Doreen's New Way of Life (comments are welcome)

[toystoryduo]

Ahhhh... it sounds like you are having such a wonderful, relaxing time at WDW! Please let us know what you think about Saratoga Springs. We hope to tour that resort while we are there in December. Have a great day today and please tell DH we said , "Happy Father's Day!"

Take care,
Tracy

 

[Strings]

If Icould only convince DH to invest in DVC. I'm so glad you are enjoying your trip. It sounds like you are having lots of quality time with DH. I love the pools in the morning. They are always deserted. Nascar sounds like a good Father's day for DH. Wish him a happy one for me.
Beth

 

[vald1977]

Hi Doe,
I have to tell you, you really know how to do Disney! It sounds like you manage to have all the fun and find time to relax as well . I hope your dh is a Newman fan and he was happy with the race yesterday. I hope you have a great day !

 

[DoeWDW]

Yesterday the girls enjoyed Disney Quest all day and managed to find time to see The Stepford Wives at the movie theater. DH and I strolled around Saratoga Springs - it's nice but my heart belongs to the Beach Club. We did pick up salads there and brought them back to the room to eat during the race. DH watched while I napped. Then DH & I strolled around Epcot (another margarita and some yummy cinnamon glazed almonds!!). We watched Illuminations and then met up with the girls. We stopped at the ESPN Club to pick up dinner and took it back to the room.

This morning was my big morning to tour Epcot's World Showcase on a Segway!! DH went along to take pics and they had a cancellation so we snapped up the spot for DH! Those Segways are so much fun!! Then we met the girls in Italy for lunch - I had the chicken parmigiana and some chianti. We all shared some desserts. We really enjoyed this meal!! The girls want to go back there again. Now we're back at the room. DH is napping, and I had a swim.

In an hour or two we'll head to MGM. DD befriended a Tower of Terror bellhop 5 years ago and she promised to ride the Tower with DD & her friend. She was on vacation last week but she'll be working tonight. The girls want to see Fantasmic - don't know if I'll make it that late, but we'll see.

When I get home it will be time to start training in earnest for the half marathon. We have a little over 6 months until the big day - time to get serious!

 

[cinmell]

Hi Doreen,
It sounds like you are having a great time! Have a great day today and enjoy your vacation.

 

[lulu201]

Hi! Have a great day, WISH-sis!

Erin

 

[septbride2002]

What a fun morning on the Segways! I was just telling DH about those and we might be interestedin doing that one of these days.

Glad you are having such a great time!

~Amanda

 

[DoeWDW]

We had a great time at the Tower with DD's CM friend. She was so thrilled that we came to see her. She says she's been there 10 years and we're the only people who have ever come back to see her, and it just broke my heart - she's such a sweetie!! She did ride the Tower with us and we got the picture to prove it! The girls decided they NEEDED autograph books and they got autographs from Tigger, Eeyore, Rafiki and Timon. We skipped Fantasmic - it was standing room only. We'll go back tonight for the second (and always less crowded) show.

Today we slept in. DH & I have massages (yes, again!) this afternoon. Not sure what the girls will do.

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Doe!
Those massages sound heavenly. I bet you and DH are on . Have a great day today!

Tracy

 

[nancyj_pa]

Hi Doreen,
Your adventures are so enjoyable! Thanks for posting and keeping us informed. I really wish I were there too.

Maybe fewer rides and more massages is the way to go. It sounds like you're having lots of time to relax.

Talk to you soon.

NancyJ

 

[gadizlover]

Hi Doreen-
I am really enjoying reading your DW posts. It's the next best thing to being there!

Sounds like you and your family are having a fabulous time. I am more determined now to get a trip in this year. And those massages sound heavenly. We always try to fit everything into a few days, your way sounds sooo much better.

 

[LAinSEA]

Doe:

Having two whole weeks to enjoy WDW is very relaxing! The way you can just go with the flow and not commando here and there is impressive. I have to find a way for my vacations to be that relaxing!

