D-Day Invasion- "Strange"-ly Imminent!! TRIP REPORT IS UP!!

[marvali]

You too Rosie? I thought it was just Kathy & Liesa's job to pick on me!

No Tim, they just usually beat the rest of us to it!!!

When we ever get the opportunity.........wait for it........."that's nice!"

 

[KatMark]

No Tim, they just usually beat the rest of us to it!!!

When we ever get the opportunity.........wait for it........."that's nice!"

 

[Flossbolna]

maroo, I loved your swirlie update!! I hope there aren't any bad new developments??

Liesa, wonderful news about Andrew! And for the red hair! You will look fantastic in all your WDW pictures!! Have a great time at the DC meet tomorrow!!

Here's a strange question for y'all.....

After looking at the weather page that Maroo so nicely turned us on to, I've been wondering about....Us being in WDW May '07 and there being a lady on the plane who said there was a drought happening in Fl., all I remember seeing the whole time we were there was body's of water every where we went!

As much as it rains there, how is it possible to be in a drought there!

I once went on a tour in the Everglades NP and their they explained to us the ecosystem of the Florida acquifier (or so). In general it was about how all this water flows ever so slowly through the southern part of Florida and then out to the sea in the Everglades. They have huge problems with not enough water arriving down there at the souther part because it is taken for irrigation or diverted by channels. This changes the water quality along the coast (where the freshwater flowing out reduced the salt content). So I think a drought in Florida does not mean no water, but just lower water levels than normal and this can have bad effects on wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole as well. Does this make sense? Of course that lady could have been just stupid as well!

Are you sad your moving? I hope your move is for good reasons and that your moving to a place that will bless you. Will it be far from your sister? I just looked it up, I guess it won't be a stone's throw away will it? At least y'all will be close enough to see each other in a day's time.

Hi Camille, thanks for asking and the good wishes! Berlin and Nuremberg aren't really close to each other, about 4.5 hours away, so we will be able to see each other regularly, I hope! And while I moved away from the city where my sister lives, I am now in the city where my parents are, so this is good, too! It was always planned that I would be in Berlin for only three years and then return to my old job. I am very much looking forward to starting there on September 1st and I am enjoying being in the same place as many of my dearest friends again.

 

[All7OfUs]

Liesa, woo hoo on the red, you sassy thing!

I AM sassy- ha!! Not really, but it's fun to think I CAN be once in a while. Going red was a sassy moment.

Off to see Despicable Me....


See everyone for lunch- just put my finishing touches on my "packing", which will have to be completely done AGAIN at Sis's house. At least I have all of the "stuff" I need for our MEET tomorrow in one place.

 

[maroo]

we do have a weather update.... up in a sec.

 

[maroo]

Weather Update:

Tropical Systems -

Hurricane Danielle is on her way out...

But Tropical Storm Earl is causing me a little anxiety.
He can't seem to get his act together regarding where he wants to go. It was looking like he would follow Danielle out to sea - with the - but he "recentered" himself today and now it looks like it may hit the US on Friday. So, we should watch him. My worry is that he would mess up our travel plans.

Fiona has yet to form, but they expect her in the next couple of days.


Weather in Orlando for our stay:

Thu, Sep 2
Scattered clouds. Hot. 94°F 76°F 14 mph / W 59% 110°F 23%
Fri, Sep 3
Scattered clouds. Hot. 95°F 77°F 11 mph / W 59% 113°F 33%
Sat, Sep 4
More sun than clouds. Warm. 90°F 76°F 11 mph / ENE 58% 109°F 30%
Sun, Sep 5
Tstorms late. More clouds than sun. Warm. 91°F 76°F 14 mph / ENE 59% 110°F 58% 0.20"
Mon, Sep 6
Widely scattered tstorms. More clouds than sun. Warm. 91°F 76°F 14 mph / ENE 73% 111°F 42% 0.10"
Tue, Sep 7
Widely scattered tstorms. Mostly cloudy. Warm. 91°F 76°F 15 mph / ENE 74% 113°F 47% 0.14"
Wed, Sep 8
Tstorms late. More sun than clouds. Warm. 92°F 76°F 17 mph / NE 60% 113°F 40% 0.09"
Thu, Sep 9
Tstorms late. More sun than clouds. Warm. 92°F 76°F 13 mph / ENE 62% 115°F 40% 0.11"
Fri, Sep 10
Tstorms early. More sun than clouds. Warm. 92°F 76°F 12 mph / E 76% 117°F 50% 0.19"
Sat, Sep 11
Isolated tstorms. More clouds than sun. Warm. 92°F 76°F 11 mph / E 77% 117°F 58% 0.20"


The bolded temps above are the heat index.

117 is really hot!


We are going to have a blast!!!!!

 

[JPFamilyMom]

Can't wait to see pictures of your new hair, you gotta be going out of your mind with excitement. Your ticker says 5 days It was so long ago you started this journey, I can't wait to read about the adventure. Glad your return to the states has been good so far...it's about to get even better

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm excited to see the red!! Glad you like it!

Tim, great story about your screen name! I was going to respond "Well, that's nice!" but Poolrat beat me to it.

Thanks maroo for the weather update!

All our friends are having a blast at the DC meet, right? I should text Liesa...!

 

[eandesmom]

I'm excited to see the red!! Glad you like it!

Tim, great story about your screen name! I was going to respond "Well, that's nice!" but Poolrat beat me to it.

Thanks maroo for the weather update!

All our friends are having a blast at the DC meet, right? I should text Liesa...!

is it tonight or tomorrow? Text her! I wanna know

 

[KatMark]

is it tonight or tomorrow? Text her! I wanna know

It's tomorrow. But do text and find out how it went. And where is the "redhead" picture?

 

[eandesmom]

It's tomorrow. But do text and find out how it went. And where is the "redhead" picture?

I'm counting on Glen for a pic on his thread and Rosie for an update somewhere...

 

[All7OfUs]

Just did online check-in for my Southwest flight, and all is good to go!

Everything is ready and set for my 8:20 flight into BWI and a "sure to be fantastic" Meet at 12:30 with so many of my DISPals!! I am excited to be sure.

I really wish I could be doing better and more in-depth live updates here, but my family seriously runs me ragged with their go-go-go lifestyle. (Not my DH and kids) My parents and sister just cannot seem to stop for a rest!

I NEED THIS VACATION!!!!

Talk to you all tomorrow!!

And just becuase you all asked so nicely, here is the new do...

 

[yinyanggirls]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the color!!! Great decision.

 

[Millie12591]

So Kat convinced you to stay at CSR too????
She was one of the first people I 'talked' to when I signed up for the DIS.

Kat's great and yes she did! Talking to her about a few things cinched the deal for me! Honestly it didn't take much after reading her thread, the idea of new everything and queen sized beds was all I needed to hear.

To put it bluntly, CBR is spread out. I'm not going to link the map because it is huge but you can check it out here. http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/cbrmap.htm

Thank you Tim. I think I'm going to stick with staying at CSR or the POP. As much as I would like to stay at CBR the thought of all the walking doesn't appeal to me after being in the parks all day.
At most your looking at a 5-7 minute walk from El Centro to where we were- Cabanas 8A facing the Ranchos. Loooooved the location we were in!!! You didn't hear a thing from the pool and the only noises we heard were the golf carts zooming by every so often and excited people walking to the bus stop every now and then. Not bad at all and NOTHING like the noises at POP!
I loved POP don't get me wrong, it's just a very different feel than being at the moderates, as I'm sure you know.

We were in Trinadad South building #37 in a pirate room. It was a solid 15-20 minute walk to Old Port Royale (where the pool & food is) We loved the kids pool area, which has a pirate ship play area.

The beds in the pirate room weren't that great. But the pirate room itself was really cool! I guess you could try to put in a request for a certain section and hope you get it. The queen beds at CSR are great though huh? When we stayed there we had a king bed because Juliana was still sleeping in her pack-n-play.

