Disney Through Another's Eyes (updated 2/1) Day 2/Part 2.

[desiab]

Wow!! Those people sure saw a VIP person coming!! Nice hook up!!

I am drooling at the mouth at your mention of fried green tomoatoes and hoe cakes.... What I wouldn't do for a decent hoe cake. I just can't make em worth a darn. And I agree - the Whistle Stop Cafe has totally perfected the whole fried green tomoato thing, which is as it should be, I suppose.

The kiddos are playing unsurpvised on the front lawn while I check out your pre-trippie (oh horrors!), so I must run. But can't wait to see that itinerary!!

I will soon have the itinerary up--just having to play nice with the DH and act like he is the most important thing in my life right now!

Girl, you crack me up! I knew there was something about you I liked--it's the NOLA thang. My hubby and I met at LSU, where he played football. We were in Newawlins when Katrina hit. (Watching the Saints lose, etc.)

Katrina=Un. Bee. Leave. A. Bull. We evacuated on Sunday, and I had such a bad bad bad feeling about what was coming I sobbed all the way across the Ponchatrain. I needed some of those Skittles myownself.

And WRT food: No one, and I do mean NOBODY knows their way around food like a Southerner, oui? Paula Deen is awesome. That is sooo cool you got to meet her! I feel cool because I 'know" someone that met her! How dorky is that?

Just wanted to stop by and say "Hey!" Love your report!

We evacuated to Georgia for Katrina, but we couldn't convince any of my family to do the same. I was a boozin', skittle popping fool for a week until I was able to make contact with my parents. My mom had the nerve to ask me why I was so worried about them--they could take care of themselves. Uh... I don't know. Maybe because a huge freakin storm just ripped through the state and I haven't heard from you guys in 5 days.

I would agree about Southerners and food. That's why I am on a diet as we speak.

Thanks for hanging in there with me. I just finished reading the start of your trip report and I can't wait for more!

 

[KandiKin]

Hey you! Sorry if this is OT, desiab. But that Katrina thing was such a huge deal it's hard not to talk to someone else that was affected by it.

And WRT your family: While I really admire self-suffiency, I could NOT believe how casually everyone was taking Katrina's imminent arrival. I mean---PEOPLE! Look at the freakin' storm on radar---the EYE was bigger than the whole state of Louisiana, seemed like!! And God's own truth--the first person we heard tell us to get our touristy butts out of there was not the mayor, the police chief, the governor--it was Pres. Bush, in his Saturday weekly address to the country. On Saturday night I overheard some Frat boys at Felix's mouthing off about how they were going to stay in the Quarter and "ride out the storm" and blah blah blah and the mother in me just rose up and told them to get their sorry butts back home ASAP. I told them the authorities would have enough to do helping the residents without worrying about a bunch of spoiled Krappa Delta Krappa brats wandering around all hung over and stupid.

I know--I need to work on my fear of confrontation. Also, diplomacy lessons might be good.

Anyway. It was so awful to leave-- knowing that while we were cool--we had a nice, safe, dry home to go to--so many others had nowhere to go, and nothing was being done to help them. All along the evacuation route (which was sooo screwed up because they didn't set up the contra lanes early enough or long enough there were signs saying "No Hotels available this exit" and so those people just kept driving and driving. An 8 hour drive took 24 hours. Thank God for PohPoh practical's foresight. He gassed up our car, loaded up the ice chest, and mapped out the best route. I tease him, but he really is the best.

I volunteered to work at the local Red Cross shelter here, and when the folks that had been trapped at the Superdome arrived we volunteers all lined up to help them get settled, find out what they needed, help them make contact with family, etc. I'll never forget this one lady bursting into tears when I handed her a stack of clean towels and some soap. She said, "I'd hug you but I'm too disgusting." So I hugged her, instead. Crying over clean towels and soap...such simple, everyday things. Made me cry. Then we just stood there, hugging and crying. Neither one of us accomplishing anything. I realize she had been tremendously stressed and traumatized....but what was my excuse?

Oh yeah! I don't need one, since I cry at parades. I promise you I will cry at least three times while we are at Disney for this trip. I can't even buy cards for birthdays without taking along a hankie. My daughters and I judge cards by if, and how much, they make the recipient cry.

