How to make $3600 on your disney vacation! WE DID!! NEW 9/3*The Epilogue, DONE* p. 54

[jamal]

Horsegirlfriendomine, I love your trip report! Please make it last so I can have time to read it! You are The Storyteller.

Love from The Fixer

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

it goes without saying..too much..but i just luv hearing all your news!!!
from the git go...me? to
me, they make these baords "family" & "disney", for real!!!

fyi, what i wrote on the melstormers........ /

was before catchin that...lymi ..!!! please keep on writing! ker-boom!,
ker-bang! ker-your -the-greatest!! *even though i a'm very envious that
i don't have a horsey.....

 

[DVM]

At this rate, the way you make the remaining mysterious $1600 is diligently working hard at your place of employment as you patiently wait to find out where the pot of gold is at the end of the rainbow of a TR TR.

Love the TR, just would like to know the end, or at least where the rest of the ca$h came from.

Maybe the climax came to early in this story for me with the $2000, maybe I'm just mad at the TV show "Lost" and how it goes nowhere, slowly, with a thickening plotline that leaves me hanging.

keep'em coming, i'm still subscribed, and I know how hard it is to find time with kids and fam and job.

 

[rosiejo]

I'm guessing they got bumped on their flight on the way home too!

Hey horsegirl - you should charge a dollar a view of your report and you'd have another 80 grand!

I can't believe how many views this thread has - it's four times more than the entire UK trip reports board put together!

That's some accomplishment

 

[EEyorelover22]

HG...the first time I was at MK in 1980 with my bro and our E Tickets, we rode and rode Space Mountain many times that day and we were stuck, lights came on and we rode it with the lights on. I couldn't stand it with the lights on. DD hates this ride. When we rode it with her when she was 8, I forgot about the single seats she screamed in terror the entire time. I think she has now forgiven me, but I'm not sure!! Your report brought back two memories from MK...thank you!!

 

[burly]

Reading it! Loving it! Keep it coming! Waiting patiently!

 

[Master Gracie]

Much love for the latest installment.

TR writing is not as easy as it looks and you are doing a wonderful job.

Eagerly awaiting the next installment.

 

[horsegirl]

Dearest Friends-

Thanks to each and everyone of you for your patience, and even to those of you who aren't patient with me. I cannot say enough how touched I am by the generosity of spirit I have experienced here on these boards. It makes me so glad to be a human being and capable of experiencing the interchange of thoughts, ideas, emotions, and last but not least humor! I say this with deep honesty.

I am in West Virginia, and heading back north this afternoon. We have a long ride ahead, and thus will dedicate some of the battery life of this laptop to completing day four and possibly day 5 of our february advaenture.

As always, it is impossible for me to address each one of you here. However, suffice to say, I know Each one of you and will find opportunities to say hello in the future.

Happy trails, cowboys!

That nana is for all my buddies over thar, you know, that other place!

That's me!

 

[fizz13]

Hope you have a safe journey home,
Claire xx

 

[L107ANGEL]

I have spent all day reading your posts Horsegirl. I love your writing style! Can't wait to see your next installment

 

[Chapter 11]

I have spent all day reading your posts Horsegirl. I love your writing style! Can't wait to see your next installment

Uh oh, Chachi's in the house. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid ...

 

[*disneyclaire*]

You write so well, Horsegirl! You're totally keeping me interested!

 

[Grammyof2]

You have a wonderful way with words. True talent.

 

[horsegirl]

Day Four-Tuesday, 2/14/06- or Things Happen for a Reason

“Make no small plans…They fail to stir the hearts of man.” Funny how William Shakespeare 500 years ago captured my outlook on life perfectly. These words probably more than any, illustrate my philosophy about life, and vacations.

On this day I wrestle with my desire to Paint the Town! versus go with the flow....The above philosophy compels me to try to do it all! It creates internal conflict within myself but also with my spouse. We got a little bit of a late start this day. I was torn what to do. I wanted to make the most out of each day- no small plans…Should we try to get to MK, and do Splash and POC? Splash is our favorite. Should we go to Epcot? It was morning EMH there and we could hit so much that we missed yesterday. DJ wanted to stay at the resort and relax. Relax? We can do that at home! Of course I tried to lobby my preference diplomatically. He had a point, that we had been pushing the envelope for three days, and we all were tired. Grammy J, my MIL, was coming today too. So that had to be considered in the mix,

My excitement and exuberance won out and we decided to head back to the Magic Kingdom to tackle Adventureland and Frontierland. Sky had been begging for Splash weeks before the trip, Carson is all about pirates and POC is right up his alley, and little Jack, well he was game for anything his brother and sister were into. We stood at Miller's Road bus stop for a while. No buses came. Here is Sky. She is a ham.

After waiting with no luck, we headed to the Hospitality House bus stop.

I had dressed the Kids in shorts today!!!!!!!! It was already 55 at 8:30 and there was bright sun. Great news except now I had to confront my neon white limbs. Not an attractive look. Oh, who cares, my new role as middle-aged housewife negates my need to be a hottie. I put the thought out of my mind and relish in the fact that the cold front is finally on its way outta here…..

We get to the bus stop, and see people leaving and arriving. The ME buses were in full force as the first of the President’s week crowd began arriving. The kids were holding their little valentines hearts of chocolate that had been left on their pillows. Sky clutched her new Dumbo stuffed animal purse, and the boys carried their new Buzz action figures. People began jockeying for position in line. Trying to guess where the bus would exactly stop and open its doors. The kids were beautifully behaved. Each time a bus came. They would say “Is this it?” Lots of buses came. Lots left. None were MK buses. People started getting frustrated. We began chatting with people to pass the time. A set of super great grandparents told us their DVC tales. They had bought several weeks of 2 bedrooms so they could bring all their kids and grandkids here.

Okay, I am not a person that gets jealous of other’s fortune, not even much envy. But I thought wistfully how nice it was that they wanted to come to Disney and spend time with their kids and grandkids. As I have said before, my parents just are not there on this one. A slight longing for a different type of relationship with my parents creeped into my thinking…. But then I remembered Grammy j likes to come, and I got just as much pleasure buying a room for her, so it was all good….

The time trickled on, and the bus stop got crowded. AK, Epcot, MGM, buses came and went. We started noticing MK buses entering the OKW complex but never stopping here. We figured out that they were leaving full, without stopping at this last stop! Several people went and complained to the CMs. Some were outraged, angry and felt robbed. Some decided to take another bus to a different park. Bird in hand thinking. We did the ‘should we, shouldn’t we’ thing and decided to wait for MK. An hour and 15 minutes later one arrived directly to the Hospitality House and left there full for the MK. I was tense and stressed. Hate delays, hate glitches. But willikers, how could we complain? There was no rain, hail, or frost and we were in short sleeves at 10:00.

We arrived at the Magic Kingdom to a full blown massive onslaught of park attendees. I was horrified. I live in terror of sardining it up with capacity crowd swellage at the MK. It was now nearing 11:00. We start to head into the park, and Jack needs a loo. He is very cranky suddenly and DJ disappears up to the bathroom by security before the ticket entrance to the Magic Kingdom. Carson, Sky and I wait. It seems like a long time. We people watch, we make small talk, I watch Sky dance. I look up and start to wonder where DJ is. I see a policeman enter the bathroom. My instinct tells me something is wrong.

Turns out I was right. Jackson, our little Stitch, had turned all 626 on DJ in the bathroom and had a meltdown of epic proportions which apparently brought a policeman in to check out the source of the screaming and crying! Poor DJ. He is the most patient, calm and non-violent person there is. But jack’s 3 days of sleep deprivation and over stimulation had apparently sent him into blood curdling screams of refusing to drop trow in the loo, necessitating DJ doing it for him. They were in there 25 minutes. No arrests were made.

When they came out, we made a decision. This would be a hotel day. We turned around, with an unhappy little adventurous, young Schuyler, who would have to wait another day for her beloved Splash and poor Carson, who had begun reciting pirate lingo.

We had had a frustrating beginning, and several very unhappy children. So we stopped by the poly to get a little aloha spirit and try to salvage the morning.

We wandered around the lobby and walked out to the beach. I love the poly, some of my earliest Disney memories are staying there as a young girl. It was special to me then, and will always hold a place in my heart for many, many reasons. The pool was different then, but my dad, the outgoing jokester, who at times seemed as childlike as us, would through us over his shoulder and we would scream with joy as he did this before landing in the water. Some of the best memories of my life happened here. One day, we’ll stay at the Polynesian again. I am not sure when though.

After the excursion to the Poly, the mood was up again. The kids were happy after cavorting in the sand and relaxing. We boarded the bus, and the phone rang. Grammy J had landed. We set off to meet her and our children were again happy, happy campers. They were finally going to get to swim in Florida and their beloved grandmother was about to join the journey. The bus ride back was upbeat.

I alluded to Grammy J being special. She really is. She shares a birthday with a very special landmark, the Empire State Building. They both turned 75 on May 1, 2006. She is tiny and healthy and walks several miles a day.

