BAND GEEKS Takin' Over the World! LINK TO NEW TR!! Go to last page 10/17

[jordanyosh]

Don't know how I missed this.....

[tinkerbell615]

Sooze... Oh what memories that weather brings back! We drove through the nasty weather like that also. I believe we were a few days behind you but the same thing. Tornado warnings and all! DH drove because I can't see to drive well at night and especially in the rain. It scares the daylights out of me. I love your face in your picture and the angels sleeping in the back.

Keep the report coming. Can't wait to hear more!

[Sooze]

Originally Posted by Hedy

I love how excited they are!

Me too!! I hope I never see the day when they lose the Disney excitement!

Originally Posted by PrincessV

That's like the mother of all nasty skies!

I can only imagine!

Wasn't that scary lookin? The ride down will not be considered a fond memory!

Originally Posted by jordanyosh

Don't know how I missed this.....

Be glad you did! I've been back since the 1st week of April and I'm just NOW starting. You got here just in time!

Originally Posted by tinkerbell615

Sooze... Oh what memories that weather brings back! We drove through the nasty weather like that also. I believe we were a few days behind you but the same thing. Tornado warnings and all! DH drove because I can't see to drive well at night and especially in the rain. It scares the daylights out of me. I love your face in your picture and the angels sleeping in the back.

Keep the report coming. Can't wait to hear more!

One of the big downfalls of driving.. you're at the mercy of the weather... and not just for take-off and landing!!

[dddisrunner]

Great Update Sooze! The kids look adorable all snuggled in for the long car ride and that rain looked scary and HORRIBLE!! Saw that you are hoping to see Mary Poppins next summer in Indy, I hope you get to. We just saw it on Braodway this past Sunday and it was INCREDIBLE...I actually thought of you when we were there because I know how much you love the theater I posted about it on my PTR if you want to take a peek, pgs. 61 and 62!!

Diane

[timandlesley]

YEAH!!!!! You've started! I'm so excited, I didn't think I'd get to ready any of it before we left.. Sorry about the stinky weather, that is so horrible to drive through, but I'd drive through it to get to Disney any day! Love the looks on the kids faces as you arrived.
Can't wait for more!!! GREAT start!
Lesley

[IluvXU]

Glad you started this report... I just realized your ticker...SSR later this summer- do tell the plans!

[lovethecastle]

Yea, I'm ready.

I'm glad you made it through the storms. They looked truly frightining- the kind where you want to hide in the basement.
Maybe we would have tried to drive 10 years ago when we were your age. We did it when I was a kid & it took 24 hours. Try to stick me in a car for 24 hrs now & you'd have someone in need of mental services on the other side.
Take Care

[shannon47142]

glad you started the report--but what yucky weather--at least Disney was there at the end

[jwwi]

Happy to hear you like your new computer. Love the first report, although I do not envy you or your DH having to drive in such awful weather. Congratulations on finishing your school year, schools in our area have another week of classes.

[Sooze]

Originally Posted by dddisrunner

Great Update Sooze! The kids look adorable all snuggled in for the long car ride and that rain looked scary and HORRIBLE!! Saw that you are hoping to see Mary Poppins next summer in Indy, I hope you get to. We just saw it on Braodway this past Sunday and it was INCREDIBLE...I actually thought of you when we were there because I know how much you love the theater I posted about it on my PTR if you want to take a peek, pgs. 61 and 62!!

Diane

I think I'll always treasure that picture of them all cuddly in the back seat... That's one good thing about driving... lots of memories!! Even if they are nasty weather memories. We're actually going to Chicago to see Mary Poppins at the end of this month!! Got our tickets in the mail this week. So cool that you saw it on Broadway.. I'll have to go visit your PTR!

Originally Posted by timandlesley

YEAH!!!!! You've started! I'm so excited, I didn't think I'd get to ready any of it before we left.. Sorry about the stinky weather, that is so horrible to drive through, but I'd drive through it to get to Disney any day! Love the looks on the kids faces as you arrived.
Can't wait for more!!! GREAT start!
Lesley

I feel so relieved that it's actually going! Hope to get a few more updates done before you guys leave!

Originally Posted by IluvXU

Glad you started this report... I just realized your ticker...SSR later this summer- do tell the plans!

We are doing a big road trip to the East Coast to visit family and friends in PA. We decided to drive down 95, let the kids see the Atlantic, and end up in Orlando. We are meeting Matt and his drum corps again (we did the same thing last summer.. .see 2008 OKW link below!) and spending 4 days with Mickey! Using developer points to stay at SSR in a studio. It'll be cramped, but a nice mid-summer getaway!

I'll probably do a quick picture-based TR when we get back (No PTR) Thanks for noticing!

Originally Posted by lovethecastle

Yea, I'm ready.

I'm glad you made it through the storms. They looked truly frightining- the kind where you want to hide in the basement.
Maybe we would have tried to drive 10 years ago when we were your age. We did it when I was a kid & it took 24 hours. Try to stick me in a car for 24 hrs now & you'd have someone in need of mental services on the other side.
Take Care

Definitely basement storms!! I kept staring at the sky, positive that I'd see a funnel cloud somewhere! 24 hours!?

