Saturday, In the Park - I Think it was the Fourth of July Wrapping it Up 6/26

[Disneyland_Mama]

In addition to its winning location, HBC serves up what looks to be an amazing pool experience, complete with lazy river and zero-depth entry. Being so new, it’s probably safe to expect that furniture, linens and carpeting have yet to take a beating and still appear fresh and inviting. Parking isn’t free, but it is covered from the relentless Florida sun. HBC hosts plenty of food options, and kids even eat free at one restaurant. Amenities? Lots of them. Golf, kid’s club, spa, fitness center… HBC is a true resort.

Yup. This place gets from me... and we alllllll know how I feel about "resorts".

Yep, I told Mickey to ‘take this discount and shove it.’

Hehehe...get it girl!

$84/ night.

Dude, isn't that the same as POP!?

Coming soon: Gramma’s back. Save me.

Como say WHAT???!!!

 

[Lauralee131]

Ahhh...the pics of HBC make me want to go back! Or to add a day...heh heh That place just SCREAMS Pool:30.

The real test will be to see how their drinks are...

And you're right - you can't beat the rate. And even the Waldorf was less than a night POR during January.

Gosh darn it...my addonitis is flaring up...ichy, ichy...

 

[lovealldisney]

Hi V!

I was so suprised to find your PTR this morning!! You know you are my favorite TR writer in the whole DIS relm! I knew you couldn't stay away from us long! So looking forward to your trip!

Leo OMG he's 8 already! My how time flies!

 

[PrincessV]

And I have no problem staying off site (especially sine my off site is usually free), but you can't beat $84 with a stick

Um... could you please keep telling me that? I'm waffling some.

I don't blame you. That is a fantastic deal, my friend. And it's a beautiful resort!

It is a great deal... and I'm totally down with the HBC for my long weekend... but it doesn't include EMHs, which concerns me just a teeny bit for summer...

Dude, isn't that the same as POP!?

Just about - I think Pop might be more, actually!

Gosh darn it...my addonitis is flaring up...ichy, ichy...

Scratch that itch LL, scratch that itch.
Love,
Your favorite Enabler

I was so suprised to find your PTR this morning!! You know you are my favorite TR writer in the whole DIS relm! I knew you couldn't stay away from us long! So looking forward to your trip!

Oh my gosh - THANK you! That's very sweet! Thanks so much for coming along for another ride!

 

[PrincessV]

Gramma.

Gramma.

Gramma.

Her very name strikes terror in the hearts of…

… well, me. It strikes terror in the heart of me.



Gramma is my mostly-awesome mother, grandmother to Leo. Gramma raised me on her own, much as I’m raising Leo on my own. Only our raising techniques are very, very different.

Whereas Gramma treated me more like a friend than a daughter, making her the coolest mom in the neighborhood, I’m raising Leo with an iron fist. Okay, maybe more of an aluminum fist; I’m not completely inflexible. My point is that I had no rules as a child; Leo has plenty. I didn’t necessarily set out with this approach in mind – it’s kind of evolved based on what seems to work best for Leo. He likes finite boundaries and clear expectations.


Gramma… lives with Leo and me. And, while she agrees with much of my parenting decisions in theory, she seldom goes along with them in practice. We have many occurrences of Gramma skipping “the rules” and then getting mad when Leo’s behavior tanks.

Picture me mentally interjecting “DUH!” on a regular basis.




But parenting issues aside, Gramma loves Leo to death. Which is why she’s being introduced in this pre-trip report. Yes, she’s coming.

Before I continue, though, let me be clear: Gramma is coming on our next WDW trip… NOT our big summer trip. Leo’s got a big birthday in a week or so and chose to spend it at WDW. And he really, really wanted Gramma to join us. So let’s meet Gramma, shall we?


Gramma is equal parts soft, fuzzy grandmother and snarly, cynical cat lady. She’s become extremely opinionated in her later years and has gotten a lot better at voicing those opinions. I actually applaud this, because the alternative is Passive-Aggressive Gramma. ~shudder~

Gramma does not dig Disney. Disney movies, Disney souvenirs, Disney parks. Does not dig them. But she’ll brave The World in the name of spending time with her only child and only grandson.

Leo’s 1st birthday. Doesn’t she look happy? Leo not so much, but that’s another story.



Previous WDW trips with Gramma have resulted in us not speaking to one another, yelling at one another, and several desperate requests for booze. They’ve also resulted in magical memories, many smiles, and enormous hugs. You just never know what’ll happen when Gramma hits The World.



Next up: Mourning the loss of a loved one

 

[Hedy]

I don;t think Leo liked Roy.

 

[Sooze]

Oh my gosh, V... your 'ranting' paragraph about Mickey's lack of AP discounted rates was PRICELESS!!!

