Unfolding a Disney Vacation, Part II

Have you decided when you want to go to Walt Disney World?  Now, let's try to decide where to stay.  There are many different options.  You can obviously stay off site in a hotel or rental home that is not on Disney property.  You will pay $14.00 to park every day when you get to the park.  If you stay on property, your parking is free, and you also have the option of using Disney transportation.

The resorts at Disney are divided into Value, Moderate, and Deluxe resorts.  The price is the major factor in this distinction, as there are activities galore at every resort, and there is excellent Disney theming every where you can stay.  Again, AllEars.net has a page that describes all the resorts and amenities that are included in them.  It is located at http://allears.net/acc/faq_hot.htm.

The value resorts are All Star Movies, All Star Music, All Star Sports, and Pop Century.  The All Star Movies and Sports resorts can only accommodate 4 people, but the All Star Music resort has family suites that can accommodate up to 6 people.  The price per room at any of the resorts depends on what time of year you go, which is why that was my first step in this process.  The seasons are broken down into Value, Peak, and Regular, for different times of the year with more expensive periods being during holidays.  Weekends are also a different price than weekdays.  The value resorts do have food courts and pizza delivery, swimming pools, and bus transportation.  They do not have full-service restaurants, room service, or on-site recreation.

The moderate resorts are the Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, Port Orleans - French Quarter, Port Orleans - Riverside (where we stayed in 2008).  Again, each of these has a different theme.  At Fort Wilderness, you can pitch a tent or stay in an air-conditioned cabin.  Port Orleans has a jazz feel to it and is very picturesque as it sits along the Sassagoula River which has a boat that can transport you to Downtown Disney.

Port Orleans - Riverside

Boatwright's Restaurant at Port Orleans
Partially made boat hanging from the ceiling

Port Orleans - French Quarter
This was taken during a horse and buggy ride, so it is a little bit blurry.

Tomorrow I will discuss the Deluxe Resorts, as there are more of them than Value and Moderate, and they offer many more amenities.

Word of the Day

Has anybody been to the turnverein lately?  MW says it comes from the Greek language.

turnverein: an athletic club

It is pronounced like turn-ve-rin (long i).

Wouldn't it just be easier to say the athletic club? Perhaps that's why we don't use this word anymore.  :-)

Unfolding a Disney Vacation

Due to some feedback I received yesterday on my Disney post and because I had already decided to detail the planning process for anybody who might be overwhelmed with planning a Disney vacation, I will be trying to go through the process as well as I can.  I'm sure everybody has their way of doing it, so I will be giving my own perspective. There are many books on the subject.  I will try to let you know about some of them as I write these posts.  I will intersperse the Disney posts with my regular writings.

One of the first things you should do when planning a Disney vacation is decide when to go.  The two times we went to WDW were both the second week of May.  This is a very good time to go, as the spring break crowds have left, and school has not let out yet.  While riding the tram on our 2009 visit, the tram driver told us it was a good day for the Magic Kingdom the day we went as there were roughly 29,000 people there.  This sounds like a lot except for when you think about how big the park is, 107 acres.  With all the rides and shows that are available, this group of people is easily spread throughout the park so that congestion is minimal.  This year, we are going in November.  We were going to go the first full week until we were told, again by my cousin, that that is usually "Jersey Week."  The New Jersey teachers have a convention in WDW, this year November 10 and 11, during which time they usually spend the week before visiting the parks with their families.  I wanted to go in November to beat the Christmas rush and still be able to see the Christmas lights in all the parks and resorts, but we are not going the first week.

MouseSavers.com has a webpage that lists all the events that occur during the year at WDW.  It tells you the best times to go based on the weather, which is another reason why May is a great time to go.  The summers in Florida are unbearable, so I would recommend not going at that time.  Look at MouseSavers list of events, especially the less-known events.  Based on your likes and dislikes, you may want to avoid the weeks the cheerleading competitions go on or Pop Warner Week when the parks and value resorts are full of football players and cheerleaders.  In June, they have Star Wars weekends, but the first week of June is also Gay Days.

Another website that lists a lot of the special events throughout the year and in the various parks is http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-events/.

AllEars.net is another site to check out: http://allears.net/pl/planning.htm#when.

A very helpful book that I purchased the first time we went is called PassPorter's Walt Disney World.  Check it out at http://www.passporter.com/walt-disney-world-florida/home.html.  They offer a sneak peek inside the book at http://www.passporterboards.com/concierge/show-ebook.php?ebookid=9781587710827&ebooktype=Browse with 44 free pages.

Word of the Day

The English language is sometimes hilarious.  We have taken so many words from other languages and other time periods and made them our own.  Take this word:

flibbertigibbet - a silly flighty person

It is pronounced like fli (short i)-ber-te (long e)-ji (short i)-bet.  It comes from Middle English, which is English in use from the 12th to 15th centuries.

Have you ever heard of this word?  Do you know any flibbertigibbets?

Unfolding Disney

I love Disney World!!  We went as a family for the first time in 2008.  My cousin, Keith, helped me plan the trip because he has been there probably a dozen times and is very knowledgeable about where to get information, what sorts of things we should do and see, etc.  As I planned the trip, I came to the realization that you need to have a degree to plan a trip to Disney.  To help me just a little bit more, I booked our trip through Small World Vacations.  This was extremely helpful for a first time trip.  I also obtained a great deal of information from websites like allears.net.  They have photos of resorts, maps, restaurant guides, prices, menus, a section with tips from other Disney-goers, etc.  Discounts and information can also be found at www.mousesavers.com.  This site has discounts on park tickets as well.

While there in 2008, we didn't spend all the money we had taken with us, so we went to an informational meeting with Disney Vacation Club.  We were on our way to the airport, so a meeting that was supposed to take 2 hours took 45 minutes, including us signing paperwork and handing over a deposit equal to the money we had left over.  The special they were running that year for folks who signed up was a free year's worth of points.  DVC operates on a point system.  The least amount of points you can initially buy is 160.  This is what we get each year.  The time of year you decide to go to Disney, the length of your stay, and the resort in which you stay determines the amount of points you will use, and you can bank points for the next year and borrow points from the next year.  So, you could potentially use 3 years' worth of points in one stay.  This makes for a very nice vacation.

Upon signing up, we received 320 points.  So, we decided to take my cousin and his family with us the next year as a thank you for helping us so much with our first trip.  We stayed at the Beach Club Villas right behind Epcot at my cousin's request.  It was a good choice!

Last year, we used our points to go to Disneyland in California.  Now we can say, "Been there, done that," and we never have to go back.  In my opinion, Disneyland pales significantly in comparison to Disney World. We only spent one day at the 2 parks they have in California.  There were some interesting things there that aren't at Disney World, but they don't make it worth going back, ever.  I think I could spend weeks at The World and never get bored.  I truly feel like a kid there.  I can have fun and just relax.  Those commercials where the adult turns into a kid are true!

This year, we are staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge at the request of my children.  I was able to snag a savanna view room so that we can actually look out our window and see safari animals.

View of lodge from the swimming pool
Photo courtesy of AllEars.net

Photo courtesy of AllEars.net

Photo courtesy of AllEars.net

I am sure I will have many more posts about Disney as I get ready for our trip.  I will try to post some things that I've learned along the way that may help others if they are planning a trip to The World sometime soon.

Word of the Day

Today's word may be known to a few of you.  It is not the name you give your dog.  ;-)

fido: a coin having a minting error

If you find a fido, you can make a lot of money if you sell it, but please don't place posters around the area looking for fido.  ;-)

Unfolding a Chore Chart

Years ago I was trying to find some easy way to assign chores to my three children.  I came up with the following idea:

I purchased the wooden board at a local craft shop and the hooks and metal tags at Wal-Mart.  I just hand screwed the hooks into the wood and wrote one chore on each of the tags.  I separated the board into 3 sections, one for each of my children, and put their initials in the blocks on the left side.  They each have 5 hooks for a maximum of 5 chores a day.  The far right hook is where they put the tags once they have completed the chores for the day. 

Most days I do not give them 5 chores.  It will usually depend on the state of my house and how long it has been since those things have been done.  I used to try to give age-appropriate chores to Paige when she was younger, but she is capable of doing all of the chores now.  I need to buy new tags so that I can update the chores and add new ones since the kids are older than when I started this.  They can now do things like load the dishwasher or clean the inside of the refrigerator.

Some days I let the kids pick their own chores, within reason.  They even like to switch chores sometimes, which I will let them do from time to time.  So long as it gets done, I don't usually care who does it.  I have been quite lazy lately with giving them any chores besides unloading the dishwasher and gathering the garbage.  Maybe this will be the impetus I need to get them busy again.

I had a friend tell me I should sell these.  That is a great idea, but I am giving away all my secrets here on my blog.  However, if you would like me to make you one, I can do that.  Just let me know.

Unfolding Amazing Moms

My post the other day about reality caused me to think about those whose realities may be difficult, which led me to think about friends I have who are moms with children with disabilities of various types.  This, in turn, led me to think in general about the amazing moms I know, not just moms with children with disabilities.

I have said that God knows what He is doing when He chooses parents for the children He creates, especially the children with disabilities.

I used to work for the W.I.C. program in the mid '90s.  Women would come in with their children under age 5 to see if they were eligible for help with groceries.  I remember a mom who came in with both of her children; her older son was a teenager who had cystic fibrosis.  As they entered the exam room, she attended to her son with CF in the most loving way.  She made sure he was sitting securely in the chair.  She helped him walk even though he was much bigger than she was.  The tender way she cared for him has remained a very vivid memory for me.

I have a friend who has a son with autism spectrum disorder and OCD.  Her daughter has a genetic heart condition.  This friend of mine is one of the most tenderhearted people I know.  The love she has for her children is so evident to me.  She is always driving them to the doctor's office, rearranging her life to be sure they have what they need.  I think about all she deals with in her life and am amazed by the strength she has.

I have another friend who has a child with some psych issues, but when I think of her and the way she loves her children it is more than the way she loves this child of hers that makes me call her amazing.  She has a handful of children; she treats each one like he/she is her favorite.  She is always striving to find out what the best thing is for them.  If she tries one thing and it doesn't work, she tries something else.  She never gives up no matter what life throws at her, and she has had some hard things to deal with in her life, her family comes first.  She will put other things on hold so that her children have what they need.  I think a lot of us could say, "I do that.  I make sure my family has what they need."  We do do that, but there are just some really special things about these friends of mine that makes me want to mention them.  I could go into more detail, but I don't want to reveal their identities any more than I already have.

I think about my friends who have or who are adopting children from other countries.  It amazes me when I think about the things they have to go through to finally get their children into the U.S.  I'm not sure I would have the patience to deal with that.  They have so much love for others, and I am blessed to know them.

There are moms who don't work so they can be at home; there are moms who work at home so they can be at home but still work to help provide.  There are moms who have to work outside of the home, but they still find ways to have the best quality time with their children; their love is no less evident.

There are moms I know who have recently lost a child.  Their strength to deal with their grief and keep on going amazes me.  I pray I never lose a child but, if I do, I pray I would have the same strength.  Those who go before us are an example to us when we face the same situations in the future.

I know so many amazing moms.  I have only mentioned a few but that, by no means, diminishes the amazing qualities of the ones I haven't mentioned.  If I know you and you are a mom, there is something about you that makes you an amazing mom!!!

Word of the Day

When my kids were studying for the spelling bee, we came across an interesting word.

tchotchke: knickknack, trinket.

It is a Yiddish word.  It sounds like choch-key.

Word of the Day

Since it is matutinal, I will get my word of the day posted so you can use it.  ;-)

Can you guess what it is?  That is right:

matutinal: of, relating to, or occurring in the morning: early.

It is pronounced like ma-chu-'ti-nel with a long i in the 'ti part.

Unfolding Reality

The end of yesterday's blog talked about reality.  I said I might talk about the reality I've created for myself.  I decided to go ahead and do just that, but of course I had to get out my trusty dictionary.  I hope you don't mind.  I know, I know, everybody knows what reality is.  I can't help it.  I like my dictionary.  I just thought I'd dig a little deeper.

Merriam-Webster (furthermore referred to as MW) says reality is the quality or state of being real.  Now it's crystal clear, right?  Don't you just hate circular definitions?  Well, let's see what real means: not artificial or illusory, genuine; of or relating to practical or everyday concerns or activities.  MW also says reality is the totality of real things and events.  I like these two definitions.  They say a lot about what reality is.

When I listen to the news or read the newspaper I am not getting the total picture.  The news is more often than not depressing.  We are only hearing one tiny piece of the story.  I believe the media has created the "reality" we live in.  We fret over things the government is doing.  We worry about things going on in the world that we hear about on TV.  Why do we worry?  Why do we focus on one tiny slice, one tiny bad slice?  Look at the total picture.  The totality of real things and events is so much bigger than the tiny slice.  There are so many wonderful things going on in the world.  There are people to be honored who don't get honored.  There are funny stories that never get told.  There are practical or everyday concerns or activities that we must live out daily in our lives.  These things don't make good stories for the media.  They only tell us about the things that make good headlines.

How about "reality" shows?  Come on, really?  We're supposed to believe they are realistic?  Yes, every day I have a camera in my face recording my every word and following my every step.  Real means not artificial.  It means genuine.  Are you real?  Are you genuine?  I know some people who try to be, only to get "slapped in the face."  You must be real.  If you are not genuine, you are not living in reality.  You are creating an illusion for yourself and those around you.  Don't let one person's bad day or mean words cause you to change your reality.

Let me challenge you to be genuine, no matter what.  I can't help but think how our genuineness might help someone who is struggling with some issue.  If they know we are honest and trustworthy, maybe we can help them to see that there is a bigger picture beyond what they are dealing with, the proverbial silver lining or light at the end of the tunnel.  Hopefully we can help them emotionally and spiritually.

There is more good than bad in this world.  I firmly believe that.  We need to not get bogged down by the bad things we hear or see; they are not the TOTAL story.  And don't forget: Be real!!

Word of the Day

I decided to stay in the Q section of Merriam-Webster's dictionary for today's word.  It doesn't seem like the Q words are very nice.  Maybe that is why there aren't very many of them.  Remember yesterday's word was quidnunc.  I chose today's word before I read the definition.

querulous: habitually complaining

Hmmm, I suppose a lot could be said about that one.  We are probably all querulous at times.  I know I am.  So, I will just leave it at that.  ;-)

I think I'll find a word in another section tomorrow.

Unfolding Integrity

The word of the evening at our Junior High meeting was INTEGRITY.

Here are some definitions, according to Merriam-Webster:

1.  firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: INCORRUPTIBILITY.
2.  an unimpaired condition: SOUNDNESS.
3.  the quality or state of being complete or undivided: COMPLETENESS.

Synonym: HONESTY

The students were challenged to live a life of integrity.  We should all live a life of integrity.  We should be who we are in all situations, unless of course you have multiple personalities and that is your excuse, but I don't think there are too many of us who fit into this category.  Do you act a certain way with one group of people and a different way with another group of people?  If so, why?  Be who you are.  Don't compromise who you are to win the approval of some group you don't think will like you if they really knew you.  What a tiring life to lead having to be a different person with different groups.  I would think that would get confusing.  I would forget eventually who I was supposed to be with which group (my memory isn't what it used to be).

Someone at youth group shared the story of a woman who raises her hands in praise to God on Sunday morning and says hi to her in the halls of the church, but last summer was seen swearing at a lifeguard at a community pool.  That is not a life of integrity.  What is the purpose of trying to make it look like you've got it all together if you don't?  We all live on this earth together.  There is not one of us who is perfect.  We should care for one another and help each other through the hard times.  If you are struggling with something, don't act like everything is okay.  Ask for help.  There is someone nearby who will take care of you.  Better to admit you are struggling with something so it is out in the open than to hope no one who sees you on Sunday will see you any other day of the week.  To me, there is integrity in admitting a fault or admitting you are struggling and asking for help.

What about your job, be it out of the home or in the home?  Do you work with integrity?  Do you do your best?  Are you kind to customers in front of their face and behind their backs?  Do you complete the task you are required to do?  Are you able to live your life without being corrupted by the bad habits of others?

One area I struggle with as a mom is playing the martyr.  I have been given 3 beautiful blessings that I get to share my day with and train them in the way they should go.  I allow my role as mom and wife to be corrupted by my own selfishness.  I allow it to be tarnished by my attitude.  Instead of being a blessing to my husband and my children, I sometimes throw myself a pity party.  That is very convicting now that I am admitting it.  I tell Nathan all the time not to throw a pity party for himself because I don't go to them.  :(  I guess I really do.  The biggest thing that causes me to lose my "integrity" in this role of mine is - it is such a stupid thing - housework.  Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who does it.  It seems no one else sees what needs done.  Oh, woe is me! Why am I the only one who has eyes to see the mess that has overtaken my humble abode?  How can no one else feel the overwhelming burden of the sink full of dishes or the mountain of laundry?  How is no one else suffocating from the dust...SNAP OUT OF IT!!  Perhaps they have a better handle on reality than I do.  Is the housework really all that important?  Granted, we need clean dishes, and we need clean clothes; but perhaps if I had a schedule or perhaps if we had a system in our house where the kids could sort their laundry or load the dishwasher...Oh wait, that'd be my fault, too, that we don't.  I like my dishwasher loaded just so, and who will scrub out the stains on the clothes?

Perhaps tomorrow's blog will be about stepping back and reassessing the reality I have created for myself and seeing what I can change so that my life will have more integrity, more soundness, more completeness.  Maybe along the way I will help someone else.  Remember, we all live here together, and we need to support each other through this life.  Until tomorrow...