Nick, Marie, The Diva's & Me!! Finally Finished 10-20-13!!

[DizNee Luver]

I couldn't agree more. I believe there are a lot of things Disneyland does better than Disney World, but advanced notice for special events (and everything else) is NOT one of them. If they want to turn the park into a "vacation destination" it is hard to sell that to people with the current lack of information out there. like park hours online only about 6 weeks in advance.

For example, Knotts Berry Farm has their hours posted through the end of August. Magic Mountain and Universal Studios have park hours through the end of 2013. Disneyland -- May 5. Not even to Memorial Day. I'd rather see a conservative set of park hours posted 4-6 months ahead and then go back a few weeks before and add hours if their number-crunching warrants it, like they do at WDW.

Sorry for hijacking!

PHXscuba

No problem......I've always been annoyed on their top secret schedules.....

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

I love the party!! I'll be 18 soon and I like Cars. Everything looked good

 

[DizNee Luver]

I love the party!! I'll be 18 soon and I like Cars. Everything looked good

Have you been to new CarsLand yet Kaitlin?? It's really amazing!!

 

[ksromack]

You are not kidding about that! Disneyland Resort is always really bad about announcing details of events and letting people begin to plan well in advance. As much as it seems like DLR is trying to emulate WDW in how certain things are done, they can't seem to get on board with letting people know specific information really early like WDW does! If they could announce things much earlier in the year, more folks would be enticed to come out for a visit (not that DLR is hurting for visitors, but you know what I mean - presumably, they want more business all the time)!

Last year the Parks Blog told us in August that the Candlelight Ceremony would have a 20-night run, but we didn't find out how to try to enter the AP lottery, who the narrators were or any other specifics on the event until much later, like in October/November. All of those details should have been ready in August, when the Blog was posted.

How are people coming from other countries or states that are on the opposite side of the U.S. supposed to be able to plan out their schedules in advance (in a stress-free way) when they don't find out concrete details until such a short time before the season begins? It's crazy. I think that DLR is still stuck in the mindset of being a park for locals that doesn't require much planning, and yet they are trying to do more things like WDW does them.

Well I will say that the Candlelight Processional is very organized at Epcot....and it's free with park entrance unless you consider the fact that getting a seat is next to impossible without having the Candlelight Processional Dining package. It is a good thing, and you have a seat! And it's performed 3 times an evening! It was one of my favorite things last December, and having the free dining during our visit helped immensely. I do hope I can see it at Disneyland this December. I'm a big planner, isn't that a requirement here on the DIS? Lol

 

[Sherry E]

Well I will say that the Candlelight Processional is very organized at Epcot....and it's free with park entrance unless you consider the fact that getting a seat is next to impossible without having the Candlelight Processional Dining package. It is a good thing, and you have a seat! And it's performed 3 times an evening! It was one of my favorite things last December, and having the free dining during our visit helped immensely. I do hope I can see it at Disneyland this December. I'm a big planner, isn't that a requirement here on the DIS? Lol

Kathy -

Yes, it is! I think that the planning is at least half of the fun for most folks. Also, I am fairly sure that Team Disney Anaheim probably maps out its schedule for the major seasonal dates and events at DLR early in the year. I'm not sure why they can't just release the info early. Like PHXscuba was saying above, the other SoCal parks release their info. Disneyland keeps things secret.

I don't know if the Candlelight Ceremony is going to be held in the same way, in the same location, as it was last year - the DLR version has a 50+ year history in the Town Square setting, and it would be a shame to see it relocate - but if Disney doesn't make any major changes to the schedule, seating set-up or the venue, I'm going to do the same thing I did when I got seats 2 nights in a row last year. I'm going to walk up to the same exact spot at around the same time, and wait for the Cast Members to let people in to the seats that are not filled!

Anyway, back to Laurie's TR!


Laurie - Are you still struggling with pesky Photobucket? Is that the reason for the delay in more installments? Everything is taking more time to accomplish on their site now, so I can see how it would put a big dent in the progress!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Have you been to new CarsLand yet Kaitlin?? It's really amazing!!

Yes I have. It's really cool!! However, with the GAC, they will make you wait for Radiator Springs Racers.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Well I will say that the Candlelight Processional is very organized at Epcot....and it's free with park entrance unless you consider the fact that getting a seat is next to impossible without having the Candlelight Processional Dining package. It is a good thing, and you have a seat! And it's performed 3 times an evening! It was one of my favorite things last December, and having the free dining during our visit helped immensely. I do hope I can see it at Disneyland this December. I'm a big planner, isn't that a requirement here on the DIS? Lol

When we originally planned our family trip, we were going to go to WDW & the Candlelight Processional was something we had planned on doing there. In fact we had dining reservations.......

Laurie - Are you still struggling with pesky Photobucket? Is that the reason for the delay in more installments? Everything is taking more time to accomplish on their site now, so I can see how it would put a big dent in the progress!

A couple reasons for the delay~~~~ 1. I needed Nick's pics from Day 4 (which I have now & need to organize them into mine) and 2. my entire house is in total chaos........the kids are in need of counseling help and while I wait for that to happen.....I may need to be admitted somewhere.....my nerves are shot.

Yes I have. It's really cool!! However, with the GAC, they will make you wait for Radiator Springs Racers.

I like the way they do the GAC on Radiator Springs Racers. I like being given a time to come back......I think that works well. Wait times were considerably shorter then they would have been in the standby line.

 

[DnA2010]

Oh Laurie, I am sorry that you are having a rough time right now, thinking of you, keep us updated and talk to us on here if it helps o.k?

 

[ksromack]

When we originally planned our family trip, we were going to go to WDW & the Candlelight Processional was something we had planned on doing there. In fact we had dining reservations.......

A couple reasons for the delay~~~~ 1. I needed Nick's pics from Day 4 (which I have now & need to organize them into mine) and 2. my entire house is in total chaos........the kids are in need of counseling help and while I wait for that to happen.....I may need to be admitted somewhere.....my nerves are shot.

I like the way they do the GAC on Radiator Springs Racers. I like being given a time to come back......I think that works

Put this TR on the back burner until you can regroup! As much as I enjoy reading your reports, I prefer a relaxed mama! You have a lot on your plate right now, we can wait and you should know that we will do so while supporting you!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Oh Laurie, I am sorry that you are having a rough time right now, thinking of you, keep us updated and talk to us on here if it helps o.k?

Put this TR on the back burner until you can regroup! As much as I enjoy reading your reports, I prefer a relaxed mama! You have a lot on your plate right now, we can wait and you should know that we will do so while supporting you!

Thank you both!!

I'm stressed beyond belief. We were having issues with Anthony and finally have an assessment for his Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) tomorrow. I've been doing a lot of reading up on this diagnosis and it's heartbreaking. If you want an overview of this, go to attachment.org and read the letter to a teacher. I was physically ill when I was done. I'm hoping that Anthony will get the help he needs and it won't get as bad as this "illness" can turn into. I joined a support group on Facebook, but I think I'll drop it. I can't believe how cold and calloused some of these moms have gotten. I don't care how bad things are.....the bottom line is~~these are your kids and they need our love more than ever.

So Anthony has calmed down over the last week and Addy has amped up. She either has RAD or is bi-polar. I've never seen a sweet child turn so ugly and mean in a blink of the eye. So we're working on her meds and I'm going to talk with the counselor tomorrow about getting her into counseling as well.

We really noticed a change in both kids when Addy's bio-mom and half-sister got reintroduced into our lives last September. Now mom & sis have moved away again.....so I'm sure Addy is dealing with a loss.....again.

Now add that my 2 grown boys are at their limits of tolerance and their yelling and physically being bigger.....has just made things 500x harder and more stressful for me.

Michayla is head banging again.....and I'm sure it's her anxiety that is causing this. Thank goodness, Shy seems to be pretty much oblivious to what's been going on around her.

So that is what's been going on in my little world. It's spring break and Mike & I have a ton of Elk's stuff going on this week....which means we have to leave the kids in the older boys care.....so this just adds to my anxiety.....not knowing what's going on at home.

I now have Nick's day 4 pics......so I will try and add something today on the report.

 

[Sherry E]

Don't give up on the Facebook support group just yet. There may be a few cold people in the bunch, but you need a support group like that - where you can discuss and read up on others' experiences with the same situation. Otherwise, maybe there are other support groups/forums on other sites that are available.

