~ The Man Report ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Imminent Shutdown ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[GeminiAngel]

Yup. We even own a stone in the entry plaza.

 

[SunKat]

I've really enjoyed reading your report. Thank you for sharing it with us!!

It's been over a year since my family has been to WDW and we won't be back until February 2009, so reading trip reports is the next best thing to being there.

Yikes, too bad about the Mole People/White Rabbit dreams. I can fly in my dreams, so I'd be able to get away from them, no prob.

Linnie, are you going to tell us all about David Cassidy? I can remember as a kid just staring at the picture of him on the album cover. Drool. He's aged really well, hasn't he?

Glad that you all had a great trip!!

 

[Goofster57]

Yup. We even own a stone in the entry plaza

We share one with our friends from Orlando

 

[GeminiAngel]

We share one with our friends from Orlando

We are C48 125 - we are near the LAST "A" in C A L I F O R I N A

 

[carrieannie]

That was beautifully said Buzz! Welcome home. and thanks for sharing your family and vacation with us..

 

[Goofster57]

We are C48 125 - we are near the LAST "A" in C A L I F O R I N A

Ours is to the East of the Compass in the Esplanade.

What do you think will happen to them with this new “Refurbishment” of Disney’s California Adventure that Disney announced this week. It is supposed to affect the Esplanade area.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Welcome home Buzz and Lin!

 

[PittypatBR]

Welcome Home! Hope the rest of the trip went well, and you get a good nights sleep in your own beds tonight. THEN . . . get busy posting! I agree with your last post. Life is all about choices, and each family has to make the ones that are best for them. Quality time with the family is prime, and WDW time is the best!

 

[ILMICKEY]

Buzz,
The dream part~well, that was just weird! But, it is you, so I guess I can understand.

The other part~that was very nice. I think people hurry and rush to get things done, they forget about making memories with their children. Mine are 15 and 16. Almost adults. I often wonder where the time has went. The memories we have made. Have I did a good job?

You are doing a wonderful job making memories with your kids. You are making imprints in their brains that will last forever.

Good job Buzz!

 

[GeminiAngel]

Ours is to the East of the Compass in the Esplanade.

What do you think will happen to them with this new “Refurbishment” of Disney’s California Adventure that Disney announced this week. It is supposed to affect the Esplanade area.

I'm happy California Adventure is finally getting some love , but we're a little concerned. I think they are supposed to display the stones, for 10 years after purchase.

Another wrinkle: I can't believe how much better POTC is at DL than WDW!

 

[DisneyJo]

Just caught up and I loved the photos and the dreams stories, hope you got home safely

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

Well, we're back, unpacked and safe & sound in our home.

Pooh-Head is whooped pup... poo baby.

Whew! I'm thinking maybe 13 days might just be too long... Yeah Right!!

Ok, now to catch up on comments...

I send you my most humble apologies.

Can't wait to hear about 'Ohana... we're eating there for the first time very, very soon!!

I accept.

O'Hana = Stick-In-The-Gut Not sure if it was the 14 BBQ'd sausage links I ate or the quart of wine... But it definitely was barking the next day. Made for a long journey home.

The Hummus Sauce was our favorite for dipping. Lin liked the turkey but I really liked those sausages. The steak and pork were dry.

It's the second time we've been there and LG had fun with the entertainment but overall I'd only give it a "C".

Have a safe trip home!!! Yes, I LOVE the RAC airport check-in at the resort! We've used it several times now and have never had a problem.

I hope you left those Stretchy Shorts behind...

That check in was incredible! LtP was telling me "...those bags will NEVER make it to Billings". Guess what? She was wrong... they made it.

Oh, and we went down with TWO checked bags but came home with THREE checked bags... That story will be saved for the trippie.

The Stretchy Shorts still haven't been washed. I have to take a picture of them first so you can see the before and after shots.

I think instead of washing them I'll have to bury them. It's really bad.

Oh, and I wore them home on the airplane also much to LtP's horror.

This may be the best TR in the history of the DIS.

No way! Maybe the most appalling, but definitely not the best.

Buzz,
I believed you man

We men may stretch the truth about some things, but not about cooking in some good old artery harden grease

Thanks Goof. Us men gotta stick together on these boards. We're outnumbered 20 to 1 here!

Have a safe trip home guys! It was fun! can't wait to see the pic of the room.

Those are posted now GA.

The OKW rooms are VERY nice. The views are great also. I'd sit out on the balcony after swimming every day to check email and the DIS, sip a glass of wine or a beer, watch the golfers, and get a little work done. That was my favorite part of the room.

It's spacious also. It's nice to put the kids to bed at night then watch TV alone with LtP and reflect upon the day. I believe the rooms are around 1,300 sq ft. It's also nice to have that great big fridge with auto icemaker.

