tazdev3225
<font color=darkorchid>I sucked my thumb up with t
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2008
The title says it all. This was, technically, a somewhat last minute trip although I do have an Annual Pass. And It was to preserve what little sanity I had left.
I went with a group of 21 people, more or less, last November. While we were there I upgraded my ticket to an Annual Pass hoping to head down in the spring. Then I found out that the tour to Scotland I had been on a couple of years ago was heading into England. It was going to make a stop at Hadrian's Wall. I couldn't pass that up. I put off Disney.
I planned a party for my mother's 80th Birthday. A SURPRISE party. My mother is IMPOSSIBLE to surprise. We were determined to do it this time. We as in my brothers, their wives, my dad and my aunt. I put Disney off again. No Flower and Garden this year sadly.
I also had my husband to worry about. He had 2 strokes in 2017 and has issues because of the strokes. Then there are the grandkids that I keep an eye on, meetings, outside commitments, older parents, etc. to consider. I said I just couldn't fit a trip in, Disney got about $300 from me for free. Jim said, "GO!!!" I resisted.
I got through the party for mom, barely. Until about noon the day of the party we still had no idea how to get her there. My dad came to the rescue. He came up with the perfect excuse - a memorial for her cousin, late on a saturday afternoon. Her cousin had passed away on her birthday sadly, but we knew she would be dressed nicely at least. I think we surprised her
Better my nephew flew home for one day to be there. She hadn't seen him for several years
We even managed a picture with all of her kids, minus 1 brother sadly he has issues, grandkids and great-grandkids and a few spouses
I was in a good mood but it didn't last. Stress came at me full force AGAIN! Mom and I were going to Scotland together because my dad has this insane notion that I will be kidnapped by marauding gangs. I don't know why they would want me but I went with mom or I didn't go. Never mind I have an ADULT grandchild, Dad has spoken. OK It was actually cheaper sharing a room. Only problem was mom was mad at me by the time we left for the trip. (It's been almost 4 months and I still don't know why and she is still mad!)
Scotland was fun but with mom it became a 4 Beer and 2 Whiskey trip, and I DO NOT drink!!! We argued over EVERYTHING!!! The 2 big ones and my favorites were 1) the window seat on the plane and the bus and 2) the fire.
I get car sick and I'm a little claustrophobic, I like the window seat. I also like to take pictures, around 3,500 this trip. Mom got mad, she wanted to take pics. It was an interesting conversation
Mom: Can I get the window seat, I want to take pictures with my new camera.
Me: Mom, it's a PHONE although I am impressed you got a smart phone. (My aunt made her upgrade.)
Mom: It's not a smart phone it's an I-Phone but it's a camera too.
Me: It's a SMART phone with a camera, it is not a camera.
Mom: I have a camera too, as she pulls out her little pocket camera and proceeds to look at a few pictures.
Me: Mom did you finally get a new memory card???
Mom: NO!!! I do NOT need one! (She has used the same 2 GB card for the last 15 years.)
Me: Tell me when you want me to move my head.
That was a highlight of the trip. She wound up taking less than 100 pictures.
She also complained that I took to many pictures of gargoyles and couldn't possibly enjoy the trip with a camera in my face.
Mom exploring a castle - NO phone or camera in hand
The other big argument came at night. She went to bed at 9 PM so I had to go to bed at 9 PM. She didn't want me waking her up. Not a huge issue I just read my Kindle every night, mom couldn't get hers to work so that was no fun and she always got the big bed. Anyhoo, one night I am laying in bed reading and all of a sudden there is a loud Whoop, Whoop, Whoop.
Mom: Would you turn OFF the TV.
Me: Mom, the TV is off.
Mom: Then turn off your alarm, I'm trying to sleep.
Me: Mom, my alarm goes Ding, Ding, Ding and does not make the whole room shake. Besides I don't need an alarm, you wake me up every morning at 6:30 AM.
