The Half-and-Half Report: My Other Half Runs His 1st 1/2 Marathon! Now COMPLETED!!

[KathyRN137]

Still Sunday:

Epcot World Showcase: 8:00pm.
Decision time: what to do next?

One of our options was a post race celebration being held that night at Pleasure Island between 7pm and 2am. All Marathon and Half-Marathon participants would be given free admission if they presented their race number at the ticket window and since I was Ed’s “guest”, my ticket would be half-price. A pretty good deal, yes?

And…. a pretty good chance that PI would be PACKED, yes? Hmmmm. Let’s think about this for a minute.

We had originally planned to attend the party. I was fully prepared to tackle the crowds if Ed wanted to go; my cold was practically gone and I’m a big Adventurer's Club fan. (Although I’m pretty sure that would need a separate ticket.) But Ed was beginning to express lukewarm feelings about the whole idea. Not because he doesn’t like to kick back with a beer now and then. It’s just…well… that he doesn’t like the thought of being caught in the middle of a crowd of rowdy, inebriated people (such as the two gals we had just encountered.) It puts him on alert and flips him into ::cop: “cop mode”, which is not where he wants to be on his vacation.

So, when he seemed hesitant about heading over to PI, I wasn’t entirely surprised!

We opted, instead, to continue our leisurely stroll around the lagoon and exit the park through the International Gateway. While waiting for the boat, we were able to make a call home to talk with the kids (“Kissy-Kissy!!”) and reassure ourselves that all was well on the home front. A short boat ride later, we found ourselves disembarking at the Boardwalk.

Funny, but the three or four times we’ve been here in the evenings, we’ve never seen any of the entertainers out entertaining! What did they used to call them? The Boardwalk Buskers, I believe. You see them in every WDW planning DVD!! You know what I’m talking about: the musician, the juggler, the magician, the man making balloon animals! Is it just me? Drat! I’ve never seen any of these performers on the Boardwalk! Well, we did see an artist doing caricatures for a fee, but for some reason I always expect more. Perhaps they don’t perform on Sunday nights….

Hmmm. Not too many people around. Oh, wait. There’s a whole lotta folks over at the ESPN Club. Ah,yes. Sunday night in January! It’s got to be football; and some sort of playoff game, to boot!

OT: I consider myself fortunate that I am not football widow; Ed watches baseball, hockey, and soccer…at least those sports I can understand! The only way I could ever halfway figure out what the heck was going on during a football game is when John Madden would draw those little circles and arrows on the screen! (Football for Dummies!) Anyway, after purposely avoiding the swarms at PI we weren’t about to try to squeeze our way into the ESPN Club. We headed in the opposite direction toward Jellyrolls.

Jellyrolls - a dueling pianos experience.
“Classic sing-along and good times await guests at the hottest dueling piano bar on the waterfront, featuring non-stop live entertainment in a rowdy, warehouse atmosphere.”

I had read some really great things on The DIS about Jellyrolls and was looking forward to checking it out. It sounded like fun! We could hear a piano rocking as we approached the club and once inside the first set of doors we were asked by a rather large and burly bouncer-type CM to provide a cover charge. (No one ever asks me to provide ID anymore…I wonder why??)

After stamping our hands, (Gosh, when’s the last time my hand was stamped? I am really getting to be an old fuddy-duddy!), he wished us a good time and opened the next set of doors that opened into the club.

If it wasn’t for the music pouring out of that piano, I’d swear you could hear the crickets chirping! There were only about ten people in the whole bar. And that included the waitress and the bartender!

“Well, honey, you did want to avoid the crowds,” I laughed as we surveyed the sea of empty tables from which to stake our claim.

The tables were set up on two levels; most were positioned on the sunken level that fronted the raised stage that was just large enough to contain the two baby grands. The back row consisted of taller tables with bar stools around them. Another group of tables stood above these on an upper tier that was about the same level as the stage. Even more bar stools were set up against ledges that encircled the room, and at several bars around the perimeter. It was the perfect set-up for a sing-along crowd.

“…rowdy warehouse atmosphere…” Uh-huh! Well, perhaps if a few dozen people showed up to round out the audience! We took a table about three rows back and off to one side of the stage, which stood in front of a mirrored wall. The two pianos faced each other and each one was topped with two glass bowls; one containing beverage napkins with requests scribbled on them and one containing the few tips that had been bestowed on the players thus far.

