We have returned from our journey west, as I add some of my notes from the start of our journey:

After a stop at Schnauzerville to drop off the dogs, we made the three-hour drive to Orlando. Our plan was to spend as little as possible after $1300 in tickets and the points expense of a three-bedroom, three-night’s condo. A group of seven is never a lucky combination for admission to Disney World. I agreed to pay for one-day in the Park, while my son’s brood spent two extra days. We also took just my youngest granddaughter to see Bluey’s Big Play at the Disney Theater. 

When all was said and done, hundreds, if not thousands, more dollars were spent on souvenirs, parking, and food, including a pricy meal at Be Our Guest. My son and I shared these costs. My wife is o, celebrating a birthday, got carried away buying collector pins. She was a bad influence despite my objections, earning me a Grumpy pin. My son bought us Lightening Passes to skip the lines but I could not do any of the rollercoaster and too often ended up with everyone’s packages while they all did the rides. 

The day included the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Peter Pan, Barnstormer, Small World, Speedway, Dumbo, Buzz Lightyear, People Mover, Princess Meet, Snow White Mine Train, Tron, and Carousel. We took the ferry to and from the park that put us in by 10a and out by 11p.

A free $70 Giordano’s pizza as a result of slow inaccurate delivery, a $350 Visa gift card for a Marriott presentation, and a surprise $50 pocket find helped us not break the bank. Grandkid memories abound – good and bad. New battery-powered droid toys and stuffed Disney characters cluttered our living quarters. Themed T-shirts, mouse ears head gear, purses, back-packs and costumes let everyone know that we were in the spending spirit. 

The dinner, with a brief appearance by The Beast, appropriately followed a meet-and-greet with Belle. Family members were cast in acting parts for her scripted surprise party. The pre-fix menu choices  were marginal in flavor but we ended right up front for the always impressive fireworks. 

I was surprised how well my legs held up, the longest stretch of time on my feet since surgery in mid-January. There were no issues with cramps or Charlie Horses, painful conditions that have been debilitating over the past few months. My extra ten pounds is still an issue, especially in trying to squeeze into my bathing suit to play with the kids in the Marriott Vacation Club pool. Fast, fatty, fried foods coupled with ice cream over the past few days have led to swelling in my hands, ankles, and feet. This poor diet will probably continue over the next week in Portland with more pizza, pasta, and wine.