So this is what mid-life crisis feels like? Dec 2011 PTR

[Disneyland_Mama]

I could swear I posted on your thread....

Anyway, love all your plans, we have a lot of the same park days!

Okay, ADR's are made... I'm sure I will do some playing but I want to know your thoughts... Let 'em fly!!

We will arrive on the 16th, be at the resort about 10:30p. I know we should have probably stayed offsite the first night because of the late arrival but simplicity won out.

Sat 17:
Epcot - rope dropMe, too!
This is a take it easy day. I'm going to try out a tp for the rides - that is what my kids love to do here. Anything else we fit in is 'bonus.' Plan on leaving the park around 5p.
6:30p Whispering Canyon Cafe - my one chance to see this resort at Christmas time.
After dinner - it's anyone's guess, but I see us either going back to our resort, the Poly, and hanging out and watch the water pageant and Wishes (will be regular Wishes - our one chance to see this one) from the beach... or if we are feeling super adventurous...hit MK to watch from main street.

Sun 18:
Magic KingdomMe, too!
8:05a Breakfast at Crystal Palace - this will put us in the park an hour early. I want some photo ops!!
4:30p 1900 Park Fare - Grand Floridian - see the decorations as well as give us a break before....
7:00p MVMCP!!!
This entire day is devoted to the MK! I want to do as much as we can in the way of rides during the day so we can do the 'party stuff' that night.

Mon 19:
DHS - rope drop
4:00p Sci Fi Diner - dinner - considering changing this to lunch but undecided. Want to eat Starring Rolls for lunch, I think.

Tues 20:
Animal Kingdom - rope dropMe, too!
No ADR's scheduled. Again, another lazy day - easy going, experiment with tp some. When the kids are ready to go, we will go. Might hit DTD at some point or tour some other resorts. DH will arrive this night as well so we want to be there to meet him!!

Wed 21:
Animal Kingdom - AM EMH - somewhat worried about this but one of the parks DH wants to go to and this was the best predicted crowd day of the 3 if we are going to go back to Epcot and MK as well with him.
8:00a Tusker House
6:00p Boma's
We've never stayed at AK very late - usually leave after the parade and that should give us plenty of time to get to Boma's from there. Then we will go wherever DH wants to go after dinner!

Thurs 22:Me, too!
Epcot - rope drop!! This is when I'm going to use a tp without DH realizing I'm using a tp! Hope he is ready to run for fastpasses when I say "GO!"
5:10p Cape May Cafe - chance to visit Beach Club, eat some good seafood, and take a break from Epcot before going back to find a watch spot for Illuminations.

Fri 23:
Magic Kingdom - rope drop and our final full day! We will again be secretly using tp to maneuver this park. No ADR's until dinner.
5:55p 'Ohana - I think this will give us a good break and we can go back to MK after dinner for the evening festivities. Want DH to see the Christmas parade and holiday Wishes since he will miss them at MVMCP. Then I saw Epcot was open until 12:30p... perhaps if we have enough juice, we can go back there and ride some of our favs!

Sat 24:
NOTHING PLANNED. Let the kids sleep in, and pack up and catch a ride back to the airport around 11a. Considering making a reservation for breakfast at Kona's or 'Ohanas.... thoughts? We've never eaten at Kona's and this will be our third stay... but I've heard they are slower? Or what about Chef Mickey's for breakfast?

Looks like we'll be jockeying for spots at several rope drops!

T.

 

[shocky5]

I could swear I posted on your thread....

Anyway, love all your plans, we have a lot of the same park days!



Looks like we'll be jockeying for spots at several rope drops!

T.

Awesome! I would jockey to stand 'behind' you because I'm thinking you would be pretty good at pushing through crowds!

 

[shocky5]

I did it... today registration opened for the Princess Half Marathon weekend... and I found a running partner/team mate in one of my dearest friends... so we are officially team "Backroad Princesses" in honor of our small town roots.

I must say I'm excited and 'refocused' if anything. For once, when I look at the recommended training weeks down the road, I'm not saying "I'll never be able to do that." Instead, I ordered my participant t-shirt in a size smaller than what I would normally buy and can't wait to wear it. In the off chance the 'ta-ta's' don't shrink up some - DD will love it as a nightshirt.

SO DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS ALL MEANS???

1) A different/separate PTR for that trip to be started.
2) A definite 'return' date following our Christmas trip and....
3) My first girls trip!

Nothing new to report on Christmas trip... just counting the days. In the 160's!!!

 

[momabaarjo]

You go girl! What fun to have a girls trip, although I must admit the marathon part of it...ugh, I need to get off the couch! I am super impressed and excited for you!

 

[shocky5]

You go girl! What fun to have a girls trip, although I must admit the marathon part of it...ugh, I need to get off the couch! I am super impressed and excited for you!

I can honestly say I haven't been off the couch very long! But this morning in my run, just for fun, I figured out my minutes/mile I ran to see if I was even close to the requirement and I was 2 minutes under. Was pleasantly surprised. Now if I can do that for 6 consecutive miles...

It'll be an adventure... I think it's part of this mid-life crisis looking at me around the corner... 1 more month til the next decade of my life officially hits. Remind me how excited I am of that day when it gets here...

