Sept. 2009 @ WDW! Be a Pop Tart 2009~come share your(Bounce Back or NOT)Dates !!!

[Minnie&Nana]

According to the flyer the free dining plan is good for stays for packages 4 nights or more August 23- December 17. You must book by October 3.

Hope this comes your way MS. Linda..

Timmie, feel free to wish me the same!! If I can get a discount, then I will definitely be seen on the streets of WDW!!!

(Maybe I can find someone who got the flyer/code, book and then drop their name later..that usually works great and it's a way around the code..especially if it 's done through a TA and the name is dropped just before travel. Ohh, but maybe not with free dining. Oh,well, nice thought anyway. )

 

[Kristineamb]

 

[jmskinner]

Love that one Kris.

Happy Independence DAY!!!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1900522903011&source=jl999

 

[Kristineamb]

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1900522903011&source=jl999

Cute!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

LOVE the Mickey, Kris!!!

Happy 4th, Melissa!!

 

[angwill]

Happy 4th everyone. Hope everyone enjoys their day. Kristen I love your little images

Seems I am having the same problems Kristine did I just made my ADR's for October this morning and this is the first year that I got on the phone 1st day as soon as they opened and could not get the dining reservations I wanted for our first 4 days there. I was not limited to times but wanted Le Cellier and Tony's for any of the 4 days for any time available and they are all booked. I wonder if people with reservations earlier than mine are hording the good reservations this year. I need a plan B but only went in to it with plan A figuring it would be like all the other years past. Oh well I will keep trying.

Ang

 

[Poohbear67]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it is now being report that the Pink monarail hit the stopped purple train and killed the driver and hurt 8 people.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/19954891/detail.htm

My prayers are with all of these families at this time.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Nancy, thank you for the info. I could not get your link to work but found another one. Not much information was given, but then it seldom is when concerning Disney problems. I feel so badly for the driver and the passengers involved. ALL of them were involved in some way and so many children have to have been affected. One of the magical things about Disney is that I lose a lot of my phobias when there because I have such confidence in them.

Diva K, you are the queen of all things visual. Love the Patriotic Mickey.

Ang, do you think that it might be that on line ressies are so much easier that more people are making them? They overbook because so many do not show up for their ressie and then there are those who book a dream trip and cancel before losing any money. If you tend to eat at off times you can often walk up and snag a ressie if folks did not show up. I know it will work out, one way or another.

M&N, I hope you get one of those codes so you can trod the pavement of Disney in December. I read a post of someone who went in and checked some trips on line and saved them and says that they received a code shortly after. Not sure I believe it but what can it hurt?

I survived my neverending shift at the celebration, barely. Only three of us worked the entire night. They gave me the easy job and it was still difficult. They had a few bags of popcorn left and I gathered them up and went out into the crowd and easily sold them. Anything to get me gone. lol I watched the fireworks from my front steps. It was a nice view. Took Tom down to B Co and plan to get the garage cleaned up today. Salsa is not easy to get rid of. Naturally he threw it on the side where all my storage racks are so I will have to wash all that small stuff. Tom is not lucky, he is devious and has carefully crafted this trap I find myself in.

SG

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Monorail Accident at WDW
By Leah Zanolla
Jul 5, 2009

Two monorails collided early Sunday morning leaving one driver dead. Emergency services were called to the Epcot monorail stop at 2 a.m. after receiving reports of two monorails colliding. According to witnesses, one monorail ran into the back of a stationary train. One driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was taken to the hospital, but did not have serious injuries. A family of six were the only passengers on the train. They had to be freed from the damaged car, but were uninjured. This is the first fatal accident in the monorail system's history. Officials are still working to determine the cause of the collision.
Epcot is scheduled to open on time, but the monorail to the park will not be operating.
More details will be added as they are released.

From the DIS Home Page

 

[Minnie&Nana]

This is so sad. I agree, SG, Disney has always been a place where I feel incredibly safe and can let any woes go by the wayside. My heart and prayer are with the families involved.

(p.s. SG, have done the saving of an itinerary on the Disney site - have tried all the possible strategies. May not be in the cards for me this year, but how knows? My birthday is in November and have read of some some (not all) who are registered having rec'd a 40% code. Never know!).

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear M&N, do not give up. There are Christmas miracles. A few years ago I was extremely sick and then they found a cause and a cure for most of the symptoms and I felt so much better. Late at night I could not sleep and lucked into seeing a Disney Christmas program on the Travel Channel. It made my heart ache. The very next day I got a code for $49 a room, unheard of in those days let alone for that time period. It was meant to be. Sometimes when things do not turn out as we want something better comes along. We just never know what is around the bend.

BTW, my bil was offering some consolation to me yesterday and told me that if I wanted a couple of days to go visit a friend or something he would take Tom any time but when I hinted at a longer time period, Disney bound, he demurred. No fool he. I do not blame him though.