Indeed, I do have an annual pass. And, indeed there are passholder discounts available for both of my upcoming trips. But – and this is critical – they are nowhere near “great.” In fact, they’re so far from “great”, I actually emailed The Mouse and lambasted him for offering such hooey when a Hilton – a HILTON, people! – smack-dab in the middle of his rodential kingdom was offering a comparatively better resort than any Value or Moderate, and most Deluxe, options within his realm… at significantly lower prices. Yep, I told Mickey to ‘take this discount and shove it.’

That, my friends... is QUALITY writing. I'm going to make my 4th graders read that and have a lesson on perfect word choice and 'voice'.

You are hilarious!

...but I'm still in shock that you are staying off-site. Can it be?!?!

 

[englishrose47]

V I am the Gramma that goes with the family!!But unlike your Mom I LOVE Disney!!Surprisingley we have not had any really bad arguments at Disney !! Judy smart daughter that she is just lets me do all the planning and tell her where we are going each day !! Once in awhile she'll change something !! But for the most she goes along !!
We to live together and surprisingly don't clash to often !! But when we doo

She accepts my Disney solo trips as my only splurging on me and is very supportive of it !!

That new resort looks interesting .. hmmmmm !!

 

[jcc0621]

Dude, isn't that the same as POP!?

Without any discounts Pop is $89/night!

Gosh darn it...my addonitis is flaring up...ichy, ichy...

Picture me mentally interjecting “DUH!” on a regular basis.

I can so picture this

Next up: Mourning the loss of a loved one

 

[Lauralee131]

Gramma.

Gramma.

Gramma.

Her very name strikes terror in the hearts of…

… well, me. It strikes terror in the heart of me.

Makes me think of the Lion King...

Oooohhhh....Mufasaaaaaaa....

Say it again! Say it again!!

Grammmmmmaaaaaa....


Brrrrrr...I got chills!!

Which is why she’s being introduced in this pre-trip report. Yes, she’s coming.

Como say WHAT!?!?!

Before I continue, though, let me be clear: Gramma is coming on our next WDW trip… NOT our big summer trip.

Not funny, V. Not funny...

Mufassssssaaaaaa.....

Gramma is equal parts soft, fuzzy grandmother and snarly, cynical cat lady.

OMG!!!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Not funny, V. Not funny...

Mufassssssaaaaaa.....

 

[PrincessV]

I don;t think Leo liked Roy.

It's hard to say... he made the funniest faces as a baby - we were never sure if he was alarmed or intrigued!

That, my friends... is QUALITY writing. I'm going to make my 4th graders read that and have a lesson on perfect word choice and 'voice'.

Wow, thank you!!! But, um...

...but I'm still in shock that you are staying off-site. Can it be?!?!

That remains to be seen. For sure we'll be at HBC for our long weekend. Summer's still in limbo.

Judy smart daughter that she is just lets me do all the planning and tell her where we are going each day !!

See, all would be well if Gramma did this, too. And she does, but then she'll voice her opinion on my choices... it's seldom positive.

That new resort looks interesting .. hmmmmm !!

Doesn't it? I'm excited to report back on it!

Without any discounts Pop is $89/night!

Crazy, no?! But I think I see how WDW gets away with it. More on that to come.

Say it again! Say it again!!

Grammmmmmaaaaaa....


Brrrrrr...I got chills!!

OMG, I'll be hearing that over and over in my mind LL!

I know, right?! Hi T!

 

[jcc0621]

Makes me think of the Lion King...

Oooohhhh....Mufasaaaaaaa....

But the question is do the animals react when you say her name. You know like the horses in Young Frankenstein when anyone said Frau Blucher.......

Crazy, no?! But I think I see how WDW gets away with it. More on that to come.

Oh this should be interesting.

 

[OhMari]

Thanks for showing pictures of Hilton.
Me and my 2 sisters are going to WDW next March
and I am seriously thinking of staying there.
For some reason, I thought it was more on the north side of Disney property.
I'm getting pretty good at driving myself around Orlando.
I only managed to get lost once this past Feb, and it was the GPS fault.
"I" knew the way to Disney Studios,
but my GPS didn't.
I went in a big circle
and finally figured out, I was heading to Universal.
Did you know there is a nice frontage road along side I4 from WDW to SeaWorld? If ever in a traffic jam, just get off and hit the Frontage road.

 

[PrincessV]

But the question is do the animals react when you say her name. You know like the horses in Young Frankenstein when anyone said Frau Blucher.......

I'll have to try it on the cats!

Thanks for showing pictures of Hilton.
Me and my 2 sisters are going to WDW next March
and I am seriously thinking of staying there.

I'll make sure you get a full report!

For some reason, I thought it was more on the north side of Disney property.

You know that main road that takes you past the EP resorts, CBR, TL, DTD? It's off of that, next to CBR. It's the same road as Wyndham Bonnet Creek - Wyndham's on the left, Hilton and Waldorf are on the right.

"I" knew the way to Disney Studios,
but my GPS didn't.
I went in a big circle
and finally figured out, I was heading to Universal.

 

[cmp1111]

Pshew, when life got in the way of the DIS, I didn't miss TOO much.

You guys are killing me with the calling of "Grammmaaaa" though.

 

[PrincessV]

You guys are killing me with the calling of "Grammmaaaa" though.

 

[PrincessV]

As I prepare to depart on a little jaunt to The World, I must confess, that I do so with sadness in my heart. For I’ll be traveling without the company of a dear, departed friend.


That’s right – the iPhone has left the building.






If you read my last report… you know. If this is your first time reading with me, please allow me to fill you in. About this time last year, things in life were going well and I decided to treat myself. I hadn’t had an expensive toy since my Alpine pull-out car stereo in the early 90’s. (Yes, complete with CD player and mega-equalizer. And Pioneer speakers, natch.) A friend’s iPhone lured me in and I was a goner; a week after going out on the town in her company I had me my very own iPhone.

And, technically speaking, I still do. Have an iPhone. But it’s a shell of its former self today.

The economy tanked and I found myself needing to make some cuts in my budget. In all truth, I don’t need a cell phone plan at all; I rarely use a cell phone for actual phoning. But the only option with an iPhone is an AT&T plan. That baby runs $80ish/ month in my area. $80 worth of fun, but – alas – not $80 worth of necessity. (Unlike DVC and WDW passes, which most certainly do fall under the heading “Necessities” in V’s Fuzzy Budget.)


So a month ago, I canceled my iPhone service.

I still have my iPhone, and it still does lots of good things. For instance…

It still houses a decent little camera.
I can still play Leo’s ambient noise via iChillout for falling asleep in hotels.
I can still take Notes.
I can still play music, podcasts and movies.
If WiFi exists, I can do all the surfing to which I’d become accustomed over the past year.


That last one’s the painful one.

IF WiFi exists.

Know where WiFI doesn’t exist?

Disney World.

At least not for free, and not in the parks.


No longer shall I update my favorite WDW app, Touringplans’ Lines app, with the latest wait times.

No longer shall I instantly post live picture reports on Twitter or Facebook.

No longer shall I access real-time weather forecasts to determine the need for haste, umbrellas or an ark.




What I can do, though, may just make up for my recent loss…

I can still post updates on Twitter and Facebook via texts from my crappy old pay-as-you-go cell phone. At the reduced rate into which I was grandfathered eons ago with T-Mobile.

I can still reach email on that same crappy phone, only paying text charges if I choose to open or reply to an email.

I can free up my hands to take high-quality photos with the Good Camera once more. And to hold Leo’s hand while he still allows such things.

Most importantly, I can spend more time actually being there, in the moment, with my child.



In case you wondered, Leo is very happy to have me be rid of iPhone service. During a period of time in which I’d been weighing the pros and cons of canceling service, Leo happened to deliver the deciding vote when he asked me “Do you have to bring your phone to Disney Mommy? You use it too much.”


Ouch.

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

He was right, you know. I did use it too much. I frankly felt tethered to the iPhone. Just because I could access a bazillion things at any given time, I somehow felt compelled to access a bazillion things at all times. Over breakfast, while at red lights, during Leo’s TV time, waiting in lines/restaurants/bus stops... I wasn’t there with Leo at all; I was in an iPhone trance.

I’ve now been iPhone-less for a month and I’m doing surprisingly well. In that month, I’ve texted some Tweets and Facebook updates from my crappy old cell and made and received a couple calls… and spent a whopping total of $6.83. I’ve spent a couple theme park days with Leo and actually, you know, saw him. I’ve listened to music and podcasts while driving without feeling the need to multi-task at every red light.


Come to think of it, maybe it’s time to end the mourning.


And the timing is right, because we’re within days of taking off on our Pre-Trip Trip. The one with which to whet our appetites and prepare for the big trip to come. The one during which we’ll celebrate Leo’s eight amazing years of life. The one during which we’ll explore a new resort, tackle some new activities, and test the mental and physical limits of Gramma. Heh heh.

Stay tuned…

 

[cmp1111]

In case you wondered, Leo is very happy to have me be rid of iPhone service. During a period of time in which I’d been weighing the pros and cons of canceling service, Leo happened to deliver the deciding vote when he asked me “Do you have to bring your phone to Disney Mommy? You use it too much.”


Ouch.

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

Ooph. I'm going to hear this sometime, I know. I've not traveled a lot with my iPhone yet, but yeah...

I'm glad you're OK with it.

The one during which we’ll explore a new resort, tackle some new activities, and test the mental and physical limits of Gramma. Heh heh.

 

[jcc0621]

I'll have to try it on the cats!

Well

Come to think of it, maybe it’s time to end the mourning.

and test the mental and physical limits of Gramma. Heh heh.

Stay tuned…
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