DramaMama .......... Janet

My MIL found this recipe a few years ago.  It is tasty and can be made much healthier than fried green tomatoes.  I used reduced fat cheese and butter.  Still... I would rather have them fried.....
 
http://www.food.com/recipe/green-tomato-casserole-186562
 
Green Tomato CasseroleBy Redallnite on September 18, 2006

14 Reviews Ingredients4 medium green tomatoes, sliced thin 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 2 cups soft breadcrumbs 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 tablespoon butter, soften DirectionsArrange one layer of tomatoes in the bottom of 1 ½ quart casserole. Sprinkle with sugar, salt and pepper 1/3 of bread crumbs and 1/3 cheese. Repeat layers twice omitting the cheese from the top. Dot butter over the bread crumbs on top. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for one hour. Add remaining cheese, bake uncovered until cheese melts.

The hat was there on my first trip to Studios.  I like the hat in itself.  I just think it would look better maybe in the courtyard outside the gates - kind of like when they put the themed Christmas trees in front of Studios and AK.  They make great photo ops.  I don't think the hat really fits into the theming of the early Hollywood street scene.  BUT, it could also be argued that a castle doesn't fit in with the theming of Marceline-esque Main Street - and I don't want that castle going anywhere!  I don't know what would make a good icon for the park.  At first I thought a movie camera - but those have changed in style over the last century- what time period camera would you use?  Filmstrip?  No one uses film anymore.  Would ANY oversized object really look good in that spot?
 
We speculate (and argue) because we love Disney with a passion and feel it is partly our home, too.  If it wasn't worth being passionate about I wouldn't go...

We are quite fond of our spike, too. It sits on our mantle next to a Disney Traditions collectible (All Aboard - Mickey driving a patchwork train engine). This week I added something else to the display- a small jar of Fort sand. Our tent was pretty damp when we packed it up to come home. We spread it out to dry and then swept it off. Hmmmm..... A nice little pile of sand remained. What's a sappy Fiend to do? Bottle it up and keep it to remind me of home!

We are quite fond of our spike, too. It sits on our mantle next to a Disney Traditions collectible (All Aboard - Mickey driving a patchwork train engine). This week I added something else to the display- a small jar of Fort sand. Our tent was pretty damp when we packed it up to come home. We spread it out to dry and then swept it off. Hmmmm..... A nice little pile of sand remained. What's a sappy Fiend to do? Bottle it up and keep it to remind me of home!

Though we cant give out castle suite stays or family vacations, every CM has the power to give little things to help make the guest experience better.
 
An ice cream for the little princess who dropped her cone in the middle of MS, a shirt for the prince who spilled milk all over himself at lunch, or a random balloon for the queen celebrating her 90th birthday. Every CM can make those happen.
 
I have personally set up proposals at various locations in the park. Not only do I arrange for a photographer, but I get them bride and groom ears, a cupcake, and a free photo of the occasion. Adding pixi dust to the moment. The guests arent expecting it, we just do it. And believe it or not, most CMs love doing stuff like that.
 
I would also like to add that the phrase "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" applies at Disney. We can say no and not help at all. So if you approach a situation with a good attitude and treat the CMs with the respect they deserve, you will get far more than walking in and yelling at them.

Went to AK and DHS yesterday. Made lots of notes for trip report. Hard to type on tablet. Love you all, especially all the fiends who showered extra pixie dust on our trip!!!

And why can't they understand to remove the child from said stroller and fold it the BEFORE the tram or bus gets to them?
:banghead:

True friends will understand your love for all things Disney no matter your/your kids ages. 
Hmmm.......Maybe that's why we have no social life......

I got our ticket conformation today so i have linked our tickets to my MDE account.  I am officially at 62 days.
 
We told the children today.  I typed up a multiple choice history quiz and told them to come sit in my room so I could read the questions and they would raise their hands to answer.  The last question was:
 
Where are we going to be September 25 - October 3?
a) Fort Wilderness Campground and Resort
Walt Disney World
c) Orlando
d) Florida
 
At first no one knew what I meant and then they all got happy and excited!  We discussed which parks we are going to and what rides we are hoping to ride and they all like it.
 
Next hurdle is the FP+ reservations!

According to Disney's "official rules"  you aren't really supposed to take that many the second time, though:
 
To Use Rider Switch:
1. Check that Rider Switch is offered at the attraction in question by asking a Cast Member.
2. Enter the normal queue with your entire party. At least one adult member of your party and the Guest who will not be riding will then be issued a Rider Switch Pass and asked to wait in a designated area. This group is “Party 2.” 
3. The remaining party members, “Party 1,” ride the attraction. 
4. After riding the attraction, Party 1 locates Party 2. The non-rider is then “switched” to Party 1. 
5. Party 2 enters without having to wait in the regular queue a second time and boards the attraction. The Rider Switch Pass must be presented to a Cast Member at this time. 
If the person in Party 2 waited alone with the child, he or she may bring one Guest back to ride the attraction with him or her. Please note: Only 2 Guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass.

Attractions Offering Rider SwitchGet a complete list of attractions at Walt Disney World Resort where you can use Rider Switch. 
Magic Kingdom Park
Frontierland
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Splash Mountain
Storybook Circus 
The Barnstormer
Tomorrowland
Space Mountain
Stitch’s Great Escape
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Epcot
Future World
Mission: SPACE
Soarin'
Test Track
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Star Tours® - The Adventures Continue
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
DINOSAUR 
Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain® 
Kali River Rapids
Primeval Whirl

I wrote to Push once....but the letter ended up in the trash.

Since we live 7 - 10 hours away from grandparents (opposite directions at that) our kids travel several times a year.  It works because it has to.  I am glad for the experiences they have and think it is good for them.  Holidays away from home?  Almost all of them.  
 
Now, having said that, there are a few items I could not have done it without:
*DVD players for the back seat
*Monkey leash (pick your animal - Walmart sells a toddler backpack with strap that is cute and what kept me from losing my toddler at Disney.  Some people think it is cruel - I didn't care - we haven't lost a kid yet.  Of course now they have outgrown them.  It IS harder is some ways!!!)
*"Urp" bucket for the backseat.  Youngest gets carsick.  A lot.
*Plastic bags and extra clothes.  See previous line.
*Snacks, snacks, snacks
*Baby wipes (I will buy them for the rest of my life.  They clean faces, hands, tables, shoes, toys, etc.)
*A sense of humor and loads of patience

I would say that is a pretty good article.  I have not gone on an airplane since having kids so nothing to add there.
We did take both boys to WDW as infants, but not on big trips.  Our oldest first went at 7 months.  That was back when you could keep days on your ticket for later trips without paying through the nose.  We had one day left and met our in-laws in Kisimmee for night on the way down to their house for Thanksgiving in South Florida.  I carried waaaaay too much stuff for him.  His diaper bag was bigger than he was.  We rented a stroller and used it to haul the bag and let him nap in it.  I don't think we stayed a whole day.   
 
Our youngest went at 7 weeks.  I know.  Really early.  Again, we met our in-laws on the way down spring break and had annual passes.  Little one only went in the park for about a half day and was in a carrier the whole time.  The rest of the time we were in town he stayed at the hotel with the grands so we could take big 3 year old brother for some park time with mommy and daddy. 
 
It can be done if you use sunscreen, keep things around them clean, and don't try to make it a commando Disney kind of trip.  I definitely would not do it for a family's first Disney trip ever.  The baby care centers are amazing.  It was very nice to have a place to feed them (whether nursing or needing a high chair with less traffic around you) and change them more privately. 

But I am "Mo" crazy!
Hey, I took the "How Disney obsessed are you?" quiz on Facebook today and got 100%.  That has to count for something...

I agree that the media certainly feels the need to state that the people were Disney employees.  What they did was dispicable and they should be punished - just like all the other perps in all the other jobs in this country. 
 
Exactly!
As a christian and a teacher I sadly have to point out that the jobs with the highest percentage of sexual predators are most likely priests/ministers and teachers/coaches.  I applaud the systems put into place to deter their hiring (like background checks, fingerprinting, etc.) and swift removal when said perverts are discovered.  Just like Disney did.

So who is going to be the first person to go in the store and set off all the musical costumes so they are in a Frozen round?

KEY LIME PIE
 
(and for you yankee folks...no, key lime pie is not green)

My kids can't read so no good for us, they know all the words anyhow. Just today the 2 year old was pulling on the vacuum cord and I told her to "let it go", well she did and broke out in full song.  Great idea for the lyrics on screen most of the audience was singing along at our last show. 

Short update - Thrill/Olaf will chime in shortly.  We had a great trip but returned home with loads of work to catch up on and colds we caught from his dad.  I was able to see him during the half and full marathon at a few places but didn't get pics.  Finding your favorite runner in that immense crowd is unreal!

Repeat after me:
A rainy day at Disney is STILL a day at Disney!!!

Happy Birthday to my wife, best friend, and the best thing that ever happened to me.  I love you!

Easy to remember.  Hmm.... are you as invisible as the original?  or can only Fiends see you?  Doesn't that make the passengers nervous to see their bus driving all by itself?
 
Thanks to GG and other photos posted here I have an idea of what you, TJ, and Devores look like.  Just gotta. track. you. down.....  :smug:

Well if Yawkey doesn't work out you could try "Loopy" or "Loopin'".

"Ella the girl of the cinders
Did the wash and the walls and the winders
But she landed a prince who was brawny and blue eyed and blond
Still I honestly doubt that she could ever have done it without that
Crazy lady with the wand--Cinderella had outside help!"
 
Some days you just have to quote musical theatre.......
(Happily Ever After from Once Upon A Mattress)