A few races and food, some theme parks and food, and a cruise...

[bumbershoot]

Hey! Another appropriate error message!

Error: We are unable to display My Plans details at this time; please try again later.

It was scary to log in and see no character image (I'm Merida, of course) and no plans, but that bright red message quelled my fears.


And...1.5 minutes later, it's all back! I like that better.

 

[kaoden39]

We're home!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Wooooohoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy for you! I'll head over to your thread to see if you've posted pictures yet.

 

[kaoden39]

Wooooohoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy for you! I'll head over to your thread to see if you've posted pictures yet.

No pictures yet. Furniture isn't going to be delivered for a few hours. We have our bed though.

 

[bumbershoot]

So happy for you.

*************************************

Although it's not last minute, I'm in the final stages of really clarifying our future movements throughout Orlando in January. Maybe it's silly to some, and things are never set in stone, but things just go better if we really have plans of where we're going and what we're doing and how we're going/doing there/it. to the point where I got into googlemaps to show E the walk we might take to go to the Hess across from Boardwalk to get water, if I don't get a gardengrocer delivery or have a rental car. Just goes better that way.

And in doing so realized we had a perfect spot for Kouzzina breakfast one morning!

So glad Robert's job takes him all these neat places that we don't get to see, so he doesn't mind it when we have unique experiences without him. He's far less selfish of sharing new experiences than I am. Thank goodness!

 

[annmarieda]

It really isn't. And I have the same feeling, that someday it will be really great.

I think what they are doing is trying to put their own website together with the other websites that have spreadsheets for trips, etc etc. Like they saw this opportunity that other people were doing and wanted to fill it. One stop.

But...it's not working. Yet. And they're doing it all wrong.


I was at the Y tonight and got to talking with one of the young men that I've known for 4 years, and now he's a sophomore in college, heading to the world of IT, and was going to apply for an internship in Seattle with Disney IT. I guess they have TONS of internships to fill in IT up here. And I was so excited to talk to him about it, because he really wanted ot know what they were doing and how they were doing it wrong. How they were impacting the guests. We had a good talk, and I bet when he interviews for that internship he'll have some interesting things to talk about! And he, a 2nd year student in pre-IT, can see that doing all of this LIVE on the site is a huge, huge mistake, and could have easily been done behind the scenes. And that it's nonsense to say "we didn' tknow how users would be using the website", not when they've got tons of metrics and history of where people click to go by! Nonsense.

Hmm... the IT department there is known to be not the best work environment. DH is in that line of work and has contacts. He actually applied to Disney and made it through most of their hiring process.... they were kinda brutal. I hope hope it goes better for your friend.

So happy for you.

*************************************

Although it's not last minute, I'm in the final stages of really clarifying our future movements throughout Orlando in January. Maybe it's silly to some, and things are never set in stone, but things just go better if we really have plans of where we're going and what we're doing and how we're going/doing there/it. to the point where I got into googlemaps to show E the walk we might take to go to the Hess across from Boardwalk to get water, if I don't get a gardengrocer delivery or have a rental car. Just goes better that way.

And in doing so realized we had a perfect spot for Kouzzina breakfast one morning!

So glad Robert's job takes him all these neat places that we don't get to see, so he doesn't mind it when we have unique experiences without him. He's far less selfish of sharing new experiences than I am. Thank goodness!

When will you be having breakfast at Kouzzina? I have a special post race breakfast tradition there.

 

[nancy drew]

We're home!!

YAY!!!

So happy for you.

*************************************

Although it's not last minute, I'm in the final stages of really clarifying our future movements throughout Orlando in January. Maybe it's silly to some, and things are never set in stone, but things just go better if we really have plans of where we're going and what we're doing and how we're going/doing there/it. to the point where I got into googlemaps to show E the walk we might take to go to the Hess across from Boardwalk to get water, if I don't get a gardengrocer delivery or have a rental car. Just goes better that way.

