HappyCamper...Deb

This last trip for me was all about resort hopping and visiting my DD. We enjoyed a Kona lunch one day and breakfast on another. (Love the food and press pot java there)
A new treat we enjoyed was the banana-chocolate Creme brûlée. Oooooo, it went soooo well with my java...

This last trip for me was all about resort hopping and visiting my DD. We enjoyed a Kona lunch one day and breakfast on another. (Love the food and press pot java there)
A new treat we enjoyed was the banana-chocolate Creme brûlée. Oooooo, it went soooo well with my java...

Thanks for sharing.
With creative financial planning, the HappyCamper crew hopes to be there again this Christmas. (Yeah, that would make a total of 5 trips in one year for yours truly...a record that still has me in the dog house with Mr. HappyCamper.). Every Christmas we have gone, we have done our traditional Biergarten/CP, but this looks like a great alternative. Yummy photos...

I am thrilled to see you do this! I TOLD my DH we should do the same and he laughed at me...
Please make sure you fill us in on how things go. I want to use your trip as an example and an "I told you so". :)

This is what I get for being away from FF for a while. ):
Bus driver or not, we're still meeting! Although, you've been referred to as Lou the bus driver in my house for so long. Maybe, Lou the Warm and Fuzzy guy will need to take its place...

I'm sure this question has been asked, but I'm being lazy...
I'm looking at getting a tent site July 10-15 for myself. I'm not doing it for the pleasure of tenting in FL in July. I'm doing it to go as cheap as possible and save on hotel and rental car fees. I've got another trip at the end of July to make to pick my DD up from DCP. (Traveling from MI is $$$$$!)
How early do busses from FW run to go to DTD? (I have an 8am workshop to attend at the Hilton on the 12 and 13th) Do they run that early?
PS- Lou, this means we'll have two opportunities to meet. :)
TCD, I'll remember to mention FF to every stranger I encounter.

Going big!! In March of this year, I decided I was tired of being overweight and unhealthy and decided it was time to get fit and get healthy. I started searching for the biggest motivator I could think of...and, of course, This was a no-brainer!
On January 10, 2014, I (along with my sister and kids) will be running the Disney World 10 K for the ASPCA.
This is our dog, Jester.

He is a rescue. He was used as a bait dog up until two years of age. Thanks to the efforts of organizations such as the ASPCA, Jester's life was saved, and we were fortunate enough to adopt him. Jester has a permanently broken tail, scars around his neck from the chain that once anchored him in place, and frequent seizures. (Possibly related to head trauma as a puppy). After intense training to trust and accept people, Jester is now a happy member of our family. Despite his awful past, he looks at us with eager eyes, "Wanna play? Go for a walk? Snuggle?"
Help us, help animals (like Jester). Support us by making a donation to help fight animal cruelty, homelessness and neglect.
http://www.teamaspca.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=2554
As a beginning runner, this is HUGE for me. Every Couch to 10K session is a struggle for me. Any advice, encouragement, comic relief is welcome!
Thanks for reading. :)
Deb

Going big!! In March of this year, I decided I was tired of being overweight and unhealthy and decided it was time to get fit and get healthy. I started searching for the biggest motivator I could think of...and, of course, This was a no-brainer!
On January 10, 2014, I (along with my sister and kids) will be running the Disney World 10 K for the ASPCA.
This is our dog, Jester.

He is a rescue. He was used as a bait dog up until two years of age. Thanks to the efforts of organizations such as the ASPCA, Jester's life was saved, and we were fortunate enough to adopt him. Jester has a permanently broken tail, scars around his neck from the chain that once anchored him in place, and frequent seizures. (Possibly related to head trauma as a puppy). After intense training to trust and accept people, Jester is now a happy member of our family. Despite his awful past, he looks at us with eager eyes, "Wanna play? Go for a walk? Snuggle?"
Help us, help animals (like Jester). Support us by making a donation to help fight animal cruelty, homelessness and neglect.
http://www.teamaspca.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=2554
As a beginning runner, this is HUGE for me. Every Couch to 10K session is a struggle for me. Any advice, encouragement, comic relief is welcome!
Thanks for reading. :)
Deb

Very tasty! Just added a bit of balsamic dressing and dried cherries....and wallah!

Snow Day Salad...courtesy of our basement garden!
Hydroponic Garden Harvest - Winter 2013




Hearty tomato plants look promising for future salads... :)

Very tasty! Just added a bit of balsamic dressing and dried cherries....and wallah!

I love posting! It's funny to see my DH and I rush to the basement to check the status of our little "sprouts". We're so proud. They're like our children...only they stay put and don't talk back.

Ahhhh, sitting in those rocking chairs with a mug full of java early in the morning....
Or...with a Mickey bar in the afternoon
Or...resting my tootsies as I reflect on a day in the parks...
Wonderful photos! Thanks for sharing. :)

His principal used to be a fly fishing instructor before going into education. My DS12 was promised fly fishing lessons if he made it on the honor roll again....and...:yay:...he did it! The lucky boy was given one on one lessons by the principal! And the mini lessons paid off! (and mom is happy about the report card!)

(deep breath in)
How many fingers are on the inside of Mickey's glove?
Are all clocks at all parks run on electricity? If so, how do they get reset when there is a power outage? Or does the emergency power kick on and keep 'em going? Does someone have to physically change the times...or is it done elsewhere? How many clocks are there?
I know at AKL, plants are "recycled" to feed the animals, what happens to the decorative plants after being removed? Do any get salvaged?
Are there official names for colors used when painting things at WDW? Like the auto companies do...create unique colors for Disney?
Are bus drivers in charge of cleaning gum, trash, seats, etc. after a run or is there a crew to take care of graffiti and gum?
What is the average life span of a bus at WDW? Mileage?
How often (and when) are the docks sealed at the Fort and other dock areas?
Is there a probationary period for CMs who have received a poor evaulation? Is there an evaluation?
How often are the presidents dusted and greased at MK?
If a guest wanted to hold a special party at Disney and invite extra family to a restaurant, do all guests have to buy a one-day pass to get to eat? Or are we only able to eat at a restaurant outside of a park?
What size are Goofy's shoes?
Has there ever been a birth of a baby on Disney grounds? If so, how many times? Any in MK?
How warm and fuzzy are bus drivers required to be?

...save seeds from an orange from a tree near our site...took them home, planted and cared for them (In MICHIGAN!) for over a year. Now, the little saplings wait patiently to return to the fort with us this Christmas....
...oh yeah, AND...the fort inspired my DH to bring home an anole found in a crate that was shipped to his work in January (to, yup, MICHIGAN!)...enjoying her new tank, warming light, and food, our little "Belle" patiently counts down the days until she gets to enjoy retirement years at the fort...

I am just :heart:ing this TR! Great photos. (and descriptive details of Hector and crew)
A few comments...
1. Practicing handbells? Why not? My DD brings her fife everywhere.... My DS12 uses the top bunk to store his bell kit and violin when we camp... and, of course, no trip is complete without sticks... (Of course, if sticks are forgotten, it's too easy to pound...ON EVERYTHING!!!!) :faceplant2:
2. The shot of the girls after the "longest day ever" is a classic one. From your photos, it was a fun-filled day! :heart:
3. It's great to hear that Disney is breaking ground for the acceptance and appreciation of the beauty of the average girl. As a middle school teacher, I have had too many unfortunate experiences with girls that become obsessed with false and unrealistic images and choose to harm themselves in the name of being accepted. Kudos to Disney! (and thanks for sharing)

I think most (sensible) spreadsheet folk (like me) put together a spreadsheet-o-fun just to pass away the hours, days, weeks, months that come before the actual trip. You'd vomit over my color-coded spreadsheet, Lou. It goes from "set up camp while kids tour FW" to "stroll along the boardwalk to Epcot after the boat from HS" to "enjoy early dinner at lunch prices at Biergarten before processional". It's all about the dreamin' of our big trip.... ^-^
Now, I am NOT a "gotta go" type of person when it comes to follow through at all. Going with the flow when we get there is what I'm all about. (That is as long as we adhere to the Disney data on dining reservations I have noted on my spreadsheet...I mean, come on, you gotta give me that...)
Now, as for apps, I have several for Disney loaded. Trivia to dining information to wait times. What have I really used it for? I'll tell you. About once every day or so, while my DH and I sit and talk about finances, kids, home repair, or the (cold) weather we have, one of us will lighten the mood with "Hey, only a 20 minute wait for Soarin'" or "How about some Canadian Cheddar Cheese soup for lunch?".
I think the Type A crazies you mention are truly a rare breed and will find themselves losing it about an hour or two in to the vacation. :1sm056pullhair:
Most of us spreadsheet and app folk just wanna extend the magic in our own OCD way....
:grill: PS: According to my current spreadsheet, we will be "grilling at our campsite on New Year's Eve" this year. Stop by for a burger. :) You can "head to the marina for fort fun and fireworks" after too.

Fort Critters...

I think most (sensible) spreadsheet folk (like me) put together a spreadsheet-o-fun just to pass away the hours, days, weeks, months that come before the actual trip. You'd vomit over my color-coded spreadsheet, Lou. It goes from "set up camp while kids tour FW" to "stroll along the boardwalk to Epcot after the boat from HS" to "enjoy early dinner at lunch prices at Biergarten before processional". It's all about the dreamin' of our big trip.... ^-^
Now, I am NOT a "gotta go" type of person when it comes to follow through at all. Going with the flow when we get there is what I'm all about. (That is as long as we adhere to the Disney data on dining reservations I have noted on my spreadsheet...I mean, come on, you gotta give me that...)
Now, as for apps, I have several for Disney loaded. Trivia to dining information to wait times. What have I really used it for? I'll tell you. About once every day or so, while my DH and I sit and talk about finances, kids, home repair, or the (cold) weather we have, one of us will lighten the mood with "Hey, only a 20 minute wait for Soarin'" or "How about some Canadian Cheddar Cheese soup for lunch?".
I think the Type A crazies you mention are truly a rare breed and will find themselves losing it about an hour or two in to the vacation. :1sm056pullhair:
Most of us spreadsheet and app folk just wanna extend the magic in our own OCD way....
:grill: PS: According to my current spreadsheet, we will be "grilling at our campsite on New Year's Eve" this year. Stop by for a burger. :) You can "head to the marina for fort fun and fireworks" after too.

....I TOLD you, Steph!!!!! These fiends are AMAZING!!!!!!! You'll be getting your SNARKY on real quick!
Doodle lives just north of us. We plan to do a meet and greet sometime soon. I'll have to take you with me. :jumpforjoy
Ooooooo, and wait until you meet Mr. Warm 'n Fuzzy - I don't read TRs - bus driver....and some guy who looks good in a swimsuit and shimmies up things at the fort...and a snarky fiend who covers her tracks with :heart: s!!!!!
:bighug: :welcrowd: :bighug:

This was my contribution... and I promise you, it gets RAVE reviews.  People think you put in a *lot* of effort here, and really, ya don't!!  :rofl2:

Okay, I'll also take the time to admit that not ALL of the stuff we took out of the il camper went back into the new. My garage has a pile of to-go-through stuff!
Now, on the day we actually PACK for a trip, the family knows beat to let me enjoy stacking in the cereal boxes just so and making the most out I our fridge space.
Yup, we're a sick (but happy) breed!