Who knew choking each other would earn us fastpasses?

[GrammyJudy]

Congrats on Lacey's engagement! I loved wedding planning with my daughter. And now we have more family to go to Disney with!

 

[claryche]

Congrats on the engagement annoucement. Maybe if you guys save alot of money it could be a Disney wedding, or maybe just a Disney cruise wedding, which I have heard is cheaper.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Congrats to Lacey! And to the in-laws to be.

 

[jusero]

Don't know if it just me, but none of your pics are showing. All I see is a box with what looks like an advertisement for Photo Bucket but says "bandwidth exceeded." Is anyone else getting this?

 

[BPATSMouse]

AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!! Lacey and Jesse getting married and you get to help plan it . That will be fun and will keep you busy for a while. And the good Lord is bringing her home for one last hoorah with her MaMa. We have stayed at PC 5 out of the last 6 years (POR last year with Mom) The rooms have been updated over the past 2 years and are nice. The buses run well because PC is not on any of the other value resorts lines and it is by far the closest Value resort to the parks on property.

 

[Disney Geek]

Welcome! Thanks for coming out of lurkdome to post.

I would love to hear any and all tips you have about Pop. I'm sure we'll be fine there. I think my main concerns are storage space and having only one bus stop.

Oh and I sure hope that you'll continue to post. I really enjoying reading people's comments.



Thank you so very much!

Yes, i will keep posting! No more lurking for me!

As for Pop, the rooms are on the smaller side but they are very clean. Plus, Disney is currently refurbishing Pop so by the time your trip comes around, they will be done and you will have a refurbished room!

I should give you a heads up though, in case you don't know already, that there is no mini-fridge or coffee maker in the room (has never been a big deal for us!).

We always request the 50's area. It's still close to the main building but away from the hustle and bustle of the busy 60's area so it's a bit quieter. We also always request lake side so it's really quiet.

As for the bus, I'm afraid I can't really help you as we always have a car and drive to the parks but I believe that Pop has it's own bus and doesn't stop at other resorts so that a bonus! (but don't hold me to this info as I am not 100% sure!!! )

I'm sure you will enjoy the resort, it's really bright and colourful and there is tons of great photo-ops with all the over-sized decorations like a gigantic juke box and other stuff!

Looking forward to your next update!

Kate

 

[mickeystoontown]

Howdy everybody! It's been a busy past two days around our house thus there's very little time for the Dis. Lacey arrived home yesterday afternoon around 2 p.m. Of course, we spent last night talking with her and looking at the proposal pictures.

We are supposed to have a garage sale either this weekend or next weekend. I've started pricing the items already and if I get it all done in time, we will probably have it this weekend. We need the room in our storage shed to put Lacey's things.

I will definitely come back and post replies and I hope to get another update posted soon. I really need to get the mini-trip report over with so I can get back to writing about Disney.

For those of you who can't see my pictures, I am super sorry. Apparently, I have had so many people look at the photobucket pictures that I have exceeded my bandwidth. So, even as I am typing, I am uploading more pictures to another photobucket account.

If I can keep the boss busy in his office, I'll try and get another installment posted this afternoon.

 

[Believeinfairytales]

Howdy everybody! It's been a busy past two days around our house thus there's very little time for the Dis. Lacey arrived home yesterday afternoon around 2 p.m. Of course, we spent last night talking with her and looking at the proposal pictures.

We are supposed to have a garage sale either this weekend or next weekend. I've started pricing the items already and if I get it all done in time, we will probably have it this weekend. We need the room in our storage shed to put Lacey's things.

I will definitely come back and post replies and I hope to get another update posted soon. I really need to get the mini-trip report over with so I can get back to writing about Disney.

For those of you who can't see my pictures, I am super sorry. Apparently, I have had so many people look at the photobucket pictures that I have exceeded my bandwidth. So, even as I am typing, I am uploading more pictures to another photobucket account.

If I can keep the boss busy in his office, I'll try and get another installment posted this afternoon.

Glad your daughter made it home safe and sound. I know how happy you must be!

We'll be looking forward to another update when you can get around to it. I had to laugh about what you said about keeping your boss busy. I always thought it was the other way around.

Congrats again on daughter being home. I know you are one happy momma!

 

[kaileighbug]

If you are worried about a fridge try a fridge swap. I participated in the GOLD STAR POP Swap and it went great.

 

[laashley]

Congrats to Lacey on her engagement! I know you must be excited to have her home for a little while.

I am certain your family will have just as much fun at the Pop. The money will definitely help out with the wedding.

 

[mickeystoontown]

As usual, I was the first one up and at 'em Sunday morning. Today, we would be playing hooky from church and taking Lacey out of town so we could have her all to ourselves. Our destination? Dollywood! None of us had ever been so we were looking forward to going.

I opened the curtains and stepped out onto the balcony to see a party cloudy sky. Oh no! Please don't let it rain on us today. The one and only full day we would have.

I woke up John and Hunter so they could start getting ready for our adventure. I called next door to Mama's room and she said she was up and getting ready too. Next, I texted Lacey who said she would be ready by the time we got there. I told her I'd get her a muffin or something from the breakfast downstairs and bring it to her.

Since we had all taken showers the night before, all we had to do was freshen up and get dressed. I was going low maintenance as I was sure it would be hot and we would be sweaty by the middle of the day.

While John and Hunter were finishing up, Mama and I walked down to the continental breakfast and got some yummy bagels that had scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese on them and then toasted. Pretty darn good! I also got a couple of boxes of fruit loops, yogurts and danishes for John. Oh and two cartons of milk. That should hold us over until lunch time.

We ate quickly and left to pick up Lacey. Like I said earlier, getting out of Helen is much easier than getting into Helen. Helen is about 10 miles from Cleveland so it didn't take us long to get there. Lacey hopped in and we were on our way. Mama had the MapQuest directions in her lap and Lacey, John and Hunter were in the backseat talking up a storm.

It wasn't long before we were passing by some really neat looking places that Lacey said she had been to.....waterfalls, parks, etc. We passed through North Carolina and then into Tennessee. Then, we were in Cherokee. What a cool town! There are these bears statues all up and down the streets and each are painted with different patterns on them. Here's one of them:

Some day, I'd like to go back to Cherokee as it looked like there were many things for a family to do. My mother's cousin has visited several times and loves it. **Note to self: Look up Cherokee's Department of Tourism

We were all excited when we saw the sign that said we were entering the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Lacey had been through the park but the rest of us had not. It was absolutely beautiful! Ya'll all know that I am scared of heights and I was driving which wasn't such a great combination. But, I'd rather be in the driver's seat instead of somebody else. At least I'm in control of the situation.

All along the side of the road, we could see beautiful streams flowing over rocks and mini-waterfalls. I was almost regretting our decision to go to Dollywood and not focus on the national park. That being said, though, I knew that Mama couldn't hike the trails which is what we would have wanted to do. ***Note to self: Come back to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park

We were way up in the mountains and I could see a large pull-off and there were lots of people looking and taking pictures. Dollywood was going to have to just wait on us 'cause I wanted to get out and look. I am so glad that I did. It was beautiful!

Some pictures:

I wish I had paid more attention to this picture of Lacey. Had I known that she was all squenchy-eyed, I would have taken another one:

Oh I forgot to mention that it was a bit chilly when we got out. I guess it was because we were up so high and it was a bit "smoky".

Mama took this one of our family:

I would have taken many more pictures but there were other people waiting to take their picture in the same spot. It was a beautiful backdrop.

I don't remember who I gave the camera to once we pulled out of the pull-off but whoever it was took a couple of pics:

We got behind an RV and several cars and it seemed to take forever and a day to get through the park. I do remember passing through three tunnels before we made it out. It was so weird. You were in this beautiful lush national forest one minute, passing through a tunnel the next and then...boom...you were in Pigeon Forge. Kind of a shock to the system.

**Okay, so I thought I'd get more posted than what I did but it's almost time to shut the office down for the day. Maybe, I can get here in the morning and post replies and pics of Dollywood.

 

[Run4Disney]

The Smokies are so beautiful. We really enjoy visiting the Biltmore Estate in Ashville. Something else to put on your to do list.

Congratulations to your family on all your good news! If I were looking for someone to hire I would definately hire Lacey, she is a jewel. Has Lacey ever considered the Disney College Program?

 

[jenseib]

Wow!!!! I got 2 days behind and lots has happened!
This is all wonderful news. I bet you are through the moon.
Since Lacy is so good at praying...and receiving answers...have her pray for Skip! We need all the extra prayer and guidence possible.

I am just so excited with this news I feel like doing a dance. LOL!

And don't woprry about Pop. I really love it there. And you've toured it, so you know what it's like. It may not be your favorite, but I think you'll have a good time. And the food court is really good! And lots of photo ops there.
Congrats to your family!!!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hi Lisa! Sorry for being MIA. I'm so happy that Lacey made it home safely. You must be over the moon with excitement. I also love your Smoky Mtn National Park pics. We love it there. We usually go there for fall break but we are doing Disney this year instead. The park is absolutely stunning in the fall.

 

[quadsthen1]

The Smokies are gorgeous! I love living here and I never get tired of the view!

 

[bouncycat]

Beautiful pictures Lisa!!! It's awesome up there in the mountains!!!

 

[francis6306]

Awe! Congrats to Lacey!! That's awesome! And isn't it awesome when God makes his plan clear... or is it when we are silent and listen?? I remember after my second year MC graduation, I wanted to stay near my bubble. If she has any trouble adjusting to "home life" let her know I'm here and I'd love to talk with her! (not that she will- but some do! Especially if they are far away from their MC church family) I had grown to love my adopted church home and my mission mom was AMAZING! I love her, and her daughters and grandkids too. I miss them!

Ask Lacey if Pastor Norman is still on staff at the church in Cleveland. He was the children's pastor at my home Church in Gainesville when I was a teenager. I probably know some of the people at that church.

 

[charming23]

First of Congrats to Lacey on her engagement and moving back home. You must be so thrilled with both.

The pics from the smokies are beautiful. I love the one of the butterfly.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

First of all Congrats And those are some beautiful pictures.

 

[GrammyJudy]

Beautiful pictures of the Smoky Mts. We do live in a gorgeous country. You should come to Vt in the fall and see our MTNS during foliage season....absolutely gorgeous. And then I love to go see the rocky coast of Maine in the summer. Someday I want to drive out west to see the desserts and canyons.So diverse and lovely all the USA is! We are so lucky.