Out of curiosity, have you posted a RAD-related thread on the regular Community/Discussion section of the DIS? I'm not talking about the Disneyland Community section or any of the planning-specific forums on the WDW side of the board, but in the regular Community forum where people discuss any random subjects? It seems to me like I've seen others starting threads about some of their kids' issues in the past. Maybe that would be something to try?

In any case, I agree with Kathy - the TR can go on the back burner. Don't push yourself to get it done in the midst of everything going on. At the end of the day, real life is more important than a TR and you have to be there for your kids! The readers of the TR can wait!

 

[DnA2010]

Hope things are going o.k today Laurie

 

[DizNee Luver]

Don't give up on the Facebook support group just yet. There may be a few cold people in the bunch, but you need a support group like that - where you can discuss and read up on others' experiences with the same situation. Otherwise, maybe there are other support groups/forums on other sites that are available.

Out of curiosity, have you posted a RAD-related thread on the regular Community/Discussion section of the DIS? I'm not talking about the Disneyland Community section or any of the planning-specific forums on the WDW side of the board, but in the regular Community forum where people discuss any random subjects? It seems to me like I've seen others starting threads about some of their kids' issues in the past. Maybe that would be something to try?

In any case, I agree with Kathy - the TR can go on the back burner. Don't push yourself to get it done in the midst of everything going on. At the end of the day, real life is more important than a TR and you have to be there for your kids! The readers of the TR can wait!

I haven't really ventur ed too far around the Dis and the other threads. I guess I could search and see what comes up?

Hope things are going o.k today Laurie

Thank You!! Today was a long one. I got my inheritance yesterday. I got up this morning and was looking at Craigslist at travel trailers.......one jumped off the page and we headed out early to go see it. We are now the proud owners of a travel trailer!!!! We love camping but haven't been able to go for years. Mike's mom used to have one that we could borrow but she sold it quite a while ago. We've missed camping!!! So now it was most important to get a rig that could pull it! The plan has always been to trade off the mini van and go back to an SUV. We loved our Ford Expedition we had. We lost it when Mike & Derek hit some ice and rolled and totaled it a couple years ago. The damage was massive to the outside.....no piece of metal was intact but the inside & most importantly......Mike & Derek were unharmed. This spoke loudly to us and so we were looking for another Expedition. Well after a very long afternoon (Anthony's mental health eval, driving to Salem, sitting at the car dealership for almost 2 hrs to "seal the deal"), we are finally proud to say......we own a 2005 Ford Expedition!!! We will pick it up tomorrow afternoon after they detail it. So after my dentist appt tomorrow, we'll head back to Salem to pick it up!!

 

[ksromack]

I haven't really ventur ed too far around the Dis and the other threads. I guess I could search and see what comes up?

Thank You!! Today was a long one. I got my inheritance yesterday. I got up this morning and was looking at Craigslist at travel trailers.......one jumped off the page and we headed out early to go see it. We are now the proud owners of a travel trailer!!!! We love camping but haven't been able to go for years. Mike's mom used to have one that we could borrow but she sold it quite a while ago. We've missed camping!!! So now it was most important to get a rig that could pull it! The plan has always been to trade off the mini van and go back to an SUV. We loved our Ford Expedition we had. We lost it when Mike & Derek hit some ice and rolled and totaled it a couple years ago. The damage was massive to the outside.....no piece of metal was intact but the inside & most importantly......Mike & Derek were unharmed. This spoke loudly to us and so we were looking for another Expedition. Well after a very long afternoon (Anthony's mental health eval, driving to Salem, sitting at the car dealership for almost 2 hrs to "seal the deal"), we are finally proud to say......we own a 2005 Ford Expedition!!! We will pick it up tomorrow afternoon after they detail it. So after my dentist appt tomorrow, we'll head back to Salem to pick it up!!

Wow! What a great day! I'm not a camper at all but I think it sounds like fun to have a trailer and new vehicle! My FIL has a 5th wheel and I know they enjoy traveling that.

 

[Sherry E]

I haven't really ventur ed too far around the Dis and the other threads. I guess I could search and see what comes up?

Try searching and see what comes up. Or just start a new thread yourself over in that section and see who joins if you don't find anything. I am certain there must be other parents on this board who have similar issues with their kids, and that's what those general Community forums are there for - to chat about all kinds of topics! I've seen all sorts of lighthearted topics as well as very serious subjects in those threads.