 

[annmarieda]

Congrats on registering for the half marathon! I am impressed

 

[DisneyMom14]

I'm rooting for you! I wish I had your drive. Its going to be so much fun for you to go with girlfriends as well!

 

[shocky5]

Congrats on registering for the half marathon! I am impressed

Thank you! Don't be impressed yet....

I'm rooting for you! I wish I had your drive. Its going to be so much fun for you to go with girlfriends as well!

We are excited about it! Hopefully we can keep each other 'pushed' to keep on going!

 

[shocky5]

February trip update:

We are booked. I'm venturing out... we are staying moderate at the POR-Riverside. I've heard so many good things about this place so we are going to give it a try for the girls/marathon trip. We will get there on Fri, Feb 24 and leave on Wed, Feb 29. Wish it was a little bit longer but thankful to be able to do this and I know I will be ready to get back home. <Shhhh... don't tell my DH I said that.>

 

[shocky5]

December Trip related:

I have a question for any of you who have seen the Osborn Lights at DHS. What would you recommend - an early dinner around 4p and then be at the lights when they turn on... or a later dinner... like at 7 or 7:30 before park closing to hit the lights on the way out after dinner. It will just be me and the kids, I have heard this gets very crowded.... So I will be focused on making sure my little rat pack stays together.

 

[DisneyMom14]

December Trip related:

I have a question for any of you who have seen the Osborn Lights at DHS. What would you recommend - an early dinner around 4p and then be at the lights when they turn on... or a later dinner... like at 7 or 7:30 before park closing to hit the lights on the way out after dinner. It will just be me and the kids, I have heard this gets very crowded.... So I will be focused on making sure my little rat pack stays together.

We found it was easier and less crowded later in the night ESPECIALLY if there is a Fantasmic going on. Just be there BEFORE they let out. We actually saw Fantasmic on a different night so we skipped it that night to see the lights but normally we don't skip Fantasmic for anything. We REALLY love that show. Star Tours was also empty late at night in case you were curious.

 

[shocky5]

We found it was easier and less crowded later in the night ESPECIALLY if there is a Fantasmic going on. Just be there BEFORE they let out. We actually saw Fantasmic on a different night so we skipped it that night to see the lights but normally we don't skip Fantasmic for anything. We REALLY love that show. Star Tours was also empty late at night in case you were curious.

I don't think right now there is a Fantasmic scheduled for that particular night but I will keep watching that. Thank you for the info!!!

 

[shocky5]

Ugh... school (for me) is starting back up... officially Monday. Better enjoy my last 'free weekend' for the next 10 weeks. Another stretch to our trip though....

My kids have 5 weeks of summer left... I can't believe it! They will be excited to go back... do school clothes shopping... see their friends... but that will last maybe the first week?

Wish I could tell them about Disney to keep them motivated towards something, but I'm not going to do it!

 

[Monknmom]

Sorry I am so far behind! I am commenting as I catch up so sorry if things seem out of order! Congrats to both of your kids for placing in the tournaments! And I'm glad that your out of school or I guess that by the time that I'm posting your probably back in? I think that the walking to cape may for dinner and coming back for illuminations sounds good as long as your back in WS by 7pm because that's what time I was told to get there by... but I'm not too knowledgeable about it so I hope that someone answered that for you! We booked at Ohana for the morning that we are leaving too! I hear that it's got really good morning food! As for Christmas shopping I'm not sure if you use Kmart, but I am going to for my son's toys this year- someone suggested using the layaway for the Christmas stuff now and I have put a few things on layaway and you just pay a little every now and then until the balance is through! And for adults in the family I am going to make sure that I pick up something throughout the WS in Epcot because they will like that stuff! That sounds nice about the new dining set, did you get it yet? Oh so happy for you to sign up for the princess marathon! And awesome for you to order in a size smaller! I want to sign up but I don't know anyone that will be willing to do it with me! And you know my grandfather always tells me "your only as old as you make yourself feel!" The girls trip should be fu! You can do a few more adult things and go at a quicker or slwer pace whatever you would want! You and my aunt are really inspiring to me! You are both older than I am and so determined to get to school! I have to, but keep putting it off and I shouldn't I told DH that Sept of 2012 I have to start! But you are both awesome women and very good role models to your kids and other younger generations out there! And on that note i am all caught up!

 

[momabaarjo]

Good question about Osborne lights. I have been researching this question too and from what I have read it is not advisable to go right when the lights are turned on...due to crowds. I am going to keep looking for tips for us!


My official 12 days off for summer are officially half way gone. I have training Monday and Tuesday of this week and next week...then I am back on contract completely on the 25th. Where did the time go? My kids have another 6 weeks...I was just thinking of back to school clothes (mainly uniforms today too)!

 

[Monknmom]

Good question about Osborne lights. I have been researching this question too and from what I have read it is not advisable to go right when the lights are turned on...due to crowds. I am going to keep looking for tips for us!


My official 12 days off for summer are officially half way gone. I have training Monday and Tuesday of this week and next week...then I am back on contract completely on the 25th. Where did the time go? My kids have another 6 weeks...I was just thinking of back to school clothes (mainly uniforms today too)!