Conversations go like this:
<phone rings>

"Hello?"

"Hi! I got your card..."

"Oh, good! Did it make you cry?"

"YES! It really did"

woohoo "Ahhh, well, I meant every word"

"I know. Thanks"

A really succesful card purchase is one where the recipient chokes up just thanking the sender.

 

[desiab]

Hey you! Sorry if this is OT, desiab. But that Katrina thing was such a huge deal it's hard not to talk to someone else that was affected by it.

And WRT your family: While I really admire self-suffiency, I could NOT believe how casually everyone was taking Katrina's imminent arrival. I mean---PEOPLE! Look at the freakin' storm on radar---the EYE was bigger than the whole state of Louisiana, seemed like!! And God's own truth--the first person we heard tell us to get our touristy butts out of there was not the mayor, the police chief, the governor--it was Pres. Bush, in his Saturday weekly address to the country. On Saturday night I overheard some Frat boys at Felix's mouthing off about how they were going to stay in the Quarter and "ride out the storm" and blah blah blah and the mother in me just rose up and told them to get their sorry butts back home ASAP. I told them the authorities would have enough to do helping the residents without worrying about a bunch of spoiled Krappa Delta Krappa brats wandering around all hung over and stupid.

I know--I need to work on my fear of confrontation. Also, diplomacy lessons might be good.

Anyway. It was so awful to leave-- knowing that while we were cool--we had a nice, safe, dry home to go to--so many others had nowhere to go, and nothing was being done to help them. All along the evacuation route (which was sooo screwed up because they didn't set up the contra lanes early enough or long enough there were signs saying "No Hotels available this exit" and so those people just kept driving and driving. An 8 hour drive took 24 hours. Thank God for PohPoh practical's foresight. He gassed up our car, loaded up the ice chest, and mapped out the best route. I tease him, but he really is the best.

I volunteered to work at the local Red Cross shelter here, and when the folks that had been trapped at the Superdome arrived we volunteers all lined up to help them get settled, find out what they needed, help them make contact with family, etc. I'll never forget this one lady bursting into tears when I handed her a stack of clean towels and some soap. She said, "I'd hug you but I'm too disgusting." So I hugged her, instead. Crying over clean towels and soap...such simple, everyday things. Made me cry. Then we just stood there, hugging and crying. Neither one of us accomplishing anything. I realize she had been tremendously stressed and traumatized....but what was my excuse?

Oh yeah! I don't need one, since I cry at parades. I promise you I will cry at least three times while we are at Disney for this trip. I can't even buy cards for birthdays without taking along a hankie. My daughters and I judge cards by if, and how much, they make the recipient cry.

Conversations go like this:
<phone rings>

"Hello?"

"Hi! I got your card..."

"Oh, good! Did it make you cry?"

"YES! It really did"

woohoo "Ahhh, well, I meant every word"

"I know. Thanks"

A really succesful card purchase is one where the recipient chokes up just thanking the sender.

Evacuating for Katrina was one of the most nerve-racking experiences ever. Another storm comes and we are leaving three days before expected landfall.

I did some crying myself after Katrina and I for one hate to cry! Our home was not damaged, but my in-laws and two sis-in-laws lost everything. Katrina did teach us a lesson--appreciate people, not things.

As much as I hate to admit it, the older I get the easier it is to make me cry. I cry over tv shows, movies, books, but haven't progressed to crying about greeting cards. I am sure that is coming.

 

[desiab]

I know that I promised you an itinerary in the next post! Just give me a minute to tell you about another side trip we took last week and then I will get right on it.

One thing that I can admit about myself is that I like to think that I am a big city girl trapped in a small town. My friends are constantly picking on me about my lack of appreciation for the country lifestyle. Yeah whatever! So I prefer to be cool and comfortable to hot, sticky, miserable and stuck in the woods somewhere.

All of that changed for some reason recently. I got bit by the camping bug to the point that we are going to be picking up our camper within the next week.

Well last week we spent four days in the woods with five other families and we had a blast! I won’t bore you with a blow-by-blow of each day, but you will be able to see from the pictures it was fun.

