Summer and Serendipity ~ July PTR ~ LINK TO TRIP REPORT!!!

[JPFamilyMom]

Hugs and prayers for your whole family

 

[cadek]

My thoughts are with you. Cancer is a nasty thing to watch someone suffer through. Lost my uncle and grandfather to it. As much as we don't want to let go, we don't want them to continue to suffer either.

 

[All7OfUs]

I'm sorry I didn't see this yesterday, Tina! I am seeing the same thing with my aunt with ALS. It's heart-wrenching to watch a loved one suffer. Praying you will be a support that your cousin will need, and for strength and peace you all.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

So very sorry to hear about your uncle. Good thoughts and prayers definitely headed your way. I don't find it at all odd you're still DISing. I think we all "get it.". This is our happy place and of course you'd want it even more in times of sadness. . Hang in there!

 

[tinacaplan]

Sending you a huge dear friend and lots of pixie dust and prayers for a peaceful end to this tragic situation!

Thanks, Karin! I miss you so, so much. We were talking to Max about character breakfasts and you and Tom (and Nicki and Todd) are still his favorite characters!

Prayers for peace being said.

Thanks, Ann.

Hugs and prayers for your whole family

Thank you!

My thoughts are with you. Cancer is a nasty thing to watch someone suffer through. Lost my uncle and grandfather to it. As much as we don't want to let go, we don't want them to continue to suffer either.

It truly is. Thank you.

I'm sorry I didn't see this yesterday, Tina! I am seeing the same thing with my aunt with ALS. It's heart-wrenching to watch a loved one suffer. Praying you will be a support that your cousin will need, and for strength and peace you all.

Liesa, you've been a bit busy. Saw some of the lovely pics on FB. Looks like it was a great weekend.

So very sorry to hear about your uncle. Good thoughts and prayers definitely headed your way. I don't find it at all odd you're still DISing. I think we all "get it.". This is our happy place and of course you'd want it even more in times of sadness. . Hang in there!

Thanks...it really is my happy place in so many ways.

 

[tinacaplan]

My uncle is still hanging on, while we are all praying that he goes peacefully and as painlessly as possible. My dad goes in for his surgery tomorrow, so praying that all goes well with that, too. Its just a crazy, crazy time. I'm so grateful to all of you and for the fact that I've got a trip to plan. Nothing like that to be the perfect DIS-traction.

 

[KatMark]

Tina, will be saying extra prayers for your dad tomorrow, as well as your uncle.

 

[tinacaplan]

Tina, will be saying extra prayers for your dad tomorrow, as well as your uncle.

Thanks, Kathy!

 

[tinacaplan]

Nothing like losing yourself in some good Dis planning when your life seems to be in utter chaos. When I last spoke of any Disney planning I was doubting nearly everything. Thanks to Diane (pinkxray), I was doubting whether I had made the right decision in switching from AKL to the Beach Club. I was slowly but surely realizing that I need more time to fit in more rides. In short, my vacation that was supposedly going to be "unplanned" had become a great deal more complicated.

Our arrival day plans are intact..for now. Although, I am thinking of switching Rose and Crown for either Via Napoli or Nine Dragons...thoughts? This might also be a good night to just stroll through World Showcase and stop for whatever strikes our fancy. Can you make an entire meal out of caramel?

Day two was where I ran into trouble. We want to tackle TSM as a family, but my husband is a die hard Star Wars fan and will want to hit up Star Tours. So, I'm stealing a play from Brook: I think I'll send Mark to get FPs for Star Tours while Max and I make our way to the stand-by line for TSM. Mark can meet us there, FPs in hand. After that, we'll either hit Lights Motor Action! or HISTK the playground, as I would like to use this as our "homebase" while Mark and I sneak out to Star Tours. Max will not be pleased if he knows we're riding something he can't (can you blame my short little guy?), so this will take some maneuvering on our part. I imagine that if we're able to accomplish all of this, we'll be ready to head back to the resort for some serious time at SAB.

That evening, we'll stay close to home and hit a 7 p.m. ADR at Cape May Cafe. All of Nicki's pictures of crab legs have me seriously drooling and since its right there we might as well go for it. I'm not a huge buffet fan, but I have to admit, they are easier with a small child.

The BC has numerous nighttime activities, including a marshmallow roast and movies on the beach. This could be a great night to take advantage of either of those things. MK has evening EMHs that night, and I WILL be hitting that solo, although I think I'll save it for later in the week. I refuse to try and get up and be functional for an 8 a.m. breakfast ADR (or even a 9 a.m. rope drop) on three hours of sleep. Been there, done that, not doing it again! Although, with Karin and Tom as my tour guides, I have to admit it was worth it.

And there are a few more suprises in store for later in the week, as well.

 

[MEK]

So sorry to hear about your uncle. But hospice will be a welcome reprieve. Trust in them to manage his pain and suffering. Cancer can be so devastating. Prayers going your way!

 

[KatMark]

Plans sound good for Day 1 and Day 2. I take it you've decided to stick with the Bech Club.

Why the change from Rose & Crown to either Via Napoli or Nine Dragons? Any particular reason? We love Rose & Crown and, as you kow, we are trying Via Napoli in September.

Are you going to do the child swap for Star Tours?

 

[pinkxray]

for everything you are going through right now.

Sorry I made you question your decision. I think you will have a great time at BC. It really is a lovely resort and there is so much to do there. You will love it since your family actually spends time in Epcot. DH has decided he does not like Epcot and refuses to ever go to WS again.


Didn't you say that you didn't really like Via Napoli? Nine Dragons does look good and I am guessing a famous disers reviews have you questioning all of your plans right now.

 

[tinacaplan]

Just a quick update....my uncle passed peacefully this morning. Now I'm waiting for my dad to come out of surgery. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. It eamns. So much. H

 

[KatMark]

Just a quick update....my uncle passed peacefully this morning. Now I'm waiting for my dad to come out of surgery. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. It eamns. So much. H

Tina, I'm sorry about your Uncle...but he is in a better place now.

Keep us posted on your dad when you can.

 

[All7OfUs]

Hi Tina,

This doesn't make it easier, knowing he was nearing his passing, does it? We will stand with you in mourning, and of course, are all eager to hear news of your dad. Love you!

 

[All7OfUs]

glad you made that tough decision on the resort! I know Max is going to love it there, and you will too! So... no bangers and mash, eh?? Switching out to wontons and rice- not bad, not bad....

 

[tinacaplan]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! My uncle passed away this morning and while my father is OK following his procedure they won't be able to fix the arterial problems he'd been having. He has some areas with one hundred percent blockages. It was very disheartening to hear after waiting all day long, but its OK. He at least isn't any worse than he was at the beginning of the day.

I know that my uncle truly is in a better place and will not suffer any more.

So sorry to hear about your uncle. But hospice will be a welcome reprieve. Trust in them to manage his pain and suffering. Cancer can be so devastating. Prayers going your way!

Thank you.

Plans sound good for Day 1 and Day 2. I take it you've decided to stick with the Bech Club.

Why the change from Rose & Crown to either Via Napoli or Nine Dragons? Any particular reason? We love Rose & Crown and, as you kow, we are trying Via Napoli in September.

Are you going to do the child swap for Star Tours?

Oh, yes...we are absolutely sticking with the Beach Club. We'll probably keep Rose and Crown, I just love second guessing all of my decisions.

I wish Max would do the child swap, but I think he'd get very upset if we tried that on him. Too bad, too, its a great idea.

for everything you are going through right now.

Sorry I made you question your decision. I think you will have a great time at BC. It really is a lovely resort and there is so much to do there. You will love it since your family actually spends time in Epcot. DH has decided he does not like Epcot and refuses to ever go to WS again.


Didn't you say that you didn't really like Via Napoli? Nine Dragons does look good and I am guessing a famous disers reviews have you questioning all of your plans right now.

Thank you, Diane...and don't apologize. You just reinforced my decision to want to stay at AKL in the future. And everything you said about BC are all things I will love! And we love WS, so no problems there. Sorry your husband doesn't enjoy it.

And, no, we didn't love Via Napoli, although I feel like I should love it. I also wonder how much of our opinion of it had to do with general restaurant of the kind one feels at the end of a week of deluxe dining!

Tina, I'm sorry about your Uncle...but he is in a better place now.

Keep us posted on your dad when you can.

Thanks, Kathy...he certainly is.

Hi Tina,

This doesn't make it easier, knowing he was nearing his passing, does it? We will stand with you in mourning, and of course, are all eager to hear news of your dad. Love you!

Thanks, Liesa. Your encouragement is really helpful.

glad you made that tough decision on the resort! I know Max is going to love it there, and you will too! So... no bangers and mash, eh?? Switching out to wontons and rice- not bad, not bad....

I think we'll love Beach Club, too. We're very excited and its nice to have something so wonderful to look forward to right now. Not sure what we'll do...just some thoughts I've been having. :

I also wanted to quickly share a brief moment I had towards the end of my day. I was walking out of the hospital, weary after a day of waiting around and trying to comprehend my uncle's passing, when I passed a tired looking couple with NICU badges around their necks. I said a quick prayer for them and I just thought wow....in all reality, I'm still a pretty lucky person.

 

[tinacaplan]

Saturday July 16th -- Our Second Full Disney Day

As it stands, we have an 8 a.m. ADR at Tusker House. This was, by far, my favorite character breakfast of the last trip. As I believe I’ve stated a billion times on the Dis already, they serve a bread pudding with a vanilla sauce that I would kill for! I can almost taste it..

Anyway...we might...we might now. It is pricey, so I’m going to have to do some advanced math before we leave to try and decide what I think is really important and what our food budget is going to be. That said, it is so nice getting into the park ahead of everyone else. There isn’t much better than the walk through a nearly empty, quiet park in the morning mist.

After breakfast, we’ll hit the safari, which is more or less an exact repeat of what we did at AK in February. But it worked then...I think it will work again! After that, perhaps we’ll grab FPs for Kali River Rapids, which Max is acutally tall enough for! Woo-hoo! Then we’ll head to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, which we didn’t get to do on our last trip. From there, it should be time to hit up KRR. From there, we’re somewhat open. I’m sure even if we did Tusker, we’ll be looking for a snack by then, so this might be the perfect time for a frozen lemonade and a jalapeno pretzel.

From there, we can go to FOLK or the Boneyard, depending on our timing. I definitely want to do FOLK. We such a great time there last in February and our love for that movie the its music has only deepened since then. Plus, there will be time later in the week to hit the Boneyard.

I will be quite impressed if we make it this long, but we’ll certainly be back at the resort by 2:00. Then we’ll hit the bay. Sorry. I keep thinking up really corny ways to say that we’ll be swimming at Storm Along Bay. Can ya tell how excited I am?

That evening, we will head to the Magic Kingdom for the first time. I realize that’s probably a bit too far into the trip for MK purists, but I have never claimed to be one. We will probably have a light dinner at Columbia Harbor House: excellent tuna? Yes, please. We’ll see what rides we can get in, but I’d love to hit the Jungle Cruise, Pirates, or the Haunted Mansion. That said, I am more than happy to follow Max on this one as long as we end up at our ultimate destination and the one ADR I was itching to get for this trip: the Wishes! desser party...or, as I affectionately call it, tricking my child into watching fireworks! I plan on explaining that we’re going to a dessert party and how bad can that be? And then...POW...FIREWORKS! I’m really looking forward to this evening. Lots of potential for pixie dust!

 

[KatMark]

Tina, I'm sorry the news wasn't better for your Dad, but glad he is doing okay. You've certainly had a long day.

Your Day 2 plans sound great! We've never done the dessert party so I'll be anxious to hear what you think of it.

Max may surprise you with the "child swap". He'd be with one parent at all times (it's worth a try).

 

[Disneyfreak616]

What a great Day 2!

I agree, those character meals are pricey though!