My son goes back to School the 7th of September and I've started to pick up notebooks and such that I know he will need! And clothes I am finding a lot of sales on pants lately so I have been picking up some here and there- honestly though my son gets a few new clothes when school starts, but he gets more at Christmas because by then he needs a new size (he is pretty tall)!

And thank you for the osborne lights! I will look it up here too after I catch up again!

 

[shocky5]

Good question about Osborne lights. I have been researching this question too and from what I have read it is not advisable to go right when the lights are turned on...due to crowds. I am going to keep looking for tips for us!


My official 12 days off for summer are officially half way gone. I have training Monday and Tuesday of this week and next week...then I am back on contract completely on the 25th. Where did the time go? My kids have another 6 weeks...I was just thinking of back to school clothes (mainly uniforms today too)!

Awesome! I will keep looking for tips, too. I am about of the opinion to go through them as the crowds have thinned out. Going on a non-F! night should be helpful.

I don't know what happened to summer. My kids go back 4 weeks from this Thursday! Poor babies! I broke that news to them this weekend! They are somewhat 'excited' but the newness of a new school year wears off pretty quickly when the homework keeps coming home.

I pick up my dd from basketball camp the end of this week so I'm going to try to hit some school clothes shopping then. She's the one who needs the most... a developing teenager. She has outgrown so much and has gotten tall over the past year. The boys are okay... will need jeans before too long though. Of which they will have holes in the knees and need more new ones by Christmas. Neverending....

I started back to class this week... I am so unmotivated it's not even funny. It's a research class to hopefully it won't be too painful.

 

[shocky5]

Sorry I am so far behind! I am commenting as I catch up so sorry if things seem out of order! Congrats to both of your kids for placing in the tournaments! And I'm glad that your out of school or I guess that by the time that I'm posting your probably back in? I think that the walking to cape may for dinner and coming back for illuminations sounds good as long as your back in WS by 7pm because that's what time I was told to get there by... but I'm not too knowledgeable about it so I hope that someone answered that for you! We booked at Ohana for the morning that we are leaving too! I hear that it's got really good morning food! As for Christmas shopping I'm not sure if you use Kmart, but I am going to for my son's toys this year- someone suggested using the layaway for the Christmas stuff now and I have put a few things on layaway and you just pay a little every now and then until the balance is through! And for adults in the family I am going to make sure that I pick up something throughout the WS in Epcot because they will like that stuff! That sounds nice about the new dining set, did you get it yet? Oh so happy for you to sign up for the princess marathon! And awesome for you to order in a size smaller! I want to sign up but I don't know anyone that will be willing to do it with me! And you know my grandfather always tells me "your only as old as you make yourself feel!" The girls trip should be fu! You can do a few more adult things and go at a quicker or slwer pace whatever you would want! You and my aunt are really inspiring to me! You are both older than I am and so determined to get to school! I have to, but keep putting it off and I shouldn't I told DH that Sept of 2012 I have to start! But you are both awesome women and very good role models to your kids and other younger generations out there! And on that note i am all caught up!

No worries, friend! You have done a great job catching up with everyone! Glad to have you back!! The dining room furniture comes tomorrow!! So ready to have it! Will also feel good to get those boxes unpacked!

Thank you for the nice words! I agree -you are only as old as you make yourself out to be. I'm still in denial that I've got 24 days left of my 30's... But they've been pretty good to me. My mom tells me the 40's were her best! I'm hopeful! I'm enjoying finishing up school... very unmotivated right now but keep on pushing through and always have a solid sense of satisfaction when I finish a quarter. But there are definitely days I feel like this guy

The princess half marathon... what can I say... other than I needed the motivation and I love Disney. It's a win win... getting healthier and going back to my happy place! The running is definitely not about vanity for me... it's about a healthier lifestyle and being a good role model for my family. My dad is not in good health, he's a type 2 diabetic, meaning adult onset and is now insulin dependent. His blood reminds me of syrup. Gross, I know... but could have been controlled with diet and exercise and he chose to continue his love affair with food. I just see him aging more and more - he's almost 67 - and I think his life could be very different for him now had he decided to make some changes. It's easier said than done, I realize that as I struggle daily with making good decisions with food, but my dad is just 'not happy' and it's because he doesn't feel good 90% of the time. We support him in full, love that man to death, and dread the day he's not around anymore. He just lives to eat. Anyway....

There's my driving forces behind the princess half marathon.

 

[momabaarjo]

I started back to class this week... I am so unmotivated it's not even funny. It's a research class to hopefully it won't be too painful.

I am doing off and on staff development this week and next week, then I am back on contract the last week of July! I am so unmotivated too...I have to get staff development prepared for the first 5 days the teachers are back mid August...

Funny about the research class...it was supposed to be my first grad class...it was my last...I took the B option for a grade...my only B in grad school...but it was so worth not doing a research paper! Good luck!

 

[Monknmom]

That's really great motivation! I have to start it too because I saw a lot of my family have tough times being overweight! So I understand I wish you luck and if you find a good way to do please share!