Disney World - in a Whole New Way..

Davy informed me {back in June} that he was going to some kind of a distribution center conference {can you say par-tay?!} at the end of August..

Now, as if that doesn't sound fun in and of itself, it was being held at.. Walt Disney World.. {yes, I know..}

This, of course, sent the gears-a-turning in my head, since I really wanted to go along.. {I'm sure you're as shocked as I was..}

Pros:

*paying for ONE plane ticket {which, btw, was purchased with frequent-flier miles = $5..}

*free hotel

*being in Disney World

Cons:

*upset daughters

*first week of school for one, second week of school for the others

*angry children

*being in Disney alone..

*kids constantly reminding me how mean I am

*August in Florida

*sad, sad widdle girls

As you can see, the Pros FAR outweighed the Cons..

Keep in mind, this was a 4 days in the parks trip.. and for 1 whole and 2 half days I was all by myself. I'm not great at being by myself. I like to be with people, especially my family, and especially at Disney!! Still, I was excited..

August 28-September 1, 2011

I'm not so much going to do a travelogue as much as I'm going to write my observations/aka a "what I learned /snippets of what I did on this trip to WDW"

• I learned - you don't take very many pictures when you're alone/just with Davy.. Though since I've been home I've regretted not getting a PhotoPass and just having a bunch of pictures taken by myself. Just cause I think it'd be funny.
• Riding fast rides alone isn't very fun.
• You {or I} spend a lot more money when I'm alone. {Maybe it was guilt?}
• You can get weird looks when you're all by yourself on rides/hold up that "one" finger when they ask how many are in your party.
• I have a new favorite Disney resort!! {Yacht Club - woot-woot!}
• You get spoiled with a well located Disney resort and realize how much you hate riding Disney buses when you don't have to!! {woot!}
• {just to clarify, I only had to ride a bus to get to Animal Kingdom. Epcot & Hollywood Studios were walkable, or there was a boat, and when you walk through Epcot, you can catch the Monorail to Magic Kingdom - heaven!}
• As odd as it seems, the InstaCare that provides for Disney was the most amazing medical experience I've ever had.. Story time.. I woke up Tuesday morning {my full solo day} with that awful 'I'm pretty sure I have a UTI feeling' {sorry - tmi} I got ready and did a lot of pacing trying to decide what to do. I really debated toughing it out for a day, but realized I would be miserable, and just needed to get on an antibiotic. Stat. {a little medical jargon for you} Once I was ready, I pulled out the 'book' located in every hotel room to see what to do about needing a doctor visit. There was a phone number which I called, to hear a 'no longer in service' message. After a big *sigh* I called the front desk. They said there was a new number and they would connect me. I told the woman from the InstaCare my issues, and she said I would need to come in and a shuttle would be at my resort in 5 minutes to pick me up. 5 minutes? Wow! Luckily, all I had to do was grab my purse, and if you've stayed in a WDW resort, you know it can sometimes take at least 5 minutes just to walk to the lobby. I walked out the front doors of the hotel to see the van pulling up right in front of me. I enjoyed a very pleasant visit with the friendly driver. Once he dropped me off, {it was in a strip mall} I went in filled out paperwork, yadda-yadda-yadda, exam, you know the drill. Yes, I had a UTI, and they would give me a prescription. Would I like them to fill it in-house? Um, yes? How lovely not to have to go get a prescription filled! When I was finished the front desk lady called a shuttle for me that pulled up before I reached the sidewalk! This time I had a nice, but a little bit weird driver, but in a few minutes he was dropping me off, not back at my resort like I imagined but at Animal Kingdom!! What service! The best part?? I walked out of my hotel room at 8:59am and was dropped off at AK at 10:01am! One hour!! I've decided I've been spoiled forever!! {sorry, that was long!!}
• Even though it was 90+ degrees with 90% humidity {ah, Florida} the whole trip, I learned it was MUCH more pleasant when it was overcast, which was all but a few hours..
• Last week of August? Fantastic time to go.. No lines!
• Quick story: {I got my iPhone 4 a week before this trip - important to know} One morning I was getting on Pirates of the Caribbean, and I happened to be the only person on my whole boat. I felt a little silly. I was also sitting on the front row. I decided to try to take a quick self-portrait to show me and my empty boat. Apparently, the iPhone has a FLASH! I was one of those annoying 'take-a-flash-picture-even-when-they-say-no-flash-photography' people! I was so embarrassed!! The worst part? I fiddled with my phone a second and tried again.. ya. The flash was still on! Luckily? the 3rd time was a charm, but none of the pictures really turned out.
• Eating alone at Disney is awkward.
• When you get back to your hotel room after an entire day alone, you talk your husband's ear off. I had no idea how much I missed talking all day.
• New favorite quick place to eat! The Patisserie in France. I got my dinner, soda, and dessert for $11!! If you know Disney, this is a steal! {and it was yummy!} I ate there 3 times!
• Vinylmation trading needs to be figured out. {Vinylmation are these Disney collectibles that are also tradable.. I love them and brought 6 to trade (when you buy them they are blind-boxed, you don't know what you're getting)} Almost every place you went they had the same traders. Isn't there a way to say, obviously no one wants these, lets replace a few!
• Chelsea texts me hundreds of times a day. Except when I'm out of town. Then, when I need to talk and know what's going on, she's too busy..
• I wore a pair of shoes I'd been purposely wearing every day for a month. I wanted to just bring one pair of shoes, and broke them in accordingly. I have never had blisters like I got in my life.. I'm still recovering. Really. I've never had my feet so torn up.
• Haunted Mansion has been 'revamped' at the end. The hitchhiking ghost part? Amazing!
• New Fantasyland construction makes me really excited. I may have squealed.
• I was a little disappointed by the new Star Tours. Made me miss the old one.
• Europeans must know that all the Americans have started school this week. I felt like a minority.
• Disney is a lot more fun with someone else. Preferably a few 'someone else's'..

Photos?

..okay..

..first official picture..

I call it "Waiting for our boat, wishing my kids would answer me so I'd know they're awake and heading to school - with Disney' Boardwalk in the background"

Hollywood Studios

..ah, texting.. still..

..finally, on the phone with Chels..

..apparently, we had a lot to talk about..

..so glad Davy documented it..

..hey, look! Davy did come!

..boat from Hollywood Studios back to our hotel/Epcot..

..our resort - Disney's Yacht Club!!..

Alone in Animal Kingdom..

..riding Kilimanjaro Safaris..

We were so close to this rhino, the driver had to tell us multiple times not to reach out and touch it..

..new sky-walks on the safari..

{one of those new tours}

..if you've ever ridden this ride, you'll appreciate what a good view of a lion this is!

I rode the train out to Rafiki's Planet Watch..

Here, I witnessed a bird in surgery -

apparently it was attacked by another animal and its prognosis "wasn't good"

I have no idea what was happening here..

2 adult men wearing hats & tails {not employees} dancing around with these kids whacking them with their tails, and generally making a spectacle of themselves..

..pretty funny..

Planet Watch Entrance..

..view of plans for New Fantasyland - squeeeeeal!!

..near monsoon rainstorm I was stuck in for a couple hours..

..this is right where you enter Haunted Mansion,

there was literally a waterfall coming off this wall..

..great example of "the crowds"!

One morning, walking through Epcot to take the monorail to Magic Kingdom..

I walked from France, thru the UK and Canada,

over the bridge, in to Future World and got clear to these fountains..

..still never saw another person..

{not even a cast member}

Beast's Castle under construction in New Fantasyland..

Davy called this

"no cameras or video recorders over 20 years old permitted"

I just had to share..

I'm going to make these for my girls..

{I saw an easy, cute way to mount photos yesterday ~

I think this will be my first project!}

It's THAT Time of Year!

