After a long day hanging around the hotel, I think we were all almost glad for it to be time to go to bed. About midway throught the day I went online to cancel the two ADRs that we weren't going to be able to make. I had to cancel our ADR for that night at the Rose and Crown, and our ADR for the next day at Boma. There was no way we were going to make either of them.
We awoke the next day, happy to see that other than a few flurries, the snow had stopped.
A quick check online showed us that our flight was still scheduled to take off on time. We had a free breakfast at the hotel, and then were heading out the door at about noon. We were going to have a lot of time at the airport, but we figured that it was going to be a bit crazy there and we didn't want to take any chances.
When I had done my online check in the day before, we had hit a bit of a glitch when the system wouldn't assign my father a seat. I had called Jet Blue and they assured me that he would have a seat on the plane, as they do not overbook their flights. The problem was that since the only seats still available were the extra room seats that require an additional fee. If no one chose to upgrade before my father had checked in he would get one of those seats, other wise he would get the regular seat that someone had bumped up from. It made sense, but we were a bit wary. No problems though at the airport. My parents actually ended up with bulkhead seats, just on opposite sides of the aisle. I ended up with the lousiest seat, a center seat towards the back of the plane. Still we were just thrilled to actually be getting on a plane.
It turned out to be a good thing we got there early. The airport was crazy with wall to wall people all over the place. White Plains airport is a really tiny airport. The seating area in the boarding area is about the size of one gate MCO. With all the flights leaving completely sold out they weren't even letting you through TSA into the boarding area until about a half hour or so before your flight boarded. I felt horrible for some of the people flying on the other airlines that did overbook their flights. We kept hearing announcements from them looking for people to give up their spots on the flight. Jet Blue did a lot this trip, to earn my repeat business, this was the first. I'm so glad we didnt' have to worry if we'd be getting on the plane or not. We took our time having a bite to eat at the coffee shop on the second level, and then found some quiet seats nearby. I don't know if people just didn't realize there was a second level, but it was a nice peaceful spot. There was a lot more sitting around.
Our flight actually ended up taking off just about on time, and we landed in a pretty chilly Orlando at about 6pm. I am so not used to arriving in Orlando at night, and it felt really strange to be getting there when it was dark. My parents had booked their trip with a package, but we had never officially added me on to the reservation so I had to go to claim my suitcase. It made me realize how spoiled ME has made me. We lucked out, and my suitcase was one of the first ones off the plane. Suitcase in hand we headed over to the ME area, where I had to go to the Mears counter to purchase a ticket to get to the resorts. Luckily, as it was later, and pretty slow I was put on the same shuttle as my parents. We had to wait a bit on board the bus, while they waited for more people to fill the bus. It never happened, and finally we took off.
Ahhh!!!! After all the travel difficulties, and delays arriving at POFQ felt like we were coming home. I can't think of another place I would have wanted to check in that night. I love the Boardwalk, and I'd never turn down a stay at any of them, but POFQ is my Disney home away from home. It was the perfect place to be that night.
Check in went smoothly, and we got a great room in building #5 that faced away from the pool. Not that anyone was in the pool, it was way too cold. Our room was nice, but it was looking a bit worn in a few spots. The bathroom particularly, but it was squeaky clean.
We had to do a bit poking around before heading out to grab something to eat.
I think this was the first time ever I've eaten a meal other than breakfast at POFQ. The food was pretty good. I had ordered my food and while I was waiting, another guest took my food, because she didn't want to wait for hers.
The CM working at the counter apologized, and after making me another one had the cashier give me my meal for free. I thanked him, and told him it wasn't necessary but he insisted.
Being at POFQ any meal wasn't complete until it was finished with some of these -
Beignets! So, so good!