And in doing so realized we had a perfect spot for Kouzzina breakfast one morning!

So glad Robert's job takes him all these neat places that we don't get to see, so he doesn't mind it when we have unique experiences without him. He's far less selfish of sharing new experiences than I am. Thank goodness!

Should we start making plans to meet up? Should we do this via PM? Email? What works best for you? I've been reading along but am usually reading at the end of a looong day and am totally uninspired to say anything but I promise I will be more conversational in person . Plus my kids will be over the moon to have another kiddo around to goof around with. Oooh maybe E will motivate my kids to try new rides! They sure won't listen to me, but I bet they would listen to him!

 

[bumbershoot]

Should we start making plans to meet up? Should we do this via PM? Email? What works best for you? I've been reading along but am usually reading at the end of a looong day and am totally uninspired to say anything but I promise I will be more conversational in person . Plus my kids will be over the moon to have another kiddo around to goof around with. Oooh maybe E will motivate my kids to try new rides! They sure won't listen to me, but I bet they would listen to him!

Sometimes peer pressure works in good ways.

YES we should meet up, absolutely. Please oh please. Did you decided to stay with the offsite plans? I saw your post that Robo answered and had nothing better to say than he did (he really is quite good).

Here, PM, whichever. You tend to be more cautiously cyber-smart than I am, so you choose!

 

[bumbershoot]

Hmm... the IT department there is known to be not the best work environment. DH is in that line of work and has contacts. He actually applied to Disney and made it through most of their hiring process.... they were kinda brutal. I hope hope it goes better for your friend.

I missed your post! Ack!

If it's a rotten environment (and I believe you), well at least it's an internship with an end date. For his sake, though, I hope he gets an internship with Cisco Systems.

When will you be having breakfast at Kouzzina? I have a special post race breakfast tradition there.

Alas breakfast will be on the 7th! Given how messed up I was after the TOT, I think immediate food will be my need (did you see on the Half thread that I talked myself into spending even more money on Race Retreat for myself?) then getting back to the room and passing out. I hope my aunt will be OK taking her grandson and Eamon off to the arcade or something (by then we'll be at All Star Music) because I plan on sleeping until I have to get up in time for Tea. And I hope the treats and tea there will help me out! And I hope I finish up my Be Our Guest reservation for that night so I can have soup again! (for some bizarroland reason I booked it for 3, when there will be at least 4 if not 5 if Robert can "surprise" us by flying in for the weekend on miles)

Obviously I have some strange food things going on that day. All I know is...no buffets 10 hours later!

 

[annmarieda]

I missed your post! Ack!

If it's a rotten environment (and I believe you), well at least it's an internship with an end date. For his sake, though, I hope he gets an internship with Cisco Systems.

Well, if the interns get the same benies...then a short term might be great! (I have no idea how internships work..some paid..some not?? ) Disney and the company my dh currently works for were in the running... Disney was a favorite because of the benefits. However dh's first choice was the company he works for... and I think he may have gone into the final interview at Disney with a bit of "I really want the other job" attitude. I still was sad cause it would have been nice benefits....

Alas breakfast will be on the 7th! Given how messed up I was after the TOT, I think immediate food will be my need (did you see on the Half thread that I talked myself into spending even more money on Race Retreat for myself?) then getting back to the room and passing out. I hope my aunt will be OK taking her grandson and Eamon off to the arcade or something (by then we'll be at All Star Music) because I plan on sleeping until I have to get up in time for Tea. And I hope the treats and tea there will help me out! And I hope I finish up my Be Our Guest reservation for that night so I can have soup again! (for some bizarroland reason I booked it for 3, when there will be at least 4 if not 5 if Robert can "surprise" us by flying in for the weekend on miles)

Obviously I have some strange food things going on that day. All I know is...no buffets 10 hours later!

I think I considered the race retreat because I read about what your thoughts were. Add in the fact that January could be cold...and I think it might be the better option. However... since I have that breakfast and I don't know for sure the weather will suck... I still have opted to not go with the race retreat.

As for no buffets... Dh and I have separate plans from the rest of our group. Why? cause my dd insisted on Cape May that night.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, if the interns get the same benies...then a short term might be great! (I have no idea how internships work..some paid..some not?? ) Disney and the company my dh currently works for were in the running... Disney was a favorite because of the benefits. However dh's first choice was the company he works for... and I think he may have gone into the final interview at Disney with a bit of "I really want the other job" attitude. I still was sad cause it would have been nice benefits....

The benefits would have been lovely for you. I asked him yesterday and it's paid, but I don't know about benefits.

I think I considered the race retreat because I read about what your thoughts were. Add in the fact that January could be cold...and I think it might be the better option. However... since I have that breakfast and I don't know for sure the weather will suck... I still have opted to not go with the race retreat.

As for no buffets... Dh and I have separate plans from the rest of our group. Why? cause my dd insisted on Cape May that night.

I'm so hoping the weather isn't rotten. So so so so hoping. And I mean I'm hoping it isn't too hot OR too cold. I'm being Goldilocks about it...you know, wanting it "just right".

So glad you're not hitting the buffet.

DH was saying that he thinks it's odd that I want BOG for soup-dinner because that means Magic Kingdom, when it would be SO much easier on me to go to Epcot, walk around, snack here and there. And he may have mentioned slushies and/or beer because he knows how much I was craving one with the run. I didn't have it that night because I wanted it but it felt like it would make me sick. But in the early evening (assuming I've had a nap!) I might be up for it.

I"m with him on the roaming and snacking thing, but that can be done at MK, too. And so can beer, at BOG.

 

[annmarieda]

The benefits would have been lovely for you. I asked him yesterday and it's paid, but I don't know about benefits.



I'm so hoping the weather isn't rotten. So so so so hoping. And I mean I'm hoping it isn't too hot OR too cold. I'm being Goldilocks about it...you know, wanting it "just right".

So glad you're not hitting the buffet.

DH was saying that he thinks it's odd that I want BOG for soup-dinner because that means Magic Kingdom, when it would be SO much easier on me to go to Epcot, walk around, snack here and there. And he may have mentioned slushies and/or beer because he knows how much I was craving one with the run. I didn't have it that night because I wanted it but it felt like it would make me sick. But in the early evening (assuming I've had a nap!) I might be up for it.

I"m with him on the roaming and snacking thing, but that can be done at MK, too. And so can beer, at BOG.

Well, let me just say that I too would like to be in the "goldilocks club" I want it JUST right... not too hot or too cold.

And after a nap... I bet a beer would be great!

 

[bumbershoot]

Went to look at (LOOK) suits and tuxes for the Royal Caribbean part of our January plans. We have two formal nights and we like dressing up. I wanted Robert to see what there was out there.

We left without even looking at the whole store. When we walked in, we said "we are looking at both suits and tuxes for rental and purchase". Looking. And looking at both.

The rental ladies were lovely. They weren't on commission, and were awesome. Alas Robert thought that meant no one was on commission, which wasn't true. And the instant a salesguy got his hands on him it was push push push. The salesguy pushed us right out the door!

Could have had an *eventual* sale of a suit and tux for both Robert AND Eamon, but he got rid of us instead.

I hate hate hate the commission thing, and the way *some* commissioned salespeople act. Hate it! A car place up north of Seattle lost a sale by being pushy (and trying the "are you sure you can afford this car?" (sidenote, a Kia, yeah, we could have even then) crud on us). We've had fabulous salespeople who were on commission but never ever acted like it (our original DVC guide, for instance), so we know they exist.

So...we'll go to another of their stores, and we'll check out other places.



That was maybe 30 minutes after a lady started moaning and groaning while in the Starbucks line about all the people on their cellphones....while both DH and I had our phones out. I tried hard to kind of warn her, by saying "oh we're getting our gift cards up on the starbucks app", but she just kept on going. This resulted in me saying "I used to bring a book in public, ignore everyone, and read...was that better?" And she said "yes". So if I"m holding a dead tree that's better than reading an ebook app on my phone? Ohhhhkayyyy.

I get that people like to be kneejerk about the cellphone phenomenon, but when you really think about it, most people are using them to communicate, to read, to learn, to pay for things, to research something super-quick, etc. I remember sitting in the living room with my brother, both of us reading books. Silently. For hours. Even as adults we do this sometimes on our visits. How is that less bad than if we were both sitting in the room, looking at our phones? At least with phones we might be communicating with *someone*. We didn't communicate with each other while reading books, so that wouldn't change the basic thing going on in the living room.

That lady made me ANGRY. And she said "oh I'm not judging you". What? How are you not? I have my phone out and you're lambasting the room of people with their phones out. She tried to smooth it over but part of that was saying she's a hair dresser. Awesome. Self-employed, talking to someone with long and vaguely complicated hair who is always on the lookout for a hair dresser she can trust, and you've started a social interaction with THAT.


To go from that to the men's suit and tux and other stuff *for men* store was too much! I was very glad that I got to run today, let me tell you. I mistimed everything (aka got too chatty after E's Dance Company rehearsal started instead of just getting outside) and only did 7 of my intended 11 today, but still, wow, I ran 7 miles. And I did awesome if I do say so myself.



So there we are. Stood up for those of us who aren't being jerks just because we have a piece of technology in our hands (just pretend my hands are rummaging in my wallet, OK? it's the same result), went to my first "I'm checking in but not weighing again this month" WW meeting (that was before starbucks), found out that Robert does indeed like suits and some tuxedos and that E looks fab in a rental tux jacket, and ran and ran and ran some more.

Sounds like progress towards the trip, right?




OH wait. Robert mentioned an outlier cellphone-user-guy he saw the other day. This guy has no excuse. Unless he was the leader of a country. In which case he should have his people doing this but whatever. He saw, in the men's bathroom at work, a man *using the urinal* and texting on his phone at the same time.

There's no excuse I can think of for that. Even if his wife was telling him that the midwife was there and the baby was crowning and he needed to get home, and the guy was saying "OK but let me pee first", my goodness, wait that 20 seconds or whatever. Ick.

But a room of people drinking coffee and communicating (even if the other person isn't in the room....oh and I have been reading Jack London's White Fang, where there was NO communication between people that didn't take ages when you were far away, so how COOL is it now that you can do this?) or reading or learning or playing sudoku (staving off Alzheimers, perhaps) or whatever...that's OK. The strain on their necks will give chiropractors (my people) more business, people will feel even better once under good care, it'll all be good.

As long as we keep the phones away from active urinal-using. At least take it to a stall, dude, LOL.

 

[bumbershoot]

I am rant-free so far today. Whew.

 

[nancy drew]

Way to go for 7 miles!!!!!!!!!!!

And eeew, using the bathroom while texting? Ick.

I had a "Get your nose out of your phone, jerk" moment today where I could have gone off like the woman in Starbucks. I was at Whole Foods (along with the rest of my city, apparently) and this dad was there with his 2 young boys (maybe 6 and 4?). They had paid for their groceries, as had I, and we were all heading to the escalator with our carts to go up to the parking level. Dad was letting older boy push the cart, and younger boy was just wandering, while Dad's attention was 100% focused on his phone. Cart-pusher couldn't get the cart lined up right for the cart escalator, and after bashing it repeatedly at the cart escalator Dad finally looked up from his phone and pushed it in and got on the people escalator with the older boy and went right back to his phone. Younger boy, however, did NOT get on the escalator, and was trying to close the escalator cart gates. Meanwhile Dad didn't even notice that he had left without his younger son OR that younger son was causing a huge backup of people waiting to put our carts ON the escalator. Finally I said "Excuse me" to the younger boy, to get him to move, and he went on the escalator and proceeded to walk up the bottom railing. Hmmmm, how do I explain that? Instead of putting his feet on steps, he was climb-walking up the metal railings on the bottom of the handrails.

At any rate, what he was doing was dangerous, and Dad was too engrossed in his phone to do anything about it. And then at the top, where the carts come off the escalator, the boy was standing there wanting to watch, while the older boy was pushing their cart out into the garage, and Dad could only look up for 2 seconds at a time.

So I guess using a urinal and guiding your kids through potential dangers are probably 2 areas in which phone use is really not OK. I mean, you wouldn't read a book while doing either of those things, so don't use your phone either.

And we totally need to come up with a meet-up plan. I'll PM you soon to discuss!! And if I don't and you need to make plans, PM me. I really want to meet you guys, so if you don't hear from me don't take my lack of a PM as hesitance of any kind . It is just laziness and forgetfulness, nothing more.

 

[bumbershoot]

... he went on the escalator and proceeded to walk up the bottom railing. Hmmmm, how do I explain that? Instead of putting his feet on steps, he was climb-walking up the metal railings on the bottom of the handrails.
......

So I guess using a urinal and guiding your kids through potential dangers are probably 2 areas in which phone use is really not OK. I mean, you wouldn't read a book while doing either of those things, so don't use your phone either.

And we totally need to come up with a meet-up plan. I'll PM you soon to discuss!! And if I don't and you need to make plans, PM me. I really want to meet you guys, so if you don't hear from me don't take my lack of a PM as hesitance of any kind . It is just laziness and forgetfulness, nothing more.

I totally understand what the boy was doing, as we have to get E down from that quite often. He still tries.

I agree with you. When in charge of just about anyone, especially while traveling on your feet, face out of your technology. Or book.

OK!




__________________________________

Got the extra 4 in today. I was supposed to, then I tried to be too lazy to do it, and suddenly I was getting into my running clothes and finding a route on mapmyrun.

This morning R had his old friend come over both to visit AND because friend has a truck, and it was time to get rid of E's old dressers (which were R's childhood dressers). Solid wood construction, "good" furniture. I seem to dislike good furniture. Plus they just didn't hold his stuff. Robert felt that 40 years was long enough to own furniture that he couldn't use well, so they were being donated.

They were taking them down to friend's truck, and a neighbor of ours chased them down. They asked if they could have the dressers instead. So instead of going to the donation center, we got to hang with the friend instead. Yay!

And an hour later I was off for my run. Hills. Why did the route have to have so many hills?

 

[bumbershoot]

Day 1:

Resort Plans...Pop Century

Transportation Plans...Get to airport, get Starbucks breakfast, get manicure at Butter:London. DS will play on his videogame thingie to pass the time. If there's time, I'm getting a chair massage next door to the nail place. If they allow kids to get massages, E will too. (maybe we'll do it vice versa, not sure) Board plane, travel!

Magical Express or car. Get to resort. Get bags squared away; it'll be solidly after 5 so our room should be ready.

Current Park Plans...head to DHS for the last couple hours.

Current FP+ Plans...TOT, Star Tours, Rock and Roller Coaster

Most Important Park Plans...see Osborne Lights, second to last night it's open

Food Plans...Starbucks at airport, airplane Mediteranean Tapas lunch box, maybe Backlot Express at dinner, or if we aren't hungry, back at the food court?


Day 2:

Resort...Pop

Transportation Plans...Unless we get a car, bus it (ugh) to a park, but later, after some rest.

Current Park Plans...These were changed to match the at-the-time plans of a certain WDW fan and her kids. If it needs to be changed again, that's OK! Anyway, Magic Kingdom.

Current FP+ Plans...starting in the afternoon, BTMM, Haunted Mansion (the kid owes me a second ride from October), Space Mountain (I might take the chicken exit, or I'll try it One Last Time in my current more flexible and healthy body to see if it still hurts that much.

Most Important Park Plans...honestly, to not stay to closing time. But the other goal is to spend time with others, if that's the day that works out, so we'll do what we gotta do!

Food Plans...food court, Columbia Harbour House, ?

Other Ideas/Pre-Plans...swim? explore resort?


Day 3:

Resort Plans...Pop

Transportation Plans...Unless we get a car, bus it to...

Current Park Plans... Animal Kingdom. Working on getting up a bit earlier today. Gotta get on the timezone!

Current FP+ Plans...Safari, Kali, Everest

Most Important Park Plans...Have fun. Maybe do more Wilderness Explorer?

Food Plans...the vegetarian kiosky thingie. nothing else planned.

Other Ideas/Pre-Plans...swim?


Day 4:

Resort Plans...Wake at Pop, move to BWV studio

Transportation Plans...Unless we have a car, we will probably just take our stuff over to BWV in a cab.

Current Park Plans...Nothing until evening. Then Epcot.

Current FP+ Plans...Starting in the evening, Figment (because we've never been on it), Mission Space, and Illuminations. That's another One Last Chance thing, because we have yet to enjoy it and WANT to enjoy it.

Most Important Park Plans...Relax.

Food Plans...Starting the day off at Kouzzina. Thinking of bringing in our own veggie "meats" LOL. Lunch...something around the resort? Dinner...Cheese Empanadas at La Cantina de San Angel? Just found out about those. Yum. Sunshine Seasons Gardein products?

Other Ideas/Pre-Plans...Relax.


Day 5:

Resort Plans...Wake at BW, move to SSR Studio

Transportation Plans...We will send all of our stuff over by Bell Services. As for us, we're heading to the Expo in the morning so we'll take the RunDisney bus from BW to that. After the Expo, take the RunDisney bus to SSR. Hmm...must be prepared for the afternoon, and bring bathing suits and sunscreen with us that morning...

Re-thinking...maybe it would be best to get up a little earlier, have breakfast there if needed, then cab it all over to SSR so we know where our stuff is and can get to it? Hmm...

Current Park Plans...Once we are all done at the Expo and resort and are totally ready, DHS.

Current FP+ Plans...Starting in the mid-afternoon, Toy Story, Rock and Roller Coaster, and, in a Just This Once move, Fantasmic. Yes I know getting a FP for this makes no sense because you don't have a seating area nor are you promised entry, but, you know, whatever...

Most Important Park Plans...Relax.

Food Plans...If we loved Kouzzina the morning before, we'll head there again if they have an opening. Absolutely no clue for lunch or dinner, though I am sort of missing the idea of Brown Derby, and of course there's still Backlot Express. But we'll be heading to SSR to sleep, so there's their "food court"! Lots of options.

Other Ideas/Pre-Plans...Have FUN FUN FUN at the Expo! Get there at opening! Buy good stuff! See if they'll give a child a short pre-race massage. Fun!


Day 6:

Resort Plans...Wake at SSR.

Transportation Plans...After waking nice and early, take the RunDisney bus to the 5K!

Current Park Plans...no plans.

Current FP+ Plans...nothing.

Most Important Park Plans...not a one!

Food Plans...After our 5K, we have the Breakfast in the Park scheduled. It's a post-5K, at-Epcot, breakfast with character greetings, etc. I'm hoping there is tasty food that we can enjoy and that it's fun. Lunch and dinner? Up in the air.

Other Ideas/Pre-Plans...If we're feeling OK, maybe a little bit of Epcot after the breakfast, but there's also stuff to do at SSR like swimming and relaxing.


Day 7:

Resort Plans...Wake at SSR, move to AS Music family suite.

Transportation Plans...Unless we have a rental car, we'll probably just probably cab everything on over to ASMu and stash our stuff with Bell Services there. We'll be sure to keep E's running stuff and my camera stuff AND the sunscreen with us, because he has his Mickey Mile this day!

Current Park Plans...Only because of food, Animal Kingdom, later on.

Current FP+ Plans...Nothing.

Most Important Park Plans...EAT.

Food Plans...I know this is an odd choice before a long run, but...Tusker Hour for dinner. Early dinner, 5pm. Hear me out. I don't eat weird things there. I stand zero chance of eating meat that's gone off. We'll have had a studio with a microwave for a few days and will probably have a grocery delivery with some nice veggie fake-meat, we'll bring other proteins with us, etc. I love the taste of Tusker House food, and since it's dinner we won't be bothered by characters, it's barely any more than the lunch, and I'm really looking forward to it. I think it's early enough that it won't cause troubles for me by the time of the run (if at all).

Hopefully by this time my aunt and boy-cousin (first cousin once removed to be totally exact) will be there and will join us! The "exotic" food was making me think they shouldn't, but Robert reminded me that our cousin is a definite meat eater, and not all the meat there is exotic...he'd likely enjoy it.

As for breakfast and lunch, unsure!

Other Ideas/Pre-Plans...This isn't just an idea, but it's an "other"...at noon E has his Mickey Mile run. We'll take the RunDisney bus over there and back. Go E!

I'll be trying to head to bed EARLY, but my aunt and cousin will be there to amuse the kiddo. I'm looking forward to the boys having some fun together. Maybe we'll swim after dinner so I can be sure to get sleepy early on. Ooh but what if I exhaust myself physically? Hmm, not good.


Day 8:

Resort Plans...Wake at Music! I will be waking up absurdly early and sneaking out to go run/walk 13.1 miles.

Transportation Plans...I'll be using the RunDisney transportation to and from the race. Anything else we do will be in my aunt's minivan.

Current Park Plans...Well, no true park plans, but if the dining plans work out, we'll hit Magic Kingdom for Be Our Guest that evening.

Current FP+ Plans...None.

Most Important Park Plans...Not to be selfish, but EAT.

Food Plans...Before and directly after my run, I have the Race Retreat purchased, which gives me foods and some drinks to fuel and replenish myself. Hope hope hope it works because I don't want my aunt to see me all, as I call it, "puny". All drawn and dehydrated, with a weird hoarse soft voice like I don't have the energy to speak, and all weird? Yeah, that wouldn't be good in front of my aunt...mom's sister so she's basically my mom now, and worries more than my actual mom ever did...she's got to see me strong!
Once I get back to the resort and shower and pass out and wake up and get ready, we have Tea scheduled. Then a few hours later I will, with any luck at all, get ALL of us (not just 3 of us) scheduled at Be Our Guest. Aunt and cousin will be able to find something to eat...cousin likes Beauty and the Beast, it's a NEAT experience that I don't think they'll have had by then (and he'll be about to get a brand new baby sibling at that point so he should have some neat big-kid experiences IMO), and I'll be able to have my potato leek soup and whatever salad I loved before. Oh, and a beer. mmmmm.

Other Ideas/Pre-Plans...Try to walk it out! Try not to limp! Wear comfy shoes! Enjoy cousin and DS's time together because it'll be their first just-the-boy-cousins time! Enjoy my aunt!


Day 9: (wow that's a lot of days)

Resort Plans...Still at Music

Transportation Plans...Aunt's minivan

Current Park Plans...As far as I know, no plans. Up in the air. IMO we should go to Universal. Just not sure MY cousin will allow us to take her son there quite yet. Which I totally understand from her point of view, absolutely. But I need to actually talk with her to see.

Current FP+ Plans...nada!

Most Important Park Plans...nope!

Food Plans...Food. Lots of it. From wherever I can get it.
Just made a Raglan Road BRUNCH reservation for 12:30 this day. Just heard about it yesterday and it intrigues me.

Other Ideas/Pre-Plans...Not much in my head for this day! After all, the day after the 10 miler, we had been up so late and I was so wiped out we made it through one meal and one ride and called it quits. So...who knows.

That said, at 4ish they are having a "cool down party" at DTD for Marathon Weekend participants, and the kidlet and I WILL be going. Absolutely positively! And each of us will have two medals. Two! Superfun. Aunt and cousin might come along, but he has school the next day so I don't know their schedule.


Day 10, Monday:

Checking out of Music.
E and I have Tusker House lunch plans this day.
And after that, we'll somehow head on east to stay with my aunt for nearly a week! We have a few small plans made.

This vacation, but mainly this family-time week, is causing problems with E's dance schedule. UGH. But it was scheduled long before he was invited and I told them about his long absence before he accepted their invitation. Gotta keep telling myself that!


Then the following Saturday, Robert flies in. We somehow meet up and start our nice, LONG stay at Universal. Funnily enough, since our whole WDW stay is paid for by nearly free nights at hotels.com or the last dregs of our DVC points until 2015, we'll have paid nearly nothing for that part. It's the Universal part that's killing me, LOL.

We will be at Universal over the time of some sort of Harry Potter celebration, and I imagine we'll stand in line for one or two events.

The Sunday after we've been there a week, we head to Port Canaveral and board Freedom of the Seas for a WEEK. I'm SO excited. I know that this whole trip is ridiculously long and thank you thank you Robert's job and the fates and fortunes that have allowed me and the kidlet to head out for fun, running, and family (and learning! we have been studying up on all sorts of things, and have sightseeing planned based on our studies!) and to be gone for so long. (and, to any listening thieves, we also thank our laser-beam alarm system, huge robotic attack canines, and, most importantly, our nicely secure building with VERY nosy neighbors)

To add a cruise on top of it all is just insane. But, weirdly, the cruise was planned first. Then the run. Then I realized there were just two weeks in between and I don't like flying that much. And off I went.

But anyway, I do have to tell you that I'm becoming extremely charity minded, and I've been reading up on the Rescue Mission here. I'm going to start donating money there, but tomorrow we're going to donate some coats that don't fit me and E anymore (they take direct donations, I checked) to hopefully help out some people. It's been cold here, after all. All of this has come from my repeated realizations that our current situation puts us in the camp of very lucky people, and I'm being pulled to make SURE I'm helping other people in some way.


OK...so the cruise (not in this order!) has 3 at-sea days, one Cococay day, and we also visit San Juan PR and St Maarten. I can't think of one thing wrong with that itinerary.


At the end of all that, we have a decent flight scheduled...not too early, not too late. One connection, but again, not too late so we're losing our minds if it's delayed to a normal extent, but we'll have time to relax. We are scheduled to arrive at our home airport at a somewhat decent hour. And almost all of our flights are covered with air miles.



Ta-dahhhh!

 

[bumbershoot]

With the rundisney emails, they send a "goodie bag" by email; basically links to giveaways and discounts. And recipes. Alas, along with appetizer and entree, they have a "desert". I mean come on. Desert?

I've sent FAR too many typo notifications in to rundisney already. I just can't do another. And unlike Intrepid Traveler who sent me a brand new 2014 Universal guidebook when I helped them with a spelling error, rundisney has given me nothing.

So I'll just let them embarrass themselves. They really should hire me. I am not a perfect writer, and I make typos, too, but I can see someone else's error from a mile away!

 

[nancy drew]

Typos drive me INSANE!! I mean, not necessarily on message boards, but in published material? Grrr! For example, right now on Target's Door Buster page, you can "sneak a peak" at their Black Friday ad. I'd love to notify them, but I doubt they would care.

 

[bumbershoot]

Typos drive me INSANE!! I mean, not necessarily on message boards, but in published material? Grrr! For example, right now on Target's Door Buster page, you can "sneak a peak" at their Black Friday ad. I'd love to notify them, but I doubt they would care.

There's nothing better than peaking at things!