Loved your pictures of Vanillope from wreck it Ralph.

Thanks...I love being happy every February after my annual test.

The art class is really fun and I'm glad we've made it an annual thing.

 

[KatMark]

Awesome news!

Thanks, Mel.

First of all, for being cancer-free!!!!!

Secondly, sounds like a great morning so far at DHS. I agree about just window shopping at the dump shop from the Animation Academy. I'd love to buy 1/2 the store, but can't afford any one piece!

Thanks, Stephanie. That store just says "buy me, buy me."

Great news! Congrats!

Jill in CO

Thank you, Jill.

I just realized that you had posted an update and I missed it. I went back to read it.

Glad you saw I did one.

I LOVE doing the animation drawing class. I was going to say that you drew Vaneloppe from Wreck-It Ralph, but I see others beat me to it. It's the newest Disney movie, it was out in theaters last fall.

It's fun. And I like peeking at other's drawings and I'm in awe of how good some of them are.

I really wish I had the money to buy stuff from any of the art stores. So wonderful!

Yes...if we were all millionaires.

Tower of Terror is always a must do!

LOVE TOT!

I want to do this, yet I fear the results!

Do it! I was worried the first time and my Donald Duck wasn't too bad.

I suppose if it turns out too badly, I can ask to take a picture of someone else's and claim that I did it.

Or just don't take a picture of it.

We are so happy to join you in celebrating your clean bill of health!

Thank you for celebrating with me.

Congratulations on 6 years! My Mom is a survivor from 1984. (She'll be 90 in April and very healthy.)

That is awesome about your mom.

As always, enjoying your posts. We were supposed to go back to Disney this fall, but it will be 2014.

Read you soon

I think our 2014 trip will be late April or early May.

Absolutely wonderful news for you and your family! You are blessed.

Thanks; hubby and the kids were thrilled too.

Love DHS!!! If it weren't for the fact that MK holds such a special place in my heart for all my teen year memories, I think the Studios would be my favorite park.

I have to say that DHS is my least favorite park...just not enough to do for us. But I do enjoy TOT (Mark enjoys R&R Roller Coaster) and TSM. It just needs a few more things to move up my list.

Looking in the windows during the holiday seasons is one of my favorite pasttimes. They make them look so cute.

They really do the windows up well.

 

[KatMark]

Somehow I knew you were going to HS!

Congrats on the mammo results...I am sure you were nervous and can now relax!

How did you know?

Thank you; as I said earlier, I get nervous every February.

Ms. Kat, I'm so glad y'all had such a great time at the Christmas party!!

Camille, it really was a lot of fun.

It looks like it was a great time. I love the pictures you caught of Wishes, you got some really outstanding pics!

Des has a really good camera and she did awesome.

I also love how you cordinated your outfits for the Christmas party, so cute! Pictures with Mickey and Minnie are my favs on this trip so far. Sorry I'm not getting over here more, I tried to read the last three posts, but I just can't make it through. Need to go to bed now. Love to you!!

Aren't we just all so cute as we coordinated? And we didn't even plan that...it's what we had left in clothes.

Like I said on FB....I'm so blessed by the news of you being cancer free. This is truly amazing news!! The kind of news I need to hear these days.

Camille, thank you. I know you are struggling now with your mom and I'm here whenever you need me.

GREAT news Kathy! So glad to hear that you got a clean bill of health

Thanks, Shannon.

The drawing class looks like so much fun. We'll do it one of these trips, but for now I fear that Maddie would get frustrated by not being able to do it perfectly.

I'd definitely wait a little bit until Maddie's a little older...I think she'll enjoy it though in a few years.

Can't wait to hear what you did next!

Hopefully I'll get something up on Sunday (we're out and about all day tomorrow).

After you went to that one more attraction, please don't say you went to ABC Commissary for lunch and loved it. (my least favorite place or attraction in all of WDW).

Absolutely not! That place is utterly disgusting.

Kathy,

Best part of the whole update! Congrats to you!

Thank you...you are very sweet.

So very relieved for you that your mammogram came back clear - CONGRATULATIONS! And (((hugs)))

Thanks, D.

Happy to hear that you got all of your ADRs... Tomorrow is my day, and I've fired up every electronic device that I possibly can, in an effort to get them done - I am afraid that I will have to resort to the phone que like everyone else lately.

I'm so glad that we both got all of our ADR's (I did see your post that you got yours)

Loved your update... I just love seeing the holiday decorations around WDW.

D~

Such a beautiful time of year to visit.

Yay!!! Congrats on a clear mammogram Kathy

Thank you friend.

Yay for Cancer free!! My DH just hit 15 years.

to your husband...awesome to hear.

It looks like you had a great morning at DHS despite being a little late.

Yes; I was a little worried after going to DTD for breakfast, but it worked out okay.

I am going to do the Animation Class this time! I've always been a little scared of it because I'm lucky I can draw a stick figure. But I've gone a few times in the last month to a class called Corkscrews and Canvas. You basically drink and paint! I've discovered that while I could never paint on my own, I'm very good at copying when someone shows me what to do.

I really think you will enjoy it and I'll be interested to hear what you think.

I can't wait to see where you end up for lunch.

It will definitely be in the next update.

 

[KatMark]

Great news!

Thanks, Andy.

You should have gone to Rock n Rollercoaster...

Ummmmm....NO!

Was it one of the fairies? Or pixies or whatever they call them.

I guess it is one of the fairies from Wreck it Ralph according to posts above.

I love the window displays in HS at Christmas time! I think they are all so adorable. I really like the way that park is decorated.

I thought DHS was the second best decorated party for Christmas.

yeah for ToT! Always fun!

Love TOT.

I am also a big fan of OMD. How can you not like viewing the history of Walt Disney.

I think parents should take their kids to see it when they are old enough to know the history.

I have no idea who your character is either. I wish they would stick to the oldies but goodies. Still - nice drawings!

I want to do Pluto or Goofy next time.

Oh - and congrats on your mammo results. that's so great!

Thank you, MEK.

I am guessing that it's a character from Wreck It Ralph? Which I haven't seen so it is just a guess but the image looks familiar.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who hasn't seen it.

on the mammo results, I know how stressful that is for you every year.

Thank you, Cynthia.

That is a very good thing.
May that continue for many, many years.

Thank you sir.

Two excellent rides.
Neither of which I can ride any more unless I go solo.

My better half just won’t have it.

Mark and I do ours solo because I won't do his and he won't do mine.

I need to take time to do this next time we get down there.
I’m sure the class would be a lot of fun.

The class is fun and 90% of the people will be just as bad as you with your drawing.

Don’t recognize that one either.
Must be one of the many pixies from the direct to DVD releases.

We need to catch up on a few of the more recent Disney movies.

A good morning so far.
I miss Disney…

Thanks; I hope you get back there soon.

great news on the check up very happy for you.

Thanks, Dan.

Wonderful! Getting good news like that never gets old.

Mark, it certainly is.

I'm surprised they were still available!

I was too; but the Studios really wasn't all that busy.

Love the new Fantasyland model. I could stare at that for a while.

It's great, isn't it?

It might be Vanellope Von Schweetz from Wreck-It-Ralph. Good movie, by the way.

Now I'm anxious to see the movie if you liked it.

Seriously can't they make something similar...a lot cheaper!!!!

 

[KatMark]

I'm so hopelessly behind Ms. Kat! But I can't wait to catch up, I just read your intro. and it's fabulous. I still can't believe you managed to keep it a surprise!! I am so bad at keeping surprises, I'd have told my DH. Looking forward to reading about all of your Christmas fun, even if I didn't get to meet you at Disney because we canceled our trip, sniffle sniffle.

Molly, you have no idea how happy I am that you are back. It was very hard...we all had a moment where we almost slipped, but we did it. I'm still sorry that we didn't get to meet...but I have faith we will one day.

Kathy,
Congratulations on your clean mammo. So happy for you! Wow! Six great years cancer free. I'm sure you have already done the happy dance, but Hey Girl, just Do It Again!!! Heck, do it every day, you deserve it!

