May Vacay - Let's celebrate the end of the school year. But why is it surface of the sun hot? (Updated 10/28)

[honeymo78]

You and Barb sound like my mom and her friend who has joined her on two trips at Disney - we are waiting for her to ask about 2026. The whiplash from the mood changes is real. I'm so thankful that my mom and I are good travel companions at least 90% of the time and our vacation styles/temperments align since I haven't been on a trip without her since 2014

 

[Stacybaeasm]

While I was reading this update, I found myself thinking the same thing! Bless you and your patience for not doing that. LOL What a night!!!! At least you had some nice conversation over dinner anyway. I hope tomorrow was a less stressful affair!

I am not known for my patience in situations like this so it was a struggle. I do think she is having memory issues of some kind so I kept reminding myself that some of this behavior could be related to that. But goodness, I am not built for this.

You and Barb sound like my mom and her friend who has joined her on two trips at Disney - we are waiting for her to ask about 2026. The whiplash from the mood changes is real. I'm so thankful that my mom and I are good travel companions at least 90% of the time and our vacation styles/temperments align since I haven't been on a trip without her since 2014

We had so much less conflict at Thanksgiving but I think that was due to a couple of things: 1) It wasn't as hot (which helps my mood/patience considerably) and 2) I gave in on a lot of things. The 2nd one led to me feeling slightly resentful as I look back on the Thanksgiving trip. I vowed not to do that this time and I think me fighting to do what I wanted to do was a problem.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Although I love reading about your trip, I hope you don’t plan to travel with Barb again. There’s definitely a compatibility issue for you both. Sometimes it’s hard to know one’s travel style and one gets surprised. Since you have struggled with Barb at least twice, you know what you are getting. Sounds like your solo trip planned for this coming Thanksgiving is definitely the way to go. You have so many friends/relatives that you meet up with during your trips which adds joy to your solo trips without crowding you into the insanity you had with Barb.

 

[disneyAndi14]

Oh Prickly Barb makes for an interesting TR, haha
She wants what she wants
Riviera has some excellent desserts
Excited to hear more!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Although I love reading about your trip, I hope you don’t plan to travel with Barb again. There’s definitely a compatibility issue for you both. Sometimes it’s hard to know one’s travel style and one gets surprised. Since you have struggled with Barb at least twice, you know what you are getting. Sounds like your solo trip planned for this coming Thanksgiving is definitely the way to go. You have so many friends/relatives that you meet up with during your trips which adds joy to your solo trips without crowding you into the insanity you had with Barb.

I will NOT be traveling with Barb any time soon. We just don't do things the same. I think part of the problem is she doesn't realize that I'm not 12 anymore and I don't take orders well. And I do think she has memory issues and she just forgets things. I get really frustrated with that. And I know better than to do that. I've spent some time learning about alzheimers and dementia and I know you can't react. Unfortunately, I didn't handle it well this time.

Oh Prickly Barb makes for an interesting TR, haha
She wants what she wants
Riviera has some excellent desserts
Excited to hear more!

She does want what she wants. And so do I. Maybe it's the whole "can't be 2 alphas in 1 pack" thing. The world isn't ready for that.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Day 5, Part 1
Magic Kingdom - There's a storm brewing
​

Today was another Magic Kingdom day - with Barb. Goals for today: rides in the morning, pool time, dinner at Liberty Tree, fireworks, and FUDGE!!

I started the morning worried a bit about how the day would go, based on yesterday. I honestly wasn't looking forward to much of the day but there was a slight hope that things would go better. I did my usual - get right out of bed and get ready for the day. Barb was much slower to get up. So slow, in fact, that I finally had to prod her a bit with the reminder that we were supposed to leave the room no later than 7:45. She finally got moving (with a lot of grumbling) and I think we walked out of the room at 7:50. Not a tragedy but I am one of those "early is on time" people so I was a little put out already. Then Barb mentioned we had to stop by the Everything Pop store because she forgot deodorant and a toothbrush. Ma'am, you brought 2 suitcases and a large bag for 2.5 days and you don't have either of those things??? I'm sure I rolled my eyes but what can you do?

We stopped at the store and what should have been a 3 minute grab and go situation turned into 15 minutes. We had to debate the color of the toothbrush and the type of deodorant. It was the Mary Poppins shopping all over again. I watched one bus come and go. When the next bus pulled up, I said I'm going out to get on the bus. Come when you are ready. Well, she didn't like that but it at least put a hustle in her. We made it on the bus and were soon off to MK. While on the bus, Barb decided to bring up the fact that I do not speak to her other sister. Mind you, this has been going on since 2000 so clearly, I'm not changing. However, Barb feels like the matriarch of the family and ORDERED me to start talking to my other aunt. After several minutes of this, I put my foot down and said "This isn't happening and I'm done discussing this." My warm, fuzzy "Yay, Magic Kingdom!!" feelings were definitely missing this morning. The day was also very cloudy and humid so the weather didn't feel like helping things along either.

Once in the park, we needed to decide where to start. We had completely missed early entry but it was still early enough that lines weren't long. We started with Jungle Cruise since we both like this ride. We had a really funny skipper who told the same joke over and over and over which tickled me for some reason. I also noticed he had a blue shirt on. I thought maybe we got someone in management that morning but Scotty later told me that the blue shirt is what they get from central costumes if they forgot their uniform that day. Oh well, I thought we were special for a hot second.

After Jungle cruise, we headed over to Pirates for a quick ride with Captain Jack.


After we got off, Barb started saying that she was hot and that she wanted breakfast. Ok, what do you want for breakfast? She had no idea. Now, at some point the day before, she had mentioned doughnuts. We were walking by the place with beignets so I suggested those (close to a doughnut, right??) Nope. That was the wrong move. Beignets are disgusting! Why would I even suggest that? I mentioned the doughnut thing and got a lecture about how they are not the same. Got it. No beignets. A simple no would have been fine but ...got it. I think I mentioned a couple of other options and got no's to everything. By this point, we'd gotten to Haunted Mansion so we stopped for a quick visit with the 999 happy haunts (at least someone was happy at this point.)


As we got off, Barb again said she was hot and hungry. I asked again what she was hungry for and again, no answer. I decided that I was going to Friar's Nook and getting those amazing tots again and suggested that. She made a face and asked what else we were going to do this morning because she wanted to go back to the room. I said my only goals left for the morning were to get breakfast (because by this point, I was hungry) and to get fudge. Barb asked where we had to go for fudge. I said Storybook Circus. Where is that? I pointed and said up that way. Where? I then said "Do you remember where we had the sugared nuts at Thanksgiving and sat on the wall?" Yes, that she remembered. I said "Well, the wall is right in front of Storybook Circus" "But where is the fudge?" "Barb, the fudge is in Storybook Circus." "But where is that?" "It's up past Little Mermaid." We walked a few steps. "Where is this circus thing?" "Barb - it's up that way. Past Little Mermaid. By the place we ate nuts at Thanksgiving. By Dumbo." "But where is it?" Ok, I'll admit, this next part isn't my finest moment because I fully lost my patience and completely raised my voice. "I don't know any other way to explain this to you. It's up that way - past Little Mermaid by Dumbo!!!!"

Barb did a full stop in the middle of the walkway. "Don't yell at me like I'm 5 years old. I'm just asking a question." Yes - a question you have now asked 5 times. A question I have answered 5 times. Each time you seemed like you understood until you took 2 steps and then forgot. I don't know how else to tell you where we are going. And then Barb said she didn't want to be with me right now and she was going back to the room. Excellent. I'm going to have breakfast and get fudge. And we went our separate ways.

I headed up to Friar's Nook and got my tots, a diet coke, and some water. I had just gotten settled when the skies opened up and it started POURING! I am so glad I got a table under the roof section. I took my time eating and waiting for the rain to at least slow down. Eventually, I finished and the rain had slowed to a drizzle. I put on a poncho and headed up to Storybook Circus. There, I took my time looking at all the goodies and ended up buying 2 pieces of fudge and one of the giant chocolate chip Mickey shaped cookies. Treats in hand, I decided to head back to Pop to rest a bit and get some pool time in since it seemed to be getting sunny. On the way to the buses, I also got a message that changed the plans for the evening. One of my friends (and former students) was performing in Fantasmic! that night. Well, I clearly have to go see her so once again, a Disney trip with no Happily Ever After fireworks. But hey - I would get to see Fantasmic! twice.

I got to the bus stop and there was a bus waiting. I hopped on and started to settle in when who should get on but Barb. Oh yay (can you hear the sarcasm??) However, she reacted like nothing had happened and sat down next to me and started chatting with a family across from us. She was giving them all kinds of advice and much of it was wrong. I let most of it go until she told them they could get on a boat at Disney Springs and go all the way to Beach Club and Hollywood Studios. The family got really excited about that so I felt like I had to correct the information. I said - actually, from Disney Springs you can take a boat to Saratoga, the Treehouse, Old Key West, and both Port Orleans resorts. There is also a boat that runs between Beach/Yacht club and Studios but they are different boats because it is different waterways. Yeah, I was not popular again after that.

We got back to Pop and both of us headed to the room. I immediately got ready for the pool, packed my bag with sunscreen, books, water, and snacks and headed out. I don't know what Barb was going to do. I headed back to the Bowling Pin pool (my pool of choice for this trip) and found a lounge chair under an umbrella. Excellent!! Now I can stay for a few hours. I spent time sitting in the shade and reading and also getting in the pool and floating around. At one point, I looked up (I could see the room from the pool) and saw Barb going in and out of the room. Shortly after, I got a text from her saying she couldn't deal with my disrespect any longer and she was leaving. I should just spend the rest of my time with my friends/former students since that's what I wanted anyway. Honestly, I was relieved. I called my mom to let her know that I probably got written out of the will (again) and then just relaxed for a few hours until I needed to head up to the room to get ready for the evening.

And that's where I will leave you for now. Not a fun update at all. And spoiler alert - Barb hasn't spoken to me since. I texted her for her the 4th of July and for her birthday but she didn't acknowledge either of them. And here's where I might be the jerk - I don't care. I can admit I had some moments that weren't my finest and that I am half of the problem here. But I wasn't the only one who was disrespectful (I left out some of that because it involves family drama and also her calling me some not nice names that aren't appropriate for the Dis) but she will never admit to being at fault. At least I won't have issues at Thanksgiving, right??

Up next: afternoon fun at MK, dinner at Liberty Tree, and Fantasmic!

 

[missjackiemcg]

"This isn't happening and I'm done discussing this."

Definitely a chat for another time--NOT on the way to the most magical place on earth!

Scotty later told me that the blue shirt is what they get from central costumes if they forgot their uniform that day. Oh

I think maybe I missed this--is Scotty a former student? family member? I don't remember the relationship. Either way, an interesting tidbit! I'm surprised they would let a CM do the attraction "out of costume." I definitely would've thought it was a manager of some sort, too!

it started POURING! I am so glad I got a table under the roof section.

There is still something so magical about sitting (dry!) and watching a Florida rain! Nice timing, as well, to enjoy your breakfast and wait it out.

spoiler alert - Barb hasn't spoken to me since

At least I won't have issues at Thanksgiving, right??

Well, that stinks, BUT silver linings, right?? Seems like there is clearly more going on, as I believe you mentioned maybe she's getting more forgetful, etc. My grandma died from Alzheimer's, and I remember during some of the early years how forgetful, but also how downright angry and nasty she could be at the time. #1 I hope that's not her diagnosis because it's simply awful, but more importantly, I hope there is some resolution to be had someday for you both.