Oh ... it's been a little while since they have been doing it. It will definitely make it in my TR ... someday.

It definitely beats dragging all your luggage to the airport and checking in there.

After we dropped off the rental car, we just went straight through to security, had some eggs for breakfast, then walked on the airplane. It really couldn't have been any smoother.

Next trip I think you can do the Fry Daddy and the Hibachi

I think some of the resorts actually have BBQ's don't they? If not they should. Man oh Man do I love BBQ.

When I took that Hibachi with us we were driving so it made it easier. I'm not really sure LtP would approve of me jamming a soot covered BBQ into our suitcases... you never know though. :

I am so showing this to DH. Maybe he doesn't get it becasye he is off int eh summers

We say this to people all the time and they just look at the concept

You have to spend time down here. You can't just show up and then head home in a few days. People who do this generally end up wondering what all the fuss is about. They just don't get the Disney Experience.

As with all our trips, we didn't spend more than 4 hours per day in the parks and generally around 3. After that, it was swimming for two or three hours then rest in the room. We had an early dinner every single night, put the kids in bed at 8pm and then we would hit the sack around 10.

My sister came down to WDW with her herd and they were in the parks from the time they open to the time they closed. They were all cranky and didn't enjoy it. They tried to jam everything in to four park hopping day. Not a good idea.

Sorry Buzz,
Can't help with the White Rabbit or Mole People, I have enough problems with my recurring nightmare of my Mother-in-Law moving in with us.

Is that really true!

needless to say, we were all sad when we had to board Magical Express back to the airport. So on the plane home hubby said ok, when do we go back?
I thought for a moment and said Feb 2009. but for 10 nights this time.

And I think that should do it for most people. I would suggest 10 days to anyone who asked me. Most people tend to spend more time in the parks than we do so 10 days won't cut it for us.

We won't go this coming spring like we did last spring so we'll be EXTRA ready to go come this time next year. We'll probably do 12 nights again. It just works for us.

That is awesome!!! Ahhhh... get away from me!!

Actually, my white rabbit is more of a man in a fuzzy rabbit costume and walks with a limp.

Seriously, does your school give you a hard time for the kids missing so many days in a row? I don't know what our school's policy is....we just go down for fall break for 7 days, but I'd love to do longer!

Not at all.. not yet anyway. And I hope they don't.

It's MEA days when we go (I have no idea what the acronym means) so the even though they're gone 10 school days they only miss 7. Seven is still a lot though. I think our kids are able to miss 10 days per semester but I'm not sure.

LtP is an ex-teacher and she says it's ok to take them out. Trey is in Life Skills class instead of the 3rd grade and LG just started Kindergarten.

I guess we'll find out.

OMG, I had and still do have dreams about people slingshotting toothpicks into me, like a pincushion. I am still terrified of toothpicks. I stepped on like my 4th toothpick a couple weeks ago. (shudder)

Ok, that's just creepy. Just kidding.

Say Buzz.....my DH was wondering if you took the Fry Daddy into any of the parks... He thought you might be able to get away with it.. well maybe except for AK of course

I'm not sure what security would say but I have to admit I don't ever remember seeing a 110v outlet anywhere in the parks. :

Good idea though!

We do take a "sweat rag" with us in the parks every day along with our stroller name tag, maps of all the parks, four water bottles, fruit snacks for the kids, cell phones, contact eye rewetter, ponchos for AK, room keys, credit cards, cash, and sun block. That's about it.

Welcome Home

Thanks Blue.

Linnie, are you going to tell us all about David Cassidy? I can remember as a kid just staring at the picture of him on the album cover. Drool. He's aged really well, hasn't he?

There will be an entire segment devoted to our second night out which includes DC. LtP even has a DC shirt now.

That was the single best night (without kids) we've ever had. Bistro De Paris, Off Kilter, DC, Illuminations, Boardwalk.... just a great time.

That was beautifully said Buzz! Welcome home.

Thanks, it was my own twisted way to tell people to spend more time on vacation. Don't be in such a rush. You don't have to go commando to have fun in WDW.

When people ask me how can we spend so much time in WDW I always tell them it's simple: Waterskiing, biking, swimming, water parks, golf, fine dining, shopping, strolling, and spa. It's not JUST about the theme parks.

Like I said, we go to the parks every day but only for a couple of hours.

Welcome home Buzz and Lin!

Thanks Lessa.

Welcome Home!

Thanks PittyPat.

You are doing a wonderful job making memories with your kids. You are making imprints in their brains that will last forever.

That's so true Nikki. My daughter has been talking about Disney all weekend since we got home. She was brave this year and went on RRC and SM. She's so proud of herself.