I wonder if they had to lift that poor family down from the tracks? Wonder if they were riding in the front, does not seem so, lucky them. My heart goes out to the driver's family. It will be doubly rough on them as they usually try to find driver error in most accidents.

SG

 

[Minnie&Nana]

You know me, SG... I feel this is true, so am an eternal optimist and will never give up!

It's certainly very nice of bil to take Tom for you for a few days, but it'd be even nicer (saintly?) if he'd reconsider a longer stay. Any possibility of a bribe?

I was thinking the same concerning where the blame would go...so sad...wonder if it was someone in training or perhaps the computer was off and gave an incorrect location of the first train?

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

M&N, are you sure you do not mean "Cockeyed Optimist"? I prefer to be a pessimist because that when something good happens I am pleasantly surprised. Speaking of which, this post was just interrupted because my grandsons came by. One took the new lawnmower out of my car, put it together and mowed some of my yard, the other hauled the soda in from the car to the house. I prefer not to think of the fact that they came by for money and since they had a friend with them they were more disposed to be useful. I got those things done and that is all that counts.

Any old way, no chance of bribing my bil, he is a multimillionaire and I am not. Besides he has a life. It is not his job, I am grateful for what he does do. One other bil offers to take Tom but Tom will not go there because that db would not give him the life he has become accustomed to.

Accidents happen, it is life. Blame can usually be assigned somewhere but often it is just a tragic set of circumstances. I can think of many times in my life where things could have gone wrong and did not, thankfully. I hope that the family is recovering and am profoundly grateful that they did not ride up front. I am betting that the driver was also. Blessings upon him and his family.

SG

 

[Minnie&Nana]

As usual, my friend, you hit the ole nail on the head (ouch )...yes, yes, a Cockeyed Optimist suits me far better. Thank ye!

I'm glad your gs came by - even if it was for $, you got things done and saw them for a bit..and that description you gave is more from a positive thinker than pessimist. Besides, I prefer to think of us as realists. I am a realist, but one who does not give up on dreams or miracles.(ring a bell?? )

So, what does the day hold? I'm a beached whale, playing on line...though I did have some sad news Friday.

Did I mention that I found a cousin on FB? I've lost contact with all of my family (most of whom live in Chicagoland), so thought I'd try FB..ta da! My cousin closest in age by a few years popped up...thought she would. She's a PHD and more likely to have interesting connections (like we do!)

Did not hear back for several days...then Friday rec'd a FB message saying how ironic I should write this week..my dear Aunt, her mother, passed last Tuesday and the funeral was Friday. I saw my family a couple of times a yr as a kid, but as an adult, very rarely; Last time was at my mother's tiny funeral in Nov, 2002.

Anyhoo - this Aunt was one I saw most as a child/teen. She was a wonderful woman ~ My Uncle Pat's wife (my mother was very close to her 2 baby brothers...adored them... and aunt Therese was married to James Patrick). Aunt Therese bore 7 children in not too many years...she had a smile on her face, a dance in her step and a martini in her hand most times (not as she got older). This woman loved us all unconditionally.

So, Kris, thank you for nudging me to join FB!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Here is a link to a post on the parks board that gives some more information/speculation from a former monorail driver:

http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=...&postcount=177

 

[Kristineamb]

Did I mention that I found a cousin on FB? I've lost contact with all of my family (most of whom live in Chicagoland), so thought I'd try FB..ta da! My cousin closest in age by a few years popped up...thought she would. She's a PHD and more likely to have interesting connections (like we do!)

Did not hear back for several days...then Friday rec'd a FB message saying how ironic I should write this week..my dear Aunt, her mother, passed last Tuesday and the funeral was Friday. I saw my family a couple of times a yr as a kid, but as an adult, very rarely; Last time was at my mother's tiny funeral in Nov, 2002.

Anyhoo - this Aunt was one I saw most as a child/teen. She was a wonderful woman ~ My Uncle Pat's wife (my mother was very close to her 2 baby brothers...adored them... and aunt Therese was married to James Patrick). Aunt Therese bore 7 children in not too many years...she had a smile on her face, a dance in her step and a martini in her hand most times (not as she got older). This woman loved us all unconditionally.
So, Kris, thank you for nudging me to join FB!

So glad you have been able to reconnect with your family!
I actually lived in the Chicagoland area for @7 years while I was growing up. In fact many of my Facebook Friends are from elementary school back there...haven't seen or heard from many in 20 years but it has been wonderful to know that they are all doing well, happy, healthy...we shared ALOT of fun together, girl scouts, sleepovers, first concerts, etc...I know there are still some Facebook skeptics but my experience has been nothing but positive

Here is a link to a post on the parks board that gives some more information/speculation from a former monorail driver:
http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=...&postcount=177

Very interesting, thanks for sharing
Heading to the beach tomorrow with Diva Sheryll and her kids

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear M&N, I am so sorry that you were not able to reconnect with your aunt. I am sure that you loving remembrances of her will be of comfort to her family though. I was able to connect to a cousin that I barely knew growing up and we were able to share a few years together before cancer took her. It was a blessing.