As soon as the one piano player finished his number, the other piano player launched into a rendition of American Pie by Don McLean. Things were looking up! That’s one of Ed’s favorite songs.

OT: Anything from the seventies is probably one of Ed’s favorite songs! (Well, except maybe if it’s by the Bay City Rollers or Bobby Sherman…but that goes back to that teenage girl issue….!)

I just went over to his CD collection and grabbed a handful of CDs. This is what I got:

-‘70’s Party Classics
- Pop Hits of the 1970’s
-‘70’s Radio Hits
- Casey Kasem Presents America’s Top 10: the 1970’s

Get the idea? (I mean, can you dig it, baby!) Even in the 70’s I didn’t listen to this much 70’s pop music! I love to bust his chops about it…

Here are a few actual selections from his ipod, see if any of you boomers remember these classics:

-Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) [Edison Lighthouse]
-Billy, Don’t Be a Hero [Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods]
-The Night Chicago Died [Paper Lace]
-Brandy You’re A Fine Girl [Looking Glass]
-Escape (The Pina Colada Song) [Rupert Holmes]

Alright, I’ll stop teasing him.

(But really, honey, Midnight at the Oasis?? Afternoon Delight???)

Okay, okay! I’m stopping now, for real!

Seriously, I’m stopping…it’s late and I’m getting punchy!! To Be Continued Tomorrow….

Kathy

 

[KidGoofy]

Still Sunday:

Afternoon Delight???

Okay, okay! I’m stopping now, for real!

Seriously, I’m stopping…it’s late and I’m getting punchy!! To Be Continued Tomorrow….

Kathy

At my young age of 15 I actually like that song mostly because of Anchorman.

 

[blue_river]

It puts him on alert and flips him into ::cop: “cop mode”, which is not where he wants to be on his vacation.

ugh and I suspect not where you want to be either!!!

Funny, but the three or four times we’ve been here in the evenings, we’ve never seen any of the entertainers out entertaining! What did they used to call them? The Boardwalk Buskers, I believe. You see them in every WDW planning DVD!! You know what I’m talking about: the musician, the juggler, the magician, the man making balloon animals! Is it just me? Drat! I’ve never seen any of these performers on the Boardwalk! Well, we did see an artist doing caricatures for a fee, but for some reason I always expect more. Perhaps they don’t perform on Sunday nights….

Hmm... That is disappointing.

I had planned on checking out the boardwalk on our next trip. Guess I'll scratch that one off my list.

“Well, honey, you did want to avoid the crowds,” I laughed as we surveyed the sea of empty tables from which to stake our claim.

That kinda sounds nice actually.

As soon as the one piano player finished his number, the other piano player launched into a rendition of American Pie by Don McLean. Things were looking up! That’s one of Ed’s favorite songs.

It's one of ours also and I have to say I don't mind Madonna's version of the song either.

Keep it coming

 

[Goofster57]

the other piano player launched into a rendition of American Pie by Don McLean.

I just went over to his CD collection and grabbed a handful of CDs. This is what I got:

-‘70’s Party Classics
- Pop Hits of the 1970’s
-‘70’s Radio Hits
- Casey Kasem Presents America’s Top 10: the 1970’s

Get the idea? (I mean, can you dig it, baby!) Even in the 70’s I didn’t listen to this much 70’s pop music! I love to bust his chops about it…

-Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) [Edison Lighthouse]
-Billy, Don’t Be a Hero [Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods]
-The Night Chicago Died [Paper Lace]
-Brandy You’re A Fine Girl [Looking Glass]
-Escape (The Pina Colada Song) [Rupert Holmes]


(But really, honey, Midnight at the Oasis?? Afternoon Delight???)

I guess some people just don't have a musical ear...

I think all of these are great and I have every one of them on my Play List.

So ROCK on Ed

 

[KathyRN137]

KidGoofy: Just to put things in perspective: I think I was about your age when that song debuted on Casey's Top 40....

blue: Madonna recorded American Pie? Really?? I am so out of it!

Goofster: I like these songs, too! I just like to tease Ed because 70's music is all he listens to!

Kathy

 

[PittypatBR]

Nothing wrong with that music! Just add in a little 60's and it would be great!

 

[KathyRN137]

Sunday Night: The Boardwalk:

So, where was I? Oh yes, I was making fun of my husband’s CD collection! Wait until he reads this, so many of you came to his defense!

We settle in at our table at Jellyrolls and naturally, since it was not very busy, someone was right there to take our order. Two beers, please! Funny, this was the second night in a row that I’d been in the mood for a beer; I’m usually not a beer drinker. But in these surroundings, it just felt “right”. It felt like we were in the Disney version of a neighborhood bar; and you don’t order drinks with fruit and umbrellas in a neighborhood bar!

The young waitress returned with our beers and placed them on the table with a basket of popcorn and a stack of cocktail napkins. Now, I can understand wait staff throwing a generous supply of napkins our way when we are out with the kids…. did we really look like a couple of potential mess-makers? Then I realized that the napkins were to be used, not to prevent water rings on the table, but for writing down song requests for the dueling pianists.

While one fellow tickled the ivories, the other did his best to muster the patrons into singing along to Don McLean's American Pie. We did our best to comply, at least on the chorus! A few more people wandered in from the boardwalk and took a table nearby. Then a couple came in and sat at one of the bars. Perhaps the place was beginning to fill up for the evening!

Next there was a request for a Billy Joel number. I dug a pen out of my bag and twiddled it between my fingers while I tried to think of a song to request. I was drawing a blank. A couple of suggestions came to mind, but I dismissed them as not being suitable for solo piano. I crumpled up each napkin and sighed. Ed raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Why do you need to make a request?” he said. “Just listen to what they’re playing!” He took another sip of beer.

“Honey, the whole point of this place is that we make requests and supposedly, the piano players have such a wide repertoire that they can play anything we ask for. They make a little competition out of it. Then, we all get to sing along, get it?” I nodded my head encouragingly and handed him the pen.

Billy Joel’s Piano Man segued into Elton John’s Tiny Dancer. A very pretty song, but not exactly one that was gonna get the place rockin’.

A woman sitting alone at a table in front of center stage got up and placed a request and a tip in the glass bowl. It was her third since we came in.

A girlfriend, maybe?? A groupie?? She sat down and beamed upwards at the two male performers. She looked like she was in heaven. (Do dueling pianists attract groupies??)

I brought my attention back to the matter at hand. We needed some livelier music requests. “Come on,” I pestered Ed. “Let’s think of a good song; something everyone can sing,” I rummaged through my bag for a second pen.

Ed’s eyebrows knit together and the number 11 appeared above the bridge of his nose. He chewed on his pen. After a moment, he scratched something down on the napkin and pushed it toward me with a look of satisfaction. I smiled at him, took the paper, and brought it up close to my face so I could read it in the subdued lighting.


The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace.

Sigh.

They didn’t mean to, really they didn’t, but my eyeballs began to roll slightly before I could stop them. It was a barely imperceptible movement, but he caught it. Ugh, big mistake!

“Fine,” he said, putting the pen down with disgust. “First you bug me to request a song, then when I do, you roll your eyes at me!” He folded his arms across his chest.

“Hon, it’s a great song! It’s just that…well…I’m sorry! The lyrics are about a gangland war and a cop’s wife who spends the night terrified her husband isn’t going to come home alive! I mean it’s not exactly a sing-along-song!” My voice trailed off helplessly. This was not going the way I had planned.

Perhaps we should have gone to Pleasure Island, after all…
Perhaps we should have stayed in Epcot…
Perhaps unpleasant thoughts of leaving in the morning were beginning to surface…
Perhaps we should just call it a night…

My reverie was broken by the sounds of loud whooping and raucous laughter. The door opened and a group of three couples burst into the bar, led by a tall man in a green football jersey. He looked around the room, threw both arms up in a jubilant “touchdown” signal and screamed,

Eagles! The Eagles won!! Yeahhh!!!

There was a stunned silence for a fraction of a second, and then everyone either smiled or laughed as the group stumbled it’s way to the front and spread out around one of the larger tables right in front of the stage. Mr. Eagles’ female companion tried to shush him, but he was beyond caring.

