“It’s always Magical” BCV, Tortola 6/20, & AKL Kidani (June 17, 2009 – June 28, 2009

[DVC Mary]

***“It’s always Magical” BCV, Tortola 6/20, & AKL Kidani (June 17, 2009 – June 28, 2009)

My Family:

Me “DVC Mary” aka “the planner” or “the DIS-tard”
DH “Enginerd”
DS “Tween” (12)
DS “Lab Rat” (9)


***DIS-claimer: This is my 1st TR ever. It can in no way compete w/ Royal Vizier's hilarious TR. The "Dapplebeans" are WAY COOLER than us. But it was such a different experience this cruise than my previous ones, that I wanted to share it. "It's always Magical!" represents the opinions of DVC Mary, despite being influenced by many wonderful DISers.

This offer not valid in the state of confusion, DCL post-cruise depression, the continental United States, or the state of Alaska.


Lessons learned this trip will be in blue:

Lesson#1 : I still didn't bring enough white underwear. :lmao: (Details to follow later.)

Lesson#2 : Some medical mishap will happen to my family just before or during every Disney trip. Be prepared w/ medicine, band-aids, etc, & the phone numbers to the local pharmacy/hospital. It will still be magical--no matter what illness/injury befalls this family.

Two days before we left I thought our medical issue was going to be easy.


“Lab Rat” looked like this:



http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss15/DVCMary/DSC_0226-1.jpg



No problem....warm compresses for a day or two & it should be gone.



Tuesday Obsessive Packing w/ the Enginerd, the Planner, & the Tween


Lesson #3: No matter how early we try to pack, we will still pack until the wee hours of morning just before our flight.


The Enginerd starts to pack:

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss15/DVCMary/DSC_0001.jpg


We layout the Disney clothes, park necessities, cruise necessities, etc—weeks & days ahead of time, but we still can’t get it together. Yes, we have a list, a spreadsheet, etc. I blame myself who finds more fun in the planning than the packing. I blame my wonderfully organized Enginerd DH who likes things packed just right & stresses over every detail. And for the 1st time ever I blame the Tween, who took more clothes than all of us b/c he suddenly cares deeply about what he wears. And preferably it is from Hollister, Abercrombie, etc.

No more cute matching Disney t-shirts--well maybe one to pacify the planner. Hardly any Disney clothes at all! :eek: What was happening to my 1st born child? The child who I had my 1st magical trip to WDW w/ at the age of 2.5 years old. The child who brought out the child in me & made me fall in love w/ Disney more than I could ever imagine… The child who inspired the Enginerd to buy into DVC on our 1st trip ever to Disney…

The child who said to me this year:

“Mom do we have to go to the parks? Couldn’t we just hang out at the resorts?”

Huh? :confused:

Who was this child?

The child who rode Tower of Terror at 2.5 years old w/ a giant grin ... while his 15 yr old uncle :scared1: hung on for dear life w/ his eyes shut. (Yes, he was tall for his age & we had no clue what the ride was. This was before I found the DIS.)


Was this the beginning of the end or just a new phase in our Disney vacations?

Was he just a walking advertisement for DVC’s wonderful resorts?

Coming soon.....

Wednesday Wistfulness & Smugness

[RoyalVizier]

***DIS-claimer: This is my 1st TR ever. It can in no way compete w/ Royal Vizier's hilarious TR. The "Dapplebeans" are WAY COOLER than us.

Waaaahhhhhoooooo! :woohoo:

Trip report cross promotion! Bring it on bay-beeeeeee! :dance3:

[anetnmike]

Mary, you go girl!:woohoo:

[alldiz]

Great start.....you are very funny:lmao:
Looking forward to more:yay::surfweb:
Kerri:yay:

[alwayslisad]

ok I am readyyyyyyyyyyy - keep it coming ! :cloud9:

[DVC Mary]

Wednesday Wistfulness & Smugness

Tween & I arrived Orlando airport at 10:00. Enginerd & Lab Rat had flown in early that morning. They flew on frequent flier miles. If we wanted the pleasure of a long layover in Dallas, we would’ve had to pay an extra $100 +. Tween & I flew direct. We sat smugly on our direct flight thinking we had the better end of the deal.


