~How TWO trips became...who knows? ~ It's a TRIP! and an upgrade.... 4/22

[maroo]

I am so excited about my new toy!

I got a new camera about a month ago and have been waiting for a great time to really use it! First...a picture of the camera!

I have to admit, it caught my eye because it is my favorite color. But this camera is SO COOL! It is waterproof to 10 meters down. It also is ok to use on the beach - sand won't hurt it. And it is ok to use in salt water!

I can't wait to use it at the beach this year, too!!




Yesterday I went swimming with Lauren, William and Lisa. We had a blast! And I used the opportunity to test out the underwater part of the camera!


First William...

I was quite impressed with the quality of the underwater pics!


Most of you guys know Lauren. She is severely disabled and can not sit or stand on her own, but in the pool she has a lot more freedom and is able to sorta walk a few steps (if her legs behave) and she "swims" by going under and kicking her legs and then we grab her after we count to 7.

She loves it! She also likes to flip (but I am usually flipping her, so I didn't get any pics of that...maybe next time) and occasionally lets me throw her in the water.

Anyway...here is Lauren swimming...

But this is my very favorite pic!

She looks like she is RUNNING! She isn't. But she looks like she is!



Lauren is photogenic, even underwater!



And of course...it will be GREAT for Disney! I plan to actually ride some WET rides and get cool pics....like going over Splash Mountain! Wouldn't that be cool!??!

 

[jessica52877]

That camera looks great! I have been wanting an underwater camera. I didn't realize they had such nice ones! I might look into this one! Those pictures are crystal clear!

What beautiful pictures of Lauren! I bet she'll really enjoy them. I love that she is all stretched out on her own having fun!

 

[TarzansKat]

Aw man!!! That would be so cool. This is just a half marathon (13.1 miles) and I would love to have someone on the DIS to virtually train with!

You know what, I'd love to virtually train with you regardless of which option you pick. Let me know when you're ready to get started, I could really use an accountability buddy, that's for sure.

And at some point...you would totally get a kick out of doing the half marathon at DISNEY! You get to walk/run down main street...and through the castle...

That would be awesome!

And, wow, I LOVE your new camera! What amazing pictures of the family! I say family, because they really are like family to you. Lauren look so happy underwater. Like it's freeing for her.

 

[If U Had Wings]

The pics are beautiful!

 

[KathyRN137]

Fantastic pictures underwater!! The kids must've had such fun posing!!
That camera will be perfect at the pool and on the wet rides!!


Kathy

 

[maroo]

That camera looks great! I have been wanting an underwater camera. I didn't realize they had such nice ones! I might look into this one! Those pictures are crystal clear!

What beautiful pictures of Lauren! I bet she'll really enjoy them. I love that she is all stretched out on her own having fun!

I was so surprised at the quality of the pictures. And the pool...it is sorta "dark"...it has a dark blue bottom...so I don't know if that made the pictures stand out more? Or if it would be even clearer in a white bottom pool?

Lauren loves to swim!

You know what, I'd love to virtually train with you regardless of which option you pick. Let me know when you're ready to get started, I could really use an accountability buddy, that's for sure.

I will PM you on this!!!!

That would be awesome!

And, wow, I LOVE your new camera! What amazing pictures of the family! I say family, because they really are like family to you. Lauren look so happy underwater. Like it's freeing for her.

They are family!

She looks so happy ALL the time! I wish I could have an attitude like that!

The pics are beautiful!

aw...thank you!!

Fantastic pictures underwater!! The kids must've had such fun posing!!
That camera will be perfect at the pool and on the wet rides!!


Kathy

They did have fun! William, bless his heart, wanted to be in every pic!!

 

[maroo]

Well folks...

You can write it down. June 12, 2009. The day the whole thing changed.

I will have to fill you in on the changes later...because I am not exactly sure how this will work out in the end...

But so far it has involved adding a night to one of the ressies...taking off 4 nights on another one...and adding a completely new ressie...for 4 more nights. Are you confused yet? **Notice...I got an EXTRA night for doing this! How do I always manage to do that!?!

I promise to clear it up...but not today. I have to get to work and have a crazy night planned! Hopefully I will know for sure what I am doing by tomorrow and will try to figure out a way to tell you about it all without confusing you guys AGAIN!

 

[tiggerbell]

And I can't help but add - I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING!!!!-kinda.... It really is a "work in progress", isn't it?

 

[maroo]

And I can't help but add - I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING!!!!-kinda.... It really is a "work in progress", isn't it?

yeah...I SOOOOO pulled a tiggerbell!

No one does this better than you, my friend!

 

[tiggerbell]

yeah...I SOOOOO pulled a tiggerbell!

No one does this better than you, my friend!

I learned it from nebo - "I think, therefore, I tink." as in tinker... with itineraries... although, I think even nebo will admit I've turned it into an art form...

 

[maroo]

I learned it from nebo - "I think, therefore, I tink." as in tinker... with itineraries... although, I think even nebo will admit I've turned it into an art form...

We might need to change your user name to another "bell" I know...

I am in the process of situating the various DIS meets and fridge swaps and other things I had tied to these trips... and then hopefully I can fill everyone else in...

But something REALLY cool could come out of all of this...

 

[TarzansKat]

Um, hon.

I can't keep up with you.

Some clarification please?

 

[KathyRN137]

This oughtta be good....


Kathy

 

[maroo]

This isn't the "real" update yet...it will be forthcoming shortly, though. This has nothing to do with Disney...so feel free to skip it.

This is the LIFE update....the parts that have nothing to do with the trip...well, sorta...

I want to go to Disney - NOW! And not come back. So there is the Disney part.

I could give you a laundry list...but my air conditioner leaked water all over in one of my rooms. It has involved ripping up carpet and may involve removing some dry wall. Anyway...

I saw Lauren's grandmother for the first time tonight since her spinal cord injury. I can't really explain this fully, but they are like family to me. I have no family in MS. I call her "Grandmother" as if she were my own. They invite me over for holidays, etc.

I walked into that rehab hospital room right behind Lauren and seeing Grandmother in that wheelchair and unable to get up and walk out of it was...horrible. She has always helped Lauren and her family...both physically by taking care of Lauren...and also emotionally...just always there for them. And now she is struggling so much. They are doing major PT...hours every day...but she can't stand yet and who knows what she will get back.

Just the fact that TWO members of their small family are sitting in wheelchairs is just too much for me. Lauren and Grandmother. Two peas in a pod now. Someday we will tell jokes about this. But not today.

Anyway...sorry for the late update, but I normally get today "off" and I had Grandmothers shift and took Lauren to wheelchair soccer practice and to the hospital and am just getting back home. Anyway...I am sure tomorrow will be a better day.

Now for the update you guys are really looking for!!

 

[maroo]

This is the DISNEY update you guys are looking for! And it will be DISNEY peppy...ya know what I am saying! Because I get to go to Disney World, which makes me one very lucky person.


Let's do this in stages...maybe lessen the confusion some?

Think SEPTEMBER trip! Remember that one? Free Dining...9 nights at the POP...my friend Sharon is coming with me.

Well....

My nine nights was cut to 5 nights.

I have to be back early for a meeting at work. The meeting is worth it. Really.


So now it is Friday, Sept 4 and checking out on Wednesday, Sept 9th. And I will be driving. Which works out well, because Sharon will be able to hitch a ride with me for the Florida part of my drive! That will be fun!

The credit for the Southwest flights is going to be moved to another trip...more on that later.


This means I am losing my ability to go to the Night of Joy concerts. And now that I can't go...I will tell you what the big secret about all of that was GOING to be...

Wait...did I even tell you guys there was a SECRET...that I was holding back on you guys? Hmm... maybe it slipped my mind.


You see, I have friends in high places in the Night of Joy organizational committee. The singer/songwriter that is in charge of the whole thing...I got to meet him. It was super cool. Al Denson... the singer? You may not know him. Contemporary Christian artist. Excellent piano player!

I used to do backstage stuff for a band when I was in college. The band manager knows Al Denson and knew I would be in Disney for Night of Joy and he vouched for me to Mr. Denson.

Anyway. I was getting free tickets. Backstage tickets. Think green room. I WAS going to be able to entertain some of his sponsors while they were in Orlando. He even mentioned being "in charge of a stage"... At least that is what was being worked out. The details were sketchy and I was not quite sure what all that was going to look like.

Maybe next year.




So, now our trip is going to look more like just a trip to Disney with my friend Sharon. Which I am very excited about! Did I mention we have FREE Dining and I am only paying for a room at the POP?!? Cool, eh! And we will still have plenty of time to hit the parks and do so in a relaxed manner!


But now I need to think through my ADR's.

I KNOW we are keeping - Crystal Palace and California Grill. But I can't decide about the rest of them. (These take 3 of my 5 credits.)

The Boma breakfast was on one of the last days of the trip and I have eaten there before, so I am dropping that ressie.

But this leaves me Teppan Edo, Boma (dinner) and Brown Derby - but only 2 credits left.

I guess the one to drop that makes the most sense is Brown Derby, since it is two credits...but I was really looking forward to that one.

Is it worth paying out of pocket? I am going to have to pay out of pocket for a meal at some point, because we really will be eating for 5 days and I am keeping the California Grill ressie.

So...what do you guys think? We will need a meal when we are at DHS. We will pay for it out of pocket... where should we go? Still to the Brown Derby?

Thank you so, so much for sticking with me through all of this!

And if you are still reading, please say hello!

 

[tiggerbell]

Hello!

 

[maroo]

Hello!

You crack me up.

Hello!!

 

[hematite153]

Yes. (I think it is worth paying out of pocket for a lunch at HBD if you use your credits for 2 meals at Teppan Edo and Boma. In fact, I suspect you'll find that the Boma dinner costs about the same as a HBD lunch, so, it's not really a good use of credits--especially if you're going to pay out of pocket for a meal somewhere anyway.)

I'm glad you're still going despite the need to get home earlier than originally planned.

 

[Sandy321]

go to allears.net and check prices - for us, it was cheaper to pay out of pocket for our California Grill meal!! (we ate the cheaper menu item - chicken, which was the BEST chicken meal EVER! and if I had the DDP I would've eaten a "more expensive" item - STEAK... so check that out! I've read mixed reviews on HD - but that's par for the DIS I do know the grapefruit cake was a "must do" but now they admit they changed the recipe and its a "not so much"!!

AL DENSON and you kept it a secret?!

well, ok, if you "say" so (about it being ok that you have to be at work for a meeting - I'm sure it has to do with the real life, and paying bills... )

 

[TarzansKat]

First of all, I am so sorry to hear about Grandmother. I hope she has a speedy recovery.

Second, I feel a little that you want to drop the Brown Derby. Am I allowed to throw a hissy fit on someone else's ptr? Picture this but with this face .

Okay, here's the deal. Typically, Mom and Nana go to the Brown Derby for lunch. I don't know how that fits in your plans, but this is what they do. They order the Cobb Salad (which is a main course at lunch), and split it, with a couple of glasses of champagne. It's a nice, light lunch, and fairly inexpensive since they're splitting a meal. If you want to do the Brown Derby OOP, it is totally doable.

Now, when my husband and I went last year, we did eat there for lunch and pay OOP. We both had the shrimp appetizer, I had a Citron Limeade (alcoholic), he had a Coke. For our main course, I don't remember what he had, but I had the Cobb Salad, and we both got dessert. With tip, that meal rain us just under $100 for 2 people. So if that helps to know what it costs when you go all out. Now, I normally don't eat like that. At. All. But I love the Brown Derby.

This year, I'm leaning towards it as well, but we'll go for dinner. Now, for dinner the Cobb Salad is only listed as an appetizer, and it's meant to be split between two or more people. This works for me, because I'll usually split with Mom and Nana and not be too full, and I can still order a main course and dessert.

Anyway, I don't know if my long and convoluted explanation helps, but the more I think about it the more I realize how much I love the Brown Derby, and I just want to share it with other people! There's a lot of talk on the boards about whether or not it's "worth" two table service credits, and financially, maybe it's not, depending on what you order.

But to my mind, during free dining, you're not paying for your meals. They're free. So what's "worth" it is whatever you're going to enjoy the most and whatever experience you want to have. The food will always be good or bad and people will always like it our not.

What's your gut instinct?