Thank you; I danced the whole week over the good news.

So, so happy to hear that your mammogram was clear!!

Thanks, Amanda.

Sounds like y'all were off to a good start at DHS!

It was a great start to the day.

I really want to do the Animation class one day. Seems like it never fits into our plans. Maybe I'll get to do one on the cruise.

Do they do that on the cruises? That would be a great place to do it.

Can't wait to see what y'all do before lunch!

Hopefully an update on Sunday.

Congrats on being cancer free! Cancer sucks if you ask me.

Thanks, Tim. And you have a first hand knowledge of how scary and awful it is.


I guessed MK cuz I though you always ate at the Plaza before you left.

We do on our annual trip, but not these little trips (girls trip, Christmas trip). Trust me it is the last meal for our August trip.

Nice drawing... I have no idea who that is too.

Guess you haven't seen Wreck It Ralph (or whatever it's called) either.

Well, well, well. Look who we have here.

Don't you dare start on my Molly. I have enough to do supervising Marv on Rosie's thread!

Your trip and report are amazing! i love reading along!

Mo, you are so sweet.

BUT CANCER FREE!!!! IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!

Thank you for dancing with me.

 

[KatMark]

for 6 yrs cancer free!!!! Absolutely fabulous!! I am at 2 1/2 yrs now and it gets waring worrying about it all the time - try to put it put it out of my mind, but it always seems to creep back in. SO happy for you!!

LOVE the Wishes photos! Have some catching up to do!

Thanks Christine. I'm so very happy for you too.

I think this calls for a

Happy 6 years cancer free!

Thanks, Lisa.

Don't make me un-friend you Timmy...Plus as I'm sure you already know, Kathy is always on my side, not yours.

You are absolutely right girlfriend.

Oh Kathy, I love how you all surprised Mark! The signs were too cute and how fun that he had no idea at all!! And I absolutely how how excited he was when Nicki ran over to him at the hotel.

Wasn't that just the sweetest thing when he saw his Nicki? He loves that girl, as do I.

Looks like Beaches & Cream was a hit! I'm dying to try it out sometime myself. It looks delicious!

You must try Beaches & Cream on your next trip...it's yummy.

All of the Epcot photopass pics came out beautifully! You all look great and it's clear you were having a grand time already

We were really having a great time.

Eek, what was with all that craziness at CSR's pool?!?! I'd have marched myself over and complained to the front desk too. How rude and inconsiderate. Was there an obnoxious, rude, bad mannered teenager convention going on or something? Geez.

It was the Pop Warner football group and they were obnoxious, rude....shall I go on?

OK, I'm caught up...till at least the beginning of day 2 lol! I'll be back!

You come back as often as you want.

 

[KatMark]

I hate that your report is almost done...I have so enjoyed it! When is your next trip? Oh and by the way what are your dates for Dec? Maybe we will be there at the same time.

I'm glad you have enjoyed it. Next trip is one night in April, then a week in June with the girls, a week in August and then December. Our dates in December are December 3 - 8.

Great News Kathy!!! 6 years cancer free and counting....

Thanks, Pat.

I know I already commented on FB Kathy but this is really just such excellent news!!!!!!!

Thank you, Molly.

Oh Kathy, I knew from FB that you had a clean Mammogram but I hadn't realized that you were a cancer survivor... You must feel like a weight is lifted off your shoulders with a clean test...

Every test I have a sigh of relief.

Love H ToT... the theming... even the ride although as David says "it gives me wobbly legs after..."

That's too funny....tell David I sometimes have wobbly legs too.

I love OMD and AA ... they're actually 2 of my favorite things in the Studios... not E ticket rides but just real Walt influenced attractions... (I'm not sure some people even know the OMD is even there...)

I totally agree with you; and I also agree that I don't think a lot of people know about OMD or take the time to do it.

6 years! WooHoo!

Thanks, Suzi.

You move way to fast over here!

In case no one has said it, you drew Venellope from Wreck it Ralph. She's one of the main characters.

