Conference koolit::disney

    	Hmmm, doesn't Typhoon Lagoon have something like that???  There
    may be something in Tampa or Miami that has that service.
    
    Tom

    
    At Typhoon lagoon they have a pool called the Shark reef You swim from
    one end of the pool to the other, swimming amongst Small Sharks and
    a selection of sea fish. I was at the Lagoon last year but didn't see
    any Dolphins at all in the park. You could always go to see world
    strip off and jump in with the Dolphins there, but you'll probably then 
    get trown out of the park.
    
    Andy..B 

    I think that Sea World has some type of class were you can get behind
    the scenes and work with the trainers.  Maybe you can call there,
    find out the costs and details and let us know.   You could always hope
    that you will be picked to help out in the show.   I do know that you
    are allowed to feed the dolphins fish bought from a vendor in the park.  
    
    I hope this helps.            
    
    Rose East

Hello Everyone,

This message was composed well over a week ago but I decided to enter it
into the conference on my last day before going on vacation.

The last several years have been very difficult for all of us. We
have all lost many friends to the TFSO demon. Our conference
alone has lost several moderators via this route and two have
left by their own hand.

Those of you who have frequented this conference may recall those
days when it was impossible to catch up with all the daily notes.

One thing I've noticed about this conference is that it has very
few references to the company's woes.

I think we all feel that our infatuation with the Disney culture
offers us a chance to escape and leave our troubles behind.
Speaking of "escape" I'd like to talk a bit about my trip.

Last year at this time I made reservations for one last Scopa family fling
down in Orlando. With everything happening around me I constantly
second-guessed my plans. Why spend the money? Why use the
vacation time? What if I got TFSO'd?

We all worry about that these days. Well, while all this is
happening time is passing by and those of us who have children
are seeing them grow up real fast.

With my kids getting into the mid teens I felt that this would be
the last time we would be able to vacation together before
college and other things start getting in the way.

I have been torn between cancelling the trip and going ahead with it.

This letter is an indication that I have decided to go ahead with
my trip. Many of my friends, not necessarily noters, have told me
they have put themselves in my position and wondered what I was
going through in making my decision.

I thought I would let all of you in on why I've decided to go
ahead with my plans. Maybe this will help you sometime in the
future when you have some tough decisions to make; decisions
other than those that involve a trip to WDW.

This may be my family's last chance to spend some time together
as a family at our favorite vacation spot. Can anyone put a value on that?

With all that's been happening with this company we all
need to find solace or escape somewhere. I've said this before
and I will say it until I'm blue in the face....the Walt Disney
World Resort promotes itself by saying it will "make all your dreams
come true."

To me that means leaving my cares and worries behind me. Let's
face it...all of you reading this note right now believe
that...some more than others...but you believe it. We all
need to "recharge" from time to time. It's time for me to
recharge. All of you know, or should know, when it's time for you
to recharge.

Life is too short not to know when it's time to recharge.

My organization will be reducing it's headcount considerably
over the next year...most likely the next six months.

Will I be among those who stay or go? That's out of my hands.
Knowing this I still am going ahead with my vacation plans. I
can't let a Sword of Damocles run my life. 

If I were to look at this decision from the outside in I would
probably question it....but from where I stand it feels like the
right thing to do.

It also falls in line with the philosophy of an old soldier who
convinced me to "enjoy today" as his last words to me before he
left this world. 

I guess this note is trying to convey this message to all of
you. Do what's right for you.

I hope that upon my return that all of you are around to read
what I promise will be the absolute best trip report I can submit
to this great conference. I take not only my immediate family
with me to Orlando but also you, my extended family. I hope that
you will be able to "escape" with me when you read the report. 

I wish everyone the best for this July and am looking forward to
whatever adventure awaits me when I return.

Take care everyone and remember,



        H  A  K  U  N  A        M  A  T  A  T  A !


Mike

Mike,

I agree 100%.

We're doing the same.

Doug

Mike,

Last July I was working for a company that had bid on a large government
project and lost. Everyone in the company was worried that they were going
to loose their job. The company was going to have to reduce it's employee
count from about 150 to less than 50.

I had made plans to go to Disney with my wife. I was just waiting to see
what was happening with this contract before I put down my deposits. It was
the last time we would get to go down before we had kids. (My wife was 4
months pregnant at the time.)

Because we lost the contract we decided not to go.

Dumbest thing I've ever done.

I did lose my job a I wish we had gone anyways.

It took me three months to find another job. (I changed industries and changed
careers.) The job I have now is better and it pays more. Things always work
out in the end. If you do lose your job work hard to find another one and you
will.

Now my wife have a cute 6 month old and we can hardly wait to take her to
Disney. We know we will not be able to do some of the more exciting rides for
a few years but it will be exciting to see Jessica's reaction to WDW.

But I really wish I had taken that trip last summer. It will probably be 18
years before we get to go by ourselves.

Have fun on your trip.

geoff

    I went through the same analysis before we went in May. Actually I went
    through it twice. Once  when we actually made the reservations and
    again the week before the final payment was due. That week was awful!
    It was coming up to the point of no return for the trip, and people
    were saying goodbye at work everyday.
    
    Finally I rationalized that we might as well go for it, as we had
    already saved the money and the trip would be paid for before we left. 
    Once the final payment was made, a great burden was lifted and I never 
    gave it another thought. We had a great time and I'm glad we went. No
    matter what happens in the future it was a worthwhile trip!
    
    Have a great time!
                      

    Just another thought....
    
    If you are a longer time DECIE you most likely have a more weeks of
    vacation time.  If you are about to be TSFO'd or decide to move on this
    is the time...forget the money.  Imagine going to a new company and
    getting the usual 2 weeks again (12 months later).
    
    Have a good time (although I know you have left by now).
    
    -Jay
    

    I can't wait to read this trip report. These are my means of escaping
    when I need my fix! It's a long time until my next 'planned' trip which
    will be in '96 and I haven't been since 92. But I do have a card up my
    sleeve...next year I will be marrying the most woderful woman in the
    world (Hi Kelly!) and we're going though all the aggrivation of trying
    to plan a wedding. I thought about it for a while and then brought the
    idea up to her, 'what do you think about getting married in WDW?' Let's
    just take all that money and have the most unforgetable wedding ever!
    She read the note in here about wedding at the 'World' and fell in love
    with idea! We're gathering info now and should now more soon. It's one
    of my favorite places on earth so why not start our new lives there?
    This conference is a great escape for me (as I'm sure a lot of you can
    relate to). I would probably do as most of you would, plan a trip and
    stick to the plans. The world will be here when you have to come back
    to reality, in the mean take the trip and while there, 'make a wish
    upon a star, dreams really do come true'!
    
    Dan