Two Bunnies Return to WDW

[racefanof88]

You ladies are so right . Living on the Gulf Coast we just roll with the flow when it comes to hurricanes. My only concern would be if one heads toward my home while I am in Orlando and I can't get back home. The hotels on Disney property are most likely above building code with hurricane ratings so that wouldn't be a concern.

I hope we can all meet up. I suggest a girls meet up .

 

[jwhtewolfd]

I mostly avoided TV and news yesterday in hopes of missing all the "4 years since" nonsense. I don't need ceremonies and services to "remind" me. I'm reminded every day. Every single day. From the strange house I wake up in every morning with nothing from my childhood in it, to the empty street I drive down with only 5 occupied houses and ever increasing vacant lots, to the job I work that I found by going door to door to any business that was still open after being laid off. I am entrenched in remembering. Even my cat is a Katrina rescue.

But moving on to better things, 25 more days!
This time last year we were evacuating for Gustav. The tropics have, for the most part, behaved themselves so far this year. Let's hope it stays that way. (I'm not counting the fools swept out to sea during Bill. Darwinism at its best. Hurricanes are powerful forces of nature that can be marveled at from afar while keeping in mind the due respect for the destruction left in their wakes. They are NOT spectator sports.)

I ordered my Disney Visa Reward Card on Tuesday. I transferred 145 points. That should be just enough for most of the tips, to help make free dining as close to "free" as possible.
Got my paperwork in the mail on Thursday. It looks right. I've already attached one of the luggage tags to our park bag. Three more weekends to go.

...Days Left Until 2009 Walt Disney World Vacation
29 - The waterway in Frontierland is called "The Rivers of America"
28 - The Lego Sea Serpent in DTD is 30 feet long
27 - The Carousel of Progress was originally called GE's "Progressland"
26 - Actor Steve Martin once worked in a magic shop in Disneyland
25 - A model of Epcot can be seen on Tomorrowland Transit Authority

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

You ladies are so right . Living on the Gulf Coast we just roll with the flow when it comes to hurricanes. My only concern would be if one heads toward my home while I am in Orlando and I can't get back home. The hotels on Disney property are most likely above building code with hurricane ratings so that wouldn't be a concern.

I hope we can all meet up. I suggest a girls meet up .

I am not at the "roll with the flow" stage yet; I'm not sure I ever will be. I just moved down here 2 months ago and I have never, not once, been in a hurricane.

I HAVE been in tropical storms. I had friends from the northeast calling me complaining during Bill's outer bands that they were getting wet because they were standing outside. Uh...duh?

I mostly avoided TV and news yesterday in hopes of missing all the "4 years since" nonsense. I don't need ceremonies and services to "remind" me. I'm reminded every day. Every single day. From the strange house I wake up in every morning with nothing from my childhood in it, to the empty street I drive down with only 5 occupied houses and ever increasing vacant lots, to the job I work that I found by going door to door to any business that was still open after being laid off. I am entrenched in remembering. Even my cat is a Katrina rescue.

But moving on to better things, 25 more days!
This time last year we were evacuating for Gustav. The tropics have, for the most part, behaved themselves so far this year. Let's hope it stays that way. (I'm not counting the fools swept out to sea during Bill. Darwinism at its best. Hurricanes are powerful forces of nature that can be marveled at from afar while keeping in mind the due respect for the destruction left in their wakes. They are NOT spectator sports.)

I ordered my Disney Visa Reward Card on Tuesday. I transferred 145 points. That should be just enough for most of the tips, to help make free dining as close to "free" as possible.
Got my paperwork in the mail on Thursday. It looks right. I've already attached one of the luggage tags to our park bag. Three more weekends to go.

Your area is hard to be in. It IS looking better, but the scars are still so obvious. I don't know how you do it...it's painful even for me to go out that way and I never saw it before the storm.

Shhhh....don't. say. a. word. about the tropics. They might hear you.

145 points AND paperwork?!? And only 25 more days?!?

Did you ever go get your plate? We went on Friday night to the other place across the street from the pottery place to do the canvas painting of Oak Alley. It was so much fun; we totally want to go again. Hopefully we can find a time you can come again also.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

I am not at the "roll with the flow" stage yet; I'm not sure I ever will be. I just moved down here 2 months ago and I have never, not once, been in a hurricane.

I think "roll with the flow" just means trying not to panic more than necessary. Prepared, cautious, nervous, worried and even scared are all perfectly acceptable. But freaking out doesn't accomplish anything. Which is why I despise "the weather will RUIN my vacation! that would be a DISASTER! should I cancel?!" threads.


I HAVE been in tropical storms. I had friends from the northeast calling me complaining during Bill's outer bands that they were getting wet because they were standing outside. Uh...duh?

Duh, indeed.

Your area is hard to be in. It IS looking better, but the scars are still so obvious. I don't know how you do it...it's painful even for me to go out that way and I never saw it before the storm.

Not to sound cliche', but it truly was surreal coming back. And not just the first few times. The ground was covered in grey, dried, cracked mud; it looked like Death Valley. Everything was brown or grey. There was complete silence. No cars, no birds, no bugs. Just an occasional helicopter. And that was besides the cars on roofs and boats in trees, etc. etc.

How we do it? I guess it's like any grieving process after a loss. Eventually you move on. Let me strain my brain all the way back to Intro Psych and the stages of grief:

Denial - well, there wasn't much room for that. We watched it happen on TV and had my Uncle call from St. Bernard and confirm the 20-some-odd feet of water. I think I regressed back to denial when we finally go back to LA. I refused to look for a job in Houma b/c I refused to accept that I would stay there and not go back to New Orleans.
Anger - yep. Plenty of that. Lots of fighting, yelling and arguing. The typical rules of "respect your parents" and "support your children" went right out the window.
Bargaining - I didn't do this stage b/c I don't believe in a higher power. Let me tell you, Katrina didn't help convince me otherwise.
Depression - yep. Plenty of that.
Acceptance - this is the new reality now. Like it or not. Try to see the good (we didn't personally lose anyone, I was able to afford a house, I have a job I love with a great boss), and try not to dwell on the bad and the loss. It doesn't always work though. Just the other day at work they were saying for our next meeting it might be fun to have everyone bring in a baby picture and try to guess who's in the picture. I had to point out that we don't have any baby pictures of me anymore. But I just had to shrug. Nothing I can do about it.

Shhhh....don't. say. a. word. about the tropics. They might hear you.

oops.

145 points AND paperwork?!? And only 25 more days?!?



Did you ever go get your plate? We went on Friday night to the other place across the street from the pottery place to do the canvas painting of Oak Alley. It was so much fun; we totally want to go again. Hopefully we can find a time you can come again also.

I did get my plate, and I will post pics as soon as I stop being lazy enough to take them and transfer them and upload them to photobucket. I would have LOVED to have been there for Oak Alley.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Just called Disney Reservations to add room requests. They already had the king bed, and I added the request of either building 1 (Lady) or 3 (Tramp). The CM was really nice, but the automated system...

It was going strong for a while, but then it asked me to say and spell my last name. Apparently I must not enunciate my letters very well. "D-I-F-A-T-T-A" became B-I-S-A-T-T-I-A and then, on the second try: C-I-C-A-T-M-I-A. WTH!?!

The "D" sounding like a "B" or a "C", I get. The "F" sounding like an "S", I get. But an extra I? And where the heck did an "M" come from??? And then it got condescending, telling me "say Smith S-M-I-T-H or Jones J-O-N-E-S".

Well, my name isn't Smith or Jones; it's Italian! So why not just let me key it in and be done with this nonsense?!


Last night I finished updating my trip book with all pertinent pre-trip info. I have package info, resort info, mapquest driving directions to and from Orlando, park days, nighttime show schedules, EMH schedules, ADR times and confirmation numbers, and transportation routes and times from Pop to parks, parks to Pop and park to park. All that's left is to start taking trip notes!

I got my Disney Visa statement today and had a mystery Bonus 25 reward points showing up. Cool! I guess it must be from the telecommunications promo. You had to pay three telecommunications bills with the card in a certain time frame, but I thought I read it had it had to be automatic payments. I do pay my cellphone bill online to save postage, so maybe that counted. I won't argue!


...Days Left Until 2009 Walt Disney World Vacation!
24 - Honey, I Shrunk the Audience 3D glasses are called "safety goggles"

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I HATE those automated systems that supposedly recognize voice.

"Please say your problem."
"Service issues."
"I believe you said I want a new phone. Is this correct?"
"NO."
"I'm sorry. I didn't get that. Please say your information again."
"Service issues."
"I'm sorry. I didn't get that. Would you like to speak with a person?"
"Of course."
"I THINK you said I have a horse. Is this correct?"
"NO"
"Hmmm. We seem to be having problems understanding each other. Let me transfer you to a representative...."

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Bethany, that's exactly it! At first I said "room request" and it asked if I wanted to make a new reservation. I wish! I think companies do this on purpose now. By the time we get a human on the line we'll be so fed up with the automated system we won't care how incompetant the human is!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Actually, I don't HATE them. I find them utterly fascinating and a cheap source of entertainment. My mom gets mad at me because I mess with them too much. Play with accents, longggg pauses, etc. The phone system can't handle it and I swear I hear the robot get exasperated!

I think you're onto something with the fed up bit....lowering our expectations.

It's great though...sometimes when I ask DH what is for dinner or whatever, and I don't like the answer, I just whip out the Automated Phone Voice and reply with "Hmmm....I think you said ____. Is this correct?"

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Spectro added on Sept. 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



In case you were keeping track, yes, we are also seeing it on the 26th. And if they add a second Fantasmic! on the 1st we'll see it both times. That day.

20 more days! It's so short now...almost too short.

Here's the trip book, as mentioned previously:

My ultra-cool boss (who gave me a raise today ) bought it for me on one of her business trips. She has a similar small one that she keeps at work and every time I see it I think of mine...and my Disney trip.

Same said boss (who is not a complete Disney geek/freak/nut, but "gets me" anyway - and doesn't give me the "look" when I start going on about Disney- you know the one - the wide eyes with a little bit of panic and disgust) also gave me the bestest birthday present earlier this year:

And completely random and unrelated to my trip, but posting it anyway b/c I finally uploaded my pics: A client gave me this pretty cool blanket as thanks for taking care of her cat in her golden years. It's famous portraits, but with cats.

I know it seems kinda odd, but she knows I minored in art history, and I work with cats, so it makes sense. A unique item, for sure, but it found its niche...with a feline specialty vet tech who minored in art history. Probably a fairly small demographic?

...Days Left Until 2009 Walt Disney World Vacation!
23 - There are no audio-animatronics on Jungle Cruise - only hydraulics
22 - The Rock n Roller Coaster launch catapults you 200 feet
21 - Cinderella's Golden Carousel has 90 completely unique horses

 

[jwhtewolfd]

I got my Disney reward card in the mail yesterday. It got here much faster than I thought it would. Free money!!

20 Days Left Until 2009 Walt Disney World Vacation!
The Haunted Mansion is home to 999 happy haunts, but there's room for one more...

 

[jwhtewolfd]

My online class just opened up today (Diagnostic Parasitology). I have to read 100 pages, take 4 quizes and the mid-term before we leave. Yikes! I better get on that, too, since I'll be in Baton Rouge all next weekend for a software seminar. Darn responsibilities.

Here's a weird one: I (who normally have Monday and Tuesday off) got asked if I would work the Mon and Tues before I leave, so the normal Mon and Tues person could have Mon and Tues off and work in my place while I'm away on Thurs and Fri. Ummm, doesn't that defeat the whole point of "vacation"? Not to mention that would put me working eight days in a row right before leaving. Had to turn them down on that little proposal. Am I being unrealistic? Does this happen to other people?

...Days Left Until 2009 Walt Disney World Vacation
19 - The Mad Tea Party is an original opening day attraction of WDW
18 - Mickey's Birthdayland (now ToonTown) opened in 1988 for Mickey's 60th birthday
17 - Main Street, USA is only 2 blocks long - but it sure seems longer on the way out after doing RD to close!

 

[nolacindy]

Hey from across the lake! Wanted to see if I could join in.

DH and I are in the Hammond area and going to be a Allstar Sports 9/26-10/3. We're going to MNSSHP on 9/29 also, just look for two fools wearing made up super hero costumes!

Glad i'm not the only one who avoided the news coverage about "4 year anniversary". We lived in the Bywater up until the storm, now live in the boondocks of Tangipahoa Parish.

By the way your fur babies are adorable.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Hey from across the lake! Wanted to see if I could join in.

DH and I are in the Hammond area and going to be a Allstar Sports 9/26-10/3. We're going to MNSSHP on 9/29 also, just look for two fools wearing made up super hero costumes!

Glad i'm not the only one who avoided the news coverage about "4 year anniversary". We lived in the Bywater up until the storm, now live in the boondocks of Tangipahoa Parish.

By the way your fur babies are adorable.

Hi and welcome! We will be making the trek to Hammond in November for ren fest.

I need to remember to send Tony to Home Depot for some LG Mickey heads. There are going to be so many DISsers there with us!

The cats ARE pretty cute, if I do say so myself. I make sure to tell them every day. They won't have any self-esteem issues!

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Sheesh. I'm exhausted. Worked Wednesday and Thursday. Drove (well, car-pooled) an hour and a half to Baton Rouge Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning for software seminar. I had to get up at 5am! Wasn't getting home til 9 or 10 pm. We did get to eat at Cracher Barrel for lunch on Friday - chicken fried steak!

Had a dentist appointment Monday at noon (had to get my smile nice and shiny for Mickey) and foolishly agreed to go in to work after that to gelp get the software going. We all went out to eat afterwards at Drago's to celebrate our new doc's bday. Then I worked on documents at home til 3am.

The software guy said he'd need to update our server today after hours, but my boss was supposed to drive back to Baton Rouge for a different meeting, so I volunteered to go in this evening and just babysit him. My boss ended up running late and just conference called into the meeting, but we still ended up staying and working til 11:45pm. And I'm due to go in at 8:30am Wednesday and work my full schedule til Sunday!

I haven't read anything to get ahead in my class yet. I missed all my shows (I'm one of the last few stragglers without DVR). I barely slept. I did manage to sqeeze in enough time to do online check in for Pop , but other than that, all I've done since Friday is puzzle over software and pay bills.

I even managed to loose a few countdown chain links. Tony is finally cleaning up and several days have gone MIA in the chaos. I am stressed out. I'm am SO glad I told them I would not work this coming Mon and Tues. I've got tons of reading to do, not to mention all those last minute trip details. And packing. And last minute shopping. Sheesh.



OH! Almost forgot.
SINGLE DIGIT DAY DANCE!!!

...Days Left Until 2009 Walt Disney World Vacation!
12 - 4% of all amateur photographs are taken at Walt Disney World
11 - The Magic Kingdom is 107 acres, while its parking lot is 125 acres
10 - There are 18 towers and 13 gargoyles on Cinderella's Castle
9 - The Fabulous Five are Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto

 

[jwhtewolfd]

I tried to update last night, but my report had been moved to Completed Trip Reports and I couldn't reply to my own post.

I managed to finish all my reading, quizzes and exam last night after watching the Saints kick some serious Eagle be-hind. So I am caught up and ahead in class.

Tony bought snacks and drinks last week. They have been sitting on the bedroom floor taunting me, but I've been good. Normally I tell him not to buy junk, but driving 10 hours is an extreme circumstance. I'm cracking open that box of swiss rolls as soon as we get in the car!

All that is left is to transfer some last minute Disney points, clean out the car and get the oil changed, make a trip to the bank, clean the floors and the kitchen, pack and show my mom how to give Louie his insulin injections. Oh, and get the garmin. Hopefully mom brings it tonight when she comes for the insulin demo.

I wrote out instructions and emergency info for the cats. I'll pack today or tomorrow, not sure yet. Maybe late tonight. I really want to tie up all the loose ends before Wednesday. My goal is get some sleep Wednesday night, but I don't know how realistic that is.

Being so busy with work the past 12 days has made the time fly. I'm not even super-excited yet b/c it feels like it can't possibly be this close. Another good thing that came from the extra time I put in (my time, I wasn't on the clock Mon or Tues) was that my boss thanked me by taking me out to eat at Outback on Sat night! Delishious! Will work for food. DDP, here we come!

...Days Left Until 2009 WDW Vacation
8 - Beauty & the Beast was the 1st animated film nominated for a best picture Oscar
7 - Disney launched the Fast Pass system in July 1999 (how did we ever survive before then!?)
6 - The Lion King is the highest grossing Disney film
5 - Expedition Everest has an 80 foot drop and cost $100 million to build
4 - Kilimanjaro Safari is larger than the Magic Kingdom
3 - Walt Disney first appeared on TV in 1954

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I tried to update last night, but my report had been moved to Completed Trip Reports and I couldn't reply to my own post.

I managed to finish all my reading, quizzes and exam last night after watching the Saints kick some serious Eagle be-hind. So I am caught up and ahead in class.

That your report was in Completed Trips. You haven't even left yet!

on doing all your schoolwork! Now you can really relax on the trip!

And you know how I feel about the Saints!

I hope your trip is wonderful!

 

[jwhtewolfd]

House is mostly clean. Computer room is still a wreck, but isn't it always?

Laundry is clean, though still in the dryer or strewn across the couch.

Other than clothes (which is the easy part for us), I got everything mostly packed last night. There are just those few things you still need until the last minute left.

Tony is doing last minute errands - oil change, haircut, bank trip, etc.

Taught my brother how to give insulin injections last night. He's going to practice to night under my supervision.

Today is my grandma's birthday, so I'll head over there for a little while tonight, and make a pit stop at my mom and dad's to pick up the garmin.

The tropics appear to be behaving. The 15 day forcast has toggled b/t rain everyday, to dry, back to rain. Right now it looks like rain the first part of the trip, dry toward the end, with some cooler night temps. I'm bring a light jacket b/c I don't do well with cool. We've got some medium quality ponchos, hopefully they'll hold up. Tony's ripped last year (a different brand), but we only had one afternoon of rain on our first day.

I have a brisket going in the slow cooker for dinner. Things seem to be going pretty smoothly. Just need to get through tomorrow at work...

2 Days Left Until 2009 Walt Disney World Vacation!
Expedition Everest is the largest ride in WDW

 

[nolacindy]

Hope you all have a smooth drive to orlando!

Maybe we'll see you Tuesday night at MNNSHP.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Didn't get off of work til 9pm. So much for an easy day before vacation. "You're not on vacation yet!" said the universe. And oh yeah, the parish started tearing up my driveway this morning!

Anyway.

Topped off the gas tank.
Deposited my last pay check.
Tony needs to clean out the car still

Off to bed to what I'm sure will be a sleepless 5 hours. And then...Off we go!

1 Day left Until 2009 Walt Disney World Vacation!
WDW reached 100 million guests in October 1979

0 DAYS LEFT...THIS IS IT!
Animal Kingdom features 1,500 animals, representing 250 species

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

And oh yeah, the parish started tearing up my driveway this morning!

Um...WHY?!?

Have a safe and GREAT trip! I am looking forward to hearing about it!