The travel trailer sounds fun! I know you all will make good use of it. I haven't been camping since I was a kid (an outing that was, coincidentally, in Oregon, and it involved scarfing down many roasted marshmallows!), but I would love to do it again before I'm too old to do it! You're lucky that you have a family that is up for it and willing to camp out! I don't think I could find anyone to camp out with even if I tried!

 

[RI Disney Star]

Thank you both!!

I'm stressed beyond belief. We were having issues with Anthony and finally have an assessment for his Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) tomorrow. I've been doing a lot of reading up on this diagnosis and it's heartbreaking. If you want an overview of this, go to attachment.org and read the letter to a teacher. I was physically ill when I was done. I'm hoping that Anthony will get the help he needs and it won't get as bad as this "illness" can turn into. I joined a support group on Facebook, but I think I'll drop it. I can't believe how cold and calloused some of these moms have gotten. I don't care how bad things are.....the bottom line is~~these are your kids and they need our love more than ever.

So Anthony has calmed down over the last week and Addy has amped up. She either has RAD or is bi-polar. I've never seen a sweet child turn so ugly and mean in a blink of the eye. So we're working on her meds and I'm going to talk with the counselor tomorrow about getting her into counseling as well.

We really noticed a change in both kids when Addy's bio-mom and half-sister got reintroduced into our lives last September. Now mom & sis have moved away again.....so I'm sure Addy is dealing with a loss.....again.

Now add that my 2 grown boys are at their limits of tolerance and their yelling and physically being bigger.....has just made things 500x harder and more stressful for me.

Michayla is head banging again.....and I'm sure it's her anxiety that is causing this. Thank goodness, Shy seems to be pretty much oblivious to what's been going on around her.

So that is what's been going on in my little world. It's spring break and Mike & I have a ton of Elk's stuff going on this week....which means we have to leave the kids in the older boys care.....so this just adds to my anxiety.....not knowing what's going on at home.

I now have Nick's day 4 pics......so I will try and add something today on the report.

Laurie, sorry for all your stresses. Now that you have a diagnosis for Anthony he can get the help he needs and hopefully thing will get better. Same for Addy, with counseling I hope the same for her. I'm praying for both of them and you and the rest of your family. Hugs to all.

Thank You!! Today was a long one. I got my inheritance yesterday. I got up this morning and was looking at Craigslist at travel trailers.......one jumped off the page and we headed out early to go see it. We are now the proud owners of a travel trailer!!!! We love camping but haven't been able to go for years. Mike's mom used to have one that we could borrow but she sold it quite a while ago. We've missed camping!!! So now it was most important to get a rig that could pull it! The plan has always been to trade off the mini van and go back to an SUV. We loved our Ford Expedition we had. We lost it when Mike & Derek hit some ice and rolled and totaled it a couple years ago. The damage was massive to the outside.....no piece of metal was intact but the inside & most importantly......Mike & Derek were unharmed. This spoke loudly to us and so we were looking for another Expedition. Well after a very long afternoon (Anthony's mental health eval, driving to Salem, sitting at the car dealership for almost 2 hrs to "seal the deal"), we are finally proud to say......we own a 2005 Ford Expedition!!! We will pick it up tomorrow afternoon after they detail it. So after my dentist appt tomorrow, we'll head back to Salem to pick it up!!

Good for you for getting a trailer. I love camping, always camped as a child and into young adulthood. I haven't done it for quite awhile. DH and I have often talked of traveling cross country in one and I hope to do it someday, wish I had the time. Enjoy your new car and trailer!

Beth

 

[DnA2010]

Congrats on the trailer! We are hoping some day to get a camper trailer that goes in the truck bed..would love a proper one, but we often haul the horese trailer to shows and stuff so a camper makes more sense so we can use both

Looking forward to seeing pics of you guys and the kids enjoying it!

 

[Trentmom]

Congrats on the new camper and car


Hope the evaluation for Anthony went well and he can get the help he needs

 

[DnA2010]

Just stopping by, hope things are going o.k

 

[Sherry E]

Just stopping by, hope things are going o.k

She's been on Facebook at some point. I saw an album she had posted when I was on there the other day. I think she's been busy. Have you sent Laurie a private message here on the DIS, or contacted her on Facebook?