Diva K, watch out for that sand. It is insidious.

I have all the glass swept up, the salsa mopped up and a lot of the walls and such washed down. I think I am quitting for the day. So many small items were splashed, even the windows.

Now to do battle with Lowe's tomorrow. sigh

SG

 

[jmskinner]

I wonder if they had to lift that poor family down from the tracks? Wonder if they were riding in the front, does not seem so, lucky them. My heart goes out to the driver's family. It will be doubly rough on them as they usually try to find driver error in most accidents.

SG

There is a video online someone shot right after the accident. The family was already being removed from the train, looks like maybe they just had to get the door open for them.

I didn't learn of this accident until I met up with Timmy today. She had learned about it when several people called her at 6:30am to make sure she was ok. Not seeing any news of it, I guess it didn't seem real. Now that I have seen the news and that one video, I am sitting here shaking and near tears. Very sad day.

As usual, my friend, you hit the ole nail on the head (ouch )...yes, yes, a Cockeyed Optimist suits me far better. Thank ye!

I'm glad your gs came by - even if it was for $, you got things done and saw them for a bit..and that description you gave is more from a positive thinker than pessimist. Besides, I prefer to think of us as realists. I am a realist, but one who does not give up on dreams or miracles.(ring a bell?? )

So, what does the day hold? I'm a beached whale, playing on line...though I did have some sad news Friday.

Did I mention that I found a cousin on FB? I've lost contact with all of my family (most of whom live in Chicagoland), so thought I'd try FB..ta da! My cousin closest in age by a few years popped up...thought she would. She's a PHD and more likely to have interesting connections (like we do!)

Did not hear back for several days...then Friday rec'd a FB message saying how ironic I should write this week..my dear Aunt, her mother, passed last Tuesday and the funeral was Friday. I saw my family a couple of times a yr as a kid, but as an adult, very rarely; Last time was at my mother's tiny funeral in Nov, 2002.

Anyhoo - this Aunt was one I saw most as a child/teen. She was a wonderful woman ~ My Uncle Pat's wife (my mother was very close to her 2 baby brothers...adored them... and aunt Therese was married to James Patrick). Aunt Therese bore 7 children in not too many years...she had a smile on her face, a dance in her step and a martini in her hand most times (not as she got older). This woman loved us all unconditionally.

So, Kris, thank you for nudging me to join FB!

I'm sorry for the lose of your Aunt, but how wonderful that you are now in contact with more of your family. That is what I have enjoyed about Facebook. I've found previous co-workers, high school classmates, and relatives I rarely keep in contact with, that now I know what they are up to day to day.

I hope the code does come through for you!

Had a great day with Timmy. The heat was horrible after a quick rain, but the crowds were... well... non-existant. It was so crazy. 20 minute waits for ToT, but really it was a walkon. We did a lot and because of her I finally got to see the Little Mermaid. I'll try to post some pics tomorrow. I was uploading to smugmug, when Jacob hit the desk the computer sits on causing it to restart.

I really wish I could have spent more time with Angela and Will. Hopefully in October!

I want to be online for the next couple weeks, but I shouldn't be. My stepdaughter arrives Wednesday night, so I need to get the house clean. Right now it looks like one of those large firworks from last night went off in it.

Hope you all have a fantastic week and I hope I get to meet everyone else soon!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Good morning everyone!

JM, I saw that video shortly after I posted. There is some debate about whether or not the person should have shot the footage. I am in the corner of having information, I have yet to see a case where it was not more helpful than hurtful. And that includes the disgusting photos taken when Princess Diana died. It gave much evidence as to what had actually happened.

It was heartwarming to see the men who got involved and tried to help. The poor CM was distraught and doing the best anyone could under such circumstances. The driver was just a couple of years older than my grandson and had the same name.

Such things just do not happen at DW. Usually when an accident happens it is clearly a failure to follow rules by a guest. This is going to be much more complicated. I hope we hear more about the family that was on the monorail. I am assuming none of them were physically hurt or we would know by now. Traumatic.

Many folks are faulting Disney for not talking about it more but the honest truth is that lots of people have paid big money to vacation there and being hit over the head with something that they cannot do anything about would not help. Transportation is going to be hard pressed to meet the needs of all and I am betting that some of the mono resort folks are going to be very upset at not being able to use it. I would hope I would understand but then that is easier for those of us who do not view it as a vacation destination but our second home. I am confident that Disney will find out what happened and correct it ASAP.

You had never seen Mermaid? One figures that as close as you live you must have seen and done it all but many of us fail to see what is in our backyards. You do far more than most. I envy you getting to meet all these DIS folk in person the most.

I got the garage finished yesterday but am contemplating on not doing some of the other chores today in favor of taking a bit of time to stop and smell the roses. Not the whole day, just a bigger part of it. This is my last day of 'vacation' and then my real life begins anew.

SG