On June 12, 2010 my wife, Paula, changed the way I would celebrate my 50th birthday by proposing our going to Walt Disney World to celebrate. The trip was one of the best weeks of the year.
This past Saturday, just a little over a year since her "game changing" suggestion, she surprised me again. Here's how it all came about.
First of all, because of things I've heard discussed on several of the Disney podcasts lately I've been thinking a lot about how I would like to one day take a solo trip to Walt Disney World. I've paid attention to the podcasters' suggestions on websites to to go and bid for a relatively inexpensive hotel room in the Lake Buena Vista area. Also the topic of conversation on some podcasts revolved around how to enjoy yourself when on your own in "The World".
These got me thinking even more about a solo trip. I understood that given last year's trip and our plans to go on a Disney Cruise in December 2012 I really had no right to even mention it for a few years. I reasoned that not until my 55th birthday (September 2015) would I stand a chance of getting Paula "buy in" to the idea. So that's what I'd come to accept over the past couple of weeks.
Now here's what Paula was thinking. The last full week of May we went on vacation in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We spent 5 days walking, exploring and, enjoying the many tourist attractions. It was fun but rather exhausting.
That same week a few of Paula's family members (her brother, his wife, her cousin and her cousin's daughter) went on vacation to Seacrest beach in the panhandle of Florida. Several times during our time in Chattanooga Paula mentioned how she wished she'd gone to the beach with them.
On the drive both to and from vacation when we talked about future trips to Florida my wife asked "can we have a beach day?" A couple of days after we were back home She told me that next year when the family goes to the beach in Florida she wants to go with them.
Now back to this past Saturday. While Paula was working in the kitchen our conversation turned to plans to go to the beach in Florida next year. She told me that after Chattanooga she's finished with vacations "where we kill ourselves". She said how she wants to go to the beach and do nothing but relax. Then she added that she knew that I would probably go nuts if all there was to do on vacation was just sit on the beach.
She followed that point with a suggestion that caused me to think that my wife is psychic. While we were at the beach in Florida if I wanted to I could go off to Disney World for a couple of days. That's right she didn't just "buy into" a solo trip to Disney for me she introduced the idea. (cue the "Twilight Zone" music). I kissed my wife and told her she never stops amazing me. Later I put a post on Facebook stating that she makes my dreams come true before I even tell her about them.
I tried my best not to go off the deep end and start obsessively planning my trip like I did the last time my wife suggested a Disney vacation. I did find go out exactly where in Florida the family spends their vacation; Seacrest Beach. I used Google Maps to calculate the travel time and distance. It's a 6 hour drive to Orlando. After I finished finding that bit of information I decided that I needed to just take a breath and step back.
I have plenty of time, almost a year, to research and gather information, decide on the specifics and make my plans. But as it stands now if we go to the beach in Florida on vacation next May I will get the opportunity to make my solo trip to Disney World a lot sooner than I ever dreamed.
Thanks Paula, You are the Love Of My Life.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Goodbye Wally Boag
They shared a stage at Disneyland five days a week for nearly three decades and died within a day of each other. Betty Taylor who played Slufoot Sue and Wally Boag who played a traveling salesman and Pecos Bill in Disneyland's long running Golden Horseshoe Revue show passed away last weekend.
Ms. Taylor died this past Saturday at the age of 91. Mr. Boag passed away the day before at the age of 90.
I never heard of Wally Boag until a few years ago when I was watching video from an old "Disneyland" TV show that featured the Golden Horseshoe Revue show.
Boag's performance as the traveling salesman with his rapid fire one liners and making of balloon animals inspired me from the first time I saw it. I aspire to one day be as quick witted and smooth as he was. I really felt bad would never have the chance to see his act in person. He performed from 1955 through 1982 when he retired. The Golden Horseshoe Revue was replaced by a new show in 1986.
Although it's been nearly 30 years since he retired, the talent of Wally Boag is a recent discovery for me. When I read Steve Martin's book about his days of stand up comedy a few years ago I found out that he was greatly influenced by Wally Boag.
