A Little Bit of Dis and a Little Bit of Dad-Updated 1/24 One Week From Today

[scooby9932]

OMG! OMG! OMG! I have to show this to you guys!! My birthday was Sunday and my DH was really upset because his gift for me wasn't finished yet. He is a wire jewelry artist and he has been incredibly busy lately. ANYWAY, I just got my birthday gift and I am in tears!!

Do you recognize that red Mickey head inside??

Yep, it is confetti from our last night in Disney at the Wishes Dessert Party! DH had collected it off of the table when I wasn't looking to make me a pendant with! He even put a hidden Mickey in the bail (not really hidden, but you know what I mean!)

He usually makes pendants from people's flowers (prom, wedding, funerals, etc.) but said he didn't want to get arrested for picking flowers in Disney World!

Anyway, he is the sweetest DH in the world (right now) and I had to share with everyone I know who will appreciate it!


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That's so sweet! And great craftsmanship on the pendant. I've been making jewelry for about 6 years now, and am just getting into some of the more complex stuff, so I can appreciate the work that went into that. You're one lucky lady to have such a darling for a DH. I'm sure you'll wear it proudly!

 

[englishrose47]

It's 8 a.m. and I want steak...all because of Dawn's yummy picture.

I had my eyeon the Lobster Thanks Dawn I too am drooling

 

[captainj]

That's so sweet! And great craftsmanship on the pendant. I've been making jewelry for about 6 years now, and am just getting into some of the more complex stuff, so I can appreciate the work that went into that. You're one lucky lady to have such a darling for a DH. I'm sure you'll wear it proudly!

I will! He has had so many positive comments on it he is considering selling them on etsy. I told him we could charge $45 if they have their own confetti and for $2045 I will get the confetti for them!

I had my eyeon the Lobster Thanks Dawn I too am drooling

I know, the steak and lobster were both in my dream last night!

 

[captainj]

So while I will always see my dad as some kind of indestructible Super hero , my mom took me aside over Christmas to tell me that my dad was concerned about the trip. My first thought was an angry one (I thought he didn't want to take time off work) but then mom explained that dad's knees have been getting worse and worse and he hides it in front of us girls as much as he can. He was concerned with all of the walking we would need to do. I told her, we would see how it went and we would rent an ECV as needed! She thought it was a great idea, and though my dad was embarrassed (tough guy see ) he said he would rent one as needed.

I offered to rent one off site, but my sister and I agreed later that he would be mortified with the loading and unloading with everyone watching, even though he legitimately needs it. I'm just glad I found out ahead of time so I could do my research and plan accordingly.

So to continue the theme of "adult" restaurants I have never tried, and of making everyone drool, two weeks from tonight I will be eating at:

The Le Cellier Mushroom Filet Mignon and the Maple Creme Brulee are MINE!

 

[jordanyosh]

Le Cellier--no need to say anything else.

about the ECV, although renting from an offsite company is MUCH cheaper, I understand about the importance of maintaining dignity throughout the senior years. ECVs are popular and there may be times they may be sold out.

My uncle rented one in 05. They drop off and pick up the ECV at your resort. They leave it with Bell Services and you leave it with Bell Services when you leave--very convenient.

 

[englishrose47]

I forsee the ecv being a necessity for me in the future !! But part of the pixie dust is my bones dont hurt as much in Disney!!!I just have sore feet like everyone else !!!

 

[captainj]

Le Cellier--no need to say anything else.

about the ECV, although renting from an offsite company is MUCH cheaper, I understand about the importance of maintaining dignity throughout the senior years. ECVs are popular and there may be times they may be sold out.

My uncle rented one in 05. They drop off and pick up the ECV at your resort. They leave it with Bell Services and you leave it with Bell Services when you leave--very convenient.

I am hoping that since we are going during an "off" time we won't have trouble renting one as needed. I guarantee he would not load/unload in front of everyone. I am also hoping the warm weather will help (along with the Pixie dust).

I forsee the ecv being a necessity for me in the future !! But part of the pixie dust is my bones dont hurt as much in Disney!!!I just have sore feet like everyone else !!!

That is my Disney Wish is that the warm weather and pixie dust help keep him more comfortable than our -10 weather here. Also, I told him we would be taking things slow. I am planning on doing some serious hidden mickey searching as well as looking for some things from my "hidden secrets" book. I never have time to slow down with the kids racing to the next thrill ride.

 

[captainj]

Last September I made reservations for Donald's Safari Breakfast so that we could enter the park before the general public. My kids favorite ride of all 4 parks is Expedition Everest so our AK day always begins at rope drop. By going at rope drop in 2008 we were able to ride EE 14 times in a row with no lines!

I made our reservations at Tusker House for both of our AK mornings. The first time we had plans to head to EE. They held us at the bridge outside of Tusker House, but they let us go as soon as a cast member could see the first person from the rope drop crowd. We walked/ran to EE, waving at King Louie as we passed him, and made it as the first ones on EE that morning. We beat our 2008 record and rode it 20 times in a row with no lines.

The second Tusker House breakfast morning, I told the boys I wanted to do the safari as it had been so hot the animals weren't really out and active. Once again, the cast members held us at a rope outside of the restaurant, but when they spied the first person from rope drop they let us go ahead. We were first ones on the safari and took our favorite seats (in the back) and were rewarded with seeing the lions, cheetah, and the white rhino walked right up to our truck!! Amazing.

So while I am not a big breakfast person, this reservation was a definite A+ for us. It could have been cereal and I would have been happy just for the "first ones in the park" experience. So while I won't be running across the park with dad to EE, I would like to be on the early safari so two weeks from today, I will be eating breakfast at:

Now my dad is a huge breakfast eater so I know he will be pleased with this reservation even without the other stuff I just talked about.

 

[disneylovin24]

EE 20 times in a row!!!! I love it, but I always feel dizzy when I get off!!

 

[winkers]

I can't believe you got on 20 times in a row!

 

[jordanyosh]

I would've been hurling in the bushes for sure, but only after 3 times....

 

[winkers]

I would've been hurling in the bushes for sure, but only after 3 times....

that seems to be a popular spot for hurling..

 

[jordanyosh]

that seems to be a popular spot for hurling..

better bushes than on your lap...

 

[punkin413]

le cellier! i'm sure your dad will love it.

too bad about your dad's knee. i'm glad he's agreed to get an ECV. i know some people refuse but sometimes it's needed. i want to take my dad to disney some day but here's my worry with him. you see, he's a thrill ride junkie. he's the one who taught me to try everything at least once when it comes to riding stuff. but he had a heart attack and open heart surgery back in 2006. he's been fine since but of course i worry about him on thrill rides. i know he'd LOVE EE and tower of terror (my 2 favs) but i'm just scared that he shouldn't ride them. and if i took him and he couldn't ride them, that would break his heart. so i'm torn about that.

we LOVED tusker house when we went in december 2008. SUCH great food and the characters were great. i wish we were early risers but we're just not. maybe once we have a kid we will grow accustomed to getting our butts out of bed before 9:00 on vacation!!!

 

[captainj]

EE 20 times in a row!!!! I love it, but I always feel dizzy when I get off!!

I did it for the kids, it was a fun way to spend the morning, and a Disney memory that will stick with them forever!

I can't believe you got on 20 times in a row!

Gotta love rope drop in September!

I would've been hurling in the bushes for sure, but only after 3 times....

The funny thing is, we all HATED Primeval Whirl. It jerked us around so bad, my back hurt all day!

that seems to be a popular spot for hurling..

I will never look at Disney bushes the same way ever again after listening to Jordan!

better bushes than on your lap...

Umm, absolutely!

le cellier! i'm sure your dad will love it.

He is a MAJOR steak eater, so I'm sure this will be a hit (although he has this strange dislike for Canada-not Canadians, just Canada so we'll see how that works out.)

too bad about your dad's knee. i'm glad he's agreed to get an ECV. i know some people refuse but sometimes it's needed. i want to take my dad to disney some day but here's my worry with him. you see, he's a thrill ride junkie. he's the one who taught me to try everything at least once when it comes to riding stuff. but he had a heart attack and open heart surgery back in 2006. he's been fine since but of course i worry about him on thrill rides. i know he'd LOVE EE and tower of terror (my 2 favs) but i'm just scared that he shouldn't ride them. and if i took him and he couldn't ride them, that would break his heart. so i'm torn about that.

That would be rough. My dad is the same way with the thrill rides. I can't WAIT to take him on EE and RRC, he's never been on either one! Maybe he's lost his love for them, my mom did! She used to go on everything with us and loved every second of it but when we went to Silver Dollar City in Branson, she wouldn't ride anything! Said it didn't sound fun anymore.

we LOVED tusker house when we went in december 2008. SUCH great food and the characters were great. i wish we were early risers but we're just not. maybe once we have a kid we will grow accustomed to getting our butts out of bed before 9:00 on vacation!!!

My husband and I talked about this the other night. I turned 21 at Pleasure Island. On that trip we slept in every day, ate at a different country in Epcot every night, RAN for the busses to be on them before Illuminations was over, then headed to Pleasure Island where we danced until 2am!! Now with kids, we are dragging by midnight because they are up at the crack of dawn and drag us from thrill ride to thrill ride. We can't wait until they are old enough to tour the park on their own a little bit so we can slow down. I was ok with the food at Tusker House, but I'm not a big breakfast eater so I consider my opinion jaded.

 

[winkers]

I've even hurled in the bushes at disney...

 

[punkin413]

My husband and I talked about this the other night. I turned 21 at Pleasure Island. On that trip we slept in every day, ate at a different country in Epcot every night, RAN for the busses to be on them before Illuminations was over, then headed to Pleasure Island where we danced until 2am!! Now with kids, we are dragging by midnight because they are up at the crack of dawn and drag us from thrill ride to thrill ride. We can't wait until they are old enough to tour the park on their own a little bit so we can slow down. I was ok with the food at Tusker House, but I'm not a big breakfast eater so I consider my opinion jaded.

what's funny is that i'm 33 and ray is 38 and we're still a couple of lazy bums!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Jessica, I'm getting so excited for you! You and your dad will make special memories, whether you hit everything or not. There are so many adult things to do when you don't have children to run after - it's a totally different experience.

Dawn, I know you're worried about your dad, but if you want to go with him, you should make the plan while he's healthy. He will know his limits, and if some rides are wrong for him, he'll probably know in his gut and he won't feel deprived. Funny how as we get older, we just accept some things have changed and its okay.

 

[captainj]

I've even hurled in the bushes at disney...

Note to self: avoid bushes at Disney at all costs.

what's funny is that i'm 33 and ray is 38 and we're still a couple of lazy bums!

Oh, I hear ya! When we go to Vegas, or New York, Matt and I are out all night, sleep in, all is good, but when you vacation with your kids, you tend to tour at their pace which is exhausting in my case!

Jessica, I'm getting so excited for you! You and your dad will make special memories, whether you hit everything or not. There are so many adult things to do when you don't have children to run after - it's a totally different experience.

I can't wait. I do a lot of traveling without my kids, but never with my dad so this will be great for the two of us! My next mission will be a solo trip, I like traveling solo!

Dawn, I know you're worried about your dad, but if you want to go with him, you should make the plan while he's healthy. He will know his limits, and if some rides are wrong for him, he'll probably know in his gut and he won't feel deprived. Funny how as we get older, we just accept some things have changed and its okay.

I agree, I think that's what my mom was doing, she knew what she would and wouldn't enjoy/handle and avoided things she normally would have done 2 or 3 times.

 

[captainj]

I had to come post because I just checked us in online! I have requested ground floor, close to transportation and when I called for my final payment they also made a note on my account about my dad's knee not being 100% so hopefully I will get an up close room without paying the extra for the preferred location. If not, no big deal, I don't think Pop is too bad anyway.

Now, I have to tell you guys something pretty neat. My dad was a mechanic from the time he was 11 until 10 years ago when he sold his garage and "retired." My dad's idea of retirement was to work for a company delivering million dollar motor homes all over the country. He and mom (when she rode along) were paid to see the country.

It sounded good in theory, but they never took the time to stop and see anything, constantly taking on a new load. About 3 years ago when the fuel prices started going crazy, Dad figured his days were numbered so he bought a Sprinter Van (looks like an unmarked Fed Ex Van) and started delivering small loads all over the country that way.

So mom just called me and said they are on their way to Florham Park, NJ to make a delivery to the NY Jets. They are delivering the rally towels for the playoff game. How cool is that?? I am not a Jets fan, but it's still pretty neat! Mom asked if they could have one when they loaded up, but because they are specially trademarked, they couldn't give her one. They did give her 5 New Orleans Saints rally towels. Pretty neat!