2008 ~February 7-11, Cheerleading Competition at Disney Orlando, Florida
A trip to Orlando, Florida, with a group of cheerleaders
I walked half a mile on the treadmill at the YMCA, worked out on the machines, and walked two and a half miles at Dilbert Park.
I saw Arnold Hughes while I was walking at Deibert Park. He was in a motorized wheelchair with Ruby's grandson and the grandson's girlfriend.
He said, "I live at J66 in the apartments next to the park." He had his little dog with him.
I went to Regency Square Mall, where I bought three sports jackets and a pair of Easy Spirit tennis shoes. At Victoria's Secret, I bought five pairs of panties and one pair of lipgloss.
When my husband got off work at 4:40 P.M., I picked up Hannah and Jake and ate dinner at Stanfield's Restaurant in Ford City.
I ordered grilled chicken fingers with sweet potato, Hannah ordered fried chicken fingers with french fries and a salad, Jake ordered buffalo wings with french fries, my husband ordered a steak baked potato with the salad bar, and we shared an order of fried mushrooms.
After dinner, my husband dropped Jake, Hannah, and myself off at their house, where I spent the night.
Jake and I watched a musical game show; I finished my CBS lesson and dressed for bed.
Day 1: February 8, Friday 2008
Hannah woke up at 1:30 A.M. She woke me up, but we both went back to sleep.
Robin woke us up at twenty-three. We dressed and loaded our luggage into the car, and Robin drove us to the Birmingham Airport. We arrived at 5:20 A.M. Robin dropped us off at the
We checked in at the southwest ticket counter and went through security.
We are on flight 1615, group B5, B6, ticket number BHMT607462.
The Rogers Varsity Cheerleaders attend the National High School Cheering Championship contest at Disney's Studio in Orlando, Florida.
I ate a Kasha bar and drank a can of Mt. Dew on the ride to Birmingham.
Hannah bought her a bottle of orange juice and a sandwich.
We departed Birmingham Airport at 6:55 A.M. and arrived at 8:55 A.M. in Orlando, Florida.
Hannah listened to her Pod, and I took pictures during the flight.
At 7:50, we were 200 miles from the Orlando airport.
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| Some of the girls from the Cheerleading group |
The UCA Bus is a bus that carries passengers to and from the Disney World Resort at no extra cost.
We had to wait until everyone's luggage was safely stored in the storage compartment at the bottom of the bus.
Everyone loaded onto the bus, and we were taken to The Sports Resorts, where we were staying.
Everyone was directed to a tent, where we were given instructions. The Cheerleaders were then taken to another tent for orientation and a group picture.
There were tables of bananas and oranges free to all the Cheerleaders and chaperons.
All the Cheerleaders bought tee shirts with National High Cheerleading Championship Center printed on the front and back.
Our luggage was unloaded from the bus, ticketed, and taken to our rooms; our carry-on bag was left in the chaperone's rooms.
I am in room 3717 with Vicky (Emily's mom), Patricia (Rachel's mom), and Beverly. (Chyna's mom)
A group of us women went to Disney Hollywood Studios and ate at Mama Melrose's Italian Ristorante in the back lot.
I ordered a meat and cheese sandwich with chips and a drink, and Hannah ordered a pizza, salad, and water.
The girls rode the Tower of Terror and the Rock-N-Roller Coaster at Disney Studios.
We took the shuttle bus to the Resort to get our luggage and room keys.
Everyone's luggage had been locked in one of the chaperon's rooms, but no one knew which room.
When everyone finally had their luggage, it was near supper time, so everyone ate at the food court, which was located at the NeResortour resort.
I ordered a parfait and a bottle of water.
That night, everyone went to the Magic Kingdom. The park will be open until 1:00 P.M. tonight for all the cheerleaders and their chaperones.
Day 2: February 9, Saturday 2008
I was up early, took a shower, walked outside, and got into the heated swimming pool for about an hour to relax my back and leg, which were aching from all the walking we had done yesterday.
I returned to my room, showered, and dressed for the day.
Hannah, Macy (Macy's mom), Tammy, and I rode the tram to Epcot. At Epcot, we rode the Test Track and Soaring.
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| Epcot ball |
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| Tammy |
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| Macy and Hannah at Epcot |
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| Hannah at Epcot |
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| Test Track at Epcot |
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| Sorning at Epcot |
We ate lunch at Lotus Blossom Café in China. We ordered sesame seed chicken with rice and drank green tea.
The food was delicious, and everyone commented that they enjoyed it.
After lunch, we rode the bus to the Animal Kingdom, where Hannah and Macy rode Mount Everest several times.
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| Mount Everest Roller Coaster Ride |
I rode a coaster in Dinoland with the girls, and we went to the Tree of Life to watch the Bug's Life movie.
We rode the bus to the Magic Kingdom, where the girls rode several rides. They had to return to the Sports Resorts by 6:00 P.M. for cheerleader practice.
Hannah and I ate at the food court, I ordered a grilled salmon salad with carrot cake, and Hannah ordered a chicken creaser salad and a slice of cake.
Hannah had to return to her room, and I went to downtown Disney with Savannah and her mom.
I was in bed by 10:00 P.M., the only night I had a good night's sleep.
Day 3: February 10, Sunday, 2008
Vicky woke up at 4:30 A.M. and took the girl to the NHCCC. They ate breakfast at 6:15 A.M.
Rachel came by with her mom (Patricia). They brought orange NHCCC tickets for everyone so we could join the cheerleading companionship.
That morning, China's mom stumped her toe. She thought she had broken it. It was dark in our room, so she did not see the chair on which she stumped her toe.
We all dressed and went to the NHCCC, which was located at Indiana Jones Theater in Disney Hollywood Studios.
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| NHCCC is located at Indiana Jones Theater in Disney Hollywood Studios. |
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| It's not the glitz of the uniform that matters but the spirit that shines within. |
Beverly, Patricia, Tammy, Judy (Katie and Hopes's mom), and I rode the USC bus to Disney Studios; the girls will compete at 9:15 today.
Beverly was able to get a wheelchair because of her stumped toe.
We all went to the Tower of Terror when the girls finished their competition.
Everyone had to reassemble at the Indian Jones Theater at 12:15 P.M. when the winners would be announced. The girls came in 18 of 24.
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| Macy, Hope, Katie, and Hannah on the end |
People who went to Orlando with us were Zion, Weston, Kevin, Moyer (Bonnies' family); Macy's, mom Tammy, Renee, Laken, Tiffany, Judy (Katie and Hope's mom); Savannah and her mom; Danielle, Ashley, Sarah, Lindsey, Morgan, Jordon, Rachel, her mom Patricia; Emily's mom Vicky; Chyna's mom Beverly.
While Hannah was gone to change out of her cheerleader's clothes, I walked over to the Star Wars stage, where I saw Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and some stormtroopers performing.
They let boys and girls fight against Darth Vader using their lightsabers.
I recorded the performances with my camera.
Hannah and some girls rode the rocking roller coaster and the Tower of Terror.
We went into some of the shops in Disney Studios, where I bought four-park cinch at Mickey's of Hollywood for $21.25, some Carmel popcorn, and water.
Hannah bought a ring and a pair of Minnie earrings.
We rode the bus back to our room to return Hannah's cheerleader bag, and I put my camera, money, and room card into my new four-park cinch bag, which I had bought at Mickey's of Hollywood.
Macy, Vickey, Hannah, and I rode back to the Magic Kingdom, where we got a fast pass to ride the Big Thunder Mountain Coaster at 3:10 P.M. The ride broke down, so we did not get to use our fast passes.
We all rode the Haunted Mansion ride and took the Jungle Cruise.
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| Standing in line at the Haunted Mansion |
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| Hurst at the Haunted Mansion |
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| Macy & Hannah at the Haunted Mansion |
Macy, Vickey, and Hannah rode the bus baResortthe Resort, and I took the tram over to Epcot by myself.
I tasted Coke from several different countries at the Coke building.
I started walking around the countries, starting with Mexico, where I took a cruise along the canal, viewing the scenes of the Mexico country.
In America, Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain took me on a journey where I saw the Pilgrims and the Mayflower, the Boston Tea Party, the writing of the Declaration of Independence, Valley Forge and the Revolutionary War, slavery and the Civil War, the suffering of Native Americans, the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, the founding of Yosemite National Park, World Wars I and II, and a series of images depicting the people & events of recent history.
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| America at Epcot |
At Liberty Inn, I ate a grilled chicken sandwich with fries and a fruit bowl. (The fruit bowl contained grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, and muskmelon.)
I walked through some of the shops in Japan, and I took pictures of the Roman statues in Rome.
Darkness started falling onto the different countries, and I stopped taking pictures.
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| Your first introduction to the Mexican pavilion is a pre-Colombian pyramid surrounded by lush landscaping fashioned after a Yucatan jungle. |
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| Norway's attraction is Maelstrom. |
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| Norway's attraction is Maelstrom. |
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| China Pavilion |
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| Lotus Blossom Café in the China Pavilion, where we ate lunch |
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| The centerpiece of the cobblestoned German Platz (plaza) in the World Showcase's Germany is a fountain with a statue of St. George slaying a dragon. |
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Italy PavilionThe 83-foot belltower in the World Showcase's Italy is an authentic replica of the original Campanile in St. Mark's Square. |
I walked to France, where I watched a movie scene from Impressions de France, which included Normandy, Loire Valley, Cognac, Cannes, and Paris. The movie was about 18 minutes long.
The curator was French, and he spoke both English and French.
While standing in line in France, I started talking to two women from Ohio. I asked them how many more countries were there, and they said just a few more, Canada being the last one.
In England, I made a mask of different countries. I met three young girls, two from Manchester, England, and one from Scotland. The girl from Scotland said she would meet her family later that year in Hawaii.
The last country I visited was Canada, where I watched an 18-minute film about Canada narrated by Martin Short, a native of Canada.
The two women I had met in America were waiting for me in Canada. After the film ended, we all walked to an area where we could watch the Epcot Ball explode and spin in the sky.
I rode the bus to Animal Kingdom, waiting for Hannah, Katie, Hope, and Judy.
While waiting for them, I started talking to two women from Ohio whose daughters had won first place in the NHCC that day.
The Animal Kingdom stayed open late, and the girls wanted to ride Expedition Everest. Katie rode the ride, but Hannah decided it was too cold. We walked over to the Resturanto Saurus, where I ate a piece of strawberry shortcake. It was the only restaurant open, and it was warm inside.
When we returned to the Disney Resort, it was 12 P.M. I took a shower, talked to Vicki, and packed for our journey home tomorrow.
Day 4: February 11, Monday, 2008
Vickie's mom had her clock set to go off at 2:30 A.M. When she got up, she took a shower and dressed.
I had showered the night before, so I dressed and finished packing.
When everyone was ready, we walked to the bus that would take us to the airport.
Everyone had to load their luggage into the bus's basement and be on the bus by 4:14 A.M.
When we arrived at the airport, everyone collected their luggage, walked to the ticket counter, checked their bags, went to security, and then went to gate 28B Southwest Airlines.
Hannah purchased a tee shirt at the gift shop; I bought a bacon and egg sandwich and a bottle of orange juice.
We boarded the plane at 6:30 A.M. and were in the air by 6:50 A.M.
Mike was waiting to pick us up, Hannah slept all the way home, and I gave Mike the other half of my sandwich I had not eaten.
We were home by 11:30 A.M.
I ate a hot dog and salsa with chips for lunch, turned on the TV, and slept.
Lora called at 2 P.M. to ask if I wanted to go with her to pick up Meadow, but I said no because I was too tired.
She said she had met with the Board of Education about Meadow; they had words, and she left crying.
That night for supper I made chicken stir-fry.
I went to the dollar store to buy chips, bread, and candy. When I returned, I called my sister Beck to talk to her about Mom and Dad.
I watched TV until 12 P.M.
Cheerleading Competition at Disney Orlando, Florida February 7-11, 2008
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