This was waiting for us when we got there the first night. I brought along bags of marshmallows and a friend supplied the wine. Yum!

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Baby girl had a blast playing.​

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How would you like to wake up to this view in the morning?

The next shots are to prove that my other two children do exist.

(My oldest daughter.)

Can’t leave out the other child.

LJ and Brianne (Our travel companions in January)

Look at the fun things the kids did.

Want to see what happens when teenage girls get their hands on shaving cream?

This is one of my best friends and he would kill me if he knew I posted his picture. He thinks it would hurt his chances with the “honeys”. Yeah right!

Up next…”Our Itinerary” (Really!!)

 

[desiab]

When we are in Disney I like to have a general idea of what parks we will go to on each day and dinner. But I very rarely plan out the day in each park. Not having the kids gives us the freedom to move around as we please and take our time.

If you spot any glaring mistakes in our itinerary please let me know. This is my 11th trip, but even veterans can make a mistake.

So here is a brief sketch of our itinerary so far:

Thursday, Jan. 2008

• Leaving Home and Staying overnight in Ocala, FL

Friday, Jan. 2008

• Check into All-Star Movies Resort for two nights (trying to save weekend DVC pts.)
• Spend the evening at Downtown Disney
• Probably eat dinner with the Earl
• Catch a movie (Hopefully the National Treasure sequel)
• Adventurers Club

Saturday, Jan. 2008

• Spending the day at Animal Kingdom
• Lunch at Rainforest Café in Animal Kingdom
• Dinner at Ohana

Sunday, Jan. 2008

• Check out of All-Star Movies and into Boardwalk Villas
• Spending the day at Epcot
• Dinner at the Coral Reef
• Illuminations

Monday, Jan. 2008

• Spend the day at Disney Studios
• No plans for dinner yet.

Tuesday, Jan. 2008

• Spend the day in Magic Kingdom
• Dinner at Whispering Canyon Café

Wednesday, Jan. 2008

• Rest day—will probably book Spa treatments for the morning.
• Anniversary dinner at V&A’s

Thursday, Jan. 2008

• Check out of Boardwalk Villas and into Saratoga Springs (unless the waitlist comes through)
• Undecided on which park we will go to today.
• Dinner at California Grill (First time eating here.)

Friday, Jan. 2008

• Depart for home

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

Hold up...you have THREE kids??



How nice of the other two to make a guest appearance in the ole side-trippie!

I am lovin' your itinerary, espcially the part about "spa treatments.' I can guarantee you there will be zero zip zilch "spa treatments" on my trip... I need a child-free trip.

Wanna come along?

 

[jordanyosh]

Look into www.mandaraspa.com

They have a location at the Dolphin Resort. I know someone who went there and enjoyed it. It's just a short walk from the BWV

 

[desiab]

Hold up...you have THREE kids??



How nice of the other two to make a guest appearance in the ole side-trippie!

I am lovin' your itinerary, espcially the part about "spa treatments.' I can guarantee you there will be zero zip zilch "spa treatments" on my trip... I need a child-free trip.

Wanna come along?

Yes, you missed the part about all my children.

We try to take at least one trip a year without the kids where we can relax and enjoy each other. You should try it.

Just name the time and I will be there.

Look into www.mandaraspa.com

They have a location at the Dolphin Resort. I know someone who went there and enjoyed it. It's just a short walk from the BWV

Jordan my man I have beat you to the punch. We went there for a day during our Oct. 06 trip. Can you say RELAXED?!!!

 

[jordanyosh]

Obviously you would recommend this spa. My cousin Wendy and our 2 friends want to try this spa in Feb 08 as we will be staying at the BCV. Any treatments to suggest?

 

[desiab]

Obviously you would recommend this spa. My cousin Wendy and our 2 friends want to try this spa in Feb 08 as we will be staying at the BCV. Any treatments to suggest?

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes! When we went we were in for the full hog and got the Nirvana package which includes:

* Exotic Frangipani Body Nourish Wrap 75 minutes
* Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy (Massage) 75 minutes
* Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Facial 50 minutes
* Shampoo/Blow Dry (Also Flat Iron and Style for me.)
* Manicure & Pedicure

My favorite was the Aroma Stone Massage. I might sell one of the kiddos for the chance to experience this again.

