Sad comment from a mom I work with

[DisneyPhD]

LOL about taking a "fairy" to get there. I know you meant ferry, but I can't help but picture hitching a ride on Tinkerbell!

Ha Ha, your right! I can just see tinkerbell transporting families to the Island. Especailly since it is a car ferry!

I guess I have a little too much pixi dust and magic on my mind!

 

[corrinna]

one question......................what does anyone learn from spending a week on a beach in the middle of nowhere? Do they take educational games and workbooks for the kids to work on? (oops that was 2 questions).

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

A vacation is about play. Whether you learn something valuable (valuable being subjective, of course) is irrelevant. For us, it's about fun and new adventures. It's about planning our adventures and delighting in new experiences and the anticipation of experiencing our favorite things again.

Mostly, it's about making great memories. The kind you will tell your kids about when you're a parent. The kind that let you know how fortunate you were as a child. Some of my fondest memories are of day trips to Disneyland, where my father took us about 3 times a year. We would wait all morning for him to finish his errands, etc and get home so we could GO! My brother and I would sit down the night before and plan which rides we'd go on and in which order (eat your heart out, UG!!) The ride there seemed to take FOREVER (even though it was about 20 minutes) and whoever spotted the Matterhorn first from the freeway won! No prizes, of course, just bragging rights for the remainder of the car ride until we got to the DL parking lot. My dad would get our tickets and give us each a booklet of ride coupons (yes, I'm THAT old) with the understanding we would all meet at 5 pm at the Carnation patio where the big bands would play. My brother and I would take off running to Tom Sawyer's Island first. By the time we made it to Carnation, my parents would have scouted out a table and obtained squatter's rights. My dad would patiently go wait in line and get everyone's food and as soon as we'd begged our parents for their E tickets (the GOOOOD rides!) we would be off in a flash. After Tinkerbelle's flight and the Fireworks, we would walk down Mainstreet and hit up the Candy Palace where we could buy one small box of candy each for our souvenir. I had a ton of those small clear plastic boxes with the Disneyland logo embossed in gold on top. I used to try and see how long I could make the candy last. One time it lasted so long it went bad. I LEARNED something from that. If you have candy, eat it now.

In any case, Disney has provided me some of my fondest memories. I love the fact the parks are clean, safe and G rated. How many things can you say that about?

Mrs Henry... enjoy your visits to WDW. Making memories as an adult is just as important as when we were kids. Pity your co-worker who believes there isn't something beneficial or educational in a vacation of play and adventure.

See you at WDW!

 

[DisneyDotty]

ExPirateShopGirl--That is the best story I've read in a long time. You made me think I was remembering events from my childhood, and I've never even been to Disneyland! Thanks.

 

[techmonkey]

Hey Tech Monkey, where are you from? My father grew up spending his summers on Ocracoke Island. His mother was born there and his uncle lived there (and his father owned serval houses there.) I haven't been in a few years since 2002, but look forward to going this summer with my whole family. Infact my Aunt and Cousin still live there (cousin owns a restaurant now.) Boy has it changed, but it still is a great place to escape and while it has changed and developed alot, it is has it old charm. I can't wait to show my DD's it this summer and play on the beach.

We call it out anti Diseny vacation, . Both are lots of fun. I must admit my WDW are much more active then my Ocracoke ones. We spend a lot of time relaxing while on the Island.

We're from Buxton. I call Murfreesboro NC "home" now but I'll always be a "hightider" (inside joke) Yes it's lost a lot of it's charm, but it's still beautiful. The southern beaches have been developed far beyond what any of the locals ever thought would happen....otherwise we'd all be rich Who would have thought you could sell a peice of land that is subject to wash away with a good NE wind for 100+ grand? I guess we're too practical to make money hehe.

Luckily the majority of the banks are protected and cannot be developed...but that brings up another sore spot that I won't discuss here (the bonner bridge needs to be replaced...park service wont' let the state do it unless they completely bypass Pea Island, making a 17mi bridge...), we'll talk some sense into them hopefully before they cut off the entire chain