How Much Do You Ladies Charge to Haunt the Castle? -- Departure Day up (See index

[pas130]

I am loving all the Happy thanksgiving "stickers" (as DD would call them)

Hope everyone had a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

As my longtime followers know, there is one thing we do before we exit and head home (or the last few years...to Marco Island).

My dad passed away four years ago this past August and was truly my best friend and the love of my life. He was only able to do one Disney trip with us and that was when Andy was about 2 years old (he never got to go with Markie because his health would not allow it). But he would take the kids to the zoo, etc., and would always buy them a balloon. In my dad's memory, Mark and I buy a balloon and pass it along to a child in his memory every Disney trip. Although I think of my dad every single day, this is my way of letting him know I remember how great he was with his grandkids and how much we all loved him.

We picked a purple Mickey Mouse balloon and passed it on to a little girl this trip. The parents were very grateful that we chose their daughter and thanked us and said my dad was very lucky to have me as his daughter to do such a nice thing in his memory.

I knew it was coming and yet I'm still sitting here in tears. Such a lovely way to remember your Dad.

Happy Thanksgiving Kathy!!

 

[KatMark]

What a lovely ending of the trip. Buying a balloon to remember your dad is a great tradition. I hope you will write a trip report from your next trip. It was so much fun reading your trip report.

Thank you...having lost my dad a week before our 25th anniversary trip four years ago, it was something at that time I needed to do and decided to make it an annual tribute. There's still more of this one to go with Marco and Nicki, but I will be doing a TR for December trip as well.

That is such a wonderful tradition, and I'm sure the kids that get those balloons think so too! A great way to remember your father.

Thanks so much...I appreciate it.

Always enjoy seeing the photos from The Plaza - our family has the same tradition... and as you know, we have the balloon tradition in honor of our Toby (also an August angel day). Always makes me tear up when I read your last day...even though I know you are off to Marco and more fun.

Thank you, Christine. We do share that balloon tradition...both of our August angels. Marco, as always, was a blast.

Cute picture. Love it! Glad you had such a nice visit!

Thanks; sad they can't come home because of Alisha's work schedule, but glad we got some time with them.

I think this has to be one of my all time favorite hats. Seriously - who thinks of these things?????

Seriously, I have no idea.

Yummy lunch.

Lunch at Plaza is always yummmy (we should keep this one in mind for our "ladies lunch" in June.

You know how I feel about the balloon. It's such a lovely and touching tradition!

Thank you.

Kathy, I just read the part of your post about the memory balloon aloud to Marc. Oh my goodness, I was choked up.
What a wonderful way to honor the memory of your father.

Thank you. I know that he is smiling up above every year we do it.

We have had the Plaza for our heading home meal more than once. It really is good, I adore the meatloaf there and Marc the cheeseburger...

We have never had a bad meal there.

Have you been able to pack anything for next month? I guess it will be hard to get it done with Mark not figuring something out.

I can't pack a darn thing. I've picked up a few things...light weight gloves, headband, socks, make-up removers which I've thrown in my suitcase without him seeing. I'm afraid all packing will get done after we reveal the surprise the night before we leave.

Awww your last day, meal and the balloon tradition. So touching Kathy.

Thanks, Pat.

16 more days

We are down to two weeks from today.

Love the last day tradition! Very touching!!!

Thank you.

My hubby and I are eating at the Plaza for the first time this trip, although this is our 12th trip to the world! I guess we are really behind!! Looking forward to leaving in 3 days!!!

I really think you will like the Plaza; be sure to save room for dessert. And, if I don't see you here on the DIS before then, have a magical trip.

 

[KatMark]

Finally caught up! Work keeps taking priority to my Dis-ing. For some reason they think I should give them my 100% attention after a vacation!

I hope you had a wonderful vacation. Are you doing a TR?

I had a tear in my eye reading about the balloon. Such a wonderful tradition! What a great way to end a wonderful Disney trip! I cannot believe you are going back in 16 days! So exciting! I cannot wait to hear how Mark reacts!

Awww.thank you. I enjoy seeing a little child's face light up like my kids' did when grandpa bought them a baloon. I can't believe I only have two weeks to get everything done.

Don't mind me...

Just catching up from page 33.



So you didn't want to drink tequila to stay on schedule but you just stood there for 40 minutes? You should of went back and did some tequila shots!

Who knew it was going to rain. And I don't like tequila anyway...I'm too old for that nonsense.

You look so happy to be there...

You should be smiling after drinking that.

I was wet, it had been a long day and I'd only taken a couple sips by then. Trust me, I was smiling when I was done.

Continuing on....

Great pictures from the WS…

Thank you.

Loved your do nothing day… LOL Seems like you did a lot!

Well, we did a lot but we didn't run around a park so that was a "do nothing" day to me.



I can't believe you took this picture!!!

The things I'll do for my DIS friends.

Nice crane!

Well one good thing about going in two weeks and then in June and then in August, there won't be a crane in my pictures.

You should be crying that another trip went by and you didn't get to meet me.

Tim, I swear, if I have to do a 3 day trip the next time you go, I am going to meet you. You were one of the first close friends I met here on the DIS and now one of the last to meet.

You're welcome!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I just wish I had listened to you and went the first time when we cancelled becuase the loittle urchins had tired us out on that trip. It is a favorite now for sure. And I'll be back there on our trip in two weeks.

Glad you found that amusing.

It was like we were kissing robots.

 

[KatMark]

That is so funny. We love the stepsisters!

How are they at 1900 Park Fair? Are they only there for dinner or are they there for breakfast too?



She was a hoot!

AWWWW... poor Mark. We LOVE IASW!!!!!!!!

After you ride it as many times as we have, you may change your mind.

What a wonderful thing to do Kathy.

Thanks, Tim. It sure makes me feel good....I miss my dad every single day.

You guys really took a lot of great PP pics this time! They really came out great!

Thanks...we had a lot of fun with them this year.

OK... well I skipped all the witty banter and I am not officially caught up!

You are "not" caught up? I guess you meant you are.

 

[KatMark]

Kathy, the story of your balloon tradition made me cry. What an amazing way to honor your dad.

Oh...I didn't mean to make you cry.

On a lighter note, those stepsisters sound like an absolute hoot! Love that the one had her skirt over her head! We've always really enjoyed them at 1900, but the Maddie never seems to want to meet them at MK. May have to over-ride her next time.

I would definitely override Maddie on this one.

Oh the smile on a mama's face.... that's an adorable photo of you and the kids.

Thanks...they are my babies.

What a wonderful tradition with the balloon to memorialize your dad, that is so touching and special.

Thank you; I know it makes a child feel special just like my dad did with my kids.

I think I will be starting a new tradition with ending our WDW trip with Plaza Restaurant.. It's our last stop before we leave too.

Isn't it great? It's so good after all those heavy meals we eat.

Can't wait to hear how the surprise turns out. And of cours all the antics and fun of your upcoming trip.

Thanks; it's getting harder and harder NOT to show any excitement about it around the house.

I know your tradition with the balloon at the end of the trip and yet I still get teary eyed reading about it! Great update, Kat.

Thanks, my friend. I appreciate it.

Thanks for the hug...it still hurts that he is gone.

Love the tradition with the balloon for your dad. Such a nice idea. Looks like you guys had a wonderful last day at Magic Kingdom..despite a few rides being down!

Thank you; I tried for a week to think of something to do for my dad...but the balloon just kept coming back and back to me and that's what I went with. It was a great last day even though we never did get on Splash Mountain.

What a wonderful way to end your last day at Disney....good food and good memories!

Thanks, Lisa. I appreciate it.

 

[KatMark]

You can never have enough rides on Big Thunder.

Unless you are Scotty.

Also an excellent choice.

I thought so.

You guys look pretty intense in your ride photo, but I think mine was still worse.

Oh yours was definitely worse!

Mmmm...grease...

Like I saId comfort food.

That's in the 10 Commandments somewhere, right?

ABSOLUETELY!

I don't get tired of hearing that story. It's a great tradition and a wonderful way to honor your father.

Thank you friend.



Oh, it wasn't too sad....

We would be seeing Nicki soon.

sorry to have been MIA for a few days...was painting and building new furniture for Megan's room last week and slowly getting caught up!

Hope it went well.

breakfast at Kona's looks so yummy, so need to try that so I can get the pressed pot!

Oh you really must.

the photos and interaction with the Step is PRICELESS! we had a great time with them the last time we had dinner at Park Fare~

One of the highlights of our trip.

lunch at the Plaza looks yummy too, another place we have yet tried~

You haven't tried the Plaza?

and the tribute to you dad always touches my heart

Thank you.

Just like you can't have enough rides on Tower of Terror..... right Mark?

I'm with you on that one Tim.

Of course not. Nobody says that. It's like begging for more brussels sprouts.

Or Scotty begging for more rides on Big Thunder?

What a great ending to your time in Disney!!

Thanks, Amanda.

Glad to hear that the Plaza was good as usual. I really wouldn't mind going back there soon. Food is yummy and the price is great!

You can't beat consistently good food and great prices.

As always, your balloon tradition made me tear up. I think it's a fantastic way to honor your dad and to give some pixie dust to a child.

Thanks.

caught up on the last few updates...my man getting a Reuben sandwich, his stock just keeps going up on the cool meter.

that is my all time favorite sandwich.

Mark is glad his stock keeps going up with you.

and what is it with disney coke, i can chug a few glasses at every meal we have there, but at home am good with one. i think they put something in it to make you drink more and spend more money.

I've not figured it out because I really detest Diet Coke...I'm a Diet Pepsi gal.

It is a shame that breakdowns seemed to be taunting you, but it seems like you got to do plenty of fun stuff anyway.

We'd done Pirates a couple of times in the trip so it wasn't too big a deal, but I really wanted to get on Splash Mountain.

As much as leaving the parks for the last time is not fun or good in any way, I always have a different kind of appreciation for it whenever I read about your last day tradition. That really is a cool way to honor your father's memory.

You made my night...thank you.

The meal at the plaza is a nice last day touch too.

Love my Plaza...have to book that for June and August (we had it booked for next month until we got Be Our Guest).

 

[KatMark]

wishing you all a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

Thanks, Lisa. I hope you and Megan had a great day.

your balloon tradition always makes me smile. What an amazing thing to do!!!

Thank you, Ann.

The balloon tradition is such a sweet tribute. I'll bet you made one little girl very happy! It is always feels so good to do something for others that they may not ever do for themselves.
Even the littlest things are great when you see the smiles you create. I love to give away fast passes if I am not going to be able to use them. (harder now with the time restraints, but we still passed on some TSM FPs this fall when the ride was down during our return time). And we had a counter service meal left on our tickets the day we were going home, so I paid it forward and bought the people behind us in line a meal.

You made the most of your last day! Can't wait to see some Marco Island photos!

Thank you. I love passing along some pixie dust. Very nice of you to use a counter service meal for the people behind you.

Marco pictures will start coming in the next update.

You are such an amazing lady Kathy, I just love you. I am all caught up and wanted to say:

Oh, Judy, I love you too. Thank you for being you and for the Thanksgiving wishes (sorry I had to delete the quoted photo so I didn't go over).

Just stopping by to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

D~

Thanks, D. I hope you and the family had a great day.

I think I'm finally caught up! I loved the meeting you guys had with the Tremaines, they seem like they would be so much fun! And your pic with the Fairy Godmother was adorable!

Welcome home, Jen; we had a lot of fun with the Tremaines, and the Fairy Godmother was so sweet.

I love that your last meal is always at the Plaza. Or last day tradition is usually just going to Epcot!

We actually thought of going to Epcot on our last day this trip, but we just couldn't miss the Plaza.

I think it is so sweet that you buy a balloon for a child in memory of your dad on each trip. I'm so glad the people you gave it to were so grateful!

Thanks...good feelings were had all around.

I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you; hope you and Brandon had a great Thanksgiving.

Thank you...hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

To You and Mark and the family!!

Thanks, Rosie.

Kathy I hope you and your family have a very special and Happy Thanksgiving!

Two weeks.......

Hi, Marv...thank you; hope you had a great day.

Can you believe it...just two weeks!

 

[KatMark]

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thank you, Christine. Hope you had a great day.

I am loving all the Happy thanksgiving "stickers" (as DD would call them)

Hope everyone had a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stickers...I love it. We had a great day and hope you did too.

I knew it was coming and yet I'm still sitting here in tears. Such a lovely way to remember your Dad.

Happy Thanksgiving Kathy!!

Awww thanks, Brook. I hope you, Joe and Henry had a great Thanksgiving.

 

[Poolrat]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING KATHY and MARK.

Hope you had a great day!!!!

2 weeks!!!!!

 

[dutchdisneyfamily]

I've enjoyed your TR! You two look like you have so much fun! My family and I will be at WDW from June 6-14. If I spot you I'll wave. We're from IL as well.

 

[KatMark]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING KATHY and MARK.

Hope you had a great day!!!!

2 weeks!!!!!

Thanks, Pat. We had a lovely day, hope you did as well. 13 days and counting.

I've enjoyed your TR! You two look like you have so much fun! My family and I will be at WDW from June 6-14. If I spot you I'll wave. We're from IL as well.

Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Pleaes do more than wave...stop and say hello...I would be delighted.

 

[KatMark]

Now the problem or job is to get THEM on the tree. Mark told me I could not buy any next year. Yeah, we will see about that.

 

[dizneeat]

Kathy, he said NEXT year! So this means you can buy as many as you like THIS year! Oh my, I cannot wait for the surprise to be revealed!

 

[Janet B]

Kathy
I hope you and Mark had a wonderful thanksgiving! Sadly I never got caught up on your TR but hope to follow along for your upcoming trip

Love all your ornaments! I agree with Karin, buy as many as you want THIS year

 

[englishrose47]

Of course not. Nobody says that. It's like begging for more brussels sprouts.

Hey I'd taske more brussel sprouts over ToT any day !!!

 

[englishrose47]

I too am NOT caught up!!! Wasn't that Tim and not our infamous speller Dan !!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Kathy, he said NEXT year! So this means you can buy as many as you like THIS year! Oh my, I cannot wait for the surprise to be revealed!

Karin said exactly what I was thinking!! Buy buy buy in December...and I can hardly wait!!!

 

[KatMark]

Kathy, he said NEXT year! So this means you can buy as many as you like THIS year! Oh my, I cannot wait for the surprise to be revealed!

I love the way you think!

Kathy
I hope you and Mark had a wonderful thanksgiving! Sadly I never got caught up on your TR but hope to follow along for your upcoming trip

Love all your ornaments! I agree with Karin, buy as many as you want THIS year

No worries, Janet. I'll be posting a link here when I start the next TR.

Hey I'd taske more brussel sprouts over ToT any day !!!

Rosie, you don't know what you are missing.

Karin said exactly what I was thinking!! Buy buy buy in December...and I can hardly wait!!!

I do love the way you ladies think.

 

[marvali]

Hi, Marv...thank you; hope you had a great day.

Can you believe it...just two weeks!

Yes, after all the plotting and planning for so long, it is hard to believe that all the surprises will have been revealed two weeks from now.....