 

[jordanyosh]

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes! When we went we were in for the full hog and got the Nirvana package which includes:

* Exotic Frangipani Body Nourish Wrap 75 minutes
* Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy (Massage) 75 minutes
* Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Facial 50 minutes
* Shampoo/Blow Dry (Also Flat Iron and Style for me.)
* Manicure & Pedicure

My favorite was the Aroma Stone Massage. I might sell one of the kiddos for the chance to experience this again.

540.00 But for over 5 hours.....hmmm...I'll pass the news along.

I know Wendy and Kim (my cousin and her friend) are already eyeing the Stone Massage.....

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

Our own little desi is a DVIA, ladies and gentlemen!!! All those spa treatments - IN ONE DAY!! That is more pampering than I get in a year!!! And you deserve it, too, girl!!!!!!

But I am still as jealous as H-E-Double Hockey Sticks....

 

[desiab]

Our own little desi is a DVIA, ladies and gentlemen!!! All those spa treatments - IN ONE DAY!! That is more pampering than I get in a year!!! And you deserve it, too, girl!!!!!!

But I am still as jealous as H-E-Double Hockey Sticks....

You might stop being jealous if I told you what I had to do to get that day of pampering! And the lady doing my hair jacked me up horribly. I had to run back to the hotel and re-do my hair.

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

You might stop being jealous if I told you what I had to do to get that day of pampering! And the lady doing my hair jacked me up horribly. I had to run back to the hotel and re-do my hair.

Umm...Eww...!!! Haha - are you talking about what I think you're talking about? Because that is a small price to pay for hot stone massge, my friend. A small price to pay.

 

[tammy]

Mardesia,

I found your pre-trip report and I love it. The side trips are an added bonus. I LOVE Paula Deen and am hoping to get down there to her restaurant next summer. I couldn't see all the pictures in your last post with your beautiful kids (only saw red x's). They have really grown especially the baby, I remember when you were carrying her. How old is she now?

I laughed out loud about what you had to do for the all day spa treatments. I have had to do the same thing a time or two.

 

[desiab]

Umm...Eww...!!! Haha - are you talking about what I think you're talking about? Because that is a small price to pay for hot stone massge, my friend. A small price to pay.

Mardesia,

I found your pre-trip report and I love it. The side trips are an added bonus. I LOVE Paula Deen and am hoping to get down there to her restaurant next summer. I couldn't see all the pictures in your last post with your beautiful kids (only saw red x's). They have really grown especially the baby, I remember when you were carrying her. How old is she now?

I laughed out loud about what you had to do for the all day spa treatments. I have had to do the same thing a time or two.

Welcome aboard Tammy! We have been having fun over here. I am designating Heather the official bartender, Jordan is the keeper of the schedule, Kandi will act as trainer to whip us all in shape, and if you stick around we will find you an official job.

We had so much fun meeting Paula Deen. She has a way of making you feel like are family.

The princess is 2, but she doesn't seem to agree with that number. If you ask her how old she is, she always tells you a higher number. This week she is telling everybody that she is 5.

No price is too high for a day at the spa!

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

I love me role!!!!

"Can I refresh your drink?"

 

[jordanyosh]

Umm...Eww...!!! Haha - are you talking about what I think you're talking about? Because that is a small price to pay for hot stone massge, my friend. A small price to pay.

Mardesia,

I found your pre-trip report and I love it. The side trips are an added bonus. I LOVE Paula Deen and am hoping to get down there to her restaurant next summer. I couldn't see all the pictures in your last post with your beautiful kids (only saw red x's). They have really grown especially the baby, I remember when you were carrying her. How old is she now?

I laughed out loud about what you had to do for the all day spa treatments. I have had to do the same thing a time or two.

It must be a woman's issue because I have No idea what you're refering to....

 

[jordanyosh]

I love me role!!!!

"Can I refresh your drink?"

Spoken with pride. Just like a boozer should

 

[tammy]

Thanks for the welcome. I am definately sticking around.

Jiminy'sGirl: I'll take a Pepsi please.

Jordanyosh: