Disney World, Day 1 (Epcot)

We hadn't told the kids about the trip to Disney World, but instead waited until they woke up on Tuesday morning. I'll admit we were a bit underwhelmed with their excitement. I think it was just too big for them to get their heads around. It took several minutes until they understood what we were saying.

I chose to book our trip on JetBlue because they are so reliable. In the end, that's ended up being true, but temporarily, it wasn't. The 9:45 a.m. flight was delayed after we boarded because they couldn't close the cargo door. So we all had to get off, without being given info of what would happen next. This is when I started to see the entire trip through the eyes of "The Amazing Race" reality race-around-the-world TV show. Every time we would make a decision, I'd envision talking to the cameras about whether or not it was a good idea.

Ultimately, they found us a new plane, so I'm glad we didn't try to swap to another flight. (Even if we had, our luggage would have gone on the first flight and I would have had to go back to fetch the bags, so it was just best to stick with the flight we had.) JetBlue had some good personnel, and one person who had been very helpful searched for us in the food court to ensure we made the new flight. So we were now about 2 hours behind schedule.

The younger boys seemed to be so happy just to be in the wide open spaces of the airport. They just seemed to skip and play and such. On the train from the gate to the terminal in Orlando, Matthew was introducing the whole family: "Hi, I'm Matthew, and this is my whole family. That's mom...her name is Kathryn...."

We had another bit of a delay at the rental car counter. I went with Budget to save money and because -- unlike the mighty Hertz -- they were located on-site, so no shuttle needed. I went downstairs with Sammy, who had a major tantrum kicking and screaming on the floor while I secured the car. They promised us a van in about 20 minutes. So we waited, while the clock ticked. Matthew wanted to get in shorts NOW, so he started to undress in the waiting area of the airport. I took him to a restroom to change. Funny -- he has no problem pulling off every last stitch of clothing in front of the public, but in the restroom, he wouldn't allow me in the stall as he changed his pants.

In dealing with the parking lot Budget space, they told me they had a van in slot 325 as the other van hadn't come. I went over and it was a car. They assured me it was a van. I went back again .... I swear it's a car! I explained to the attendant the difference between a van and a car. Eventually we were on our way.

I did a quick check-in at the All-Star Music resorts to just drop off our bags. Then off to Epcot. We entered the park at about 5 p.m. -- had the flight not been delayed, we would have been there at 3 p.m. as scheduled. But some Epcot was better than nothing. (With the way the Disney passes work, 5 days for the family cost us a grand total of $15 more than 4 days....so Epcot was only costing us $15, so every minute was "bonus").

The plan/hope at arriving at 3 p.m was a fastpass or two may still exist for Soaring or Test Track, but alas, no such luck at 5 p.m. May not have been an option at 3 p.m. either as it was crowded and the wait for both was 135 minutes, so I bet they "sold out" of fast passes in late morning.

We immediately did Spaceship Earth, and Matty said "I've never been in Space before!" Then we did the boat ride for Living with the Land. Then the fun (and one of my favorite rides) Nemo ride in the Seas exhibit. Very cute and well done. I'd ride it again if I could. Kathryn then toyed with waiting 135 minutes for Soaring, but ultimately did not. We ate and headed to the World.

We quickly were able to do the Mexico ride (which is now Donald Duck themed) and then scouted out space for the Illuminations. We took turns using Fastpass on the Norway ride (as we waited for the show in Norway). Kathryn got the kids "MIckey Mouse lightsabers" and Matthew and Sam were in heaven. They just danced and waved and it was very funny, though at the time I kept fearing they were going to bonk someone. Some nice people next to us helped keep me relaxed.

The show was good. Then I carried Matthew out of the park asleep (first time of many for the week). We felt like it was a good first day. Josh was saying how this was the best day ever, best vacation ever, etc. I think we succeeded.....

TOMORROW: First experience at Magic Kingdom

Disney World Recap No. 1

Over the next few days I hope to make up for my dormant posting by posting multiple posts about our trip to Disney World last week. Here's just a few top-of-mind thoughts to get things started:

• Best Thrill Ride at Disney World: Rock 'n Roller Coaster at Disney Hollywood Studios (we were unable to ride it this year)

• Best Ride at Disney World: Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios (worthy of the crowd mania at park opening -- even had a 15 minute wait to get a Fast Pass!)

• Biggest Disappointment Ride: Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom. I had read about this many years ago and couldn't wait to go on it. Very disappointed by it...quite lame. Not much cooler than seeing the dinosaurs in the tunnel of the train at Disneyland in Calif.

• Slightly Disappointed Ride: Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom. It's a bit of a cross between the Matterhorn and Big Thunder. The overall appeal and look to it is great from the outside, but the ride itself seems to lose it's theming and for me, didn't live up to the Disney style of roller coasters. And sure it was fast and high and whatever, but I thought it was kind of tame -- and I'm not one to demand zillions of thrills for coasters. It didn't deliver on the potential I thought it would have.

• Best Parade: Animal Kingdom

• Worst Parade: Hollywood Studios

• Ultimate Disney Pricing Genius: "Mickey Mouse" light-up lightsabers that cost $5 at dusk, then automatically get re-priced to $7 when it's dark.

• Best Show: Finding Nemo the Musical at Animal Kingdom. Equal to "Lion King" on Broadway.

• Attractions that we didn't get to enjoy due to circumstances that I really wish we could have enjoyed: Indy Jones stunt show, Rock 'n Roller Coaster, Soaring, Test Track.

• Disneyland vs. Magic Kingdom: of rides in both parks where there's a difference between the two:

BETTER AT DISNEYLAND
-- Pirates of Caribbean (miss the opening bayou setting, and just better throughout...FL version just doesn't make much sense. Though it has improved with changes beyond the Johnny Depp additions)



BETTER AT MAGIC KINDGOM
-- Small World (better boats, more "lake" to float in vs. just a canal, bright and vibrant, and no disney characters hiding in the displays as they now do in Calif...but I do miss the clock in Anaheim).

-- Haunted Mansion. Maybe I've never done this at MK before as I think it was closed or too crowded, but a couple of cooler rooms inside. I was surprised and wowed.

-- Space Mountain, but I can't tell you why

-- Jungle Boats: I was a purist and liked Anaheim better, but now I like MK with its added little 'cave' in the attraction

-- Tree house -- like that it's still Swiss Family Robinson, not Tarzan

• Missed attractions that are only in California: Indiana Jones ride, Matterhorn

• Reunion let-down: Country Bears. It's gone from Disneyland, and I hadn't seen it in years (it's at Disney World). It's kind of tired and old.

• Favorite Ride to Enjoy Again: "People Mover" (called Tomorrowland Transit in MK). Just a simple easy way to chill and enjoy a view of the park.

• Favorite '3D interactive' show (each park now has one): Mickey's Philharmagic.

• Record number of attractions enjoyed via Fast Pass in one day: SEVEN (Big Thunder x 2, Space Mountain/Peter Pan (half of our family for one, half for the other in this cycle), Buzz Lightyear, Winnie the Pooh - which earned us a bonus one for PhilHarmagic -- Jungle Boat)

How I Endure Unpleasant Activities

When I was a kid, I couldn't wait until Christmas. It seemed like the distance from the current date to Dec. 25 was too long and would never pass. So I created a game. I'd figure out how much time was left between the current date and Christmas. Let's say it was one week. Then, I would go into the past the same length of interval to see what I was doing to see if that seemed like a really long time ago. So again, in the example, what was I doing one week ago. Then I'd say: "Well, that's not so long, I can make it!".

Now that I'm older and jaded, I do the same thing, but with unpleasant tasks. I think I started it on flights out west with the kids. As hours seem like days in that situation, I do it by hours and minutes..... "We only have 5 more hours on this flight. Five hours ago, we got up and started driving to the airport...." (Flight delays would really throw off this game, but fortunately, we haven't had any when traveling with the kids).

I'm playing the game right now. Toy Fair is next week, and while it's fun to be with the new toys and we work with great people, it's an extremely stressful period. But this time next week, it'll all be done. This time a week ago, I was searching for my desk, filing cabinet and other essential tools of being a bishop that had suddenly vanished from the bishop's and clerk's office. (There was a remodeling project at the chapel that I wasn't informed of....all is well). That doesn't seem like that long ago.....

So I can make it!

From the mouths of kids...

Last week, Matthew said the opening prayer in Family Home Evening. He said "And bless that nobody gets killed during Family Home Evening." Some might say it's just a modern-day wording of "get home safely", but considering the full-contact nature of many of our family home evenings, I think it's more of a sincere prayer.

Happy to report that no deaths occurred either last Monday or this week. In fact, no animals or humans were harmed in the creation of our most recent family home evenings....

Christmas Summation

Last year, I did a quick round up related to the success of Christmas gifts...and their longevity. Not to brag, but I think we did pretty good!

• Basketball standard for Josh: A

It helps to have clients in high places (we do work for Lifetime based in Clearfield, UT, and I was able to get some help in getting a basketball standard). We had it shipped to a neighbor's house then snuck it in after hours on Christmas Eve. It came in a million pieces, and the best Christmas gift was having that same neighbor call on 12/26 and offer to assemble it. What a relief....it called for 15 different tools; 10 of which I had never heard of!

But we now have an adjustable hoop in our driveway and it's been a real hit with Josh. When the weather is nice, we've had some nice basketball playing time. That will only increase once we get into spring. But it's a perfect thing to keep him active, get off the computer and Wii and is enjoyable. Yea, yea!

• Little Pet Shop toys for Caroline: A

Again, it helps to have friends in high places. A friend from a fellow agency sent me their 'clearance' LPS stuff a couple of days before Christmas. We used them to round out Caroline's bigger gifts, yet she seemed as pleased -- if not more so -- with the Pet Shop stuff. In fact, she said at one point that Santa must read minds as she hadn't even told Santa or her parents she wanted some LPS VIPs, yet she got it. Lucky guess, so to speak!

• GeoTrax for the younger boys: A+

OK, it's made by our rival toy company, but it's awesome. Matthew researched it out and knew exactly what he wanted this year. The Toys R Us catalog came in late November, he saw it and never wavered. He learned about it online, and he told Santa it's what he wanted.

We set it up on Christmas Eve (we had 3 sets combined) and he was thrilled when he saw it. They played it so much on Christmas we went through a set of batteries in one day. He continues to love it and it's got great creativity to it. No Santa regret here.

• Webkins: A-

The older two love their webkins, and Kathryn found the hard-to-find ones they wanted. Plus, they did a gift exchange to each other to get one more. They got what they want, and it makes them happy.

• Littlest Pet Shop Guess Who: A-

Simple easy game that can be played in 5 minutes before bed.

• Big TV for Kathryn: A+++

Santa can keep surprises. I ordered it online and had it sent to the same friend who got the hoop. Kathryn didn't have a clue. In fact, we said no gifts to each other. She really thought I believed that and hadn't gotten her a thing. On Christmas Eve she said "I wrapped a couple of things and put under the tree with a tag from you to me".

I snuck it in with the hoop, then wrapped it after she went to bed. After we saw the Santa stuff, I took her downstairs to see the big wrapped gift. Even then, she had no idea what might be in the box. The surprise when she unwrapped it was worth every penny. And she deserves it! She's hinted and waited for a good TV for 10 years of marriage -- in fact, we were still using the same TV that I brought into our marriage -- and it was 3 years old then! Sometimes husbands get it right (but not often)


• "Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs" for Mark: A

I had asked for one gift, and it was this book. It contains personal memoirs from famous and not famous people of exactly 6 words. Almost like a haiku! They are extremely insightful and funny. Samples: "Afraid of everything; did it anyway." "She said nothing could go wrong". "Made some good choices; got lucky". Here's one I wrote through the prism of a bishop: "Everyone deserves a mulligan or two."


• Funky Winkerbean comic books for Dad: A+

My dad and both love this comic strip but haven't seen it for years. I found some collection of the comics on line and gave it to him as an early birthday present when he came out after Christmas. Major major hit!

I Love NY

So living in NYC has a lot of challenges, so when you find an "I love NY" day, you have to celebrate it. In this case, it was actually two days.

Friday, we had a gorgeous snow day. It wasn't so bad that I could justify staying home from work, which is fine, because a snow day in the office is fun, too. Madison Square Park looked beautiful as the snow fell. Certainly, snowy NY isn't so pretty a day or two after a storm. But while it's happening and right after, it's totally beautiful. I'm very fortunate to have an office with such a great view of a park.

The storm and closeness to Christmas meant the clients had really evacuated already and I could just get things done without interruption.

I had to walk home from the train station to the house on Friday night (about 1.25 miles) as I didn't want Kathryn out on the roads. But the neighborhoods were so quiet and festive with lights that it was kind of fun.

Then on Saturday morning, I left the house around 5:30 a.m. to do the first session at the Manhattan temple. One of the blessings of NYC is having our intimate little temple. And at that time of the morning, it's not very busy --especially after the storm. So you feel like it's your own private temple. The first session is Spanish, so I have to wear headphones, but that's OK.

I bumped into the temple president afterward, who greeted me by name. That's always nice. I worked with him exactly a year ago in helping a disabled member attend the temple for the first time, and somehow he remembers my name and face. Can't imagine a temple president in a Utah temple making a point of greeting me personally.

Then, I wanted to head to my office to get all the left-over toy samples to distribute to families in the ward. So I exited the garage on 66th Street and drove across Central Park. Again, freshly fallen snow in the park looks beautiful.

I decided to drive down 5th Avenue to reach my office. I thought it might be crowded with tourists o'plenty, but it was early enough, and NYers don't awake from their slumber til mid morning. So I drove down an empty 5th Avenue, and went past the decked-out Plaza Hotel and FAO Scwartz. Then, under the big star hanging above the street. Then all the very decorated department stores and their windows that make 5th Avenue famous. Went by St. Patricks, and even got a glimpse of the Rockefeller Tree. It was so fun that I actually think I should take the kids for a drive along 5th Ave. early morning as part of a new family tradition.

Passed the main library....for some reason, no wreaths around the lion's necks this year.

Coming up to the Empire State Building, you almost miss it. You would think the tallest building in the city would dominate the road, but it's kind of hidden and you have to make a point of looking for it or you'll miss it. I ended down by the Flat Iron building at 23rd street, which is my favorite 'hidden treasure" of the city.

Then I escaped into my office, loaded up the van with Star Wars toys and headed home. Later that day, Kathryn took the older two kids into Grand Central and a Nutcracker performance (not THE famous performance but a nice one all the same).

With all the challenges of NY, you have to recognize the good and the fun that makes living here so great. Quite honestly, I'm happy to put up with the tough things because the good moments are so awesome. I love NY!!!

Print Edition on its Way!

Hi all:

Well, I had to let the online version lapse a bit while I got my feet underneath me on that bishop calling thing -- and I had to focus my attention to creating the annual print edition of the newsletter. But it's written, printed, and the first wave is out the door. The final copies should be in the mail by the morning.

Surprisingly, several of you have stated in your Christmas letter to us: "Hey, what's the deal? Where's the newsletter?" I'm happy to see that it's been noticed that I'm running a bit late. It also helps reinforce whose list we are because they like us and who just sends us a return card out of guilt because they got our card first.

Let me warn you that -- in keeping with the cutbacks and layoffs -- the newsletter is perhaps 60 percent less funny than previous years. No, this is more than just me trying to be like a campaign manager who manages expectations before his candidate debate. I just didn't have the time or the creative energy to keep it to previous year standards. The clock was ticking too loudly. It's still got a funny note or two, but don't un-subscribe after one weak season.

If you want to be part of a marketing focus group related to this year's letter, feel free to post comments here as to what you like in this year's letter or what you'd like improved in next year's version. I'll try next year to follow the politicians and make a product that appeals to all and offends to none. After all Christmas newsletters by committee is where it's at! :)

Yours in holiday cheer,

Mark