TR, Lots of pics and video, too-Celebrated Life, Disney Style!

[lori1043]

Enjoying your TR Lori! We were thinking of trying Sci-Fi next trip just for the atmosphere - worth it?

yes, it is campy fun!! I would say 99% of seating is in a car-we just happened to get the table.

I think this is when our trip took on a new life! Cool stuff and photos of food ahead!!!

Lori

 

[Charleston Princess]

Lori,

Wandered over from Jordan's TR -- my kids are the same ages as yours (10 and 8) -- I cannot even begin to imagine what you have all been through with your DD's illness !

How exciting that your DH said to book a cruise -- I need to show mine the pics on the cruise forums and start the not-so-subtle hinting!

Love all your descriptions and posts -- I am here for the rest of the fun!

 

[DisneyMom14]

Hey Lori! Just caught up! Go you - riding TOT by yourself!!! I'm so chicken about that ride. I refuse to ride it. I'm enjoying your TR so much and your daughters are absolutely beautiful. I'll be back to check more often now that I'm finally finished mine!

 

[lori1043]

I haven't posted in a while!!

It has been slow over here in this TR but that is okay. Like I said, I think I am mostly writing it for myself. Okay and a few others!!

I have been sick and the kids have been in art classes all week.

Anyway-back at you later. Lots to tell, still haven't gotten to the P&PP!!

Lori

 

[jordanyosh]

You know I'm still here.

Sorry about the meltdown.....

You know I understand about travelling w/ other families.....

I think we only did one meal all together the whole time we were there. It would've been nice to have one more.

You are very artistic--nice little tidbit about you thinking about cartooning....

 

[TigerKat]

I'm here too!

 

[Beana9802]

Mee tooo!

 

[lori1043]

You know I'm still here.

Sorry about the meltdown.....

You know I understand about travelling w/ other families.....

I think we only did one meal all together the whole time we were there. It would've been nice to have one more.

You are very artistic--nice little tidbit about you thinking about cartooning....

yeah, well, the melt down was somewhat warranted but we really are of the thinking that you need to be happy with what you get, especially if there was no PLAN or ADR for it!! So in a way it was unwarranted too, but I really did want the car experience too. so I felt her pain.

and on the cartooning-well I guess I didn't pursue it b/c it was as much a fire w/in as it needed to be. I do love to have quiet time to write and do artwork even now. (rarely do I get it!!)I took many art classes in college(even the nudey one!!) and even a cartooning one. I sent them to Disney and got lots of info back from them about what colleges they recommended(CalArts plus a couple others) and they were all outside my range of, umm, financial means!! Plus I thought, I really need to be GIFTED at this to have a career in it. I guess I started looking into other fields that were more lucrative and could support me better. I really am not the artsy type to live in a loft somewhere on bread and water waiting for my big break!!! I had already been with my soon-to be-hubby since I was 16 and knew we had a future together. My very strong will for a life as a wife and mom and the practical side of myself took over above my artistic whims!! Sometimes DH still says I should have pursued that. I am not really wonderful at it, as the practice time is soooooo much less often. Possibly when the kids are grown and gone, I can re-ignite that love. BUT I soooo loved that class and could have stayed there all day learning how to draw my loves that extend beyond my family!! I think I am not GIFTED at it, but I don't suck either!!

Ha!! I guess after seeing my DH's 2 attempts at learning to draw a Disney character, I must have some littel bit of talent-cause God bless him, he ain't so hot at it!!!! he just needs to stick with auditing!! I do soooo love his drawings though-they are very 'him'! Frustrated Mickey and 'Donald in love'!!


Another update soon-I have been soooooooo freaky busy!! Sorry!

Lori

 

[DisneyFan83]

I'm enjoying your trip report Lori! Subscribing...

 

[DisneyMom14]

I sure hope that one day you get to "live your dream." I know all about giving up on something you love for stability and practicality. Mine was dancing. I try to pass on my love of dance to my kids and try to participate with them as much as possible although its not quite the same. I'm enjoying your trip report. Keep it coming!

 

[OhMari]

Sorry I didn't get this moved earlier. I always don't see that DIS members return and start in on the TR's.

Ohmari

 

[jordanyosh]

yeah, well, the melt down was somewhat warranted but we really are of the thinking that you need to be happy with what you get, especially if there was no PLAN or ADR for it!! So in a way it was unwarranted too, but I really did want the car experience too. so I felt her pain.

and on the cartooning-well I guess I didn't pursue it b/c it was as much a fire w/in as it needed to be. I do love to have quiet time to write and do artwork even now. (rarely do I get it!!)I took many art classes in college(even the nudey one!!) and even a cartooning one. I sent them to Disney and got lots of info back from them about what colleges they recommended(CalArts plus a couple others) and they were all outside my range of, umm, financial means!! Plus I thought, I really need to be GIFTED at this to have a career in it. I guess I started looking into other fields that were more lucrative and could support me better. I really am not the artsy type to live in a loft somewhere on bread and water waiting for my big break!!! I had already been with my soon-to be-hubby since I was 16 and knew we had a future together. My very strong will for a life as a wife and mom and the practical side of myself took over above my artistic whims!! Sometimes DH still says I should have pursued that. I am not really wonderful at it, as the practice time is soooooo much less often. Possibly when the kids are grown and gone, I can re-ignite that love. BUT I soooo loved that class and could have stayed there all day learning how to draw my loves that extend beyond my family!! I think I am not GIFTED at it, but I don't suck either!!

Ha!! I guess after seeing my DH's 2 attempts at learning to draw a Disney character, I must have some littel bit of talent-cause God bless him, he ain't so hot at it!!!! he just needs to stick with auditing!! I do soooo love his drawings though-they are very 'him'! Frustrated Mickey and 'Donald in love'!!


Another update soon-I have been soooooooo freaky busy!! Sorry!

Lori

My dad, who never really was interested in art, took up watercolors about 10 years ago at the age of 74. He's pretty good now.

So who knows? Maybe after the kids are grown, you can develop your skills and just do it for fun.....

Thanks for taking time out to explain your past to me....

 

[lori1043]

I saw an art class happening from the street through the window and thought-"I really could use some ME time" after all, my kids are with me 24/7 since we homeschool and I am feeling that need. Maybe not an art class like that, but some scheduled time of productivity that doesn't include LAUNDRY and math sounds great!! I amn in a bible study that I love, but requires a good bit of reading during the week. I must admit I am lucky to just make it to the peaceful 2.5 hour class each week. BUt I feel like a student not ready for a test or quiz sometimes!!

As much as I want that cruise DH told me to book, I am really wanting to take more advantage of my AP this year and do homeschool days-so confused!!


Anyway...where was I...

Tuesday, 2/5/08-MARDI GRAS!! AND A FREE DAY and Pirate and Princess Party tonight!!...


After sleeping in and talking to my DB about what the day would bring for each of us-they decided on DD and we decided on laundry and a swim-then onto our ADR at Whispering Canyon Cafe at 2pm (or so-oh no, it is escaping me!!! ). Edit: it was for 2:50-thank goodness, it came back to me!! We made it late b/c of the P&PP-so we'd be fed and just have a healthy snack /light late dinner there that night!

So we get up late -9 or 10 am, and I decide to do 2 loads of laundry of our clothing we needed most or wanted to wear again, OR to have it just be clean for the ride hom to be able to just put it away. Whites(heehee) and darks(our matching Incredibles shirts , plus some). It was a warm 85 degrees and DD10 was BEGGING us to be able to go swimming-the one thing they had never done in Disney. So DD10 and DD8 and Dh went swimming while I got the laundry done. Now before i get flack for doing laundry and not relaxing, know this: for me, doing laundry in WDW is not the same as the neverending pile of it at home-PLUS I have to pay a lot for it-it is like a vacation perk to me. I love getting laundry doen on vacation. I ALMOST makes me feel like I did doing laundry when we first got married. All new and fresh and fun. Ans i was CHOOSING to do it. I did not have to, like at home. We had enough clothing for the trip, just not our favorite stuff that I decided to wash. Believe me, as you all know, laundry is not a CHOICE at home , sooo...

Laundry in WDW-FUN and a CHOICE!!


okay FINALLY swimming in Disney at the favorite Daisy pool-the kids didn't like the computer pool and had been eyeing the Daisy pool all week!!

My DB thought me nuts!!

After a couple trips for a coke(me and DH share the refillable cups) to the food court and laying out by the pool while waiting for the laundry,and a little over an hour in the pool, we headed back for showers and a light snack and the to head to WL for our late lunch there.

All pomped and ready, we got on the bus (NO lines in the day) and took it to MK, then to WL. THIS is a gorgeous place. We really think that if we ever stay in a deluxe, it will be here. We also went to visit AKL this trip and have visited the GF and Poly(which is a close tie for me, b/c I love the Poly)-we all agreed that we like WL best from the outside. here is a pic from our walk from the bus stops to the entrance...

It is ultra late and I have to be on my game as much as I can be tomorrow-how was Whispering Canyon Cafe?? did we ask for ketchup? did we need to see the chef? AND did we have a special moment there?? what about the Pirate and Princess Party anyway?? Coming up next!!

Lori

 

[TigerKat]

WL is one of the few deluxes I've never been to, gotta make it over there. Can't wait to read about WCC!!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Just found your pre trip/trip report! I'm waiting to hear how the rest of the night went . Your daughters are beautiful and your dd10's story made me cry

 

[krismom]

oh no! I'm at the end? Great report, beautiful family-
your daughter is an inspiration to us all- and you for being her guardian angel!

 

[lori1043]

Thanks ya'll! I am having pc issues again and am on the laptop(which I do not like for long typing, etc), so i am just going to get my photos on photobucket from this pc. uggh. It took sooo long last time on the desktop.

WL was soooooo gorgeous. the pool, the villas next to it, the inside, all i needed was to see a room, but I have a feeling i really don't need to-that I would love it anyway. BUt hey! we are a budget conscious happy DISNEY VALUE resort family, or else we'd be off site, I think, on DH's hotel points. But visiting other hotels-or hotel hopping- as we call it-is great!!

Update soon as photos are loaded!

HAPPY for our family to inspire another. After all, this is the REASON she had cancer-to inspire others and show others going through that journey that there is LIGHT at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it is all that got me through the day-knowing that my cousins ex-wife, is a leukemia survivor from the 70's-when it was slim to live and tell the tale. And of course, some others we knew more personally. I was close with his exwife when they were married. We only really knew them when we were in Dallas back in 95-98.

Lori

 

[lori1043]

Uh oh! I forgot to post some photos from Monday, Feb 4th that i thought were so cute. These were taken whilst my DH was riding R&RC again....

And in front of R&RC after his last ride on it!!

Okay, back to Tuesday, and WCC!!!

So we walk into WL and are in aew of the rustic beauty of it. We have time to walk around and DD10 sees a pin stand and runs for it since she is SO into pin collecting now. Our next trip will be a more trading trip since this one was such a collecting trip. She bought a pin for WL and so did DD8. Dh talked at length with the DVC guy about nothing important that he can remember, but they were INTO some conversation about something! We walked around by the villas and the themed pool. The kids also threw money in the geiser in the lobby b/c it helped animals... which is what DD10 is all about!

I had called my DB and SIL to see where they were b/c they were supposed to meet us here for that late late lunch, but they decided to stay at DD and couldn't get to WL in time. Well, lemmeee tell ya, this was NOT the place to miss. We had some fun here and will go here again. First of all, upon walking up to the hostess stand, they immediately asked which one of my kids was the leukemia survivor. I was reminded that i had this put onto our ADR's-I truthfully forgot since some of my ADR's were made so long ago-but this one was quite recent and I didn't recall telling this to them so it must have been on all of our ressies. I did ask them how they knew and they said it was on the ticket that was printed up. So I guess if you say it for one, it goes on all of them. i know i said it for the CRT meal. Anyway, here is the entrance to WCC:

The first thing i noticed in the waiting area was the Lincoln Logs-they were the SAME kind we had growing up with the individual green slats for the roof and not the plastic red kind that is out now. I was now on a mission to see if they sold these. I loved Lincoln Logs as a kid and my kids have never had them b/c i don't like the roof thingy's they have now. More on that later.

The table was ready immediately as it was a slow time and we got a wonderful seat by the window.

Our waiter was HILARIOUS and so was another waitress, who kept yelling about how some poor woman was on her third mixed drink. It was a little uncomfy at first getting used to thier humor but after a few moments you got into it. Another humorous server place-but here it is dry and they take you literally. I had read about it and was really wanting someone to ask for ketchup, so DD10 did and he didn't fall for it b/c he knew we knew SOMETHING about it-so he told her they were out. Plus she had ordered mac n cheese, what's new!! DH and i decided to get two different entree's and share them-we got the canyon skillet and some yummy fish dish. Okay so, the waier asked if i needed to see the chef, here is who, or rather, what, came to the table...

yeah, a little freaky. If you know me, you know i hate clowns, and he was really close to looking like one. I faced him to DD8!! The waiter told me he was really old. okay.

here is my fish dish, i remember loving the fish and potatoes, esp...

here is DD10 and her imfamous mac n cheese...

Okay, about the skillet-GET THIS. It is yummo. The cornbread and colesalw were sooooo yummy. I asked for the recipe for the coleslaw and he just stared at me. he said of all the food to ask for the recipe, why I wanted the cole slaw. I said b/c i suck at making cole slaw and loved theirs-why not? he wasn't being rude, just funny . He asked DH if he wanted more since it was the "all you can eat canyon skillet" and then he turned to me and said,"well maybe I should ask you since you are eating his food". So I said,"yeah, I want more cornbread and cole slaw!!" and DH wanted another piece of chicken. He wasn't big on the ribs. No photos , sorry!!

Here is my whole family at WCC:

After dinner, he brought out an ice cream sundae with a candle for DD10 and everyone sang "for she's a jolly good fellow"!! It was great and one of 2 times on the trip that her SURVIVORSHIP was recognized!!

They did not announce WHY she was a 'jolly good fellow" but it was wonderful. Afterward, when in the bathroom, someone asked her if she was embarrased getting sung too, and she said no. I then told them why it was done. They were amazed and gave us many congratualtions and told us how hopeful she made them that day. Bittersweet.

We left happily, thanked our waiter, tipped him WELL and went to the Lincoln Logs again for a few moments.

Then we went to the gift shop and looked for the Loncoln Logs. They have a set that builds WL but it had the plastic roof!!! I was willing to pay $50 for it that it was marked for green slatted roof thingys!!

Here are the kids by the totem pole outside the gift shop:

o well!!

We left WL and here is DD8 on the bus with her "bear":

here she is 2 minutes later:

was there benadryl in the food!!???

We got back to our room in time to rest for about an hour before heading to MK for P&PP. We knew we could get in at 4pm but we also knew we were staying till the end, so our plan was to get there about 6pm at the latest.

here are pics of our door and window:

More up next P&PP!!!

Did we make it till midnight? How many times did we ride POTC???

See ya' soon!

Lori

 

[jordanyosh]

Yay update.

Those pix waiting for your DH...did your DD's decide how to pose? Regardless, great pix....

I don't like fish, but that fish looks awesome....

Benedryl in food....

 

[lori1043]

they did all thier own posing with exception of the sleeping one on the suitcases on the street that leads to TOT and RRC(ooohhh, forgot the name, shame on me)!!

Well, we slept late and she still napped after WCC! So i guess she was worn out altogether. I was happy though b/c of the late P&PP!

Lori