The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 8

[Glynis]

Here are some pictures from our trip.

Tammi, those pictures are fantastic! Looks like you all had a great time, and those flowers are beautiful!

Needless to say we are all quite jealous!

 

[kc10family]

Hello!!

Despite an extremely rocky start – I had an AMAZING weekend!!!

I posted my goodbye post – my ride (my mom) got here and I was ready to go – we were headed North to Dayton and really against the flow of traffic – I had checked in online and had nothing to check and Dayton is a small airport – It is a 45 minute drive and we decided to leave in time to give me over an hour leeway – at 6:15 we pulled onto the highway – and realized things did not look good – but we could not turn around and the next exit was 4 miles away – I called Steve he checked and there was an accident – just before the next exit – the radio said the backroads were worse than the highway and that was the best way to go – we had gone 2 miles in ½ hour and figured as long as we made the exit by 7:15 I would still have plenty of time – by 7:15 I still had ½ a mile to the exit – at 7:35 we pulled past the tail end of the accident clean up (I later found out that the highway had been closed from 3-6 am due to two separate accidents involving multiple cars and tractor trailers)

I made it to the airport by 8:00 for my 8:10 flight and saw the plane pull away from the gate as I rushed back there – I had already called Airtran and the lady told me she doubted I would get out that day b/c she had already had 10 calls from people missing flights in Dayton b/c of the accident and she was at the national call center

Remember when I switched flights from Delta to Airtran a few months back – well procrastination or whatever had stopped me from canceling that original Delta flight – so I knew worst case scenario – I would arrive that evening. I went straight to the Delta counter and for $25 I ended up on a flight arriving at 1:00 in Orlando – and the best news was that Airtran had so many people missing their early morning flights that they were delighted they didn’t have to fit me on a flight and they gave me a full ticket credit!!!!

I called Tammi and Kristine and made arrangements so Tammi could check in at the hotel and was told she would be able to pick up the rental car.

My mom and I headed to breakfast since I now had 2.5 hours to kill – only then did I leave my planner mode and got pretty upset about it – even though everything was working out – I hoped this wasn’t an omen!!

WOW! What a start to your trip. How was the breakfast with your mom?

 

[Tammi67]

Excellent report Kate. I'm sitting here laughing as I relive it all over again.

 

[Tammi67]

So do I understand that you all have started planning a trip to DL next year? Are the May 18thers invited or do we have to abdicate since we've had a trip already?

 

[Glynis]

I am good for anytime as of now. I will SOOOO do what ever needs to be done to come.

Well, Channon, as our resident travel expert, what time frame do you suggest? I know that several California schools go to DL from April through the end of school, so that time frame can get a bit crowded. Does anyone else have any time constraints? Theresa mentioned that Easter and from September through December are bad for her. Anyone who is interested, chime in with your BAD times, and we'll see if we can find a good time for us to go!

 

[kc10family]

I am up for something different so DL sounds great Which airport would I fly to??

August ...... middle to end of the month
September........1st of the month but avoiding Labor Day.

2007 of course.

I have never flown in to the area but I understand that John Wanyne airport is close.

 

[Eeyorecln]

I have been reading along but unable to post as I was in a funk due to DS Zachary. Thank goodness only 1 more month until our appt. for a second opinion. I just want to be able to help him so bad yet I seem to make things worse for him at times. Somehow, I lost all my notes that I was taking. for everyone who needs it. and to all that I missed. I'm glad to hear the May 18thers got back safely and had fun despite the rocky start. The pictures look great. I love all the topiaries. Very pretty. I'm up for a DL trip. I just love that place. Of course, Dec. 2007 is our tenth anniversary trip to WDW. But any other month would be great.
Denise Try to take care of yourself so you can get better.(I know easier said than done.) Your family is never far from our thoughts and prayers.
I hope all is well with the expecting moms.
I think that catches everything.

 

[kc10family]

It rained - so we all crammed in the tiny club house! I got to spend the afternoon playing with my friend's DS 6 months though - he's so cute you could eat him up! Even when he did throw up his milk all over my jeans

Love the milk smell, it was so not my favorite thing.
Glad you had fun.

 

[babytrees]

So do I understand that you all have started planning a trip to DL next year? Are the May 18thers invited or do we have to abdicate since we've had a trip already?

Yes, you are invited!!

 

[kc10family]

Hi, everyone. Thanks for checking in on me. Vicki, you have such an ACCENT! When I got up today (I went to bed last night at 6:15pm), DH told me you called. I listened to the voice message. What a sweetie you are! Rees is hanging in there. He goes Thursday to the hospital for general anesthesia for another Endoscopy and abdominal ultrasound. I'm really sick with a sinus infection that has spread to my lungs. First doctor's appt available is on Wed afternoon. I worked all day Friday teaching. Found out they had extended the school year (without telling anyone by one day), so I also had to work all day today. Taught the prenatal class from 8am to 5:30pm on Sat and my in-laws came in town for the weekend. To put it nicely, I'm wiped out completely physically and emotionally.

Tomorrow BK has Ballet Recital rehearsal at 5pm and Davis has a party until 4:30pm. DH is working late tonight through Wed pm and won't be home until 10pm each night so he can take off all day Thursday to watch BK and Davis. Wed is teacher work day all day, Thursday is the hospital. I hope Friday is the beginning of some down time for us all.

Oh, and my kiddos were the blessed recipients of one of Paula's SSP! It is overwhelming! DH and I opened it yesterday afternoon as our babysitter had put it in our spare bedroom and didn't tell us. It is AWESOME!!!!! The kids got so much stuff, and we're giving some this week to Rees but saving most for their b'day. I can't even believe how great it is. I will try to post some pics once they find out about it all. Paula, you are really an angel, and I want to PayPal you some money. You went completely and utterly overboard. It must have taken you 40 hours to make it all! I don't even know how to thank you.

Oh, and PM has a new towel from Paula and a BAB (tiny one) from June. Very cute. Rees loves PM and is getting one for his b'day. Thanks for fueling the Disney fantasy around here. BTW, who does PM go to next and when do I need to mail it?

I probably won't be around much, but I will post an update on Rees on Thursday. Hugs to you all.

Thank you for posting. Good to hear things are getting better. More PD and Prayers for you all.

 

[kc10family]

So do I understand that you all have started planning a trip to DL next year? Are the May 18thers invited or do we have to abdicate since we've had a trip already?

We would love it!

 

[babytrees]

I have been reading along but unable to post as I was in a funk due to DS Zachary. Thank goodness only 1 more month until our appt. for a second opinion. I just want to be able to help him so bad yet I seem to make things worse for him at times. Somehow, I lost all my notes that I was taking. for everyone who needs it. and to all that I missed. I'm glad to hear the May 18thers got back safely and had fun despite the rocky start. The pictures look great. I love all the topiaries. Very pretty. I'm up for a DL trip. I just love that place. Of course, Dec. 2007 is our tenth anniversary trip to WDW. But any other month would be great.
Denise Try to take care of yourself so you can get better.(I know easier said than done.) Your family is never far from our thoughts and prayers.
I hope all is well with the expecting moms.
I think that catches everything.

So glad to see you!!!
You should post even if you are in a funk. I have found this is the best place to relieve and vent some of those funky feelings. I haven't ever found better friends and ears than I have here and we always have room in our hearts, ears, shoulders to pray, listen and help carry some of those burdens.

Know that you are loved.

 

[Tammi67]

Well, Channon, as our resident travel expert, what time frame do you suggest? I know that several California schools go to DL from April through the end of school, so that time frame can get a bit crowded. Does anyone else have any time constraints? Theresa mentioned that Easter and from September through December are bad for her. Anyone who is interested, chime in with your BAD times, and we'll see if we can find a good time for us to go!

April and May are bad for me. Which airport is best to fly into from either Dulles or Washington? Do they have transpo like WDW does?

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Tammi and I spent A LOT of time with the photopass guys this weekend and we found out some VERY interesting info!!

If you lose your FP - you can go to the locations that can make a photo cd and ask them to help you find your pictures

he typed in his search criteria

Daisy
MGM
between 6 and 8
and EVERYONE who had their picture taken in that time frame with Daisy at MGM showed up - how cool is that!!!

Then they printed the picture and took it to look for the photopass stuff - we found out that photopass has a quality control center and as pictures come in - they crop, fix the exposure, delete any obscene photos, and add tink, stitch, simba etc. to photos! they also Tag good photos - when the girl helping us came back - she told us the picture she had of Tammi and I with Daisy had been tagged as a good photo - which meant they would use it as an example for photographers and I guess they keep track of how many good photos a photographer gets - it was good b/c we were smiling, looking at the camera, framed well, it was clear and the photo caught their eye!!!!

we also found out that Disney's ultimate goal it to sell a photo CD to everyone - and they hope to REALLY increase the photopass force - having photographers at every character meal - with every character - at the resorts - basically anywhere you would want your photo taken - AND they are working on the ability to put your ride photos on the photopass CD as well! (two different people told us this)

 

[tink2020]

Robyn and Beth -- feel better soon!

 

[julia & nicks mom]

We also checked out the Bippity Boppity Boutique -

it was ADORABLE!!!

the girls looked like they were having fun and they looked beautiful when they left!!

Here is another place where the photopass CD is already in progress - there was a Photopass photographer in there taking pictures of the whole experience

when the girls were done you could take them over to the scrapbook store where they have a little area set up for photos - and you can have a photo shoot - all put on the photopass!! I think this really makes the whole experience AWESOME and you get a photoshoot with it too!!!

 

[julia & nicks mom]

I am thinking I am out on the DL meet -

since I am going in the fall - and on a cruise in the spring - there really isn't much time for me to go!!!

I will have to read all the trip reports!

 

[tink2020]

It can get hot, but it's a different heat than most of you are used to. It's a dry heat. Zero humidity! August is doable!

Ahh, yes.... I LOVE summer when it's dry heat! What's so funny around these boards, is that everyone complains about the humidity in Florida. I never even notice, as Cincinnati's percentages are almost exactly the same!

We seriously should have stuck with our original plan of residency in California!

 

[Tammi67]

And here are our photopass pictures!!

 

[tink2020]

We saw a picture of Glynis?! I missed that somehow. I may have to go back and skim the thread.

Beth

It was around Easter, if that helps! She looks great... maybe she'll share it again!