As I sat there ready to :jumping3: out of my seat w/ excitement that we were finally on our way, I became wistful :cloud9: for the magic of the old days. Why? As I dreamed of being in front of the castle :tink: or enjoying the beauty of being onboard the Magic, was my 1st born watching a Disney movie? (Last trip it was POC.) Was he doing a Disney crossword I had printed out months in advance for fear he might get bored? Was he reading my meticulous plans (printed out in daily format & in triplicate)? Was reviewing the Tortola Navigators that I had downloaded onto my laptop?


No . . . . .


What was he doing?

He was trying to text using the airport’s Wi-Fi on his new iTouch. Remember, we’re on the plane & it’s getting ready to leave the gate. He's complaining that he's losing the signal as we taxi toward the tarmac. :lmao:

Next, the Tween was watching Twilight, which he had downloaded, and he was reading one of the Twilight novels. I didn't even know he knew how to download a movie on to his new iTouch.

What was happening to my Disney loving child? :earboy2:

My how things had changed. Yes, my kids still LOVE Disney, but some of the innocence & magic has diminished at times. In the old days, we would watch EVERY Disney animated movie during the month before a Disney trip. We would play Disney Scene-It so we were ready for any trivia ops that came along. I just have to trust that when we get to WDW & the boat the Magic will kick in. "It's always Magical!" (Mantra in my head as I try to figure out how my vacations are starting to change w/ a tween & soon teenager. :scared1:

Back to Smugness:

I’m :jumping3: out of my seat again as we arrive at Orlando’s Int’l Airport. I think "I’ve got it made"--flying direct. Magical Express stops at 10 pm, thus we had to pick up our one lone suitcase b/c we arrived at 10:00 pm.

One suitcase--easy right?? Our smugness for our direct flight faded quickly when we realized AA had dumped 5 flights onto 1 luggage carousel. This became a battle for the ages. It was “wall to wall” people around the carousel. Personal space did not exist!

After 45 minutes, when our lone suitcase finally made it’s appearance we hustled it to Magical Express. I don’t care how many times I see the same video, I still get :hyper: when it comes on. “Tween” was engrossed in his iTouch showing me aps that I don't understand why anyone would waste their time doing--such as popping bubbles. :rolleyes:

We finally made it to the Beach Club Villas at 11:55. We were starving from all the calories we had burnt during our luggage incident. Everything was closed & we were famished for even something small. We ran to Beaches & Cream & the BC Marketplace w/o luck. We headed up to the room, hoping that Enginerd would've at least bought some milk/snacks for the room. NOPE! I had packed some snacks, but he didn't know where they were. :rolleyes1

Paying for room service seemed outrageous when we knew it was about to be FREE on the boat, but we succumbed to paying for a pizza, cookies, & milk. We ate & collapsed.


Next up:

KABOOM at BCV, finally eating Italian at Epcot, & 1 Ride that's it??? :confused3

[anetnmike]

Hey Mary, you have obviously studied under the master,RV. Great report so far! Can't wait to hear morepopcorn::

[RoyalVizier]

We were starving from all the calories we had burnt during our luggage incident. Everything was closed & we were famished for even something small. We ran to Beaches & Cream & the BC Marketplace w/o luck.

:scared1: :eek: :scared1: :eek:

Oh Mary, I'm so so so sorry that you're vacation started out with the devastating event of going to Beaches & Cream only to find it closed. I can think of nothing more hellacious and utterly ghastly than to be faced with the sight of a darkened and locked up Beaches & Cream. You so deserved a cruise a million times over after that! ;)

Hey Mary, you have obviously studied under the master,RV. Great report so far! Can't wait to hear morepopcorn::

:rotfl2: Oh PUH-LEEEEZE!

[Smileneyes]

Woo hoo!!! Our Tortola trip through the eyes of another from the "DisGang"!!! :cool1:

Great job, Mary! Keep up the good work!!! :surfweb:

[DVC Mary]

Thanks for all the positive feedback. :grouphug: I guess I owe my inspiration to :worship: the great RV. I'll have to thank him in my speech when I receive my 1st Pulitizer. Yeah right! :lmao:


I'm glad the Tortola gang is enjoying this. Who's next to start writing their own??? :yay:

Just checking in before I head off to :cloud9:. I just hope I'm not dreaming about the inferi sp? coming out of the water to get me. We just saw popcorn:: the new HP.

I'll try to edit Thursday & get it posted tomorrow.

[anetnmike]

popcorn::
I'll try to be patient!:)

[DVC Mary]

Thursday: KABOOM at BCV, finally eating Italian at Epcot, & 1 Ride that's it???


We slept in after our late night & planned to enjoy Stormalong Bay pool. I just didn’t feel like swimming. DSs went down to the pool 1st & then were going to head to Epcot. Just when we were ready to head to Epcot & wondering if we had to drag them out of the pool---KABOOM: severe thunderstorm w/ warnings of possible hail. I’ve been in many storms at WDW, but this one was LOUD. Panic strikes me. :eek: Did my children get struck? Where are they?

Please note this is how we vacation is changing. I normally would never let the kids go the pool alone. But my Tween is very responsible and both DSs are excellent swimmers. I'm starting to feel like the world's worst parent. :worried: My panic is short lived.

Dun, dun, dun, da…..they walk in the door! :yay::dance3::banana::banana::banana::yay::dance3:

Tween is my future Eagle Scout & had already left the pool when he saw the signs coming. Shortly after that Disney had gotten everyone out too b/c they got the call. It came on fast & unlike most summer storms that don’t last, this one decided stay for the afternoon.

Lesson #4: Storms can last for many hours in FL. They aren’t all passing through.


We are poncho people, but this storm was nasty w/ a warning that day that went until around 7 pm. Kids still had tons of fun hanging out at BC despite the weather. Pool staff stopped into the arcade & even gave them free game cards. DVC staff pulled out the Wii, playing cards & other games to entertain in their community areas. “It’s always Magical.” :wizard:

When the weather finally cleared up that evening, it was time for Lab Rat’s b-day dinner at Tutto Italia. Which luckily had been moved to a later time w/o problem. Yeah WDW dining! “It’s always Magical.” :wizard: We watched Illuminations from Italy just before our late dinner. Illuminations always makes my skin tingle. It gives me hope for our world. Now if they’d bring back “Tapestry of Nations” parade again I’d really be in :cloud9:. It is my all time favorite parade.

Tutto Italia has excellent food & service!! We live in the Chicago area, so we’ve never been big-sit down dinner people at Epcot. Previous experiences convinced us that we have better ethnic foods at home. It was however a :cake: dinner & he loves pasta, so we gave it a shot. New management has really turned this place around. It’s still pricey for me, but I don’t mind pricey sometimes at WDW if the food is excellent.

Ok, now we can finally hit some rides. Time to enjoy late EMH at Epcot. We went straight to MS. We do the green version, so this is not a problem after dinner. Why do we do the green version? We did the red the year it opened but one or two deaths made me thing twice. My 3 boys (yes, I included the Enginerd) already act brain damaged at times—I don’t want to add to this.

On the walk to MS, DSs started fighting w/ each other. It was so bad that by the time the doors opened to the capsules, I decided that I was not willing to be locked into a small space w/ them---even if was only for a few minutes. I said I’ve had enough & I’ll meet you when you get back from Mars. I hope the “altitude changes you attitude” or we going back to the hotel. I walked straight out faster than anyone could stop me. I went straight to make a post card to email. If you’ve never stopped to do this, please make try it out. It always give us something to laugh about when we get home. I made one w/ me pulling my hair out & looking like :crazy2: I was losing my mind—which was how I felt. It was really refreshing to see it in video.

The kids were :scared: when they realized I meant business. They were still arguing coming off the ride. They got quieter & quieter on the way home to BCV—except for the occasionally :sad: that included “We’re sorry—can we please go on some more rides.” I didn’t budge. I told them to stop talking & let me enjoy the beautiful walk through the International Gateway & back to BCV. I :love: staying there or at BWV. It feels like the center of the universe—well at least the WDW universe. ;)

That day goes on record as the only “park day” at WDW that my family only went on one ride & I didn’t even go on one. We do have our “non-park days” occasionally. Thank goodness for APs or this would have really felt like a huge waste.

Coming up . . .

Friday

True confessions: I did it for a rat.

Medical Travails cause a lot of traveling!

[MagicMe]

Great update! I'm really enjoying your report.

I raised two boys and experienced a similar issue during a WDW trip. I'm actually surprised that they are both still around after that trip. :lmao:

[DVC Mary]

Friday

True confessions: I did it for a rat.

Friday everyone still couldn’t seem to wake up early. This is a new phenomenon of a changing family. This is the family that used to hit the EMH mornings, enjoy the pool mid-day, & then get out of the sun for nice long afternoon nap before heading out to often an EMH night. This is going to change the way I plan our days & I’m not happy about it. I can see the future. Jazzygirl from DISgroup gave me a better glimpse on board. The boys will sleep until noon & I’ll either have to go by myself or drag DH to go enjoy something.

I had to send DH Enginerd for his Father’s Day surprise w/ the Tween in a cab b/c they couldn’t make it on WDW transpo since they got up soo late. During our storm time the day before, I went on the DIS—what else?? I saw a last minute Father’s Day deal for the Richard Petty Driving Experience. 50% off! I pulled the Tween in the hallway & discussed it over. He promised NOT to tell his little Lab Rat brother. I sent Tween w/ b/c even though I knew he couldn’t DO anything, he would love sharing the experience w/ his Dad & he took great photos too. It was great father son bonding type stuff.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss15/DVCMary/DSC_0032-1.jpg

This was Tween 1st time taking pictures w/ our 1st DSLR camera. I think he did great considering the speed (averaged about 120 MPH).

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss15/DVCMary/DSC_0090.jpg

I had Mommy time w/ the “Lab Rat” at AK. We went on EE & KRR twice. It’s his favorite ride. He loves the anticipation of seeing who will really get soaked. He wanted it to be me soooo badly that we had to go on again to see if he could get me soaked. Next, we tried to relax & enjoy our surroundings in Asia & Africa. We made it a point to enjoy the animals & birds in the Oasis on our way out at about 12:30. Why was our time so short? Remember the getting up early problem. I think we’re lucky we even got on those rides.

Today was another gastronomical 1st. We went to lunch at Chefs de France b/c of their surprise animatronic Remy. He comes around on a cart to interact w/ the guests.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss15/DVCMary/DSC_0111.jpg

The food was good, but high in price for the portions (typical French) & I wouldn’t recommend it just for Remy. There’s barely any interaction. It’s super quick. Lab Rat was totally surprised though. He was playing his video game after lunch, which we allowed b/c we didn’t want him to notice Remy. Great video footage!!! I won’t be back there. Even though the CM w/ Remy mentioned Lab Rat’s b-day, he still spent as little time as possible at our table.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss15/DVCMary/DSC_0114-1.jpg

Tween is still making fun of me for spending so much money to see an animatronic rat that can’t even talk. I keep telling him it’s important to try new things & that our “Tables in Wonderland” card gets us a 20% discount. He :rolleyes2 at me over & over, despite my protests . . . gives me that long quiet look that I vaguely remembering using on him.

Then the hits me where it hurts: the wallet! “You spent how much for a RAT that only stopped at our table for a 2 minutes??? A rat Mom….come on, admit it, you did it for the rat.” Tween is now wearing that vague smug look that I think I’m going to see a lot of during his teenage years. But, I must confess I deserved this Rat rant. I did it for a rat.

The stupid things we parents do to make our children’s trips more magical.


Coming up next during our Friday, do you remember Lesson #2?



Medical Travails cause a lot of traveling!

[DVC Mary]

Great update! I'm really enjoying your report.

I raised two boys and experienced a similar issue during a WDW trip. I'm actually surprised that they are both still around after that trip. :lmao:


Thanks Melodie! I'm learning all over again how to deal w/ this different age & style of travel. I'm also glad that I not the only Mom at WDW who has sent everyone back to the room. If we weren't DVC & AP members it would make it much more difficult.

I know the DIS gang wants me to get to the boat already, but I have to include the WHOLE trip & Friday's not over yet.

[lunsusie]

Great trip report, Mary. I am really enjoying your writing style. Looking forward to reading more!

[anetnmike]

Mary, I feel your pain about the changing family. My DS16, who was absolutely raised Disney, has had the nerve to say" Mom, that is your happy place, not mine". For a moment I considered getting a DNA test to make sure he was mine before I remembered, quite vividly, the pain of his birth! Little traitor! :eek: Good thing he said it with that cute "I love you Mommy " face or I would have put him on the curb!
Don't rush your report! You are doing an awesome job and seriously giving RV a run for his money! ( Sorry, RV-you know if you had a place on facebook to be a fan of RV, I would be one!)::yes::
PS: I love your " lessons learned!!"

[RoyalVizier]

I said I’ve had enough & I’ll meet you when you get back from Mars. I hope the “altitude changes you attitude” or we going back to the hotel.

That's great! :lmao: :rotfl2:


Don't rush your report! You are doing an awesome job and seriously giving RV a run for his money! ( Sorry, RV-you know if you had a place on facebook to be a fan of RV, I would be one!)::yes::

Hm... fans on Facebook... that's a thought. Then I could have faithful minions all over cyberspace! ;)

[anetnmike]

busted:eek:
:rotfl2:

[MagicMe]

Thanks Melodie! I'm learning all over again how to deal w/ this different age & style of travel. I'm also glad that I not the only Mom at WDW who has sent everyone back to the room. If we weren't DVC & AP members it would make it much more difficult.

I know the DIS gang wants me to get to the boat already, but I have to include the WHOLE trip & Friday's not over yet.

I would love to tell you that it won't happen again but you know I'd be lying!!! :rotfl2:

I admit - I had to scroll back up to check out lesson #2!!! :rotfl:

[Disneylovers]

Mary,
When you said you were writing your trip report, I didn't realize you were posting it already! Shoot, guess that means I better start posting what I've written here on the computer. Loving what you've written so far! (forgot you spent a couple days at WDW before the cruise):)

[DVC Mary]

Medical Travails cause a lot of traveling!

Let's review:

Lesson #2: Some medical mishap will happen to my family just before or during every Disney trip. Be prepared w/ medicine, band-aids, etc, & the phone numbers to the local pharmacy/hospital, AND directions.

So I thought we had gotten off easy w/ Lesson #2. Lab Rat's ugly clogged tear duct....but noooo despite making sure Tween's ears were extra clear of wax, he still managed to get swimmer's ear.

Was he swimming a lot before the trip? Nope, it was freezing in Chicago.

How do you get swimmer's ear w/o swimming? :confused3 This feat is occasionally attained by my Tween b/c he has waxy ears. So what do we do to make sure we'll have a Swimmer's Ear free trip??? Per the doctor's suggestion, we use an ear wax remover b/c we see that he's got quite a bit of wax build up.

Does this work? Of course not, I forgot Lesson #2.

Friday evening began the saga of getting seen for swimmer’s ear. While Enginerd & Lab Rat went to MK for EMH, I took Tween to be seen by a doctor. Tween had been complaining about his ears on & off since the flight and by Friday was in serious pain. Luckily by this time, we had the rental car for driving to the port the next day.

WDW suggested we go to the local emergi-care type place. The wait was estimated to be at least 2-3 hours—never a good sign to read when you arrive. We left there after 30 min b/c we worried that he was more likely to catch something else. Someone was lying w/ blankets on the dirty floor. :scared1: There was a lot of coughing & moaning. :eek: I felt like I was in a 3rd World country ER.

We should've gone straight to Celebration Hospital. Yes, we had to wait, but it was clean & everyone was very competent. :thumbsup2

Next began the saga of finding the 24 hour pharmacy. Yes, I know you can get a prescription delivered to your hotel room at some charge of course, but I was already out & about. The nurse sent us :drive: towards the wrong pharmacy. We had to :drive: an extra 20 minutes after that, looking for a different 24 hour pharmacy. It had moved & thus we :drive: again to find a different 24 Hour pharmacy.

We also found Taco Bell, which made DS happier. Somehow a volcano taco at 1 am makes your ear feel better. We found a Walmart & picked up a case of water for $4. Everytime they tried to sell us the water package at Topsiders, we would hold up 4 fingers. We got a case for $4 & it's already in our room.

Tween’s belly is full, we found the pharmacy, he’s got medicine, & he should be ready to help navigate/use the GPS to get us back to BCV. This was my 1st time ever driving at WDW. We’re a Magical Express family. I normally have a good sense of direction, all the :drive: back & forth to find the 24 hour pharmacy had me “off kilter” (great band).

I told Tween that he need to help me. This was also my 1st experience :drive: w/ a GPS, but not his. I didn’t trust it. I’m a social studies :teacher:, well primarily history, but I love maps. I need to see the bigger picture not just each intersection. This little screen thingee wasn’t giving me perspective. :magnify:

We did fine until we were actually on WDW property & somehow kept missing our turn. It’s now about 1:45 am & dark of course. Little did I initially realize.....

Tween felt so comforted by the thought we had made it onto WDW property, that he promptly fell asleep :cloud9: & didn’t tell me where to turn. :scratchin :drive: :confused3

Yes, it has audio but we had turned that annoying voice off. I don’t have a dashboard mount b/c this is DH’s GPS from home that he only uses for camping trips. We spent 20 minutes on property :drive: trying to find our w/ be saying "Now tell where to turn." If only I had realized he was asleep a little sooner. :lmao::rotfl::rotfl2:

Yes, we made it back, & if I could have I would've dragged the Enginerd out of bed & said "I want to be at the port :boat: NOW." But exhaustion prevailed & I :faint: into bed after setting the alarm to get Lab Rat up early.

Up next:

How many GIANT cinnamon rolls does it take to get a child to pick up a b-day gift card worth around $40-$50?

[RoyalVizier]

Good heavens, Mary! :scared:

You earned that cruise by the time you boarded!

[DVC Mary]

Good heavens, Mary! :scared:

You earned that cruise by the time you boarded!


You haven't even heard the rest of the saga of getting to the port. It's no wonder I couldn't get any of our DIS group's names straight after our meet. We sooo needed name tags. Maybe Ollie buttons w/ each fan's own name.


Hi!

I'm Mary & I'm a fan of Ollie too!

[Smileneyes]

You haven't even heard the rest of the saga of getting to the port. It's no wonder I couldn't get any of our DIS group's names straight after our meet. We sooo needed name tags. Maybe Ollie buttons w/ each fan's own name.


Hi!

I'm Mary & I'm a fan of Ollie too!

:scared1:

No wonder you were begging for the DisMeet spreadsheet! :worship:

[anetnmike]

girlfriend-you are already needing a vacation from your vacation!:eek:
my DH prefers the GPS voice with the Australian accent becasue he thinks it's sexy:rotfl: I want one with George Clooney's voice!:thumbsup2

[DVC Mary]

:rolleyes1

[DVC Mary]

:scared1:

No wonder you were begging for the DisMeet spreadsheet! :worship:

BUSTED! :blush:

girlfriend-you are already needing a vacation from your vacation!:eek:
my DH prefers the GPS voice with the Australian accent becasue he thinks it's sexy:rotfl: I want one with George Clooney's voice!:thumbsup2

Thanks for understanding my madness!

