There's an App for That! iDisney, July-Aug 2009. New 12/3: DONE!

[micandminforever]

Happy Thanksgiving have a day filled with PIXIE DUST.

 

[Millie12591]

Happy Turkey Day!

 

[PrincessV]

App of the Day: Lines, from TouringPlans.com!

Okay, here’s the deal with me and Disney apps: most cost money and none, up until now, provided anything I needed. I’ve looked and I’ve seen all those apps for park maps, dining and the like; don’t need them. We can draw a map of each park from memory at this point, know the location of every restroom and could probably give you a 50% accurate run-down on the menus of each eatery.

But Lines provides real-time queue information – THAT I can use! Plus, it’s just plain fun to help out with. It’s in its Beta testing mode and I entered a bunch of wait times while at WDW last week. I’ve sworn by the Unofficial Guide and TouringPlans for years; I’m certain this app will be a good one.

__________________________________________________________


Oy.

I wish I could say that things have improved since my last update… not so much. I’ll leave out the personal elements and stay on track with trip reporting and say this: we returned to WDW for Thanksgiving and found it rather un-Magical. It’s not worth reporting on, so I’m happy to go back to the report of the very-Magical July-August trip with which I’d begun.


Only…

It’s the last day. And it did NOT begin Magically at all.

The plan for the last day was no plan. I intended to take our time waking up, packing up and walking up to the pool, there to spend the morning and early afternoon relaxing and reflecting on our wonderful time with friends.

Leo awoke with other ideas. HE wanted to hit the MK one last time. Some part of me knew it to be a bad idea, but I was weak and easy to convince apparently. The fact that The Waldos were at the MK that morning helped; I was happy about the prospect of seeing them one last time before their flight home.

And so we hurriedly threw back some breakfast, packed up the car and drove over to the Ticket & Transportation Center. I parked the car and Leo and I walked down the row toward an awaiting tram.



We were not alone.

About 200 of our closest parking lot friends were waiting for the tram, too. In fact, there were more people waiting than could possibly fit in a single tram. Choosing not to fight our way through, we held back and allowed others to push and shove their ways onto the tram. Once it departed, Leo and I waited patiently another few minutes, our toes right up to the painted line that shall not be crossed until the tram arrives. Read: we were front and center to board the next tram.


Again, we were not alone.

In those few minutes, another 200 or so folks showed up and wanted to board the VERY NEXT tram to the MK. Apparently they wanted it more than we did: when the tram came to a full and complete stop in front of us, Leo and I took one step toward it before being – literally – pushed out of the way by a late-arriving family. The mom pushed her stroller in front of me and the grandfather gave Leo a stiff arm to move in front and board the tram before us. In the seconds that elapsed during this milieu, every single seat on the tram had filled.

No seats for you.



I looked at Leo. Leo looked at me. I asked him, “Do you really want to deal with these kinds of people all day? Because, apparently, the MK will be full of them.”

Here’s where living so close pays off – Leo replied: “Nope. They’re mean and we can come back another time when they’re not here.” And he turned on his heel, retreating with purpose back to our car.


I took a moment to text T and explain that we weren’t coming after all. She replied that it was a good choice; the MK was a madhouse. I hate that we weren’t able to catch them again, though.




So, what were we going to do? Going home early didn’t sound so fun. Nor did visiting any other parks. Hmmmm…..

Pool-Thirty was calling.

Yep, I turned my little car around and headed back to SSR! We’d yet to spend time at the themed pool, High Rock Springs, so Leo and I decided to go there.

Know what’s at High Rock Springs? Slides. Two of ‘em. A little one for the littlest sliders to get their feet wet, so to speak, and a bigger one with a tunnel for the more adventurous sliders.

Last summer, Leo wouldn’t do either one of those slides. But remember, he’d conquered the smaller CBR slide earlier in this trip…

Leo took a few trips down the teeny High Rock Springs slide and proclaimed it “for babies.” He was READY for the big slide.

Once again, I stationed myself in the water, in a place where I could see him go up the stairs, view him at the top, and be there to rescue him if necessary at the bottom. There were quite a few sliders that day, so I waited a bit. And then…

WOOO HOOO!!! He did it!