Originally Posted by shannon47142

glad you started the report--but what yucky weather--at least Disney was there at the end

Disney definitely kept us going. That weather was NOT FUN!!

Originally Posted by jwwi

Happy to hear you like your new computer. Love the first report, although I do not envy you or your DH having to drive in such awful weather. Congratulations on finishing your school year, schools in our area have another week of classes.

I feel like I've been out of school for such a long time! I can't imagine having a whole other week to go! Of course, I report back on AUGUST 7th!!
Thanks for checking in!

[Sooze]

Well, dangit!! I've been working on an update throughout the day... and now it's GONE!! I'll try again tomorrow... sigh...

Good night everyone!

[2xcited2sleep]

Yeesh that weather looks nasty! But you're there! Hurrah!

The kids look so excited. Too cute!

Can't wait for more.

[CRSNDSNY]

Awesome start!!!! Glad I found your report. Looks great so far! BTW, I'm an orchestra geek....always have been, always will be. We even have our 4yo daughter on a waitlist for violin lessons -- at her request! I'm so proud.

Can't wait for more!

[Sooze]

Originally Posted by 2xcited2sleep

Yeesh that weather looks nasty! But you're there! Hurrah!

The kids look so excited. Too cute!

Can't wait for more.

It was funny how wide awake and excited they were so early in the morning!

Originally Posted by CRSNDSNY

Awesome start!!!! Glad I found your report. Looks great so far! BTW, I'm an orchestra geek....always have been, always will be. We even have our 4yo daughter on a waitlist for violin lessons -- at her request! I'm so proud.

Can't wait for more!

Thanks! Glad you found me too. I'll take orchestra geek!!! If I had a choice to join an orchestra, I totally would've (always wished I had played cello!)

[Sooze]

We found our resort with the help of our GPS, and the magical purple signs:


Of course, the room wasn't ready. We weren't expecting it to be, but a teensy part of me was hoping....

I have to say that when I walked into the massive, bustling, lobby, I really got excited. It had quite a different 'vybe' than the DVC resorts. Lots of big families, excitement mounting from several 'rookies', confusion of the big crowds... I don't know, it just felt different, yet more exciting. At our DVC resorts, we usually experience the calmer, 'I've been here three times already this year' kind of people. As they say, we feel more like we're coming "home" at our DVC resorts. Again, different, but in a good way.

After checking in, the CM gave us the card with the phone number on it for us to call to see if our room was ready. HUH? WE have to call THEM?! Geez... at our DVC resorts, THEY call US when it's ready... Disney snob emerging.. be careful!!

We headed back to the car and drove over to the Beach Club to park. We were feeling very skanky in our travel clothes, so we used the fabulous facilities in the BC Villas to change and freshen up. Then we were off to Epcot! (Duh... where ELSE would we go?!)

Let's GO MOM!!



As you can see, we DID end up bringing the umbrella stroller. It even had a little sun visor, so it worked out just fine!


This was our 'sign' that day. We were just so excited that we had 6 full days there, that randomly, throughout the day, we would just yell, "SIX!!!!" at the top of our lungs!!


We made it safely to International Gateway. Matt walked up to the CM in one of the ticket windows and said, "I'm going to spend a lot of money right now!" He had to buy 2 annual passes for the kids! I meandered to the other CM in the other window to pick up my AP.

So, with fresh APs in hand, we were ready to go!! But... wouldn't you know it... the RAIN RETURNED... and MAN, did it ever return!

So, we took the opportunity to relax at the Gateway and people watch... families running through the monsoons. Some with ponchos, many with umbrellas, few just braving it commando!

Just enjoying being here:


Rain, rain, go away!


But, LOOK, Mom... it's DISNEY RAIN!


The kids had a ball playing in the drips and puddles:






So, I know many of you are wondering, "Why didn't you follow the DISboards advice and stock up on Dollar store ponchos? You could be well on your way to Mission:Space by now!" Well, let it be known... SOOZE DOES NOT DO PONCHOS!! I hate them! I hate the way they smell, I hate the way they feel on my already wet skin, I hate the way they trap the humidity and heat around my body, I hate the way you have to deal with them when the rain is over (and, no, I'm not throwing them away until Disney recycles plastic rain ponchos!!)... so there.. I got that off my chest. I would rather sit, soak in the rainy Disney atmosphere, or just get rained on than wear a poncho. Whew... thanks for listening!


Finally, the rain let up. We headed first to Spaceship Earth. There was no line and we walked right up to the ball... then it happened... Shaelyn started to freak a bit!What?! She's ridden this already?! Oh no.. I think we've hit the age of fear of the unknown... the age of wanting to be in control instead of just riding whatever the family wants. Dang..

Thankfully, since there was no line, there was no time to let her freak-out escalate. We got on, she was nervous, and then everything was fine.

We spent a lot of time in the Siemens exhibit:


Tyson and Matt were making sure the community of tomorrow had enough power, especially GREEN power!


At this point, our band geek friends, Dean, Adrianna, and Abby, had found us!!

What do we do know that our group is finally together?!?! Split up of course!!