What Time is the 4 o'clock Rain? -- Updates 11/2-4 -- Tim's surprise and Marco&Recap

[KatMark]

Wow!! You put a bunch up at once! OK, trying to catch up again. Loved the photo of you and Mark at the castle. Very sad PP lost so many. We lost a couple as well and then had some random man's photos on our card.

I hope they fix whatever the problem is; there are a lot of very annoyed people.

Mr. Mark shouldn't have to play checkers by himself! There's always an imaginary friend nearby when you are in a Magic Kingdom.

Perhaps that is how he won?

You accomplished a great deal in your morning hours! Love rope drop!

Me too; but on our girls trips, we don't normally make them...little children don't want to get up in the morning.

Hope all went well with the trade shows this past couple of days and will keep up the prayers that Mr. Mark stays employed.

He had quite a few customers in; we will have to see how it went with writing the business.

 

[KatMark]

We had just finished up with THE best photopass photographer we had ever had (although a bit later in this TR we will have one who was just as great) and we were headed to our lunch ADR.

We spotted a parade along the way:











After watching the parade for a bit, we made it to our lunch destination:



For those of you who have followed my TR's in the past, you know that eating at the Plaza on our last day has turned into a tradition for us. And, even though we'd be back tomorrow, it was for a special tour and we were getting a meal with that.

Menu:



Mark had an iced tea and I had a diet coke...both of which we drank in record time because it was so hot out. They brought us a refill immediately.

Mark had, if memory serves me right, the Reuben sandwich:



And I had the turkey club:



No matter how full we get after lunch, we NEVER pass up dessert here.

Mark had a bowl of ice cream



And I had the hot fudge sundae:



We also always get a "couple" picture here:



Lunch was wonderful as always. We settled up the bill and headed outside. We needed to go back to the hub because we had forgotten to take pictures of another tradition:



And then we got these too:







We decided we had gotten everything done at the MK that we wanted to do so decided to head to another park.

However, before we could do that, I had the most important tradition of all to take care of.

I purchased a balloon and we found a young couple with a little girl in a stroller as we got near the exit. I excused myself and told them I wasn't there to harrass them (you never know how some people think about total strangers coming up to them) and proceeded to tell them my story.

It was the five year anniversary of losing my dad...this was a tough anniversary because we were actually in the park on THE anniversary date. I told them that dad always bought the kids balloons when we went to the zoo, or the park, or the circus, or whatever. And that in order to honor my father's memory, I bought a balloon every year and gave it to a child as my dad did with my kids. I was doing really well without too much crying...just a few stray tears....until the mom started crying and told me that she and her family were honored that I had chosen them and what a beautiful thing to do for my dad. Of course, then my tears started flowing freely. It was a very special moment and the mom and I hugged.

Up next, a park where I need to ride a specific ride. Will I get on that ride?

 

[GrammyJudy]

THe balloon story of your dad had me all choked up .... What a great tribute to his memory. We have never eaten at the Plaza although years ago we tried to, before adrs.

 

[DMGeurts]

The Plaza looks wonderful - it's a restaurant I've always wanted to try, but never have. I think I need to be in MK for 3 full days to eat at all the restaurants I'd like to. LOL Your meal looked fantastic!

When you told me the balloon story later that day - it choked me up... and again it does now... Such a wonderful way to remember your dad, and let his spirit live on in another child. (((Hugs))) to you, my friend.

D~

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I always look forward to this day in your TRs. Cannot type through tears...

 

[jedimeg16]

What a beautiful way to honor your dad's memory.

 

[MEK]

Your balloon stories always tear me up. I think its so lovely that you do that. I know your dad is watching you and giving you the strength to approach total strangers. And I know you made that family's day and that's a moment they will always remember.

So special!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Over 30 yr WDW visitor & I have never eaten at the Plaza I have lunch there this Thurs I will raise my glass & say a prayer in honor of your Dad

 

[emmysmommy]

May I join the chorus of the Disers who loved that smoochy photopass photo of you and Mark with the pop of fireworks from the castle. Very nice! After 30 years I'm glad to see that you are still sweet on each other.

That shirt that Mark is wearing at the Plaza Restaurant I adore. The image of Walt on Main Street with Mickey is precious. I have a handbag that I purchased at MK last year that has that image. Love it!

Plaza Restaurant has become a last lunch tradition for us as well.

How sweet that the family that was the recipient of the balloon were so touched. What a perfectly fitting way to honor your dad's memory.

 

[goofy4prez]

I was being challenged



But I did not participate; I told him to save it for Cayley and Avery.

You tell Mark that in a few weeks I'll take him up on that challenge. I can wield a plastic sword with the best of them, arrrr.


On the way to our lunch, we saw a Photopass photographer at a spot we like to stop each trip. This guy was fabulous. The only problem is they lost ALL but one of the 20 shots he took. I was so disappointed when I loaded my pictures and they were all gone. He was so good. He had us pose with the picture frame and then he had us kiss. And then he instructed us NOT to stop kissing. And he kept saying: keep going, keep going, keep going. And the reason he did that? So he could capture this:

What an awesome keepsake. In this day and age of disposable marriages, it is so nice to see a couple still love each other after so many years together (not that you are old... as I try to back myself out of trouble) Seriously Kathy, I agree with so many others, what a wonderful picture.

 

[goofy4prez]

However, before we could do that, I had the most important tradition of all to take care of.

I purchased a balloon and we found a young couple with a little girl in a stroller as we got near the exit. I excused myself and told them I wasn't there to harrass them (you never know how some people think about total strangers coming up to them) and proceeded to tell them my story.

It was the five year anniversary of losing my dad...this was a tough anniversary because we were actually in the park on THE anniversary date. I told them that dad always bought the kids balloons when we went to the zoo, or the park, or the circus, or whatever. And that in order to honor my father's memory, I bought a balloon every year and gave it to a child as my dad did with my kids. I was doing really well without too much crying...just a few stray tears....until the mom started crying and told me that she and her family were honored that I had chosen them and what a beautiful thing to do for my dad. Of course, then my tears started flowing freely. It was a very special moment and the mom and I hugged.

Every time I read this story of your tradition of honoring your late father it moves me the same way as the first time I read it. What an awesome way to remember your dad. I hope you have many, many, many more years of doing this tradition and sharing it with us as well.

 

[MeMom]

It was the five year anniversary of losing my dad...this was a tough anniversary because we were actually in the park on THE anniversary date. I told them that dad always bought the kids balloons when we went to the zoo, or the park, or the circus, or whatever. And that in order to honor my father's memory, I bought a balloon every year and gave it to a child as my dad did with my kids. I was doing really well without too much crying...just a few stray tears....until the mom started crying and told me that she and her family were honored that I had chosen them and what a beautiful thing to do for my dad. Of course, then my tears started flowing freely. It was a very special moment and the mom and I hugged.

I think Walt would have loved hearing this story.
I am a big sap when it comes to family and Disney things, so when you combine the two, tears can come pretty easily. I cannot wait to be there with my family again in December, especially to show Brandi our fun place. Just seeing your parade pictures makes me long to be there. It's something so simple that most people out here in the real world would think is such a little nothing of a thing to think about, but it makes me so incredibly happy!

 

[dizneeat]

Okay, late commenting here, but I was already fast asleep when you posted your update, so I hope I am excused.

Love all the photos, the ones at the Partners statue are so neat. And I love your tradition of having lunch at the Plaza! The food there is really good. How do I know? Well, I read about this in a TR, - YOURS of course.

And as often as I have already read about you giving away that balloon to a child, it ALWAYS brings tears to my eyes. It IS a wonderful thing you do in honour of your dad!

 

[DWGal210]

Yum, the Plaza! Yes, ice cream is always a must there.

What a lovely story about your dad and the balloons; made me tear up this morning. That's such a nice way to remember him.

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Everytime I read the story of the balloon, I cry. What a sweet way to remember your dad. He would be proud of you for keeping the tradition alive. I am so glad that you found a family that cherished the moment as much as you. Ok, I am going to stop now before I am sobbing.

 

[mommy2mrb]

love your PP photo, bummer they lost most of them but that one is definitely a keeper!

we are FINALLY eating at the Plaza for dinner! looking forward to eating there!

I love that you do something so sweet in your dad's memory


still do photo cards every years and a letter to some, since we moved around so much with Jim's work we have friends in lots of states, makes a nice way to keep in touch with them!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Kathy, I just love how you honor your father's memory. And I was so happy to read that your recipient this year was so touched by your gift. Still makes me cry every time, though.

Your meal at the Plaza looks good. We have never eaten there. Maybe have to try it some time.

I am not ready for your trip to end.

 

[Deesknee]

I have to ditto all the comments about the kiss photo. And what a bummer pp was messing up.
But, the balloon interaction, is just a reminder that truly, if we open our hearts we can all be affected in a sensitive way by each others joy and pain. Kathy, you are amazing to put forth such a wonderful gesture of remembrance. Although, I'm sorry it still causes tears, I am so happy for you that you had that much love that it still causes tears. Thank you for setting an example for me to do something positive for the living to remember my loved ones that are no longer here physically, but are always present in my heart.

Now, about the Plaza... we keep saying we are going to try it, but for whatever reason we don't. I'm going to write it on my to do list for next visit.

 

[afwdwfan]

Kathy, I can't even pick on you after this update. I love your traditional last day at MK, especially the tribute to your dad.

 

[Chicago Mo]

oh goodness. Now you did it..
I am crying at work! Every time you tell the story about your Dad i get so weepy!
thankfully i went back and looked at your pictures! HAPPY STUFF! the picture with the castle is like everyone has said already. just so sweet, totally you and mark the PP Photographer just captured you both perfectly!!!!