I got out of bed and went into the hallway to see hotel personnel pounding on doors and people in various attire rushing out of their rooms. Yep we had a fire alarm and were being told LEAVE NOW!!! I grabbed my hoodie, phone and small bag (with my passport) as I shoved my shoes on my feet. My mom decided to get dressed! I told her we had no time for that.
MOM GOT DRESSED!!!!
She refused to leave until she was dressed properly. I told her to grab the key because I was out of there. I wasn't going to burn up waiting. They actually had police and fire crews arriving as we got outside.
Thankfully after standing outside in the wet Scottish night it was determined that someone had been smoking in their room. I was happy as my money was in the room, I forgot my wallet.
The trip was different. I did get at least one decent picture of us together, mom's smile was forced
The trip ended just as badly with my dad getting lost for over an hour trying to find the airport and then mom taking me to the river instead of my house. Not sure what she was thinking at that point.
I walked in the door and Jim said GO TO DISNEY!!! He knew I was stressed. I didn't argue.
I booked a preferred room at All Star Sports with QS dining. Flights were a little different as I now had almost enough miles each way but on different airlines. I booked American down and just paid to upgrade my seat - $30. Southwest home and had to buy 50 points so another $75 points but I bought more than I needed.
And who went on the trip? ME, MYSELF and I! Cast members get very confused when I answer like that.
Yep I went solo. I booked early August and went from October 1 to October 6. I meant to book til the 7th but it worked out OK.
So who am I you ask. I answer to many names: Mom, Grandmom, Sis, Lorrie and sometimes a few choice words that cannot be repeated.
I'm retired, or at least I am supposed to be retired. I do more now than when I was actually paid.
Favorite park: Animal Kingdom at the moment but it changes on my mood
Favorite ride: Cue the groans - It's a Small World. I rode the prototype for it at the '64 World's Fair in New York
Favorite Character: Chewbacca and Grumpy
So you can put a face to the name - here I am with Anna
This was my 23rd trip to Disney World and my 4th trip totally Solo.
So there is some background. Please join in and say Hi!
I went with a group of 21 people, more or less, last November. While we were there I upgraded my ticket to an Annual Pass hoping to head down in the spring. Then I found out that the tour to Scotland I had been on a couple of years ago was heading into England. It was going to make a stop at Hadrian's Wall. I couldn't pass that up. I put off Disney.
I planned a party for my mother's 80th Birthday. A SURPRISE party. My mother is IMPOSSIBLE to surprise. We were determined to do it this time. We as in my brothers, their wives, my dad and my aunt. I put Disney off again. No Flower and Garden this year sadly.
I also had my husband to worry about. He had 2 strokes in 2017 and has issues because of the strokes. Then there are the grandkids that I keep an eye on, meetings, outside commitments, older parents, etc. to consider. I said I just couldn't fit a trip in, Disney got about $300 from me for free. Jim said, "GO!!!" I resisted.
I got through the party for mom, barely. Until about noon the day of the party we still had no idea how to get her there. My dad came to the rescue. He came up with the perfect excuse - a memorial for her cousin, late on a saturday afternoon. Her cousin had passed away on her birthday sadly, but we knew she would be dressed nicely at least. I think we surprised her
Better my nephew flew home for one day to be there. She hadn't seen him for several years
We even managed a picture with all of her kids, minus 1 brother sadly he has issues, grandkids and great-grandkids and a few spouses
I was in a good mood but it didn't last. Stress came at me full force AGAIN! Mom and I were going to Scotland together because my dad has this insane notion that I will be kidnapped by marauding gangs. I don't know why they would want me but I went with mom or I didn't go. Never mind I have an ADULT grandchild, Dad has spoken. OK It was actually cheaper sharing a room. Only problem was mom was mad at me by the time we left for the trip. (It's been almost 4 months and I still don't know why and she is still mad!)
Scotland was fun but with mom it became a 4 Beer and 2 Whiskey trip, and I DO NOT drink!!! We argued over EVERYTHING!!! The 2 big ones and my favorites were 1) the window seat on the plane and the bus and 2) the fire.