I want the GPS w/ :smooth: George Clooney's voice too or maybe . . . . :idea:

Disney could make a version where you choose the character's voice you want & if you miss a turn it automatically turns into Donald Duck ranting. :lmao::rotfl:

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

BUSTED! :blush:



Thanks for understanding my madness!

I want the GPS w/ :smooth: George Clooney's voice too or maybe . . . . :idea:

Disney could make a version where you choose the character's voice you want & if you miss a turn it automatically turns into Donald Duck ranting. :lmao::rotfl:

Lurker here, just wanted you to know that I find your TR just as funny and entertaining as RV's- good job- loved the part about attitude and altitude-

[anetnmike]

the Donald voice is a great idea!

[DVC Mary]

Lurker here, just wanted you to know that I find your TR just as funny and entertaining as RV's- good job- loved the part about attitude and altitude-

That is truly high praise. I hope my future writing will be as worthy.


the Donald voice is a great idea!

We need to make $ w/ all these great DIS brainstorming going on.


I'm working on the next installment. It's almost ready.

[anetnmike]

I know, right? We could all give up the day jobs and Disney/Ollie brainstorm all day:thumbsup2
If only that could pay the bills...

[RLccweems]

OMG!! Mary your just as good a writer as RV! Now I'm scared of writing my TR...your too funny. BUt i feel so bad for you...all the things that went wrong before you even got on. I'm surprise you weren't htting the drinks any harder when I first meet you at the Dis meet. Keep the TR coming...I'm enjoying it!!! Also...the kids are enjoying it as well.

[DVC Mary]

Saturday Morning:

How many giant cinnamon rolls does it take to get a child to pick up a gift card worth around $50?

Will we ever get to the port?

Luggage: Will I need to protect it, when I least expect it??? Who else will need protection?



Saturday morning 7:40 am the alarm seems to wake only me up :confused: I try convincing Enginerd to take Lab Rat, but no despite my travails only 5 hours earlier, I had to do it or it wouldn’t get done. The lengths I go to if I can save $ or get something free.

I drag Lab Rat, whining & moaning, to get his b-day celebration gift card at the Guest Relations desk near where you enter the World Showcase. AP holders are eligible for a gift card worth the price of a 1 day ticket, but you can ONLY pick it up on the actual b-day. He can’t spend this card until next year’s visit, but at a around $50 free, it was worth the effort….I think.

We were told they were open at 8am, but they didn’t tell us you can’t pick up your b-day celebration card until 9am. Ugh!! How am I going to keep this crabby b-day boy happy. :headache:

Good thing we stopped at the BC Marketplace 1st. He ate 2 gigantic cinnamon rolls the size of his face while he waited. We met a lovely lady w/ the same b-day who was also, a DVC member, stuck waiting, staying at BCV, and also about to board the Magic! “It’s always Magical!” And we ran into her w/ her family everywhere on the cruise, that midway through the cruise I thought she was w/ our DIS meet.

When we get back to the room are they completely ready to go??? Enginerd is ironing??? Ironing???? He wants their Hawaiian shirts to look good for the port pictures.


I am strongly opposed to ironing.

#1 After something is ironed, you put it on, get in a vehicle, & by the time you get somewhere it’s wrinkled anyway.

#2 Laundry is hard enough w/o adding ironing. If it really needs to be ironed, such as a dress shirt, it goes to the dry cleaners.

#3 I’m bad at it. I confess to be a failure in the ironing department--despite being the daughter of a woman who ironed her sheets. Never understood that one. You get in the bed & in the am they look worse than they did out of the dryer. I also stink at it compared to DH who worked at a dry cleaners in h.s. & college--so I don't even attempt to use an iron.

:idea: I hang things right out of the dryer or while still damp on drying hangars to prevent shrinkage. Most of the wrinkles fall out.

Thank you for letting me share a deep dark secret concerning irons. Someday I'll tell you about me, my fingers, & the only electric wringer washing machine. :rolleyes1

Ok back on track....

Lab Rat & I take a quick shower. It’s now 9:45 & I’m starting to PANIC. I want to be at the port early. We finally got on the road around 10:30 am.

I wanted to get there early find some of my new DIS :grouphug: friends, board early, etc. which didn't happen.

After this I don’t what time anything happened, I was exhausted. I drove to the port & got caught in some traffic b/c we didn’t have the Florida Hwy FastPass thingee. When we get to the port, I dropped them & all the luggage they could manage. I hurry to fill up the car & find Budget.

I get on the shuttle bus w/ a family headed for their 1st cruise "It's always Magical." They're asking me a ton of questions. I'm happy to be talking about the Magic.

There were some older people going to the Carnival ship, whom we're dropping off 1st. The gaggle of people who appear to all be together can’t agree on which luggage is theirs. The DCL families have to tell them NOT to take certain bags b/c they are OURS. Yikes! I'm trying to help the family w/ 2 small kids defend their luggage. One man won’t get off the bus b/c he’s convinced they’ve left a bag behind. We assure him that the only bags left are OURS & we point them out one by one. He finally gets off the bus.

Sigh! We’re or our way again….when all of a sudden there are some bangs on the side of the bus & our driver SLAMMED on his brakes. I slam into the luggage railing on my left while putting out my hands the other direction to stop a 3 year old from flying forward. Kids are :sad: ! What the heck? The banging sound resumes on the side of the bus. It’s the ":crazy: luggage guy". :scared1: He wanted to check “one more time” so he started banging on the bus as it was pulling away. Our driver lets ":crazy: luggage guy" get on AGAIN & is finally convinced that there is no more luggage belonging to his group on board. The 1st DCL people w/ the crying toddlers—one of whom needed an ice pack when we got to port for the lump that erupted on his leg, are not having a good start to their trip. The Budget bus driver proceeds to complain & never once apologizes for slamming on the brakes the way he did. He said the guy scared him. We told him he scared us more & we didn’t appreciate starting our cruises w/ lumps & bruises. We arrive at the port & he’s got nothing to say to us.

I get through security & my family immediately starts yelling at me. What took you so long? We’re supposed to be on board. Where have you been???

Hello (I think but don’t say), who does the running around here & all the planning? Don’t you think I want to be on the boat? Do you really think I was hanging out at the rental car place taking my own sweet time?

Arggghh! I try to explain, show them the bruise erupting on my arms & then I bite my tongue & quickly change into my dress for our photos. Whoosh! We’re on the boat. No time to relax & enjoy the terminal. Little do they know…..the next cruise, I’m making them spend a night in PC. I’m not doing the drive from WDW unless we’re booking a limo that will pick us up at the crack of dawn.

They don’t know about this TR. Evil voice: “Wa Ha Ha Ha Ha!”

Up next:

The door….they didn’t notice/appreciate it…….rassa frassa rrr darn kids!

DIS Meet—dog buttons, famous flip-flop feet, lots of :yay: when people meet.

[RoyalVizier]

Up next:

DIS Meet—dog buttons, famous flip-flop feet, lots of :yay: when people meet.

:hyper: I can't wait! :hyper:

[anetnmike]

:sad2:Oh Mary. Your vacation has been a workout!
:idea:Maybe you should go straight to cruising. You have gone thru way too much to get to that ship!:rotfl:
For the record I totally share your thoughts on the wonderful world of ironing.

[RLccweems]

OMG!!! I'm tried just reading about everything you went throught before getting on the ship!!! You did better then I would have...when we meet up I would never have knew you had sure a crazy few days before hand.

[MAGICX2]

What happened to DVC Mary?!?!?