“Who won?” asked one of the piano players, with a wink to the crowd. Mr. Eagles stood up turned around and addressed the entire room, again.

Eagles!! Eagles!! Yeahhh!


Let me tell you, this guy was three sheets to the wind! But he and his group seemed to be just what the performers needed, because they began bantering back and forth and the next number was much livelier.

Only the Good Die Young, by Billy Joel.

Not only did Mr. Eagles throw back his head and begin to sing along at the top of his lungs, when he noticed that not too many others were singing he jumped up and began to “lead” the room in the sing-along, much to the amusement of the performers on stage.

As the post-game crowd spilled in from the ESPN Club, lots of happy Eagles fans (and a few crestfallen Giants fans) spread out among the tables and the room began to fill.

The waitress came ‘round to ask if we wanted another drink. I half expected Ed to say no, but he surprised me and ordered another beer. I did the same, and squeezed his hand under the table. He smiled ruefully, obviously regretting his earlier Grumpiness.

But, I noticed he kept an eye on Mr. Eagles & Company, who were in overtime as far as drinking was concerned.

It must have been halftime for the pianists, though, because the two who had been performing took a break and two new performers took the piano benches. They decided to take advantage of the post-game fervor and invited all the Eagles fans up onto the stage for a rousing rendition of New York, New York(made famous by Mr. Frank Sinatra.)

He may have been drunk, but Mr. Eagles was a happy drunk, because he graciously accepted the invitation (along with about a dozen of his friends) and good-naturedly joined the chorus line and high-kicked along with the rest of them to Old Blue Eyes’ standard.

It was a small miracle that he didn’t fall off the stage!

The next number was the old folk song, The Unicorn, and we all tried to keep up with the zany animal moves that went with it. (Mr. Eagles stayed on the stage with a few of his buddies to show us how it was done.) When one of the piano players announced the next song and asked everyone to sit back down, they all did.

All except Mr. Eagles.

As the one piano player began to play and the other was standing at the mike, he swaggered over to the other piano, sat down on the bench, and began to sing into the open microphone. His friends applauded him and cheered him on.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see two bouncers slowly making their way toward the stage, stopping to casually lean against the walls on either side. I turned to look at Ed. I didn't notice it at the time, but later I realized he had quietly removed his ring and watch and put them in his pocket. He was anticipating trouble.

Uh oh. ::cop: Cop Face.

He stood up. “Let’s go,” he said curtly. “There’s gonna be a fight and I’ll have to get in it if he gives those guys a hard time.” I didn’t need to be told twice. Bar fights can get ugly. He took me by the hand and we made a beeline for the door, passing a staff member who was radioing for backup just on the other side.

We stepped outside onto the Boardwalk promenade and turned to take the walkway to The Swan. Suddenly, the ringing of a shrill bell caused our heads to turn to our right.

WHOOSH! A wild surrey bike driven by a teenage boy went flying past. Another bell and a second bike tore after the first, another boy peddling furiously. “Sorry!” he called out to us; then he dug in to continue his pursuit of bike number one.

“I never knew the Boardwalk was so dangerous,” I laughed. “We’d better get back.”

We walked in silence for a moment.

“I’m sorry,” Ed said apologetically. “I know you were having a good time, but I wanted to get you out of there.”

“I understand,” I said. (My hero!) He may get a bit grumpy at times, but underneath all that, he’s truly my knight in shining armor. I admitted that I was beginning to feel a bit tired, anyway.

“Let’s just enjoy the bit of time that we have left,” I sighed. We then walked hand-in-hand up the slightly inclined path and turned left. There was a bridge that crossed over that one part of the canal and the moonlight flashed on the gentle water below. In the darkness, the colorful pendants and banners that adorned the bridge flapped and snapped in the breeze. It was delightful to be able to walk back to our room like this instead of taking a crowded bus.

It would be hard to leave here in the morning….

Kathy

 

[averill94]

Boy, visiting the Boardwalk was on our list for next trip, now I am not so sure....

 

[KathyRN137]

Boy, visiting the Boardwalk was on our list for next trip, now I am not so sure....

Last year we ate dinner at the Flying Fish Cafe (wonderful!), and we had a very pleasant stroll on the Boardwalk promanade afterwards. There are snack vendors and midway games that kids of all ages can play, but I think they are manned by CMs a bit earlier in the evening....there just weren't as many live entertainers as I had expected.

I like the Boardwalk....perhaps the "big game" was a factor in the excessive drinking on the part of some guests....of course, I've seen the same thing at Pleasure Island....

Kathy

 

[milouster]

Milouser: 10yr old boys love a good laugh! (Of course, its usually fart jokes that do it for them!) Oh, and for Buzz....[BKathy

And, of course, they are usually good for a few laughs also!

Melissa

 

[AlyssinWonderland]

It sounds like your husband is great. I really admire someone who would involve himself in a barfight to help out the bouncers. Even if he is a policeman most of the ones I know wouldn't do that. Good for him, and good for you. I'm glad you had a safe night!

 

[KathyRN137]

It sounds like your husband is great. I really admire someone who would involve himself in a barfight to help out the bouncers. Even if he is a policeman most of the ones I know wouldn't do that. Good for him

He's Old School..... (And I'm very proud of my LT.)
He's picked up some funny habits from 25 years on the job:

*In restaurants, he will never sit with his back to the door.
*I often catch him scanning his surroundings.
*He will not lock the car door when we are driving somewhere, just in case he needs to jump out suddenly.
*If he does need to step out of the car, he always leaves his door wide open (habit so he wouldn't lock his keys in the patrol car.)
*He keeps emergency medical equipment in his truck "just in case."
*He never, never drinks if he is carrying.

You may not realize it, but there are undercover security officers in the parks at all times; most are retired cops. Ed can usually spot them! (Old habits/mannerisms die hard I guess!)


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Epilogue:


I have decided that any trip report I write will not include a "Journey Home" Chapter. First, I find it somewhat depressing to watch all the happy, excited guests arriving to start their vacation when I am sitting glumly on a bench with my luggage waiting for transportation to the airport. I know you do, too. So why bring us both down? I like reports that end on a happy note.

Second, although the journey to WDW is always exciting because of the anticipation factor, the journey home is usually rather anticlimactic. This trip was no exception. So unless something really remarkable occurs at the airport or en route, I think I will just skip it. I hope you don’t mind.

Thanks, I didn’t think you would!

Instead, I’d like to review the positives (many) and the negatives (few) of our first-ever WDW Marathon Weekend and talk about our plans for future trips. Because as any good DIS-er knows, life is always better when there is another WDW trip on the horizon! We have our week-long family trip to look forward to in November, and Ed and I are already registered for the 2008 Half Marathon and 5K, respectively.

Let’s talk first about the Marathon Weekend, itself.

As fully expected, Disney did a fantastic job with the races. Packets chock-full of information were mailed to us ahead of time and even more info was provided at check-in, so we always knew the Where, When and Hows of the weekend events. The courses were “flat and fast”(that’s runners’ lingo, thank you) and there were plenty of refreshment and first aid stops. There was a ton of music and entertainment along the race routes, and where else could you stop and take a picture with Cinderella in the middle of a race? It was so encouraging to see so many CMs out there cheering us on and so amusing to see runners dressed in pirate costumes or dressed up like Disney characters. And really, how can you top running through a Disney theme park? You couldn’t ask for better scenery!

Oh, and the port-a-potties. Lots and lots of port-a-potties!

On the down side, the early morning charter bus transportation for runners who were resort guests was not well organized. We almost didn’t make it to the 5K start because of our driver and Ed had the same unnecessary agita prior to the Half-Marathon even though we gave ourselves plenty of travel time. I had reasoned that staying at an Epcot area resort would be a plus because we would be close to the 5K start at the Studios and the half marathon start at Epcot. In retrospect, it would have been less stressful to walk to the races!

This may have been a problem just for the Epcot Area Resorts (Swan/Dolphin/Beach Club/BCV/Boardwalk Inn/BWV); I really couldn’t say how bus transportation for runners and their guests was for the rest of the World. But it seemed downright silly to have buses stacked at the Swan and have each bus then stop at all the other resorts on the way to the race. I mean, I can see the Swan and Dolphin sharing, and maybe the Beach Club and the Boardwalk, but SIX resorts sharing one bus route? Ridiculous! It was my only complaint as far as event organization was concerned. If Disney is going to use complimentary transportation to the race as an incentive to stay on-site, they really need to ensure that it runs smoothly.

Of course, the “normal” theme park bus route for these resorts is similarly organized; something I never could understand! I feel that whatever benefit is gained by close proximity to Epcot and the Studios, and the ability to walk or boat to these parks, is cancelled out by the convoluted bus service to MK, AK, and DD.

Other than the bus transportation, however, we were more than satisfied staying at The Swan. It is a beautiful and well-appointed hotel. The room was clean and spacious, and the “Heavenly Bed” was, indeed, very comfortable! (Although that could become a problem on vacation…..how do you make it to the parks before rope drop if the bed is so comfortable you don’t want to get out of it in the morning?!!)

Nevertheless, despite the lovely bed and the deep discount, we will not be staying here next January. Instead, we’ll be using our value season AP discount at The Polynesian. Yesterday, I tried to make a ressie at the Contemporary, but it’s completely booked except for Club Level! ($$$) Wow, at seven months out! It's okay, though. Finally, Ed will get to stay on his beloved monorail line and I’ll get to experience the South Pacific, Disney style! Aloha, cousins!

(Better sign up for a few extra work jobs, Honey!)


And hopefully next time I won’t catch a cold just before we leave for the weekend. At least I didn’t make Ed sick! He would not have been happy about that, after all his training. As it was, he had a great first experience with a longer race. He set a goal for himself and he achieved it; I’m very proud of him for that.

Notice that the certificate is signed by Donald Duck!!

*****************************​

Some Additional (Random) Thoughts:

Crowds: Even though the resorts were booked to the max, I really didn’t notice any perceptible increase in crowd levels at the Magic Kingdom or at Epcot this weekend. It felt less crowded than I remembered from our family trip last November (Jersey Week). Perhaps a lot of runners go to the theme parks, but more for the atmosphere than for heavy touring.

Going Without the Kids: That said; I’m glad we were able to have some “couple time” at the World. It’s a completely different experience from the ones we have as a family. Ed and I are really homebodies at heart. (That’s a cute way of saying we don’t get out much.) Sometimes we go for months without going out on a date. I know, I know…that’s not good; but it’s the way we are.

I’m so grateful that my sister and niece were able to stay at our house for the weekend; Billy does so much better when he’s in familiar surroundings. And Aunt Rae, although she adores the kids, is really too old at age 76 to handle them for the entire weekend by herself. Hey, when Ed’s away I feel like I’m too old to handle them by myself! She’s also a tiny little thing and Billy can get quite physical. He can sometimes be like Bam-Bam from the Flintstones; he doesn’t realize his own strength! It was good to know that both kids were safe at home.

Sometimes I would forget, though, just for a split second. I would be walking along and suddenly let out a gasp and start to look around wildly for them, thinking they had wandered off! Then I would remember that they weren’t with us. Whew! And even though it was wonderful to be temporarily “free”, I still found myself missing them at every turn. Going home to them was the one an only good thing about leaving WDW.


Dining: “New” restaurants:

Yachtsman Steakhouse (dinner): Food Atmosphere Long wait for 7:55pm ADR.

Fresh (breakfast buffet): Food Atmosphere

Tony's Town Square (dinner): Food Atmosphere Seated early for 5:45 ADR

Garden Grove Cafe (breakfast buffet): Food Atmosphere

Raglan Road (dinner): Food Atmosphere (but noisy) Long wait for 8:30pm ADR

Teppanyaki Dining Room (dinner): Food Atmosphere Our chef was very entertaining. Long wait for 5:00pm ADR.

*** Two of our dinner ADRs were late, so the long wait was understandable, if not desirable. It’s one more argument for eating early. The long wait for the 5:00 ADR at Teppanyaki was not justified IMO, even though it’s a popular dining spot. So perhaps the Marathon crowds did affect the restaurants more than the attraction queues.


Other New Things We Saw or Did:

Cirque du Soleil: I’m definitely glad we finally got the chance to see this, and I’m glad we did it without the kids. Tricia (11yrs) would probably have enjoyed it, but Billy would not have been able to sit still for 90 minutes without a break. Will we see La Nouba again? Probably not, I think once is enough for me. But if we ever get the opportunity to see a different Cirque du Soleil show we will definitely take advantage of it. It was very entertaining.

Spa at Saratoga Springs: Okay, but I’ll stay away from reflexology in the future(!) It felt crowded; I liked the atmosphere at the Grand Floridian better.

Mandara Spa: Gorgeous, exotic lounge area. I only had a pedicure, but would love to try a different spa treatment here in the future.

Jellyrolls: More fun once the crowd picked up. A few rowdy patrons when we were there. Not so good for a “last night” choice; we were rather tired.


I’ll be planning fewer activities for us next time. I seriously underestimated the fatigue factor associated with getting up so early and participating in the races. I would say that I definitely over-planned our weekend. Doing the spa, Cirqu du Soleil, and a dinner out at PI the night of the half marathon was too much, even with a midday nap and sleeping in the next morning. Surprisingly, Ed disagrees.

“I really was fine until we got to Jellyrolls that last night,” he said to me yesterday when we were talking about 2008. “I just ran out of steam. I want to do stuff we can’t do when we have the kids with us.” Well, I wholeheartedly agree. But next year, I’m just going to bring it down a notch and plan a bit more relaxation time.

I think I like the idea of swinging lazily in a hammock and watching Wishes together from the beach at the Poly, don’t you? I thought so.

Thanks for reading and I wish you all the best,

Kathy

****************************

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Another great coda to a fantastic trip report, Kathy!


I understand how you feel when the kids aren't around. I can't remember the many times I've had a panic attack when I go out alone and see an empty car seat in the rear view mirror! It is strange not having the kiddos near.

Here's to a fantastic trip in November! I hope your vacation goes slowly, so you can savor every moment! And I'll be waiting for the trip report! No rush.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Great trip report again. I really love your writing style. We will be at the World Jersey week too. Hope you have a great time!!!

 

[meghan74]

Loved you report. My Mom and I are going to do the 1/2 marathon in January and I loved reading about your experience.

Oh, and this,

*In restaurants, he will never sit with his back to the door.
*I often catch him scanning his surroundings.
*He will not lock the car door when we are driving somewhere, just in case he needs to jump out suddenly.
*If he does need to step out of the car, he always leaves his door wide open (habit so he wouldn't lock his keys in the patrol car.)
*He keeps emergency medical equipment in his truck "just in case."
*He never, never drinks if he is carrying.

You may not realize it, but there are undercover security officers in the parks at all times; most are retired cops. Ed can usually spot them! (Old habits/mannerisms die hard I guess!)

so reminds me of my DH (15 years on the job)! It sounds like our DHs have similar schedules because mine also works nights and every other weekend. They sure do pick up some quirky habits.

Thanks for sharing your story!

 

[PittypatBR]

Great TR, Kathy. Thanks for sharing it with us. I really enjoyed it and look forward to more in the future! And you have that great family trip to look forward to now. I agree about the departure day - if we had left that off of ours it would have been much happier, so maybe I will do that in the future! I am jealous that you will be at the Poly!

 

[KathyRN137]

Pittypat: It's hard to write about something so... painful... Perhaps it's just a form of denial!!

Halloweenqueen: Thanks for all the good karma; I'm lovin' your TR, too.

mrsksomeday: Hey, you're not from Jersey! What are you doin' goin' that week??

Meghan74: Good Luck with the Half! Keep an eye out for my GO ED!!

Kathy

 

[mrsksomeday]

mrsksomeday: Hey, you're not from Jersey! What are you doin' goin' that week??

Kathy

Well, it seems I have found one of the greatest men on earth. We went last year to Super Soap Weekend. So he said to me "that was a great time of year to go, why don't we go again"?

I am NOT passing up a Disney trip, especially one that we have decided to stretch to 10 days. This will be our 3rd trip in 21 months. The man wants to move to Florida. He has CP and his breathing is so much better in Florida, he also loves how warm it is there. I can't wait until November 5th!!!

 

[Goofster57]

Kathy,

Thanks for taking us along on your trip, I really enjoyed the ride.

Congratulations to you and Ed on your accomplishments with the races.

From your mouth to my wifes ears about the spending time with your spouse in the world, I really can't wait to do a trip like that.

Now when do you start the Pre-Trip report?

Were waiting.......