This is a post talking about some serious changes that have happened to me since I last posted in November, 2022.
I spent the last part of November, 2022 getting ready for my Thanksgiving trip to Walt Disney World. It was my first time in Walt Disney World in over 20 years. Dear daughter and I drove down on Thanksgiving day, its a 5 hour drive for us and we arrived just in time for lunch. Spent time eating, shopping and resort hopping. Finally drove over to our room at Pop Century at about 9:00 p.m. We decorated our window at the resort and put up our pin trading station on the door. We went to Epcot on Friday, rope dropping Test Track, Spaceship Earth, and Soarin Around the World. We didn't ride Guardians of the Galaxy or Mission Space, but we waited in the standby line to eat at the bar at Space 220, saw Snow White in Germany, had drinks at the Rose and Crown with fish and chips, did some other miscellaneous drinking and shopping, then we watched the night-time show and closed it down. On Saturday we went to Magic Kingdom, rope dropped Haunted Mansion, we road the tea cups, carousel, Peter Pan, 7 Dwarves Mine Train, People Mover, Astro Orbiter, we watched the flag retirement ceremony, did some shopping and left after the fireworks. We drove home on Sunday, both of us run down and getting sick. I tried to wear my mask as often as I could in the parks. I even wore it on rides. My daughter got a serious lung infection and missed several days of work. I had a bad cold and I missed one day of work. It was not good. We did have a seriously good time that weekend and hit a lot of our major must dos on the ride front.
When I got back to work I was informed that I would be laid off on December 30, 2022. It was finally time to retire. Being 65 made it easy to actually think about retiring and not working full time anymore. I'm still getting used to having all my days to myself. It feels weird.
I spent some time in January adjusting to retirement and making quilted zipper pouches in fun colors to use for our February trip to Walt Disney World. We had to take another trip in the 50th year celebration to go to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. We made that trip last weekend and it was epic. Even better, neither one of us got sick this time. It was a complete success. We drove down last Saturday and spent the day looking in shops in Winter Garden and Taveres and then went to Orlando to Target for souvenirs and T-shirts. Had dinner at Cheesecake Factory, then went to our room at Art of Animation. We decorated our window with some homemade Mickey and Minnie heads banners and window cling hearts for Valentine's day. We spent Sunday at Magic Kingdom. Rope dropped Jungle Cruise and we rode the rides we didn't ride in November, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Thunder Mountain, Liberty Belle river boat, and Small World, had lunch at Skipper Canteen, dinner at Columbia Harbor House, watched fire works, and went to the Polynesian for shopping and drinks. Monday was our day at Hollywood Studios, we rope dropped Slinky Dog Dash and rode all of our must do rides, including Alien Swirling Saucers, Rise of the Resistance, Tower of Terror, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. We went to the Muppet show and the Indiana Jones show. We missed the evening fireworks show at Hollywood Studios and went to dinner at Artist Point - Story Book Dining with Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy and The Evil Queen. That was a fun experience. I have lovely pictures of me and Snow White.
I made a small zipper pouch with Mickey and Minnie Fabric to use as a card case/wallet.
