Like a Bad Meal (V Keeps Coming Back) - THE END! 1/12/09

[princessjv]

I'm all caught up V, no pictures, but I will check back later in hopes that they will reappear. I look forward to reading you account of the Focker Massive Meet.

 

[Philadisney]

Happy (almost) New Year V & Leo!

 

[aldisneygrl]

Wishing your GATORS a win against those Sooners!

So far those Sooners are Gator Bait!


Congrats to your GATORS!!!

 

[PrincessV]

LOL, this thing's still floating around?! Guess I need to get off my duff and actually update it, hmm?

Know what - I actually had a massive case of Disney burn-out. No joke. By our scheduled weekend in WDW in Dec. I was OVER the place. Just ask LL, who had the pleasure of listening to me fume about DTD parking. Sorry LL! Apparently 6 weekends at WDW over a span of 2 months is too much. Yes, there is such a thing as too much Disney.

But.

I'm better now! I'm not quite ready to return, but I'm getting closer. And I'm definitely ready to come back and FINISH this TR already. So I'll be back, if not today, then tomorrow.


Meanwhile...

How 'bout them GATORS?!?! ​

 

[cmp1111]

Meanwhile...

How 'bout them GATORS?!?! ​

Congrats, V!

 

[jcc0621]

ummm, not to be pushy or anything. ..but didn't you say we were going to get the Fockerfest update????

 

[PrincessV]

I know - I never got time to sit and write! I'm aiming for today or tomorrow... but trust me - the final day isn't very exciting.

 

[PrincessV]

Before I get into this final installment of the final trip of this seemingly-endless trippie, I have to warn you: this last day was NOT exciting. In any way. At all.

Really – no melt-downs, no dinner with 40 imaginary friends, no crazy hurricane-driven rainstorms. It was, simply, a nice day with my boy at the Happiest Place on Earth.


One of the things I enjoy about living so close to WDW is departure day. We have no particular time schedule on these days, as it doesn’t matter much what time we leave. So, instead of rushing to pack, clean up and make a flight time or get on the road early enough to get home before midnight, our departure mornings are usually spent lounging around the room, soaking up those last few hours of resort time.

Leo and I polished off the last of the perishable foods, knowing the strawberries, milk, and cheese wouldn’t last long in the EP parking lot.

Leo enjoyed his breakfast repast in bed. Have I mentioned just how much Leo loves the sofa-beds?! You’ve never seen a kid so excited about a bed.

While Leo ate and watched cartoons, I packed our things up (read: threw all the dirty clothes into suitcases and sat on them ‘till they zipped shut) and took a shower. Which, in retrospect, was pretty stupid, since I was drenched in sweat the moment I exited the room for the first trip to the car.


Good golly, it was HOT that morning! With Fay finally gone, it was once again summer in Central Florida and the sun was beating down. Ugh.

What we should have done was park ourselves at the pool all day.

What we did was go to EP.

I’m trying really hard to remember why, but I haven’t a clue. Even my Plan from that trip says: “check out, Blizzard Beach” for the morning entry. And yet… we went to EP.

Where it was really, really, really hot. Not even all that humid; I think Fay pulled a lot of moisture with her. But searing hot.

Still, we made the best of it, hitting plenty of indoor attractions and trying to stay in the shade as we walked between them. Here’s Leo ready to ride his favorite EP attraction:

I’m pretty sure we went for a swim with Nemo, and we might have hit Soarin’. Frankly, I just can’t remember!


Interestingly, the part I remember most of that day was the time we spent waiting at the dock for a boat to Morocco. I had a hankering for Tangierine Café and there was NO way we were going to walk all the way over in that heat.

It was a long-ish wait, but neither of us was bothered by that. In fact, Leo and I enjoyed some quality time waiting for the boat, talking about how much fun it was to see our DIS friends and remembering all the funny times we’d had the previous few days. It was really, really special, just hanging with my boy in the shade.

As always, the Tangierine Café treated us well… Leo had his usual cheese-hamburger and I had my usual, a chicken wrap. I keep saying that I’ll order something different there one of these days, but that darned wrap always calls to me!


After lunch, we took the boat back to Future World and headed out the gates.

Wait, no we didn’t.

We made a little detour on the way out.

Remember those organic cotton T-shirts I’d seen our first day at POR? Remember how I didn’t buy them because they were too pricey?

Funny, the effect heat-stroke has on my ability to rationalize.

As I’m certain any reader here could have predicted, I found the lovely T’s in MouseGears and came home with not one, but TWO of the overpriced garments.

No regrets – I love them and wear them often!


With that purchase complete, we did leave EP and head back out to our car and a couple of strange surprises.

First, walking down our row, I saw a car running. With no one around. Clearly, someone had forgotten to turn off the ignition in the excitement of arriving at EP and there it sat… all day… idling away its tank of $3.85/gallon gas. Oy.

Second, I went to put something in or get something out of the cargo area of my car and for some reason opened the cooler. The cooler is one of those lunch totes sold at Target, not some industrial Igloo job. So, imagine my surprise when, after sitting for hours inside a closed vehicle in the Aug. sun of Florida, I reached in and found it… COLD! Like, cold enough to have handled milk, cheese and strawberries! I tucked that little bit of information away for future use; I’ll not stress over bringing perishables next time.


With that little discovery made, Leo got comfy and I settled in for the drive home. It’s funny – Leo never naps at home and only rarely and under extreme duress at WDW. But he conks out every time on the drive back!

My little angel!

As Leo slept, I reflected on the amazing journey we’d just completed. I knew some of our DIS friends were also heading home that day, while others continued their vacations for a bit longer. I was, and am still, so glad I’d taken a chance on meeting some lovely, lovely people I’d gotten to know here on the DIS, and I felt, and still fee, so fortunate to have them in my life. Thank you for being my friends!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


As most of you know, Leo and I have made a few return trips to The World since this Aug. one. Many trips, actually. And some got their own little mini-report. Others didn’t. I won’t even attempt to catch you up on all of them at this point – let’s just say, if WDW were a Thanksgiving dinner, we’d have stuffed ourselves silly with the Mouse. Turkey. Whatever. What I’m trying to say is that, by the end of 2008, we’d had enough Disney for a while.


Please – take a moment to compose yourselves.


Yes, we’d hit Disney burn-out. Well, I had at least. By the time we went for a weekend in Dec., I’d had it with the crowds, the transportation issues, the over-priced food and the constant queuing. I decided not to return until at least May 2009.

Now, though… with the holidays past and some settling of chaos in my life… WDW is calling. Can you hear it? I can.

So I’m sure I’ll go back before May. Just when, I don’t know and maybe only for a day here and there. But we’ll be back, for sure.

 

[jcc0621]

Wait, no we didn’t.

We made a little detour on the way out.

Remember those organic cotton T-shirts I’d seen our first day at POR? Remember how I didn’t buy them because they were too pricey?

Funny, the effect heat-stroke has on my ability to rationalize.

As I’m certain any reader here could have predicted, I found the lovely T’s in MouseGears and came home with not one, but TWO of the overpriced garments.

No regrets – I love them and wear them often!

Fuzzy Disney Rationalizing at it's best

First, walking down our row, I saw a car running. With no one around. Clearly, someone had forgotten to turn off the ignition in the excitement of arriving at EP and there it sat… all day… idling away its tank of $3.85/gallon gas. Oy.

Oh no, I hope they had a nextra set of keys with them too!

With that little discovery made, Leo got comfy and I settled in for the drive home. It’s funny – Leo never naps at home and only rarely and under extreme duress at WDW. But he conks out every time on the drive back!

My little angel!

He is a cutie. My question though, how did you take a picture while driving

As Leo slept, I reflected on the amazing journey we’d just completed. I knew some of our DIS friends were also heading home that day, while others continued their vacations for a bit longer. I was, and am still, so glad I’d taken a chance on meeting some lovely, lovely people I’d gotten to know here on the DIS, and I felt, and still fee, so fortunate to have them in my life. Thank you for being my friends!

Now, though… with the holidays past and some settling of chaos in my life… WDW is calling. Can you hear it? I can.

Thanks for sharing the trip(s) with us V. You are a fabulous story teller. I loved meeting you and Leo and can't wait to do it again

 

[Sooze]

It's hard to imagine that kind of heat as I sit here on my Saratoga Springs balcony in jeans, a hoodie, and thick socks! It's chilly here today!

I LOVE the shirts you got! I will buy the tree one as soon as WDW starts recycling better. I've had to carry empty water bottles for miles before finding a recycling can. And all of the plastic plates, lids, forks, etc.?!! Come on!

But anyway. Thanks for taking us along on your adventures. They are always so much fun to read about.

Let us know when you're heading back....

 

[DisneyJo]

It was, simply, a nice day with my boy at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Well that sounds like a perfect day V not boring at all!

Remember those organic cotton T-shirts I’d seen our first day at POR? Remember how I didn’t buy them because they were too pricey?

I'm glad you got them, the tree one is cute!

My little angel!

Awwww bless

So I’m sure I’ll go back before May. Just when, I don’t know and maybe only for a day here and there. But we’ll be back, for sure.

We knew you wouldn't be able to keep away

He is a cutie. My question though, how did you take a picture while driving

I didn't think about that

 

[boysmom5150]

V
Once again you have taken us on an amazing journey.Thanks for sharing with us and finishing this up for us, I know it wasnt easy. I really enjoyed reading this(and frankly anything you pen ). See ya around.
BTW -love the pic of Leo sleeping, you tuckered that boy out
Where you driving taking that pic???

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I think a break from anything is okay V. Yes, even the Mouse. That will make May 2009 even better. Love the photo of Leo sleeping. He's a doll.

 

[aldisneygrl]

V - Thanks again for a wonderful ride! I always love your TR's. And that little boy of yours just gets cuter and cuter!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Wonderful wrap-up. Sounds like a great final day to me! What a cutie Leo is!

 

[englishrose47]

Oh V when in May are you going Lessa and I will be there in May!!!Great ending to your TR !! I didn't find it boring at all !! Those relaxed days are great!!

 

[hematite153]

Before I get into this final installment of the final trip of this seemingly-endless trippie, I have to warn you: this last day was NOT exciting. In any way. At all.

Thanks for coming back to finish it. Despite the lack of calamity, it's still a fun read when told by a storyteller such as yourself.

I packed our things up (read: threw all the dirty clothes into suitcases and sat on them ‘till they zipped shut) and took a shower. Which, in retrospect, was pretty stupid, since I was drenched in sweat the moment I exited the room for the first trip to the car.

Ah...but, just think about how much more sweaty you could have been without the shower... (I don't know how those of you who live in Florida do it!)

First, walking down our row, I saw a car running. With no one around. Clearly, someone had forgotten to turn off the ignition in the excitement of arriving at EP and there it sat… all day… idling away its tank of $3.85/gallon gas. Oy.

Yikes! Actually, I've seen people do that in cold weather to keep their car (and interior) warm. (If it's below -40 it's actually necessary unless you have a block heater and an outlet. But, my experience is that most of the people doing it do so on much warmer days.) So, is it possible that this was someone trying to keep their car cool on a hot day? Scary waste of resources, but, same thinking pattern.

Yes, we’d hit Disney burn-out. ... I decided not to return until at least May 2009.

Now, though… WDW is calling. Can you hear it? I can.

So I’m sure I’ll go back before May.

burn-out = let's not go for 4 months
...and then, even that isn't true.

I LOVE the shirts you got! I will buy the tree one as soon as WDW starts recycling better. I've had to carry empty water bottles for miles before finding a recycling can. And all of the plastic plates, lids, forks, etc.?!! Come on!

I had a CM tell me that they actually sort all of the garbage for recyclables because they don't trust the guests to pay attention to what they toss where. So, it helps them out if you carry the bottle until you find recycling, but, if you toss it in the trash they'll recycle it anyway. (Anyone know if this is true?)

We (finally) brought stainless steel water bottles with us on our last trip and then didn't have to worry about any waste on that front.

I agree with the plastic plates, lids, forks, etc. point, but, think about what a hard time they got for not offering lids and straws at AK for the sake of the animals' health. It worries me that they caved...even if it was to only offer paper straws, since it suggests that public opinion matters more than actual environmental sensibility.

My environmental pet-peeve at wdw is all of the air conditioning blasting out of the open doorways. Not only is it a massive waste of resources, it also serves to actually raise the overall temperature in the area. Argh! I don't mind air conditioning on a hot day (in fact I like it, but, it doesn't need to be quite so cold), but, can't we close the doors so that we won't use extra to heat the outdoors?

 

[PrincessV]

Oh no, I hope they had a nextra set of keys with them too!

OMG, I never thought of that!

My question though, how did you take a picture while driving

I held the camera up over my shoulder one-handed! It took a few tries, but I got it, lol!

Thanks for sharing the trip(s) with us V. You are a fabulous story teller. I loved meeting you and Leo and can't wait to do it again

Thanks so much Janet - and ditto that; can't wait to see you guys again someday!

It's hard to imagine that kind of heat as I sit here on my Saratoga Springs balcony in jeans, a hoodie, and thick socks! It's chilly here today!

I know - and it's getting colder!

I've had to carry empty water bottles for miles before finding a recycling can.

I hear ya - didn't there used to be more of them?

We knew you wouldn't be able to keep away

You did, too! I'm so predictable, aren't I?

V
Once again you have taken us on an amazing journey.Thanks for sharing with us and finishing this up for us, I know it wasn't easy.

Thanks so much for sticking around T2 - I just couldn't leave it unfinished!

Where you driving taking that pic???

Just another of my many Mad Fuzzy Skillz!

I think a break from anything is okay V. Yes, even the Mouse.

ITA - I had to take a break once before and it just made the next few visits all the more fun!

V - Thanks again for a wonderful ride! I always love your TR's. And that little boy of yours just gets cuter and cuter!

Aw, thanks so much my friend!

Wonderful wrap-up. Sounds like a great final day to me! What a cutie Leo is!

Thank you - I wasn't sure I had it in me, so I'm glad it was a good read!

Oh V when in May are you going Lessa and I will be there in May!!!Great ending to your TR !! I didn't find it boring at all !! Those relaxed days are great!!

LOL, I don't have anything planned yet - just a general idea that May might be when I want to go! I'll keep you posted, though.

Ah...but, just think about how much more sweaty you could have been without the shower... (I don't know how those of you who live in Florida do it!)

Nope, showering in the AM makes no difference. In summer, I usually shower at night, run around doing errands in the mornings, and hit the pool in the afternoon. Except when I'm working, and then I take a shower in the morning and go from AC'd house to AC'd car to AC'd office.

So, is it possible that this was someone trying to keep their car cool on a hot day? Scary waste of resources, but, same thinking pattern.

YIKES - I never thought of that!

I had a CM tell me that they actually sort all of the garbage for recyclables because they don't trust the guests to pay attention to what they toss where. So, it helps them out if you carry the bottle until you find recycling, but, if you toss it in the trash they'll recycle it anyway. (Anyone know if this is true?)

Oh, I really hope it's true!

We (finally) brought stainless steel water bottles with us on our last trip and then didn't have to worry about any waste on that front.

Me too! Aren't they great?!

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

.
What we should have done was park ourselves at the pool all day.

What we did was go to EP.

Where it was really, really, really hot. Not even all that humid; I think Fay pulled a lot of moisture with her. But searing hot.

We were in MK that morning....yup, it was HOT!

As always, the Tangierine Café treated us well… Leo had his usual cheese-hamburger and I had my usual, a chicken wrap. I keep saying that I’ll order something different there one of these days, but that darned wrap always calls to me!

YUM!!!!!!!!!!

Remember those organic cotton T-shirts I’d seen our first day at POR? Remember how I didn’t buy them because they were too pricey?

I still love that blue shirt. And still regret that I didn't pick one up. They are so super soft.

My little angel!

What a cutie pie!

As Leo slept, I reflected on the amazing journey we’d just completed. I knew some of our DIS friends were also heading home that day, while others continued their vacations for a bit longer. I was, and am still, so glad I’d taken a chance on meeting some lovely, lovely people I’d gotten to know here on the DIS, and I felt, and still fee, so fortunate to have them in my life. Thank you for being my friends!

It was an incredible time and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it. Thanks to you, T, LL and Jo for suggesting another Focker meet, and for letting a whole bunch more of us tag along.

 

[talicskai]

I know - and it's getting colder!

COLD? It's -12 here today so don't you be whining about hoodies and socks! I sleep in those

5 more weeks and I'll be there too