Oh, this has been one of my slower moving ones I think.

Thanks for the character name...a few people beat you, but you confirmed it.

Best news yet!! 6 years cancer free! Congratulations!!!!

Thanks, Starr.

 

[KatMark]

I absolutely would pick MK if I had only one day but one day would nnot be enough so I would maybe pick Epcot. It that during Flower exhibits.

For the hotel would not matter to me...they are all great. Try one new to you!

Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, Epcot will have the Flower & Garden Show while we are there. I'm very fussy about my resort, but we've made a decision (it will be at the end of these responses).

I'd do MK... but if I could, I hit DHS to ride my favorites then hit MK. Or if the day I was there had a EMH morning, I might hit that park then move.

Oh you are made this difficult. I love TOT and thought of not riding is depressing.

Depends on if you are trying to save a few $... then POP.

If not, then POR just to try it out, or CSR.

Happy planning!!!

Well, I will tell you it's not CSR.

I would base my choice based on park hours and crowd calendar. If you can hop between parks, then I'd choose either MK-Epcot, or DHS-Epcot (both finishing at Epcot, unless park hours make it better otherwise).

I didn't even think to look at park hours. But the one we chose will work no matter hours and we couldn't stay really late anyway as we have to get to the next destination.

POP! First, I totally agree with the PP who said you should try something new. So that eliminates CSR and I don't know which other resort(s) you might have gone to before. Second, you probably won't spend much time at the resort, why pay extra? Third, I think you guys are going to enjoy seeing the memorabilia and icons of the past. Plus you can walk to AoA to check it out as well. Fourth, if you hate it, it's only one day. If you love it, you can decide to come back for a later trip.

Very good reasoning here...thank you.

For one night..pop. one day Epcot because I have never done F&G

You are one smart girl.

I say Epcot if Flower & Garden are happening...if not MK!

I'd stay where you haven't stayed before!

Flower & Garden had a lot to do with our final choice.

And it will be a resort we've never stayed at before.

#1 Epcot
#2 Pop

Another smart girl in the group.

1. Mk
2. Pop

Semi-smart. Only teasing. But you got half of it right.

Mk/por

I liked your POR suggestion, but that's not what we went with.


So here is the plan. We fly to Jacksonville on April 6 (Saturday) and drive to Valdosta, Georgia. We meet with a customer on Sunday, April 7 and then we drive to Orlando. We will stay one night at POP! We are NOT fans of the values at all, but it is only one night and it was our cheapest option with the AP discount (POR was $145, CSR was $135 and POFQ was $200). I've made an ADR for dinner on Sunday night at the Yachtsman. We will have breakfast on Monday, April 8, at 7:30 at Boma and then we will go to EPCOT. We have never done Flower & Garden and I've been wanting to for years. So we may not do as many attractions as we'd like as we'll concentrate on a lot of that, but I'll be back two months later so it works for us.


And I had to add this picture. Mark and Alisha got two new cars this year. Well, Mark is leasing a brand new 2013 Kia Optima and they got Alisha a 2009 Kia Sorrento. They went to visit her cousin in Monroe, Wisconsin, who just had a baby (and then they were driving to Des Moines Iowa for the kids State wrestling tournament).

In any event, Alisha and Mark met Jackson this evening. And Alisha looks like a natural, doesn't she?

I asked if Mark held the baby and she said no. He said, "I've held a football...I'll be good when the time comes." TYPICAL guy!

 

[mommy2mrb]

yay for picking Epcot! its so pretty with all the flowers!

POP is fun and since it was remodeled a couple years ago, everything should still be in good shape!

sweet photo of Alisha and the baby...Mark is too funny!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

EPCOT is the perfect choice during F&G - it is amazing! We've been once during that time but have wanted to go back for years. Hope you'll take some photos!

Aw, Alisha looks very comfortable with a baby. Mark is too funny!!

POP is close to EPCOT so if you bus or take the car it will be quick. Be sure to make a bldg request for POP, even for one night, otherwise you'll likely wind up in Timbuktu!