The trip reports are fabulous - I'm really enjoying your vacation too through your words!

-Laurie

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

I am Disneying vicariously through you Doreen, thanks for the ahhhh wonderful TR!!!

 

[DoeWDW]

DH and I enjoyed our massages - aaaahhhh!! We spent a little time at the health club's hot tub afterward. The girls finally got off their butts and went to MGM. DH walked over later. I opted to stay in the room and do laundry and figure out my training walks for the half marathon. I have every walk in my palm pda from now until race day in January and I just have to follow through. I used the plan on www.halhigdon.com and made some modifications, repeated some weeks, etc. I also want to start doing weight training at the health club 3x a week when I return home. I'm feeling better, knowing I have a plan. I did have a couple glasses of wine and enjoyed Illuminations from my balcony.

Tomorrow we're off to Downtown Disney to do all the shopping. I get a discount at the World of Disney store and a couple others there. Not sure what we'll do in the evening.

I'm starting to look forward to heading home. I miss my puppy and my own bed. I'll be ready to leave on Friday morning.

 

[CheapMom]

Hi Doreen- you sound like you are having such a ball. You sound fully decompressed!
Have a great time.
Mary

 

[Strings]

I completely understand about being ready to go home. Of couse, as soon as our plane takes off, I'm can't wait to go beck. It sounds like you are having an incredible time. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us.
Beth

 

[DoeWDW]

Today we shopped at Downtown Disney. I was thoroughly exhausted!! We went to the Perkins at Crossroads for lunch - good food at a good price! Then we came back to the room for naps. We're headed to Magic Kingdom tonight for another E-ticket night.

For those who are interested, we saw Ally the Beach Club's gator this morning in the canal. She's doing fine. She's been here for at least 2 years and is probably about 5 feet long. There were 5 snapping turtles too and lots of fish. It's illegal in Florida to feed gators but some family was throwing bread in.

I've realized that my journal entries talk about what we did each day but not about the most memorable moments of the trip - all of our interactions with wonderful people. We've talked to so many nice people, both cast members and guests, and that's what I usually remember most about my trips. Often we'll be somewhere in a park and remember that we talked to a really nice family from Israel here or a wonderful cast member there.

I also realized that in all the shopping today, I've bought things to take home for family, souvenirs for the girls, a shirt for DH even, but nothing for me. On one hand, I feel like I should get something but on the other hand, it's all "stuff" and do I really need more "stuff"?? Not sure if I'll pick up something for me or not - decisions, decisions.

Enough pondering for one day.

 

[lulu201]

Good morning, WISH-sis! OK, here's my two cents about buying something for yourself. . .I don't think "stuff" is the way to go UNLESS it's something that reflects what was extra special about this particular trip.

As an outsider looking in, I'd have to say that this trip was a time for you to rest, relax, and rejuvenate, so maybe bringing home something you buy at the spa would be a nice souvenir? A thick, cozy bathrobe or a big, thirsty towel or some fragrant massage oil? Maybe you want something that supports the Jock Athlete Princess in you--like a new jogging suit or a journal that you can record your exercise in? Any of these items would bring to mind this vacation that did so much to restore your spirit.

Thank you for sharing your trip with us. It sounded just amazing!
Have a safe trip home tomorrow; you'll be in my prayers. Love to Todd and the girls--

Erin

 

[CheapMom]

Hi Doreen-
I like lulu's ideas-
I myself am anti-stuff also- the best souveniers to me are definately memories and photos. So to me a cute photo frame or similar would be good. The cutest thing they are selling at gift shops now are those little charm bracelets and charms- you could add a charm for each trip you take. (maybe on the last day of each trip with some signifigance to the memories you made on that trip)
I am glad that you are able to take this nice break with your family- you SO deserve this R&R.
Enjoy yourself-
Mary

 

[Strings]

Hi Doe,

I love the ideas that you have been given. If you get the massage oil, you and DH have an excuse to make time for yourself.

Enjoy your last day of your trip. I will be praying for a safe trip home for you.
Beth