Boy and Girl's Happily Ever After trip

[wdwtravels]

Prologue

Once upon a time in a small town in the South West of England lived a Boy and a Girl.

One dark blustery night in October, Boy turned to Girl and asked her to be his wife, and the Girl, of course said yes… on one condition… that they be married within the sight of a Princess’ Castle, in the Happiest Place on Earth. And luckily for her the Boy agreed.

And so after months of planning and DISing and TGMing and dreaming of wedding dresses and glass slippers the Boy and Girl embarked on their Fairy Tale Wedding trip… but that is a whole other story, for this my friends, is the tale of their Happily Ever After…

[wdwtravels]

Chapter One: Relishing the memories of a Fairy Tale Wedding, and how the Happily Ever After trip came to be

On a cold February day, not three months after the return from their Fairy Tale Wedding trip Girl got a familiar feeling, an itch so to speak, and she knew that it was time… to request a return to the Happiest Place on Earth.

“But we only just got back” said Boy,

“Yes”, said Girl, “but it’s our first anniversary, and we’ll never have another of those, and you did promise me a trip for my 30th birthday.”

Boy laughed: “But that was before we went there to be married…”

And I’m sure dear friends you can imagine what happened next, Girl started researching, checking prices, asking fellow DISers for cheap hotel recommendations and codes for car hire. Within days Girl had filled a notebook with pages of calculations and options; plan As and plan Bs.

And she presented these to Boy, with her sweetest smile… and Boy handed over the credit card and told her to book it.

And so it came to be that on November 4, Boy and Girl found themselves seated on a Continental airline, bound for the Land of the Mouse…

[wdwtravels]

Chapter Two – Planning, planning planning

Of course there are several long months between February and November, and in this time Boy had a birthday, watched the World Cup and played on his PS2, while Girl planned, and DISed and TGMed and planned some more.

She filled her notebook with park hours, parade times, places to eat, unusual places to take photographs, things to buy, which rides were closed and when, and other such important information.

And there were t-shirts to design, and postcards to make, and luggage tags and other printable activities.

And as this was their first DIY trip, accommodation was considered, and reconsidered, and booked and cancelled and booked again. What started out as a shoestring trip with a room at the Fairfield Inn became 13 nights in a 3-bedroom villa with a private pool, and a secret night at the Animal Kingdom Lodge thrown in for good measure.

And then, with all planning complete, and the bags packed, and passports and tickets in hand, Boy and Girl were finally ready to embark on this, their Happily Ever After trip.

[OhMari]

You have a great intro.....

[Davidsmommy]

I was intrigued by your intro (great!), and read your entire wedding report. It was wonderful!!!

Looking forward to this trip! :sunny:

[UP Disney]

I love your intro. Can't wait to read more!

[tinawv]

Looking forward to reading more. :)

[tinknme]

Great start Clare, look forward to more!

[wdwtravels]

Thanks for reading everyone - I'm having fun writing this one.

Davidsmommy - I'm glad you enjoyed my wedding TR, as you can see this one is going to be quite different! In a good way I hope, but we'll see as it unfolds... :rolleyes:

I must warn you all that I'm about to post the next chapter... and it's quite long... I'm sure they won't all be like this but do let me know if they send you to sleep!

Clare

[wdwtravels]

Chapter three – how many flights does it take to visit the Mouse?

Girl was awoken by the alarm at a very early 6am, to allow for a good breakfast and last minute panic packing, oh and a high impact aerobics session; to ward off the DVT... At 7.30 Boy was woken by the smell of bacon sandwiches, handed his travelling clothes, and bundled into the shower… And finally, at 8.15, Girl and Boy rounded up the two suitcases, duffel bag, back pack and carry on, and with a last check around the house, marched out into the freezing cold morning.

The cumbersome cases made the 4 minute walk to the bus stop a little longer… have you ever tried pulling two trolley cases down a hill? The phrase; “the dog took me for a walk” springs to mind! Of course neither Boy nor Girl were very impressed when half way down the hill the airport bus sailed past…

Now had they been anywhere else in the world the bus might have waited… after all if you see a couple being dragged down the road by two run-away cases you could hazard a guess that they were headed for the airport, but alas, this is Bristol, and that was not the case.

So it was that Boy and Girl found themselves, cases reprimanded and brought to heel, standing at a bus stop, at 8.30am on a cold November morning waiting for another bus.

Some feet stamping and hand clapping was enough to ward off the cold and before long another bus came into view… “woohoo” exclaimed Girl, “we’re going to Disney!”…

The bus ride was short and sweet, and by 8.50 Boy and Girl were walking smugly up to the Continental Airlines online bag drop… isn’t it great how online check in lets you secure fire exit seats and then bypass the queue of disgruntled travellers at the airport?

The next two hours passed quickly, what with emptying bags and pockets for security, stocking up on water for the flight, and a quick read of The Sun. Before long the flight was being called, and Boy and Girl’s adventure was really about to begin… that is of course after an impromptu pat down by the security staff on the way out to the tarmac!

The flight was uneventful; books were read, PSP games were played, and some episodes of Criminal Minds and Xmen cartoons helped pass the time. Just as boredom began to bite the pilot announced the descent into Newark airport, and Boy and Girl were distracted by the New York skyline.

As the wheels touched down Boy and Girl began to prepare for the first obstacle of the trip, making the connection to the next flight…

Hand luggage was collected, and once off the plane they walked as fast as they could to immigration… where they were faced with a “Disney shuffle” of great proportion… “Blimey” remarked Girl, “we’ll be here for an hour! I’m so glad we didn’t dilly dally like the rest of our flight.”

Of course there was a law at play in the immigration hall that day, the law of sod; for as Boy and Girl neared the front of the queue they were told to “pick a booth, any booth” and yes, you’ve guessed it, behind the booth they chose sat the world’s slowest official, and as they stood in line they watched all of those dilly dallying passengers head through to collect their luggage!

With a last minute booth switch getting them to the front of the line a bit quicker they had their fingers printed and their photo snapped, and arrived at the baggage carousel just in time to see their cases appear.

And so they sped through the customs line – nothing to declare here – and dumped their cases in an ever growing pile before being directed to departures. “I wonder” said Girl, crossing her fingers “how on earth our cases are going to arrive in Orlando when we do…”

At the top of the stairs they were faced with a huge crowd of shoeless people, which was of course not some sort of tribal gathering, but the queue for security. “It’s ok” said Boy, grabbing Girl’s hand “there are three of these, and if we go to the next one the queue will be shorter.”

And what would you know, Boy was right. So they joined a slightly smaller queue of shoeless people, and once again emptied pockets and removed laptops, and despite being ridiculed for their cardboard boarding passes “what, paper not good enough for you two?” they made it, without a beep, or a pat down, to the other side.

By now it was nearing 3.30, giving Boy and Girl just enough time to wolf down a cardboard McDonalds, and visit the bathroom; “hooray we’re in the USA, but why is there a one inch gap around the toilet door, I get nervous with people watching me pee”, before boarding the next flight at 3.40. “What’s with the cardboard boarding passes?” Says the attendant, “You gonna give someone a paper cut?” “Geez” said Girl “I just wanted to make sure they didn’t get crumpled!”

It appears the flight has been overbooked, and the lucky recipient of a first class upgrade prefers to sit with his wife and elderly mother in steerage, leaving a mother and child unable to sit together. Girl and Boy watch in vague amusement as the air hostesses try and complete a giant IQ puzzle, who to move passengers around the plane to ensure that all interested parties can sit together. Girl did of course consider volunteering for the seat in First Class, but that didn’t seem fair to Boy, who is a very nervous flyer.

Entertainment over, and all passengers seated somewhat satisfactorily, the plane left the runway at 4.15, on course for the Land of the Mouse.

After some complaints about the lack of leg room, how dare Continental switch planes and cause Boy and Girl to be sitting in a row with no fire exit, and a small nap, these rather tired but excited travellers found themselves leaving the cramped plane behind and boarding the monorail for the main terminal.

By 7.30 the luggage had been collected and loaded into the rental car, and Boy and Girl hit the road, driving on the wrong side, which of course is the right side, and within the hour, and only one U-turn, were pulling up in front of the villa which was to be called home for the next 13 nights.

“Looks good from the outside,” said Girl, as she typed the code into the key store to free the key. She handed it to Boy so he could open the door, and waited to step into the hall. As the door opened and Girl peered inside she let out a gasp, for there, where you would expect to see a hallway, with a place to store your hats and coats, was a swimming pool! A real Narnia moment if ever there was one.

Tiredness suddenly forgotten Girl and Boy went from room to room, exploring their new surroundings and exclaiming, about the size of the tv, and the fact there was a pool in the house, and the size of the rooms, and the fact there was a pool in the house, and the entertainment system, and the pool that was in the house… I think you get the picture!

Sanity returned, Boy and Girl drove the short five minutes to the local Publix, for breakfast supplies, and then returned “home” where Girl smiled at the pool, pulled some pyjamas from the suitcase, and Boy and Girl collapsed into their four poster bed, and slept a well-deserved sleep.

[Steamboat Marti]

Clare - you have missed your calling - you should have been a writer! Please don't make us wait long for the next installment!!!!!!!

[saschab]

Great trip report so far...I'm in. :thumbsup2

[tink2020]

Clare! I love it so far, absolutely love it! :love:

[wdwtravels]

Ah gee :blush: you guys are too kind!

I will try and get the next day's rambling live sometime this weekend :)

[Blueeyes101817]

Clare i love it!!!
I didnt know you flew into Newark, thats not too far from me!
cant wait to read more!

[serendipity]

oh no. there's no more! please hurry I'm intrigued. You have a great writing style. Just two questions. Wha is TGMed and where did you stay? You're room sounds amazing!

[kimwim8]

Hi Clare! I came over to read your trip report after seeing serendipity comment about it on her trip report! Your report is GREAT so far!

I can't wait to read more. In fact, I'm gonna back track and go read about your wedding! :wave:

[yellowfish78]

Can't wait for more Claire!

[OhMari]

:confused3 Update. Please!

[Temair]

Wow what a nice place to stay. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your trip.

[LindaBabe]

Can't wait for more Claire!

And there was a pool IN the house??! Can't WAIT for more! popcorn::

[wdwtravels]

OMG I have people waiting for the next installment?? Now I feel guilty :guilty:

I have a lot of stuff going on "in real life" at the moment but I'll get to the next part as soon as I can I promise!

BTW - we stayed in a 3-bed villa in Lindfields Boulevard just down the 192 from Disney - about 10 minutes from the Animal Kingdom :)

Oh and TGM - is Tour Guide Mike - he has a website that you subscribe to and gives you advice on how to beat the crowds - and it works! He sponsors the TPAS board here on the DIS too.

[FSUDisneyGirl]

This trip report is fun...I hope you have pictures of the pool! :cool1:

Can't wait for more! :goodvibes

[Tinkaroo]

Great job thus far, Clare! I can't wait to read more. :thumbsup2

[Cinderella16]

Wonderful TR so far! That villa sounds amazing! :goodvibes

[wvgoofyfan]

Waiting patiently :confused3 for more!

[Cinderella2004]

Great start!!! We have to wait for 13 more days???:confused3 LOL!!!

We'll be here when the next installment is posted!

[sharonW]

Please hurry, the suspense is killing me!
Must hear all about the trip and soon!!:)

[wdwtravels]

Hello dear readers, apologies for making you wait so long for the next instalment - but real life got in the way!

Before we rejoin Boy and Girl, let's have a quick re-cap of past events: {of course if this trip report were a tv show we'd have a voice over - so imagine if you will a deep voice - like the one from Lost:}

"Previously on this Trip Report…"

So Boy met Girl, they fell in love, one day Boy proposed and Girl said yes, and after months of planning and family dramas, Boy and Girl stood together at Sunset Pointe, in sight of Cinderella's Castle, and swore to be together for ever, and so they lived happily ever after…

And then they decided to return to their Happy Place to celebrate their anniversary, so after months of planning, and DISing, and hotel switching, they made their intrepid journey across the Atlantic, braving the chaos at Newark, excitedly boarding the monorail at MCO and getting ever so slightly lost on the 192, before arriving safe and sound in their villa which was to become "home" for the next two weeks…

And so we find Boy and Girl where we left them, sound asleep dreaming Disney dreams, well sort of, after all this their first night in a strange bed, with a not so comfortable mattress, and there's the small issue of jet lag to content with… Girl finds herself awake at 4am (it's 9am at home and that's a lie in!) she tosses and turns, sleep eluding her, then Boy is awake, with a sore head, so Girl gets up and rummages through the suitcase, triumphantly locating the small pharmacy she has brought with her! Tablets swallowed Boy falls back asleep, and eventually so does Girl.

The next thing she remembers it's light in the room, and there's a strange noise coming from the other side of the window… looking wearily at the clock she sees that it's now 8.30am… time for a little more sleep perhaps…

Suddenly Girl sits upright in bed, hang on, there's no time to be sleeping, she's on vacation, in sunny Florida no less, and that noise, is the pool… that's in the house!

Girl leaps out of bed and heads to her suitcase, where cleverly she had packed her swimsuit as the last item… pjs discarded and swim suit on she heads into the lounge and slides open the door… now that's a sight she'd like to see everyday; a pool, water glistening in the sun, with no one around to share it with.

The pool is slightly chilly, but not enough to stop Girl enjoying a relaxing swim. {bliss}

Swimming done, Girl gets showered and dressed, fixes some breakfast and then unpacks the cases, just as she's finishing up Boy comes into the room looking sleepy.

Girl excitedly hands over his swim shorts, exclaiming how nice the pool is and sends him off for a refreshing swim while she fixes him some toast.

By 10.40 both are dressed and fed and feeling refreshed and buckled up in the car, ready to head for the Florida Mall…

A little retail therapy...

Once on the 192 headed East Girl realises she can't quite remember the way to the mall, and it's not on the map, "never mind" she tells Boy, "we've been there loads of times we'll remember the way".

Famous last words I hear you say, and you'd be right, for they did take a little detour, although Girl called it the 'scenic route', on a road with no traffic banked by lovely housing estates {reserves I think they're called in the US}; "look" said Girl, "this must be where the real people live!"

By 11.40 they were safely parked up at the mall - not a bad detour really!

Although the mall was slated to open at 11am it appeared that most of the stores were closed, so Girl and Boy decided to hit the near empty food court and get an early lunch.

Boy chose some chicken strips from the KFC, and Girl had a Cheese Slice from Sbarro - $8

Tummies refuelled they headed off for some retail therapy.

The trip wasn't as successful as they'd hoped - for despite dollars burning a whole in their pockets they couldn't find much to spend them on - which is unusual.

Girl really wanted to buy a digital video camera, to capture the holiday memories, but no one in the stores seemed to know whether a US camera could be used back home in sunny England. Girl eventually gave up in desperation and suggested they try and find the Circuit City.

Once back on the road Girl's satellite navigation tendencies clicked in, and they arrived at the Circuit City in no time. Finding the video camera wasn't quite so easy, the staff still weren't sure about using cameras abroad, and Girl had a panic and almost decided not to bother… but half an hour later they emerged victorious and headed back to the villa.

It's a wonderful sight…

After a quick nap and a swim Boy and Girl headed out to Perkins for dinner.

Boy tucked into a French Dip {roast beef & cheese sandwich,} while Girl enjoyed a chicken strip meal -$26

By 6.30pm they were heading up Sherberth Road, the {infamous} shortcut onto Disney property, and on their way to the Magic Kingdom. Once again Girl's Sat Nav skills let them down, but they arrived safely at the TTC by 7.10pm.

"Hooray we're here" said Girl, hopping up and down as they boarded the tram.

"Woo hoo" she said as they boarded the Monorail.

And before she knew it they were walking up Main Street, and breathing in the magic…

The plan had been to arrive in time for Spectro Magic, but the parade wasn't due to start until 8pm, so they decided to head over to PotC and see if they could catch a glimpse of Cap'n Jack. Luck was in and the board said a 5 minute wait, which of course meant a walk on, and Boy and Girl settled themselves into the back row of the boat and waited with quiet anticipation to see what magic had been worked on this wonderful ride.

As the boat moved off Girl held her breath and looked around in awe at the new additions that only made the ride even better than before, as they approached the drop Boy said; "I wonder if they've made it longer - it was a bit rubbish before"… just then the boat teetered over the edge and Girl's stomach did a flip… "wow it looks like they did" she replied.

{for those of you who have ridden the rehabbed ride you will know that the drop is actually still the same as before, but the lesson that Girl and Boy learned today is that if you sit in the back row the drop seems much bigger!}

Oh and then of course there was the one and only, the infamous, Cap'n Jack… looking as realistic as ever an animatronic could… it's a good job the boat's on a track because it was in danger of capsizing as everyone looked back over their shoulders to get another glimpse!

Back on dry land, and humming the tune to "Yo Ho Yo Ho" Boy and Girl headed up past the Magic Carpets and down an alley next to the Ice Cream stand, and came out near the Shooting Arcade, and the perfect spot to catch the parade.

Girl found herself a comfortable piece of pavement to sit on, while Boy stood behind, and before long the wonderful parade began…

{on this magic night, a million stars will…}

Girl loves this parade, the music and the lighted floats are just magical, it's such a pity it's not shown every evening.

When the parade had passed by Boy and Girl headed back through the {secret passage} darted past the Spitting Camels, and the Dole Whip stand and out onto Main Street.

The plan for this trip was to find the best place to watch Wishes… one even better than the Tomorrowland bridge, and the spot for tonight was the flag pole outside the train station… it was already busy when they arrived so they squeezed themselves in to a space and stood and waited.

Wishes as usual was amazing, beautiful, magical, the best fireworks in the World - both Disney and literally… the viewing spot however left something to be desired, perhaps it would work at any other time of the year, but tonight the Christmas decorations on Main Street blocked the view… "oh well" Girl said to Boy, "we have plenty more opportunities to find the perfect spot!"

And with that they boarded the monorail, found the car, and half an hour later were back in their villa, collapsing wearily into bed, dreaming Disney dreams of Cap'n Jack, and light parades, Jiminy Cricket and fireworks...

[tink2020]

HOORAY, another installment! It was lovely Clare... please don't make us wait as long for the next one! :teeth: