Confessions of a Disboard Dropout...New chapter 3/14

[MAGICFOR2]

Hello everyone, this is Druid here, father of TGM and husband of Sheena. I am and have been good friends with Laura74 and Mr. Squid and Monkston for many years. I am a 7 year veteran of Disney trips with this crew. If I had my way, I would live on property. This is my first post to the Disboard so I hope that I don't disappoint, Laura74 is a tough act to follow. I would just like to join in and share some of my memories while they are still fresh.
It was TGM and myself who started the group phone call to get the fastpass+ set up for all of us. It seemed like the coolest idea ever to have all 11 of us on a ride or an attraction at the same time, or so I thought. Anyway, it was my 12 year old son who taught me how to make a phone call to a group of people, who knew that was even possible? So we got Laura74 and Mr. Squid on the phone, then called Jack Skellington and Mickey, then we merged the calls. Now we had four people in NJ on the phone, one in Kentucky, and one in Indiana, all talking at the same time. Can you imagine what that was like? Apple was smart enough to foresee the problem with a call like this, and made it so that only one person can really speak at a time, if you try to speak at the same time that someone else does only one voice can be heard. So as the conversation went on there was a lot of "sorry" "what did you say" "no, go ahead" until we learned how to speak with that many people in the room so to speak. So here we were, trying to decide which rides we would all like to do, at what time, on which day, simple right? It was really Laura74 guiding us as to what would be good to do, and when would be the best time to do it. I think that she had done some research about this and was ready to be our WDW guru, again. If no one has ever mentioned it before, Laura74 is one of the smartest people that I have ever met, and you are likely to meet. When you have done Disney with Laura74 as many times as I have, you learn to listen. As we were trying to have this multistate decision making session, Sheena was in the background yelling about how we should be spontaneous and see what the day brings, and how could we be planning our day two months out? I was thinking of what the stand by lines are like at Soarin and Test Track. So plan we did, as best we could, but I think that the first call only got us to Wednesday.

Welcome Druid! I'm glad someone in your family was willing to drink the koolaid. The only way to "do" Disney is to plan. I'm sure Sheena thanked you later :

Hello, TGM here!

Hi TGM! I every time I see your name, I think, "Tour Guide Mike" How did you choose this name?

Disney just released that they will be using the long-range capabilities of the Magic Band's RFID card. This means that when an attraction takes your picture, it is automatically linked to your Magic Band, if you have the Memory Maker.

I'm sure next they will be able to read your mind - you think about being thirsty or hungry while in line, and a CM comes up with a tray like at a ball game and brings exactly what you were thinking about - you reach and take it and BAM! it is charged to your MB just like the mini bar at the hotel.

What this actually means is that WDW will now be able to track your every move throughout the whole area. Next time you walk into Goofy's Candy Shop and sneak that piece of candy when you think no one is watching, they will automatically charge Druid's charge card 10 time the amount had you just paid for it in the first place. Memory Maker is just a cover up for the real thing.

But it's okay, because we have the "MAGIC BAND!"

ooh sounds like a book right up my alley! author?

(I would also suggest the Left Behind series. I know not everyone here is a Christian, but if the "new world order' does come will be pretty scary for any christian converts..)
on another note:
how funny that was have LONG since past the year 1984? (Orwell)

'scuse me.. going now to dig out my old peasant top and jean bell bottoms with the flowers I embroidered on them

Yep. Since you brought it up - sometimes I think about that book, and sometimes I think we are on an episode of the Jetsons.

I'm trying not to think about it, but DS said, "So Disney is leading the way right into the "Mark of the Beast" He laughed, but I didn't. I'm just not going to think about that right now.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I just wanted to point out why this is the happiest picture of me that Laura could locate from this session.

It was a hot day and Sheena, who took these pictures, believes that every moment should be savored and preserved.

The problem is, it takes five minutes to capture every moment… and this is a universe I don’t understand.

I’m very impatient about posing for pictures (I’m told).

Welcome Mr. Squid! Your Happiest Picture reminds me of DH. I know he's "laughing" when he cracks a little smile.

Don't try to understand the universe - it's just magic go with it.

 

[bankr63]

ooh sounds like a book right up my alley! author?

Author is Daniel H Wilson. I actually bought it on Kobo (Kindle of the North) about a year and half ago, but kept passing it by for other newer books. Finally was looking for something light after a fairly heavy business self-improvement book. It hooked me in quick and has kept on going! My last science fiction read was "hot fudge Sunday that fell on a Tuesday" that I have Nebo to thank for...

 

[TGM]

Hi TGM! I every time I see your name, I think, "Tour Guide Mike" How did you choose this name?

Aunt Laura74 chose it for me, because of my knowledge of the parks.

 

[Druid]

Welcome Druid! I'm glad someone in your family was willing to drink the koolaid. The only way to "do" Disney is to plan. I'm sure Sheena thanked you later :

Well, Sheena is definitely more of the "see what the day brings" type. She is the yin to my yang, not that I'm a planner, because I really am not. However, when it comes to Disney, Laura74 has taught me well. I really hate watching other people doing what I would like to be doing only because they had the forethought to make plans and I am wandering around aimlessly and spotted something cool that I would like to do. So, Laura74 suggested the whole group phone call thing and the months in advance fastpass+ thing and it worked out really really well for us. Just think about going to WDW without restaurant reservations, or better yet, experience attempting to get something decent to eat without reservations and the worst planner will quickly understand the value in planning ahead for a WDW trip. Enough said.

 

[Druid]

Thanks to you for rounding up the troops. Guess I have to post another chapter before too long.

You're darn tooting you better post another chapter. Now that you have me checking the boards every day, looking to see what was posted by whom and who has quoted me or TGM. We are getting strung out here and we have stories to tell too. So, post, please.

 

[mmeb144]

You're darn tooting you better post another chapter. Now that you have me checking the boards every day, looking to see what was posted by whom and who has quoted me or TGM. We are getting strung out here and we have stories to tell too. So, post, please.

It's the stress, isn't it? Trying hard to write something witty that will appease this bloodthirsty crowd. Look, Laura, just be yourself and tell the story already. Besides, I love hearing about big groups having a successful visit to WDW. (By successful, I mean that no one was murdered and potentially everyone had a great time. )

 

[laura74]

Hey everybody. Will respond to posts and put up a chapter by the weekend. Just wanted to check in so you know I'm here!

 

[laura74]

I'm sure next they will be able to read your mind - you think about being thirsty or hungry while in line, and a CM comes up with a tray like at a ball game and brings exactly what you were thinking about - you reach and take it and BAM! it is charged to your MB just like the mini bar at the hotel.

Disney is always looking for easier ways to part us from our money.

Laura74 chose it for me, because of my knowledge of the parks.

That’s Aunt Laura74 to you!

You're darn tooting you better post another chapter. Now that you have me checking the boards every day, looking to see what was posted by whom and who has quoted me or TGM. We are getting strung out here and we have stories to tell too. So, post, please.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hopefully tomorrow…

It's the stress, isn't it? Trying hard to write something witty that will appease this bloodthirsty crowd. Look, Laura, just be yourself and tell the story already. Besides, I love hearing about big groups having a successful visit to WDW. (By successful, I mean that no one was murdered and potentially everyone had a great time. )

I’ll try to get something up tomorrow!

 

[TGM]

That’s Aunt Laura74 to you!

Sorry Aunt Laura74

 

[laura74]

Monkston had a small solo in her chorus concert at school this week. I can't believe how fearless she's become.

http://youtu.be/dq1sqLzc6YM

 

[mmeb144]

Sorry Aunt Laura74

So formal.....

 

[mmeb144]

Monkston had a small solo in her chorus concert at school this week. I can't believe how fess less she's become.

http://youtu.be/dq1sqLzc6YM

Around the 1:20 mark, and the 2:50 mark. Very nice!

 

[laura74]

Thanks Marie! That's so helpful! Should have thought of it.

 

[smidgy]

wow she has a great voice! cherish these days, they go by fast!

 

[laura74]

Beep…beep…beep…

Ugh! 4am? Wait … this isn’t a work day. Do over!

Beep…beep…beep…

Ugh! 3:30am? On a Saturday?








Oh yeah…







We’re going to Disney World!

I take my time getting ready.

Confession #6: Most things I do quickly. Getting ready isn’t one of ’em.

After enough primping (is there ever enough?), I screw up the courage to poke the bear.

“Squid,” I whisper sweetly. “Time to get up.”
“Ugh. Grumble, grumble grumble,” as the blankets go over his head.

On to my next victim...

“Monko,” I whisper sweetly. “Time to get up.”
“Ugh. Grumble, grumble grumble,” as the blankets go over her head.

Has everyone forgotten where we’re going today?

What happened to my little early bird? Now that she’s 12, she’s too cool to go to bed early. She stays up late curled up with her iPhone these days.

“Squid!” I cry, not so sweetly. “Time to get up!!!”
“Grumble, grumble, grumble.”

“Monko! Get up!”


That seemed to do the trick as they actually take the blankets off their heads.

I jam a few more things into my already full bag and wheel it down the hall. Now I just have to push the handle down…hmmm… it’s not going down.

I try again.

Nope. Not budging. I’m no weakling! I work out! (If my brother is reading this he just rolled his eyes and said, “Again with the Jillian Michaels talk…”)

Squid grumbles by and I say, “Um Squid… I can’t get the handle thingy down. Right here. The handle…um, Squid…”

“Grrrrr. Mumble, mumble, mumble.” He grumbles away.

Monkston comes out and says, “Let me do it.”

She is at that age when Mom doesn’t know how to do anything.

“Yeah, knock yourself out, kid.”

She tries and fails.

I start to panic. Will they let us on the plane if we can't get this handle down? We are getting dangerously close to being on time here. That is almost late in my book.

Confession #7: I’m ridiculously time obsessed.

“Mom, can you put your stuff in a different bag?”
“No, I can’t put it in another bag! I barely fit everything in this one! Let’s try again.”

Nope, not budging.

“Um… Squid? We can’t get the handle thingy down on my bag.”

“Grrrr…in a minute…”

He sighs out to the hall and tries the handle. Not budging for him either. This is like Excaliber in reverse!

He tries again. I’m panicking. What are we going to do?

I go get Monkston’s stuff and see him outside on the porch attacking my bag like the Samsonite gorilla. I hope my belongings survive.

He huffs in and produces the bag…
With the handle down! My hero!

I start lugging all the bags to the car hoping to keep us on schedule while Squid finishes turning the house into an impenetrable fortress.

We finally get on the road. We’re almost to the entrance ramp to the highway.

“I think I forgot my sunglasses,” Squid says. He has been known to say this with said sunglasses on his head but this time he’s not wearing them.

Ugh. We were so close.

He pulls over and rummages through his stuff.

And he finds them! Whew.

We’re just a little behind schedule. Not early like I like, but not L-word yet.

Luckily the airport is only about 15 minutes away but never been there before, so I’m a little nervous about the newness of it.

The airport has become more popular in the last year and the first parking lot we try is full. We pull into the next one and Squid drops us off with the luggage at the edge of the lot while he parks the car.

Here are some photos I swiped off the internet.

See how luxurious!



And how about a drink in the swanky Sky Lounge?



Monkson and I sit on the curb and watch carload after carload of people park their vehicles and walk toward the terminal. Carload after carload of people that will be ahead of us in line.

I feel the dewy morning air gently frizz my hair.

“Where is he? What could he possibly be doing?”
“Mommy! Calm down!”
“I am calm. I was just wondering where Daddy is.”
“You are not. You’re nervous.”
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
“Am…oh never mind.”

The shuttle bus comes by and the driver asks if we want to get in. This is a perfectly logical question to ask of people standing with their luggage. I have no logical answer. I say no thanks.

Where is he? I bet he’s turning the car into an impenetrable fortress too.

Finally, FINALLY, I see a familiar hat above the cars in the distance.

“Come on!!”

He looks at me like I’m crazy.

Squid takes the bag with the untrustworthy handle and carries it the hard way…off the ground. I see him straining. It’s probably pretty darn close to 50 pounds. I hope his back doesn’t give out.

We finally arrive at the terminal and it’s CROWDED. This is not like any airport I’ve ever been in. It looks like a small bus terminal. There are two planes parked outside.

We get in the long line and I see a familiar face.

“Hiiii!”
“Hi!”

It's Kim Queen O’Malley (not her real name, but very close), former PTO President and queen bee of the elementary school and she knows who I am. I think I had one conversation with her at a PTO tea. Don’t get me wrong. She’s always very nice and friendly. I was just surprised I was on her radar at all.

“Squid, this is Kim…Kim, my husband Mr. Squid…”
“Kim Queen O’Malley,” she says as she shakes his hand. “Nice to meet you!”

I could never use three names like Kim Queen O’Malley with any degree of confidence. Of course, the three names I possess wouldn’t trip off the tongue like that anyway.

“Don’t look at my hair,” she says to me. “It’s such a mess.”

It's interesting that she worries about what I think about her hair. I guess we’re all not so different. Her hair looks fine to me just as I’m sure mine does to her.

“You’re so lucky to have curly hair," she says. "You just wash and go.”

I stop myself from launching into a conversation about the trials of curly hair…the products, the drying methods, the angst and just sort of wave it off.

She is on her way to a school event at Downtown Disney and is just staying for a few days. She has a suitcase as big as mine. She also has a gorgeous Tory Burch bag that I covet. Of course I want to be her best friend.

Confession #8: I’m impressed with stupid stuff.

We talk a bit about Disney and how we had to make so many reservations, and wonder about how the bands will work. We discuss what restaurants we like and what our plans are. I think I may have gone too far when I say I hope there is a soft opening of the mine train. At least I didn't call it SDMT.

“You know a lot about Disney, don’t you?”

Rats! My Disney nerdiness is showing. Turn it down a notch, Laura 74.

The bag check people are finally in our sight as the line crawls forward. Kim says something about Magical Express and I tell her we don’t use it anymore. We have had too many long waits for our bags. Yes, I know you can put swimsuits in the carry-on. Done that. I just want all my stuff.

She looks a bit panicked. I guess she didn’t know to put a change of clothes in her carry-on. Her wedge heels and long pants will not be comfortable in the parks…or at the pool.

“Oh, I’m sure your bags will show up quickly!”

And they probably will.

 

[laura74]

wow she has a great voice! cherish these days, they go by fast!

Thanks Smidgy! I know! I feel like she started kindergarten yesterday!

 

[shan23877]

Great update Laura!

I can so relate to the late thing. I hate it! Cant' handle it.

Always hide the Disney Nerdiness. People just do not need to know that. I don't have time to plan their trips for them-I'm too busy writing about my last one on a Disney fan site.

 

[mmeb144]

Rats! My Disney nerdiness is showing. Turn it down a notch, Laura 74.

I know what you mean. We use all the abbreviations when we are talking as a family, but out and about, I try not to be overwhelming. Maybe I should stop wearing my Mickey tie-dye because I get too many questions about WDW that no one really wants to hear the answer to anyway.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

That was a fun update, Laura, thanks!

I never had to worry about vacationing at Disney, I think hubby would kill me it I suggested it. BUT, we are leaving in a week on a Disney cruise. I have my packing list made, but luckily we won't have to worry about airplanes.

OH, and as an FYI for everyone, Disney is just now starting testing Direct-to-Room, meaning if you are going via ME and have your Magic Band, you will be texted your room number and can totally bypass the Front Desk IF you so choose.