Having a GRAND time - The Official GF Chat Thread PART 2

[princessesrule4]

I'm all teary here - I just heard the news that Randy Pausch lost his battle with pancreatic cancer this morning.

I'm sure you all know who he is but if you don't he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and gave a "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon where he was a professor. It inspired so many people and he appeared on Oprah and his video lecture can be found on her website ,Youtube, TheLastLecture.com. I just got done reading his book "The Last Lecture", and it is wonderful also.

He was an inspiration and advocated celebrated life and achieving childhood dreams.
He was a big Disney fan and was an Imagineer - one of his childhood dreams!

He will be missed! My heart goes out to his wife and 3 children.

 

[lovemy2boys]

I'm all teary here - I just heard the news that Randy Pausch lost his battle with pancreatic cancer this morning.

I'm sure you all know who he is but if you don't he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and gave a "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon where he was a professor. It inspired so many people and he appeared on Oprah and his video lecture can be found on her website ,Youtube, TheLastLecture.com. I just got done reading his book "The Last Lecture", and it is wonderful also.

He was an inspiration and advocated celebrated life and achieving childhood dreams.
He was a big Disney fan and was an Imagineer - one of his childhood dreams!

He will be missed! My heart goes out to his wife and 3 children.

I was very sad to learn of this news too.

 

[vbarry]

I'm all teary here - I just heard the news that Randy Pausch lost his battle with pancreatic cancer this morning.

I'm sure you all know who he is but if you don't he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and gave a "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon where he was a professor. It inspired so many people and he appeared on Oprah and his video lecture can be found on her website ,Youtube, TheLastLecture.com. I just got done reading his book "The Last Lecture", and it is wonderful also.

He was an inspiration and advocated celebrated life and achieving childhood dreams.
He was a big Disney fan and was an Imagineer - one of his childhood dreams!

He will be missed! My heart goes out to his wife and 3 children.

I loved this story. That is so sad...my heart goes out to his family.

 

[vbarry]

I am swamped at work so HI everyone!

Just talked to Evie. She is having a blast and really enjoys Ft Wilderness if you can believe it. She says the cabin is very nice and roomy...much better than 2 rooms at Pop. She checked in last night and was going to be late for her ADR at Downtown Disney and they had a van driver pick them up and take them right to the back of the restaurant. I thought that was very nice!

Channing~ I know nothing about Branson. Just looked at it last night though. I am trying to find a place for next week so I booked The Cove Resort in Lake Geneva. Ever been there anyone I have only been up to Lake Geneva once and it was in the winter so I am excited for a weekend trip. Now I have to talk dh into it.

I have to be out of town the next week for work and he gets to go along to this conference so he is not too excited about being gone that much.

Hope everyone has a good day! Gotta run!

Channing~ let me know if you find anything out about Branson (resorts, shows etc) I would love to do that trip sometime.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

V- my company Christmas party was at the Cove once- we liked it! When we go up there though, we prefer Grand Geneva or Timber Ridge (which is a giant indoor water park on the Grand Geneva grounds). We went last year the week after Thanksgiving for a couple of days midweek and it was EMPTY!!!!

Sorry Chan, about Branson, only people I know who have been are senior citizens!!

 

[vbarry]

Thanks Kristin. We stayed at Timber Ridge two years ago on New Years and had lots of fun. I thought about Grand Geneva also.

The Cove looked nice with a great pool for kids and just a walk to downtown.

Is the Grand Geneva nice?? Nice pool? I think you can use Timber Ridge when you stay there but I do not like indoor waterparks in the summer.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I am pretty sure Grand Geneva's pool is inside (and nowhere near as nice as Timberridge). But the hotel rooms at Grand Geneva are BEAUTIFUL!!! I think Timberridge also has outdoor pools, but we were there in November, so I didn't pay any attention.

As for the Cove, yup it is the heart of Downtown. It has been YEARS since I have stayed there though. Make sure you head to Popeyes for a meal though!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

hey Vanessa, I just saw the COVE today. It's totally in the Lake Geneva action area. LOL...there's little shops and the pretty boat rides, beach, just a nice area. We used to go up there to drink and party all the time when I was (shhh) 16 and up. The drinking age used to be 18 and we knew peeps that could get us into the dance clubs and bars. Boy...it looks different druing the day haha...

I used to go up there with my family when I was a kid, too, Michelle!! My uncle had a sailboat harbored there and we'd cruise around all day & have fun swimming in the lake.

My friend and I had a great time. We did eat at Popeyes. It was so so. We both had two Diet Cokes and the second wasn't free!!!! I didn't know ANY restaurants didn't do free refills anymore!!! OMG. I could raise the bill sky high on Diet COkes....oops. WE shopped and walked and sat and chatted...the funniest thing was these two old ladies (I MEAN OLD) drying their pants under that hand driers in the bathroom!! OMG..they wre standing there in their underwear...and they said to us..I bet you gals know what we've been doing.... Um no...forgot the Depends? We were sooo clueless and it was tough not to gawk. NASTY!

My parents took my kids up to the Grand Geneva for a long weekend last summer. They were all bored. LOL

Branson is SUPPOSED to now be a family place haha...I have heard more and more families really do like it!!! I know what you mean though...my grand parents used to go when I was a KID!!!!

CHan

 

[lovemy2boys]

Lesley, I still have a week booked but with the kids' schedules and dh using up most if not all his vacation days I might cancel it or try and modify it so it's a long weekend trip. OR maybe just the girls and me for a shorter stay. I don't think the week would work out for us. My son will not go again - I wouldn't want him to -and I just can't see leaving an 18 yr old home alone for that long!!!

How about AKL in January then????

 

[arbonnette]

V- my company Christmas party was at the Cove once- we liked it! When we go up there though, we prefer Grand Geneva or Timber Ridge (which is a giant indoor water park on the Grand Geneva grounds). We went last year the week after Thanksgiving for a couple of days midweek and it was EMPTY!!!!

Sorry Chan, about Branson, only people I know who have been are senior citizens!!

Me too, Channing. My MIL goes to Branson with her water aerobics class from the YMCA! She has a blast!

 

[Lives4Disney]

How about AKL in January then????

I used to LOVE going in January when the kids were younger and I didn't have to pull them out of school or worry about them missing stuff during the trip. Jan is a GREAT time to go. If you are going then, Lesley...be prepared for cold evenings though. I mean COLD. We had our down jackets from home and would wear those some times! The cold workd forus though and kept all the other unprepared people in their hotel rooms!! We have pics of us being the oNLY ones in LTT and all the characters gushing together over my kids. At one point we were the only people in sight on Main Street!!!! It was sooo neat. I know you are coming from the north too so just watch the forecast and be prepared with your warm winter clothes.

Jojo's bday usually falls on MLK weekend...and we feel bad we've only been down for ours and not hers...ONE of these Januarys we will but i have to be able to leave DS home alone....ugh...to trust a teenager is the issue.

CHan

 

[Lives4Disney]

Me too, Channing. My MIL goes to Branson with her water aerobics class from the YMCA! She has a blast!

Hey....you guys are bursting my big Branson bubbles!!!

It looks pretty!!! There is an 1880s themed amusement park....go carts...the Titanic Museum.......and water parks and boat rentals...

If my kids think Donley's Wild West Town is BETTER THAN DISNEY...how bad can Branson MO be??

OMG..just wait til i post a couple pics from that WWT DAY. You guys will CRACK up.

Chan

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Good Morning Ladies! I have already been out to fill up the wagon and grab some munchkins for the boys. Now I am gonna work for a awhile.

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

Channing - I found the Wella Shampoo and I LOVE it! It takes me back to before I colored my hair and could use the volume shampoos. I found a great new Beauty Express near the house that just opened and they had it.

Also I reserved a Cabana at GF. This chat group has really rubbed off on me. And get this - I even dreamed about GF last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Morning Everyone

 

[vbarry]

Morning gals!

I think I am going to stick with the Cove. It sounds like it will be nice for just a weekend. My girls love to swim and we may take a boat tour and walk over to the beach. Any other good restaurants other than Popeyes??

Channing~ I would go for the Branson thing. You can drive and it is something different. Everyone I have ever talked to says it is fun. Are you planning on going this summer??

We sign up for school next week. Can you believe that??? CRAZY. I am definately not ready.

Hope everyone has a good day!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

DS9 starts school on Sept 3
I already have all the notebooks and supplies. I have to get a backpack and sneakers and stuff like that.

 

[lovemy2boys]

Hey Vanessa, did you decide about the VIP tours? I know you were waffling....

 

[vbarry]

Hey Vanessa, did you decide about the VIP tours? I know you were waffling....

We are going to be one for 2-3 days during Christmas. I called a few weeks ago and they start taking reservations in late August. I just feel this is the best way to enjoy the parks during the holidays and I have never had one person say they did not like it.

It is a lot of $$ but I am sure it will be worth every penny.

 

[lovemy2boys]

I used to LOVE going in January when the kids were younger and I didn't have to pull them out of school or worry about them missing stuff during the trip. Jan is a GREAT time to go. If you are going then, Lesley...be prepared for cold evenings though. I mean COLD. We had our down jackets from home and would wear those some times! The cold workd forus though and kept all the other unprepared people in their hotel rooms!! We have pics of us being the oNLY ones in LTT and all the characters gushing together over my kids. At one point we were the only people in sight on Main Street!!!! It was sooo neat. I know you are coming from the north too so just watch the forecast and be prepared with your warm winter clothes.

Jojo's bday usually falls on MLK weekend...and we feel bad we've only been down for ours and not hers...ONE of these Januarys we will but i have to be able to leave DS home alone....ugh...to trust a teenager is the issue.

CHan

I am especially looking forward to January! Although with all of the weather reports I've heard, I need to bring shorts and t-shirts, BUT ALSO long sleeve shirts, jeans, and jackets! So basically everything! (you hear that one-suitcase-per-family KELLY???? ) It really does sound nice though, I imagine bundling up and sitting outside drinking hot chocolate while watching the animals from our balcony at AKL. Heavenly!
I guess since we've only been in the dead heat of summer, January will be a very nice change. And with a new newborn, it will be absolutely perfect! I can't wait!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

We are going to be one for 2-3 days during Christmas. I called a few weeks ago and they start taking reservations in late August. I just feel this is the best way to enjoy the parks during the holidays and I have never had one person say they did not like it.

It is a lot of $$ but I am sure it will be worth every penny.

How is Evie doing? Are they having fun?