We liked CBR but I liked CSR better. I would stay at CBR again though.

Since I don't have little one's this might not appeal to my dd11, and to tell the truth I don't think this would appeal to me either, I know it sounds very anti-Dis of me but I'm not into having my room looking like a pirates lair. Please don't hurt me TarzansKat.
I love me some Capt. Jack, but I don't want to sleep in a room with skulls on my curtains. I'm just sayin. The part that appeals to me are the grounds, I realize there are rooms that don't have the pirates look, but I think I'll stick with CSR for now.

Tim, I always wondered where your DIS name came from. Now I know!

On the CSR front, I'm curious, I've heard people say negative things because it's a convention resort...have you noticed any difference?

The whole time we were there (5/10) we never saw a person from the conventions except on the last day, and I think that's because we were sitting in the main building near the convention center. Never noticed them being there the entire time we were there, but then again we're the kind of people who are up in the morning and off to the parks (we eat in our room for breakfast most days), back in the late afternoon once or twice to shower for a special dinner and then back in the evening. There are far less people waiting at bus stops when leaving to go to the park (since there are four stops vs. one at POP), and not near the people to pick up coming back to the resort after the parks close. Maybe enough people to have two buses to take people back to the resort, with the second one not being packed full.

When we were there in 3/09 we saw a few people in business attire walking around but that didn't bother me at all. I think there were less people on the busses and at the pool due to whatever meeting was going on at the time.

I loved the layout of CBR and loved how the resort looked. As Kathy (katmark) if you have any questions.... she is the Queen of CSR!!!!!

The feel is wonderful there very relaxed, but I'm sure it's that way at most Moderates. I don't know if the grounds will appeal to you TarzansKat as much as CBR, the folage isn't as rich and full as it is there.
If I had to go by looks for the outside feel at a Moderate resort, I would go with CBR or POR. NOT to say that CSR is ugly by any means, it's just not like it is outside at CBR. If that doesn't phase you in the least then I think you would love CSR.

Well, That's Nice!!!
I couldn't resist

As for CSR, KatMark is the expert but I have stayed both as a convention"ear" and as a regular guest. Casitas and Cabanas ( have not been brave enough to try Ranchos yet) are not that far. It is spread out and you will walk. It is a beautiful walk but you may never make it to El Centro after check in if you don't realy need to. If you have a car either drive to the parks or I have seen people drive over to the bus stops, if needed. I love the queen beds and I do think based on what convention is there, the crowd impact can be minimal.


Liesa, would love to see the red if you get a moment.

Thank you PoolRat, I really loved staying at CSR too. To me the walking there isn't that bad, but then again just like you said once your checked in there really isn't a reason for me to go to El Centro, I'm not a soda or coffee drinker so I don't do the refillable cups, and we almost never eat at the restaurants at the resort we stay at. I was happy to be in the location I was in Cabanas facing the Racheros, close to the pool, very close to the bus and quiet most of the time, crowding wasn't a factor the whole time we were there so I was very happy.

No value for me this time. The only one I prefer to stay in is Pop, and that was my last big family trip resort, so I don't see us heading back there any time soon. Too many memories.

And, quite frankly, too small for my family, I think.

My friend, Tinkerbellarella, is running the Princess 1/2 marathon in honor of my mom, and when she finishes, she's going to make a donation to the American Heart Association. I really want to see her cross that finish line. She's my dearest friend and I'm honored that she's doing something for herself and honoring my mother at the same time.

POP would probably be the only I would do too, but I understand why you won't for now.

Tink doing this run is pretty amazing, she's a good friend to be doing this in honor of your mom.

If you had to do POP, I think you could manage the room, even though you need a lot of stuff for the baby. When we were there we took a queen sized blow up bed and used it in the room, it was tight but we did it. The first thing we did was move the table to the other side of the "dresser entertainment center" (moved it closest to the bathroom) and that gave us all the room we needed for my DS blow-up bed and my dd11 suit case. I won't say you'll have tons of room, but if you untilize all the space you can make it happen.

I once went on a tour in the Everglades NP and their they explained to us the ecosystem of the Florida acquifier (or so). In general it was about how all this water flows ever so slowly through the southern part of Florida and then out to the sea in the Everglades. They have huge problems with not enough water arriving down there at the souther part because it is taken for irrigation or diverted by channels. This changes the water quality along the coast (where the freshwater flowing out reduced the salt content). So I think a drought in Florida does not mean no water, but just lower water levels than normal and this can have bad effects on wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole as well. Does this make sense? Of course that lady could have been just stupid as well!

Makes perfect sense. Thank you! And your right, the woman could have not known what she was talking about.

Hi Camille, thanks for asking and the good wishes! Berlin and Nuremberg aren't really close to each other, about 4.5 hours away, so we will be able to see each other regularly, I hope! And while I moved away from the city where my sister lives, I am now in the city where my parents are, so this is good, too! It was always planned that I would be in Berlin for only three years and then return to my old job. I am very much looking forward to starting there on September 1st and I am enjoying being in the same place as many of my dearest friends again.

Your closer to your sis than I thought, and it looks like where your moving back to will be a big blessing to you. I feel blessed for you just knowing you'll be among family and friends again.

I AM sassy- ha!! Not really, but it's fun to think I CAN be once in a while. Going red was a sassy moment.
Off to see Despicable Me....
See everyone for lunch- just put my finishing touches on my "packing", which will have to be completely done AGAIN at Sis's house. At least I have all of the "stuff" I need for our MEET tomorrow in one place.

Ooooooo! Love your hair!!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Leisa, love the hair! You ARE Sassy! Have a great meet, those of you who are goin!

 

[brookelizabeth]

LOVE THE HAIR!!!!!!!!! You look awesome!

I will text ya tomorrow afternoon to say HELLO to everyone!

 

[All7OfUs]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the color!!! Great decision.

Thanks, Melissa!! I love it too; not sure if I'll maintain it, but it was fun to try at least once.

I'm counting on Glen for a pic on his thread and Rosie for an update somewhere...

I am sure Glenn could be talked into posting a picture or two.

Leisa, love the hair! You ARE Sassy! Have a great meet, those of you who are goin!

HI Tammie!! We are planning on a great time together in just a few hours; it's 3:30 AM and I am so excited I just can't sleep! I'll probably look like a train wreck without my beauty zzzzz's but my DISMeet Buzz ought to more than make up for it.

LOVE THE HAIR!!!!!!!!! You look awesome!

I will text ya tomorrow afternoon to say HELLO to everyone!

Why text? We'll just call!

 

[All7OfUs]

Can't wait to see pictures of your new hair, you gotta be going out of your mind with excitement. Your ticker says 5 days It was so long ago you started this journey, I can't wait to read about the adventure. Glad your return to the states has been good so far...it's about to get even better

Thanks, Jessica! I really am! Tomorrow is sort of the official start of my "solo" time really. No kids, no DH, just me and my own plans. I may even get a bit of extra time on the DIS, which would be a nice bonus!

I still have a teensy bit of shopping to do for little things like a bottle of champagne, my VIA coffee singles, and THE TRAVEL AISLE!!! (gotta do Jordan proud!).

And I have to re-pack again, since today's pack was a bit of a toss it in affair. I think after the DC Meet I'll be somewhat "lighter", which makes room for more essential things.

I do hate to have my kids start out their adventures sick though. 2 of them have terrible ear infections from the jacuzzi on the houseboat (MANY of the cousins got it too), and my son has a VERY odd and GIGANTIC cyst on his top gum where one of his canines isn't coming in so well. Ah well, Daddy is very capable of taking care of things.... I'm going to Disney!!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Love your hair color!

I can't wait to hear about the DIS meet.

 

[All7OfUs]

Love your hair color!

I can't wait to hear about the DIS meet.

Hi Sophia!! I have your number in my handy dandy Mickey Book, and will probably call soon.

I am so nervous about tomorrow, I can't sleep at all!! Everyone will probably remember me as "the creepy lady with giant black circles".