We are very, very different in many ways. She was very possessive of her son when I arrived on the scene. I wouldn’t say she welcomed me in instantly. I don’t blame her. She is fiercely loyal to those close to her, and waits before deciding whether someone will pass muster. I am more like a puppy, happy to see anyone, wagging and leaping about for approval. At least I was 13 years ago when we first met. I had had a very adventurous life, not the straight arrow path that some might hope for the mate of one’s son. My outspoken nature and honesty were a sharp contrast to her reserved and cautious nature. My religious views are very different than hers. She was also in the throws of grieving the sudden death of DJ’s dad, and had been locked in a state of profound sadness.

On the flip side, we shared a love of music, although mine includes rock and roll, country, and blues. We both love the theater and books and movies. We both are the renegades in our families somehow metamophasizing into liberals from otherwise conservative families. While everyone in the family danced around her, for fear of hurting her feelings, or disappointing her, I told her like it was, no matter what the issue. I talked to her about her losses, where no one else in the family dared mention it.

Over the years, she mellowed and healed, and became more independent. She became alive again. She is a good woman. How could you not love a woman who will sit on the floor for hours with her grandchildren singing ‘where is thumpkin’? Her love of her 5 grandchildren is utterly real, despite 3 of them not being by birth. She never forgets a holiday, or an important event. She takes an interest in them, and really cares about what they say. She is a tiny firecracker with a heart of gold despite a stoic and strict Lutheran facade.

We drink wine together on family vacations, talk politics, theater and art. When I was at Smith College for grad school, she and I got together several times without DJ. She was shocked at the alternative lifestyle of this Massachusetts town, which is sort of a San Francisco of the East. She and I had deep conversations about alternative lifestyles, and she truly tried to understand. I appreciated her willingness to understand my acceptance of people, regardless of their lifestyles, political views, and religious perspectives. We both grew from this dialogue and I think, came to a better understanding of how to keep the lines of communication open despite huge differences of opinion.

She is invited most times we go on a trip, as she is with DJ’s sister and her family for several reasons. She does not have a spouse to travel with, we enjoy her company, we value her relationship with her grandchildren, and she is a super trooper.

We met at the Hospitality House, and walked through past Olivia’s restaurant to get some lunch on the deck near the pool. It had been empty the last few days, with the cold and rain, but today it was bustling

There was reggae music playing and little Sky ran over and began dancing and wiggling her cute little girl hips. Jack grabbed my hand and led me over to where Sky was dancing with the CM who clearly was in charge of boogying down and lifting spirits up.

It was a great moment! I am not going to miss an opportunity to dance with my children! I love music, although I am a lousy dancer. I love the sun, although I get burned. I love swimming, although I don’t quite fill a suit the way I used to. I love being at Disney, although I wasn’t in the park. I love everything at that moment. DJ sets out to get us a special cocktail, the kids fill up on lunch and we get them into suits to spend the afternoon here at the Sandcastle pool. There is something about deprivation that makes things so much sweeter when you get on the other side. Would I have felt so euphoric if we had had brilliant sunshine from the minute we stepped off the plane?

As it turned out, the late bus and the tantrum resulted in a wonderful day away from the park. No small plans, indeed should include no big plans, to really do it right.....

The kids swam in the pool,

frolicked in the sand and climbed on the sandcastles

and had the time of their lives. Grammy had a nice transitional day to catch up and ease into Florida, and we had lots of time to chat, relax and drink frozen drinks while we watched our adorable children revel in this respite from the cold dark winter up north.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

Yay! Every time a new page is up, it makes me happy!

 

[momrek06]

AHHHH!!! Horsegirl, from my FAV state of MAINE...your FAMILY is B E A U T I F U L!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another great chapter in this fabulous TRIP REPORT!!!!

 

[HaleyB]

Love the pictures! Love the story.

I would say more but I am about to slip into a comma- I need sleep now. But I really do enjoy your reports and I love the pictures.

 

[nicolemarie]

Horsegirl - You are beautiful inside and out! I love your pictures and the way you communicate your heart through your writing. We may be on different sides of the conservative/liberal fence, but we are alike in many ways. We love our family and all things Disney - that's as much common ground as I need! Thanks for the great report.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Great installment. Your day just proves the point that it's nice to have a plan at Disney, but sometimes you just have to go with the flow. I can't wait for the rest.

 

[brandt79]

Love the pictures and of course the story! What a beautiful family - can't wait for the next installment!