Although I was always interested in him I never really looked for anything else about Wally Boag after I found out he retired. Since I hadn't ever heard anything about him in any of the newsletters or podcasts I subscribe to I just assumed he was no longer around.
With the announcement of his death I find out after the fact that he was still around but out of the public spotlight. So now I'll have to do some research to see if I can find any post retirement interviews with him. The result of the searches I've done over the last few days has been the discovery of an episod of The Muppet Show with Boag as the guest star. He performs a lot of his "Golden Horseshoe" act on the show.
Even if I can't find anything more than what I already have seen that will be enough. As a matter of fact even though Mr. Boag's act contained a "suitcase full" of punchlines the one that will always resonate with me and preserve his memory in Disney section of my heart will be:
"When they operated on father; the opened mother's male"
RIP Wally Boag, You'll be missed.
 |
| Wally Boag With Miss Piggy on The Muppet Show |
Ms. Taylor died this past Saturday at the age of 91. Mr. Boag passed away the day before at the age of 90.
I never heard of Wally Boag until a few years ago when I was watching video from an old "Disneyland" TV show that featured the Golden Horseshoe Revue show.
Boag's performance as the traveling salesman with his rapid fire one liners and making of balloon animals inspired me from the first time I saw it. I aspire to one day be as quick witted and smooth as he was. I really felt bad would never have the chance to see his act in person. He performed from 1955 through 1982 when he retired. The Golden Horseshoe Revue was replaced by a new show in 1986.
Although it's been nearly 30 years since he retired, the talent of Wally Boag is a recent discovery for me. When I read Steve Martin's book about his days of stand up comedy a few years ago I found out that he was greatly influenced by Wally Boag.
Although I was always interested in him I never really looked for anything else about Wally Boag after I found out he retired. Since I hadn't ever heard anything about him in any of the newsletters or podcasts I subscribe to I just assumed he was no longer around.
With the announcement of his death I find out after the fact that he was still around but out of the public spotlight. So now I'll have to do some research to see if I can find any post retirement interviews with him. The result of the searches I've done over the last few days has been the discovery of an episod of The Muppet Show with Boag as the guest star. He performs a lot of his "Golden Horseshoe" act on the show.
Even if I can't find anything more than what I already have seen that will be enough. As a matter of fact even though Mr. Boag's act contained a "suitcase full" of punchlines the one that will always resonate with me and preserve his memory in Disney section of my heart will be:
"When they operated on father; the opened mother's male"
RIP Wally Boag, You'll be missed.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Cruise Concerns & Commitment
Now that our longest vacation of the year is over it's time to start thinking about our making decision about our December 2012 anniversary cruise on the Disney Dream. Even though it's a year and a half away in order to take advantage of the cheapest (very relative term) rates we have to make a deposit soon.
I'm not yet 2 months into my 20 month systematic savings plan but I'm only a couple of weeks away from having enough to make that deposit.
However in the last few weeks I've seen and heard some things that have caused some concerns about whether a Disney Cruise is right for us.
First of all I'm not too happy about the "threat" of increased rates for staterooms as the dates to the cruise gets closer. I mean availability and or lack of it is a natural occurrence in travel; even Disney travel. But the "penalty" of having to pay more because I book one of the last cabins available is bogus.
If I call Disney reservations today and ask about room availability and rates at a Walt Disney World hotel for the week after Labor Day in September, they'll tell me if which rooms area open and what the price would be. Then if I call back two months from now. There may be fewer rooms but the price will be the same. I mean, unless there was a discount special that was running when I first called (like the "free dinning" offer that's going on right now). The cast member won't tell me, "I'm sorry sir there's only 100 rooms left for those dates and the rates are now $25 more per night". The room rack rates stay the same.
That's not so for the Disney Cruise Line. The faster the ship fills up the higher the prices go. Who does Disney think they are? The airlines? The pressure of having to make such a decision so early or it'll cost you leaves a bad taste in my mouth and isn't the best beginning to our DCL experience.
Next, are some concerns that came up as I watched the segments of ABC's America's Funniest Videos season finale a couple of weeks ago.
Some of the "lead in" portions of the show were taped on the Disney Dream. In one segment Tom Burgeron was standing on a walk way over looking the family pool area of the ship. It seemed like the place was "wall to wall" people. It was crowded. If I wanted to deal with that type of crowd I would go to Walt Disney World and spend a day at one of their water parks or a resort pool during the summer. Better yet, I would stay here in my home town area and go to a public pool or water park on a 100 degree day. Either would cost me a fraction of a Disney Cruise.
I'm a big fan of and subscriber to the website, "touring plans.com". It is the Internet companion to the Unofficial Guide to Disney World book. One of its best features and most useful planning tools is the crowd calendar. It shows a 365 day calendar and ranks the projected size of the theme park crowds (based on extensive date research) on a scale of 1-10. The higher the number the larger the crowd. The site suggests that if the crowd calendar shows anything over a "6" you avoid that park that day.
I would like to know what crowd calendar rating a full Disney Cruise ship would get taking into consideration the availability of common areas, activities and on-board "attractions". I may have to ask Len Testa, co-author of "the unofficial guide" and "touring plans" website contributor, that question. He's frequently a co-host on the WDW radio podcast. I may have to call in on one of their upcoming monthly live show to ask him.
I don't want to have to deal with large crowds on a cruise ship and not be able to get away. Again, I can go to Disney World during Christmas, Easter, or Spring break when the crowds are a their peak if I want to do that.
The next concern is this. Are there places to go on a Disney Cruise to get away from the kids ? I know there's an "adults only" quiet pool But what if you don't want to go swimming? My wife and I are not "party" people. We don't drink or dance. Is there anything for adults to do other than go to the clubs?
I love children and most of the time enjoy being around them. My wife likes kids too but her bar of tolerance limit is quite lower than mine. Don't get me wrong she loves kids but only to a certain degree. Now I realize that anything that has do with Disney involves families. Being around kids is inherent with going to a Disney resort. But there needs to be places that we would enjoy going and things we would enjoy doing where there will be no children. I need to know that there is before I commit to a Disney Cruise.
Until recently another concern had to do with my wife's susceptibility to motion sickness. But on our recent vacation to Chattanooga she discovered that some anti-nausea pills helped her rather effectively. Since this "entry level" of medication helped her on land she could always turn to stronger meds (such as the patch or shots) to go on the ocean. So that's no longer an issue.
Speaking of our trip to Chattanooga, there's another issue that came up as a result to the things we did there. The beauty we saw at Rock City and Ruby Falls got me to thinking. Perhaps I might enjoy going to see some of this country's natural wonders more than I would a Disney Cruise. I'm thinking specifically of the two places my wife wants to go: Nigeria Falls and the Grand Canyon.
The amazement and awe of the pair of relatively small waterfalls we saw on Lookout Mountain has me more anxious to go see Niagara Falls. A vacation there next spring or summer would I think would be amazing. But I would have to choose that trip over the Disney Cruise.
Since that is now a possibility, finding out how my ability to change my mind and get our cruise deposit back will be a factor in how soon I actually commit to that December 2012 voyage.
Well, I've gone on long enough about my concerns and reservations about committing to a Disney Cruise. Now you know what I'm up against. I have some time to address them and get some answers to my questions. I will consult my resources by writing to my travel consultant, Stephanie from Mouse World Travel and contacting some of the hosts of the many podcasts I listen to. Their input, just as it has in the past, is sure to help me. If you have any input for me please feel free to write me at the email address listed in my profile.
I'm not yet 2 months into my 20 month systematic savings plan but I'm only a couple of weeks away from having enough to make that deposit.
However in the last few weeks I've seen and heard some things that have caused some concerns about whether a Disney Cruise is right for us.
First of all I'm not too happy about the "threat" of increased rates for staterooms as the dates to the cruise gets closer. I mean availability and or lack of it is a natural occurrence in travel; even Disney travel. But the "penalty" of having to pay more because I book one of the last cabins available is bogus.
If I call Disney reservations today and ask about room availability and rates at a Walt Disney World hotel for the week after Labor Day in September, they'll tell me if which rooms area open and what the price would be. Then if I call back two months from now. There may be fewer rooms but the price will be the same. I mean, unless there was a discount special that was running when I first called (like the "free dinning" offer that's going on right now). The cast member won't tell me, "I'm sorry sir there's only 100 rooms left for those dates and the rates are now $25 more per night". The room rack rates stay the same.
That's not so for the Disney Cruise Line. The faster the ship fills up the higher the prices go. Who does Disney think they are? The airlines? The pressure of having to make such a decision so early or it'll cost you leaves a bad taste in my mouth and isn't the best beginning to our DCL experience.
Next, are some concerns that came up as I watched the segments of ABC's America's Funniest Videos season finale a couple of weeks ago.
Some of the "lead in" portions of the show were taped on the Disney Dream. In one segment Tom Burgeron was standing on a walk way over looking the family pool area of the ship. It seemed like the place was "wall to wall" people. It was crowded. If I wanted to deal with that type of crowd I would go to Walt Disney World and spend a day at one of their water parks or a resort pool during the summer. Better yet, I would stay here in my home town area and go to a public pool or water park on a 100 degree day. Either would cost me a fraction of a Disney Cruise.
I'm a big fan of and subscriber to the website, "touring plans.com". It is the Internet companion to the Unofficial Guide to Disney World book. One of its best features and most useful planning tools is the crowd calendar. It shows a 365 day calendar and ranks the projected size of the theme park crowds (based on extensive date research) on a scale of 1-10. The higher the number the larger the crowd. The site suggests that if the crowd calendar shows anything over a "6" you avoid that park that day.
I would like to know what crowd calendar rating a full Disney Cruise ship would get taking into consideration the availability of common areas, activities and on-board "attractions". I may have to ask Len Testa, co-author of "the unofficial guide" and "touring plans" website contributor, that question. He's frequently a co-host on the WDW radio podcast. I may have to call in on one of their upcoming monthly live show to ask him.
I don't want to have to deal with large crowds on a cruise ship and not be able to get away. Again, I can go to Disney World during Christmas, Easter, or Spring break when the crowds are a their peak if I want to do that.
The next concern is this. Are there places to go on a Disney Cruise to get away from the kids ? I know there's an "adults only" quiet pool But what if you don't want to go swimming? My wife and I are not "party" people. We don't drink or dance. Is there anything for adults to do other than go to the clubs?
I love children and most of the time enjoy being around them. My wife likes kids too but her bar of tolerance limit is quite lower than mine. Don't get me wrong she loves kids but only to a certain degree. Now I realize that anything that has do with Disney involves families. Being around kids is inherent with going to a Disney resort. But there needs to be places that we would enjoy going and things we would enjoy doing where there will be no children. I need to know that there is before I commit to a Disney Cruise.
Until recently another concern had to do with my wife's susceptibility to motion sickness. But on our recent vacation to Chattanooga she discovered that some anti-nausea pills helped her rather effectively. Since this "entry level" of medication helped her on land she could always turn to stronger meds (such as the patch or shots) to go on the ocean. So that's no longer an issue.
Speaking of our trip to Chattanooga, there's another issue that came up as a result to the things we did there. The beauty we saw at Rock City and Ruby Falls got me to thinking. Perhaps I might enjoy going to see some of this country's natural wonders more than I would a Disney Cruise. I'm thinking specifically of the two places my wife wants to go: Nigeria Falls and the Grand Canyon.
The amazement and awe of the pair of relatively small waterfalls we saw on Lookout Mountain has me more anxious to go see Niagara Falls. A vacation there next spring or summer would I think would be amazing. But I would have to choose that trip over the Disney Cruise.
Since that is now a possibility, finding out how my ability to change my mind and get our cruise deposit back will be a factor in how soon I actually commit to that December 2012 voyage.
Well, I've gone on long enough about my concerns and reservations about committing to a Disney Cruise. Now you know what I'm up against. I have some time to address them and get some answers to my questions. I will consult my resources by writing to my travel consultant, Stephanie from Mouse World Travel and contacting some of the hosts of the many podcasts I listen to. Their input, just as it has in the past, is sure to help me. If you have any input for me please feel free to write me at the email address listed in my profile.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)