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

[emmysmommy]

That's funny that the army men are aiming at each other from the rooftops at the resort! I just found that amusing!

Hmmm... I think I see a soaking wet Dee at some point in the evening! I'm I'm just impressed that your group may hit up 3 parks in one day! Oh, and I was glad to see that you were firm with the dad who wanted to split up the group and hop the bus without the entire group.

It almost sounds like you will be heaving a sigh of relief once you get back home and deliver those boys safely to their parents - no doubt I would at that point!

[natebenma]

Originally Posted by jmskinner

Dee, so sorry to hear of your loss. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Thank you, Melissa! I appreciate your words of sympathy.

My family is doing well, but very busy. We will be having a very small mass on October 30, and I have been helping my dad during the past week with arrangements and with mounds of paperwork.

[natebenma]

Originally Posted by teekathepony

I would have thought so before our trip in September!

Love the pictures of the Toy Story section, I've never seen it before -- not in person or in pictures! Thanks for sharing those!

Glad you didn't have to wait another whole 20 minutes for a bus to Epcot. :P

I sure hope you got yourself something to eat in Epcot, what with all those wonderful choices! And also I hope (but do not think) it stopped raining before you got off the bus!

The Toy Story section was awesome!!! That was one of Nathan's favorite movies when he was younger, so the characters all have a special place in my heart. And Ben loves Toy Soldiers, so I love seeing them featured.

The rain and the dinner plans both worked out a little differently than I expected.

Originally Posted by JanetMom

I heard that loud and clear!

My good friend spent all of her daughter's high school years chaperoning the school band trip to Disney. I was always amazed that she was so happy doing it - especially since they went from Ontario by bus!

Back to the good stuff.... Loved the pics from the Toy Story area. So much fun to see the props that are larger than life. It must be such fun for little kids to see.

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

I don't think our school will change location of the class trip but every year some parents suggest we should go to NYC or Washington. Does anyone really want to be on a bus with 145-200 14 year olds for that amount of time???

The Toy Story Section is very well themed. I also loved the Dalmations area and the Mighty Ducks pool area was awesome.

Originally Posted by jenseib

Oh no...this sounds like one of those rains that just won't stop.

To obad about the boy getting sick. How awful.
What the heck were the other kids doing that took so long to get back to the bus stop. You sound like me though, I would've stood my ground too.

It wasn't just kids who went back to the room- it was parents, too. Don't know what took so long. But if I had known I would have plenty of time, I would have run back to get my raincoat. And change into sandals.

I am usually the great compromiser, but I was really proud of myself for standing my ground in this instance!

Originally Posted by 333disneymom

I noticed

Your Toy Story pics are great. Love the theming. I can never show my children those pics, or they would be begging me to stay there. Since we are DVC members, that wouldn't work out.

As much as a pain it was to be in possession of all of important paperwork, I'm still glad I was the one who was in control of it.

I would still take the space, and location of the DVC properties over the incredibel theming of the values. But then again, I have teens.

Originally Posted by emmysmommy

That's funny that the army men are aiming at each other from the rooftops at the resort! I just found that amusing!

Hmmm... I think I see a soaking wet Dee at some point in the evening! I'm I'm just impressed that your group may hit up 3 parks in one day! Oh, and I was glad to see that you were firm with the dad who wanted to split up the group and hop the bus without the entire group.

It almost sounds like you will be heaving a sigh of relief once you get back home and deliver those boys safely to their parents - no doubt I would at that point!

I love the sniping Army men, too!

Wow, you have an incredible talent in telling the future! Too bad you didn't have that vision 4 months ago!

It wasn't until we were on our way home from the trip that I realized our plans included visiting 3 parks in the same day.

[natebenma]

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!

[AnjieNet]

So enjoyed seeing the Toy Story pics. Can't wait for our stay at ASMo in the Toy Story section in just a few days!

Uh, oh! We've been stuck in those short Florida rains...for days!!

[JanetMom]

Originally Posted by natebenma

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.)

Originally Posted by natebenma

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]

Originally Posted by DrMomof3

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]

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Originally Posted by 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!

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Originally Posted by luvpoohandcompany

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.