Another trip to Disney on a different plan – Part 4 the Finale

Friday

Last Day at WDW. Ruth is sick, very sick. She has the stomach bug.  And she is  a no-go. We have a reservation at 10:20 at Ohanas. so, Ginny drops off Anna and I at 8:45 for Mk. Anna and I manage to do all three mountains in an hour and 5 minutes. We hit Space, Big Thunder, and Splash while we got fast passes to Peter Pan and Buzz for later. Anna and I met up with the rest of family at the Polynesian.

We love this restaurant. We had a great brunch with the characters. Ginny went back with Ruth; she barely ate. 

 

 

 

Huck, Anna and I then toured the park, focusing on Huck. That meant Laugh floor again (I texted a joke for him). Not as funny the second time. We then hit Buzz, TTA, Buzz again. Time for a snack, while Anna rode space mountain. Huck and I rode the Indy Cars again; the video is the key here

Huck and I went to do Peter Pan and Small World while Anna did the Haunted Mansion. And that was it. We were done.

Ginny came and picked us up. We made dinner at home. Ruth was feeling a little better, enough for us to head over to Poly for the fireworks.

Note: starting Thursday traffic was building on 192. Tonight there was a great deal more traffic but we could park at Poly. We managed to shop some at Poly, then see the fireworks. Last thing of the night was to Capt. Hooks for ice cream. Which Ruth threw up in the parking lot. Did I mention she was sick, really sick.

Saturday – Heading Home

Ginny and I parked up some on Friday night. Saturday we finished packing up and heading home. We were desperate to do something more; Ruth was feeling a little better but Anna was not well. This stuff was not fun. After checking out of our place, getting some drugs and breakfast, we hit Downtown Disney for Disney Quest.

Disney Quest and SeaWorld were on our list; SeaWorld missed the list but not Disney Quest. I love DQ and could spend a most of a day there. We did the Pirates ride there. You can see how this ride was a part of the Toy Story ride.  But Ruth was getting dizzy, Anna felt horrible and wanted to go home. So we left after like 2 hours and grabbed some lunch at Wolfgang’s again. Good food until Ruth threw up again in the parking lot. She is feeling better.

We get in the car and make it home in 9 hours. Sirius radio made the trip much quicker.

Reflections

As a family, we have been to WDW plenty. I have been so much personally that I know my way around WDW.  We know the parks, what we like and don't like. We know which restaurants we really like, which hotels we like and how to park at them for reduced parking.

Here is the Good and Bad

The Good

1. The House0 thanks to Ginny for finding. I love staying on property but one room for 5 of us for that long is just hard. So the house was convenient and a great deal.
2. Not park hopping – saved like $250 and would have not used it
3. Spending time with each of my kids at WDW – I had one on one time with Anna and Huck, and Ruth and I watched the parade and fireworks together at MK.
4. The Christmas party at MK
5. AK with the Haas’.
6. Not buying a bunch of junk – we did not spend alot of time shopping and I felt like we did not buy much junk. We did buy a couple things for Huck that were junkish but not really. Concentrated effort on our part.
7. Flip video – nice to have some video.

The Bad

1. Ruth getting sick – really destroyed the last two and half days
2. Dinner at Brown Derby
3. Me being sick the first day
4. Worrying about money – while I was down at WDW I found out that we either have to take our extra vacation in 09 or can sell it back. Well, I am selling 14 days back, which is 2/3rd of a month extra salary – should pay for most of the trip
5. EPCOT – still do not get this park.

Reflections

Every time we leave, I think we will not be back for a while. I think this time it might be true for two reasons:

1. It is getting harder to pull away from tow during the school year for the girls. Anna especially missed school. As Ruth moves to middle school, this will become harder. I refuse to go during breaks due to crowds. And the summer is out – just way too hot. So, we are in a bit of a quandary.
2. Anna liked but did not loves as in the past. Increasingly, their friends are more important.

This fact use to really sadden me, but as I write this I see it as just life. I still love WDW and always will. I do know that I am done going by myself. I need to go with my family or some part of it.

Time for a break from WDW. 

Another trip to Disney on a different plan – Part 3

Wednesday

Given our late night, our plan was to low key the day until the afternoon. We headed to Hollywood studios, arriving in the afternoon at 2pm. We swam in the morning. (Did I mention that we had heated the pool. It was great). The weather was awesome all weak,around 80.

We did the park in a new manner this day, saying together for a while then we sent the girls on their way. The did awesome together. We first rode the Movie ride (needs some help), did the the exhibit from the Narnia movies (really, really lame). The girls then took off to do Rock-n-Roll rollercoaster. And took our tickets.

Huck, Ginny and I preceded to wait for well over an hour for the brand new, way in too much demand Toy Story Mania. It was really amazing ride. Ginny now calls it her new favorite. Her is Huck and I

We met up with the girls next after getting some pictures with Huck’s favorites

We met for dinner at Brown Derby. This restaurant was a major, major no go. Probably one of a couple restaurants that I would tell someone to not go to (Tony’s in Magic Kingdom is on that list). Anna lost a ticket but I had it replaced. From here, we split up and I rode Rock n Roll Coaster with the girls. Still an absolutely amazing ride. We then met up with Huck and Ginny to do Toy Story as a family

The girls then took off for one last ride on Rock n Roll while Ginny, Huck and I saw the Osbourne lights. We met up with the girls with Ruth complaining alot about her neck. More later

Thursday or the Day the Trip goes off the rails

Today was suppose to be Epcot day. So we thought. We are running slow, which is typical for our fourth day. I take Ruth, Anna and I over to Epcot for fast passes. The plan was to get passes and come back for later in the day. Ruth is not looking well; in fact she is not well at all. By the time we get back to the house she is not well. I had stopped by to get her some over the counter drugs but these were not working. So Plan B. I take Huck, Anna and I to the movies. Huck and I see Bolt in 3-D, Good movie but 3-D was amazing. Ginny calls me in the middle of the movie (Anna is watching Twilight in the another theater on the other side of the moon.)Ginny is very worried and mentions meningitis. So we go home to take Ruth to the hospital at Celebration. Well, that is what we decided after an hour of discussion. 

Huck, Anna and I hit up Epcot (dinner was somewhere in here as  was lunch, although I think lunch was in this night). We drop off Ginny and Ruth, and have like 50 minutes in the park. We only get to do Test Track (Huck was a trooper but not sure if he really liked it). Ginny calls us, No meningitis and the doctor somehow diagnoses strep with no test.  We pick up the the tow form the hospital.

Come to find out there is nasty stomach virus at WDW and Ruth is the first to get it. She threw up in the hospital and will be down for the count the rest of the trip. She is wiped out most of Friday.

having the house was really good. We can isolate Ruth, have room to get around. I could not imagine if this had happened in a single hotel room. No one wants to get sick at WDW. Ruth loves WDW to the core, maybe more than me. She tried so hard to keep up.

Anna I think had a touch of what I had later in the week as well. This is the second time we have been done to WDW in December and been sick. Maybe there is a message there.

That night Ginny and I went over to Poly. My favorite WDW hotel. We have dessert at Kona’s (a great banana chocolate crème brulee) and see the fireworks from the beach.  And we make up. I have been somewhat of jerk, unwilling to face the reality of the situation and unable to make lemonade. Not my strong suit.  It is WDW and I want to go, but that is not in the cards.

Another trip to Disney on a different plan – Part 2

Monday

Monday was our first day. We had plans to meet up with the Haas’ at Animal Kingdom. it was their last day. Our plan had been to meet up when the park opened. Of course we were late and I lost my ticket. Well, I found it buried in my pocket.

Some background

Usually we are so prepared when we hot WDW, have read books, I have hung out for hours on different WDW sites. Not this time. We have been too busy and too stressed. For me, that was unsettling but nothing I could do.

Honestly, Monday was a great day. First up was Everest which really messed me up. I was sick with something and was not well for another 35 hours. We did the new to us Nemo show which was great, the safari, etc. We even did Kali river ride like 5 times. At it was cold . Ginny was soaked. We hung out with the Haas; most of the day and finished up with them on the rapids ride. I would love to go to WDW with another family some time.

Here is a quick video

We ate lunch that day at Tusker House. It was ok, but not that great. Been to Boma and I like Boma better.

We tried to meet up with Haas’ but we ended up passing by. We stayed home.

Tuesday

This was our day for the Christmas party. We had been once as a family 3 years ago. Ginny had to miss most with it as Huck and Ruth were not well. I had gone tow years ago by myself and really loved it.

Since we would be up late that day, we decided to not do a park. We discussed doing Disney quest but went shopping.  First up was lunch at Wolfgang Puck’s Express. Best meal of the week.

Then we hit Downtown Disney. And the mega Disney store that drives me nuts.  plus I am feeling puny. We did do the Lego store and then went home.

We are suppose to get in the park at 4pm but we did not make it until 5, I was feeling lousy and fell asleep. Interestingly, I was all better by that night and was finally myself. I swear it was I ate in Cary.

We parked at the Contemporary. We realized that although Disney has free dining it still is not too crowded. We rode the monorail and Huck and I rode in front. It is my boy’s favorite ride at WDW. Chip off the old block.

Here is a video we shot

So nice to be in shorts. We hit up all of the major rides we love, did the new Monster, Inc Laugh flo0r (really cool concept but after the first time it loses its luster). We saw the parade and the show back to back, plus Ginny saw another show.

We saw the fireworks from Splash Mountain which we rode 4 times in a row without getting off. Huck loved the official Brown Family WDW ride.

Huck hung tough until midnight and we got home at midnight.  He did not enjoy the Pooh ride but loved the Goofy rollercoaster. Interesting. In fact, all of Fantasyland was one big whatever from my boy. But he loved (for a while ) Buzz Lightyear and driving the Indy Cars. More on that later.

I think the Christmas party is so much better than the Halloween party.  We loved it .

Another trip to Disney on a different plan – Part 1

If you know us, we love Disney World. As dad, I am the chief Disney World lover. In fact, this is my third trip to Orlando and the WDW area in 2008.

Background

My wife convinced me that a trip to Disney was the great Christmas gift. The kids did not need anything (really true) and I could really use the trip. We debated for a while, then my wife found an off property house for a great rate.  We decided to make the plunge. Then the economy tanked and Wachovia went into the death spin. I struggled with actually spending the money and coming down to WDW. My wife to her credit never waivered.

So this time we made a different plan. Last time we surprised the girls, and they all joined as I was down at WDW for a technology conference. It was a quick trip, at break neck speed, leaving everyone excited but exhausted. So this trip is decidedly is slower and less crazy.

The Plan

We took the kids out of school for the last week. Anna had a swim meet up in Cary, so she and I went up there on Friday and were home late Saturday. The plan had been to leave early on Sunday but we got off at 8:30. It was cold  when we left with a promise of warm weather in Florida. The trip was just under 10 hours with stops.  I figured that driving adds about 4 hours to the trip versus flying.  Here is how

Huntersville to Kissimmee is like 8 and half hours pure drive time or so. Flying with three kids means leaving two hours prior to take off, a flight that is 90 minutes, plus another 60 minutes to 75 minutes on the ground in MCO. So by flying we get into into Orlando in 5 hours or less.

So, we got to Orlando, got our keys to the house and found our house. it was in the Indian Ridge(Indian Ridge Trail S, Kissimmee, FL 34747). Nice 4 bedroom house, with a pool. It had a small kitchen, and a washer and dryer. The house was what we needed in so many ways. it was very close to Disney, and we managed our way around quite nicely.

Conclusion

We are in Florida, the kids are swimming in a pool and it is warm. I am not feeling so hot. More to come…

Tired of Death

In the last 16 months, I have experienced four deaths. Two were in our family, as the last of the greatest generation is dying off. My uncle and Ginny’s aunt each succumb to cancer in the first half of 2008.  Both of these individuals had lead long, productive and great lives. Their deaths were sad, but also expected in many ways.

In the same time, I watched my close friend Robert suddenly lose his son Jude, through a tragic drowning. And today Elliot Brumm was laid to rest, having suffered a car accident. In each case, an accident snapped short a brilliant light, way too soon.

In all four cases, I can sit and know emphatically that each is in heaven. no question, no doubt. But Lord, I am weary of death. Of the sadness, the grief, the anguish and sorrow left in its wake. Yes, their is assuredness.

But two families are left with large holes. Each has gone from 6 t0 5. Each father is missing a son.  Each mother has one less boy to dote on (and yes they are always their mama’s boy). How does one ever consider taking that first family photo with a obvious hole? Pain unspeakable, unshakeable.

I am reminded today that the Brumms will move forward as have the Gilliams. But a part of their family after today is stuck in November 2008, and will fork off in a new different direction. They need and require our prayer and love.

I am weary of death and its impact and upheaval.

Two families are left a widow and a widower, left behind after a life time of living in unison. I think in many ways that is the cruelest. How does one to living as a single person after living life for so long married? In my honesty and true selfishness, I hope I die before my wife so I never have to face that loneliness, that heartache of lose.

I am weary of death, of its finality, of its hugeness and scorched earth policy.  yet, I know hope and know where it comes from. So, death, I am weary of you and say to you GO AWAY. You have had your time again in my life, to remind again on the briefness of time and the lack of guarantee of that time. I need to turn again to hope and joy, in a empty tomb that signified a new path. I am reminded again to live well, with intentionality in choice and focus.

I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life...to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
~Henry David Thoreau

“We don’t beat the Reaper by living longer. We beat the Reaper by living well.” Randy Pausch Last Lecture