I get car sick and I'm a little claustrophobic, I like the window seat. I also like to take pictures, around 3,500 this trip. Mom got mad, she wanted to take pics. It was an interesting conversation
Mom: Can I get the window seat, I want to take pictures with my new camera.
Me: Mom, it's a PHONE although I am impressed you got a smart phone. (My aunt made her upgrade.)
Mom: It's not a smart phone it's an I-Phone but it's a camera too.
Me: It's a SMART phone with a camera, it is not a camera.
Mom: I have a camera too, as she pulls out her little pocket camera and proceeds to look at a few pictures.
Me: Mom did you finally get a new memory card???
Mom: NO!!! I do NOT need one! (She has used the same 2 GB card for the last 15 years.)
Me: Tell me when you want me to move my head.
That was a highlight of the trip. She wound up taking less than 100 pictures.
She also complained that I took to many pictures of gargoyles and couldn't possibly enjoy the trip with a camera in my face.
Mom exploring a castle - NO phone or camera in hand
The other big argument came at night. She went to bed at 9 PM so I had to go to bed at 9 PM. She didn't want me waking her up. Not a huge issue I just read my Kindle every night, mom couldn't get hers to work so that was no fun and she always got the big bed. Anyhoo, one night I am laying in bed reading and all of a sudden there is a loud Whoop, Whoop, Whoop.
Mom: Would you turn OFF the TV.
Me: Mom, the TV is off.
Mom: Then turn off your alarm, I'm trying to sleep.
Me: Mom, my alarm goes Ding, Ding, Ding and does not make the whole room shake. Besides I don't need an alarm, you wake me up every morning at 6:30 AM.
I got out of bed and went into the hallway to see hotel personnel pounding on doors and people in various attire rushing out of their rooms. Yep we had a fire alarm and were being told LEAVE NOW!!! I grabbed my hoodie, phone and small bag (with my passport) as I shoved my shoes on my feet. My mom decided to get dressed! I told her we had no time for that.
MOM GOT DRESSED!!!!
She refused to leave until she was dressed properly. I told her to grab the key because I was out of there. I wasn't going to burn up waiting. They actually had police and fire crews arriving as we got outside.
Thankfully after standing outside in the wet Scottish night it was determined that someone had been smoking in their room. I was happy as my money was in the room, I forgot my wallet.
The trip was different. I did get at least one decent picture of us together, mom's smile was forced
The trip ended just as badly with my dad getting lost for over an hour trying to find the airport and then mom taking me to the river instead of my house. Not sure what she was thinking at that point.
I walked in the door and Jim said GO TO DISNEY!!! He knew I was stressed. I didn't argue.
I booked a preferred room at All Star Sports with QS dining. Flights were a little different as I now had almost enough miles each way but on different airlines. I booked American down and just paid to upgrade my seat - $30. Southwest home and had to buy 50 points so another $75 points but I bought more than I needed.
And who went on the trip? ME, MYSELF and I! Cast members get very confused when I answer like that.
Yep I went solo. I booked early August and went from October 1 to October 6. I meant to book til the 7th but it worked out OK.
So who am I you ask. I answer to many names: Mom, Grandmom, Sis, Lorrie and sometimes a few choice words that cannot be repeated.
I'm retired, or at least I am supposed to be retired. I do more now than when I was actually paid.
Favorite park: Animal Kingdom at the moment but it changes on my mood
Favorite ride: Cue the groans - It's a Small World. I rode the prototype for it at the '64 World's Fair in New York
Favorite Character: Chewbacca and Grumpy
So you can put a face to the name - here I am with Anna
This was my 23rd trip to Disney World and my 4th trip totally Solo.
So there is some background. Please join in and say Hi!
Thanks for joining in. My husband knows me so well and knows I need that alone time. It really was needed. Working on getting pictures to load on Flickr and I will start the trip.
Glad you're doing a TR. 