We both really loved that slide; Leo called it “Cool!” and I enjoyed the shallow depth at its end; no more treading for V! We passed more than an hour there, Leo sliding and me relaxing. The sun was shining, the water was just the right temperature, and all was right in our world for a while. It was, in a word, idyllic.


Alas, I had to call an end to the festivities in favor of nourishing more than our souls. We needed some chow. After contemplating a counter service meal, complete with loooong line, at Artist’s Palette, I steered us left and gave the Turf Club a try.

For the record, we didn’t just who up in our swimsuits; we did make a quick change in the restrooms. But my hair was still wet and it was a tad chilly in there. Just a little FYI to bring a sweatshirt or something should you find yourself in Turf Club post-pool.

Anyway, Turf Club wound up being a nice end to our day and to our trip. Lots of empty tables meant a most relaxed atmosphere. Both Leo and I have been taking riding lessons for the past year, so the horse-y embellishments met with our approval.

And the table behind us made for the perfect transition between WDW and Real Life; it was sat with WDW big-wigs talking strategy. It wasn’t particularly interesting strategy, hence why I have no recollection of the details. But just overhearing a business meeting take place sort of helped me get back in the mindset of work. That it was a meeting about making magic happen kept it from making me cry.

With lunch done (Leo had a burger, I had a sandwich of some sort; it wasn’t memorable, but it was okay), it was time to head home.



Driving west on I-4, I reflected a bit and pondered the future. That had been the third summer WDW trip with our DIS friends, and each successive trip had included more time spent with those friends. I don’t have a lot of close family; these folks more than make for that. Us girls talk daily and have supported one another through some big, big stuff over the years. Our kids, spouses, parents and siblings have all gotten to know each other and I’ve come to care about these extensions of my DIS friends as much as my blood-relatives… okay, and in some cases more. I can’t express how much these summer trips mean to Leo and me, and I hope to see many, many more of them in our future!




I’ll end this report with a personal note; I’m not sure that I’ll write another. At all, or maybe just for a while. I don’t know. I’ve enjoyed writing TR’s enormously, but it’s feeling a little stale; I think it’s time to move on. I’ve joined the ranks of Facebook and Twitter users over the past year and, between those and the DIS trip reporting, I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback on my ramblings. I feel like I’d like to take my public writings to another level and I’m considering a blog-type of situation with hopes of getting published. Somewhere.

I’ve obviously not thought hard enough about this to take it home quite yet; more research is required. But all of this writing has opened a need to express myself more, and about subjects beyond Disney. It’s interesting really – our Disney trips always conjure up ideas and topics for which I’ve never had an outlet. I frequently find myself in line, finishing up a meal, or even riding along in a Peter Pan pirate ship, mentally writing an article on parenting a creative child; navigating the waters of polite society; honoring our parents’ legacies while asking them to butt out of our lives… it’s time to do something with those thoughts.

I’ve neither a place to ramble nor a plan to publish right now, but if and when I get it together, I hope you’ll join me for the party. I think it’ll be a fun time.


Thank you so much for reading along, and especially for your comments. I know some of you have been there through every one of my trip reports; that you’ve continued to come back has meant a lot to me. It’s a good place, this DIS of ours.

 

[jordanyosh]

I've enjoyed reading every bit of your TRs!!!! I haven't read them all, but several of them!

Just let the DIS Community know when and if you decide to mix it up and do a different type of writing-blog or otherwise!

Oh and we never drive to the MK IF we get a rental. It's just too frenzied of a trek to get to the Main Gate.

 

[Stasieki]

I've enjoyed all your reports. Looking forward to reading your blog one day. You are a great writer! I hope you and Leo and your family have a wonderful holiday season.

 

[DisneyJo]

That app looks great V and OMG about the MK tram, I'm so pleased that Leo saw sense!

It sounds like you had a wonderful end to your trip, it's sometimes the little things such as pool time that are the best

I wish we could have been there too and maybe we'll be there in 2011 if you'll have me again

 

[GreatBiscuit]

I wish I could say that things have improved since my last update… not so much. I’ll leave out the personal elements and stay on track with trip reporting and say this: we returned to WDW for Thanksgiving and found it rather un-Magical. It’s not worth reporting on, so I’m happy to go back to the report of the very-Magical July-August trip with which I’d begun.

Only…

It’s the last day. And it did NOT begin Magically at all.

Uh-oh.

In those few minutes, another 200 or so folks showed up and wanted to board the VERY NEXT tram to the MK. Apparently they wanted it more than we did: when the tram came to a full and complete stop in front of us, Leo and I took one step toward it before being – literally – pushed out of the way by a late-arriving family. The mom pushed her stroller in front of me and the grandfather gave Leo a stiff arm to move in front and board the tram before us. In the seconds that elapsed during this milieu, every single seat on the tram had filled.

No seats for you.

Arrrrgh!

I looked at Leo. Leo looked at me. I asked him, “Do you really want to deal with these kinds of people all day? Because, apparently, the MK will be full of them.”

Here’s where living so close pays off – Leo replied: “Nope. They’re mean and we can come back another time when they’re not here.” And he turned on his heel, retreating with purpose back to our car.

How cool is that!

Yep, I turned my little car around and headed back to SSR! We’d yet to spend time at the themed pool, High Rock Springs, so Leo and I decided to go there.

Good plan.

WOOO HOOO!!! He did it!

Way to go Leo!

We both really loved that slide; Leo called it “Cool!” and I enjoyed the shallow depth at its end; no more treading for V! We passed more than an hour there, Leo sliding and me relaxing. The sun was shining, the water was just the right temperature, and all was right in our world for a while. It was, in a word, idyllic.

So glad the day turned out better than it began.

I’ll end this report with a personal note; I’m not sure that I’ll write another. At all, or maybe just for a while. I don’t know. I’ve enjoyed writing TR’s enormously, but it’s feeling a little stale; I think it’s time to move on. I’ve joined the ranks of Facebook and Twitter users over the past year and, between those and the DIS trip reporting, I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback on my ramblings. I feel like I’d like to take my public writings to another level and I’m considering a blog-type of situation with hopes of getting published. Somewhere.

I’ve obviously not thought hard enough about this to take it home quite yet; more research is required. But all of this writing has opened a need to express myself more, and about subjects beyond Disney. It’s interesting really – our Disney trips always conjure up ideas and topics for which I’ve never had an outlet. I frequently find myself in line, finishing up a meal, or even riding along in a Peter Pan pirate ship, mentally writing an article on parenting a creative child; navigating the waters of polite society; honoring our parents’ legacies while asking them to butt out of our lives… it’s time to do something with those thoughts.

I’ve neither a place to ramble nor a plan to publish right now, but if and when I get it together, I hope you’ll join me for the party. I think it’ll be a fun time.

Just send the link and I shall be there.

Thank you so much for reading along, and especially for your comments. I know some of you have been there through every one of my trip reports; that you’ve continued to come back has meant a lot to me. It’s a good place, this DIS of ours.

It has been my pleasure. Job well done my friend.

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

Finished. And finished.

I totally understand the need to step away, and move beyond. Hey, I'm the one with, what, three unfinished TRs out there?? Sometimes it's just time to move on to bigger and better things. I'll be there. You know I will.

 

[cmp1111]

I wish I could say that things have improved since my last update… not so much. I’ll leave out the personal elements and stay on track with trip reporting and say this: we returned to WDW for Thanksgiving and found it rather un-Magical. It’s not worth reporting on, so I’m happy to go back to the report of the very-Magical July-August trip with which I’d begun.

The mom pushed her stroller in front of me and the grandfather gave Leo a stiff arm to move in front and board the tram before us. In the seconds that elapsed during this milieu, every single seat on the tram had filled.

This is NUTS.

Here’s where living so close pays off – Leo replied: “Nope. They’re mean and we can come back another time when they’re not here.” And he turned on his heel, retreating with purpose back to our car.

Yay for Leo!

We both really loved that slide; Leo called it “Cool!” and I enjoyed the shallow depth at its end; no more treading for V! We passed more than an hour there, Leo sliding and me relaxing. The sun was shining, the water was just the right temperature, and all was right in our world for a while. It was, in a word, idyllic.

Awesome!

I’ve neither a place to ramble nor a plan to publish right now, but if and when I get it together, I hope you’ll join me for the party. I think it’ll be a fun time.

Just let us know and we'll be there!

Hey, I'm the one with, what, three unfinished TRs out there?? Sometimes it's just time to move on to bigger and better things. I'll be there. You know I will.

I miss you, K.

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

[SIZE="3] I took a moment to text T and explain that we weren’t coming after all. She replied that it was a good choice; the MK was a madhouse. I hate that we weren’t able to catch them again, though. [/quote][/size]
OMG, it was a horridly crowded day, full of horridly behaved people and kids with poopy pants.


[quote="PrincessV, post: 34548543"][SIZE="3]
[IMG]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2484/3809814486_4516af2514.jpg[/IMG][/quote]
YES! Whoo HOOOO!!!!

[quote="PrincessV, post: 34548543"][SIZE="3]
Driving west on I-4, I reflected a bit and pondered the future. That had been the third summer WDW trip with our DIS friends, and each successive trip had included more time spent with those friends. ![/size][/quote]
Wow. Has it really been 3 summers? Well, we've got how many years on those DVC contracts?

[quote="PrincessV, post: 34548543"][SIZE="3]

I don’t have a lot of close family; these folks more than make for that. Us girls talk daily and have supported one another through some big, big stuff over the years. Our kids, spouses, parents and siblings have all gotten to know each other and I’ve come to care about these extensions of my DIS friends as much as my blood-relatives… okay, and in some cases more. I can’t express how much these summer trips mean to Leo and me, and I hope to see many, many more of them in our future[/size][/quote]
Ditto, sister. Ditto.

[quote="PrincessV, post: 34548543"][SIZE="3]
I’ll end this report with a personal note; I’m not sure that I’ll write another. At all, or maybe just for a while. I don’t know. I’ve enjoyed writing TR’s enormously, but it’s feeling a little stale; I think it’s time to move on. I’ve joined the ranks of Facebook and Twitter users over the past year and, between those and the DIS trip reporting, I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback on my ramblings. I feel like I’d like to take my public writings to another level and I’m considering a blog-type of situation with hopes of getting published. Somewhere. [/size]

I have no doubt your work will be published someday. You're a fantastic writer! And where ever you take your writings, you know I'll be there, cheering you on! Love ya!

 

[englishrose47]

Great ending V !!! I hope to meet you one day!!I think 2011 may be a family trip orthe girl 16th!!! Time will tell!!

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Bravo! I'll follow you anywhere, my dear! Thank you for writing all of these wonderful reports... It has been my sincerest pleasure getting to know you over the years, and I look forward to many more hugs in person in the years to come. You are like family to us, too.

 

[praisehisname]

I have loved reading your reports, V! Please let us know if you start a blog so we can follow you!

 

[dlwharp]

V - I can't believe what happened to you waiting for the Tram. That is so not magical. People sometimes

Please, please, please do a blog - I love your writing and would love to read more!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

App of the Day: Lines, from TouringPlans.com!

But Lines provides real-time queue information – THAT I can use! Plus, it’s just plain fun to help out with. It’s in its Beta testing mode and I entered a bunch of wait times while at WDW last week. I’ve sworn by the Unofficial Guide and TouringPlans for years; I’m certain this app will be a good one.

Now that is something that would convince me to buy an iphone for sure!

I feel like I’d like to take my public writings to another level and I’m considering a blog-type of situation with hopes of getting published. Somewhere.

You go for it! I've so enjoyed reading your trip report. You definitely have a way with words. Use that gift!

 

[Millie12591]

The food court at Pop is super busy in the morning , but the rest of the day is fine and the food is very good !!We wuld some times get breakfast a little later and then the crowd had died down !!

Rose, I totally second that! The food is actually really good, not what I was expecting at the POP, infact I wasn't expecting a lot of things staying in a value resort! I honestly thought it would be "bare bones," and to my surprise it was the absolute opposite! I loved the theme, decor was outstanding, the Hippy Dippy Pool was a hoot, even if it didn't have a slide. Besides the lobby, and our room, the food was the first real experience of our stay there and we were so happy it was, even with the end of the day scraps (it was about to close when we went to eat, late plane) I was impressed! Nothing to worry about at the POP, it was a pleasurable stay. Again, it's been said many times, if your there for the parks, then it doesn't really matter what your staying in, your there only to sleep and shower any way, and I'm sure glad we did it in at the POP! This next time we'll be at CSR!!! I'm really excited, with our pin we couldn't turn it down.

V~
It's been such an honor be able to be apart of yours and your little man's life.
I have to admit....there have been times when you touch on some things that you won't go further into in your TR that make me just plain irritated! BUT! Only because I want to hear more of what your thinking! I realize it's your way of being respectful to the forum. Your writing style is great, and it always leaves me wanting to hear more. So, when you start up your blog I would Love! Love! Love! To know and be apart of it if you'll allow me. It's been such a wonderful time reading and getting to know y'all. Many blessings and much Disney Magic.... until we meet again.

 

[PrincessV]

I've enjoyed reading every bit of your TRs!!!! I haven't read them all, but several of them!

Thanks Jordan! And...

Just let the DIS Community know when and if you decide to mix it up and do a different type of writing-blog or otherwise!

Almost there!

I've enjoyed all your reports. Looking forward to reading your blog one day. You are a great writer! I hope you and Leo and your family have a wonderful holiday season.

Thanks so much! Hope your holidays are terrific!

That app looks great V

Dude, it just keeps getting better, too! I'll show you... real soon!

I wish we could have been there too and maybe we'll be there in 2011 if you'll have me again

As if it's even a question!

So glad the day turned out better than it began.

You and me both. I could NOT have gone home with that morning as my last memory!

Just send the link and I shall be there.

Coming soon!

I totally understand the need to step away, and move beyond. Hey, I'm the one with, what, three unfinished TRs out there??

I wasn't going to say anything...

Sometimes it's just time to move on to bigger and better things.

No pressure there. LOL!

This is NUTS.

Seriously, I've never seen anything like it!

Just let us know and we'll be there!

OMG, it was a horridly crowded day, full of horridly behaved people and kids with poopy pants.

You know!

Wow. Has it really been 3 summers? Well, we've got how many years on those DVC contracts?

SSR/AKV is our Bangladesh.

And where ever you take your writings, you know I'll be there, cheering you on! Love ya!

You are a good, good friend my dear. LY!

Great ending V !!! I hope to meet you one day!!I think 2011 may be a family trip orthe girl 16th!!! Time will tell!!

Someday Rosie, someday!

Thank you for writing all of these wonderful reports... It has been my sincerest pleasure getting to know you over the years, and I look forward to many more hugs in person in the years to come. You are like family to us, too.

You're gonna make me cry! And to think it all started with a TR... that wasn't even mine, lol!

 

[PrincessV]

I have loved reading your reports, V! Please let us know if you start a blog so we can follow you!

Thanks so much - I'm getting there!

V - I can't believe what happened to you waiting for the Tram. That is so not magical.

Is there an antithesis of Magical? That's what it was.

Please, please, please do a blog - I love your writing and would love to read more!

Seriously, you guys are the best cheerleaders ever!

Now that is something that would convince me to buy an iphone for sure!

Is it completely demented for me to say that one app is worth it, lol?! But it works on a bunch of other phones, too!

I have to admit....there have been times when you touch on some things that you won't go further into in your TR that make me just plain irritated! BUT! Only because I want to hear more of what your thinking! I realize it's your way of being respectful to the forum.

I'm very opinionated, and in non-DIS life I tend to court controversy. I try hard to follow the rules here, lol!

 

[OhMari]

LOL, I know where you were. Me and my dh didn't want to watch Spectro and he needed a smoke break and I actually found a place to sit. My MIL saw my pictures and said, "Oh it's to bad trees were blocking your view". My dh told her it was the best place to be.


Just came back for one final thought,
Thank you for sharing your TR's with us. It is pretty rare when someone actually finishes a TR. Most have good intentions, but then they loose the momentum and they just don't finish.
Whatever directions you go, with your writing, you will do great.

 

[PrincessV]

LOL, I know where you were. Me and my dh didn't want to watch Spectro and he needed a smoke break and I actually found a place to sit. My MIL saw my pictures and said, "Oh it's to bad trees were blocking your view". My dh told her it was the best place to be.

I'm always amazed more people don't stake it out!

Just came back for one final thought,
Thank you for sharing your TR's with us. It is pretty rare when someone actually finishes a TR. Most have good intentions, but then they loose the momentum and they just don't finish.
Whatever directions you go, with your writing, you will do great.

Thank you so much! I'll admit - there were a few times I wasn't sure I had it in me to finish. But I'm glad I did! And...