I hope to give my DVC to my kids and grandchildren some day for them to use and make memories the same as I gave them.

Just caught up and I loved the photos and the dreams stories, hope you got home safely

We did... thank you!

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

We are back!!! It has been a whirlwind of unpacking and getting settled back in. The kids are so happy to be home. So am I. I loved my vacation, but was ready to come home. Buzz is thinking of adding another night next year, but I feel this was long enough. I felt guilty when I got home-we've been gone for so long!!!

Tomorrow is school and as Buzz said it'll be my Nirvana-he called it Linvana. I am looking forward to some alone time. I love my family, but sometimes I just need time alone with myself. Just to decompress. We went whole hog this year and were hoofing it everyday, going at Buzz's brutal pace. I'm not complaining-I loved it. But it's time to get back to the real world.

We had a soccer game yesterday and even though Loud Girl's team lost, she scored her 2nd goal of the season! It was great!! Moan Boy is running around the house "vacuuming." He has one of those play vacuums-a Hoover I think. It turns on and really does suck up dust and light things. He loves it and spends a lot of time cleaning our house. He will even ask us, "Scoot please," when he feels the need to clean under us. I called and talked to my mom for 2 hours yesterday. Buzz is on his computer, happily typing away. Ahhhh, to be home again....

I think I do need to venture out this afternoon though. My mom really wants me to come over. Her dog isn't doing well and she's feeling a little down so I'll probaby drop by. She'll probably laugh at how dark I got from the sun and if my dad was here, he'd be chastising me about not using enough sunblock. Yeah, I'll probably pay for that someday....

Hey Buzz! What's taking so long to get to Day one??? Get with it man!!

Oh and David Cassidy-one word-AWESOME!!!! Did I already mention that? He was great!! He definitely noticed me-Buzz'll fill you in on that! We googled him and found out he's 57! He's held up remarkably well and he sang fantastic!! I'm so glad we did that!

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

MEA is Montana Education Association. Union. They have 2 days every October where they hold these classes all over the state. Teachers can get credits for attending them. It's really fun-you can choose what you want to go to. We always tell the kids "it's when the teachers go to school" and they always liked that.

One year I went to Pumpkin Painting. I did not get credit for it, but it was a relaxing way to spend the afternoon and yes, I really didn't get the point and thought it was wasteful. We should've been doing something more educational, but I've attended some of those classes and some are just snooze fests. It was an indulgence I guess.

A hibachi in our suitcase??? Uh, NO!!!!!

I would also like to clear up the stretchy shorts thing. Buzz claims he wore them for 13 days. Now, I do all the laundry in our house-all of it- and I don't recall seeing those in the rotation for a few weeks prior to vacation, so it's been more than 13 days straight. Been more like 4 weeks. And they should be buried -only not in our yard please. I'm afraid of what they might do to our lawn.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Instead of burying the stretchy shorts, why not burn them?? Just don't get anywhere near the toxic fumes that will come off them .

Welcome home, I can't wait to read about your adventures. Linnie, I am secretly jealous of you getting to see DC.

 

[GeminiAngel]

I would also like to clear up the stretchy shorts thing. Buzz claims he wore them for 13 days. Now, I do all the laundry in our house-all of it- and I don't recall seeing those in the rotation for a few weeks prior to vacation, so it's been more than 13 days straight. Been more like 4 weeks. And they should be buried -only not in our yard please. I'm afraid of what they might do to our lawn.

Ewww!! You poor woman.

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

Instead of burying the stretchy shorts, why not burn them?? Just don't get anywhere near the toxic fumes that will come off them .

They're too far gone to burn. Try buring ketchup, mustard and BBQ sauce... these shorts are completely covered in a layor of condiment armor that simply cannot be burned.

 

[mrsksomeday]

They're too far gone to burn. Try buring ketchup, mustard and BBQ sauce... these shorts are completely covered in a layor of condiment armor that simply cannot be burned.

Linnie is a saint to be with you .

Seriously, I love how you two compliment one another, the love is obvious to see. I really do enjoy your trip reports (my dbf and I have borrowed your idea about both posting to my PTR, but we are no where as funny, informative, and adventurous as you two are).

I can't wait to read about all your adventures in more detail . Especially Linnie and DC.

 

[carrieannie]

Hey Linnie! Thanks for writing! Enjoy your day alone tommorow, (or today, it depends on when your reading this) Stay as far away from those shorts as possible!!

 

[PittypatBR]

Ah, Linnie. I know what you mean! Just a little "space" comes really good after that many days with everyone together in a small area. Enjoy your Monday. The kids will probably even be excited to get back to school again. I'm looking forward to the next installment, too.