Yep!

Stadium of Fire!

This is the 3rd time we have been inside the stadium for this show..

Pretty sure this was my favorite year..

Hmmmmm..

I wonder why??

..getting started with the usual skydivers..

..but not the usual landing..

..this guy took out a barricade

AND a photographer..

But that's not the reason it was my favorite..

Could it be...

Those Walker gals!?!

Pretty sure that's a YES!!

Can you see Savannah there in the middle??

..one of the times they are both in one shot..

..both spelling out USA {separately}

Adi in her "A"

Savannah in her "U"

{dancing to "Rockin' in the USA}

..the Main Dancers in a wave..

{Savannah is one of those close red raised pom-poms}

..Adi mid-shimmy..

{she's the 2nd girl}

..most of the girls..

..our girls are both there..

..trust me..

..I can point them out..

The Main Dancers making the Liberty Bell..

Savannah is a red pom near the top of the "crack"

Gotta love the fly-over!

During the flag ceremony..

..Adi 2nd girl in top group..

..Savannah {are you ready for this??}

See the break in the bottom group?

She's right along the bottom

on the right side

the second girl..

This is where they sat during all the concerts..

Adi heading to her "pre-stage" position..

David Archuleta

Chad Lewis

..our host for the evening..

Recognition for Dave Rose..

..and BYU's basketball team..

...mmmm..

A litte Brad Paisley

Yes, he's a cutie!

I just think this is a cool picture..

..waiting to go on stage..

..and chillin' right next to her buddy..

..Dave Rose ~ BYU's Basketball coach!!..

..cheering about?..

{love that pic!}

..it's just about time to head on stage!!..

ON STAGE!!

{she is the the top left girl silhouetted on the right side}

{does that make sense??}

..running to the front stage..

{Dancing to "Firework"}

This was the dance where the firework show started!

..right there on the front stage..

{2nd row}

..ending pose!..

They were fantastic!!

{Savannah was out on the field,

but no pictures would turn out

because they danced in the dark

with just light up gloves on..}

And DONE!!

We're so proud of these two!!

This was a lot of hard work

over a short period of time!!

Chelsea can't resist getting in a few shots!

Heading out after a looooooong night!!

Our favorite year for sure!!

Signs of Life..

I really, really miss my blog..

I don't have a good reason for the drought in my posting..

I have stuff to talk about..

But ~ I don't feel like downloading any pictures..

Yet I want to prove I haven't forgotten my blog all the same..

So how's your summer thus far??

Good. Good.

Ours has been crazy busy..

Here is what's going on:

We didn't go on a beginning of summer trip for the first time in a long time.. Too much going on so far.. Hopefully we'll have time to go somewhere before summer slips away..

Savannah & Adi are practicing a minimum of 2 hours a day for their performance in the upcoming Stadium of Fire.. We're really excited to see these gals in the show.. Granted, there are about 600 girls performing, but we lucked out this year and our studio is right up by the stage, in fact, Adi will be on the stage! How cool is that?? She is considered a "Junior" dancer, but some of this group will be on stage. Savannah is a "Main" dancer. She was also supposed to be a Junior {technically ages 8-12} but because of her height, she was moved up to "Main". In our true procrastinating fashion we waited until Saturday to get our tickets {we'll call it the spendy route} ~ but in our defense, I wanted to get as close to the girls as we can so we can {hopefully} get some pictures, and be able to tell they're our kids! We {mostly meaning me} are really not looking forward to the final practices next week at BYU.. Because Adi is on the stage she has a practice Wednesday from 7:30-11pm, then stage and Main dancers have a practice Thursday 5:30-11pm, and then the real kicker, Friday from 6:30am-11pm {with 2 breaks for lunch & dinner} Then the actual performance is on Saturday, but not without a practice that morning 6:30am-noon. I know, you're jealous.. I am one of the mom helpers for the Friday practice, so here's hoping none of us ends up with heat stroke..

On top of all that^^ Savannah has also been to Beehive camp for 4 days, and is currently at Young Women's camp.. I'm really not ready for my little girls to be this old already. ::sniff:: Adi has also been taking swimming lessons again. She is a great swimmer, I really love the place we have taken them for years, and she is currently in a private lesson just to really perfect her skills!

Chelsea is actually busy.. {I'll give you all a moment to take that in, and possibly pick yourself up off the floor in case you fainted} She has her last final tomorrow for Spring Block, and will begin Summer Block on Monday.. On top of that, she's already registered for Fall semester.. For those of you who know our procrastinatey-ness ~ be duly impressed. On top of school Miss Chelsea also has a job. She is working at a couple of SnoShacks in town. It has been a great Chelsea job so far, and she's making money and fantastic tips!

I have a couple of big projects I'm really wanting to finish before school starts again {which is sadly feeling too close} I somehow manage to find other little projects to do, or worse, still love to randomly leave with the girls in search of something fun to do, or for a yummy treat..

Davy has been ridiculously busy with the whole 1800Contacts/WalMart business. We sometimes feel like he is traveling, but ironically he hasn't been on a work trip since April..

Wow.. That wasn't how I envisioned this post, and I'm sure it was a yawner to read {sorry about that}

One of these days I'll load some photos and liven this place up..

An Epic Tale..

To begin this exciting {teehee} story,

I must begin with some important information..

First:

In our living room we have french doors

that are.. I guess.. magnetized..

From inside the room they need to be kind of "hit"

so they will pop open..

We leave these closed to keep puppies in their

2 allowed rooms..

Second:

Only 11 days ago I was telling my friend Angie

that it had been at least 5 years since Adi had thrown up..

Fast forward to last night..

Adi had been playing in the basement

when she ran up 2 floors to her bathroom

and.. well.. threw up..

She came down and told me,

and then proceeded to be her usual happy, full of energy self..

I kind of chalked it up to one of those weird,

"just needed to randomly throw up" times..

Within a couple of minutes she did it again..

But, again, returned acting perfectly normal..

{dancing, playing on the Wii, talking a mile-a-minute}

After a while, she decided she was hungry,

so being cautious I fed her some toast and saltines and a drink..

She was being careful, but seemed just fine..

Then about 20 minutes later,

she popped up and tried to open the french doors..

{she sometimes has a hard time getting these open}

No one was really paying attention,

but at hit #3 she couldn't hold it in any longer and,

well, vomited on the carpet..

Chelsea was very close

and stood up quickly,

helped her with the door

and began rushing her to the bathroom

{probably about 10 steps away}

Unfortunately,

Adi wasn't done

and heaved right outside the bathroom door..

{don't worry, she even finds this story funny}

Well, these 2 girls were in a modified run,

and from my end I hear a splat,

slipping,

and falling..

BOTH girls slipped and fell in this one -

AND slid into the wall..

She still wasn't done,

and finally made it to the toilet..

Now, my friends, lets talk about a mess..

Lots on the carpet..

The entryway to the bathroom?

Wow..

On the walls, {about 2-3 feet up}

ALL over the floor..

and all over the floor in the bathroom..

*sigh*

I could be irritated,

but I have a hard time being irritated when my baby is so sick..

And when she threw up about 15 minutes later,

wiped her mouth and said

"I don't like throwing up.."

How can you be irritated?

Not like she was trying..

AND..

Well.. it was funny..

All 5 of us couldn't quit laughing about it...

The whole hallway episode just sounded so funny..

I love that we all have the same strange sense of humor that made it so we just couldn't quit laughing about it.. even those who stepped & slid & fell in it.. {and even got a little scraped up!}

So ya..

We had a fun night..

In spite of the adventure..

I am still needing to clean up the carpet better..

*sigh*

did I mention that the "beverage" was fruit punch??

*sigh*