Tag Archives: Walt Disney World

Uncategorized

Turning 65 at Walt Disney World

2 Comments

I’ve been thinking about turning 65 years old and becoming eligible for Medicare. It’s a year and a half away for me, but I’d like to celebrate it at Walt Disney World. I turned 60 there, and it just seems like this next milestone would be fun to be there, too. We wouldn’t be using our DVC points, because we’re saving those for Disneyland Paris in 2021. but I’ve always wanted to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter, and this may be the right opportunity to do so. Here’s what Disney has to say about it:

Revel in the romance and pageantry of New Orleans’s historic French Quarter at this Moderate Resort hotel, where cobblestone streets, gas lamps, wrought-iron balconies and fragrant magnolia blossoms evoke the Antebellum era and colorful Mardi Gras characters and jazz keep things lively.

We would take in the holiday sites, and go into EPCOT for one day so we could experience the Candlelight Processional.

A candlelight processional at Holidays Around The World at Epcot

Hear the stirring story of Christmas as told by a celebrity narrator, and accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and massed choir. 

The rest of the time we would wander our resort, walk around and explore Disney Springs more thoroughly, book dining reservations at places we’ve never been before, and chill.
Sounds like fun, right? It’s something fun to think about anyway.
Meet you at the Kingdom.
Donna
P.S. I finally reached the 10 pounds off mark. It took nearly four weeks. It’s a hard win. This is the toughest weight loss ever for me. Perhaps in the long run, it will be the best. Here’s hoping.
Advertisement
Uncategorized

Starting down the Road Toward Disneyland Paris

2 Comments

Hello Dear Readers,

Well, I finally decided to face the music. Ever since our trip to Walt Disney World in October of 2018, I have been completely off the rails.  Eating every sugary thing in sight, and sitting all day long. I’ve packed on over 30 pounds, and I feel pretty lousy.  Low energy, cranky most of the time, isolating myself. And frankly, I’ve been a bit depressed.  Wow! First world problems, right??

I restarted Noom, an online weight management program, today. It worked well for me before, so I re-upped. Tomorrow I start my daily walks again. And I will choose less dense foods, foods with more water content. For example I’ll choose a cup of grapes over a 1/4 cup of raisins. I’ll pick 1/4 pound of salad over 1/4 pounder from McDonalds, a hard-boiled egg over a fried egg, lettuce rather than a tortilla for a wrap, and a baked potato over fries.

I’m also going to start some self talk when I walk. “Heart, this walk is for you, to make you stronger. Legs, this walk is for you, to build more muscle. Brain, this walk is for you, to get more oxygen to you.” Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

My ultimate goal is looking toward March 2021, when we hope to meet up with the kids and grandkids at Disneyland Paris for 6 days/5 nights. Lord willing and the creek don’t rise…  We make plans and God smiles, right? But this goal will help to keep me on track. They do not have ECVs there, only wheel chairs, so I want to be able to get myself around the parks. I want to enjoy every minute of our time together there.

So here we go again, dear friends. One foot in front of the other, one healthy meal at a time. Will I sustain it forever? I believe I can. Mostly I believe I can do it today. And tomorrow is a new opportunity to do it again.

Join me on this road to Paris. The possibilities are so exciting. The road is mine, with the help of God, to create and choose.

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

Uncategorized

To Everything There Is a Season

Leave a comment

Today I traveled home from Walt Disney World. It’s always a bittersweet day. After eight nights in Florida, I was ready to be home. But home meant saying good-bye to Emi and family for several months, and that is always difficult.

They are back home in England safe and sound. Jake and family are safely back in Illinois. And Mike and I are home tonight also. Mary Ann, our cat, greeted us with loud meows and lots of close contact. So, it’s good to be home after an incredible vacation. So thankful!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

Uncategorized

Love, Tears and Thankfulness

2 Comments

Today was our last full day at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. We had tickets for a park, but only Jake went in today. He chose Disney’s Hollywood Studio so he could ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, his favorite ride. As he entered the gate who should he see waiting there? Daniel Carlson, a dear family friend! What are the chances?? They chatted for a bit as Daniel waited for his friends to show up. Incredible! It’s a God thing.

The rest of us stayed at the resort to chill and begin packing. Ida seemed to have a low-grade fever and Linnie is still recovering from the flu. It was a nice low key day.

Then it was time for Emi, James and Ida to catch the bus to the airport. With plenty of hugs and tears to go around, I thanked God for this time together. I’ll be looking forward to our next time together, perhaps as soon as March.

Mike, Jake, Eliza, Linnie and I wandered up to Turtle Krawl for dinner. With burgers, chili dogs, and pulled pork sandwiches for dinner from Good’s Food to Go and drinks from Gurgling Suitcase we whiled away the hours in the warm evening Florida breezes. It was a perfect ending to an emotional day.

Well, Dear Readers, I am one Disney-exhausted camper. So delighted for this incredible adventure. And yet ready to go home tomorrow. Home, where Mary Ann, our kitty cat, waits for me.

Until the next time…meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

Uncategorized

Magical Halloween Fun

2 Comments

What an incredible evening we had at Magic Kingdom last night! Mike, James, Ida and I had dinner at Be Our Guest. It was so delicious! I highly recommend the filet mignon for a main course which comes with mashed potatoes and al dente green beans. My starter of cheese and fruit was perfect for the meal that followed. And the dessert was just plain fun! A mini white chocolate “Chip” cup filled with “the gray stuff”, a raspberry macaroon with raspberry jam and fresh raspberries, and a chocolate truffle. So cute and so sweet and so delicious!

And that castle! Just Holy Wah! It is truly an enchanting place to dine. Ida was nervous about Beast, so she was happy to only see him from across the room. She liked the big music box with Belle and Beast dancing. And she thought the rose was very pretty.

Then James and Ida legged it for the bus back to Old Key West Resort. Ida has a cold and was tired and a bit cross. But in her defense she has a nasty cold that she has been fighting all week. Bless her little heart!

Jake, Eliza, and Linnie spent the evening at the resort as Linnie has her first case of the flu. They took her to Urgent Care earlier in the day (a four hour ordeal) and got her a prescription and some pain meds. She seems quite a bit more herself this morning, but will have a quiet day today.

Our evening continued with rides: Mad Tea Party, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. We did quite a bit of Trick or Treating, and received a mountain of candy. We caught the end of the Hocus Pocus Spelltacular, just in time for “I Put a Spell on You.”

We ended our evening by finding a spot on the bridge between Tomorrow Land and the central hub. Emi went to Plaza Ice Cream and picked up some treats for us to enjoy as we sat and passed the time. We watched Boo to You Halloween Parade. And finished off the evening with HalloWishes fireworks. We had a great time just being together in such a beautiful place.

Feeling very blessed this morning! Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

Uncategorized

Magnificent Minnie!

1 Comment

We are tired out! Emi, James, Ida and I opted out of our Fastpasses today and relaxed at Old Key West. Mike went in to Disney’s Hollywood Studio early on his own and walked around, until Jake, Eliza and Linnie showed up. They went to The Little Mermaid and Toy Story Mania!

The rest of us showed up in time for Minnie’s Halloween Dinner at Hollywood and Vine restaurant. It was a blast, and Ida finally warmed up to the characters, especially Minnie Mouse. As we posed with Minnie at the entry Ida kept saying, “She’s very gentle and kind,” to herself as a mantra. I can’t recommend this buffet dinner enough. The food was so delicious, and the characters all made sure to visit each table.

Linnie ended up seeing a nurse at the park and had a bit of a fever so they took her back to the resort to chill out. She seems to be doing a little bit better tonight, and the fever has broken.

What a busy, busy day!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

Uncategorized

Animal Kingdom Day

1 Comment

On a cloudy Tuesday we made our way to Animal Kingdom. We rode Na’vi River Journey for the first time. It was magnificent! It was like being immersed in a whole new world. The colors and the vegetation, the huge insects and animals, and the sound track of life in Pandora blended into most memorable moments.

Then it was on to Kilimanjaro Safaris. We have ridden this many times, but because there was cloud cover and it was feeding time, we saw more animals than we had ever seen before. I always love seeing the flamingoes, and there were lots of them out and about. Ida loved the rhinos, with their big horns, instead of noses.

And one of the highlights of the day was a Memory Maker moment. Jake became Rafiki and baby Elinor became Simba. It was magical!

Then we had a delicious dinner at Yak and Yeti. Oh, that mango pie! And we tasted a new favorite: the green bean appetizer. So good!

Another lovely day at Walt Disney World!

Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna

Uncategorized

A Break in the Action

2 Comments

Today we took a day to chill out and appreciate our resort. It was glorious! Some swam, some rode a bicycle built for four, some enjoyed shopping at Disney Springs.

Then Mike treated us all to an amazing dinner at Artist Point, an Arts and Crafts inspired restaurant at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort. It was a fun adventure, too, because we took a bus to Magic Kingdom, then transferred to a boat to the lodge.

The food there is northwest inspired. My dinner was buffalo steak and farrow with crispy Brussel sprouts. We enjoyed an artisanal cheese board for starters. Then we capped off our meal with two desserts which we all shared: creme brûlée and wild berry cobbler with coffee. Delicious!

What a lovely, decadent day! I am thankful.

Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna

Uncategorized

Magic Kingdom Day

2 Comments

Day two of our Walt Disney World adventure has been so incredible!

  1. Character breakfast at Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. Ida was completely traumatized by the arrival of Winnie the Pooh. “Too big!” She begged to be cuddled by her mum and hid her face until Pooh went away. Tigger-same thing. Piglet-a little more interested. Eeyore-not so scared, and Ida didn’t hide her eyes.
  2. We rode Peter Pan’s Flight, and Ida and James were a bit scared. “Too dark.”
  3. We rode it’s a small world next. Ida dug it!
  4. We rode Winnie the Pooh. Ida thought it was OK, but a bit too bumpy.
  5. Finally we rode Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid. When we finished, Ida said, “Really cool!” Success at last!
  6. We finished our day with a swim and dinner at Olivia’s.

What an incredible day! What an incredible time with family! What a beautiful place!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

Uncategorized

We’re Here!!

1 Comment

We are at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, all settled into our villa. Thank you, Jesus!! Three years of planning all come down to this day. Our flight was good. The Conch Fritters at Good’s Food To Go were delicious! Our luggage showed up at our room as if by magic. And we’re getting groceries delivered any minute now. Emi, James and Ida are due soon. I am so grateful! More news tomorrow.

Come on down and meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna