mindylee847,
You really are being very brave and strong. Yes, life changes in the blink of an eye. We have a saying in our family, "we are always in the middle of change". Its a way we have to remind each other to appreciate the good times and to persevere in the bad times.
I believe no pain is ever wasted, not if we allow the pain we experience to make us more compassionate people. Mental illness is a terrible illness, and it's often devastating to those that are its victim, and those that love the sufferer. It bothers me very much that there is a stigma involved to mental illness. People can say, "I have cancer" and receive much empathy (as well they should) but if they say, "I have life-altering anxiety" they are told to pull themselves together. Would we tell someone with stage 4 cancer to toughen up? Pull themselves together? Of course not. Yet, that is how the mentally ill are often treated. And until we get past that Salem-Witch-Trial-Mentality, many more people will suffer needlessly, and alone, and that's just...wrong. We can do better, and we must.
<end of rantlet>
POTC and DL in general: my DH is like, "How can it be better? It's the same ride, the same stuff." So literal minded.
Now I'm curious---when he eventually goes to DL (he's been once, but it was a long, long time ago) will he notice the difference? And YES--the fresh air feel of DL makes a difference. So observant of you!
I love the Main Street, and all of New Orleans Square and Frontierland! For me, Liberty Square just isn't as cool, the "Frontierland" is virtually non-existent, and the HM at WDW is kinda stuck in a weird place, IMO, whereas with DL there is a better themeing/story to these areas where POTC and HM are. (Geeking out here.) DL is summertime and sunshine and long, brilliant blue sky days. WDW is Christmastime and enjoying the special events and also hoping it isn't too hot.
Granted, I am extremely sentimental about DL and I recognize that colors my perceptions, but still, DL just has that extra *something*. I have made a vow though, to not compare, but rather to appreciate each for what they have. DL has that extra magic (to me, anyhow) and that more laid back California feel, while WDW has four theme parks all within one complex, some really great eateries and uh....humidity.
LOL. But WDW also holds lots of great memories.
And I had to grimace about the rude CMs you encountered. That's kinda California, too, I'm afraid. Flapping her hand at you? Ugh. My joke about California people is that they aren't deliberately rude, they are just super self-absorbed, so it comes off as rudeness.
Lots of nice people, too, though.
I wanted to ask you, was the place you liked to eat at in the park the old Plaza Restaurant, do you know? Is that still there? My family loved that place. I think the old Carnation cafe was on the left of the castle, a little further back, the old Plaza was to the right forward of the castle, as you faced the castle. They used to have a band stand at the Carnation cafe and they had musicians that played big band music and swing, and my mom and dad used to dance there. They also used to have a jazz combo in New Orleans Square. Did you notice one when you were there? So great just to hang out and listen.
I really enjoyed your post about the imagineers. You definitely need to try to do the dining experience. I'm sure the imagineer would greatly enjoy it as well!
It is really expensive though and with three trips in the works over the next year to the World, we'll have to discuss deeply about what our plans are. 
and 
and 
waiting for you and your husband. 
